InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Hanyou ❯ All Different Kinds of Weakness ( Chapter 6 )

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

The sun was new in the sky when Kagome awoke the next morning, and though she fought to fall back to sleep, the comely girl conceded defeat. Her arm flopped over her bedside table and felt around for the tattered green robe she had tossed there the night before. After swiping a book and knocking a little brass candlestick onto the floor, she grasped the robe and threw back her covers.


I want to sleep late for once, Kagome thought fuzzily, my brain wasn't meant for this.


She ran to the little dresser and plucked a pair of socks from a drawer while shivering from the wintery temperature. Her bare legs struggled to hold her balanced as, one at a time, she hastily lifted a foot and sheathed each into a warm, woolen sanctuary. She grabbed a hair band and pulled the mass from her neck and tied the robe about her. The garment that she had had since a teen could not be made to cover her chest and so her breasts peeped out, but Kagome wasn't too discomfited as her night dress closed near the base of her throat. The gown had been her mothers, and was more than a little on the modest side.


Kagome stopped to stretch before she lit the tiny stove in her bedroom then made her way to the kitchen. She had quite a bit of ironing to get through by the afternoon, and this knowledge propelled her into action.



That's good, Kagome, she encouraged herself, the more you think about work, the less you think about him.



Faint sounds of the neighborhood kept her company as she boiled a large serving of rice porridge in her grandfather's heavily dinged pot. After checking her meager stores, she threw some dried persimmons into the mix, and when it was finished she spooned hefty portions into two small bowls. Kagome stifled another yawn, picked up both bowls and walked back towards her room. Please let it be warm.




Cheered that the temperature did indeed seem to be rising, she set her own breakfast down and walked over to the closet. She tried to ignore the acceleration of her pulse the closer she got to the secret room. It would have been preferable to avoid him after their uncomfortable parting last night. Scratch that. She would rather die rather than face his pity. What he must think about me. Just do it Kagome!



She got onto her knees and with the cane, propped open the door and crawled through. She slid the steaming porridge before her and once inside spied a very awake and an undeniably in-pain hanyou.




“Inuyasha, what's wrong?” she pushed the bowl to the side and scrambled over. He was positioned upon his stomach with his face turned to the side, his lips cracked and his brow creased. His bed covers were piled beneath him, and his pale legs lay exposed.



He felt a momentary jolt when she parted his thighs, but the way she prodded the area near his wound, he was pretty sure it was to check for bleeding.


She situated herself near him, and though dazed a little by pain, he became riveted by the prominence of her hefty bosom, which, though covered by a high collared night gown, peeped through her robe. For a moment he could make out the outline of a hardened nip-



“Inuyasha, what in the hell were you doing in here?” Kagome demanded, crossing her arms. His breathing was shallow and he smelled of sweat. Idiot looked like he'd just woken up after a hard night of drinking. Maybe I did stop the sleep herbs too soon, she thought.


“Nuthin,” he responded levelly. He was annoyed that she straightaway reprimanded rather than fawn over him as the injured hanyou he was. As loathe as he would be to admit it out loud, Inuyasha looked forward to her ministrations and the various attentions she paid to his health. He was at ease when she was near him, not to mention the way his core tingled every time she was re-bandaging or pressing a cool palm to him to check for fever.



Seconds passed as Kagome took in his answer. He concluded that she did not look satisfied.



Inuyasha stared at her in a sort of defiance. She should be helping me up, not glaring at me like I've got my hand in the god damned cookie jar! Look at her little chin, though, she's really cute when she's mad. But hell, I won't be scolded like some little pup.



Inuyasha tried to think of a clever remark but found his wit clouded from the aching of his chest and arm muscles.



How did I end up on my fuckin' stomach? He racked his brain before vaguely recalling arranging himself onto his hands and knees and managing to hit his injured arm on a crate before passing out from the pain. Oooh, yeeaah...


“Nothing?” she echoed.


“Yep.”



