InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Itching for Trouble ❯ Chapter 4

He sat on the lip of the well and watched as it glowed with her return. She had followed him, and he had to admit that it felt pretty damn good to know that she was at least interested in hearing him out. Jumping down the well after the light had faded, InuYasha carried Kagome out of the small well-house and sat her on his lap in his favorite branch of the Goshinboku. This was the closest they had been in a while and he was sure that he was blushing up a storm, but he didn't care anymore. He was sick of all the gentle touches and longing gazes that were supposed to imply so unknown feeling. His demoness had taught him a lot, but the most practical lesson was that if you wanted something to go after it. Kagome and he had danced around each other for much too long now, and with the Koga' and Hobo's of the world always interfering, he needed to know where he stood in her eyes. Now that he knew and had experienced something better, he was through with the games and needed to know where she wanted to go.

 

 

Sound with his thoughts, InuYasha redirected his attention to the small human in his lap, and noticed for the first time that she had again begun to shed tears. For him, for herself, he wasn't sure. But he did know that he was sick of them. He brought her up here to have a rational exchange, and tears were not a part of the program. If this was all she could do when she was in his presence then she could just head back down the well and cry to the others, they were always willing and waiting to bash him. Grabbing her chin in a firm hand, InuYasha lifted her head so that she could look him in the eye and said in a stern voice, "No more tears Kagome."

 

 

He didn't know if it was his tone that left no room for argument or the connection she claimed they had to each other's feelings, but her tears stopped immediately. Wiping her eyes dry she looked back up at him, and finally realized that this was it. He could see the wheels turning inside of her head as the gravity of the situation finally hit home, that this conversation would make or break their relationship before it even began. That everything that would be said now would determine their future, or lack there of, and he could smell her fear. The foul stench burned as it went down, and to keep from choking on it InuYasha drew her body a little closer to his own and whispered in her ear, "What do you want from me Kagome?"

 

 

Had she known that this was the conversation he wanted to have, she probably would have stayed in the Feudal Era. It terrified her that everything would depend on what was said here today and she was afraid that it would all go wrong. But she was here now, and InuYasha didn't look like he would be distracted, so she got the bowl rolling and asked, "Who is she?"

 

 

He couldn't even begin to hide the shock at her question, especially since she was watching him like a hawk. Opening his mouth to answer her, he sputtered for a minute as he forgot that he was the one who had initiated this confrontation and acquiesced to play defense. With eyes wide open, he tried to form a complete sentence when Kagome threw him a rope and continued, "Last night, I saw them." Knowing what she was referring to, InuYasha's eyes widen even more as a variety of scenes raced in his mind. He must have been too far away or busy to notice the soul collectors in the area, but if Kagome had seen them…

 

 

"I followed them, InuYasha. You had been extremely distant lately, and I didn't know what else to think, so I followed them to her." At his nod of encouragement, she continued. "I found her alone, she looked so sad and beautiful just lying there and I…but nothing was like it should be. You weren't there and she…she…I asked her if she needed anything, anything at all, and she told me you. That she only needed you, but…where were you InuYasha? Why weren't you there for Kikyo? Who is she InuYasha?" With her big blue eyes boring into his soul, InuYasha knew that he wouldn't be able to hold anything back from her. That he couldn't lie, for he had no desire to hide any parts of himself anymore. He had experienced true freedom and it was beautiful, and he would do whatever he could to keep it. Decided, he looked down at Kagome and reestablished their eye contact. Placing a claw on her delicate cheek, he brought her face closer to his as he found the words, "She is my freedom."

 

 

It would have been too much of him to ask her not to cry at his admission, so he waited for her while she expressed her feelings the only way she knew how. He knew her tears were more than just salt and water that they were her way of telling him that she cared, about his well being, about his happiness, about him. He held no punches when he explained the various degrees of "freedom" his demoness offered him, and Kagome's tears were an expected result of his honesty. Could he and the situation have done without them, of course, but he knew she needed to shed them, so he let her offering her his support with a steady hand against her back.

