InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hope to a Future ❯ Hard to Hate, Hard to Love... ( Chapter 2 )

Hope to a Future

Disclaimer; I do not own InuYasha or any of its characters, etc, they belong to Rumiko Takahashi.

I have big plans for this story, and it's nice to get away from homework for a while. I'd really appreciate some constructive criticism as I'm not totally happy with my writing style and I'm sure you guys can give me a hand with that ;)

A big kiss to Ladydot, who was my only reviewer : ( but I'll take quality over quantity. Thanks for the enthusiasm and support, it's very much appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to read this; I'm really enjoying writing it.

Hard to Hate, Hard to Love...

 

It was a darker afternoon by the time Kagome reached her home again. Passing the stables she noted her husband's horse, Kinryu, had been returned. So he's definitely home, she thought, is it so wrong that I wish he was gone longer?

 

She slid the shoji door to the main room open, smiling to Komuko as stumbled past with bundles of cloth. The room was small, square and set down from the corridor she had just passed along. Her husband sat, with his legs crossed, near the open lathed door that led to her favourite veranda. He cupped a small bowl of cha in his hands.

 

He was a tall man, broad though lean, and his face was handsome and smooth. His dark hair fell over his eyes, and having rarely been cut, was bound loosely at the back. He was a soft, sensitive man and Kagome could not fault his adoration of her.

 

“How was your trip Shuji?” Kagome asked, watching the birds beyond the doors fly freely around the gardens.

 

He looked up, noticing her for the first time; he had been in deep thought. He smiled gently, patting the floor beside him with his large, soft hands. “I missed you.”

 

Kagome smiled and sat on her knees beside him. “Did you meet with your father?”

 

“Yes,” he replied and frowned.

 

“What's wrong?” She asked, though she knew meetings with his father rarely went well.

 

“There were some important issues raised, things I need to decide.”

 

“Oh?” Kagome said softly, hoping to coax some more information from him.

 

“Yes,” he said, pausing to drink his tea. “How has your week been in my absence?”

 

Not long enough, she thought as he placed a hand on her knee, but she replied, “Too long,” smiled, and placed a hand upon his.

 

He laughed gently, “I'm sorry for leaving for so long, Kagome-chan, but you know how my father is. I shall have to make up for the time I have lost with you.”

 

She smiled, blushing lightly. “Was your brother there?”

 

Shuji's smile faltered momentarily, “Yes,” he said, and then leaned over to place a kiss upon her lips. “But let's not discuss it right now, I've missed you.”

 

“Shuji,” Kagome sighed softly, leaning into his embrace. His hands gently found their way between her robes, smoothing down the skin of her breasts, and they were warm against her cold flesh. They were too warm, too soft.

 

And without another word he picked her up, carrying her to their bed chamber.

 

1

 

It was late when she roused but it was not yet night. Sliding from underneath the sweaty arms that held her to the futon, Kagome searched for her discarded scarlet robes but they were gone. Komuko has been, she thought. Silently she pulled a soft silk kimono from her bed-chest and crept onto the veranda.

 

Kagome sat upon the edge just as she had with InuYasha the night previous and closed her eyes. It was so cold and the scent of icy dew and the barely sweet loquats soothed her troubled mind. Slowly the tears fell, a droplet gliding down the bridge of her nose and slipping from the end to land upon her hand.

 

“Kagome-chan?”

 

She quickly rubbed away the tears, steadying herself with breaths of cool evening air. “Yes Shuji?”

 

The doors slid open once more, Shuji still tying his brown robes about himself. He sat beside her, clasping his hands in his lap. “Why did you not lay with me longer? It is a cold night and yet you would rather be here than in my embrace?” He asked her softly.

 

She sniffed. “I was too warm Shuji. I just needed some air, some space.”

 

He looked at her closely and pulled her under his arm, “Have you been crying Kagome?” He trailed his fingers lightly upon her cheeks.

 

She said nothing but another tear dropped from the tip of her nose.

 

“Don't cry, please, tell me what is troubling you.”

 

Kagome swallowed the burning feeling in her throat and looked up to him, wiping her tears once more upon her sleeve. “Oh, I'm just sad for my friend,” she lied, pulling away from his embrace.

 

“Sango-san?” He asked.

 

“Yes… She is in love.”

 

He laughed, “And why does this make you cry for her? Is she not happy?”

 

“She cannot marry the man she loves.”

 

“Why not? Does he not love her in return? Will he not marry her?”

 

“Yes, he loves her dearly, but he won't marry her yet. There are things in the way that need to be resolved first.”

