InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Serendipity ❯ Epiphany ( Chapter 18 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Hehehehehe.

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Time was an inevitable enigma.

It was considered a blessing, not only curing cuts, bruises and diseases, but even intangible things– heartbreak, depression, fear.

It acted as a catalyst for many things as well \ nostalgia, regret.

How something could be so contradictory is an enigma in itself, for time causes many polar opposite emotions simultaneously.

In InuYasha's case, however, it acted as none of these things.

He and Kagome had spent the holidays together, and it had been the best few weeks of his life. They'd done so many things together, from watching corny holiday specials, to even having a blast in the snow.

He sat back in his chair, his chin resting in the palm of his hand as he eyed Kagome out of the corner of his eye. Like always, she was oblivious to his scrutiny, her gaze on the talking raccoon dog. He watched as she chewed the end of her pen\ an action he noted that she did whenever she got confused\ and copied notes in a hurried manner.

A lopsided smile graced his lips.

He'd explain the lesson to her later.

Anyway, his thoughts returned to their little “fun” in the snow.

Geez, it's so cold out here!” she exclaimed, tightening the ocean blue scarf around her neck.

InuYasha, who had been previously walking in front of her, turned around and smirked, fully cognizant of the way her cheeks were flushed, and how those hypnotic, midnight blue eyes of hers drew him in like a bee to honey.

"Keh, you wimpin' out already, woman?”

He knew that would rile her up.

He watched as the corners of her lips turned up, how those thin, arched eyebrows furrowed.

"I'll have you know,” she began, bending down and clasping a hand full of freshly fallen snow into her dark mittens.

“That I, Higurashi Kagome, does no such thing as wimping out!”

The conviction in her voice was palpable, making him mirror her smirk with one of his own.

The moon was full\ he had taken notice to that when it illuminated her raven curls, providing them with blue highlights\ which in turn, gave them complete privacy in the park, considering that the children and played in it during the day.
Something cold and wet hit his face.

The giggle that ensued proved his suspicions.

Damn him and his daydreaming.

His smirk grew as he wiped the snow from his face, just in time to see the criminal fleeing from him.

"Oh no you don't!” he yelled, dashing after her before the human girl could blink.

She had scurried behind a tree, her breathing rough and rapid.

Before she could celebrate, however, the hanyou landed right in front of her, making her yelp in surprise.

He locked gazes with her, molten gold battling ocean blue, a very wicked expression on his face.

I don't want to make this unfair,” he whispered in her, his breath tickling it.

“What--”

“Run,” he commanded, turning his back and folding his arms.

Not missing her chance, Kagome darted away, her eyes roaming the playground, searching for somewhere to hide.

She loved this.

She loved the thrill of InuYasha toying with her.

She noticed that he had become so much bolder from when they had first met, and it made her cheeks rosy recalling the thought of him whispering in her ear like that.

God, she was falling.

Heck, who was she kidding?

She had already fallen. Hard.

Bending down, she quickly armed herself with a gigantic snowball, molding it perfectly.

Kagome, I hope you have a good spot,” InuYasha said loudly, quickly turning around and sniffing noticeably.

Honestly, she didn't have a good spot, but made due with behind the nearby fence surrounding the park.

If she turned her head around, she could see him, sniffing wildly, a warm smile on his face.

Gods, had he always been so handsome?

Realizing where her thoughts were going made her blush in embarrassment.

"Y'know,” he began, slowly heading in her direction, purposely toying with her.

“Maybe if your scent wasn't so damn distinct from everyone else--”

She turned her head, leaning from behind the fence to look at him.

He wasn't there.

"Where did he--”

“I wouldn't be able to pinpoint you so easily,” he finished, now right in front of her.

She jumped.

"How do you keep doing that!?”

He chuckled, ignoring her question.

"And what exactly do you mean by distinct? What makes my scent so different?” she asked curiously, plopping down on the ground, bringing her knees up to her chin.

InuYasha joined her, leaning his head back against the fence, his gaze on the night sky.

How exactly could he answer that without sounding...

"I just never smelled anybody like ya before,” he answered gruffly, dodging that bullet.

She looked at him, before scooting closer and resting her head on his shoulder.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling the blood rush to his face.

"Well, there's something pretty distinct about you too, y'know.”

“Oh yeah? What's that?”

She smiled, snuggling closer.

"I've never met anyone like you before.”

"Kagome...”

“That's our lesson for today,” Mr. Hotchi said, shutting the book he had been reading from previously, and also waking the hanyou from his reverie.

“And I hope our leads are ready tonight! Class, give it up for Kagome and Hojo!”
The entire class clapped and spoke a few “congratulations” to them.

InuYasha's eyes went completely wide in horror.

See, this was exactly why time was a bitch. It brought about these unexpected, shitty surprises.

"Kagome,” he whispered desperately.

She turned toward him, an unreadable expression on her face.

"Is tonight–“

“Are you ready, Higurashi?” Hojo interrupted, standing in front of her desk, grabbing her attention.

She nodded, a smile on her face.

"I've been rehearsing so much! I'm just kinda ready to get it over with, honestly.”

He grinned.

"I know how you feel. Heck, the only thing keeping me going is the kissing scene.”

InuYasha growled lowly, his fists clenching rather uncomfortably.

Who the fuck did this guy think he was?

Hojo's cheeks turned red, watching as Kagome's mouth flew open in shock.

"I-I-I just meant that i-its the only part that we haven't rehearsed, so it'll be n-new material.”

She laughed nervously.

