InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ If You Are Not The One ❯ You Take the Breath Right Out of Me ( Chapter 23 )

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

IF YOU ARE NOT THE ONE

Chapter Twenty-Three: You Take the Breath Right Out of Me

LIME CONTENT ON THE FOLLOWING CHAPTER...

So sacrifice yourself, and let me have what's left.
I know that I can find the fire in your eyes.
I'm going all the way, get away, please.

You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
'cause I will be the death of you.

This will be all over soon.
Pour salt into the open wound.
Is it over yet? Let me in.

So sacrifice yourself, and let me have what's left.
I know that I can find the fire in your eyes.
I'm going all the way, get away, please.

You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
'cause I will be the death of you.

-Breaking Benjamins's Breathe-

“Hi there kid, how come you're all alone?”

A middle-age man asked as he approached a redhead boy who sat on the ledge of the sidewalk late at night, his little body hunched over and face buried in his arms. From the sound of it, the man could tell that the little boy was crying uncontrollably, alone in front of an old run down building. The apartment structure had been abandoned for sometime now from the look of it, the man glanced at it and noticed that the entire third floor had caught on fire; for it was ashy black and completely destroyed. The boy sniffled and wiped his eyes over his arm sleeve before glancing over at the strange man who stood next to him, tear tracks running down his chubby cheeks.

“Because no—no one in this world wants me,” He finally managed to say between sobs.

The man sat down next to the kid on the edge of the sidewalk. “Why would no one want you, you look like a pretty decent kid to me.” He asked before placing a hand on the kid's shoulder. Shippo flinched at the sudden physical contact and looked up at the stranger. His big emerald eyes were swollen red and puffy from hours of crying.

“How should I know? One minute everything is fine and the next I'm being put for adoption for the fifth time.” He admitted longingly needing a person to talk to. Inuyasha had always told him to never talk to strangers but Inuyasha was no longer here and Shippo did not want to dwell thinking about his older cousin who no longer wanted him around. He briefly glanced over his shoulders at the building behind him and whimpered at the look of what was left of his home. The same apartment where he lived with his biological parents when they had been alive years ago. And now it barely stood but completely demolished from the inside.

The man nodded in an understanding way. “That sounds harsh, but you know what though? I can help you.” He assured the little boy.

Shippo gave him a puzzled look, “how so Mr.?” He whimpered and sniffled back a sob, his nose all runny.

The stranger took a moment to laugh thought Shippo did not understand what the man was laughing about, he hadn't said anything funny so why was he laughing? “Come with me, I know many other kids about your age who would not mind some company and a new friend.” The man explained a grin plastered on his face.

“Where exactly?”

The man looked grimly at his shoulders, to the right and to the left. They were the only two people in this part of town, not a single soul was within a mile radius except for the occasional car or two that passed by every fifteen minutes. “My place, I have a big swimming pool, a puppy and all the toys you could ever wish for.” Then he pointed towards a dim alley located to their left about ten feet away, it was a dead-end. The man grabbed Shippo's arm and pulled him to his feet without much force, the kid was feather light for a seven year old boy.

“Let's go kid; you will always have a home with me.” He said, never letting go his arm.

Shippo wiggled his arm from his hold, eventually yanking with all his might but his efforts were fruitless. “You're creepy and I don't trust creepy people!” His hold around his arm tightened at once.

The man narrowed his eyes. “Nonsense, now come, let's go.” Not listening, Shippo screamed to the top of his lungs only to cause the man to quickly place an arm around the boy's body and roughly placed a hand over his mouth, not wanting to attract any attention from any of the surrounding neighbors nearby. He wasn't exactly at best terms with the police and that was the last thing he needed.

The boy shook his head violently to get rid of the sweaty hand assaulting his mouth, and wiggled aggressively before he sunk his teeth sharply on the palm of his hand. The man yelped in pain and instantly let go on the boy who fell to the floor at once. Shippo hastily stumbled to get up and took this opportunity to run for it as fast as his two little legs could carry him. Weeping unrestrained, he ran desperately trying to get away from his attacker, he could feel it coming as blood pulsed vastly thought his veins and his heart pounded wildly in his ribcage nonstop. He felt it as it neared him, as it approached him from behind, death.

He was too young, too little to die. He couldn't die yet he still had plenty of things to experience. He'd give anything to be with the people he knew, Sango, Miroku, Sakura and Inuyasha. All he wanted was to feel his own bed comforter around his body, desperate to feel the contentment of his safe navy blue bedroom walls around him. “Inuyasha help!” He cried out loud hopelessly as his ran down the street, his mind was foggy for he was loosing his head.

