InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Remembering You ❯ Living Without You ( Chapter 16 )

Author Notes:You know what I have realized? It's getting harder and harder to write this fic, but don't worry I WILL finish this fic. But I need another outlet so I have decided to write another Inuyasha fic. It will be an AU this time, being that this is a continuation. . . another one of the reasons why it's so hard to just sit down and write, damn having to respect the canon! *sigh* Well I hope you enjoy this chappie! OH, and news! I'm off to college! Wish me luck!

 

Disclaimer: Inu and Kag belong to each other. . . awwe, how sweet. . . But being they are fictional characters they also belong to the people that own them for real in Japan.

 

“. . .” dialogue

`. . .' thoughts

~. . .~ `the voice'

 

Living Without You

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

 

“S-should we be doing this Inuyasha?” Kagome mumbled out between heated kisses with the hanyou.

 

Venturing toward her neck he kissed, licked, and sucked on her pulse point. Moaning, she tilted her head so that Inuyasha was able to have better access. Her fingers tangled with his silver locks, her mind going in and out of a haze. He smirked arrogantly against her skin and scraped his fang lightly making her shiver in response.

 

“I don't see a problem with it Kagome. There's nothing preventing us from being together.” Taking in a long whiff of her scent he whispered hotly in her ear, “I've wanted you for so long.”

 

Hearing the comment, Kagome's eyes widened a bit in panic and pushed him away. In reality she didn't have the strength push the half demon away, but feeling that he was being pushed Inuyasha pulled back confused.

 

“What's wrong?”

 

Kagome stumbled over her words staring into the hanyou's eyes. “I. . . well. . . you. . .”

 

He smirked slightly, male pride coming over him, knowing that he had caused her to fumble over her words. Leaning in once again he gently pushed her so that her back rested again the arm of the couch. She felt his lips make their way from her jaw to her shoulder. Hearing a moan that she was unable to hold back he allowed the hand that had been resting on her hip to slide up her shirt.

 

She felt his venturing fingers brush against the side of her right breast. Taking in a shaky breath she knew that if she was going to say what she needed to say it had to be before it got any further. “Inu. . .” Feeling him kissing her pulse point once again her mouth fell open, “Oh god.”

 

Taking that as a positive sign he let his right hand that had been resting at the side of her breast to her back. Finding the clasp to her bra he smirked as he deftly unsnapped it. The quick action made Kagome react as she shoved the hanyou off her as she blushed profusely.

 

“My bra!”

 

He growled from his place on the floor and glared at the blushing miko sitting on the couch. “The hell was that for? !” And how the hell did she push him off her?

 

“My bra!”

 

Scowling he picked himself up and plopped down on the other side of the couch. “I heard you the first time. What's the big deal? It's not my fault you wear the thing.”

 

She blushed in further, “I'm not about to go flaunt around without a bra!”

 

He sighed and passed his hand roughly through his bangs, “This really isn't about your bra is it?”

 

“Yes! . . . well, no. . . not exactly, but that action was unnecessary and uncalled for!”

 

He smirked and shook his head, “No, I think it was necessary and very much called for.”

 

She turned away in a huff, “When the hell did I get stuck with a horny dog boy?”

 

Scrunching his brows he growled, “Excuse me for being the only one ecstatic that there is no more impending doom and nothing else keeping us apart.”

 

“I. . .I'm happy too. . . but there is so much. . .”

 

“So much what? Standing in the way? That's the thing, there isn't anything left standing between us.”

 

She nodded, “And I think it's great. It's a time I've always been waiting for but. . .”

 

He sighed in exasperation, “God, the notorious Kagome `but.'”

 

“My butt?” She leaned forward on the couch to check out her posterior. “It's notorious?”

 

“Not your ass, but. You know however, nevertheless, yet. . . You say `but' a lot. Especially when it comes to our relationship.”

 

With an angered look on her face she stood up and stomped out the sitting room to head for the foyer to climb up the stairs. Chasing after her and getting a hold of her wrist as she was climbing he turned her around causing the girl to lose balance and stumble. Catching her he smirked, “Can't help but fall for me can you?”

 

Seething at his arrogance she got a hold of her balance and pushed him down the stairs. “God! You're the most insensitive person I know! How the hell did I end up with a pompous jerk like you? !”

 

Racing up the remaining steps she ran to her bedroom and slammed the door, leaving a confused and hurt hanyou at the bottom of the stairs. “The hell?”

 

Picking himself up he leapt up the steps and made his way to her door slamming it opening. Kagome jumped from her seat on the edge of the bed and stared wide-eyed at the livid looking hanyou. Bracing herself as if about to be hit she tentatively whispered out, “You're angry.”

 

Growling he made his way toward her, “I'm always angry!”

 

Feeling the bed sink as he sat down next to her she leaned away from him. “I'm sorry.”

 

If she thought he looked angered before she was mistaken. Rumbling out through clenched teeth he tugged on her arm to look at him. “Don't say that. Don't say you're sorry.”

 

“But. . .”

 

He was taking slow calming breaths as he pressed forehead against her shoulder. “You think I'm being insensitive. You think I'm just mad because you won't put out.” Inuyasha lifted his head so that he could smell her hair, “I don't want you to think that I think like that.”

 

She sighed, “But it's true, I'm not putting out. . .can we stop using that phrase?”

 

Letting out small chuckle he pulled her into an embrace. “Even if you think so this isn't about sex for me.”

 

Kagome's famous blush adorned her face along with confusion. “It's not?”

 

With his arms still around her he tugged her down to lay on the bed. Now in the position of him facing the ceiling and Kagome laying on her stomach with her head lying on her chest he continued. “If this was about sex it would be so much simpler wouldn't it?”

 

An annoyed look passed across her face, “Oh God. Please don't use the line of `it's not sex, it's making love.' That's the excuse teenagers use to dignify underage sex.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled, “Trust me, that's not where I'm going with this.”

 

“Then. . .”

 

“Brace yourself for this little piece of information I'm about to share with you Kagome.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“I'm a five hundred sixty-four year old virgin Kagome.”

