InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Haunted ❯ Migoto ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter 2: Migoto

Kagome opened her eyes as they landed on the ground at the bottom of the well, and then Inuyasha braced with his feet and leaped out. It was a beautiful evening on this side, all soft, fading light, and warm air with a light breeze.

She tilted her face up to the sky and just breathed; the air here was so fresh and clean, she always felt better once she got through the well and took her first breath. A soft smile graced her features for a moment.

When did this era become home? I love my family, and love some of the conveniences from the modern times - but... I don't think I could be happy living there anymore, even disregarding Inuyasha, this place is home.

Unbeknownst to her, Inuyasha was watching her from under his bangs. He sniffed discreetly in her direction.

She doesn't seem so upset anymore. Not like yesterday, anyway. She seems content, right now. He followed the line of her eyesight, she was looking at the sky. She always has enjoyed looking at the stars, and they're just starting to come out tonight. It really is a beautiful evening.

He sighed... relaxing his arm around Kagome's waist, he smiled down at her, and then looked back up. Kami, I love her scent. I can't live without it. I suppose I should be trying to break away from her, but I just don't want to. I'm happy when I'm with her, and can't stand the thought of not having her right here by my side.

He breathed in deep, letting her scent flood his body, calm him... and she doesn't even have a clue how I feel, I'll bet. Of course, I know she said she wanted to be with me, but I'm not sure how she meant that, as a friend, or a brother, or a - lover? I am just a hanyou, after all, and she's a pure Miko, she deserves better, and then there's Kikyou. Damnit!

Why is everything always so complicated?

"C'mon, migoto, lets get to the village before Sango sends out a search party," he finally said.

Kagome's eyes opened wide, and her breath caught in her throat. "Wh-what did you just call me? Are you sure you're alright?"

Inuyasha blushed and looked away, "Migoto. That's what I said, got a problem with it?"

"No... oh no, its just, I'm not really used to compliments from you, that's all." Kagome was still staring at him with wide, confused eyes.

Inuyasha felt guilt cloud his heart. She was right. He put her down a lot, but its not that he was trying to damage her belief in herself, he was trying to convince himself that he didn't want her, and now, hearing her self doubt, he felt like a total bastard.

"Listen, baka, I don't mean it when I say those things. I'm just an ass," he blushed even harder, and avoided her eyes. "You are beautiful, and you've gotten even more beautiful in the three years I've known you. So don't listen when I say those things, just remind yourself that I'm an ass, and I told you that I am. You can even remind me of my own words," he glanced over at her, noticing her wide eyes and open mouth, she looked shocked. He groaned.

"I really am an ass, aren't I? I never meant to hurt your feelings, Kagome, I mean it, the next time I say something horrible, remind me of what I said, okay?"

Kagome's eyes were still wide. Wow, where did that come from? He can be such a jerk sometimes, and then he turns around and melts my heart all over again with something like that! Kami, I love him so much... and it hurts.

She lowered her head - she had to look away from his awesome eyes, the eyes that haunted her dreams night after night. "Thanks, Inuyasha," she whispered. "You didn't have to say that, but it was nice to hear."

"Kagome--" Inuyasha sighed. "Look, let's sit down for a little while, we aren't in a rush right now, so let's just enjoy the evening, and talk a little bit, okay?" He watched her as she tilted her head, as if thinking it over, then sat down. He plopped down next to her, and reached over and grabbed her hand.

"I know I can be... harsh, sometimes. I don't do it to hurt you, it's just the way I am. In fact, I'm not as bad as I used to be, not by far. You've... I don't know, softened my heart, a little. If you think I'm bad now, you should have seen how mean I was to Kikyou at first." He laughed.

"There was one time I told her that she'd never please anyone, cause with her attitude, she must be frigid." Hearing her soft gasp, he glanced over at her. "I got an arrow shot my way for my trouble, and she ignored me for about a week. I'll give you a little tip; don't pay attention so much to what I say, but as to how I act. I can lie with my mouth, but not with my actions. Do you understand?"

Kagome tilted her head and studied him from the corners of her eyes. She was silent for so long, just sitting there, watching him, he didn't know what to think. Finally, she said, "Well, I'll try to remember all that the next time you get mean." She smiled shyly over at him.

"Like that time we were looking for that youkai that was stealing pretty young girls as brides, Chokyukai, wasn't it? You decided to use me as bait, except you had to remind me that I wasn't 'young and pretty'."

He snorted. "You aren't. You are migoto, beautiful, not pretty."

"Umm, wow... okay." Kagome, blushing so hard she felt like she had a fever, smiled again. "I never knew you could be so nice, Inuyasha! I'm flattered - really," she said softly.

I don't know if I really believe what he's saying, not that I think he's lying, precisely, just... he's just trying to be nice, that's all. But it's sweet of him, anyway.

Inuyasha glanced over at her. She doesn't believe me, I can smell her doubt. I've hurt her, the one person in the world I would never wish to see in pain, but how can I tell her? How can I make her believe me?

