InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Silence the Fairytale ❯ At the End of the Rope ( Chapter 4 )

A/n: Lol, I wanted to thank all of you who reviewed so far! I'd respond to certain ones but I'd give away the plot… Since shh, it's a secret! But… I'm kind of doing this one like I did `Failure', rather groping around blindly in the dark with no real thought as to where I want it to go. I have a general plot line filled out, but besides that, I'm kind of like eh, go with the flow. But sometimes that makes it more fun, doesn't it? ^-^!

 

Chapter Four: At the End of the Rope

 

 

Or not… again.

 

Inuyasha felt his eye tick as once again, his nerves were shot to hell and he was left empty handed as to what to do with the ningen he had acquired. Another week had passed, and still he was as clueless with what she wanted as he was the first day. Still, she did not speak, but that did not matter. She spoke in volumes with what she did, and communicated with him better that way than with any words she could have said. Still, she was driving him up the wall. It seemed to be a little game of hers, finding new ways to grate on his already overly-sensitized nerves.

 

She was staring at him. She had been for the past two hours, and he was sure she was doing it with daunting patience. And he was doing his best not to snap, and realized it came down to a contest of wills. But never once had he won her games-ever. His ears twitched irritably, keeping trained on her. She was behind him, but still he could feel her stare burning him.

 

Finally, he gave in to the urge. He whirled around, standing stiffly as he shouted at her, “What the fuck are you looking at, wench?!” But even as he said it, nothing killed the amusement twinkling softly in her eyes. It was absolutely infuriating!

 

“Can't you think of something better to do than annoy me?! Why don't you go fucking pick flowers or some other thing stupid human girls do?! We'll even stop so you can, but just fucking cut it out already! It's really getting on my fucking nerves!” He all but screamed at her, and then stomped off in some direction he smelled water, keeping true to his word they'd rest a while just so she'd cut him slack.

 

But he froze up as soon as he heard the soft, childish giggle emanate from her mouth, and he turned around slowly to glare at her vehemently. For some reason, her face was all wound up in enjoyment, and she broke out in a fit of laughter that left him sputtering in absolute anger. She clutched her sides as she laughed so hard, the quality of it winding something up inside of him. She looked so purely happy, so content that he felt his anger melting away as quickly as it had come.

 

The tension in his muscles flowed away as his posture relaxed, and he scratched his head and sighed. Despite all that's happened in the past while, she still finds reason to smile…

 

The look of pure happiness on her face as she laughed, in spite it was at his expense, and the way the sun shone through the trees to shine down upon her make her seem somewhat angelic. Inuyasha shook his head to clear himself of these thoughts, wondering how a child faced with so much cruelty managed to maintain such an innocence and purity.

 

She's still so young…

 

Such hardships, and her endurance through it all made him forget she was only on the verge of her fourteenth summer…

 

Inuyasha stiffened once again, and that thought came crashing down on him in realization.

 

Oh, CRAP! I forgot!

 

Her birthday.

 

His human night… They were in three days.

 

Inuyasha turned his head to the skies, letting out another heavy sigh as he looked to the skies in askance to the Kamis.

 

Lowering his head in defeat, he snapped at the girl, “Come on you stupid girl, hurry up or we won't rest.”

 

As he lifted his head, he looked at her and his breath was stolen away.

 

She nodded in compliance, her hair shining softly as it was dappled in sunlight, making it appear like midnight silk… her cheeks were rosy from her amusement, and her eyes shined like the stars… But what caught him most off guard were the tears of laughter and joy that rolled down the apples of her cheeks quietly, and as she wiped them away she gifted him a small, adoring smile.

 

Inuyasha only felt himself blush and turn around as he walked away quickly, unsure what to make of that genuine smile she had given him that moment.

 

Or the feelings of elation that had accompanied it.

