InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Close Quarters ❯ Reaching Your Level ( Chapter 9 )

Thank you guys so much for you're support! As you can see... I'm back! As soon as I got finished with chapter 8, I started on chapter 9. So here it is! Unfortunately, it's very short. I'm glad you liked it! This chapter is shorter than most, but will be just as good... I hope... Well, on to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter 9: Reaching Your Level

"It's just a few cuts, Kagome. I'm fine."

Inuyasha sat shirtless on the ground, fresh bandages patched across his chest, arms and shoulders.

Kagome shook her head, not looking up from where she was carefully bandaging his hand.

"It's my fault you were hurt." She insisted. "The least I can do is take care of your wounds." She ducked her head lower as if she were inspecting her work.

Inuyasha drew one leg up, propping his other arm on his raised knee. He watched her carefully, as if she would suddenly disappear. He had almost let her slip through his fingers once, and he wasn't going to let it happen again. The sky was overcast, making it very dark; the only light provided by the dying fire. The rest of their party had bedded down long ago, but Kagome had refused to sleep until she had made sure Inuyasha was completely checked over. He gazed intensely at her face; seeing the tears welling in her eyes, he pulled his hand away.

"Damn it, Kagome. I've told you a thousand times already. It's not your fault. I didn't have to rescue you." He paused for a moment. "Okay, well... yes I did. But you know what I mean." He scrubbed at his face with his good hand. "Please don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry."

Kagome sniffled for a few seconds, but managed to dry her tears on her sleeve.

"Sorry." She glanced cautiously at his face. "Um... Can you roll over on your side? I have to take care of that burn." She spoke quietly, reaching out to gesture at one of the burns made by Midori's energy blasts.

Inuyasha said nothing, but rolled over, resting his head on her bag.

Kagome picked up a bottle of disinfectant and soaked a clean cloth in the cool liquid. Then she capped the bottle, placing it back in her first aid kit. By now Inuyasha knew that it was going to sting, so she skipped the warning, and as gently as she could began to dab at the damaged area. She felt his muscles tense as the medicine met the sensitive tissue.

"Sorry."

Inuyasha shifted slightly. He hated the smell of that stuff, and felt relieved when she pulled the cloth away. Inuyasha knew the routine by now, and wasn't surprised when he felt her fingers gently smoothing some sort of cold, gooey substance across his tender skin. Supposedly it `helped fight infection' or whatever. Next came some gauze, then she would pick up the bandages and lay them with careful precision across the wound. Then her hands would gently massage at the bandages, encouraging them to stay in place. Her hands felt warm and comforting as they worked slowly upon his side. He yawned.

"You know, Inuyasha..."

"Mmhmm...?"

Kagome hesitated.

"Well, I really am sorry.

There was a muffled, sleep-clogged grunt before he spoke.

"S'op sayin' sorry." He mumbled.

Kagome inhaled deeply to steady herself.

"But I am." She spoke, and before he could interject, she continued. "Just listen for a minute. Please?" When he didn't reply, she sighed, searching for where to begin. "I know you think I did it just to make you mad, but when Kaede first suggested the beads, I agreed in hoping that being stuck to me would make you open up to me more. Well, I guess that kind of worked. But anyway, I didn't realize that it would be putting us both in danger. The only reason you were hurt was because Midori was after me. And he had to go through you to get what he wanted."

Inuyasha, for once is his life, appeared to have decided to pay attention.

"If only I hadn't gotten in the way. You wouldn't have been hurt. I'm always in the way. Even before this whole mess started, I was always the cause of trouble." She paused as she heard a quiet snore. Looking closer at the half-demon beside her, she found out that not only wasn't he listening...

`He's asleep!' She thought, almost indignant.

"Oh, Inuyasha. That battle really must have taken a lot out of you." She turned to pick up his robe from where she had left it after changing into some spare clothes. Spreading it carefully over his prone form, she gently tucked it in around him. "That was my fault to. If only I had put up a fight when I first realized something was wrong, I might have been able to escape and you wouldn't have had to fight. You're always fighting for me. Standing up for me. Protecting me. I wish I could return the favor."

She jumped as Inuyasha snorted. Rolling over, he was sprawled against her backpack, his face tilted back, exposing his relaxed features framed by his silver mane.

Kagome smiled, barely resisting the urge to touch him.

