InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shingetsu ❯ Shingetsu ( Chapter 1 )

~*Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. Kagome does. Even if she doesn't know it.

"…" - speech

'…' - thoughts

~*~*~ - change in scenery or time

Shingetsu

Inuyasha watched as the last rays of the sun faded under the horizon in a brilliant display of red, pink, and purple. Kagome gazed appreciatively at the sky and turned to him.

"Beautiful, ne Inuyasha?"

He snorted.

The Inu-tachi was setting up camp at the edge of a small forest where there had been the rumour of a shikon no kakera. It turned out the rumour had been false, but they had destroyed the snake youkai nonetheless. It had been devouring the villagers of a nearby town.

It was a little later than usual for settling down to rest, but none of the group had wanted to stay in the ominous atmosphere of the woods.

There was a small fire crackling merrily in a temporary spit that Kagome had lit with one of her magic stick things. What were they called? Matches? It didn't matter. But it sure made starting a fire a hell of a lot easier. Maybe there was actually something useful about that strange smog covered world of hers…

Well…

That and ramen. The ramen that was waiting for the water to boil before it could be re-cooked. Normally, this would have had Inuyasha sniffing near the fire, but not tonight.

Tonight was the new moon.

Which meant he was human.

His senses were dulled considerably.

He was weak.

He was in a bad mood.

Kagome got up from her place at the fire and called to Shippou.

"The food's ready, Shippou-chan! Come and get it!"

Said kitsune ran over from playing with Kirara with said neko-youkai in tow. He grinned impishly at Kagome and picked up a cup of instant noodles.

"Arigatou, Kagome-chan."

He then commenced slurping his dinner, occasionally slipping bits to Kirara.

Kagome smiled and picked up two bowls, bringing them over to Sango and Miroku, who were not too far off. She had been polishing Hiraikotsu, while he had been… observing her. Seeing Kagome approach with food, Sango put down her boomerang and nodded appreciatively at the girl. Miroku reached for the food.

"Arigatou, Kagome-chan."

"Many thanks, Kagome-sama."

"Think nothing of it."

She returned to the fire side and poured some more hot water into the remaining two bowls. Holding them carefully, Kagome strolled to where Inuyasha was sitting, cross-legged, brooding next to a lone tree. His eyebrows were furrowed, and his mouth was drawn into a pout. The crossed arms completed the look. The sheathed Tetsusaiga lay in his lap, ready to be used at any moment. His now lavender eyes seemed to be staring at nothing even as she approached.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Inuyasha blinked and his eyes focused on the girl from the future with two steaming bowls of beef flavoured ramen.

"What the hell does that mean?"

Kagome sighed and sat down next to the sulking boy. She handed him his bowl of noodles.

"It's a saying from my era. You looked thoughtful. Want to tell me about anything?"

Grunt.

She wrinkled her nose as he started inhaling his dinner. Even on the new moon, he managed to eat his food faster than anybody else did. She would have put it off to instinctual dog behaviour, but… this was Inuyasha she was talking about.

He always ate fast.

He soon finished his share, and Kagome offered the rest of her food to the boy, which he accepted only after she insisted. She wasn't feeling very hungry that night, as she had eaten a large breakfast that morning.

Afterwards, they sat in silence.

Suprisingly, it wasn't Kagome who broke it.

"Oi, Kagome."

"Hmmm?"

"What do you prefer me as?"

She looked at him, startled. What was he talking about…?

"Nani? What do you mean?"

Inuyasha grunted, annoyed that he would have to explain his question."

"What do you prefer me as? Ningin, hanyou, or youkai?" As an afterthought, he added, "Bitch"

Kagome's eyes widened in understanding. Was this what he had been thinking about earlier? She noticed his eyes carefully gauging her facial expression, and so she smiled at him. He was always much more… open when he was human. He normally didn't like to ask such questions.

"I like you as you, Inuyasha. Whatever you are, or want to be, I'll always be by your side. I told you that before, don't you remember?" She blushed slightly. "But to be honest, I like you as a hanyou the best." The girl's grin grew. "The ears are just too cute…"

Inuyasha blinked as his cheeks became slightly coloured. He stared off thoughtfully around the clearing. She liked him as how he was? She accepted him as a hanyou? He saddened slightly. Kikyou hadn't been like that. She had only been willing to fully trust him after he became human. He had been willing to give up his youkai blood to gain that trust. He had wanted to be accepted so badly.

He snorted.

Hell, the only time they had kissed had been after she'd died…

His gaze landed on Kagome again. Her eyes were closed and a small smile played on her face she leaned back onto the trunk of the tree beside him.

Kagome.

The only one who had really trusted him. The first person to have really entrusted her life to him. The one who had been responsible for his new friends. The one who had been able to heal his heart, and who had slowly crept in between the cracks. The one who had a scent that he wanted to smell for the rest of his days.

Inuyasha blinked again. For the rest of his days? Where had that come from?

His expression softened.

For the rest of his days.

He wanted that. He wanted Kagome to be with him until the day he died.

How had he become so attached to the girl?

It didn't matter.

Kagome opened her eyes when she felt a callused hand slip into her own. She glanced up at the hanyou turned human. He was looking away. And was that a blush she saw…? Grinning, she closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.

"You really are a softie at heart, ne Inuyasha?"

Her eyes closed, and the girl drifted off to a peaceful slumber.

He studied Kagome's face. It was so peaceful, and full of trust that one couldn't help but feel warmed at.

"… Keh."

But only for her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

[yea, incase you didn't guess, Shingetsu means new moon…

Not one of my better pieces, but it'll pass. ~_^]