 

 

 

 

Her quiet tears betrayed none of the emotions, rage, anger, hurt, embarrassment, you name it, that fought for dominance inside of her. InuYasha's confession had cut her on many different levels and she didn't know which one she should begin with. Kikyo had always been a sore spot for her for obvious reasons, but she never thought that there would be someone else. Kikyo was his past and she was supposed to be his future, no matter what, where did this new demoness fit in? Did she really return to him all of the freedom she stole from him with the rosary and command? Was she his only escape from their group, from their quest, from her? Did he love her? She was too afraid to ask that outright, but from what he said, she knew that the demoness provided him things that she had not. And it was that fact that she wanted, no needed to change for him, for herself, for their future.

 

 

Drying her tears, Kagome sniffled for the last time and mentally prepared herself for the final showdown. He had told her all that had happened to him the last few months, and she would give him a proper response. After everything, they both deserved clarity if nothing else and she would provide it for the both of them. Despite both of their actions in the past, she knew what she wanted but now she just needed to let him in on it all. Games and subtlety no longer had a place between them and if she wanted a future with him in any shape or form, she would have to take the necessary steps to end them. And she would; starting now. Taking his large surprisingly smooth hand into her own, she lifted it up to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on it. Dropping the interconnected appendages into her own lap, she spoke in a resolute voice that betrayed none of her insecurity and said, "I want to be your everything."

 

 

 

 

 

Her declaration to him had his eyes bulging out of his head for the umpteenth time that day. Despite everything he thought he knew about her, she never ceased to amaze him. Each day she did a little bit more to show him that she cared about him, but he had never dreamed that her feelings ran this deep. "I want to be your everything." Was she serious? He was almost afraid to ask her. When they first began to talk, they had agreed to be honest, so he was sure she meant what she said, but did she actually understand what she said? Did she know what her declaration meant to him? Although the others would probably disagree, he had always known that she cared about him; but the sits, flirtations and accusations had always prevented him from acknowledging her feelings as something more than friendship. Too many times he had put himself out there over the years only to end up the ass because he didn't understand…her feelings, his own, the entire situation. So this time he made sure to keep his own feelings in check because he never wanted to force something on her that she wasn't ready for or didn't want. "But if she wants to be my everything, maybe…"

 

 

Swallowing his own fear, InuYasha voiced his concern, "What do you mean by that Kagome? Don't say things you don't mean or can't possibly understand." At her protest he continued, "My freedom is everything to me Kagome, can you give me that?" From the look in her eyes, he knew that she didn't understand and he was comfortable with that because he didn't say it for her to understand. All he wanted was for her to want to understand, and the fire that his words ignited in her eyes told him just that. It told him that she wanted to know him that she wanted to understand him that she actually wanted to be his everything. For too long he had tried to push her away with his harsh words and cold shoulder to save her. "From what?" it changed everyday, but if she was willing to sacrifice herself for him, for them…"Then I'll let you Kagome."

 

 

 

 

Never before had they been so open about their feelings. Wishes, wants, and desires were exchanged without the usual fears and insecurities and she felt like they were in a better more comfortable place because of it. She was not going to delude herself into believing that everything would be perfect from now on, but because of their exchange she felt like she understood InuYasha a little better now and he her. They now had something they never had before, clarity, and it made her feel so much more secure about their future. He was going to let her be there for him, care for him…love him, and she would do just that. Everyday she was going to be there for him and show him that she could be his everything and that there was no need for anyone else for neither of them. Squeezing the hand that was intertwined with her own, Kagome gave the hanyou that held her a small reassuring smile before lying her head on his shoulder. Their friends could wait a few more hours, this was their time to be together and she was going to enjoy it.

