InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Itching for Trouble ❯ Chapter 6

The night had been difficult for the both of them. She couldn't find sleep and he was forced to listen while she searched fruitlessly for hours. He knew he could have settled everything if he just brought her up in the tree with him, but he couldn't convince himself that it was the best thing to do. When they spoke all those weeks ago, he told her that he was through with all the back and forth, it was either one way or the other. She had chosen her way and he respected her decision. It hurt like hell to know that despite all of her words, he still wasn't enough for her, but he would get over it eventually. But in the meantime, he would not go back to pet status, he refused to. He wouldn't lay down for her or anyone else again, so last night he sat and listened to her pain as if it were his own. Because in reality, wasn't it?

 

 

They had only been walking for a few hours when Sango began to threaten him with hiraikotsu, demanding that he give “Kagome-chan” a chance to rest. He knew she was tired, but he also knew that she wouldn't dare ask him to stop because of what had happened last night. As far as he was concerned, she shouldn't have feared speaking to him since it was what it was. But she was who she was and she did what she did. He would just have to decide now what he wanted to do.

 

 

Since their instant rations were depleted, InuYasha once again setoff to hunt, but this go round the monk offered to assist him. The collective silence that had befallen the group betrayed the obvious, that everyone was aware of the differences in both his and Kagome's demeanors since yesterday. For the last few weeks they had been very outwardly affectionate with each other, in terms of their hand holding and such, but since the ramen incident he hadn't said a word to her. He could scent all of their discomfort with the situation, but apparently the monk was the only one bold enough to ask him about it. Even Shippo had kept to himself all morning without bothering him or Kagome. But the tension was thick and needed to be cut, and apparently Miroku was the one with the knife. As the Monk followed him to the river, he knew that the only reason he was going was to be nosey, but for once he wouldn't discourage his group's curiosity. If the Monk had a question, he would answer it honestly. After all, it was all he had left.

 

 

 

 

She wouldn't cry. She didn't have a right to. Not after she did what she did. She had looked him right in the eyes when she told him that she would be there for him, but as soon as her loyalty was put to the test…And for what? A few flattering words. A couple of gentle touches. What were they worth to her? They hadn't come from the hanyou she loved, so what were they worth? What did they matter? She could finally admit to herself that they didn't matter, at all. That Koga didn't matter. That neither Hojos mattered? That InuYasha's relationships with Kikyo and even his phantom demoness didn't matter, because he had given her a chance to love him, not them. Because she had declared her loyalty, her love to InuYasha, not Koga. And her hanyou had trusted it more so than she. That was why he felt he didn't have to fight with Koga; that was why he hadn't fought with her; that was why he didn't have to say it. They both knew it, but he wouldn't say it. There was no way it couldn't be. InuYasha was an open and very forgiving guy. Kikyo, Sango, Miroku, heck, even Shippo could testify to that, but there most likely wouldn't be any clemency granted for this one. “It's over…”

 

 

 

 

The constant whistling was past getting on his nerves, and was moving onto pissing him off. He was okay with the Monk coming along to inquire about the changes the group had undergone recently, but if he was just going to assault his hears with that ridiculously annoying sound all the while, then he might have to…“Oi! Monk! Cut that shit out, will ya!” At the Monk's innocent shrug, InuYasha continued, “I know you got a question, so ask it already, but quit that whistling crap.”

 

 

Letting out a sigh, Miroku obliged his surly companion and got straight to the point, “What did you do to Kagome-sama?”

 

 

Right, if something is wrong, clearly it is the dirty half-breed who is at fault. “What did you do to Kagome-sama InuYasha? Why are you so mean to Kagome-chan InuYasha? Leave Kagome alone InuYasha, you're such a bully. Kagome would never want a dirty hanyou like you muttface! Anything else monk, or is that it?”

 

 

When he had asked his question, he really didn't think much of it, in terms of the deeper implications InuYasha could possibly draw from it. But after the hanyou's mocking rant, the Monk realized the error in his word choice. “No, no, no, good friend, you misunderstand. You must surely know that I did not mean any of that. It's just that you and Kagome-sama have been so close the past several weeks, and then yesterday everything just seemed… so…different. And then today, neither of you have said a word to the other. I just as-”

 

 

“Yeah, you just assumed that I must have done something to your precious “Kagome-sama” because what other explanation could there be. You know what Monk, since you already know that I am at fault, why are you even bothering to get my side of the story? Why don't you just ask the wench what her problem is and what the “big-bad hanyou” has done to disgrace her?” In a huff, InuYasha lifted up his catch and turned to head back to camp but not before shooting a glare and a low growl at Miroku, “I'm done here.”

 

 

The scene he found when he made it back to camp was nothing short of what he expected. Kagome was being comforted by the Slayer, Kit, and Neko while she cried and sobbed out her woes to the world. As he dropped his catch by the fire, three sets of eyes turned to bore into him and Sango mouthed out to him, “I'll kill you for hurting her.” “Was this bitch serious. She's gonna fucking kill me for hurting Kagome. First of all, she can't touch me, second, I didn't do anything to that bitch, she's hurt because of what she did to herself all by herself. You know what, I'm sick of this shit!” And he was, so he decided to let the world know about it.