 

Pushing off his chest with a sounding grunt from the hanyou, she leaned over him with widened eyes. “Five hundred sixty-four years! That's. . . I don't know what that is. I can't believe Kouga was right.”

 

Inuyasha scrunched his eyebrows at that, “What does the wolf have anything to do with my sex life?”

 

Hearing his jealous tone Kagome smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. “From what you just told me, you don't have a sex life.”

 

He turned his head away from her, “Maybe I shouldn't have waited. Don't even think for a second that I didn't get offers. Because I've gotten plenty of those and most from attractive girls.”

 

Kagome lifted an eyebrow, “You do realize you're digging your self deeper into a hole.”

 

He sighed becoming aware of his choice of words. “That's not the point either. Look I got offers, what did you expect? Some were before I met you, some after. But what I do know is that I waited. And more importantly, I waited for you.”

 

She searched his eyes to see if he was lying. The miko couldn't help herself but be paranoid that the hanyou was hiding things from her. Kouga had three mates since the last time she saw him, a fact she wouldn't had found out if he hadn't told her. She couldn't let go of the doubt that maybe Inuyasha had his fair share of women in his day, but just was unwilling to tell her.

 

“Kagome?”

 

“I . . .”

 

Inuyasha smiled sadly, “You don't believe me do you?”

 

Taken aback that he saw through her so quickly she tried to deny it, “No! It's not-”

 

“No, I get it. It's a hard concept to wrap your head around. You not having lost your virginity at twenty-two is possible, uncommon, but possible. A guy nearing his six hundredth birthday should be an expert in the art of making love. . . but I'm not. And I have no idea how to prove that to you. There's really no way to check on a guy.”

 

Kagome wasn't sure if there could have been a moment when she felt more like an ass than she did then. He hadn't doubted her for second, while she thought he was hiding the past. Shaking her head she took his clawed right hand with both of hers. “I don't need to check. I believe you.”

 

He smiled, “No you don't. But thanks for saying it anyways.”

 

She tilted her head examining his hands, “Everything finally got out of the way for us and I put something there. It's just. . . after I heard Amaterasu-sama's story I began to wonder. Am I living in the story between Inuyasha and Kagome, or the continuation of the story between Tsukiyomi and Wakahirume?”

 

“Kagome. . .”

 

She closed her eyes and smiled sadly, “I know it sounds like I'm belittling everything we've been through together but it's hard not to wonder.” A sob broke out from the miko, “I love you Inuyasha. I don't doubt that, but is it because of Wakahirume's feelings in her past or my feelings in the present? Did I just fall for you because you were my soul mate? Am I. . . Am I my own person anymore? Is our love even real?”

 

His heart broke at the sound of her sob and her words. “You. . . you asked me the other day when I had fallen in love with you. I didn't answer you because I thought it wasn't fair for you to ask me that. I knew I loved you, you weren't sure about what you felt about me.” Pausing he looked down at her and brushed back a strand of hair. “I realized that I cared for you when you were hurt by my brother. I sent you back to your time right after that and told you never to return. But you came back anyways and you ran into my arms. I was convinced I could live without you before that. That you would one day leave to live in your modern world and I would be able to deal with it. But when I had you in my arms. . . back at my side, I came to understand that I couldn't imagine a life without you.”

 

Kagome eyes widened, “You loved me since then? That's so long ago.”

 

He chuckled, “Sorry to disappoint you, but no. I realized I cared for you back then. I loved you a few months afterwards. It wasn't sudden, I didn't wake up one day saying `I love Kagome.' I came to accept it when I turned full demon and killed all the bandits. Later on we ran into Sesshoumaru and I turned full demon again. When I came to, I smelt the blood of all those I killed, and not remembering any of it. I tried to wash myself out in the river. . . you offered me a towel and didn't say anything else. You didn't probe, question, or lecture me. That's when I feared that I might one day slay you while my demon blood took over, and that scared me more than I had been scared in my entire life. You were the only one that was brave enough to come near me when I turned. You were the only one that accepted me completely for who I was, instead of what I was.”

 

“Inuyasha. . .” Her lip trembled as tears welled up.

 

“Okay, so that might not prove anything but-” He was cut off when Kagome flung herself into his arms. Surprised he questioned her, “Kagome?”

 

“Thank you.”

 

He nervously laughed and pulled her back, “What are you thanking me for?”

 

“For not telling me it was love at first sight.”

 

He smirked, “Who could fall in love with a wench like you at first sight?”

 

She laughed slapping his arm, “Hey! Well, apparently Kouga can, so there!”

 

He let out a growl in annoyance, “Would you stop bringing his name up?”

 

She shook her head, “It's sweet how jealous you get. . . although incredibly annoying at the same time.”

 

He sighed and pulled her down to lay with him on the bed once again. Lapsing into a comfortable silence thoughts plagued the hanyou. The doubts that Kagome had about their love not being real was something he had not considered. However, now that she had voiced them it was impossible to push them out of his internal rambling. He was positive that he loved her. It wasn't one magical moment when his feelings for her changed. It happened over months, during all the confusion of Naraku and Kikyou. His feelings for Kagome had built over time with each of her actions. But what about her? She had come to realize her feelings two days ago. . . shouldn't he be the one doubting her feelings?

 

Seeing the array of emotions crossing the hanyou's face Kagome tried to pull him out of his musings, “Inuyasha?”

 

Yanked out of his thoughts he grumpily looked down at her, “What?”

 

Eyes widening in surprised she pulled away from him to sit up. “What crawled up your ass and died this time?”

 

Turning over he lay on his side facing away from her. “Nothing.”

 

Rolling her eyes she leaned over his torso to look up at him, “Something is bothering you. After quelling my worries I'm not about to let you brood over yours.”

 

“Leave me alone.”

 

“I used to always find you in these moods when you were sitting in a tree. . . always a tree. Then I would use that word and you would go plummeting down.” She smiled warmly at him, “It was fun back then wasn't it? Even with impending doom and constant escape with our lives. Just the us and gang.”

 

“Whatever.”

 

Scrunching her brows in anger she pinched his arm, making jump.

 

“The hell was that for? !” The hanyou sat up yelling in her face.