"Feh, don't worry about it, wench," his voice gruff "even I can't be an ass all the time," catching her amused, disbelieving look, he growled. "Don't even say it...!"

Jumping up, he pulled her up along with him, "Enough soft stuff, ya ready to go, wench?"

Kagome laughed up at him. "Yeah, I'm ready, let's go before you slip up and say something really nice to me, we can't have that, now can we?"

"Keh."

Inuyasha turned around and crouched down, waiting for Kagome to climb on and situate herself. He had never said anything to her, but he secretly loved carrying her, it gave him an excuse to have her pressed up against him, and to have his hands on her legs, plus it renewed his scent on her, marking her with his scent was as far as he would allow himself to go, for now.

He would never admit it for fear of being sat, but he had been very happy when that stupid bike of hers had gotten destroyed. And even worse, when he had gone to her time and seen that she had a new bike... well, lets just say that it wasn't entirely an accident that he'd broken that one.

He picked her up, and grabbing her bag from the ground beside him, took off and was soon at a good speed. Kagome leaned her head on his shoulder and contentedly watched the forest fly by. She loved being carried by him, it was one of the few times she felt totally safe and happy.

Truth be told, she had thrown a pretty big hissy fit when he had broken her bike that time back home, but she hadn't really been all that angry. Not that she would ever tell him that, of course.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome almost didn't want to ask, but she had to know. "What did my mom tell you about why I was home today?"

He glanced back at her. "She told me it was some kind of memory thing for a friend who died, why? Was it some kind of secret or something?" He shrugged. "You could have just told me, you know."

Wait a sec, why did she refuse to tell me? His eyes narrowed with suspicion, and he started to growl.

"Kagome, just what was this guy to you?"

Kagome flinched. Damnit! Why didn't mom just keep her mouth shut? "He was, well, just a good friend! We grew up together, so we were kinda close, is all!"

Please, please, just leave it at that!

"Kagome," the growling getting louder, "I'm not stupid, and you suck at lying, so out with it! What was that guy to you?!" Damn, but she wasn't getting away with this, he would have his answers.

"NOTHING, OKAY!" she screeched, knowing it would make him back off, at least until they arrived in the village and he could put her down. "Stop asking stupid questions, I've already told you all I am going to say on the matter!"

I can't tell him. I just... I'm just not ready to talk about it.

Arriving in the village at that moment, Inuyasha let go of Kagome's legs and let her slide off his back. Whipping around to face her, he started yelling.

"Baka! Whats the big deal, huh? What are you hiding?" His heart sank, she must have been... in love with the guy? "You! You were in love with him, weren't you!? Don't lie!"

Inuyasha felt like he'd just had his heart ripped out, she wasn't supposed to love anyone else, damnit! How could she? "That has to be it, there's no other reason for you to be acting like this, all, all secretive and stuff!" He turned back around, huffily, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Am I wrong, Kagome? Huh? Can't answer me?"

Kagome stared at his back, hurt and anger and guilt, all spinning inside her mind, and then she exploded. "No! I wasn't in love with him!" Tears started running down her face, completely unnoticed by her. "And that's why he's dead!!"

She turned, and started running, heading for Kaede's hut, knowing that the others would all be there, and that Inuyasha would be forced to leave it alone.

Inuyasha whipped around at her words, stunned. What??? What does she mean, thats why he's dead?! He stared after her, totally blindsided by the scent coming from her. Pain and... his eyebrows rose in astonishment.

Guilt?!

What the hell is going on?

---sSs---

That night was an entirely uncomfortable one in Kaede's hut as the inutachi tried not to notice the elephant in the room. Kagome tried her best to ignore Inuyasha, and Inuyasha did nothing but stare at her angrily, leaving everyone else on pins and needles.

On top of that, Inuyasha was irate that the moment he'd come through the well with Kagome, he'd caught the scents of the rest of the pack back in the village.

He'd told Miroku and Sango to continue on from where they'd been when Kagome had decided to go through the well, but guess what they hadn't done?

So, all in all, Inuyasha hadn't had a very good day - the only decent part had been the ramen that Kagome's mother had made for him. And as much as he loved ramen, it wasn't enough to balance out the rest of the crap.

He glared even harder over at Kagome, and she finally had enough, jumping to her feet and letting him have it.

"Inuyasha, if you don't stop glaring at me, I'm gonna 'it' you into next year! You don't have any right to get mad at me just because I'm not telling you what you want to know, it's none of your business! It isn't about shards, or Naraku," she trailed off sadly for a moment, then finished with, "And since that's all that you care about, you shouldn't be worried about it."

With that, she turned on her heel and stomped from the hut, leaving the rest of the group to stare at the irate hanyou.

"Fine," he yelled, "be that way, wench! See if I care!" With a sulky huff, he twisted around and stared at the wall with his arms crossed and his nose in the air.

"Stupid wench," he muttered, "getting all pissed because I cared, and then she pisses and moans that I don't care! She's so damn contrary," he hissed at the wall.

The rest of the tachi and Kaede stared at him for several incredulous moments, and then at each other.

The question on everyone's mind was the same: What the hell was that all about?