InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Realization ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Kagome would have loved to have had her conversation with Inuyasha and that be the end of it but unfortunately she still had to write her paper. It was bad enough that the thoughts and images the song gave her haunted even her dreams but to have to seriously write down what she felt about the song. I should put one sentence saying that it made me cry gut wrenching sobs and leave it at that, Kagome thought with a heavy sigh that unfortunately brought the attention of all her comrades as they continued there search for the Shikon no Tama.

"Are you alright, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked her. She had noticed that ever since she had gone for her walk two days ago that her friend seemed depressed. Not all the time, but her sleep hasn't been as peaceful and she sighed, just like now, more often than was usual for she saved them for her fights with Inuyasha. Unless that was it, when Inuyasha followed after her he said or did something to upset her.

"Hai, Sango-chan." Kagome said, pushing her unpleasant thoughts behind her and focusing on the task at hand.

"You sure?" Chimed in Miroku, who shared the same thoughts as Sango.

Kagome couldn't help but laugh at the looks on bother of her friend's faces. They looked positively stricken with worry. She also laughed at herself for letting her homework disturb her so much.

"She said she was alright. She looks all right to me, she can walk can't she? Yes? Than she's alright." Inuyasha said roughly, hoping that the whole subject would be dropped and that Kagome would stop sighing and mopping around feeling sorry for him. He was starting to feel sorry for himself and he didn't like it at all. He had long accepted that he had to deal with what life dealt him as a Rurouni. Granted he didn't accept it with any happiness and it was obvious in the way he acted and treated people. And having Kagome's `school' giving `homework' that made her realize the depths of the loneliness and the hatred he endured was making him want to cry for himself in the way that she had. Maybe an oswari or two will make me snap out of it, he thought. So Inuyasha was not surprised that he got dagger stares from Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara but what surprised him was that Kagome started to laugh even harder. What the hell is she laughing at, his mind screamed to him.

Inuyasha sure does know how to end a conversation; Kagome was thinking when Inuyasha stepped in to the rescue. Or so she considered it for she didn't really have anything to say for herself that she felt would please Sango and Miroku's worried minds. So Inuyasha took care of it and gave her a perfect opening. "Even though Inuyasha didn't put it as kindly as I would have but really I am alright. I don't mean to seem down if I do." And with that she took the lead and headed further in the Northeast direction that they heard Naraku had escaped to.

"Maybe she is in a good mood after all, I really expected her to oswari him." Miroku whispered to Sango and Shippo who where walking next to him.

"Honto." They said in unison. In front of them Inuyasha's ears twitched signifying that he heard them so Shippo took it as an open opportunity to jump on his head.

"Yeah, I would have. I can't believe how insensitive that you can be sometimes. You treat Kagome so badly sometimes I wonder why she stays around you." But before Inuyasha could smack the little bastard off his head and beat him to death Kagome had him held eye level with her and a not so motherly look on her face.

"I stay around him for the same reason he rescues you when you're in trouble, despite all the bad mouthing he takes from you as well, because I care. As we all do for one another, Shippo, and yes I could have used to `o' word for his comment but for me to use it I have to feel as insulted as I do now. You should feel thankful that you don't have a rosary around your neck. So I suggest that you keep such comments to yourself." With that Kagome dropped Shippo on his rear end as his physical punishment for what he said. And then shock over what she said sunk in. In her embarrassment she turned on her heal and continued walking, leaving five shocked companions behind her.

Oh my gods, they all thought. I cannot believe that she didn't let Inuyasha hit him a few times and then rescue him after due punishment but to get him before Inuyasha even had a chance to hit him and giving him probably the worst scolding in his young life but to then drop him, well, Miroku and Sango were thinking, that must mean something good not bad happened between Kagome and Inuyasha. A new level of acceptance? But how could that be she already accepted him fully. What on earth could it be? Sango and Miroku shared a meaningful look and continued on walking after Kagome, leaving Shippo to dust himself off and continue when he choose. Shippo looked and felt like he was ready to cry. I hurt her feelings, he thought, me and my big mouth. And in his heart he knew that she was right he shouldn't have said what he did to Inuyasha and the need to apologize overwhelmed him.