 

“Here I am reminiscing about good times in the past and all you can say is whatever? I really do sometimes wonder how I fell in love with you.”

 

“Keep on wondering!”

 

Realization hit her, calming her down. “You want to know don't you?”

 

He growled looking away, “Know what?”

 

“When I fell I love.”

 

“Two days ago apparently.”

 

“You have got to be kidding me. Two days ago? You actually think I fell in love with you two days ago? That's when I told you.” She shook her head facing away from him as well, “I dealt with you for two years in the feudal era, and trust me, if I wasn't in love with you I don't think I would have lasted that long around you.”

 

“But. . . you said that you didn't know how you felt.”

 

“Exactly. I didn't know how I felt, but that doesn't mean I wasn't in love with you.”

 

He looked toward her turned back, “When was it then.”

 

Taking in a steadying breath she thought back to a painful memory. “I-It was when you chose Kikyou over me.”

 

He stared at her in shock. “W-what?”

 

“I caught you with Kikyou once. . .” She giggled sadly, “Proclaiming your undying love to her. Saying you would never let Naraku have her and that you would fulfill the promise you made her. You remember that day right? You noticed me there and just stared, not saying anything. . . I knew you had chosen.”

 

Inuyasha reached out hand to settle it upon her shoulder but she shrugged away from it. Realizing her action she glanced back at him from the corner of her eye.

 

“I'm sorry. . . It's just. . .” Shaking her head she looked away from him once again, “After you whispered my name. . . I ran. I ran to the village and told everyone I just came back to drop off supplies. God. I ran home like a coward. I went to school and told my friends you dumped me, and that I was perfectly fine with it. When I got home I realized I still had two jewel shards still with me. I. . . I went to the well ready to jump in return the shards and disappear from your lives forever. . . I couldn't jump. If I did it was saying good bye to you and I couldn't make myself do that.”

 

“Kagome. . .”

 

“Then I thought the worst thing that I ever crossed my mind. I wished Kikyou to disappear to have never returned from the dead. I never hated myself more than I did then. The idea that I could wish such a thing on someone scared me. I ran from the well as well, I didn't want you to see my face after what I had thought. I ran by the Goshinboku and that shards glowed. . . the tree reminded me of you. . . how much it hurt to know you. . . I. . . wished I had never met you.”

 

His eyes widened with hurt, “Y-you what?”

 

“If I hadn't met you I wouldn't have to deal with the pain of knowing you chose someone else. . . that you would rather die and go to hell with Kikyou instead of living with me. . . but even after everything I wanted to see you again. The idea of never seeing you again hurt so much more than not being chosen. . . T-that's when I realized I love you. I cried so much at that thought, my mom was the only that could console me.” She smiled sadly at the thought, “I went back to the feudal era. I saw you and imagined not seeing you again. That's when I asked you if I could be by your side.”

 

He didn't know how to respond. Of course he remembered all that. It was one of the main reasons he loved Kagome. She put aside her feelings for the sake of being with him. Sure, she might have wanted to be with him, but he needed her by his side more than she needed him. He was completely convinced by that thought.

 

“Oh God.” She wiped away a tear that trailed down her cheek. “I'm being so stupid. Crying at something like this. It was ages ago.”

 

Inuyasha didn't know any comforting words. He was infamous for putting his foot in his mouth. Pulling her into his arms once again, he whispered the only thing he could think of saying to her. “I choose to live with you Kagome.”

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

~I think I just got a cavity.~

 

Inuyasha groaned. `The fuck do you want now?' He held onto the soundly slumbering miko at his side.

 

~A sweet exchange of words. . . Can't believe you didn't have the balls to take her. Instead you give her comforting words saying you don't need to take her. She's going to leave you one of these days.~

 

Tightening his hold on the woman Inuyasha seethed. `Shut up!'

 

~Why would a woman like her stay with a man. . . wait, you're not a man are you? Why would she stay with a hanyou? Why would anyone stay with a hanyou?~

 

`Get out of my head!'

 

The voiced chuckled in its deep voice. ~You actually think I can just leave? You're dumber than I thought.~

 

`What are you talking about?'

 

~Haven't completed what I needed to have I?~

 

`What you needed to-' Suddenly Inuyasha was met with a bright flash of light behind his eyes. Like before, images forced into his mind, unable to push them out.

 

In the very bed they were laying, there was a peacefully sleeping Kagome. Her hair was fanned out behind her as she rested in the fetal position. The sleeping form was suddenly awoken when an angered Inuyasha came storming into the room. “Who the fuck is he? !”

 

The frightened Kagome sat up with a petrified look in her eyes. “Inuyasha? What's wrong?”

 

The livid hanyou pulled the miko off the bed forcefully. Gripping her around the neck he growled, “Who's the bastard that you've been fucking behind my back? !”

 

Clawing at the hand that gripped his neck, Kagome pleaded for him to let her go as tears streamed down. “I-I don't know w-what you're talking about. . . Inuyasha! Please let go!”

 

Gripping tighter on her neck he glared at the woman he thought loved him back. “Who the fuck is it? !”

 

Noticing that she was about to faint from the lack of air he threw her across the room to slam into the wardrobe door. Stomping his way toward her he crouched to be at eye level with her.

 

“Heard through the Underground grapevine that you're pregnant. Had to hear the news from someone else.” He glared at her, his blue iris red gaze meeting with her frightened stormy blue ones. “So who is it Kagome? Who's the father of your bastard child?”

 

Trembling before him she tried to whisper her response. Going into a coughing fit she broke her stare with him. Taking it as a sign of disobedience he grabbed her arm and shook her.

 

“Whose is it? !”

 

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stared up at him, “Yours.”

 

The full youkai calmed for split second but shoved her away soon afterward standing to face away from her. “Liar.”

 

“I didn't even know I was pregnant! I've never been with anyone else! It's yours!”

 

The demon sighed, “I wish I could believe that.”

 

Standing she inched toward the door leaning her left side against the wall. “I-I can't believe you would say that.” Finally next to the door she reached for the handle but was ripped away from it.

 

“Where the hell do you think you're going? !”

 

“Away.”

 

“You're not leaving me!”