But before he could reach the street light ahead, no more than a couple feet away, he was forcefully pulled back as the man had caught hold of his shirt. Shippo felt the blood leave his face. “Let go you freak!” Shippo shrieked and tried his best to yank free from the man's grasp. But his eyes widen abruptly when he felt as the man put an arm around his neck before placing a handkerchief over his mouth and nose, blocking air from reaching his lungs indefinitely.

Shippo cried hysterically thought there was no point, he tried to scream and wobble from his clutch but it was no use. His vision was starting to blur and he was beginning to loose consciousness slowly, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. The last thing he recalled was seeing a silver flash.

Just then, unexpectedly the man received a blow to the head and let go of the unconscious boy who fell with a thud on the concrete surface. Inuyasha pulled the man back and threw him on the isolated street like a sack of potatoes. His expression was furious; both his eyebrows narrowed to form one, his lips made a thin line and his amber eyes held the rage of a mass murderer. Kagome ran from behind him out of nowhere and scooped up Shippo's body that lay on the floor and into her arms, possessively wrapping him up in her embrace.

Inuyasha clenched his fist and walked towards the man who was currently at the process of standing up. “Don't you dare lay a fucking hand on him again asshole or I will chop it off for you!” Eyes fierce Inuyasha growled and punched the individual square on the face. His nose, which appeared to have been broken many times before, spurted blood all over and he dropped to the ground suddenly.

Again the man managed to get up before smirking weakly as he coughed some blood launched towards Inuyasha. “So you want to fight? Let's see what you got!" He threw a punch at Inuyasha's direction, but his reflexes were quick to dodge the attack. When he turned back, unfortunately his next blow glanced off his head and he was able to actually deflect a strong front kick by simply flinching as he lunged backwards while grabbing Inuyasha's shirt.

He was going for his knife when he didn't throw any more punches, realizing what his opponent was obviously capable of. Inuyasha quickly punched him again and broke his face and as he was falling backwards to the ground, he kicked the man so hard he puked all over himself. Kagome watched from behind with a horror-struck expression.

“People like you disgust me,” Inuyasha's brusque tone was not generous; he walked again towards the man groaning on the ground.

“Please—please have mercy, don't kill me!” The man pleaded desperately as he attempted to back away and held his arms over his head.

Shippo's eyes fluttered open and he moaned from the pain that erupted from the back of his throbbing head when he had been dropped carelessly on the cement. “Shippo!” Kagome squealed when he blankly started into her eyes.

Shippo then looked around and spotted Inuyasha who had his back to him; Inuyasha's fist had loosened at the sound of Shippo name. “Sakura! Inuyasha!” Shippo cried out after registering in his mind what had just happened.

“Sakura take him away, as far away from here as possible.” Kagome nodded at once and with Shippo in her arms, she ran away from the scene. With tears threatening to spill from his eyes, Shippo watched over her shoulders as Inuyasha took out his cell phone, his attacker lay coughing blood on the street as he held his sides.

When they approached a bench at a deserted bus stop, Kagome sat Shippo down and kneeled so that her face was at the same height as his. “You had us scared there, Are you alright?” She shook him slightly from his dazed expressionless face and he flinched before gazing at her eyes with a frantic look.

He threw himself on her arms and let Kagome embrace him as she put her arms around him and hugged him back tightly to assure him the worst was over. “I'm—I'm fine, I almost thought I was a goner!” He sobbed, more tears streaming down his flushed cheeks.

“While Inuyasha and I are here no one's harming you ever again I promise.” Shippo wrapped his arms around her neck and whimpered on the crock of her neck.

“I wanna go home.” He whispered as he pulled away and Kagome held his little hands in hers.

“We will baby, Inuyasha will take you to his—”

He interrupted. “No! I don't want to go back to Inuyasha's apartment, he doesn't want me there.”

“Of course he does, you have to understand that he only wants what's best for you. Your cousin cares for you Shippo.” Kagome insisted but he shook his head aggressively, not willing of going back where he was clearly not wanted.

“No he doesn't care anymore, he's not even my real cousin, I don't have a family, and I never did.” He told her pleadingly, a pained look in his eyes. Poor Shippo, he's never had a stable home before...at least not until Inuyasha.