Figuring now was as good a time as any since Inuyasha was glaring down at him he stood and dusted himself off, looking up at Inuyasha he said, "I'm sorry. What I said was uncalled for and inappropriate for a kid like me to say to an adult. And she's right, we stick together because that's what friends and family's do." Shippo's eyes widened slightly. That was a very adult apology, he complimented himself.

"Feh, do you think that such an apology will save you from a knot on your head?" Inuyasha said glaring down at him with an evil look in his eyes and a wicked smirk on his lips. Shippo was terrified and shrunk in anticipation for the stick he knew was coming but instead heard. "Well seeing as I didn't get oswaried for my earlier comment I am willing to let your comment slide this one time only. But hear this, next time your get more than just a dusty bottom for such comments." And with that he too left Shippo to follow when he choose.

Inuyasha was not feeling angry or embarrassed at Kagome's comment but rather pride and if he dared to finally describe it love. Shippo's comment had stung more than he would ever admit to anyone, well maybe Kagome if she pushed, he reasoned, but other than her on one else. During the time that he had known Kagome he was surprised many times that despite everything he had done to her since the very moment they meet that she stayed with him and even seemed to come to truly care for him. But she had never let such feelings about him, that she cared and that was why she stayed with him, be openly known to the group. Sure he knew, she told him before when she saw him with Kikyo but to say such things in front of everyone, man her homework really must have gotten to her, he thought as he followed closely behind his friends, taking a quick peek over his shoulder to make sure the brat was following.

And so they continued till day turned to night and finally a safe and comfortable place was found to camp for the night. All was quiet that night; too many thoughts were going through their minds for mindless conversation to be formed. So dinner turned to bedtime and each found their own place to lie for the night and said good night to one and all.

And it was a good night, well it almost was till Kagome's screams woke everyone from their slumber, not Inuyasha of course because he rarely sleeps and wasn't even the least bit tired as he watched, for the third night in a row, Kagome tossing around in her sleep from what obviously was a bad dream. He had decided that maybe tonight he would see if he could sooth her in her sleep, so he leapt down from his perch on the tree, as quietly as possible, and placed a gentle hand on Kagome's head and sshh'd her as he lightly stroked her bangs out of her face. It calmed her for a few moments, she let out a soft contented sigh and smiled a little then her dream seemed to capture her again as her brow furrowed in what looked like pain. Deciding that waking her would be better than letting her dream whatever it was Inuyasha slightly shook her shoulder and whispered her name, so as not to wake anyone and get caught touching Kagome in her sleep. Poor Sango if Miroku were to see him he would see it as an open invitation to do the same to her, but Inuyasha's quite attempts were in vain as Kagome bolted upright, knocking him back, and screaming off the top of her lungs.

Miroku was having a nice dream about touching Sango's butt but was rudely awakened not only by Kagome's scream but apparently Sango's now natural habit a smack in the face. "What did I do?" He asked with sleep in his voice.

Sango was having a nice dream that her and Miroku were having a nice chat without him being lecherous for once when her dream Miroku thought he had worked his way up to copping a feel and was in the process of smacking him when a scream pulled her from her dream and she found herself actually smacking a fast asleep and seemingly innocent Miroku. "Sorry." She said and they both turned their attention to where Kagome was and saw her breathing hard and a very surprised and very caught Inuyasha lying across her lower legs.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha, looked over at Sango and Miroku, again to Inuyasha and then burst into tears as she fumbled with letting herself out of her sleeping bag. She just had one of the worst dreams in her life and though she was thankful to be awake from it now the terror that she felt from her dream lingered so much that her only release from it was tears. But with such tears comes embarrassement so Kagome did her best to try and escape but her sleeping bag was in her way and with blurred eyes she wasn't having any luck releasing the zipper. When a clawed hand reached out to stop her Kagome flinched and looked up to see Inuyasha looking at her with worried yet kind eyes.

