InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Twelve ( Chapter 12 )

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Author's Notes: I love it when a story starts to take off on its own! This one just keeps getting better and better the more I write, and I can't wait to post the next chapter, though I won't tell you what it's about. But suffice it to say, I think you'll find enough Inuyasha/Kagome fluff in this chapter to satisfy your sweet tooth. And for those of you who don't have a taste for sweets, I'm sorry, I enjoy writing good old-fashioned fluffy romance scenes once in a while.

Thank you for all the reviews, you guys, and thanks for all your patience with my slower then normal updates. I'm trying to be better about it, but only now am I finally getting caught up again in school. With two A.P. classes, and one accelerated physics class, it's hard to miss, and when you do, your life is a living hell for the next several weeks.

But enough about me lets get back to our favorite couple, and see what new challenges lie in store for them. This chapter is slightly longer then some of the ones I've posted before, so hopefully that makes up for my inconsistent updates. And by the way, I'm asking in advance for no one to hate me for the ending! Enjoy!

 

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Title: Soul Therapy

 

Author: dolphingirl0113

 

Chapter: Twelve

 

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

 

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“So then I was thinking that it was impossible for a shark to swim backwards through the water, but my partner was telling me he saw Belle, our captive hammerhead, do exactly that.”

 

“That's interesting,” Kagome replied, trying to sound interested as Hojo related the events of his week. Sharks were fascinating, but unfortunately Hojo had the uncanny ability to make anything seem boring after a while.

 

“Isn't it though?” He seemed really excited now. “You should come by the lab sometime, and watch us do some tests.”

 

Kagome smiled at the comment. “Are you asking me out again?”

 

He blushed. “Maybe, though it would be a different kind of date.”

 

Laughing, Kagome slapped his arm playfully, “I know that. I don't think any man has taken me to look at sharks before for a date.”

 

He smiled at that, and the pair went silent, just enjoying the afternoon. It was sunny, and the trees were blossoming with the strength of spring as they walked through the park.

 

Earlier that day Kagome, along with Sango, Miroku, and Kouga, had registered for classes at Tokyo Medical School, and would start in a month. They would only go part time, but Kagome didn't mind. It didn't seem like that much of a sacrifice if it meant she could keep seeing her patients.

 

Glancing to her left, Kagome observed the young man walking beside her, his eyes bright and cheerful, a smile on his face as he looked at his surroundings. They had met by chance at the university, and Hojo had insisted on walking her home.

 

It was only the fourth time they had done anything together alone, and while Kagome thought he was nice, was grateful for that fact. There was something about him that she just wasn't all that interested in, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

 

Maybe it's because you're thinking about someone else, her mind offered, to which Kagome frowned. She refused to think about him right now, when she was in such a good mood, because whenever she did, she thought about his wife, and the secret she had been asked to keep.

 

“Kagome, are you alright?”

 

“What?” Hojo was giving her a strange look, and Kagome realized she was frowning as though she was angry. “Oh, yes, I'm fine.”

 

“Are you sure? You look like something's on your mind. Did I say something to upset you?”

 

“No!” Kagome gave him her brightest smile, though to her it felt empty, and he seemed to relax as she put her hand on his arm. “It's not you, I've just been having a couple of crazy weeks at work.”

 

He nodded and looked back at the cement path they were walking on, surrounded by cherry blossoms and maple trees. “I know what you mean. It's been crazy for me lately at work too, what with having to write a lab report practically every day for my superiors. And my lab partner won't do any of it! He hates writing, and so I have to do it because otherwise we would get fired.”

 

Smiling, Kagome only half listened to what her companion was saying as she was caught up in the beauty of the afternoon. It was enough to take away all thoughts of anything, or anyone, else for the moment, and that was a rare thing indeed in her current situation.

 

But fate was not meant to be kind to her, because as she was walking along, Kagome caught a flash of silver in the corner of her eye, and turned to see a very familiar man on crutches walking by on the opposite path. Her heart fluttered rapidly in her chest as she turned away, for some strange reason hoping he didn't see her and yet praying that he did.

