InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Just The Way You Are ❯ Confrontation ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Umm… Hi! Inuyasha isn’t mine.

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Inuyasha woke that morning, attempting to sit up, but something was pulling his hair. Closer examination showed that it was Kagome’s hand. Trying not to wake her, he unwound the strands from her fingers before standing up to stretch. Had he really slept through the whole night? He didn’t think he could remember the last time that had happened, but he felt great.

Going downstairs, he saw Kagome’s mother preparing breakfast. “Sleep okay?” she asked as he took a seat at the table.

“Yeah. I’m starving, what’s to eat?”

“Well, it’ll be a few minutes. You’re up a little earlier than everyone else.”

Inuyasha waited very impatiently as he heard the sounds of the other members of the household preparing to start their day. Why couldn’t they hurry up already?

*

Kagome was usually happy when she actually had the chance to go to school, but knowing that Inuyasha was at her house made her reluctant to leave. What would he do all day? He’d probably get himself into trouble one way or another. What if he decided to go back to the Sengoku Jidai, and she didn’t see him for a whole week? He was bound to get bored being alone with her mother all day.

“Kagome!” a familiar voice called.

Kagome turned, trying to smile as Houjo raced to meet her. “Hello, Houjo,” she greeted him nervously.

“Hey, Kagome. It’s nice to see you in school today.”

“Thanks.”

He blushed a bit, causing Kagome to worry. “I know you’re dating someone, Kagome, but could I still walk you to class?”

“Sure.” That was much easier than she’d thought.

When Kagome arrived in class, telling Houjo good-bye, she was immediately surrounded by her friends, Ayumi, Yuka, and Eri.

“Agh! Kagome! How was the party last night?” Eri all but screamed.

“Party? How do you know about that?” Kagome’s face reddened.

“It’s only all over school!” Yuka exclaimed. “You were the only ninth grader there!”

“It wasn’t all that great,” Kagome assured her, taking her seat.

“You’ve gotta fill us in after school!”

“I can’t,” she told him. “I’m grounded.”

“Grounded?” Ayumi repeated in awe.

“Are you serious?”

“Wow.”

“Yeah,” Kagome sighed, wondering what was so impressive about that.

“Well, we’ll just come to your house,” Eri suggested. “Your mom shouldn’t mind.

“Uh, you can’t,” Kagome stammered.

“Why not?”

“I… I have a guest staying.”

“Who?”

Kagome desperately tried to think up a good story, but her face was an open book to her scandal-addicted friends.

“Kagome!” Yuka exclaimed. “Don’t tell me that two-timing ex of yours is hanging around again!”

“Uh… well…”

“Kagome!” Eri followed. “You can’t let him ruin what you have with Seiji!”

“I-I’m not! He knows all about Seiji.”

“Yeah, and I bet he’s just waiting for a chance to mess it all up,” she replied.

Kagome couldn’t reply before the bell rang, signaling the beginning of the school day. She sighed with relief.

*

Inuyasha was bored.

He’d already went back through the well to get Kagome’s things, and to inform the others that she had been ‘grounded.’ Then, he’d walked over the entire grounds of the shrine. Then, Mrs. Higurashi had fixed him lunch before she’d left him alone to run some errands.

He was sulking on the couch when he heard the door open. “Inuyasha?” Mrs. Higurashi called. “Could you put your cap on and help me with these groceries?” Sighing, Inuyasha got up, pulling the loathed hat over his ears before going outside, where he was loaded down with bags.

“Is all this food?” he asked, following Kagome’s mother inside, and setting the bags on the table.

“Most of it. I figured you probably wouldn’t be going anywhere without Kagome, so I thought it’d be a good idea to keep the kitchen well stocked,” she laughed.

Inuyasha paid no attention to the innocent joke, taking a seat at the table. “When will Kagome be back?”

Her mother smiled. “Not for another two hours. Why, do you miss her?”

The hanyou blushed, eyes widening. “What? No! Just because I’m bored doesn’t mean I miss her,” he replied testily.

“Whatever you say.”

“Hey, are you calling me a liar?” he yelled.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled thoughtfully before nodding. “Yes, I think I am. But before you start yelling about it, I want you to know something.” Inuyasha crossed his arms, glaring at her. “Kagome cares for you very much, Inuyasha.”