“Nothing?” Kagome repeated. “I swear if you opened even one stitch...”



“You'll what? Give me a good spanking? Well go ahead, Ka-g-ome,” he taunted, while wiggling his slightly raised behind. “It's all yours.”



“Hmm, as tempted as I am,” Kagome said as she rolled her eyes, “I'll pass.” Don't look at his ass!



“Rain check?” Inuyasha asked amused, before letting out a quick yelp as Kagome's palm came into hard contact with his bottom.


“Jesus Christ Kagome! What in the-?” His position prevented him from reaching out with his uninjured arm to rub his backside. Fuck that stung.




“Did you not just offer?” Kagome knelt down near his face, her eyes sparkling. Unable to keep a straight face she began to laugh.


Sassy wench, I have half a mind to reciprocate no matter the consequences. He settled for gazing at her, open-mouthed. “Just wait, Kagome. Just you wait.” he warned her. “I'm gonna heal eventually...”



Still laughing, Kagome took up the assistance that her patient, unbeknownst to her, had come to greet with eager pleasure.





“Inuyasha,” she began, “You could have...” her voice trembled off. She was relieved that the stitches didn't break-this time- but what if they had? He could have bled out without her even knowing. She brushed the hair from his forehead, allowing her fingers to linger upon his brow.



Her stricken gaze disgraced him into confession.



“I wanted to get out, OK?”


“Out?”



“That's what I said. Why do you repeat everything I say like I'm not making any sense?” he snapped.


“Maybe,” Kagome told him as she brought her hands to her hips, “I wouldn't if some of the things that came of your mouth weren't so incredibly stupid, Inuyasha.”




“Well, I had to go to the bathroom.”





“Baka! You should have knocked. Besides, that's why I left your bucket next to you!”




The long haired man looked at her with something akin to irritation before he spoke slowly. “I'm sick of the fucking bucket, Kagome, and I don't think I have to tell you that I need a bath. I thought I could get out on my own,” he huffed. “I was wrong.” Damn, I sound a little ungrateful, he thought. Good. It's not like I asked her to wait on me hand and foot. “Can you just get me something to take away the pain and leave me the hell alone?” he shifted again to ease the discomfort from the burning skin of his chest. Shit, that hurt.



“Inuyasha, are you kidding me?” she spat as she leaned back to grab the tin bucket she had put in the room for that express purpose. “Here, let me help-”



“Just give me a minute,” Inuyasha told her. “I can do it.” He'd show her.



Kagome held out her hands in a gesture of defeat. “Fine. I'll wait out there. Kill yourself for all I care. Call me when you want to eat,” she turned and waddled out on her knees. Were all men so stubborn, she asked herself?



Sitting on her bed, Kagome picked up the book she had knocked over earlier and flipped through as she ate, waiting for the hanyou to call her. She finished her food, got up to the window and watched a youth with a bag clutched near to his body zip through the alley her bedroom faced along the side of her house. Poor boy, he kept looking back as though he was being chased. Wouldn't surprise me. She thought of Inuyasha and Sango begin chased by flying arrows.





Kagome felt weary and alone. Every day brought nothing but a heavy apprehension and sense of the unknown when she was used to and preferred the routine she had established over the past few years.
Daily she sought to cancel out the world around her, the deaths, the destruction, the bombings, the unraveling of an entire country. She kept to her business, her books, canceled her newspaper, and tried to ignore the screams and the thunder of trucks racing to their next destination. It was only when she noticed boys running for their lives and hanyous fighting for theirs, she thought, looking over at the wall that separated her from her guest, that it becomes almost...overwhelming.




She always worried. About her mom. Her country. Her safety. And now she had to worry about keeping that incredibly stubborn, incredibly handsome hanyou alive. Stop sounding so ungrateful, Kagome, she scolded herself. At least you can eat. You have a home. It could be so much--





Her brood was cut short by the whimpering from behind the wall. She ran to the hidden room and found Inuyasha splayed out, his hand grasping the handle of the waste bucket, his head lowered beside it.





