InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Reliving the Past ❯ Chapter 13 ( Chapter 13 )

Avast ye! And my apologies too. I have been sucked into the world of Puzzle Pirates and nearly forgot to post this chapter >_< If any of you happen to download the beta version of Puzzle Pirates (available at www.puzzlepirates.com), look out for me. I am playing under the user name of kmf and would be more than happy to cross my sword with ye! Yarrr!

Thanks to all who read and reviewed the last chapter. Again, I didn't get time to email my thanks directly to all of you, so if you haven't heard from me direct, sorry. Be assured, I treasure every review and all of you have really made my week. OK, enough chat and here is the next instalment. Can you work out who Kaminari is yet?

Reliving the Past

by kmf

An Inuyasha fanfic

Rating: R

Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: I only wish I did own Inuyasha *fondles his ears*

Chapter 13

Inuyasha was still growling in anger as he emerged from the well in his own time. A quick leap from the bottom of the well saw him and Kagome safely out, the girl still firmly asleep in his arms. He looked down at her for a moment or two, watching and listening to her soft regular breathing and feeling her heart beat slowly under his fingertips. Her head was cradled up against his shoulder, her face hidden by the fall of her hair.

She was still deeply and peacefully asleep.

"Oi!"

Inuyasha gave her a rough shake, causing her head to tilt back baring her neck to him. She gave a little moan, and moved slightly in his arms before sinking back into her dreams. It seemed like she wasn't going to wake up again any time soon. Inuyasha felt his gaze drawn to the base of her throat, pale in the strong moonlight.

The need to kiss her, to mark her, there welled up in him; strong and primeval. The act of taking a mate for life involved marking them, inflicting a wound which would scar lightly but would show to all that that being had been claimed. And Kagome, lying passive with her neck open to him was almost more than Inuyasha could bear.

He moved his mouth down to her throat, nuzzling her lightly, licking the spot that he so desired to sink his teeth into. He breathed deeply, unconsciously immersing his senses in her, then growled. She still stank of that man. The man who had tasted her skin without permission. Inuyasha felt his desire abate. If he continued on then he would be no better than that human.

And he could not make Kagome his mate yet, even if she was willing.

Groaning lightly, he moved his arm, causing her head to tilt forward once more hiding her neck and tempting pulse point from his gaze. She muttered something incoherent under her breath, and snuggled closer to Inuyasha, one hand reaching up and grabbing hold of the material of his haori. Then she relaxed again, sleeping deeper into her dreams.

Inuyasha allowed himself a rare smile as he looked down at her, then moved walking slowly in the direction of the village and Kaede's hut. He had no desire to move swiftly; he wanted to savour the feeling of holding Kagome in his arms, content in the peaceful feeling of them being alone together for once. He could hardly recall the last time she and he had been alone for any length of time in his time, and he was unwilling to give up his time swiftly. Shippo, Miroku and Sango could wait.

"Kagome!"

Or maybe not.

Shippo bounded up towards Inuyasha and Kagome, his face all but glowing with happiness to see the girl back again. That and barely contained malice that she had returned whilst his bruises were still evident from the slapping he had received from Inuyasha earlier in the day.

Inuyasha frowned, about to tell the annoying kitsune to bugger off and leave Kagome alone because she was sleeping, when Shippo suddenly skidded to a halt six feet away from them. Glaring at Inuyasha, he sniffed deeply. His face paled as he looked up at Kagome and he took a little step backwards, a small clawed hand covering his mouth.

"Oi!" Inuyasha growled. "Don't try and wake her up or I'll-"

He didn't finish his threat. Shippo's already pale face went white and he spun around and dashed away, his tail between his legs, an acrid smell of terror upon him. Inuyasha blinked, watching the fox run off. Then he smirked. Obviously the beating he had received during the day had done the little jerk some good. Perhaps now he wouldn't have to continually discipline Shippo and run the risk of being disciplined himself by Kagome and her cursed restraining spell.

Inuyasha's smirk pulled into a grin. Perhaps things were finally going to go his way.

* * * * *

For the second time in as many days Kagome woke with a feeling of disorientation. Her head was once again muzzy, her mouth dry and her limbs stiff and heavy. Groaning a little, she opened an eye expecting to be blinded by sunlight pouring through her window. Instead she was greeted by the smokey dimness of Kaede's hut.

