InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ LOVE POISON ❯ Youkai Rising, Seeking Answers: Kagome Is Mine! ( Chapter 7 )

DISCLAIMER: Still don't own, don't sue. Rumiko Takahashi owns them. I just borrow Inu and handcuff him to my bed every now and then...

My, aren't we impatient? Gomen people but you will have to wait for The Lemon and the many lemons that will follow it ;) Aren't I evil? I said this before so please bear with me! I'm setting the stage up to get Inu & Kago's first time RIGHT. If it's any consolation to you, I've decided to post the first lemon BEFORE the battle with Naraku (reasons? Well...ahem, I suck at battle scenes and if I made you wait til then...you'd probably gang up on me and kill me lol) The next chap will hopefully calm you hentais down...intense lime :) I apologise if this is too short or doesn't meet your expectations...I wrote it quickly and it will probably be edited...will definetly be edited...

 

R&R! Onegai review! No pressure but...REVIEW! Thanks in advance for your REVIEWS! One more thing...review!

 

R&R R&R R&R! Suggestions, requests and opinions are always welcome (in fact I demand them lol) Flames will be ignored, but constructive criticism will be ok, if I'm doing something wrong I want to know! Me wants to keep readers happy! So...review! Make me happy! A happy Youkai Musashi will write faster and update sooner!!!

 

I have many people to thank, specially the great Scherezade and Zelix, who have helped me so much!

 

 

CHAPTER 7: YOUKAI RISING, SEEKING ANSWERS: KAGOME IS MINE!

 

 

"They're coming!" The little orange haired kitsune squealed, jumping up and down in excitement, wagging his cream colored tail happily.

 

Shippo had been worried sick about Kagome, but Sango and Miroku had merely exchanged knowing, yet concerned glances and had started a fire to make breakfast without a word.

 

Miroku didn't even try to cope a feel, and Sango was beginning to worry about Kagome as well. If Inuyasha hurt her feelings, the exterminator would give him such a beating with Hiraikotsu the hanyou would wish he'd been sat a dozen times instead...

 

Sango was not one to get mad at her friends (she didn't think beating the crap out of the perverted monk for groping her rear counted, he deserved to be beaten some sense into that thick hentai head of his...) but Kagome was like a younger sister to her, and she was getting sick and tired of Inuyasha hurting her feelings and confusing the hell out of the poor girl, who deserved more than anyone to be happy.

Sango didn't think she would ever meet such a strong willed, brave and generous person like Kagome, and she was honored to be her friend and companion in this journey.

 

She knew the young miko could take care of herself but when it came to Inuyasha...his words hurt her more than physical wounds, the hanyou could never protect her from his own stupidity and stubborness, and Sango didn't know if he was even remotely aware of how Kagome died a little inside every time he verbally abused her.

 

Perhaps the simple minded hanyou thought it was better to push her away than to actually say what everyone knew was on his mind, what everyone knew was in Kagome's heart...but Sango sure as hell didn't think so, and even Miroku was annoyed with the situation.

 

Everytime Kagome went back to her world, living with Inuyasha was absolute hell for the humans and fox youkai.

 

Sango thought that Inuyasha did die inside a little too every time Kagome left them...it was painfully obvious, really, how much he missed her...how he kept sniffling the air like a lost puppy, looking down the well for hours at times, even spending the night leaning against it, wide awake and pouting.

 

If Kagome was away for more than three days...sometimes even two...the hanyou would swear, kick some dirt, and shout for the world to hear something along the lines of 'What's taking her so fucking long'. Temper tantrum over, he'd inform everyone he'd bring the 'bitch' back because they had 'more important things to take care of than fucking exams', and before either of them could have a say on this (Shippo of course, never complaining), he jumped through the well and into her world.

 

There were times when it actually took him a couple of days to return with Kagome. Sango secretly smiled at this. On more than a few ocasions Sango had to sharply elbow Miroku on the ribs to keep the monk from commenting on the delay. She figured a little pain to shut him up was nothing compared to what the hanyou would do to him if he dared imply anything perverted on the matter.

 

Sango and Miroku wanted to see their friends happy, wanted them to realise how much they needed each other, how badly Inuyasha longed to be free to love Kagome and feel her love him in return, and vice versa.

Still, neither of them truly knew or understood how Inuyasha felt about his long lost love, Kikyou.