“Don't,” he said simply when he heard her enter. She noticed that he did not bother or perhaps lacked the strength to look up and his right arm fully supported his unsteady body.



“You moron!” She crawled over and reached out, taking his chin in her hand, and brought her face but a whisper away from his. “Listen to me. I don't care how much of a macho man you may think you are, but if I have to tell your sister that you died because you were too afraid to take a piss in front of me, which by the way, you have been doing for the past week or so, so help me hanyou, it will not be pleasant. Suck it up and let me help you. We can talk about the logistics of getting out of here after. Got it?”



Inuyasha lowered his eyes and grunted assent. He would not admit it, but he felt relief as she took the bucket from his grasp.


“Ok, so where shall I set the bucket? In front of you or underneath?”



He looked up startled. He would rather die than to do THAT in front of her. Taking a piss was one thing, but thank whatever gods there were, he had yet to suffer that. The benefits of eating almost absolutely nothing for the past week. When he was dazed and a near invalid, well, that was different, but after the way they had been talking and how they had touched upon...certain events, it now seemed the height of embarrassment.



He pulled himself up so that he was reclining on his right side and was thus rewarded with a sharp shot of pain for his effort.




He held the metal container to his hips. Never should have tried to crawl out. Not only had he messed up all the progress he had made on his chest, but he had disappointed her.



“All right,” Kagome started as she grasped the bottom of the waste tub. “How about we make a deal?” Her eyes sparkled, reminding him of the younger version who had been a frequent visitor to his dreams. “I hold the bucket if you pull...it...out.”



This earned a bit of a smile and a nod from Inuyasha. He accepted that it was going to happen whether he liked it or not, and at the rate he was healing, barring another lapse of judgment on his part, he might be able to use the actual toilet by tonight.





Screened by the bucket, Inuyasha pulled down his shorts and Kagome turned her head while he released, though she could hear and feel the steady stream hitting the bottom. She was positive her face was on fire, due to the less than six inch gap between her and the man as he emptied his bladder.



He was right, she admitted. He did need to bathe, if not for any other reason than to prevent his now knitted flesh from becoming infected. Kagome had very little medical knowledge, but assumed from the little she had gleaned over the years that a dirty wound was trouble. She wished she knew more about hanyou physiology. In some areas he was heeling so quickly, but he still often bled and she wasn't sure why. I wish I knew a doctor.



Anyways, how could she let him come out if he couldn't move fast enough to run back in case of danger?



Kagome didn't think he smelled too offensive, but then again she didn't have a hanyou nose. Also in getting him out, she would have the opportunity to change the blankets and air out the room. She could filch a pair of undershorts from the small collection of garments Naraku kept for the odd chance he was able to stay over and later look through Inuyasha's clothes to find something suitable. Right now, it was just best if he stayed in his shorts. Kagome's mind wandered to Inuyasha in nothing but his shorts and a smirk. I wonder what he'd look like with just the smirk? Ahhh! Not now!



“Done” he barked out and fell back with a moan, relieving the pain from his arm and chest. He wanted to die right now. He hurt, he smelled, he practically took a piss in a girl's hand, which, by the way reeked of the medicinal herbs she had been sneaking him, and to top it off, it was her.



Kagome.



He had thought of the pretty girl often over the years, and now to be so near, to have her all to himself, well, it was nothing less than incredible. He wished they had reunited under different, more agreeable circumstances and wished that he didn't have to rely on her for everything he needed. He didn't want to snap and be short, but it was hell for him to be in such a position.



It was somewhat emasculating to be at her mercy, but a little exhilarating too. He reasoned he had more leeway to say things he may not have dared had they been brought together more casually. Things that needed to be said. Things that he would make damned sure would be said before long.

It's not like she could kick me out, right?



“Eat this and rest a few hours,” she turned and grabbed the once forgotten bowl of porridge, “I'm going to get some work done so keep quiet because I'm expecting to have orders out through the end of the afternoon.”