 

She shook in his grasp, “Only out of the room, until you calm down.”

 

“I am calm bitch!” He swiped a claw at her without much thought of where it connected. “You will not leave me!”

 

The look in her eyes made him pause in his movements. She took her eyes away from him, her body shaking. Looking down at her abdomen she pressed a hand to where her unborn child was growing. Lifting her hand crimson blood could be seen covering her palm and fingers. Her trembling legs no longer able to hold her up, they collapsed under her. Instinctively she grabbed onto the front of her mate's shirt. “I-inuyasha?”

 

His red eyes widened, “Kagome. . .”

 

“I-I'm bleeding. . .”

 

“Look what you made me do Kagome.” He sunk to the floor, Kagome still within his arms. “You know you can't make me angry. You know how I get.”

 

Taking in a shuddering breath she rasped out: “It's yours.”

 

He roared in anger pulling her back and slashing his claws once again, this time hitting her throat. “DON'T LIE TO ME!”

 

Convulsing she spit out blood that was bubbling from her mouth. The innards of her throat dangling out precariously. Inuyasha shook his head. “You can't do this Kagome. You can't keep making me mad.”

 

Her hands that had been grabbing on to his shirt were now clawing at his chest. Any desperate attempt to get air back into her lungs she struggled. In a final attempt she tried breathing in but a pain shot through her lungs as nothing came in. Locking eyes with the man she loved with all her being she couldn't help the expression of betrayal cross her features. With a final jolt her body went limp within his arms and the life escaped her eyes.

 

Scrunching his eyebrows he shook the body within his arms. “Kagome?”

 

His whispered prayer of her name fell upon a silent room. A room that was filled with so many memories, all corrupted by a simple lie from a third party. Growling in anger at the now dead miko he set her down and swiped three more times at her abdomen. If she was dead already, he was going to be sure. Even if it was the last thing he did, he would find out who the father was.

 

Slashes made on her delicate skin, he dipped down to take a long whiff of her now exposed entrails of her reproductive organs.

 

His eyes widened in maniacal glee. Leaning over her to lock eyes with her dead ones he grinned, “It's mine. I'm going to be a father.”

 

Stroking her cheek he continued to smile as he repeated a mantra of hope as he gazed at her corpse. “You're mine. You can't leave me anymore. We can be together forever now. You're mine. You can't leave me anymore. We can be together forever now. You're mine. . .”

 

His mind finally released of the horrifying images Inuyasha jolted in bed. The room was dark but he could see around him. Nothing seemed to be out of order. Feeling something brush against him, he turned his head with panicked eyes toward the slumbering miko at his side.

 

~Wasn't that a lovely image? You were so happy with your new family.~

 

`Get the fuck away from me! And stay away from my Kagome!'

 

~Ah, yes. Your Kagome. The same Kagome that you'll kill.~ The voiced cackled as it started fading away, ~That I'll kill.~

 

The voice gone from his mind once again Inuyasha was now left to his own musings. Glancing down at the woman at his side that was now snuggling against him for warmth to escape the cool night air, realization came upon him. Whispering frightened words that fell upon deaf ears of the night he prayed to god he was wrong. “My youkai. . . it's the voice. . . I'm losing control of my youkai. . . and will kill Kagome because of it.”

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

“And who are you supposed to be?”

 

Kouga whipped around to look at the disguised tiger demon. Tilting his head the wolf demon crossed his arms, “Shouldn't that be my question?”

 

“What are you doing in Kag's office?”

 

“Kag? Where do you get off calling Kagome by a nickname?”

 

Guy narrowed his eyes, “You're a demon.”

 

Kouga rolled his eyes, “And you state the obvious.”

 

“What I want to know is why there is a demon in Kag's office.”

 

“I could ask you the same question.”

 

Studying him suspiciously Guy answered, “I'm an old friend of hers.”

 

The wolf demon grinned, “Trust me, I'm a much older friend.”

 

“I'm detective Guy Donhue. I'm here to question Kag on the murder of Hojo Akitoki. So if you don't mind, please tell me where she is.”

 

Kouga raised his brows, “Murder? How the hell did Kagome get wrapped up in a murder?”

 

“If you don't tell me where she is I'll have you arrested for obstruction of justice.”

 

The wolf demon laughed at that, “You're kidding right? `Obstruction of justice?' Do cops actually use that line? Look kid, I know for a fact that you can't arrest me for withholding information that I don't have.”

 

Guy groaned and sat down in a chair at the side of room, “You're an attorney aren't you?”

 

Kouga smirked, “Yup. And now that I know you're here to question Kagome I should be present for the questioning. Can't have to manipulating a client and a very good friend of mine.”

 

Guy shook his head, “That won't be necessary. This isn't a normal case. According to human higher ups they assume it's just a robbery case that went terribly wrong. This is more a hush hush Underground police investigation.”

 

“Underground? What does Kagome have to do with the Underground?”

 

The tiger demon was the one to smirk this time, “You know I can't disclose that kind of information. For all I know you're the murderer looking for Kag and just pretending to be her friend.”

 

Kouga glared at the other demon, “Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?”

 

“Thousands of times.” Both demons turned their attention toward the door to see a cheerful Kagome walking in. “What can I help you boys with today?”

 

The wolf demon smiled at the woman and gestured toward the papers he held in his hand, “I still have some documents I have to go over with you Kagome. You're cop friend here is convinced I'm the murderer.”

 

Lifting an eyebrow she made her way around her desk, “Kouga may be a lot of things but murderer isn't one of them. What are you here for Guy?”

 

“I told you I would come in for questioning.”

 

A saddened look came across her face as she thought back to the friend she lost only days ago. “C-could we do that later? Around eleven?”

 

“Eleven? Why eleven?”

 

“I was hoping you could come with me to Hojo's funeral. It's not going to be very long. . . Probably take your lunch brea-”

 

“I'll be there.” Guy smiled reassuringly toward the miko and waved good-bye as he left the office.

 

Sitting down in the chair in front of her desk Kouga leaned forward, “So what's his story?”

 

Kagome smiled, “No story. Just a really good friend that helped me out when my miko powers were being revealed.”