 

Sango, for her part, hated the clay zombie with a vengeance. She never understood how Kagome could stand it. Was her best friend truly incapable of hatred? She didn't seem to hate Kikyou...and Kagome tried so hard to understand. Sango admired her, really, but this exasperated her as well. If it had been her in Kagome's place...well, let's just say she would have found out just how easily and quickly a body made of clay and bones could break, courtesy of Hiraikotsu.

 

Every time Inuyasha came back from seeing Kikyou with that undisguised sorrow in his golden eyes, that obvious guilt, Sango did feel a pang of pity for her hanyou friend, but the sadness and heartbreak in Kagome's eyes washed away the hurt she might have felt for him, and although she couldn't possibly hate Inuyasha, Sango couldn't help but hating the dead miko who toyed with the mixed up hanyou's feelings, the dead priestess who clouded his senses and seemed to make Inuyasha forget about...well, about them all. About himself.

 

Inuyasha wouldn't face Kagome then, and he had some trouble facing Sango and Miroku as well. He even allowed Shippo to yell at him for being such a baka, and when and if Kagome left in tears she desperately tried to hide before she jumped into the well and vanished into her world, Inuyasha didn't respond to the kitsune blaming him for the young miko's pain, biting his arm with his little teeth and shouting at the hanyou that if Kagome never returned, he would be the cause of it.

 

Inuyasha didn't react violently or even hit the kitsune then because he knew this to be true. And still did nothing to prevent it.

 

Eventually he would snap out of this and curse and yell at the world in general, following after Kagome, guilt apparently gone and replaced by golden self hatred, and he would bring the little miko back and everything seemed to go back to normal for a while...until the cycle repeated itself.

 

Currently, Sango and Miroku looked away from the fire as one at Shippo's excitement, and Kirara glanced up, crimsom eyes searching above, her two tails wagging.

 

Sure enough, Inuyasha was a red and silver blur, leaping from tree to tree, and finally landing soundlessly with his usual, almost feline gracefulness he completely ignored he possessed and would have been stunned if someone commented on it.

 

Kagome was asleep with her soft cheek on his shoulder, her raven hair whipped by the wind, a gentle smile gracing her rosy lips.

 

"Where the heck have you been?" Shippo screamed at the hanyou once his joy at seeing Kagome turned into anger directed at Inuyasha for taking off with the young girl he'd come to think of as a mother.

 

"Feh." Was the irritated hanyou's reply.

 

"I smell tears! Inuyasha no baka, did you make Kagome cry again?" Shippo shouted, trying to outstare Inuyasha's golden, warning glare with emerald green accusation and an angry frown that was more adorable than menacing.

 

"Shut the fuck up if you don't want me to rip your tail off, whelp." Inuyasha snapped. He bent on his knees and lowered Kagome gently.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. "Did I fall asleep?"

"Pathetic wench. Of course you did! You woke up earlier than usual."

Kagome rolled her eyes. It seemed things were back to normal again, and she looked around to meet the monk, the exterminator and the kitsune's questioning glances.

 

She suddenly felt very, very uncomfortable.

 

"Kagome...did Inuyasha make you sad? Did he? Why have you been crying?" Shippo blurted out before anyone could say anything.

 

Kagome shook her head. "It's okay, Shippo." She flashed him a truly happy, glowing smile that reached her sparkling chocolate brown eyes, and made the monk's eyes pop out of their sockets, a slow, knowing smirk touching the corners of his mouth.

 

Miroku cleared his throat, covering his growing smirk with his hand and when he spoke next his voice was calm...too calm.

 

"Inuyasha...where have you two been? I must admit it was quite a shock to find you both gone..." He started in feigned concern.

 

"None of your business, houshi," Inuyasha mumbled.

 

"Shippo's been worried about you." Sango added, not wishing to upset the hanyou further.

 

Kagome patted the kitsune's head reassuringly. "Oh, Shippo, we're fine...we didn't go too far...we were just..." She was at a loss for words, a slow steady blush dusting her cheeks.

 

For some reason the words 'we didn't go too far' made Miroku chuckle. "I shouldn't think so...or else our little kitsune friend would have probably...ah, how to put it? Smelled you. If you had gone...too far that is..."

 

Kagome looked confused...Shippo would probably be able to smell them if they were close, not far...what was Miroku getting at?

Her mouth opened and closed and suddenly she caught the meaning behind Miroku's words.

Her eyes widened slightly, but not a word left her lips. The rush of blood to her cheeks spoke volumes.

 

"Look, we were just talking!" Inuyasha said hotly. "Not everyone thinks with what hangs between their legs, you hentai!"