“That's not true; he's scared that he isn't the best cousin he can be for you. He loves you Shippo, no matter how mean he may be sometimes, no matter how much teasing he may do, in the end he only wants what's best for you.” She assured him and wiped away a tear with her thumb.

“But he said he would put me up for adoption,” Kagome helped him up and they walked towards the direction of Inuyasha's car, parked less than a block away, hand in hand.

Kagome knew that he didn't understand now, but maybe once day he would see things from Inuyasha's perspective, who only though of Shippo and the bad example he believed himself to be. When they reach the vehicle, Kagome saw Inuyasha who leaned against the passenger seat of his car with his hands tucked in his pockets; she smiled weakly at his hurt-filled expression but his attention remained on the body of the little boy she held hands with.

“Something tells me Shippo that he won't ever make you go to a different family again.” Kagome whispered to Shippo who nodded and looked up to meet Inuyasha's eyes.

“Um…Inuyasha?”

“Yeah runt?”

“Please take us home, I want Sakura to tuck me in tonight.” He whispered and Kagome squeezed his little hand.

“Whatever you say kid.” Inuyasha's expression was hard to read as he opened the passenger seat for them to get in. Kagome sat on the back seat with Shippo; she buckled his seatbelt and watched as Inuyasha got in the driver's seat.

“Oh and Inuyasha?” Shippo asked quietly.

“Yeah Shippo?”

“I forgive you.” He said softly.

“Keh…” Inuyasha grumbled under his breath. From the rearview mirror, Kagome caught trace of his relieved expression and the way his eyes softened; with a small but significant smile tugging from the corner of his beautiful lips as he took off into the night.

**********

She eyed the place for Inuyasha and found him with a pool stick, sulking with a beer bottle in one hand; he was deep in thought and failed to notice Kagome enter the room. “Poor kid, he finally fell asleep; oh and I hope you don't mind that I helped myself to one.” Kagome held the soda in the air for him to see.

“Whatever.” He said unenthusiastically and held his cold beer bottle to his lips.

He sighed avoiding her eyes. “Damn it, you're right, this is all my fucking fault. I should have never listened to Sesshomaru in the first place.”

“You mean this was his idea?” He let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.

“He thought it would be best. I'm just pissed that I let Shippo out of my sight, I should have been more careful, I should have never insisted that he—”

Kagome cut in before he continued to down everything on himself. “Cheer up big guy, don't beat yourself up over it. The important thing is that we found him.” He sighed with relief, glad that they had gotten there on time; otherwise he would have never forgiven himself.

“I guess so; thanks for you're help.” He sincerely looked for her eyes now, his voice appreciative.

Kagome smiled and placed her unfinished soda on a corner of the pool tables' edge, she then walked on over to where he stood at the other side of the pool table. “Hey Inuyasha, mind of I play?” She grabbed his pool stick from his right hand and smirked as she patted him on the back.

“You know how to play against a big man little girl?” He teased amusedly.

“It's been a while, though I don't see a man in here, do you?” She smirked as he raised a brow.

“Well love, just bend down and I'll prove it to ya.” He protested patting the pool table suggestively.

Kagome frowned. “What is it with you macho man always trying to prove everything?”

He ignored her and set the pool table ready for a new game. “Don't worry about calling your shots,” Inuyasha said, stepping back.

“All right.” Kagome bent over the pool table, holding her cue awkwardly under her left arm. “Help me?” She gave him a sexy grin. Her skirt rose upward giving him a better view of her long toned legs.

He groaned mentally. “Don't try anything funny Mr.” She warned playfully as he walked over to her and placed the beer on the table out of their way.

“Who's trying wench?” He chortled at her expression.

“It's Sakura so learn it!” Inuyasha's face altered at she watched.

“What can I say? Old habits die hard princess.” He stood behind her to guide her shot and leaned forward.

He took a step closer, daring no more. Her sweet fragrance tempted him to take another step forward. “Grip the end of the stick lightly.”

“All right,” she loosened her hold on the cue and then propped the stick across the knuckles of her right hand.

“Like this.” He lifted the cue off her table hand. “The stick needs to glide lightly across your skin. This hand is just to steady the stick while you push and aim with your left hand.” He repositioned her cue so that it rested between her right index finger and thumb. “Use your other fingers for stabilization.”

“Now I remember.” She flashed him a brief smile before taking the shot. The cue ball bounced harmlessly off the bumpers. “Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.” She puckered a brow.