 

 

“That is it! That is so fucking it. You assholes, so help me Kami, that lying bitch, and all of your fucking “friends” are it. I can't stand a single one of you. Why I bother to put my life on the line for you, I will never know because you blame me for every fucking thing that goes wrong, no matter what. I didn't do anything to that wench. She is upset because of what she did to me, but is she woman enough to tell you guys that. No, she aint. She wants you to pet and coddle her and scold me for shit I didn't do because it makes her feel better about herself, but I'm not playing along with this shit this time. Not anymore. I deserve better than this, and I have found better than this, and you know what? I'm going to go get it.”

 

 

As the group took in InuYasha' words, different parts touched them in different ways, but his last statement affected the Miko the most. She was well aware of what his “something better” was and she knew that if he left to find her that he would most likely never return to their group, to her. “How did everything go so wrong. Nothing is how it should be. InuYasha…” With courage she didn't think she had, Kagome launched herself onto the retreating hanyou and begged. Through tears, sobs, and sniffles she begged him to forgive her, she begged him not to leave her, she begged him to give her another chance and he stopped cold. He stopped cold in his tracks and let her tell him that she could change, that she would change, but it was all the same old song. “InuYasha, please don't go to her. I couldn't take it if you went back to her.”

 

 

He listened to her words and empty promises and did the only thing he could, he laughed. But neither in amusement nor delight. No, the Hanyou laughed in acceptance; acceptance of the bitter reality of his life as the Hanyou. This was it, this was his life. These were his friends and the closest thing he had to a family. The girl wrapped around him was his future, unless…unless he didn't want her to be. Unless he didn't want them to be. Unless he looked for something different…something better. And he knew where he could start. In a stone cold voice that delineated his complete frustration with the situation, InuYasha spoke to Kagome, “Get off me Kagome, and go back to your friends.” When the young woman complied with his order and stepped away, he turned towards her and the rest of their pack, “I made a promise to each of you to aid and protect you in our quest to defeat Naraku and I will continue to hold myself to that. But this arrangement is no longer working for me. I'm done with each of you, and I will not serve as the group pet anymore.”

 

 

After taking in their collective confusion, he tried to make his words clearer, “I will not be traveling with you anymore. It would be ignorant of me to pretend that we will never run in to each other on our quests, so I won't act like I will never be around, but I will not associate myself with any of you outside of battles. I will still do my best to keep you alive where other youkai and Naraku are concerned, but your other dealings are no longer my concern. I'm sure the four of you can figure out how to stay alive and to keep each other alive without me, and if you can't, it's not my problem.” With that the half-demon took to the skies and headed south.

 

 

A painful hush fell over the group as the afternoon's events finally registered. Unspoken words passed through each member as a cold chill as various questions began to form on their lips. Had they been that bad of friends to InuYasha? What really happened between Kagome and him? Was this the end of their group? Finally Sango had enough of the stifling silence and spoke up, “Kagome-chan, I think we all need to hear what happened between you and InuYasha.” At the fall of her friend's head, Sango finished with a stern, “And we want the whole story.”

 

 

Speaking out loud to her friends really had an effect on Kagome. For hearing the words out loud, detailing what had transpired over the last 24 hours between her and the hanyou forced her to become aware of and face all of the consequences of her actions. She had promised him so much, but when given the chance of a lifetime to give herself to him and to have him in return, she chose nothing. What was she to do now?

 

 

The question she dared not to voice seemed to slap her in the face when the shaky voice of the young kit read out the words that consumed her mind. “What are you going to do Kagome? How will we get InuYasha back? We need him.”

 

 

“I need him…I…” the onslaught she had felt she didn't deserve could no longer be contained. The heat of her tears seemed to scorch her skin as they streamed down her face, carrying the fire of her burning heart. She could hear the telltale cracking as it gradually began to shatter deep within her chest. But what could she do?

 

 

It was too much to go through right now. Her entire future was at stake and she needed time to sort it all out before she could make a decision that would really put her out. Looking up at her remaining companions, she prepared to speak when the Monk took the words right from her mouth, “We should return to the village.” Gathering their stuff, each member took the time to briefly reflect on the most recent occurrences and to prepare themselves for the uncertain future. It was bound to be a long journey ahead.

 

 

 

 

They wouldn't make it home before nightfall and despite his anger, he couldn't find it in himself to really let them fend for themselves. With a sigh he spoke out loud to himself, “Change will just have to wait,” as he trailed his now ex-pack from a distance back to the village. From what he could catch, the group spoke little and traveled quickly so that they were able to reach Kaede's village before sundown of the second day. Watching as the girl of the future mechanically made her way to the well, he felt a slight tug at his heart when she looked longingly in his direction. Somehow he knew that she knew he was there, but he was done trailing her. For now on, she would have to deal with it all herself, and with a final whisper of “Goodbye,” InuYasha abandoned the old to search for something new.

 

 

A/n

Sorry about the lateness, I have just been lazy the last few weeks. Thanks for all the previous reviews and let me know what you think about this one.

 

A/n

I hope I've gotten all the mistakes this go around, but you know how that goes…

 

Thanks again to all my reviewers, but to be honest I don't know where exactly I want the Inu/Kag/Demoness who still remains nameless thing to go. InuYasha needs to experience life without the leash and Kagome needs to grow up a bit, so I am going to let both of them do so. When will their hearts cross again? When they both are ready for it…