InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lover Untamed ❯ Chapter eleven ( Chapter 11 )

Lover Untamed

Chapter eleven

Sitting at the kitchen table, hands wrapped around a nearly full cup of coffee even though she'd been up since before six o'clock, Sango stared unblinkingly down at the cell phone sitting innocently on the hardwood surface before her, willing it to go off; a ring, a beep, fucking levitate into the air, anything so that her mind may be at ease, so that she knew her best friend was safe and unharmed since she was hanging around that untamed demon. She knew it had only been a day since they'd dropped them off at Kaede's, but that still didn't stop her from worrying. What if something happened? What if Kagome had changed her mind and wanted to come back? Of course the notion that Kaede had a car and could easily bring her back into town escaped her at that moment, concern for the ebony-haired woman overriding all other thought.

Sango frowned and bit down on her lip, her hands tightening on her coffee mug. What if… Oh, God, what if that…that thing hurt her?! Maybe that's why she hasn't called yet, because she was too afraid or too injured to get to a phone. That beast is one hundred times stronger than Kagome; he could easily overpower her or even crush her phone to bits.

You know that's not true, the rational part of her mind insisted and aloud Sango groaned, resisting the urge to pound her head onto the table. Repeatedly.

Okay, so it was unlikely the demon had injured her, considering how he had acted the day before. Kagome was right when she said he wasn't a threat at all to her and instead she and Miroku had been a threat to him. He'd been all over her, growling at everything that moved - aka, Miroku - and practically wrapping himself around her in an obvious protective manner that almost bordered on possessive. So, no, the demon wouldn't hurt her.

Sango's brows kitted together again and she thrust a hand through her dark hair, heaving a sigh of frustration. Even despite knowing this, why did she feel so…so damn anxious?

Because this is one of Kagome's most stupidest ideas, that's why, her mind supplied helpfully for her once more and this time Sango did whack her head onto the table.

Damn, this sucked.

“Ah…good morning, dearest,” Miroku greeted from the doorway to the kitchen just as Sango indulged in another head-whack. “Er…far be it for me to stop your self-abuse, however need I remind you what happened last time you took your anger out on the furniture?” He raised a brow and glanced at the destroyed chair sitting in the corner of the room.

Sango released another sigh and lifted her head. “Shut up, Miroku,” she mumbled and continued her previous stare down with her phone.

Miroku blinked. That was…weird. Okay, attempt number two. “If you stare any longer at your phone like that I'm afraid it might spontaneously combust.”

No response.

The violet-eyed man frowned but then his expression softened. “You're worried about Kagome.” It wasn't a question.

His girlfriend's brow furrowed slightly and that was answer enough. Heaving a sigh of his own, Miroku rounded the table and grabbed her hands, pulling her to her feet. “Sango,” he said softly and gathered her to his chest. She buried her face in his neck, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I, too, am worried about Kagome, however he has made her decision and we must trust her. I realize this Inuyasha fellow isn't the most…ah, distinguished of characters, but considering how he acted yesterday, I believe no harm will come to our dear friend.”

After another minute of indulging in her boyfriend's embrace, Sango pulled back and sighed for the third time. “Yes, that's what I thought, too. But, Miroku,” She locked gazes with him, twin pools of cinnamon brown searching violet. “What if something did happen? What if she changed her mind or she is hurt and can't get to a phone or—”

“Dearest,” Miroku interjected with a soft smile meant to reassure the distraught woman. “You know as well as I do that Kaede wouldn't let anything happen to her and if she really had changed her mind, don't you think Kaede wouldn't hesitate to bring her back in her own car? Remember, Kagome isn't alone. Kaede is there, and so is little Shippou. If, theoretically, something did indeed happen in which Kagome's safety is jeopardized, I'm sure Shippou would be able to distract Inuyasha long enough for Kaede to enchant the beads of subjugation and thus allow Kagome to escape via Kaede's car or something.” He shrugged. “It's old, but reliable. Now I doubt it will come down to that, however if it will put your mind at east I will call up Kaede later today and devise a backup plan like the one I just described, just in case.” He tucked a strand of silky brown behind her ear. “Sound good?”

The tension eased out of Sango's body as she visibly relaxed, a slow smile curling her lips upward. “That would make me feel much better. Thank you, Miroku.” She hugged him again, so grateful to have someone like Miroku to make her feel better and put her fears to rest. Now she remembered why she decided to date him despite his wandering hands…

Oblivious to her thoughts, Miroku closed his eyes and hugged his woman tight, glad that he was able to lay to rest her doubts and fears. And just as his hand was about to travel a little more southward from the save territory of her back, a series of impatient knocks sounded from the front door and they both pulled back to frown at the door. It was barely 8:00; who could it be this early in the morning?

Exchanging a look with Sango, Miroku shrugged and let go to go answer the door, thinking perhaps it was their elderly neighbor asking to borrow some random household item or another. Last time it was some pliers, a pair of his socks and Drain-o.