The fire in the centre of the room was burning low, and the door, the only source of natural light, was closed. Kagome blinked a couple of times, before pushing herself up on one elbow. Absently scratching her head, she asked in a puzzled voice.

"What on earth am I doing here?"

"Feh!"

Kagome tensed and looked over her shoulder to see Inuyasha sitting cross-legged, his back supported by the wall of the hut. She blinked, then shook her head slightly.

"Wasn't I..?" she pointed in the general direction of the well.

"Stupid bitch," Inuyasha scoffed. "Leave you alone for five minutes and you get yourself into trouble."

Kagome felt her eyebrow twitch at his words, and felt her hands clench. She sat up straight, shoving off Inuyasha's haori, which was covering her. Inuyasha, sensing her irritation, tensed up as well. Kagome pointed at Inuyasha and opened her mouth about to tell him to kindly stop calling her stupid, when out of the corner of her eye she spotted that she was wearing something pink.

Looking down she realised that she was clad in her pink fluffy bunny pyjamas that her brother had brought her as a joke present the year before. Blushing almost as bright pink as her pj's she grabbed Inuyasha's haori and pulled it up to try and hide herself.

"Where. Are. My. Clothes?" she hissed.

Inuyasha smirked. "Why are you embarrassed to be seen in something that covers you head to foot when you used to wear kimono's that hardly covered your ar-"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome frowned. "Why am I here? How did I get here? Last thing I remember..." she trailed off, trying to recall. Her face became sombre and she looked up at Inuyasha again. "Why are you still here, Inuyasha?"

The hanyou looked confused for a moment, and he scratched his nose.

"Just where the hell should I be other than here?" he asked.

Kagome bent her head, unable to keep eye contact with him. "I know you were there, I know you heard. Why haven't you gone to her? Why haven't you gone to Kikyou." She grimaced as her voice broke a little when she said the dead miko's name, and pulled Inuyasha's haori tighter to her body.

Inuyasha said nothing and Kagome continued to study her lap with great interest. She was honestly surprised that he had not run to Kikyou, unless Kikyou was already here with him. She lifted her head a fraction meaning to peep towards the hanyou, but gasped as she found him almost nose to nose with her, his eyes curious.

"She isn't here, Kagome," he said. Then he ruined his moment of astuteness by adding, "You really are a dizzy bitch sometimes."

Kagome's eyes narrowed and she shoved him away. He tottered off balance for a moment, before landing on his behind just in front of her. Before she could move, he grabbed her arm and held it tightly so that she couldn't escape from him.

"I would never let you die just to revive Kikyou," he said earnestly, "You are too-"

"Die?" Kagome interrupted, her mouth falling open a little.

Inuyasha nodded. "The hag thinks that Kikyou could be revived by a wish on the Shikon no Tama or by eating your soul," he hesitated, wrinkling his nose a little as he watched Kagome take in the information.

"Oh," Kagome whispered.

"I wouldn't allow it," Inuyasha said again, before letting her arm go.

"Thank you," Kagome said automatically, looking at the red marks on her wrist where his hand had held her. She felt confused at his sudden protectiveness, especially when it came to Kikyou.

"Kagome..." Inuyasha started again, shifting his weight a little and pulling on his necklace, "I don't want you to..." he trailed off frowning a little and turning his head to one side. He breathed deeply once then said in a rush, "I don't want you to fuck that man."

"Eh?" Kagome's eyes widened. "That man? You mean Kaminari?" She paled a little, holding her hand to her mouth. Inuyasha had been to the shrine. What if Kaminari had still been there? She frowned trying to remember whether he had left or not, but couldn't seem to clear the fogginess that enshrouded her short term memory. "Did you see him? Did he see you? Oh God, how am I to explain this!"

"Feh!" Inuyasha once again knelt in front of her, this time taking her by the shoulders and giving her a little shake. "I dont want you to let him touch you!"

"He hasn't touched...." Kagome trailed off, suddenly feeling guilty because, of course, he had touched her. He had kissed her soundly and she had let him.

"For fucks sake, Kagome!" Inuyasha growled, "I saw him feeling you up when you were asleep from the medicine you took."

Kagome blinked again, frowning trying to remember. Kaminari had given her a painkiller that he said would make her feel a little sleepy. But she was sure it wasn't strong enough to knock her out. She smiled weakly.

"Don't be silly, Inuyasha," she said quietly, "I would have woken up if someone touched me when I was asleep. You must have seen something and interpreted it wrong."