“So, you want me to play dead?” he twitched his ears comically.



Kagome sighed. “Here,” without looking she snatched a book from the stack and set it next to him. It was A Journey to the Centre of the Earth. “Entertain yourself. And while I'm gone, think about how to get out of this room and into the tub without breaking my back or drowning yourself.”



“Have you always been such a nagger?” he asked as he slurped the tepid porridge.



“Only when I am completely exasperated!”



“Well it looks like I dodged a bullet.”


You insufferable, idiotic, simple minded, asshole! She was going to tell him exactly that when she was somewhat taken aback by the wistful, half smile he flashed her. Just joking, it seemed to tell her.



Kagome grunted an incomprehensible swear and went through the portal, kicking the cane and causing the door to slam shut. Inuyasha snorted and began to laugh before he choked on a persimmon and ate the rest of his meal in thoughtful silence.




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The handle of the old phone jingled as it began to ring, startling Kagome as she ironed a pair of pants. She set the scalding instrument down and with one hand grabbed the receiver, using her other to smooth out a line in the crisp pleat.

“Kagome Higurashi. How may I help you?” she recited automatically.




“You sound so business-like and professional,” Naraku said, his voice echoing into her ears, “No one would know what a silly little girl you really are.”



“Naraku! It's been so long. I had begun to worry!” Kagome cupped the receiver in order to hide the hitch of her breath. “You're back! Should I prepare for your arrival?” Kagome tried to keep her voice light and calm, although her hand trembled slightly.



“No, I'm still in Sendai. That's why I am calling now. They are keeping me here until the end of the week, if not later. We've had a problem with the Opposition. Nothing too serious, but they need me until” here there was a slight pause, “it is all sorted out.” Again there was a momentary silence, but Kagome knew what he wanted to hear.




“I've missed your company,” she all but whispered. Kagome knew Inuyasha's hanyou hearing was relatively weak compared to that of a full yokai, but she didn't want to risk it.




“Yes, I know you- Yamamoto!” He barked to someone on his end. Kagome winced as she listened to him berate the faceless fellow.




“I'm sorry, Kagome, but the men stationed here have absolutely no idea what they are getting themselves into.” Naraku's voice lowered. “I have to go, but I am reassured that I have been on your mind.”



“It's ok, Naraku. I have orders that need to be out by five and I have to get them ready.”




“What do you mean, ‘be out’? You are making deliveries in my absence?” His tone was accusatory.



“No, of course not!” she hastened to reassure him. “Mrs. Minamoto and Mr. Tanaka's son will both be here as will your grocer right after. I am also expecting at least one other.”




She could hear breathing over the phone while he considered this. Naraku rarely allowed for her to wander too without him for, as he told her, fear of her safety. “Please do not over exert yourself. I want you well rested for my return.” the words were innocent enough, but Kagome could not help but dwell on the inference of his request.




“Of course, Naraku.”




“Goodbye the, Kagome.”




She placed the receiver back and hung up the trousers.


Kagome was puzzled as to how she had allowed Naraku Takeda to become such an integral part of her life. He wasn't the sort of person she would normally associate with. For starters, he was unfriendly and downright rude to those he considered beneath him. He was often too intense than what was comfortable, and though he had never raised his voice towards her, he could make her cower with just a single word. She had come to care for his well-being, but she wasn't sure if she even really liked the man.




She reverted back to a child when in his presence, nervous, never quite sure of what to say next, dreading a lecture or a withering look.



Kagome shook her head. It's too late now.



Once she ascertained the complete lack of compatibility or affection on her part, he was already firmly situated. Kagome found herself dependent upon his favors and good-will in order to keep her home, support her family, and to stay relatively safe in a time and place where that word seemed to have lost meaning for most.

Being with Naraku- the presumed intended of an important and high ranking military officer- gave her the confidence to continue her business and do her shopping- at least in the area surrounding her neighborhood where she was recognized.



