InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Simple and Clean ❯ End of the Storm ( Chapter 24 )

Ah, another week gone and past. This week I had a much needed break from school in the form of Spring Vacation… And so I procrastinated and wrote this all in one day before Monday. Phft, typical me. Anyways, here's the new chapter, LOTS of fluff, review or die…yadda yadda yadda…

Recap:

 

“My mother loved me, Sesshomaru. Did yours?” Sesshomaru pulled away from him then, hefting his body off of the rock. He turned his back to hide the fire that had started behind his own eyes. When he had made his way out of hearing distance, he whispered softly to himself, “No, but I loved her.”

 

Chapter 24

 

End of the Storm

 

It was the same night that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru had that fateful talk in the forest, or maybe early the next day, that Kagome's eyes fluttered, opening slightly, as if afraid of what she would see once they were opened all of the way. Surveying the scene around her bed with interest, she rubbed her head to try to ebb the piercing pain that had screamed at her violently upon her awakening.

The forms around her were hazy and foreboding at first, but as her eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, she realized who they were. Some were missing, three to be exact, if she had counted correctly. They were the sleeping bodies of Kikyo- her dark hair splayed around her porcelain face, glowing slightly in the night- and Rin, who could be distinguished by her small stature, her feet barely reaching halfway under her large blanket. And there were two others, who seemed to be sharing a blanket, though Kagome could not make out their faces. She guessed that Sango had finally had some much deserved luck in the romance department.

The thought brought a new pain, this one stabbing steadily at her heart. Had they found Inuyasha? Was he alright? And if so, where was he, as well as Kouga and Sesshomaru? She slid her hand slowly down her soft face, turning her eyes up to the small chunk of sky she could see through her window. There was no moon but the stars dotted the black blanket of sky like spots of white flour on a freshly washed business suit. Sighing, Kagome decided it best to sleep now and find the answers to her questions in the morning. She had only just encountered this thought when her eyes closed slowly and she sunk down back onto her pillow, asleep.

* * *

As the sun crept slowly up behind the trees, almost as if it were afraid to come out after such a long time, Sango opened her eyes to the light shining through the window. She immediately closed them again, because of the intense brightness, and enjoyed the warm feeling as her face was bathed in sunlight. Cupping a hand over her eyes to block out the sun, she sat up, stretching her arms to awaken herself.

She looked down at Miroku and smiled. His face in sleep was relaxed and blissful, not a care in the world seemed to cross through his mind. Brushing a strand of hair away from his face affectionately, she glanced around the room to see who else was awake. The small lump that was Rin was still rolled up in a large mess of blankets, and Kikyo as well was still asleep, judging by her deep even breaths. Sango sifted through the sleeping bodies until she could make her way to where Kagome was sleeping.

Almost immediately, Sango knew something was wrong. Kagome, who had stayed completely still during her coma-like sleep, had rolled to one side. Putting a hand on her shoulder to move the sleeping girl onto her back again, she felt the muscles beneath her fingers contract as Kagome jumped slightly. Sango watched in a shocked awe as Kagome sat up and smiled at Sango.

“Morning,” She said groggily, “I was watching the sun come up.” A single joyful tear ran down Sango's face as she embraced her friend tenderly. “Kagome,” She said in a motherly way as the two pulled apart, “Do you have any idea how long you've been asleep?”

Kagome laughed, the sound tinkling into the fresh morning air. “I guess waking up at daybreak in now considered sleeping in then?” Sango shook her head, resting her back against the cool wood wall. “Kagome, you didn't sleep in. You literally slept for a week.” Sango rubbed the sleep from her eyes, suddenly tired.

“A week?” Kagome asked, frowning slightly. “I slept for an entire week? Why didn't someone wake me up? And, where are we anyways?” Kagome bombarded Sango with questions. As Sango explained, the girl became more and more anxious.

“So let me get this straight,” Kagome said once the other girl had finished, “Using the Shikon no Tama, I transported eight people, including myself, five hundred years into the past? I've been in a coma for a week…and Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and Doctor Kouga are out camping in the forest?”

When she says it, Sango thought, it sounds a lot weirder than I imagined it to be. There was a long silence between them as Kagome let the strange reality of the situation set in. The only plus of the whole ordeal (that she could see at least) was the fact that Inuyasha was alive and well and had, at least in this time, recovered from his strange infliction. Sighing, Sango let her head bump back against the wall. “It's hardly morning and I already feel swamped.” After a moment, she heaved herself up, bracing herself on the wall. “Why don't you come and help me make some breakfast Kagome, I'm sure you're hungry.”

As if on cue, Kagome's stomach grumbled loudly, much to her discomfort. Kagome smiled, a rosy blush coloring her all-too-pale cheeks as she took Sango's outstretched hand and hauled herself up as well. “So Sango,” She said in an impish voice, “I see you and Miroku got comfy.” Kagome noticed a slight reddening of Sango's ears as the girl retorted, “I have no idea what you're talking about Kagome.” Clearing her throat, the older girl went to the storage room to retrieve breakfast supplies, trying to hide the smile that played across her features.

* * *

The cold water that coursed around Inuyasha's bare ankles came as a wakeup call from whatever half-asleep reality he had been suspended in. It was barely morning, the sun not yet reaching far enough into the trees to warm his freezing shoulders, but just so that they could shed small areas of warmth that caressed his exposed back and made him shiver in delight and agony when they vanished to another spot.