 

Miroku nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm...I did not imply that you did, my dear Inuyasha." The monk tried very hard not to smirk at the hanyou's more than obvious discomfort. "Yet I must wonder, why did you feel the urge to abandon camp to have a word with Kagome-sama?" He pressed.

 

"Feh. We didn't want to wake you. We have a long day ahead of us."

 

"May I ask what was so important you had to discuss it away from camp and in such early hours?" Miroku insisted. It was becoming nearly impossible for the monk not to smirk.

 

"Houshi-sama..." Sango began, noticing the uncomfortable look on Kagome's face and the wicked light behind Miroku's violet eyes, a look that could only mean he was thinking Inuyasha and Kagome had been doing anything but talking in their absence.

 

Inuyasha snorted. "Not that I owe you any explanations, but Kagome sensed a shard." He said as quickly as he could.

Lying was definetely not one of his strong points. Sure, he could lie...and maybe even get away with it...if no one was looking at his face. No, his voice often betrayed him too.

He wondered, not for the first time that day, how his half brother managed to mask his feelings. If the bastard had any, that is...Inuyasha seriously doubted that. Other than hatred for him, of course, he thought, and Sesshoumaru never bothered to hide that from his filthy, weak, half-breed little brother.

 

"Funny...I thought you said you were just...talking?" Miroku said, arching an eyebrow.

 

"Feh. I could take care of it by myself! Why should I wake two pathetic, weak humans and a useless kitsune who throws toys at youkai and runs away crying when he senses danger? As for Sango's pet....shit, the cat can't do anything but fly around and growl! I don't need any of your help! Kagome senses the shards, I kill the youkai and that's that." Inuyasha stated, wincing inwardly.

 

"Inuyasha!" Kagome gasped, frowning at his harsh words.

 

Miroku and Sango were not only their companions, they were dear friends and fought bravely at all times, and little Shippo even helped when he could with his fox fire or transforming into a big pink balloon, often catching their falls and showing more courage than was expected of him, the kitsune being so young. Despite his obvious fear, Shippo didn't run away unless one of the grown ups told him to hide and stay out of the way for his own safety, and he tried so hard to measure up to his dead father and be a hero of sorts in Inuyasha's eyes that it was endearing.

The fact that Inuyasha was actually a father figure to him and that Kagome had even seen Shippo with his arms folded in classical Inuyasha fashion and heard the kit utter a tiny "Feh" every now and then made her smile secretly to herself. Shippo would never admit it, but he looked up to Inuyasha. His words must have hit him hard.

And the youkai fire cat Kirara was part of their team as much as the rest of them. From being loyal only to her mistress, Kirara had become a true friend and ally to all of them, helpful not only during their battles but aiding them in any way she could.

 

How could he have said such hurtful, untrue things?

 

Apparently, Sango and Miroku had decided to let it slip, they knew the hanyou too well to let his comments get to them. Kirara merely yawned. Shippo, however, was trying very hard not to burst into tears right there and then.

 

'Kagome, you silly girl...he said things he doesn't mean or believe because he felt threatened and he doesn't want them to know what you've been truly doing...or what he's said to you. It is between you and him, isn't it? For now...he did say you should both try to focus on other things...Naraku for one...the shards...he doesn't want to forget what happened, and he said he didn't want you to forget it either...that's what matters...he loves you...what were you expecting anyway, that he would just admit to everyone that he kissed you and confessed his feelings for you? Still...he didn't have to hurt his friends like that to hide it...he can be such a child sometimes...'

 

"You realise my hanyou friend, you can't lie if your life depended on it, do you?"

 

Miroku just didn't know when to quit. Inuyasha's patience, a virtue he didn't truly possess to begin with, was wearing thin.

 

"Feh. Believe what you will." The hanyou said, folding his arms across his chest.

 

Miroku didn't hide his smirk this time. "Should I?" He asked, arching his eyebrows in a meaningful manner.

 

"Watch it, monk!" Inuyasha warned, fire blazing in his golden eyes.

 

Miroku held his hands up in surrender. "I apologise, Inuyasha. I meant no offense. Just remember... Buddha sees it all...now if you could just enlighten me..."

 

"Kagome, what's for breakfast?" Sango cut Miroku off, not wanting to know what he was going to ask the irritated hanyou and praying to all the gods the monk's mind would wander elsewhere. What did wander elsewhere, however, was not precisely his mind...

 

"Hentai!" Sango shouted, slapping him hard. The red handprint on the monk's face did nothing to erase the dizzy, wide grin on his lips.

 

"Ah Sango, I am cursed. This hand...it has a mind of its own. I was merely seeking for... enlightment."