 

“Can she not wait until these… `things' have been seen to?”

 

“She has been waiting a long time. It's been almost two years now.” Kagome said, looking into the gardens, following the gentle spirals of a blossom in the wind.

 

“Then what are a few more years?”

 

“Things have become a little more complicated recently.”

 

Shuji sighed, “I'm sorry Kagome, I wish your friend did not have such misfortune, but you should stay strong for her. No tears.” He wiped her face again with his slender thumb. His smile was soft as he tried to comfort her, but she did not speak, nor did she smile in return, so he added, “Sango-san is a strong and beautiful woman herself, she will be fine.”

 

Kagome looked up from the trees and finally smiled to him, “Thank you Shuji.” She replied and placed her hand on his; he sighed again.

 

“I cannot imagine seeing the one I love everyday, knowing I could not be with them.” He said pulling her towards him again, missing the little droplets that landed in his lap and wet his kimono.

 

2

 

The sun had set as Kagome reached Sango's home. It was silent, but the harsh flicker of a lantern lit the window; the top half of the shoji was still swung up from that morning.

 

“Sango?” Kagome tapped on the door again, looking around at the smaller gardens.

 

The lathed door slid open, Miroku quickly ushering her inside. His clothes were disorganised, layered improperly and Kagome smiled slyly, now knowing why Sango had forgotten to close the windows that afternoon. “Miroku, isn't that what got you into trouble in the first place?” She laughed.

 

He looked down at his clothes and sighed, “Excuse me Kagome. Sango will be right out, help yourself to some tea.” Then he left through a small corridor to the left, she barely heard the doors sliding closed behind him.

 

“Kagome!”

 

“Sango, I came to see how you were after the little announcement yesterday.” Kagome said and poured her some cha from the tea caddy in the hearth.

 

Sango frowned when Kagome handed her the cup, looking irritated. “Miroku!” She shouted, “How could you make our guest serve her own tea!” She looked back at Kagome, “I'm really sorry Kagome; sometimes it's blatantly obvious that monk was raised only by men.”

 

“It's OK Sango, really, Miroku was a little… indecent for company.” Kagome reassured, pulling the woman into sitting beside her.

 

“Indecent?” She asked, looking confused, then angry. “I hope he didn't answer the door wearing no-”

 

“No! No! Nothing like that!” Kagome quickly interrupted, “His robes were just in the wrong order.”

 

Sango blushed when Kagome laughed lightly, and drank some of her tea.

 

Kagome watched the slayer lay a hand across her belly and smiled. “So, how are you?”

 

She sighed, “I'm fine Kagome, honestly. Miroku and I had a long talk yesterday night and we both feel a lot better.”

 

Kagome reached out and placed a hand on Sango's, “I'm glad.” When Sango smiled in return Kagome spoke again, “Oh! I just remembered, here I brought you these.” She handed over a small bundle of dried herbs and greens.

 

“What are those?” Miroku asked from the doorway, his robes detangled and fixed appropriately.

 

Kagome looked up to him and then back to Sango, “They're for nausea, I thought Sango could use them.”

 

“But Kagome, I've been feeling fine.”

 

“Well, not all women get sick when they're pregnant; I suppose it's just down to luck... but better safe than sorry, right?” She laughed gently.

 

Sango laughed too, and hugged Kagome. “Thank you, I'm sure you're right.” She sat back again, “Have you thought about… having children? You'd make a great mother.”

 

Kagome coughed, and then stood uneasily. “Um, no I hadn't really thought about it I suppose,” she lied. “But really, I need to be going, there's another stop I need to make before I return home. I just came to see how you were and to drop those off.”

 

Sango frowned, “Okay, well be sure to come and visit tomorrow, I'll probably come around later that night. Miroku has to journey some ways west to a small village for an exorcism and I hate being alone here all day.” She was already picturing him making passes at the village women and knew after a few hours of his absence she'd have worried herself into anger; she knew Kagome's company would keep her mind busy.

 

“Yes Kagome, you're always welcome in our home.” Miroku said with a small bow. “Oh, and be careful, I heard talk of demon attacks in other towns and villages in the market this afternoon.”

 

“Really? That's strange, it's been so long.” I wonder if this has anything to do with Shuji's meetings with his father? I'll have to ask him later, she thought.

 

“Yes, well, just be careful.”

 

“Okay, thanks… and goodnight. Safe journey Miroku and I'll see you tomorrow Sango.” She waved one last time and walked out into the dark.