 

“So he knows?”

 

“To an extent. He knows I'm a miko and that for some unexplainable reason I know the inner circle of the strongest demons of the Underground. What he doesn't know is about densetsu no miko and all that stuff.”

 

“Strongest demons? Who? Us?”

 

She shrugged as she set about clearing her desk of piled up paper work from the day before. “Who else would it be? It's not like I ran around making high connections with dangerous demons while I was alone.”

 

“Does he know he's kept in the dark about certain things?”

 

“I'm sure he does. . . he just doesn't say anything so as not to trouble me. I think he knows I can't tell him, so he's not pressuring me by asking.”

 

Kouga smiled, “He cares a lot for you.”

 

Kagome chuckled, “Yeah, or he's so dense that he doesn't realize that there is something else going on besides Hojo's murder and the price that's been placed upon my head in the Underground.”

 

Kouga swung his chair around to sit next to her and laid out the documents before her to look over. “I heard it was a price on your soul.”

 

“Soul. Head. What's the difference? Either way I'm dead right?”

 

“It's a fairly large sum of money. Any low demon would turn you over in an instant, with the kind of money that's been offered.”

 

Smiling she signed the line that he pointed to on the paper, “Should I be worried about you Kouga?”

 

“Nah. I like you. Kinda want to keep you around here alive. Also, wouldn't want dog turd to mope around like he did for so long.”

 

“Mope around?”

 

“Yeah. Pining for his beloved Kagome. Really pathetic if you ask me.”

 

She shook her head chuckling, “Can't really imagine Inuyasha as the type to pine, but if you say so I guess it's true.”

 

“Without a doubt. Oh, by the way. Where were you two yesterday? Your absence kind of set me back a day.”

 

Kagome winced at that, “Sorry. We were testing this arrow theory.”

 

“Arrow theory? Did it work?”

 

Nodding she signed another line, “Yeah, and maybe all too well.”

 

“So what did it prove?”

 

Glancing up at him she sighed, “It proved I was right, always a good thing to be when concerning Inuyasha.”

 

The wolf demon shook his head smiling, “You guys still fight don't ya?”

 

“Yeah, but in my defense Inuyasha always starts it.”

 

“For some reason Kagome, I doubt that.” He flipped the document over and pointed to the final line. “So, what's this talk about a funeral?”

 

Signing and dating the document Kagome set down the pen and leaned back in her chair. “It was my best friend.”

 

“I'm sorry.” He said sincerely as he held her forearm in a comforting manner.

 

“He. . . He was murdered. . . I was the one who found the body.”

 

His eyes widened as he stared at her, “Oh God. Are you okay?”

 

She closing her eyes and nodded, “Yeah, I guess.”

 

“You're stronger than I remember.”

 

A questioning look on her face she locked eyes with Kouga, “What do you mean?”

 

“You've been all smiles these days. Cracking jokes and trying to make everyone's day a little less boring. I would have never known you lost a close friend. You don't let anyone see your pain because you're afraid of troubling them with it.”

 

She smiled sadly, “Why does it seem like the world knows me better than I know myself? . . . It's just. . . I've been keeping myself busy so I wouldn't have to think about him gone. . . Then again, there's so much happening at once that I don't have time to think about it.”

 

“Have you had time to mourn?”

 

Her mind flashed back to two nights ago, smiling at the memory of Inuyasha's comforting embrace she glanced at Kouga and nodded. “Yeah. I did. . . and luckily I wasn't alone.”

 

Kouga contemplated her words for a moment and rolled up the document she finished signing. Getting up from his seat he made his way toward the door. “That's the end of the legal matters with you and me Kagome.”

 

“Then I guess I'll be seeing you around. Don't be a stranger.”

 

Kouga smirked, “If I have any say in the matter I won't be.” Opening the door he glanced back for second and called over his shoulder. “Kagome?”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Luck has nothing to do with you not being alone.” With that he left with a pensive Kagome left in his wake.

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

The hanyou glared at his phone, something he had been doing for the past half hour. Should she call her?

 

Reaching for the receiver he picked it up only to set it down with a heavy sigh soon afterwards. Maybe he should go down and see her in person. . . this hardly seemed like a topic to be discussed over the phone. . .

 

Glaring at the phone a moment longer he reached for it once again, until he was interrupted by a person at the door.

 

“The hell are you doing here dog boy?”

 

Inuyasha moved his glare from the phone toward the arrogant wolf demon that stood in his doorway. “It's my office.”

 

“I know that moron. But it's eleven thirty.” Waltzing in the dog demon's office Kouga sat down comfortably in the seat in front of the desk.

 

“Well I don't know how the law offices of Senshi, Idiot, and Half-Wit work, but in the real world people clock in for a good eight hours. I don't just randomly leave in the middle of the day you know.”

 

“Yes you do. Anyways, why the hell aren't you with Kagome?'

 

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, “What are you talking about? It's not like we're joined at the hip or anything, we're not hanging off each other all the time you know.”

 

“Yes you dare.” Hearing the bank CEO growl Kouga sighed, “I'm talking about the funeral. Why didn't you go with her?”

 

“Funeral? What funeral? Whose funeral?”

 

“I don't know the guy but Kagome said it was a Hoji or something like that.”

 

“Hoji?. . . Wait, Hojo?”

 

“Yeah! That was it. Why didn't you go with her?”

 

Inuyasha stood up from his seat, “She went to the funeral? ! Alone? !”

 

Shaking his head the wolf demon expressed confusion across his face. “No. The detective friend of Kagome is going with her.”

 

Calming down, knowing that there was someone with her to protect her in the case of danger Inuyasha sat down. “She went with Guy?”

 

“She didn't tell you?”

 

“No. . . I can't believe she went with someone else.”

 

Kouga stood up to walk around the desk to clap his long time friend and even longer time rival on the back. “Don't take it the wrong way man. She going to the funeral with someone else, not the prom.”

 

“Yeah I guess. . .” Thinking it over he glanced up at the wolf demon, “You know, she went to the prom with someone else.”

 

Smirking Kouga shook his head, “You're hopeless, you know that?”