 

"I'll chop it off and then we'll get rid of its perverted little mind and of your kazaana at the same time! That should give you some 'enlightment'!" Sango yelled.

 

The enraged exterminator turned to Kagome. The young miko was staring at her feet, finding them very interesting for the time being.

She looked up suddenly when she noticed Sango was asking her for the second time what was for breakfast.

 

"Um...breakfast?" Kagome stuttered.

 

"You know, my lady...the first meal of the day." Miroku said helpfully. This earned him a glare from Sango.

 

"Breakfast. Oh, yeah...the usual. Ramen. And tea. I'm running low on provisions...I might have to go back soon and get some more." Kagome sighed.

 

Exams were certainly the last thing on her mind right now...

 

Inuyasha's ears twitched and he risked a glance at Kagome's back.

 

I might have to go back soon...

 

Grateful to turn her back on the monk's questioning, amused eyes, Kagome knelt down and started rummaging through her huge yellow backpack.

 

She produced the Ramen but there was no more tea left. She found a waterbottle and asked Shippo if he could go and fill it. Inuyasha's nasty words forgotten at Kagome's request, more than happy to help out in this mission, the little fox youkai flashed her a big toothy grin and hurried to perform his task, Kirara at his heels.

 

Kagome was getting everything ready to make breakfast when she heard Inuyasha's voice from above her.

 

"Oi, wench, we ain't got any more food, and don't you have any of your 'exams' to do?" Inuyasha asked, arms still folded across his chest as he avoided at all costs to look her straight in the eye.

 

Kagome looked taken aback. "As a matter of fact I do, but..." She began, scowling slightly, confusion written all over her face.

 

'Is he asking me to go away? Why? Oh no...maybe... maybe he is having second thoughts...maybe he just wants me out of the way so he can go...so he can go to her...'

 

Kagome looked up at him, her eyes glazing over and biting her lower lip, her stare so intense Inuyasha thought she was trying to see right through him.

Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably under her gaze but couldn't keep his big mouth shut. Like Miroku's hand, it had a mind of its own.

 

"Then what the hell are you waiting for?! It's not like anyone is forcing you to stay or anything."

 

Miroku seemed to find this statement coming from his hanyou friend so amusing he choked on his own laughter and began coughing uncontrollably as Sango patted his back and stared at Inuyasha with huge, unbelieving eyes, as if he had grown another head.

 

Shippo, who was not out of earshot and currently chasing Kirara with the waterbottle in his little paws, abruptly stopped and gave Inuyasha a look that very much resembled Sango's.

 

Then he risked a glance at Kagome, who had clenched her fists at her sides so hard her knuckles were white and was currently glaring daggers at Inuyasha.

 

'If looks could kill...' thought Sango, shuddering slightly, glancing from the dog demon to her best friend and back again.

What the heck is going on here? Inuyasha is actually 'sending' Kagome away? Hell must have frozen over...

 

Miroku had finally stopped coughing and his violet eyes rested on Inuyasha, searching his face.

 

Pout? Check. Scowl? Check. And wait a second, is the almighty dog demon BLUSHING? Yup...not just a slight blush either, his entire face is actually beet red. Matching his kimono quite accurately, I might add...

 

The monk suddenly burst out laughing. Four angry heads turned in his direction. Now he seemed to be the one who had grown an extra head.

 

"You're...blushing, Inuyasha." Miroku managed at last, the smirk returning to his lips.

 

"Keh. Am NOT."

 

"Are too!" Shippo added, immediately climbing on Inuyasha's shoulder. He sniffed loudly. "And you smell like Kagome! More than usual, I mean." He added hurriedly.

Inuyasha bumped the kitsune's head. Shippo burst into tears as he rubbed the lump on his abused head.

 

Kagome was oddly silent, glaring at the hanyou, who stubbornly refused to look at her and whose blush hadn't left his face.

 

Sango was looking at the miko thoughtfully, her head tilted to one side. "Kagome..." She began, suddenly noticing...something. "Where did you get that?"

 

Kagome momentarily stopped glaring at Inuyasha to stare at Sango with wide, puzzled eyes. "Where did I get what?"

 

"That. On your neck..." Sango pointed at her.

 

Miroku followed the exterminator's finger. His smirk widened.

