InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Oyasumi Nasai ❯ Distraction ( Chapter 2 )

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Oyasumi Nasai

 

Chapter Two: Distraction

 

 

Kouga's hold on Kagome slackened, but he did not let go of her as he took a step back and looked her in the eyes. Kagome uncurled one arm from around his back to wipe the tears from her face.

 

He laughed, assisting her by rubbing his thumb against her other cheek.

 

“And just why are you crying?” He asked, stroking her cheek, though her tears were long gone.

 

Mimicking his actions, she raised her hand and brushed his tears away. “Because you are.” She lied. Well, it wasn't really a lie. She had never seen him cry before, so when he had started, she lost it, that was true. However, there was another reason.

 

Looking into his eyes, she realized that there was a distant longing for something that he knew he could never have. Her. And now she knew how he must have felt every time she had been affectionate toward Inuyasha in his presence.

 

`Oh, my gosh…' Tears prickled at her eyes and she covered her mouth with her hand. `How many times have I broken his heart?'

 

Kouga frowned. Something was wrong. This was why he had smelled her blood and tears on the wind from his den, no doubt. Scooping her up in his arms, he walked her over to a fallen log and sat her down on it, kneeling beside her on the damp grass.

 

“Hey, hey. No more tears. What's wrong, Kagome?”

 

Sniffling, she said, “You first.”

 

Kouga looked away sheepishly. For a minute, Kagome thought he wasn't going to tell her. But…

 

“Yume.”

 

“A dream?”

 

He nodded. “Well, it was more like a nightmare.”

 

“Care to elaborate?” She asked softly.

 

He nodded once and did not meet her eyes. “We thought we had defeated Naraku, but we hadn't. You were next to me. I was distracted. I sensed his attack, but…I was too late. It turned out that he was after you all along, and…the houshi told me to get you out of there. I ran with you, told you to stay awake, but…” He paused and absentmindedly put his hand over his heart. Taking a deep breath, he continued. “When I looked down, you were…It was all so real, Kagome.” He buried his face in his hands. “I really thought I had lost you.”

 

Kagome was at a loss for what to do. However, before she had time to comfort him, he looked up.

 

“And when I woke up, your scent…you were crying and…bleeding,” he finished, looking up at her. “Were you not?”

 

Kagome sighed and looked away.

 

Kouga frowned playfully. “Hey, that's not fair. I told you my story, you know.”

 

“I know. Oh, all right. Here.” She thrust her forearm at him. He gingerly touched the tender skin and realized she was bleeding. Or had been bleeding. He winced.

 

“What happened?” He asked, looking up at her.

 

“Nothing, really. I ran into a thorn branch when I was running from-“ She firmly clamped her mouth shut, refusing to say any more.

 

“From…? Youkai? Why wasn't he protecting you?” He angrily demanded, standing up. “When I find that stupid hanyou, I swear I'll-“

 

He broke off of his rant when he realized she was crying again.

 

“Kagome?” He asked, sitting down beside her again. When she did not answer, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Kagome gave in. Both hands clutched at his armor as she buried her face in his chest. Kouga scooped her up and sat her on his lap, running his fingers through her hair.

 

“They called me a copy,” She sobbed. “He said he didn't care about me.”

 

Kouga frowned. “Who did?” he asked. He had a feeling he already knew.

 

“Kikyou and…and Inuy-ya-sha.” She sniffled pathetically. There was a rumbling in his chest and she looked up with a start when she realized he was growling.

 

“Kouga-kun…?” She asked, her grip on his armor tightening.

 

“You listen to me, Kagome. The day I believe you're just a copy of that cold-hearted ama is the day hell freezes over. You're so much kinder, you have courage that she never had, a wonderful character…you're so smart,” he added with an affectionate smile. “And you're just so freakin' beautiful. I guess I can see the similar looks, but you're ten, no, a hundred times prettier.”

 

Kagome was speechless.

 

“What?” he asked, his cheeks tainted pink.

 

“Do you really mean all of that?” She asked.

 

He smiled affectionately at her and rumpled her hair. “Of course I do.”

 

Kagome blushed and hid her face in his armor. “Gosh, that's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me before.”

 

“No one's ever called you beautiful before?” He asked, bewildered.

 

Kagome grinned. “You said a lot more than that, you know.”

 

Kouga smiled down at her and before he could stop himself, he touched his lips to her forehead. Kagome's heartbeat sped up; she hugged him tighter.

 

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing himself off her. “Well, Kagome, I'd better take you back to your camp. The houshi and taijiya are probably worried sick for you by now. Oh, and the little kitsune, too.” He added, standing.

 

Kagome nodded and got to her feet. “Oh…yeah. But…um, I'm sort of lost, Kouga-kun.”

 

Kouga smirked and crossed his arms. “Not to worry. I can smell them from here. Come on.”

