InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secret Love, Secret Power ❯ Demons (Part I) ( Chapter 4 )

( " " talking, italics thinking )

Demons (Part I)

Sango was mad at him. Inuyasha realized that immediately. She must be pissed at him for what he had said to Kagome earlier. Kagome, on the other hand, seemed extremely confused. She kept staring at him when she thought he couldn't see, staring with this odd calculating look, as though she were trying to pry the thoughts right out of his head.

Ya right! He thought smugly. You can't read someone's mind with nothing but sheer willpower.

Inuyasha flicked an ear back towards the others. They were walking about fifteen feet behind him, huddled together whispering. About him, no doubt. He could focus his hearing on their voices and eavesdrop on their discussion if he wanted to, but he had better things to do. Like figuring out Kagome's behaviour, for one.

Even though Kagome was no longer in heat, Inuyasha had decided to avoid her for one more day, just in case she thought he was coming onto her or something if he suddenly stopped avoiding her after his little display last night. She probably had no idea that she was no longer in heat, but he wasn't keen on bringing the matter up to tell her that. Plus he would prefer to avoid Sango for the time being too. She looked like she was itching to use that weapon of hers and he was the most logical target.

Continuing his scrutiny of the surrounding countryside, Inuyasha wondered how Kagome really felt about him. He knew that she had liked him a lot before, when they had first met, but he had been too busy agonizing over what to do about Kikyo to notice. But Kikyo was gone now and she wasn't coming back. Inuyasha had put her behind him. He had wanted to the whole time, but had been unable to do so while the priestess had still walked in this world. Her presence had caused all the memories of their time together to keep resurfacing over and over again, to the point where he was unable to forget her. Every time he had come close to being able to put her behind him and move on, she had showed up again, causing all the memories to return in an agonizing flood of embittered love and pain. And so the cycle would begin again. That was what Kikyo had wanted. In her undead body with her tortured soul, she had been unable to experience the passing of time like the living, and so she had trapped Inuyasha in the memories of the past, forcing him to remain in the same state of timelessness as her. Together for eternity, that was what she had wanted. And since she was trapped with the pain of betrayal and the terrible memories, she had seen to it that he was too. Being together in peace had never occurred to her; the thirst for revenge had twisted her mind beyond his recognition.

It had taken Inuyasha a long time to realize this. At the end, when Kikyo had died again, he had not mourned her. He couldn't. Her death meant that he was finally free. Free from her trap, free from the memories, and free to move on with his life. And he knew exactly where he wanted his life to go. He wanted Kagome.

Inuyasha glanced at her over his shoulder. Still that strange look. What was she thinking? For a moment, he was tempted to find out. It would be easy enough. It was simple thing, almost effortless. She'd never know.

No! He thought fiercely, I will not! I won't do it! Not to her, not to anyone! It must remain a secret!

Inuyasha loved Kagome. He loved her more than he could ever put into words. But Kikyo's trap had caused him to hurt her. He'd hurt her badly, many times, before he begun to see the truth, before Kikyo had died. And Inuyasha feared that he had discovered the truth too late. How could Kagome love him after what he had done, the way he had treated her? He hung his head in shame, oblivious to what the others behind him thought. If Kagome had had feelings for him at one time, there was no way she would now. There was no way she ever could. So Inuyasha had kept his feelings to himself, putting all his energy into the search for the jewel shards. And, of course, protecting Kagome.

But now he wasn't so sure. Could there be a possibility that she did love him after all? Shame forgotten, he considered this startling new idea. Inuyasha had watched Kagome's eyes last night, watched her emotions as he'd demonstrated his manhood to them, to her. She had responded mostly as he'd thought she would. Surprise and shock, then attraction - the same attraction any female, especially one in heat, would feel towards any man in that state - then uncertainty, and finally the decision. She had jumped away from him, just as he had expected her too. But one thing baffled him. During the moment of uncertainty, right before she had leapt back, he had been sure that she was actually about to accept the offer and come to him. For that one fraction of a moment, he had been so sure. But then reality had crashed in on him (and probably on her too) and she had backed away.

Inuyasha frowned in disappointment. Even if she had accepted, he would have, gently and with great reluctance, turned her down. He couldn't bed her at her most fertile time. That was just asking for trouble. He would have had to simply wait until she was out of heat, and then offer again. The frown turned to a smile as he glanced back at Kagome with a calculating look of his own. Too bad she hadn't accepted.

No, Inuyasha thought as he contemplated what would have happened if she had accepted, I do not like kids, and I sure as hell don't want one.

But who knows? He admitted to himself, with greater insight than was normal for him, That might change some day. But not in the foreseeable future, he added.

A gust of wind from across the meadow they were crossing jarred Inuyasha out of his thoughts. There was something wrong with the scent of the wind. Something very wrong.

Inuyasha immediately stopped and turned towards the wind, inhaling deeply through his nose. This was bad. He didn't recognize the scent, or even the type of scent, which was unusual for him. Through the course of his life, he had, at one time or another, encountered almost every type, kind, species, and breed of demon there was. But he had no idea what this was. The scent was faint. Inuyasha strained to pick up more of the troubling smell. Something about it seemed noticeably familiar.

Inuyasha absently noted that the others had caught up with him, so deep in conversation that they hadn't noticed that he had stopped. They were so oblivious, in fact, that Kagome walked right into him. She bounced off with a squeal of surprise and fell into Sango, who in turn fell, both of them landing in a heap in the middle of the trail, and sending Shippo, who had been perched on Sango's shoulder, sprawling in the dirt.

Kagome began apologizing to Sango as Shippo let out a wail of (feigned) hurt. Miroku then rushed to comfort the fox-child. Did none of them realize the seriousness of the situation? Inuyasha struggled to ignore them, as he sniffed again, trying to glean some information from the faint scent. Kagome began to help Sango to her feet, still apologizing, and Miroku left Shippo to assist them, causing the kitsune to cry even louder because no one was paying attention to him anymore.

Inuyasha couldn't concentrate. The noise was driving him to distraction, and he needed all his attention focused on the threat at hand. He whirled on them with a vicious snarl.

"Quiet, you fools!" He snapped, nearly yelling with fury and apprehension. They all fell silent immediately at his look of barely restrained violence, and the undertone of urgency in his voice that they all sensed.

He turned back towards the wind, focusing completely on the strange scent. His entire body stiffened, every muscle tensing as he made a number of lightening quick realizations. The scent was a demon, that was obvious. It was large. It was powerful. It was angry. And it was coming closer.

That's when he felt it. A brush against his mind; a feather-light touch that disappeared before he could focus on it. But it was enough for him to know what it meant.

Faster than thought, Inuyasha snapped his inner barriers closed. He locked and sealed his mind, closing it to any outer force that tried to enter. He was safe now from the searching mind that had momentarily touched his. But Kagome and the others were not.