 

"Aah...so that's why you were both missing when we awoke...Kagome sensed a shard. And the youkai who obviously didn't possess it must have...sucked pretty hard on her neck. Although knowing youkai, it should have gone straight for Kagome-sama's shards...whatever made it stop to take its time to suck on the lady's neck?" He wondered, pretending to give this a great deal of thought. He smiled widely. "That's a nice purple shade you got there, Kagome-sama. And this youkai was gentle with you...how nice of it, not to have simply bitten your head off...why, you're not even bleeding. It was indeed thoughtful of it, such a tender bruise..."

 

Kagome's hands instantly rose to her neck and brushed the bruise Inuyasha had left on her skin. She blushed an identical shade of red as the dog demon, who had now decided it was better for his dignity and pride to turn his back on all of his companions.

 

Shippo stopped wailing and became immediately concerned. "Kagome, are you okay? Does it hurt? Did the youkai bite you? Want me to get you your magical medicines?" He asked, as she scooped him up in her arms and stroked his tail.

"Thanks Shippo, but I'm okay, it doesn't hurt." She said reassuringly.

 

Actually, it tingled deliciously and she wanted to touch it again...Inuyasha had left that mark there. She reminded herself that she was furious with him now and wouldn't allow herself to smile at this.

 

"I just...fell...must have hit a rock or something..." She mumbled lamely.

 

"You fell on your neck? Your neck hit a rock?" Sango asked, arching her eyebrows.

 

This was just too much for Miroku. He burst out laughing.

"Kagome-sama...fell...on...her...neck..." He gasped through his uncontrollable fit of giggles, hands on his stomach, nearly doubling over.

 

"What's so fucking funny, monk?" Inuyasha yelled, ready to beat the perverted houshi into a bloody pulp if he so much as dared make another comment. He lifted a fist in warning.

 

Miroku cleared his throat, tears of laughter running down his cheeks while his face immediately melted into a mask of serenity.

The contrast was nearly as annoying as his laughter.

 

"Nothing is funny about...ahem...falling on one's neck. Are you sure she fell? Couldn't that be the love bite of some dog, I mean...ahem...a cruel, painful bite that somehow left no blood from the dangerous youkai with no shard you encountered? Like I said, it must have been quite a gentle dangerous youkai...so careful with the lady...Inuyasha, were you with her at the time of the...fall...that could have easily broken the lady's neck? When the hanyou, that is...power hungry youkai in search of Kagome-sama's shards, because clearly it was a false alarm and he possessed none, although the lady has never been wrong when it comes to sensing shards before...attacked and sucked on her neck...silly me, I meant to say, when Kagome-sama fell and hit her neck...on a rock, barely escaping death? The rock was so merciful to her, leaving only a purple bruise on her tender skin..."

He wasn't smiling but his violet eyes sparkled with barely suppressed laugher and amusement.

 

Inuyasha growled at him, fists shaking. "Keh!" He turned his back again on the group and sulked some more. "I was with her. She's just fine! And the youkai was not dangerous and she fell on her stupid neck but not hard enough to break it. Pathetic humans...and we all know how clumsy the wench is..."

 

Kagome was shaking with fury and embarrasment. Of all the things he could have said...he just had to insult her, call her stupid, pathetic and clumsy?

 

Miroku chose to ignore Kagome's embarrasment and evident discontent, deciding it was much more fun and productive to tease Inuyasha instead.

 

"I wonder...you would never let her fall, Inuyasha..." He started, but shut his mouth when Sango shot him a warning look.

 

The exterminator felt sorry for her embarrassed friend who looked as if she wished the earth would open up and swallow her. Either that, or bite Inuyasha's head off. Probably both.

 

"Kagome? Are you okay?" She whispered.

 

"It's...just a small bruise. It doesn't even hurt." She glared again at Inuyasha. Kagome's eyes were piercing the hanyou's back but her words were directed at Sango. "Obviously, it's NOTHING to worry about. I was just CLUMSY and fell on my STUPID neck!"

 

Inuyasha flinched but immediately regained his composture. "Feh."

 

"I didn't mean the bruise," Sango said softly, her hand on Kagome's shoulder.

 

Kagome remained silent, eyes glued to Inuyasha's back.

 

"Stupid bitch, always so concerned with your 'school' and your pathetic little human friends...why don't you hurry back so you can...do whatever it is you do when you're home?"

 

'I am home', Kagome thought, but was too hurt and angry to respond.

 

"Are you telling me Inuyasha, that you want me to go home?" She asked, her tone dangerously calm.

 

"Are you fucking deaf, wench? That's exactly what I'm ordering you to do! Oh and bring back some Ramen."

 

Oh, the nerve of him!

 

Kagome gently put Shippo down before turning her full attention to the hanyou.