The water eddied softly around him, running lines through his reflection. He ran a hand through his face in the water, sending the colors streak away from him, contorting his features. His ears had returned with the morning sun, and so had his claws, but he was not sure if they were in fact welcome changes anymore. They now only seemed to remind him that he was a blemish; an impure being that befouled anything that he came in contact with.

Pulling his clothes over his wet legs, he cringed as the fabric stuck stubbornly to his legs. Deciding to dry his upper body before attempting to pull the rest of his clothing back on, he positioned himself carefully on a now sun-warmed rock, cushioning his head on a bundle of red haori. Lifting his arms to rest lightly on his forehead and shield his eyes from the sun, Inuyasha nodded off to sleep, warmed by the rays of the sun that ebbed higher in the clear blue sky.

I wonder what Kagome's doing now…

* * *

Kagome slid the paper screen door quietly behind her after checking one last time to make sure that the others were busy with the after-breakfast chores. Inhaling a deep breath of fresh air, she made her way out of the village, careful not to be spotted by the few townsfolk that were milling around, and out into the open clearing that separated the inhabitants from the forest.

A lone tree, bare of any leaves, bark gray and withered with age, protruded a distance into the clearing, like a hand reaching for something just beyond its grasp. Kagome set out into the forest, casting a glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was following her. Though there was no one there, a strange shiver went up her spine. She quickened her pace, determined to find Inuyasha before Sango and the others came after her.

I'm coming Inuyasha, She thought urgently, I'm finally coming!

* * *

Inuyasha slowly came around; awaken by the unmistaken sound of footsteps through the dry undergrowth. He could tell with his heightened senses that the footsteps belonged not to Sesshomaru or Kouga, but a human. Sitting up, he let the red haori fall from beneath his head to pool like blood on the grass at the base of the large boulder he had been sleeping on.

A human hand brushed a particularly low-lying branch out of the way as the owner made her way out of the trees. Inuyasha's eyes widened and his heart stopped for a moment when he realized to whom that hand had belonged to.

Kagome stood before him, her long brown hair curling around her radiant face, eyes glinting in the mid-morning sun. There was an assortment of twigs and leaves lodged in her hair and on her clothes, giving her a wild, lustful look that filled him with a hot yearning that he had not felt for the longest time. “Kagome,” he breathed, her name flowing over his tongue, a pleasurable but fleeting feeling. He could see her eyes start to shimmer with unshed tears, and he longed to wipe them from her dark eyes.

She stood there for a moment; unsure of what to do, caught off guard by the way he looked in the rays of sunlight that played across his face. He seemed different, more mature, and it had been a surprise to see that under his shirt he boasted a beautifully sculpted body. Unwanted tears, hot with desire and pain, welled up in her eyes, but instead of wiping them away, she lurched her body forward to fall into Inuyasha's arms.

He was stiff in her embrace, surprised for a second, but she felt him relax under her hands. His skin under her fingers felt smooth and soft, and as she ran her hand up his back, she felt him shiver with pleasure. As she did so, Inuyasha pulled her closer to him so that her face rested against his chest, inhaling the unique smell of his skin.

“Kagome,” He said again, voice faltering slightly, “Kagome, I love you.” He felt her hot tears on his bare skin, eyelashes gently tickling his chest. Her small body shuddered in his arms as a sob of relief and emotion ran through her. She lifted her gaze to meet his, amber melting into chocolate. Lifting a hesitant hand to her face, Inuyasha wiped away a tear, cupping her face in his hand as he did so.

Kagome smiled, a warm tendril of hope coursed through her from where Inuyasha's hand was touching her cheek. Though suddenly her voice seemed rusty, she managed to whisper back to him, “I missed you, Inuyasha.” Before she leaned in to kiss him gently, hesitantly upon the mouth, savoring the taste of his lips against her own.

How long the two of them stayed that way, wrapped in each other's arms, neither could say, but when Kagome finally had the courage to tear herself away, remembering how worried her companions would be that she was missing, it was with regret that she could not stay longer. With a final soft kiss goodbye, she disappeared back into the trees, leaving Inuyasha wondering if the entire day had just been a very sweet dream.

* * *

Please, for my sake, review! I know, I sound like a nagging, selfish author, but the truth is, without feedback from my readers, I can't tell if you guys like how things are turning out, relate to the characters or can even stand reading my style of writing. So, please, if you could just take the five minutes or less required to hit that little button and review, I would be so grateful! Thank you, and until next time, sayonara.

Reviews:

 

Kouga_Lover_3056:

 

Yay, you can review! Was it my advice or did MM.org finally get that fixed?

 

Allen:

Yeah, I don't think I made the fact that the hamsters were part of a dream sequence very clear…sorry about that. Now that I think about it, you probably won't read this response to your review for at least another month unless you are glued to the computer screen every night reading my story… ^_^ I'm just desperate to show people that I'm awesome enough to get reviews. *leans against wall trying to look cool and falls over ungracefully* Yeah…I'm cool like that.

 

Kittencutie:

I don't hate you! Actually, I was more worried about others having really negativities about my Kikyo thing. Actually, I don't love her, nor do I refer to myself as a “Kikyo lover” it's just that I think she's a really cool character. In the beginning, I hated Kagome too, but then she got better and better as the series went on. Now I like both girls! ^_^