 

~~~*~~~

 

Inuyasha sighed and leaned his face in his hand in thought, as he watched Kagome run around the small clearing playfully. She was confusing, and that was just the least of it. Scratching his chin with his claws, he shuddered at the thought of having to give her some sort of present…

 

He frowned darkly, glaring at his feet. I'm no good at this shit… what kind of stupid human tradition is that anyway? Even if they have short lives, why celebrate every year? What is the fucking point?

 

Kagome reached up toward the sky, and that drew his attention back to her. She had been stretching, and as she brought her arms back down she locked them behind her back. Even so, she kept her head tilted toward the sky, her eyes closed softly as she smiled serenely. Inuyasha felt that familiar churning feeling inside of him, and he shoved it away quickly. But he couldn't help but realize the way the sunlight danced around her…

 

Again he growled, and he stood abruptly. Inuyasha never dealt with sentimentality too well.

 

“Come on wench, let's go,” he called out to her, and felt his heart drop in to his stomach as she turned to meet his gaze with a sorely disappointed look. Inuyasha felt his mouth twitched, and felt somewhat cornered at her pleading look. But he wasn't familiar with the area, and they had `rested' long enough. He had caught a rabbit to eat earlier, and as far as he was concerned they were ready to go.

 

“Don't give me that look, damn it,” he quipped at her, and folded his arms in finality when she continued to pout at him. But neither of them was willing to give in.

 

“What? Do you want me to leave you behind?” He knew it was a low blow, and that it would make Kagome crumble, and he doubly felt like shit saying it.

 

Slowly, Kagome made her way over, but she seemed to dawdle. Still, Inuyasha stood his ground and kept his arms folded tightly over his chest. He noticed she had not once quit looking upset, and he felt his walls falling. “Hurry up, wench!” he again spoke testily. But he didn't fail to catch the fact she was ignoring him now, and kept the pace she was using.

 

His brows furrowed deeply, and he caved in to her desires, “Fine! We'll stop again later, but we're moving for now, okay?! And no fucking complaining!” At this, she lifted her head quickly and hastily made her way over to him. This caused his ears to flick in annoyance, but he felt his heart return to its rightful place when she turned to him and gifted him with that smile that sent him soaring again.

 

He just turned his head away, flushing slightly with a scowl and said, “Keh…”

 

~~~*~~~

 

Inuyasha sighed softly as they settled in that night, making a fire for her as quickly as he could manage. The scent of her exhaustion reached him, and he didn't need her catching cold or some stupid shit like that…

 

Ningens are so weak…

 

When he heard her breathing even itself out, he leapt in to a tree above her and looked down upon her. Again, his brows furrowed, but he scolded himself into not letting himself feeling confusion over her. There was no point in wondering what to do with her anymore-it was clear to him she had made up her mind to follow him. And he had plainly told her she could do what she wished as far as that was concerned, so what was done was done.

 

Still, he could not help but feeling uneasiness about it…

 

He knew, with him, she would have a hard life if she chose to simply stay. Villagers were not keen with him because he was hanyou, often suspicious and cruel. And demons were even crueler, seeking him out to kill him just because of his heritage. Sneering lightly, Inuyasha grasped the hilt of his favorite weapon-Tetsusaiga. It had been a gift from his father, and an heirloom. And for the longest time, it had been his only companion for many lonely years…

 

That was, until he had met her…

 

Stop it. Stop the nostalgia already… Just forget it. Forget her.

 

But he couldn't help but notice the familiar ache he felt remembering her, as he looked down upon Kagome.

 

While she was peaceful during the day, at night she seemed to be plagued with nightmares, for often she tossed and turned. The darkness was filled with whimpers for her as she slept, and he knew what she had to have been dreaming of…

 

Growling angrily, he gripped the bark and wondered how humans could be so evil toward one another. When one showed mercy, she was punished for it? What kind of fucked up sense was that?

 

Inuyasha's ear turned toward the young girl when he heard her whining in her sleep, reaching out for something. The smell of salt water hit him like a ton of bricks, and again he found himself wanting to go to her to soothe away her fears. But once again, he reminded himself he wasn't good at sentimentality… he'd probably just fuck it up worse…

 

But when she yelped, he found himself on the ground beside her, smoothing her hair over her brow…

 

At his touch, she settled down from her increasing cries, and they reduced to the small whimpers again as she reached up in sleep to grasp his finger.

 

He was struck with her fragility, and his need to protect her was reinforced. He knew the attachment that bloomed almost instantly for her was derived from the way she looked… but he also knew he felt something akin towards her, a sort of rejection they both had shared. He had no doubt that if anyone could understand him, she could. Even now, she knew what annoyed him, and how to make him smile sometimes…

 

He sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk next to her. He had arranged himself so she didn't have to let go of his finger, and that one single insignificant digit seemed to be all she needed for reassurance.

 

Once again, Inuyasha found himself puzzled at her.

 

Sometimes, she seemed so simple-what made her happy, what gave her comfort… But with the way she was troubled at night, he knew the hurt inside her ran deep, which gave him the impression she was much more complicated than she appeared.

 

Sighing deeply, he looked down to her small hand. Her entire hand wrapped around his one finger, and he wondered how someone could be so tiny… this just added to the image of how fragile she was, as if the wind blew her the wrong way she might break.

 

But somewhere inside that mind, Inuyasha also found himself admiring the strength that the girl had… the strength that pulled herself through changes, helped her adapt to her new environment… and the same strength that she had to find some way to smile every day.

 

Groaning, Inuyasha banged his head roughly against the tree.

 

I have a feeling… this girl is going to be the death of me. I swear…

 

A/n: Poor Inuyasha. Anyway, feel special. I thoroughly proofread this chapter to correct glaring mistakes. Not often do I do this, for often I am really fucking lazy. Ah well, life goes on, ne?