This had become more difficult with Inuyasha's arrival. Kagome found herself having to traverse farther in order to not raise suspicions from her regular shopkeepers when she purchased medical supplies in large quantities.



To be fair, though Naraku was inordinately suspicious and judgmental, he could also be generous...as long as he felt he was getting a good deal in return.



He was nothing like Inuyasha- Aah! Kagome, don't compare the two. Don't complicate things further.



No, she wasn't sure how she felt about Naraku.



Kagome had never thought of herself as the kind of woman to put up with such a man, and yet here she was, a year into a relationship which brought her neither felicity nor fulfillment. Their time together consisted of random days and evenings; she cooked and served him, washed his uniforms, asked him general questions to avoid absolute silence, and attended to whatever he dictated during his stay. At least his visits never lasted more than a few hours, or at most one entire night.




They had nothing to speak of or converse about other than Naraku finding it imperative to question Kagome of her actions, as well as those of her neighbors while he was away. Kagome was certain he had no real hobbies or interests and she often wondered if he had any family or friends from his hometown of Urawa.




Kagome turned off her iron and set the scalding tool onto its shelf, and made an attempt to straighten the near perfectly pressed articles. She was meticulous, fearful that one obscure stain or stubborn crinkle would result in the loss of a customer. She glanced at the clock. Hmm. She had taken longer than she had planned. Her clients would be arriving very soon.




The man who had been her only companion (if one could call him thus) refused to talk about his occupation aside from a general description or casual statement, yet Kagome was conscious of his hatred for all non-humans, especially hanyou, which he once described as the ultimate disgrace. It was the evidence that a human had sunk so low as to give themselves to a demon. He considered such couplings to be unnatural, and the child of the union a monster fit for eradication. In fact, Kagome chewed over, the only time Naraku displayed any sort of passion was when he was speaking of the hanyou scourge.




Be honest with yourself for one damned second, she practically yelled at herself. You know exactly how you feel about Naraku.



Kagome leaned against the old flat desk in the hallway while she awaited her clients. She tapped a foot and cupped her elbows and she continued her thoughts. This was the first time she allowed them to flow forth instead of shaking them away. It was pretty cathartic.



It had been the most tense year of her life.



She had lost herself, who she was. Had traded it for a chance of survival, and there were many times, many nights- every night- that she reasoned she would be better off dead. If it hadn't been for her mother she would not even bother. Her mother. She did not resent her; at least she actively banished any such bitterness towards her parent. The elder Higurashi had supported her for nearly twenty years and Kagome decided this was the least she could do.



If that meant putting up with Naraku and his strange and uncomfortable ways, well then, she could do that. Besides, she had Inuyasha to think about now.





Every time Naraku stepped into the house the hanyou would be in danger, she worried. She played with the skirt of her dress. The pattern of small white flowers on the yellow fabric was not her favorite, but it was clean and somehow tended to cheer her up.


She, her and Inuyasha, would work out a system. They would figure this out. Naraku was notoriously punctual and brief with his visits. He did this for purely selfish reasons; he expected for Kagome to have everything prepared for him upon arrival. Warm house. A complete, hot, and ready dinner. He rarely stayed over, preferring the lodgings of his base, which he considered more adequate for a man of his station. Fuck, Kagome, though angrily. This is not how I saw my life. She felt trapped. She wanted to blame anyone, everyone, but at the end of the day, it would be just her and a mirror.


Inuyasha.



She was hesitant to tell him about Naraku. During their epistolary relationship Kagome had mentioned to Sango a boyfriend who was also an army officer, but had dropped the subject once Sango voiced her disapproval. The army was the agent of the government who wanted to kill her brother and who were bent on making her life hell. Kagome’s choice of partner had so strained their relationship, that the last letters she had received from Sango were the ones asking Kagome to hide Inuyasha and a brief note informing her of the death of Sango and Inuyasha’s mother three months later.