 

 

oooooo

 

 

Miroku started into the woods. Turning around to face Shippou and Sango, he said, “We should split up. I'll go this way. Shippou, you go that way and try to sniff her out.” Shippou nodded. “And Sango, you should search by air. We'll cover a lot more ground that way, and you're likely to find her first.”

 

“Right,” Sango nodded and hopped on Kirara's back, prepared to fly.

 

“Ready?” Miroku asked. His comrades nodded. “Then, let's-“

 

“OW!” a masculine voice shouted, not far from the camp.

 

“Well, it serves you right!” a familiar voice retorted, but Sango could tell the voice's owner was blushing.

 

“But I said I was sorry!”

 

“Well, you should have been watching where you were going!”

 

A laugh. Then, “That really hurt, you know.”

 

“Oh, come off it. You weigh a lot more than I do, so it hurt worse when you stepped on me. Besides, aren't you supposed to be youkai?”

 

“A lot more…? Are you calling me fat?”

 

“No, but just look at those muscles! It's a wonder my foot didn't pop right off!”

 

A pause.

 

“So, you think I'm sexy, do you?”

 

A splutter.

 

The two figures came into view a few yards away from the campfire.

 

Kouga was laughing. “You can't say no, can you? Huh? Huh?” His hand was on Kagome's head, shaking it gently with each question.

 

Kagome blushed, then, “So what if I do think you are?”

 

Sango quickly covered Shippou's ears with her hands and bit her lip to keep herself from laughing out loud.

 

Kouga's eyes widened. “You…do?”

 

“…Yes.” Kagome squeaked.

 

Sango could hold it in no longer.

 

The sound of her best friend's laughter caused Kagome to look up with a start.

 

`Shimata! They heard that?!' She thought, turning bright red.

 

Kouga's laughter joined in with Sango's. He, of course, had known they were listening all along.

 

Shippou struggled out of Sango's arms and launched himself at Kagome as fast as he could.

 

“Kagome! Where were you?” He shouted, as she caught him in mid-air.

 

“Oh, Shippou-chan, I was…uh…”

 

“Just out for a walk with me,” Kouga finished for her. Kagome shot him a grateful look.

 

Miroku stepped forward and greeted the wolf prince with a handshake. “Good to see you, Kouga.”

 

“You too, Houshi.” And then, when he was sure Kagome was busy talking with Sango and Shippou, he whispered, “When Inu-koro gets back, ask him where he's been and then beat the crap out of him.”

 

“Ah, I thought that was it.” Miroku muttered back. “Poor Kagome-sama,” he whispered, stealing a glance her way. “Thank you for seeing her back safely, Kouga.”

 

Kouga nodded. “I always will.”

 

“I know.”

 

Sango was looking at Kagome with suspicion in her eyes.

 

“Kagome-chan…?” She whispered so Kouga and Miroku couldn't hear.

 

“I promise I'll tell you everything later, Sango-chan!” Kagome whispered back, darting an uneasy look towards Miroku and Kouga.

 

Sango grinned. “I'm holding you to that.”

 

“Fine.”

 

Kouga raised an eyebrow and exchanged a knowing glance with Miroku. The girls weren't hiding anything.

 

`I should probably leave now.' Kouga thought. `If Inu-koro shows up now, I won't be able to hold myself back.'

 

“Oyasumi nasai, Kagome. Sleep well.” Kouga said, watching her longingly from across the campfire.

 

“Oh, umm, yeah, oyasumi, Kouga-kun,” Kagome said, walking over to him. She threw a look over her shoulder at Sango.

 

“Oh, uh…OH MY GOSH! Shippou-chan, Houshi-sama, look over there!” She shouted, pointing into the forest.

 

“Where?” Shippou asked, ducking behind Sango's leg for protection.

 

While the boys' attention was drawn away from her, Kagome stood on her tiptoes and kissed Kouga on the cheek. “Thank you for everything, Kouga-kun,” she whispered.

 

Kouga touched his cheek with the tips of his fingers and smiled dreamily. “Y-you're welcome, Kagome. See you around.” And with that, he was gone.

 

Miroku suppressed a smile. He had been watching from the corner of his eye. And, judging from the way Sango was gaping at Kagome, he guessed she had done the same.

 

Kagome glared at Sango and mouthed, In the morning!

 

“Oyasumi nasai, Miroku-sama, Sango-chan, Kirara, Shippou-chan.” There was a certain finality in her tone that spoke for her. There would be no more questions directed toward her that night. Kagome feigned sleepiness and rolled over in her sleeping bag. Shippou snuggled up beside her. Her heart was beating like crazy. Kouga had shown her a whole new side of himself tonight. He was kind and gentle, and…

 

Shippou snuggled closer with a sly smile. “So, you really think Kouga's sexy, huh?” Shippou whispered in her ear.

 

She ignored him.