“That's alright, try again.” He encouraged full heartedly.

Kagome walked along the two free sides of the table, her hips swinging from side to side in a very sensual way thought it was clearly in her nature and she did not know how much effect it had on him. The other two sides were hemmed in by the corner of the room. “I've got a shot,” she said, taking aim from a new location. “I'm going for the thirteen. Maybe it'll get into the pocket if I hit it just off center.”

“Remember your table hand is just a guide. The power comes from your shooting arm, so judge how hard you need to hit the ball.” He gazed at her cautiously.

“Watch thirteen,” she said, sparing a look at him before returning her focus to the table, her dark long and straight hair fanning against her cheek. She pushed the stick forward in practice a couple of times, and then she made her shot. Her aim was true, but she'd hit the cue ball too hard, and the thirteen ball bounced off the rim of the pocket.

“Great shot!” He meant it. “You want to go again?”

“No, it's your turn. I'll watch and try to pick up some pointers.”

Inuyasha took his shot, and the cue ball smacked against the three-ball, which tumbled into the right center pocket.

“Go again,” Kagome encouraged. “No need to give me extra turns.”

“Practice is the only way to get better,” he protested, but he had lined up his next shot the moment she urged him to take another turn. “Four-ball.” He took one of the short sticks down from the rack and went to the far side of the table next to the wall. “I should have gotten a smaller table,” he lamented. “It would have been easier to play in here.”

“But it wouldn't have been what you wanted,” she responded.

She seemed to understand him though they rarely agreed on things. “I guess so.”

“See I told you I was good.” Kagome reminded him triumphant twenty minutes later as the eight-ball ran into the pocket successfully.

“Beginner's luck I'm sure,” He commented before taking a sip of his beer.

“You want to put your money where your mouth is?” Kagome challenged somewhat bored leaning against the table, her stick in both hands.

“I swear God is plotting against me.” He commented and Kagome laughed.

“Aww don't be such a sore loser Inuyasha,” Kagome stood next to him.

“Who said anything about that!?” His eyebrows winced pulling together.

“Calm down I was just saying...so how old are you if you don't mind me asking?” Kagome had always wondered how old he was, never having asked Sango about it. As a matter of fact, they rarely talked about Inuyasha's personal life. Perhaps Sango preferred things if Kagome asked him herself.

“Twenty-nine in August,” he answered displeased for some reason, he never liked to give his age out like some cookie sample.

She was taken back for a second to allow the new information to sink in. Inuyasha did not look like he was in his late twenties, but more like not a day over twenty-one. “Wow, honestly you don't look it.”

“You're very observant.” He said in a casual tone, indicating something else.

“Jerk…I just thought since Sango was twenty-seven that you were younger.” She admitted.

He laughed for a moment and gulped down the last of his beer with a satisfied look. “Do you have any idea why beer is way better than women Sakura?” He asked as he set the beer down for one last time.

Kagome shrugged. “Enlighten me Einstein.”

“Well for one thing, you always know if you are the first one to open a beer. A beer never gets jealous if you grab another beer. A beer never gets angry if you show up smelling of beer. The colder a beer is the better. You can always share a beer with your friends. A beer does not get upset if you arrive at 3 a.m. And you can choose a beer from the case and, if you change your mind, you can pick another one. It's as simple as that.”

“That is a pathetic excuse.”

“It's a proven fact.” He looked slightly amused.

“And where on earth did you learn that?” Kagome wondered.

“Miroku.” He grinned repentant.

“Figures, men and their sexist jokes.”

“That wasn't sexist whatsoever that was actually worth a good laugh.”

She tilted her head slightly and grinned. “Har har.”

“Humorless wench.” He said disapprovingly yet very much entertained nevertheless.

Kagome smiled in a way that caught his breath. “Thanks Inuyasha, honestly.” She complimented softly.

“For what? For calling you a wench?” He asked hesitant though she could feel the skepticism on his golden eyes.

“No idiot, for just being you.” she flashed another one of her stunning smiles.

Inuyasha's next shot was true, and number four went directly to the pocket next to Kagome on the outside of the table. But it didn't sink all the way, didn't rumble down the ball track to the retrieval area. “What's up with that pocket?” he asked.

She plucked the ball out of the hole. “There's something stuck in here.” Her hand disappeared into the table, and she started laughing. “You missing something?”