 

Inuyasha sighed, “I just didn't think she would go at all.”

 

“To prom?”

 

He glared at Kouga, “To the funeral, dumbass.”

 

Making his way back to his seat he answered, “Why wouldn't she? Kagome said he was her best friend. I don't know about you, but to me it seems like a best friendly type to obligation to go to the funeral.”

 

“No, you don't get it. The body that's at that funeral isn't the body of Hobo Akihiko.”

 

“You're right. Because it's the body of Hojo Akitoki.”

 

Breathing out loudly Inuyasha shook his head, “Why the hell is it so hard to remember that guy's name? . . . But that's not it. Guy and I were looking over the evidence on Monday and we realized that the body that the Underground control team took to the morgue isn't Joho's.”

 

“Hojo.”

 

“Yeah. Well, it was replaced by someone else's. Some kind of spell was used to make the face look like his.”

 

“Why the hell would someone want a human's body?”

 

“We think it's a possible necromancer, kind of like Kagura.”

 

Kouga angered at the name, still remembering how his clan was slaughtered by the wind demon. “So what? You think someone's going to use the guy's body? For what?”

 

“I don't know, but from what I can figure out it has to be to get at Kagome.”

 

“Oh, I get it. Whoever switched the bodies is trying to get his hands on our girl's soul. Hefty price on that little item.”

 

Inuyasha growled, “`Our girl'?”

 

Rolling his eyes he raised his hands in surrender, “Our girl. Your girl, what's the difference? All I know is that we need to keep that girl safe. From her track record, she's a magnet for trouble.”

 

“Don't I know it.”

 

“You sure she's safe with this Donohue guy?”

 

“Yeah. He's the reason why she's been safer for the past five years.”

 

Kouga winced at that, “Found herself another protector huh?”

 

“I guess so.”

 

“But you can't hold that against her. She didn't have any memory of you for those five years. And you know how she is. She's the type of girl people just gravitate toward and ends up wanting to protect. . . or kill her apparently.”

 

“Yeah.” Inuyasha sighed looking away from him.

 

“Are you worried that she might be falling for Donohue?”

 

“Nah. He's married.”

 

Kouga was taken aback. “Oh.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, “Yeah, oh.”

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

The bone chilling silence of the room crept up her spine as she quietly sat along with everyone else, her legs folded neatly below her. The smell of incense filling her nose and brought back memories of past a situation like this. Feeling the tapping on her shoulder she turned toward the man that had accompanied her and nodded. Facing the alter once more she closed her eyes, brought her palms together in front of her in prayer and bowed. With that she rose following him out the shoji doors to lead outside. Passing by the entrance she noticed the family and bowed deeply toward them; they returned the bow respectfully and sorrowfully. Ten or fifteen meters away he turned toward her in concern, “Are you okay Kagome?”

 

Looking up at her friend she nodded numbly, “I. . . I think so. It's just. . .”

 

“Not his body?”

 

Nodding once again she continued walking, now in pace with Guy.

 

“Do you want a ride back to your office? It's one thirty, already a half hour later than when you said you would be back.”

 

“Thanks Guy.”

 

He smiled and gestured toward his car, “Anytime Kagome.”

 

“Not just about the ride. About everything today. . . being here with me for this. For letting me go through the questioning before the ceremony. . . I. . . I don't think I could deal with it right now.”

 

“We'll find his real body Kagome.”

 

She nodded looking away from him to stare out the window.

 

“Can I ask you a question Kagome?”

 

“Nothing has ever stopped you before.”

 

“Kagome. . .”

 

Sighing she glanced over at him then turned back toward the window. “What is it?”

 

Stopping at a traffic light he tapped on the steering wheel in contemplation then went on with his question. “Why didn't you take Inuyasha?”

 

“He's never met Hojo. . . wait, he has. . . but only briefly.”

 

“But I don't know Hojo that well either. Sure, we said our friendly `hello's. . .”

 

“Yeah. . . I know, but. . . Hojo was part of my life when Inuyasha wasn't around.”

 

Lapsing into silence until pulling up to Touken Bank building, Guy faced her. “We're here.”

 

“Thank you. . . for coming with me.”

 

He sighed leaning against the steering wheel, “You know Inuyasha's going to be upset.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Why would he be upset? Isn't it obvious? He's obviously in love with you. He'd want to be there for you during such an emotional time.”

 

Unbuckling her seatbelt she reached for the door handle, “He'll just have to deal with knowing that I had to pay respects to dead friend instead of tending to his emotional needs of having to be needed.”

 

“Kagome!” He was unable to say more to her for she closed the car door and made her way toward the building.

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

“Good night Kagome-kun.”

 

Looking up from the mess of papers, she smiled as she recognized her American co-worker. “Heading home Mr. Williams?”

 

“You really don't have to put in late nights Kagome-kun.” He sighed while leaning against the doorframe.

 

“After missing work yesterday and taking a long lunch today, I can't afford to slack off anymore.”

 

“You were sick yesterday, and today had to attend a funeral. Don't worry about work so much. A young woman such as yourself should have a life outside of work.”

 

She smiled, “Don't worry, I have a life outside of these four walls. Now, you should hurry home or your wife will worry.”

 

“Well I'll see you tomorrow then Kagome-kun.”

 

She waved to the man as he left, “Good night Mr. Williams.”

 

Sighing and rubbing at her eyes Kagome glanced at the only light source that was on, her desk lamp. Taking a stray pencil she used it put her hair into a bun and away from her face. Staring down at the papers in front of her she grabbed another pencil and began fiddling with the numbers. Two hours later and well past the time she was supposed to have left she set the pencil down from her aching hands. “God. I'm never going to get done. I should just take this home with me to work on.”

 

“Mr. Williams is assigning you homework now?”

 

Looking up she spotted the inu hanyou and smiled, “Hey there.”

 

“`Hey' yourself. It's eleven o'clock Kagome. Give it a rest.” Coming around the desk to stand next to her he swung her chair away from the desk and papers. “Let's go home Kagome.”

 

“But I still have so much work to do.”

 

Ignoring her comment he pushed the rolling chair toward the door and was only stopped when Kagome set her feet on either side of the doorframe. “What do you think you're doing?”