 

"Inuyasha..." She said softly, approaching him slowly.

He froze but didn't move or turn around to face her. Kagome stood on tiptoe to brush her silky lips against his right ear. It instictively twitched and Inuyasha shuddered.

 

"I'll go home, Inuyasha. I'll just...shall we say, forget it?" She blew on his ear. He let out a moan that was almost a whimper.

No one but Inuyasha heard her say this, and he prayed to all the gods Miroku hadn't heard him whimper.

 

"I'll bring you back Ramen. And, oh just before I forget...there's something I just have to tell you...I might be a pathetic human...but you and I both know there's something I can make you feel..."

Inuyasha was visibly shaking now. "K-Kagome..."

 

He should have seen it coming, he really should have, but her breathing hotly on his ear and blowing on it clouded his mind completely. His heart was pounding loudly in his chest.

 

Kagome took a deep breath before she screamed in his sensitive ear at the top of her lungs:

"SIT! INUYASHA NO BAKA!"

 

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his skull, for a moment he truly believed she had defeaned him, and Kagome saw the hurt, confused expression in his eyes before his body crashed loudly to the ground.

 

"SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT SIT!" Kagome screamed, each 'sit' making him sink further, forming an Inuyasha-shaped hole in the ground as he groaned in pain.

 

'I can make you feel that.' She thought angrily. She really didn't enjoy sitting him. She didn't. But sometimes...gods, he just had it coming.

 

Even Miroku and Sango flinched at the obvious pain the hanyou was being submitted to.

 

When Kagome finally stopped sitting him, Inuyasha muttered something into the dirt, his body still under the spell of his kotodoma. Whatever it was he was saying, it wasn't pretty.

 

Kagome turned on her heels and didn't even bother to gather her stuff. She didn't run, but she was walking quite fast.

 

"Kagome...don't go! He's just a stupid dog, and he's impossible when you go back to your time! Really! I mean you should see him! Sulking and muttering to himself by the well, pacing back and forth and growling...it's scary!"

 

Miroku and Sango exchanged a look. "I must agree with young Shippo here..." Miroku began, until he heard a muffled voice from the ground.

"I'd shut the fuck up if I were you monk...unless you want me to make it impossible for you to father pups."

Miroku quickly shut his mouth.

 

Sango looked at Kagome sadly. "Kagome...wait. I'll walk you to the well." She said gently.

Kagome didn't answer but didn't complain when Sango caught up with her and began walking by her side at the same pace.

 

Shippo was running behind the girls, pouting and wobbly-eyed, and Kagome swept him up in her arms and hugged him tightly, kissing the top of the kitsune's head.

"I'll be back soon, I promise, Shippo. Be good and don't fight with Inuyasha, okay?"

 

Shippo scowled. "But he told you to leave! When he's not making you mad enough for you to leave us, he tells you to leave? I don't want you to go Kagome! Please stay! He's just an emotionally crippled baka!" He wailed.

 

Kagome had to briefly wonder where and from whose mouth the little kitsune had heard the words 'emotionally crippled'. Probably from Sango, she thought.

 

She sighed. "I won't be gone long. And I'll bring you a present, how does that sound?" Kagome attempted a small smile.

 

"And pocky?" Shippo asked hopefully, looking at her with his large, tearful green eyes.

 

"Lots of pocky. But you can't eat them all at once, you promise?"

 

"I promise!" Shippo didn't look happy, but at least he wasn't so sad anymore. He jumped down from Kagome's arms and hurried over to where Miroku was sitting, quite calmly giving the circumstances.

 

Having his manhood threatened had abruptly erased any thoughts of teasing the hanyou further. Now he was merely looking ahead at the girls' retreating figures, eyes incapable of not lingering on Sango's behind.

 

Inuyasha was beginning to get up, brushing the dirt off his red kimono and mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like "stupidviolentabusivebitch".

 

Then he broke into a run after Kagome and Sango. "Oi, bitch!" He yelled. "You can't fucking ignore me!"

 

Kagome did indeed ignore him and kept waking, head lifted high and proud.

Sango turned and shot Inuyasha a helpless look, then rolled her eyes. 'When will he ever learn?' She wondered.

 

Inuyasha caught up with them and grabbed Kagome's arm, roughly turning her around, forcing her to look at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

 

"Inuyasha..." Sango began, as if talking to a five year old. "If I were you..."

 

"But you're not me, so shut the fuck up!"

 

Sango sighed and shook her head. "I tried." She murmured, and shrugged.