Shaking his head, he opened the door and opened his mouth to greet their neighbor but stopped short, his spine stiffening and his hand tightening on the doorknob. It was not old man Totosai at their door.

Cobalt blue eyes glared into his own and his lips pulled back to bare a fanged, malicious smile.

“Let's talk.”

-X-

Kagome knew the fear she had when he burst into the room was unfounded. She knew that he didn't want to hurt her - hell, it was the complete opposite of that, if what happened earlier that morning was any indication. A fierce blush heated her cheeks and she dropped her gaze, unable to look at him, however she couldn't be sure if it was from embarrassment or shame, or maybe it was even because he looked so…intimidating covered in blood and she idly wondered how he received all of those cuts on his chest. Perhaps it was a mixture of the three, she surmised. Her emotions were still in one big jumbled mess and Inuyasha being in the same room, she realized, just made it worse.

Inuyasha's heart sank when she looked away from him and his ears lowered, not bothering to stifle the soft whimper that escaped him. The sound bespoke of everything he was feeling in that moment, the regret, sorrow, and self-loathing easily detectable. At least it was to the kitsune in her arms; Kagome was trying her damnedest to ignore him and that just dug the knife in deeper. He whined, silently pleading for her to look at him, yell at him, anything as long as it meant she wasn't rejecting him.

Shippou stared at the dog-demon with a slight frown then turned his emerald gaze to the woman holding him, wondering why she wasn't acknowledging Inuyasha's attempts at communicating. The guilt was pouring off of him in waves and his eyes kept glancing to her sliced finger where blood was still welling up, albeit at a slower rate now. So he must have smelled Kagome's blood and came to investigate - that explained the worry that was etched onto his face. He cocked his head, confused. Shippou still didn't know why Inuyasha had gone mental and cut down a bunch of trees, since Kagome didn't tell him when he asked, but he did understand that Inuyasha was sorry, for whatever he did, and Kagome maybe wasn't able to see that. She was only a human, after all. Maybe he could help out!

Inuyasha chose that moment to slowly, hesitantly inch forward and r each a hand toward her own, his intent to clean her finger of blood and inspect the damage. He was relieved to find that it was just a cut upon entering the room but the scent of her blood still put him on edge and as her mate it was his responsibility to take care of her hurts, no matter how small.

Kagome flinched away from him and then winced, the glance she gave him afterward almost…apologetic?

Heaving a ragged sigh, Inuyasha retreated and thrust both clawed hands into his hair, resigned that she wouldn't let him touch her but frustrated that she didn't seem to understand what he was trying to say. Dammit, what more did he have to do?! Another whine escaped him as he pleaded with his eyes for her to forgive him.

Acting quickly, since the situation seemed to be going downhill, Shippou leaned up in Kagome's arms and with a small hand, gently patted her cheek, drawing her attention to the child in her arms. “He's trying to say he's sorry, Kagome. Don't you see?” Her frown indicated that she did not. “That's why he keeps making those sounds, because he doesn't know any other way to say it.”

As Kagome's eyes widened in realization, Inuyasha's ears perked up and he straightened slightly, grateful for the kit's intervention. That word…sorry. That's what he was supposed to say, right?

Kagome gaped down at the fox-child in her arms, who was at the moment looking decidedly smug. She supposed she shouldn't be that surprised he was able to tell her what Inuyasha was trying to do; he was a demon, after all, and apparently older than he looked. Sneaky little brat…

“S-s-sor-so-…”

Kagome started at the gruff voice and snapped her gaze to the older demon in the room. Inuyasha had a fierce frown on concentration on his face as he stumbled over whatever he was trying to say, his tongue unused to human speech after so many years of not talking. The young woman could tell he was getting frustrated by the angry growls that frequently punctuated his attempts and Kagome's heart went out to him, all of her previous inhibitions suddenly vanished. He was trying so hard and Kagome's earlier vow to help him grew even stronger. Of course it had never occurred to her to call it quits after what happened this morning. She still felt guilty, and quite a bit of self-hatred was mixed in there as well, but she couldn't back out now. This was just something Kagome realized she would have to work out on her own. Inuyasha didn't deserve how she was treating him. After all he likely didn't understand why she had reacted the way she did, closing him off and ignoring him. In this state he was simple-minded, unable to possess higher thought function and Kagome had to keep reminding herself of that fact. So, despite how she felt toward him she would still do her best to bring his mind back to the capacity it was before The Ring Leader's imprisonment.

Feature's softening and lips curling up into a warm, patient smile, Kagome turned to face the struggling dog demon fully as Shippou climbed up onto her shoulder. He paused in his attempts and stared helplessly at her with desperate scarlet eyes, another whimper escaping him. Briefly she wondered how she could have not understood what he was trying to say. It was so obvious to her now; his actions screamed “forgive me.”

“You almost have it,” she encouraged gently. “Sor-ry. Sor-ry. Keep going.” Her smile widened.