 

3

 

Sango's house was closer to the forest than her own so Kagome did not have to pass her home to reach InuYasha's house. When she arrived at his door she knew already that he was not there, but she stepped in with the hope that maybe he had listened to her, maybe.

 

“InuYa-” She stopped when she noticed the unlit hearth, undisturbed futon and lack of food in the small one-roomed home. Instead of calling out again she sighed and dropped a small parcel of tea herbs and rice beside the futon in the corner, and then she left for the forest.

 

Perhaps half an hour had passed, Kagome was unsure; the darkness had a way of distorting her perceptions. She was about to turn back when a loud growl sounded from her left, followed by, “Get out of the forest before I gut you like a fish.”

 

She recognised the voice instantly, and angry at his rudeness and threatening behaviour, shouted, “Fine! I only came to check if you were OK, but if you're gonna be like that!” But before she could leave a hand wrapped around her wrist and she tried to pulled away.

 

“What are you doing out here at this time of night? Are you crazy wench? Do you know how dangerous it is here?” He wasn't shouting but his fierce whispers caused her stop struggling.

 

“I just told you, I wanted to check you were OK. And what do you mean dangerous?” She half shouted, “We've hardly heard word of a demon or an attack, God, even a bandit, since Naraku disappeared and the daimyo announced his son's succession!”

 

He didn't reply.

 

“InuYasha, is there something you're not telling me?”

 

He still said nothing.

 

“Miroku mentioned something about demon attacks in nearby villages, but I thought it was just the usual small-time demon looking for his dinner. But you know something as well, and you're not telling me. Now what is it!” She grabbed hold of his upper arm and shook it in frustration. Why am I always left in the dark? Why does everyone think keeping me ignorant is protecting me? She thought.

 

“Come on and I'll start a fire. Then I'll explain what I know.”

“Fine.” And she let him lead her by the wrist off the beaten path and, as best she could tell in the darkness, through some damp shrubs into a clearing. The sticky dew licked her hands as she brushed against the leaves and when he lit a bundle of twigs and logs nearby she quickly threw a slug off her forearm in disgust.

 

He sat back, once more cradling tetsusaiga across his shoulder and covering his hands in the shroud of his haori. “There have been reports of nearby and distant villages being attacked by demons. I'd heard from some travellers, when they where passing through earlier, as well.”

 

The flames were burning in his dark and violent eyes.

 

Kagome looked thoughtfully to the skies, and then admired the shimmer of his black hair in the firelight as she spoke, “But there's always been the odd attack, I've heard Shu- people talking about about them every now and then. Why is everyone so concerned this time?”

 

InuYasha calmly fisted some twigs in his fingers, snapping them methodically into equal pieces. “The travellers said they haven't been taking anything; they've just been slaughtering whole villages of humans and destroying everything they can get their disgusting hands on.” He threw the wood into the fire, poking it savagely with another thick log.

 

Kagome looked confused. “Why would they do that? They have to be after something, they're always after something.”

 

“That's not the strange part.” This time his eyes met hers, and for a brief moment she thought she fear. And then it was gone; replaced by confusion, anger and sadness. Whatever it was, by his reaction, was making her tremble. Her heart was pounding and her mouth dry.

 

“What-” She cleared her throat to get rid of the nervous husk that held her throat, “What is it, InuYasha?”

 

“I went to check out the villages that were `attacked' yesterday before I arrived at your home.”

 

“And?”

 

He shifted closer. “Nothing.”

 

“What do you mean nothing?” She knew he could see her confusion and probably smell her nervousness, so why's he being so cryptic and taking so long to explain? She thought.

 

“I mean just what I said! Nothing!” He growled, “The villages were still standing, the villagers were OK, and there was absolutely no sign of any attack.”

 

Kagome couldn't speak because, of all the things she had anticipated him saying, that was not it and she wasn't sure what it meant. “So…”

 

“So someone's lying.” He growled.

 

“But why would they lie about something so horrible?” She was even more confused and somewhat disgusted.

 

He sighed softly and looked away. “I don't know, I haven't figured that out yet.” And for the first time she could see he was worried.

 

Cautiously her hand found his, and she pulled her body closer, resting her face against his sleeve; breathing in the sweaty, milky-sweet smell of his haori.

 

When he looked down from the stars he found her sleeping softly, small sighs bubbling through her barely parted lips. And he wanted to be closer, wanted to be far away. I should send her home, he thought, but reasoned to himself that it would be too dangerous on this moonless night and that he was in no fit state to protect her.

 

Instead of waking her he smiled and pulled her closer. He would not sleep on this night, but at least he wasn't alone.