 

Kagome opened her mouth to sit him again but he clasped the hand that was not currently grasping her arm in a death grip over her mouth.

 

To his utter amazement, she stuck her tongue out and licked the palm of Inuyasha's hand.

When he let her go in complete shock, golden eyes melting, a dark blush spreading across his cheeks, she said it, loud and clear.

 

"SIT!"

 

Inuyasha's body once again hit the ground. "Ugh..."

 

Kagome was about to sit him again when she felt a small hand on her shoulder and turned to look at Sango, who was silently shaking her head.

"I'll go back to camp, Kagome." She said gently, squeezing the younger girl's shoulder. "Inuyasha, you'd better thank me for this later and you better explain yourself to Kagome so I won't regret this. I might not be able to 'sit' you but Hirakotsu can cause a great deal of pain on that thick skull of yours. And please, do try not to stick your foot in your mouth for once." She added, looking down at him.

 

Kagome stood over him, patiently waiting for the spell to wear off, and watched as Inuyasha slowly rose to his full height.

 

Once that Sango was out of sight, he gave a defeated sigh and reached out to grab her hands. Kagome didn't resist, but her eyes didn't soften.

She felt Inuyasha's fingers entwine with hers and he pulled her closer, but not close enough for their bodies to touch.

 

"Kagome..."

 

"Why are you sending me away? Are you so eager to get rid of me so you can run back to...to her?"

 

Inuyasha looked so confused for a moment she thought she had spoken to him in a foreign language. He tilted his head to one side, long silvery hair cascading over his shoulder, a scowl adorning his face, as he desperately tried to figure Kagome's words out.

 

"Go back to her?" He finally murmured, arching his dark eyebrows.

 

Kagome tried to shake free of his hands, but he merely squeezed them and pulled her closer so that their bodies touched. "Is that what you think?" He whispered, a milimiter from her lips.

 

"What am I supposed to think, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked shakily, trying not to give in to those eyes, those lips, his mouth so close to hers, all she had to do was move her head a little and their lips would touch again...the full, sensual lips that had kissed her and sucked her until her own lips were sore, the same mouth that had a moment before ordered her to go back to her own time... she was despertely trying not to melt at the hard yet incredibly soft pressure of his lean body against hers, his warm palms pressed against her slightly sweaty palms.

 

She was trying to remember her anger and his harsh words, how he had insulted her, practically forced her to leave his side...pushing her away yet again...she was trying to understand why his attitude had changed now that they were alone.

 

If it wasn't because of Kikyou...then why? She saw concern in his golden eyes again, mingled with a thousand deep emotions she understood entirely and shared but couldn't have described. They didn't need to be explained, or voiced.

 

"I...I just need to find some things out, Kagome. Before it's too late. I need you to trust me and I can't trust myself if you're near now...I need to find answers. I don't want my youkai blood to take over me. And I thought I'd made myself clear about...the other thing." He said, and she could tell he was trying very hard for his voice to sound gentle, and not impatient or annoyed that she hadn't got the message he'd sent her earlier through his actions, through his words.

 

Inuyasha was frightened, very much so, she could see it in his eyes but she could also feel it.

 

'His youkai blood...' Kagome thought, and bit her lower lip.

 

"The other thing." She said slowly after a long pause. "I am the one you want, the one you need...the one you care about? Is that the other thing?"

 

"Yes and no. I won't go after Kikyou. Fuck, I want to be as far away from her as possible..." He blurted out, and immediately regretted it.

 

Kagome's look of surprise melted slowly into one of suspicion.

 

"Why?" She asked, eyes narrowing. "You said you saw her this morning...before we..."

 

"Keh. Leave it alone will ya? It was nothing." Inuyasha mumbled. He let go of her hands.

 

"Did she hurt you?" She asked softly.

 

Inuyasha didn't answer but his eyes hardened.

 

"She did!" Kagome gasped, her anger resurfacing but this time not directed at him. "Inuyasha..." She started.

 

"Just leave it alone, wench!" He snapped. Kagome flinched.

 

"I promise...I will fix things. Everything will be all right, okay? Trust me. Please trust me, Kagome." He told her, almost desperately.

 

Kagome looked at their feet, then lifted her head to stare into his eyes. She nodded slowly.

"I trust you. I'll stay away so you can find your answers. I said I would wait, didn't I? I will trust you, I always trust you, Inuyasha. Just promise me something?" She reached for his hand again and held it tightly, pressing it against her heart.

Inuyasha gave her a single nod, his eyes giving her all the reassurance she needed.