She could only imagine how Inuyasha would react. She could see how that conversation would go: Inuyasha I am seeing a military man who has a strong hatred for your kind and would have no trouble killing you on sight, oh, by the way here is some ramen.


Inuyasha.



She didn't know if she was ready to tell him, nor did she think she was up to having Naraku get so close to where she kept Inuyasha. She was under no illusion as to why she was nervous to make the hanyou privy of her relationship status.



Oh, Kagome, you are such a fool.



Inuyasha would have to be informed, sooner rather than later, since it seemed his stay would be longer than originally planned due to his injuries. And from her experience with the older officer, there was the distinct possibility that his visit would end up in her bedroom. One slight move, sneeze, noise from Inuyasha...

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She had met Naraku Takeda, a career military man, a little over a year ago, when she had just turned nineteen. Kagome had been in the habit of delivering some of her clients' clothing and laundry to them, and that evening as she made her last delivery, she had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Her mother had left only two months before and Kagome chalked it up to the revolution of her situation.



She had been walking for some time before she realized that she was unfamiliar with her surroundings and immediately tried to retrace her steps. Doing this, she found herself in a neighborhood she had never been in before, the slanting sun screaming at her to hurry home, the streets becoming deserted as the curfew alarm began to resound through the air. The last remaining stragglers ran indoors, leaving Kagome alone and helpless, unsure of what next to do. Being out after curfew was an arrestable offense and she had no idea where she-



“Excuse me, but may I ask you what you are doing?”



Kagome gasped at the sudden invasion of the voice. The prominent menace of his tone clashed with the politeness of the words spoken and she clutched her empty laundry sack in her trembling hand. She wanted to flee but instead she turned to face him, her breath coming out in little puffs, and her chin defiant, ready to deal with the unavoidable punishment.



He was a very tall, rather thin man and Kagome's eyes were caught buy the insignias affixed to his black leather coat. The coat nearly engulfed his frame and the metals twinkled under the street lamps that were turning on one by one.



He was striking, if not quite handsome, his mouth thin lipped and a little wide. Small dark eyes stared directly into her own, dismantling the last bit of courage she possessed. His cap was low on his head, and he leaned down to her, his breath tickling her nose as he spoke.



“I have made my rounds here nearly every day for the past eight months, and this is the first time I have seen you here. Who are you, and why are you out after curfew?”


Kagome told him the truth. “I'm lost, Officer. I was delivering my laundry,” she held up the empty bag, “and I must have made a wrong turn. I'm not sure where I am at the moment.” Kagome held his gaze, her nerves somewhat evaporating as he stepped back and snorted.



“Why didn't you say so, girl? I could have escorted you out and you would have been home already,” he chuckled lowly as he glanced over her body. She had been wearing a calf length black dress, with a wide polka dotted collar. It had a thin white belt, which Kagome knew flattered her waist and her curvy hips. She looked demurely down, rubbing a high- heeled toe into the ground, and reckoned that perhaps a little flirtation would be beneficial to her situation.



She pouted. “I did, but you officers are so intimidating!” She was almost sick at the baby doll quality of her own voice. Way to set women back, Kagome.


The man flicked his hand in dismissal, “You have more to worry about from rouge hanyou than you do us, I assure you. Now, tell me. Where do you live, and what kind of meal shall you reward me with on my day off tomorrow?”



“I live at the old shrine in MA- 4,” Kgaome told him, trying to remember the new Military Area that her home resided in, “and okonomiyaki, if you like!” she blurted out.



Looking back, she knew, even then, that it was a mistake.



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I'll think about that later, she shook the thought of Naraku from her musings. There was a knock on the door, and Kagome handed out her orders until the sun went down.



As she watched the old grocer take his load down her steps, Kagome stood at the front door, watching the sun and clouds fight for dominance. The streets were near empty but for a few women walking with shopping bags and a soldier stationed at the far western corner of the block. The cold air pricked her face, and Kagome left the outside world behind after discerning that the mail basket was empty.




Time to give Inuyasha his bath.