Inuyasha graced her with a truly brilliant smile and her heart skipped a beat. He nodded. “S-sor…ee?” He looked adorably hesitant and Kagome wanted to squeeze him.

“Almost. Sor-ry. Sorry.”

“Sssss…sor…ry.” He blinked. “Sor…ry. Sor-ry. Sorry?”

Kagome squealed softly in delight and clapped her hands. “Yes! Good job Inuyasha! You said—oh!”

He moved so fast; Inuyasha's arms were suddenly around her, holding her tightly against his chest.

“I-Inu—”

“Sorry,” he rasped in her ear and Kagome fell silent, her eyes going wide. “Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry.” The word spilled from his lips over and over again, a mantra, a plea, a benediction. He dipped his head and buried his face in her neck, his lips warm as he continued to mumble the word into her skin.

Getting over her momentary shock at his abrupt embrace and change of behavior, Kagome's expression softened and a gentle smile graced her lips as she wrapped her arms around him, retuning the embrace. “Inuyasha,” she whispered and sighed, a soft exhalation. “I forgive you. I'm sorry too, okay?” She ran a hand through his silver hair and Kagome felt it as he relaxed against her, a shudder wracking his frame. He finally stopped apologizing but didn't release her from his arms; if anything the demon only tightened his grip even more.

They stayed like that for God knows how long, content to be in each other's arms, until Kagome could no longer ignore how his bloody chest, pressed against her own, continued to leak the coppery substance from the many cuts that adorned it, staining her shirt. Although some of them have already begun to heal, there were a few deeper ones that Kagome was worried about.

“C'mon,” she said and gently pulled away, stepping out of his arms. Inuyasha whined in protest and reached for her again but Kagome shook her head.

“No, Inuyasha,” she said and his ears drooped, the look of rejection on his face nearly breaking her heart. She smiled to reassure him and tenderly put her fingertips to his chest. “I want to clean the blood off your chest and disinfect the bigger cuts and bandage them, okay? I don't want them getting infected.”

Inuyasha blinked down at the slim fingers touching his chest then flicked his gaze back up to his mate. He didn't really understand all of what she was saying but with her gentle touch to his chest, coupled with the concerned look she was giving him he pieced together what she wanted and shrugged, nodding and allowed her to lead him over to the bed to tend to his wounds. He grinned as he sat down, pleased that his mate wanted to take care of him, just like he took care of her hurts.

Suddenly his grin faded and he frowned, vaguely aware of his female telling the fox to fetch the first-aid kit while she got some warm water. That reminded him, Kagome had a hurt too that he needed to take care of before she tended to him. She was more important.

Before she could leave, he reached out and caught her wrist. Kagome blinked and stared down at him questioningly. He gave her a reprimanding look and being careful of his claws, grabbed her cut finger and held it up with an arched brow.

His mate, the cheeky little thing, smiled innocently at him. He snorted and rolled his eyes. Spotting Shippou as he scampered back in with the first-aid kit, he gestured to it with his free hand and pointedly shared at her, his demand clear.

This time it was Kagome who rolled her eyes as she pulled her hand away. “I'm fine, Inuyasha. It's just a scratch. I'm not even bleeding anymore. See?” She held her finger up for his inspection.

Inuyasha crossed his arms and stared stonily at her, clearly unwilling to let her win this.

“Oh for crying out loud, fine, you stubborn dog,” Kagome finally relented with a sigh and he grinned in triumph

Grumbling, Kagome opened the kit Shippou had set on the bed and retrieved some disinfecting ointment and a Band-Aid, applying the former one before wrapping her finger in the latter. “Happy?” she asked, showing her bandaged appendage.

A bright smile surfaced on his features and he nodded, satisfied.

Rolling her eyes once more, but unable to stop the smile from curling her lips, Kagome shook her head and left to get some warm water and a washcloth, returning a minute or two later. Sitting beside her demon patient, Kagome cleaned his chest of all the blood, old and new, before spraying some disinfectant on the bigger and deeper ones and bandaging them up.

“There,” Kagome said, studying her handiwork with a proud smile. “All done. I know you demons heal up quick—ah!” The chocolate-eyed woman cut herself off with a gasp as Inuyasha reached out and dragged her into his lap, wrapping his arms tight around her and burying his nose in her hair, inhaling her sweet scent.

“Th-tha-th…” he stammered and sighed roughly in frustration. The word was right on the tip of his tongue; he fucking knew it so why couldn't he damn well say it?!

Mercifully he didn't have to suffer long; this time Kagome seemed to know what he was trying to say and smiled in understanding. “Thank you,” she provided and Inuyasha grinned. His mate was so smart.

Pulling back slightly, the silver-haired dog demon pressed his lips to her forehead. “Th-thank…you.” A deep, contented rumble emitted from his chest. He wasn't sure just what he was thanking her for; for forgiving him or for treating his wounds. Probably both.

Once again, Kagome understood. She sighed and leaned against him, snaking her arms around his trim waist. “You're welcome, Inuyasha.”

-X-