 

"Promise me you'll come back for me soon. Answers or no answers. Promise me...you won't leave me like this. Whatever it is that's tearing you apart, is also tearing me apart. Don't be your stubborn self and promise me you'll let me help you...that we'll work this out together."

 

Inuyasha was about to tell her he didn't need her help, but wisely and uncharacteristically held his tongue. He needed her help. Desperetaly needed her.

 

After what seemed an eternity, Inuyasha nodded again. "I promise. As long as you trust me..."

 

"I do. With my life." Kagome gently squeezed his hand, still held against her heart.

 

Inuyasha risked a rare, soft smile that reached his golden eyes and made her smile in return.

 

"And apologise to Sango, Miroku and Shippo. You said things you didn't mean to them." Kagome added, sternly. "Sango and Miroku might have brushed it off but you really hurt Shippo's feelings...he's just a kit, and he looks up to you, you know..."

 

"Feh." Inuyasha blushed at this despite of himself.

 

"Inuyasha..." Kagome began in a threatening voice. He quickly leaned over and pressed his lips to hers briefly, chastely.

 

"Whatever, wench. I promise. Happy now?" He let go of her hand, not before he kissing it softly. "Go back to your time, Kagome." He whispered, when what he really wanted to say, to howl, was 'Please don't leave me, please I need you here with me!'

 

"You'll come for me?" Kagome asked in a tiny voice, nervously, knowing he wouldn't seal the well like he had once done but desperately wanting to stay with him.

She felt that if she left Inuyasha alone, he would indeed find his answers and wouldn't be able to deal with them.

 

Kagome sat on the edge of the well and swung her long legs over it, looking over her shoulder at him.

 

"Damn it wench, I already said I would!" Inuyasha said irritably. "Now, go!"

 

'Before I change my mind and beg you to stay...' He thought, sighing deeply. 'If she doesn't jump now I will...'

 

Kagome gave him a loving little smile before she jumped.

 

That was it. She was gone. Gone.

 

Damn.

 

Inuyasha watched her dissapear and slowly sank to the ground, his back against the well. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply, inhaling Kagome's lingering scent in the air. He missed his bitch already. It took all of his self control not to jump after her right then.

 

Gods it hurt!

 

Her presence still caressed him but it was slowly slipping away, her aura growing faint, as his youki desperately tried to reach out for it.

 

Five hundred years away from him...he couldn't take it. But he had to. For her.

 

Kagome was safe now.

 

Inuyasha knew what he had to do: find the flea youkai and squeeze some answers out of him.

 

Myouga had to know what was happening to him, why his youkai side suddenly seemed to have...developed a voice in his head, a 'personality'...a possessive one at that, one that was just as unwilling to 'share' Kagome as the hanyou was.

He wanted it to go away...if he ever heard that voice full of malice and blood lust in his head again, that voice that was his own, yet not his own at all...he would go mad.

 

He had never 'talked' with himself before...This was not good. Not good at all. He had to put a stop to it.

 

Kagome was his!

 

And she would become his mate, and no one, not even himself, would stop Inuyasha from loving her, becoming one with her, giving her his soul and heart and body and placing his life in her hands just as Kagome placed hers in his every single day.

 

He would not lose Kagome's trust. He would not surrender to his youkai blood, and he certainly would not make her suffer... never again, he swore to himself.

 

Inuyasha stood up, the abscence of Kagome's unique fragance and soothing presence squeezing his heart. He inhaled deeply one last time before dragging his feet back to camp. He was in no particular hurry to leave Kagome's sweet, enticing scent.

 

Hell, he would have stayed by the well all day if it was up to him, but unfortunately he had to get some answers.

 

Or he would never be free.

 

 

TBC

 

AN: This was posted in quite a hurry, I hope I didn't dissapoint...and onegai don't hate me if I have to edit it again...But I wanted to update as soon as I could!

 

I bow to Zelix and thank him with all my heart for the ideas he gave me. If you haven't read this guy's great fics, GO NOW!

Scherezade...I will never tire to thank you and tell you how absolutely brilliant you are, if you haven't read her incredible work yet, SHAME ON YOU! This Youkai Musashi commands you to go NOW! If you don't absolutely LOVE her stories I'll cut my own arm and present it to Fluffy (it is hard to handcuff him to my bed with one arm, you know...)

 

I take this opportunity to ask you to review my fic too...wait, I already asked that of you??? Did I? Sorry. I'll ask again...REVIEW! Okay, I'll beg this time...not good to yell at people...::tiny voice:: review? Onegai? ::batts eyelashes::