"It's okay, Kagome." He said in a soothing voice he remembered his mother using with him when he was a boy and he had a bad dream. "It was just a dream, that's all. Lay down," Inuyasha pushed Kagome down with both hands on her shoulder's, she put up a struggle at first but Inuyasha soothingly said, "No lay down, it's alright. Dreams cannot harm you and each time you sleep you have a new dream so lie down and relax. It's okay. Just close your eyes and stop crying. Please stop crying Kagome I promise this time your dream a happy dream if only you'll relax." The whole time he was saying this, aside from ignoring the shocked and very meaningful looks Sango and Miroku were giving them and each other, he again smoothed Kagome's bangs out of her face.

Kagome was so touched by Inuyasha's loving gesture, it seemed loving in her mind seeing as Sango and Miroku were watching but it seemed that he didn't care so she didn't let it bother her, that she was ready to cry some more for the tender way that he was treating her. Finally, her mind sighed as it relaxed as his soothing voice told her and let loose to more pleasant dreams and found falling asleep to be easier than thought possible.

Inuyasha, though ignoring Sango and Miroku, was not completely oblivious to the fact that two people who wouldn't let him forget it were witnessing his tender moment with Kagome. If he hadn't been so focused on comforting her despite the audience he might have envisioned how it could and probably would be used against him in an argument concerning his relationship with her. Instead he remembered what she did for him earlier that day and repaid her in kind, with understanding. He knew without being told that her dreams, more than likely, had something to do with him and his childhood and her assignment for school. The thought brought little comfort to him as he watched her sleeping face and smoothed back her hair one last time before turning his attention to the duo.

Sango and Miroku were almost positive that they were dreaming. They had to be, had someone told them that they could witness Inuyasha comforting Kagome and lulling her back to sleep they would have reached into their pockets and asked how much it was to be able to see that. Only asking each other if the other was seeing the same thing did they realize that they were, in fact, no dreaming. To take extra measures to be sure Sango had reached over and pinched Miroku, and in an effort not to disturb Inuyasha and Kagome kept his yelp to himself and spoke volumes with his eyes instead. So they silently watched and even admired Inuyasha's gentle words and soothing effects he had over Kagome. Newfound respect was formed that night for them. Even though they knew Inuyasha was in love with Kagome they also knew how difficult it would be for Inuyasha to express those feelings and kind gestures toward Kagome. And the fact that he was doing it with them watching amazed them more. He was putting her feelings over his own self-embarrassment and giving comfort to her in a time when she needed it. Maybe whatever happened between them the other day was the beginning of something new for them, open affection. Deciding that this should be a more private moment for them Sango pulled on Miroku's sleeve and laid down and with gesture indicating him to do the same thing.

"It might be for nothing if we embarrass him now." She whispered and closed her eyes. With an understanding smile Miroku did the same. And this was how Inuyasha saw them when he finally looked over, peacefully asleep facing one another.

Inuyasha's shoulders slumped in relief that he wouldn't have to face them tonight and again turned his attentions back to Kagome whom seemed to be sleeping peacefully this time. A small smile touched his lips as he admired her up close and tilted his head slightly as he admired her beautiful face. At first glance she looked like Kikyo, if you looked at her in the blink of an eye you would see Kikyo but if you really looked you would see that they were night and day. And if you could see it in no other way than the fact that Kagome had softer features than Kikyo's aloft features than that was all you needed. Realizing that he was staring and not wanting to risk being caught just looking at her while she slept Inuyasha leapt back up to his branch in the tree and soon gave way to his own peaceful sleep.

Author's note: Hehehe, I think I like this chapter. Please R/R me at graham_rachel@hotmail.com