 

“Apparently preventing you from rolling me all the way home. I have work to do Inuyasha.” Standing from the chair she walked back to her desk to gather the papers preparing them to take home with her.

 

“You're not actually going to take that with you right?”

 

“I have to. I took a day off yesterday and a long lunch.”

 

Shaking his head he grabbed the papers from her hand and dropped them on the desk. “You're not taking it with you. If I knew you would be insane about work the next day I would have never let you take yesterday off.”

 

“We met a goddess yesterday who happened to be your long lost sister. It was productive.”

 

“I think I was the one that was long lost, not her.” Getting the blazer that rested on the back of her chair and gesturing for her to get her brief-case like bag he turned the desk lamp off.

 

“I can't see a thing Inuyasha!”

 

“I can.” She felt a gentle clawed hand hold hers as it led her around the office and down the darkened hall to the elevator. Once the doors to the elevator opened light streamed through forcing Kagome to blink to adjust her eyes. Stepping in she sighed and leaned again the cool walls.

 

“Kouga told me about Hojo's funeral. . .”

 

Nodding she opened her palms before her to study them. “Yeah.”

 

“I'm sorry.”

 

Surprised by his answer she looked up at him, “What are you sorry for?”

 

“Not being there for you. . . Making your life so much more complicated when you already had a lot of other things happening in your life.”

 

She smiled, “You, Inuyasha, are the only person that I allow and welcome to complicate my life.”

 

“I'm still sorry I wasn't there with you during the funeral.”

 

“I didn't ask you to be.”

 

He nodded.

 

Waiting for a stronger response Kagome stared at him. When not getting it she sighed, “You're not going to ask why?”

 

He shook his head.

 

“So it doesn't bother you that I didn't?”

 

He shrugged.

 

“Are you going to give me more than a body gesture or we going to keep playing charades?”

 

The doors slid open as they reached the basement floor and he led her toward his car. “I'm sure you have your reasons for not having asked me.”

 

Slipping into the passenger side she gazed at him as he peeled the car out of the garage. “You know, Guy was completely convinced you would be angry. . . or at least hurt because of it. I guess you proved him wrong.”

 

“I may not be angry but I am slightly hurt.”

 

She scrunched her brows, “You are? You have no reason to be, you know that right? This wasn't about choosing someone over you, because that's not what I did.”

 

“I know.”

 

“Then what are you hurt about?”

 

He shrugged, “It's not all that important anyways. You have enough to deal with.”

 

Taking in his response she lashed out and tugged on his arm, forcing him to jerk the steering wheel. Swerving out of a way of a car he quickly pulled to the side of the road and roared at Kagome, “The hell is wrong with you! You nearly got us killed! Actually, I would have lived and you would have died! Are you out of your mind? !”

 

She glared at him, unfazed by the near-death car accident his hanyou reflexes had dodged only by a hair. “You can't dump that kind of thing on me. `I'm hurt, but I'm not going to tell you because you have other crap to deal with.'”

 

“Well you do.”

 

Shaking her head vigorously she yelled at him, “Look, even if I have the weight of my world on my shoulders I will always care about you first! And if something I did hurt you I am not about to stand by and not know what I've done!”

 

Taken aback at her outburst he smiled, “But you do have the weight of the world on you shoulders, you are the legendary priestess.”

 

“It doesn't matter. Nothing matters without you.” She whispered and looked out the front window, she stared at the traffic light and the cars that rushed past them as the light turned green.

 

“You put a lot of pressure on a guy. The world not mattering without me and all.”

 

She continued to stare at the lights of the night city, “Please just tell me what I did to hurt you.”

 

He sighed, “It's not anything you did. It's more what you didn't do.”

 

“What I didn't do?”

 

“Whenever you're going through something and you need someone, you seek someone that's not me for comfort. . . I don't know, maybe I'm being a kid, but it seems like you don't want me to be there.”

 

She scrunched her brows. “It's just. . . I. . . you. . . Let me put it this way: when I knew you as Touken I went to you with my problems didn't I?”

 

He smiled at the memories of her childhood, “Yeah.”

 

“Well, from what I can remember you really weren't emotionally open in the feudal era. . . I couldn't exactly go to you for any of my problems, and I kind of got used to you like that.”

 

Inuyasha stared at her for a moment then turned to look forward again. Putting the car in drive he pulled out onto the street to continue on their way home. After a silent moment he spoke, “Don't lie to me.”

 

She sputtered, “L-lying? I tell you about what I feel and you say that I'm lying?”

 

“That's not the reason why you don't come to me with your problems.”

 

He pulled up the house and made quick work of shutting off the engine and making his way toward the front door.

 

Getting out of the car and stumbling slightly on the walk way she chased after him. “Don't walk away from me Inuyasha!”

 

He sighed and turned toward her. Opening and holding the door for her he waved her inside. “I'm not walking away, I'm just walking ahead.”

 

Glaring at him she stomped past him to make her way toward her room. He growled walking behind her, “Now you're the one that's walking away.”

 

Deepening her voiced she mocked him, “I'm not walking away, I'm just walking ahead.”

 

Inuyasha tilted his head, “I do not sound like that.”

 

Slamming her door open she plopped down on the bed.

 

He glared at her, “I don't see what you're mad about. Shouldn't I be in the pissy mood? You chose a guy over me, I'm the guy you're supposedly in love with.”

 

She felt the slap of his words. “Supposedly in love with?”

 

His blood calmed at the hurt expression on her face. “You know that's not what I meant. . . maybe I was wrong before. I am jealous. You chose someone over me. You say that it wasn't what you did, but in the end it was.” He sighed and allowed his concealing spell to fade away and show his half demon form, “I know I shouldn't feel that way. That I have no right to. You went to a funeral, not a damn picnic.”

 

She ducked her head at his words. Her bangs hid her face as she whispered out her next words, “I lived without you for so long.”

 

His dog-ears perked up trying to catch her barely heard whisper. “What did you just say?”