"Like hell I did," Inuyasha growled, "You didn't fucking wake up when I kissed-"

He stopped abruptly and Kagome's eyes grew wide. He had kissed her? Inuyasha had kissed her? And she had slept through it?

"Shit!" Inuyasha muttered, and was suddenly gone.

Kagome felt her hair lift and then fall softly with the eddy of air caused by Inuyasha leaving so quickly. She ignored it. Instead she lifted her fingers to her lips, touching them gently. Inuyasha had kissed her? How many years had she waited for such a thing to happen? How many years had she yearned to have him touch his lips to hers and kiss her? And now, when it had finally happened, she had slept through it?

"Damn!" Kagome muttered, allowing her hand to clench into a fist and drop to her side.

She turned around, eyes blinking as she suddenly realised that Inuyasha was no longer there. She frowned. He dropped a bombshell like that and the first thing he did was run away.

"Inuyasha!" she yelled out at the top of her voice, "SIT!"

Listening carefully, she waited to hear a thump as Inuyasha hit the dirt and the usual swearing which accompanied it. But there was only silence. He had well and truly run away. Kagome felt herself almost growl in anger.

"Kagome chan?" Kaede poked her head around the mat covering the entrance to the hut. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Kagome sighed, before bowing her head, "No. God, I don't know!" she ran her fingers through her hair in her frustration.

Kaede entered the hut and knelt beside Kagome, her face calm and peaceful.

"The medicine you had made you sleep very deeply," she said, "It is expected that you will feel a little disorientated now that it is wearing off."

Kagome frowned again. So what Inuyasha had said was true, Kaminari had given her drugs to cause her to sleep even when he had told her they would not. Although maybe what he said was true, perhaps she had reacted like that because she had been exhausted. She shook her head a little. That wasn't really important to her at this point in time, what was important was that...

"Inuyasha kissed me!" she blurted out, raising her fingers to her lips once again.

Kaede chuckled. "Well, it is about time," she said, "he has been wanting to for long enough."

"Eh?" Kagome's mouth fell open again. Maybe it was the drugs she had been recently given, but she seemed to be having the hardest time keeping up with anyone this morning.

"Kagome-chan," Kaede's voice was calm, "Inuyasha cares for you very much. He is not very good at expressing his feelings, which, I suppose, is understandable given his past. And I know that you also have very deep feelings for him, despite the man who has been courting you in your own time."

"But," Kagome tried to interrupt, but Kaede shook her head, patting the young miko's knee with her hand.

"Kikyou isn't what is standing between you two," she said firmly. "Maybe in the beginning she was, when both Inuyasha and she were newly wakened. Then she had nothing more on her mind than revenge, and he was full of thoughts of how they once were. But now..."

"Now?" Kagome sat still, watching Kaede's face. The old woman seemed sad, yet joyous at the same time.

"Now Kikyou wants to help rid the land of Naraku's presence so that she can find her own peace and move on. She no longer wants to claim Inuyasha as her own to take with her. She has moved on. As has Inuyasha. Although he still cares for her, it is you he loves."

Kagome lowered her eyes. "He has a funny way of showing it," she said softly.

Kaede chuckled. "Has he? Does he not show his jealousy to you all the time when other men get too close to you. Does he not protect you and provide for you. Does he not whine when you leave him? He cannot openly declare himself to you, for reasons that you of all people should understand. He has nothing to offer you at the moment, but a hazardous life full of danger. But once that is done with he will be yours for all your lives if that is what you wish."

Kagome bit her lip, and continued to look at the floor.

Kaede sighed and patted her leg again, "You have waited patiently for so long Kagome. It would be tragic if you were to give up on this love now. You two have been waiting a lifetime to be together. Please don't make Inuyasha wait another lifetime to have the happiness that ought to have been his and yours."

The old woman moved forward and touched Kagome's ankle and spoke again, her voice suddenly crisp and business like. "Your foot seems to be healing well. Do you want to try and put your weight on it?"

Wiping a few emotional tears from her eyes, Kagome nodded and smiled brightly at Kaede.

"Yes," she said firmly, "Then I have to go back home to sort a few things out." She looked down at her pyjamas and grimaced. 'Lets hope there aren't too many guests at the shrine today' she thought as she wondered just how she was going to dash across the courtyard in her bunny suit without being seen.

TBC