Unbeknownst to Kagome, his last toss had woken him up, and he was now listening to her soft voice. Her words echoed in his ears, and he felt like he was in another world. His head was dizzy and clear at the same time. Whatever Kagome had given him earlier was having a weird side effect on his half-demon body. Fighting the urge to shake his head, he managed to catch what she said next.

"I can only hope that you'll forgive me for being such a nuisance. I never realized how much I was taking advantage of your own beads. I never realized how much it must hurt to be continuously slammed into the ground. And I'm supposed to be your friend. A real friend wouldn't hurt you like that. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. From now on I'll really try not to use them against you like I have been. I had no right. I'm so sorry. But, except for the fact that you were injured because of me, I don't regret it at all. In fact I enjoyed it. Being able to stay close to you without needing an excuse. It was wonderful." Her fingers reached out to brush across his cheek. "I can't thank you enough. For being so strong, so brave." Her voice began to tremble. "So tolerant. Just like I haven't been. How can you stand me? I treat you so badly, and yet you're always right by my side. You are truly unreal." She leaned down and gently kissed his forehead. "Thank you."

Inuyasha, having taken all this in, was hosting a battle in his own clouded mind. Half of him wanted to ignore what she had said, and the other was screaming for him to take action. His colder side took note about how she was always yelling at him, and how maybe she was just lying. But the more logical side, the side where Kagome was always on his thoughts, retorted with a comment of it's own.

`And what of Kikyou? You constantly play the part of someone who cares greatly for Kagome. But just one mention of the priestess's name and you're off like a shot to find her. And yet Kagome is always right beside you, ready to pick you up when Kikyou leaves you behind. Is that not worth the feelings she deserves but you try so hard to hide?'

Damn. That was a kick to the crotch if he'd ever felt one.

Kagome jumped as a hand suddenly pressed again her neck. She turned with a start to see Inuyasha gazing at her through half lidded eyes. He pushed himself with his other arm into a reclining position. The hand on her neck slid upwards to tangle into her hair as he sat all the way up. Through the fog in his mind he reached out and drew her towards him with the other hand.

"Inuyasha!" She gasped.

His gaze never faltered as he leaned towards her.

"Kagome." He stated quietly, closing the distance between them.

And then their lips met. A soft, chaste touch, barely there.

Kagome pulled back.

"Inuyasha..."

He silenced her by placing his lips more firmly against hers. For a moment longer she stayed frozen before backing off again.

"Inuyasha... What are you doing?"

His eyes opened slightly to search her wide, confused blue ones. His hands moved to grasp her upper arms, bringing her closer still.

"Kissing you."

Kagome blinked.

"...Oh."

And Inuyasha claimed her lips again.

Kagome slowly melted into his embrace, her hands moving to press against his chest. Her eyes fluttered closed.

Inuyasha's lips moved softly against hers. Comforting, soothing, but not demanding, or expectant. His hands cradled her face as he pulled back, gauging her reaction.

Kagome gazed up at him with an expression still unsure. She didn't resist when he guided her to lie down beside him.

"Stay with me tonight, please. Just so I can be sure no one else is going to steal you away from me."

Kagome nodded silently against his chest as he covered them both with his robe; his arms coming to rest around her waist. This new side of Inuyasha was strange, and she didn't know what to make of it. It must have had something to do with the medication she'd given him. But it would pass... unfortunately, it would pass...

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Inuyasha awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. Sitting up, he tore the bandages from his almost completely healed wounds. He stretched, various bones cracking as they were loosened after a good nights sleep. Looking around at the campsite, he realized that it wasn't Kagome bustling around the fire, but Sango. Kagome herself was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh! Good morning, Inuyasha!" Sango called, looking up from the pot she was stirring. "Feeling better?"

"Um... yeah." He did a double check of the campsite. "Where's Kagome?"

"Kagome?" She paused to think for a minute. "Oh yeah! She said she was going back to her time and she didn't want to wake you. She left about half an hour ago."

Inuyasha sighed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. She never left without telling him unless something was really wrong. Had he scared her off?

"Damn." He rubbed the back of his sore neck. "I've got a lot of explaining to do... or apologizing... or something..."

And that's it for now! Sorry it's so short! I'm gonna get right on the next chapter, so don't forget to review! Check back soon for Chapter 10: Get a Good Grip...