 

She whipped her head up with teary eyes and yelled, “I lived without you for so long! I didn't even know it! And. . . I was an empty shell. . . I didn't respond to the world! Sure, I kept up my cheerful front but I felt something was always missing.”

 

He crouched down in front of her looking into her expressive gray blue eyes, “I'm here now. I'm never going to let you feel that again.”

 

“I know you won't. . . but I have to know that I can go through things without you too.”

 

Inuyasha pulled back from her in shock, “What?”

 

She gulped and looked away, “I don't know if I can be alone anymore.”

 

“And you want to be alone?”

 

“I. . . I can't live without you. I don't need to seek you out when I need you emotionally because you're always there. . . and I depend on you more and more as time goes on.”

 

“And that's a bad thing?” He stood up and turned away from her but didn't step any further away.

 

She was about to say something in response but she took in a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. Then she answered, “I don't know.”

 

Still facing away from her he spoke up, “You're not alone in that thought.”

 

Kagome lifted her head to stare at the curtain of white hair that stood before her, “I went through hell as a kid. Who the hell wanted a hanyou in their village? The humans were scared of me. The demons looked at me as weak and unworthy of my demon blood. I wasn't accepted anywhere. . . I ran into Kikyou during my years of solitude, ran into her the first time at the Goshinboku. I was drawn to her, well. . . apparently I was drawn to a tree that held your soul. . . but Kikyou didn't run from me. She knew she could purify me if she wanted, so she wasn't scared. Then everything happened and I was pinned to the tree. When I woke up you were there and when you pulled the arrow and freed me. . . I swore to never trust anyone ever again. But you were so persistent and then, without me realizing it, I need you by my side forever. . . Then, just like that, you were gone from my life.”

 

He turned around to stare at her as if he hadn't seen her in years. “I didn't know how to live without you.”

 

She stared at him with disbelief and confusion, “But you did live without me, and look what you've become. You're successful, stable, and doing well without me.”

 

“I'm where I am today, and have all that I have because I held onto the hope that I would see you once again. I would never have all this without you.” Shrugging Inuyasha walked toward the door throwing a loose comment behind him, “I can't live without knowing that I will be able to see you once again.”

 

As his figure disappeared from view she stared dumbfounded, “Inuyasha. . .”

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: What an unproductive chapter. . . not much happened, but with everything that was said in the last chapter I had to answer a few questions that I left in the air. Wasn't this chapter badly written? Oh god. . .Also, I must stir turmoil in Inu and Kag's life because they wouldn't be them without a little bit of trouble right? Anyways, I'm more for human emotion and interactions with other instead of the whole action sequence. Also, I have realized that maybe, my strong point in writing might be in gore. . . my goodness. . .

 

To the Reviewers:

I haven't done this in a while have I? Well, I've decided to cut my losses and just start from the people that reviewed since the last chapter came out! I'm very sorry to all the other reviewers but don't worry I read every one of them and appreciate each one!

 

kiki *tear*- I'm so sorry I made you cry.

 

Yoshi: Yes I paired Sess with Rin. When I first writing the story it seemed okay, but now I realize how pedophilic that is. . .eww. . . but they won't split, see I made it perfectly legal by making her body be that of a 25 year old. . . and she's over five hundred. . .I thought it would be okay

 

inuhpgirl: No that was not the end of the story. . . a lot of people missed that. . .

 

NekoReiBaka: lol, u don't have to change the color that she uses her miko powers with. . . but I found it funny that you said u would change it in ur next story

 

cherry_blossom318: *grins* and I still have a ways to go

 

Vicky: also one of my favorite chapters :) (chapter15 that is. . .)

 

DarkMoon1: I was bashing my head against the wall to make the story that way. I personally like it when stories make sense to the canon ^o^

 

Pink_Sprinkl3s: lol, thank you for giving my story with a very bad summary a chance! I plan to change that one day. . . maybe someone could write me a good one? anyways, all those questions you had? well, you'll have to wait! sorry. . .

 

Fanficluv7Inu: Thank you for the list of reasons why you like my fic! Tells me what I'm doing right (and where I need to make better. . . like grammar. . . uh. . .)

 

Trigger_Happy_Bibliphile: Well that was an altering of a legend, but not an actual legend. First of all Tsukiyomi and Wakahirume never got together. I combined about five different legends some loose facts about spirits and gods and tied the manga/anime into it. . . or the legend into the manga/anime. Oh and yay for me making you cry! oh dear. . .

 

SilverontheRose: I would never trash your review! I'm so happy you liked it! My goodness, you even used the word ecstatic! Yes, and it will take a while to get used to Inuyasha being a god. . . I wrote it and it takes me a while to adjust. . .

 

silveryuki06: Yes, much planning went on. I'm glad there are readers out there that appreciate the amount of thought and planning that went into writing this story. . . my goodness, I'm even getting confused by the complexity (yet, it's still simple in my mind. . .)

 

Imperial Angel: I can't believe the amount of people that read author's notes! You are welcome to change the color of her spiritual powers! Don't listen to me, I'm just being stupid. . . oh and your question on Susanowo: no he was no reincarnated. . . he was just involved several of the actual myths that I based this on! Yes, he was just a god that caused more trouble than he was worth. . .

 

Thanks for reviewing! Tahitianbabe, Makaya-love, connor smith, Earthbrat, Jessica Rabit (love the name), animemistress419, Inuyashalover1o1, junyortrakr, HarmonyBunny1718, Sakura_Blossom-Cilla-85, Drake_Clawfang, Miko_Kagome_Archer, Lake of Fire, and dieforinuyasha!

 

 

Until next time! (And possibly in a new Inuyasha fic?) Oh! AND THIS IS NOT THE END OF THIS STORY, more people are getting confused by this than I expected. . .

 

Summary of my new fic: Times are in turmoil in the four lands. Kagome, princess of one of the four lands, is kidnapped by the Lord of the Southern Lands. When suddenly, a rogue fighter comes to rescue her to take her back to her intended. Going along with it she follows the silver-haired, dog-eared, half demon to her `intended.' Life for her and rogue fighter cross once more after they part, and are sent on a adventure to bring peace back to the lands.

 

Tell me what you guys think! Click that button and review! ^o^ . . . please?