“Keh. I know that.”

“Good. And as obvious as it is that you care for her, you’re going to lose her if you don’t step up.” Inuyasha didn’t reply, feeling intensely uncomfortable. “A girl’s heart can only take so much before it breaks. Trust me, I know. You’re lucky that Kagome’s heart is as strong as it is, because you’ve already put a crack in it.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you. I wouldn’t be telling you this if I weren’t so concerned about Kagome right now, but she’s often come home and gone to her room, and I can hear her crying. I don’t know what goes on over there, but I’m smart enough to know it has to do with you. I know only a little, but it’s enough when you’re a woman. There’s a crack, Inuyasha. And you could fix it easily. Or you can let Seiji fix it, but if he does, her heart won’t be the same. All Kagome knows is that she wants it to stop hurting.”

“I don’t do anything to hurt Kagome,” he defended himself.

“It’s not what you do, Inuyasha. It’s what you don’t do. Kagome trusts you with her life, but you can’t even seem to trust her with your heart. I know you feel something for her; it’s obvious on your face any time she’s near you. But it’s going to be Seiji she remains with, because he tells her he cares.”

“He doesn’t care! He doesn’t even know Kagome!”

“That may be true. But she doesn’t know that. She knows what she’s told, and you haven’t told her anything. She can’t read your mind.”

“You shouldn’t let her see this guy,” he mumbled.

“Inuyasha, I’d know it would be easy on you if I put walls around Kagome that no one could get through but you. But I can’t do that. It’s her life. And it’s not fair of you to expect so much of her, and never give her anything in return. She’s given up good grades, and a lot of time with her friends to help you, and she never complains. She looks forward to going back to your time, even if she’s only been gone a day. But she’s obviously missing something, or Seiji wouldn’t be in the picture. I know that you have a lot going on in your time. But this time, Kagome might have to come first. Now, I’ve said my piece. I need to put these things away.”

Inuyasha grumbled, getting up from the table and going up to Kagome’s room, where he fell across the bed. Where did Kagome’s mom get off throwing all that at him? If Kagome wanted to be with Seiji, what the hell could he do about it?

Sighing, Inuyasha reached into his haori, where he pulled out the folded pieces of paper he kept that Kagome had written kanji on for him. Unfolding them, he studied them carefully, as if they could give him some answers. If it was so damn obvious he was in love with her, how come he didn’t know how he felt? And why was it better for one bastard to lie to her about how he felt, when it wasn’t enough for him just to try to make her happy? He’d promised to protect her. He didn’t want to fail by letting Seiji ruin her. He didn’t know what he had. Someone like Kagome was truly rare. She saw the light in everyone, even a dirty hanyou.

Was he really what Kagome wanted? How could he ask her something like that without getting hurt? He trusted Kagome more than he had anyone else in his whole life, but his feelings never entered their conversations. There was always something else to take care of, some demon to fight, someone else to protect. And it made things easier. If he kept Kagome in the dark about how he felt, it was easier to act like the asshole everyone thought he was. It kept his reputation intact, kept his mind on the things he had to do. He’d always known she would be there for him when it was all over. But now there was the chance that she wouldn’t be. Mrs. Higurashi had said Kagome would have to come first, but what would have to come before that was his own decision.

Was he in love with Kagome? Everyone seemed to think so; he wasn’t deaf. He knew he wanted to keep her safe, and make her happy. He knew he was attracted to her, and that he loved her scent. He couldn’t stand any other guy even looking at her. There was her laugh, her smile, her fierce sense of protection, her horrible temper. Did all that add up to love? He’d loved Kikyou, and this was completely different. Kikyou had been untouchable to him at the time, impossible to obtain. He would’ve given up the demon in him for her.

Kagome accepted him just as he was. She seemed to understand the things he couldn’t say, and never pressed him to open up about his past. She was from a time when youkai barely existed, yet she had no fear of him like many of the people he helped did.

Inuyasha’s thoughts only served to provide him with more questions, questions he couldn’t answer on his own. He never even heard Kagome arrive home until she bolted into the room in a panic. “Inuyasha! Oh, good you have the hat on. Why is this happening to me?”

He sat up, wondering what the problem was. “Kagome?”