Awkward.

InuYasha would keep his cool.

For Kagome.

For now.

"Kagome, we've got studying to do,” he huffed, pulling her arm and yanking her from her seat.

She thanked him silently for coming to her rescue before excusing herself.

"Are you sure you're alright, InuYasha? You seem kind of irritable.”

"I'm fine.”

“Okay..”

They'd been like this for an hour. They sat across from each other at the kitchen table in almost complete silence.

When she asked him if he understood what she had been saying, he'd only huff or grunt in response.

He could be so irritating sometimes!

"InuYasha..” she tried again, tucking a loose strand of her behind her ear.

“What?!” he snapped, his hands gripping the table with an inhuman force.

She jumped back, surprised.

He immediately regretted it.

After all, it wasn't her fault she had to kiss that son of a bitch tonight.

It was that bastard Shakespeare.

"Sorry,” he grunted, avoiding her gaze and eying the clock.

It was exactly five o'clock. The play began at six thirty.

"If you don't want to study today--”

“No, I'm fine,” he replied, sighing roughly, running his hands over his face.

Why was this bothering him so much? Why did the thought of her expressing a false love, a false kiss with someone else hurt? Why did it feel like an invisible knife was being rotated in his heart? He had never felt such a pain before, and being oblivious as to the cause of it pissed him off more.

"Do you have all of your lines memorized?” he asked suddenly, those molten lava eyes boring into hers.

His facial expression was completely unreadable, and it made Kagome feel slightly uncomfortable. It was if he was looking into the very depths of her soul, scrounging around for secrets.

"Yes, finally. I'm slightly nervous though. You're coming, right?”

How the fuck could he answer that?

He hadn't even given it much thought, actually.

Did he want to see her kiss Hojo?

Hell no.

But at the same time, knowing that it was happening and being completely idle bothered him even more.

"Ya.”

He closed his book, gathering his things.

"I'll be there.”

Kagome snuck a glance from behind the curtains, gulping nervously.

Almost every seat in the entire auditorium was filled, while incessant chattering filled the air.

"A full house.”

“Has anyone seen Hojo?” Mr. Hotchi yelled from backstage, gathering all f the young actors' attention.

Kagome's eyes widened.

He wasn't here?

But he was the lead!

The students shook their heads, whispering amongst one another.

Where on Earth could he be?

It was completely uncharacteristic of him.

Right after that thought, she felt heard her phone ringing from across the stage in her purse. Picking up the exaggerated dress that acted as her costume, Kagome made her way to it, only to see Hojo's name on the caller id.

She sighed in relief before answering.

"Hojo! Where--”

“Higurashi, I can't make it!”

“What!? Whynot? We go on in five minutes!”

“I know, I know. Someone slashed my tires, and my parents are out of town, so I have absolutely no way to get there in time!You'll have to get someone to fill in. Tell Mr. Hotchi that I'm sorry.”

Click.

"Hojo! Hojo!”

Sighing, Kagome hung up, running a hand nervously through her hair.

Who would want to slash Hojo's tires?

Figuring that it would be best not to waste valuable time, Kagome passed on Hojo's message to Mr. Hotchi, making him gasp in horror.
“I never cast an understudy!” he exclaimed, pacing back and forth.

"We don't have anyone to fill in!”

“Keh, ya got me.”

Hearing that familiar voice, all eyes landed on InuYasha, who was already in costume, arms crossed.

Kagome's eyes went wide, making her way over to him.

"You-you know the lines?”

He smirked, a fang peeping through.

"I was here during all the rehearsals, wasn't I?”

“Oh, InuYasha! Thank you!” she embraced him tightly.

He always seemed to be coming to her rescue.

Surprisingly, he hugged her back, a soft look in his eyes.

"Anything for you, Kagome.”

He'd whispered that so softly, she doubted anyone else even heard it.

He's never been so gentle before...

"Perfect! Places, places everyone!”

He had finally realized it.

It was as if certain pieces of this puzzle had fallen together.

It explained everything.

It explained that warm, fuzzy feeling he always got when he looked into her eyes, when she said she'd always be by his side.

It explained why he always wanted to be near her, why he wanted to protect her.

It explained why seeing her wear the locket he had given her for christmas around her neck even now, made him feel happier than he ever had.

It explained why seeing her with Hojo put him in such a sour mood.

It explained why he sniffed out Hojo's residence just to slash his tires, to make this moment his.

As he proclaimed his love for Juliet, for Kagome, it explained why he felt so light headed right now.

It explained how he felt such butterflies, even as he lay dead, listening to Kagome's monologue, the dagger in her hand.

It explained why, at the very moment Kagome's lips rested upon his, he took his let hand\ the one not facing the audience\ and pulled on her neck, deepening the kiss.

He felt her gasp in shock, and simply took that as the moment to taste the very depths of her mouth, groaning in anticipation.

She tasted so fucking good, just like he knew that she would.

His hand tangled into her hair, his breathing now intensified, as their lips met over and over again, his mouth capturing hers so greedily, he felt as if he couldn't stop. He tasted her deeply, fully, his kisses deeper, more passionate.

Realizing that they were still being watched, InuYasha regretfully dropped his hand, releasing her, and resumed his position as being dead, but now before moaning her name.

He wished he could see her expression, knowing that those cheeks of hers would be red, how those succulent lips would be swollen due to his assault on them.

Her blue eyes were wide in shock, and she found herself clutching her beating heart, her breathing erractic, heavy.

He..he kissed me. That couldn't have been part of the act...could it?