 

 

A few hours had turned into an entire day when her mother had interrupted their nap to ask if either of the two were hungry. Dinner lead to a hot bath, which was then followed by a good night's sleep on her bed and down pillows, and to the next morning with a big western style breakfast that even InuYasha enjoyed. She had to admit that her mother's eggs were a heck of a lot better than her own, and perhaps she was much too rash in sitting the hanyou for commenting on them a few weeks ago, and maybe even that other time for the curry too…

 

 

 

 

He wasn't sure what to expect initially when they had talked, but over the last few weeks he had been able to observe a visible change in her and their relationship. The first day when they had come out of the well, Kagome continued to hold his hand even as they made their way to the village. And when Shippo and Sango asked about their time in the future, to his utter surprise, Kagome was the one to tell them that it wasn't any of their business. Okay, well maybe she didn't exactly put it that way, but she definitely didn't tell them anything about it. It made him feel good that she was taking steps to work on them, together, without the interference of the others. It had been weeks since he had been sat, and it wasn't for a lack of trying on Shippo's part. The kit was really going out of his way to be a pain in the ass, and when he did take his bait and bop him one, Kagome didn't make any moves to punish him. The entire group, he included, was surprised when Shippo ran to her in tears and she instructed the kit to leave him alone and shoved the furball off of her lap. She didn't even pout when he went to check on Kikyo while following a jewel shard rumor, proving to him that she really was beginning to trust in him, and her confidence in him made him more confident in her.

 

 

He had caught the unmistakable stench a little before she sensed the rapidly approaching jewel shards. And he took that time to resolve himself to do, well to do...nothing. After he had decided to let Kagome be his “everything” he had gradually learned to relinquish his control over her and over the progression of their relationship. For too long he had tried to both keep her and push her away, and that was what had hurt them more than anything. He was willing to admit that it was his fault she found comfort and flattery in the Kogas and Hojos of his world and her's. Despite his willingness to die for her, he hadn't always provided her with the simple things he now knew all women craved, but now that he had put himself out there and she told him that she wanted to meet him half way, he was going to let her. All the confidence and trust that they had built over the last few weeks was about to be tested and for both of their sakes, he hoped they passed.

 

 

The group, minus the hanyou, collectively rolled their eyes and let out audible sighs as they prepared for the showdown that they just knew was coming. As soon as Kagome announced that two jewel shards were rapidly approaching, Shippo had begun the ominous countdown as everyone on set took their places. On the count of 1, the wolf bounded out of the woods and immediately latched onto Kagome. With hearts in his eyes he proclaimed his love for “his woman” and inquired about her health and well being, all the while shooting intermittent glares to the surprisingly uninterested hanyou. Ending his declaration with the requisite open-ended threat Koga prepared himself for the inevitable and seemingly predictable “fight,” but he was left standing. Shocked, all the actors on set turned their attention to the preoccupied hanyou who was busy setting up camp. Speaking for the first time since Koga's arrival, InuYasha looked towards his comrades as he said in a lackadaisical tone that was extremely out of character, “Since it's getting late and we probably won't find a better spot than this for the night, why don't we just camp out here?” He held down a smirk as they all looked at him questioningly, confusion lacing their eyes. Shifting his attention to Kagome, he tried to read her expression when the wolf shouted out, “Oi, Muttface, are you finally admitting that Kagome is my woman?”

 

 

Not gracing the fleabag with an answer InuYasha redirected his attention to Kagome, who seemed to be waiting with bated breath for his response. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at her knowingly. Why does she look like she doesn't understand. You should already know Kagome...“I've said all that needs to be said.” With that, InuYasha released Kagome from the spell of his eyes, turned around and took to the trees as he yelled to his companions, “I'm gonna find something for dinner, I'll be back as soon as I can. Have the camp setup and a fire ready before I get back.”

 

 

He knew she was near, perhaps she had been trailing them for a while, but it didn't matter. He had always known what he wanted and from whom, he just didn't think he would ever get it. But now that Kagome was trying, he wasn't going to do anything to make it harder for her, including having secret liaisons with his demoness. As far as he was concerned things were over between them and even though he couldn't exactly take the time right now to tell her, he did have intentions to formally break it off when he got some time to himself in the future. Kagome would have to go home for a test soon enough and he would do what he needed to when the time came, but for now, he would make sure she kept her distance. Haunching his catch onto his shoulders he took off towards his group, hoping that Kagome had done what she needed to do while he was away.

 

 

 

A/n

The other one should be out soon. Read and review! I love to hear your thoughts.