“Seiji found me after school. He’s coming over to apologize to my mom. I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen.” Kagome thought she’d rather die than go through this. Seiji meeting Inuyasha? When she looked over to the hanyou, the sadistic smirk on his face sent her panic to new heights. “Inuyasha?” she cried. “What are you plotting?”

“Nothing,” he said innocently, smiling to reveal his fangs. Not convincing.

“You better behave,” she warned.

“Sure.” He couldn’t wait for this.

Kagome sent Inuyasha out of the room so she could change out of her school uniform. Remembering what he had asked of her, she left her hair down, changing into a simple yellow skirt and white blouse. She then retrieved the hanyou, not wanting him to run into Seiji before she did. He sat on the bed, the very portrait of innocence (which freaked her out to no end), while she paced the floor.

“I’m going to tell him you work at the shrine,” she said.

“Then… what would I be doing in your bedroom?”

Kagome blushed furiously. “Um…. You’re tutoring me, that’s it! I miss so much school that I have to have a tutor.”

Inuyasha raised a brow. “He’s here.”

Kagome’s hands trembled as she heard Seiji’s voice downstairs, talking to his mother. Maybe she would be merciful, and tell him that he couldn’t see her while she was grounded. But just minutes later, she heard footsteps on the stairs, and Seiji stood in her doorway.

“Kagome,” he greeted her, a strange expression on his face as he looked her over.

“Seiji, hi!” Kagome said, a little too enthusiastically.

Seiji caught sight of Inuyasha on the bed, looking visibly startled before turning back to his girlfriend. “I heard a rumor that your ex boyfriend was here, Kagome, but I didn’t believe it.”

Inuyasha’s ears twitched beneath the cap he wore. Boyfriend?

“Where did you hear something like that?” Kagome asked.

“What does it matter, if it’s true?”

“I… uh… He’s tutoring me!”

“Tutoring you?”

“You got a problem with that?” Inuyasha provoked.

“N-no. It’s just, after everything I’ve heard, I wouldn’t think you’d be much of a tutor.”

“Who’s talking about me?” Inuyasha demanded.

Kagome attempted an interference. “Inuyasha happens to know almost everything about the Sengoku Jidai.”

“Inuyasha?” Seiji repeated, in disbelief of the hanyou’s name.

“His parents were major mythology buffs.”

“I see. So, I don’t have anything to worry about?”

“Of course not,” Kagome replied sweetly.

“Good. I’d hate to lose you, Kagome.”

Inuyasha snorted, rolling his eyes.

“I was going to ask you. There’s a dance at my school next Friday. Would you go with me?”

She smiled. “That’d be great!”

“Good. We can go get you a new dress when you’re not grounded anymore.”

“Um…” Kagome glanced at Inuyasha. “That’s okay, Seiji. I have plenty.”

“Oh. Are you sure? I really don’t mind at all.”

“It’s okay. I’ll find something on my own.”

“Well, alright. I’ll call you.”

“Sure.”

Seiji left after saying good-bye, and Kagome sighed heavily.

“So, who’s this ex-boyfriend, huh?” Inuyasha asked.

Kagome rolled her eyes, but her face was a little pink. “You, stupid.”

“Really?” He’d known that, but hadn’t expected Kagome to admit it.

“Well… I was really mad at you once, and my friends wouldn’t stop pestering me about it. I didn’t know what else to say. Since then, you’ve been my mysterious boyfriend that no one ever sees.”

“Oh… So, you’re gonna go with him?”

“He’s my boyfriend, Inuyasha. It’s kind of what we do. Go places, do things.”

“Have you kissed him?” Inuyasha asked suddenly.

Kagome blushed furiously, staring at him with wide eyes. “That‘s none of your business!” she exploded. “I can’t believe you’d ask me that! SIT, boy!!” Inuyasha’s went facedown onto Kagome’s mattress.

“What the hell did you do that for? It was just a question!” he griped, trying to sit up.

“And by the way, NO!” she replied loudly, leaving the room.

“By the way, you’re a wench!” he called, even louder.

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fallenangel7583

now, how did you know there would be a confrontation?? heh, of course there would be, because that's funny, and as much as i love the angst, i like to make people laugh.

writer of honor

i always have to help out the antagonists. i guess i'm old fashioned. thanks for the review!