Before he saw what she had found, he knew what it had to be. The unmistakable ring of his house keys sounded as she jiggled them in his direction. “Who keeps their keys in the pool table?”

Inuyasha had been using Shippo's house keys for the last few weeks since he had lost them this one time he got drunk with Miroku. "I've been looking for them forever, give them here." He reached for them but she took her hand away quickly from his grasp, a teasing look in her eyes.

“Why don't you try and get them?” Kagome tempted him playfully.She's absolutely breathtaking, Inuyasha thought helplessly to her alluring lively personality and attractive body he could not disregard from his mind no matter how hard he tried. He eyed her body; from her collarbone, to her beautiful set of mounds covered by her top, her slim waist and to the curve of her hips, she was a mouthwatering creature. He licked his lips as he approached her and stopped a foot away from her.

Kagome watched as he moved towards her in a hypnotized kind of way, not being able to comprehend his expression. “I can't hold back...I can't take it anymore.” He whispered to her and she swallowed hard the lump in her suddely parched throat.

“What's wrong?” She looked deep in his golden orbs as he gazed back to hers, still holding on to his keys. His heart jumped into his throat as he caught her eyes, so warm and alive.

“You.”

Unable to defy the forbidden fruit, he conceded defeat and temptation had won.

He no longer could continue to resist and refrain against the magnitude of its gravity.

Inuyasha felt the euphoria return as he looked down and smiled coyly. Out of nowhere and completely taking Kagome by surprise, he pulled her to him and kissed her bottom lip before putting it between his lips and sucking gently. She dropped his keys which landed on the floor carelessly; his actions were completely overpowering and capable of loosing one's sanity to.

Mindlessly or more so instinctively, she arched her neck for better excess, letting her hair fall away and down her back. Her lips parted in anticipation. He kissed her on the shoulder, then her exposed collarbone, and several more times up her neck; he continued up to her jaw but she turned to intercept his mouth with hers. She pulled him tightly against her body, pressing herself into him, feeling the strength of his embrace and needing more of his touch. They backed up on the table in a very uncomfortable position, but that did not stop him from kissing her ardently and sliding his hands to her back to pull her firmly against his chest.

She couldn't think openly anymore, her mind muddled from so many of his fervent kisses. Grabbing her he hauled her against him and planted a hungry kiss on her lips over and over. Kissing her passionately he wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed her even closer, letting her feel how much he wanted her.

He stuck his tongue in her mouth as they battled for dominance hungrily and pulled Kagome on top of the pool table, her legs wrapped around his waist. Kagome trembled under his over-powering assault, kissing him back just as fiercely before jerking out of his embrace. But before she could come to reason, Inuyasha kissed her back fervently once more and their kiss quickly turned into a series of hungry passionate kisses. As Inuyasha's mouth moved from her mouth to her ear she slid her arms around his neck then down his back. Rubbing herself against him restlessly she began to nibble on his neck and he let out a ragged moan.

Inuyasha groaned in her ear and pulled back a bit, reaching for the hem of her turquoise shirt. Pulling it off her, he caught his breath as he saw her ample breasts heaving under his heated gaze. Lowering his head he kissed the top of her breasts letting her shirt fall on the pool table as he griped her hips with his hand and ground into her. Teasing her keenly, he kissed and licked her breasts through her bra, avoiding her hardened nipples. Sliding his hands from her hips to her back he undid her bra and pushed it off her onto the table beneath them.

Kagome arched her back and her head was thrown backwards as Inuyasha's hands cup her full breasts, and she gasped at the way they perfectly fit in his oversized hands. She felt like she couldn't get enough of him. Inuyasha fondled her breasts and squeezed them gently, loving the feel of them in his hands.

Bending his head he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked eagerly. Moving his hand down to her legs, his fingertips traced the length of her long creamy legs and massaged her thigh. That was precisely when realization came to her, that very moment when he had touched her thigh and was about to go further in, that was when her hands untangled themselves from his neck automatically and her eyes widen with realization.

Inuyasha stopped and stared at her skeptically, not understanding why she ruined the heated moment so all of a sudden. “Inuyasha please take me home.” She mumbled in his ear and placed a hand on his chest to indicate that she had had enough passion for one night. Vulnerably and utterly speechless, he nodded.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND CO. I REPEAT...THEY DO NOT BELONG TO ME WHATSOEVER, ONLY TO THE VERY TALENTED MISS RUMIKO TAKAHASHI.

A/N: My favorite chapter so far ;)

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