 

“Kagome!”

 

She sighed when he called her name, again unsure if she thought it was a good or bad thing, and turned to face him with a smile and a wave of her hand.

 

He started to move in her direction, but Kagome realized quickly that they could end up waiting all day and started toward him instead. They met in the middle of the grassy area separating the two paths, and smiled at each other.

 

“What are you doing here?” Kagome asked, looking around to see if Kikyou was nearby.

 

“This is where I always come for my daily walk,” he replied, and Kagome raised an eyebrow.

 

“So you actually heard me when I said you needed to take a thirty minute walk every day?”

 

He snorted indignantly, “Of course I heard you. What do you take me for, stupid?”

 

Putting her fingers under her chin, Kagome cocked her head to one side and pretended to really think about it. He smirked and nudged her with his shoulder, causing her to step back slightly in order to maintain her balance.

 

“Of course I don't think you're stupid,” she replied once she stopped giggling, finding herself lost in his amber gaze. She made a mental note to try and avoid those eyes at all costs from now on.

 

“Kagome, what's going on?”

 

Inuyasha tensed at the sound of Hojo's voice, and frowned when the younger man approached the pair.

 

“What is he doing here?” he practically growled, and Kagome rolled her eyes.

 

“I met him at the university, completely by accident, and we were just walking home together, that's all.” She was doing it again, Kagome realized. She was justifying herself to a married man, a man who shouldn't even care what she did with other guys.

 

Inuyasha turned to look at Kagome, his eyes softening. “What were you doing at the university?”

 

“Um,” Kagome opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted when Hojo appeared at her side, looking at Inuyasha for an instant before making the connection.

 

“Oh, you're one of Kagome's patients,” he said kindly, and Inuyasha grunted, reminding Kagome of a bird who was ruffling its feathers and puffing up into an offended little ball.

 

“So what if I am baka?” he retorted, to which Kagome rolled her eyes as Hojo opened his wide in surprise.

 

“Inuyasha, cut it out,” she scolded, “It was just a friendly comment.” She turned to Hojo. “Would it be alright if you went on without me? I need to talk to him.”

 

Hojo looked slightly hurt at being put aside, but he quickly covered his disappointment by giving her a smile. “Sure, I'll call you later about coming to the lab, Higurashi.”

 

“Okay,” she replied, smiling as he walked back to the path, shrugging his shoulders and putting his hands into his pockets. When she turned around, she found Inuyasha smirking.

 

“And just what is so funny?” she asked.

 

“I was just wondering how long it would take you to get rid of that wimp,” he replied with an arrogant glint in his eye. Kagome rolled her eyes.

 

“Hojo's not a wimp, he's, um, just,” she found herself unable to find the right word to describe him. In all honesty, Inuyasha had hit the nail square on the head with that one, and he knew it.

 

“You see, I'm right,” he reiterated, and Kagome let her shoulders sag in defeat.

 

“So what if he is a little wimpy,” she replied, “He works with sharks for a living, so he must have some amount of courage.”

 

“Keh, that doesn't mean he has a backbone.”

 

“What, like you?” she retorted, and he looked at her strangely.

 

“Mabye. I mean, someone with no backbone has no opinions, and when they do, they don't stick to them.”

 

“Oh, you mean I might actually be able to talk to him without having an argument?” Kagome teased, and watched as his face fell. She touched his arm, and felt her fingers tingle at the touch. “I'm just kidding. I like a good debate once in a while.”

 

He smiled and looked back at the path. “So, can I walk you home since your other escort has been dismissed?”

 

“My escort? What do I look like, helpless?” Inuyasha chuckled, thinking it was impossible for Kagome Higurashi to ever seem helpless.

 

“You? Never, I'm just trying to be nice.” Kagome smiled, feeling her heart warm at the comment.

 

“Well in that case, I would be glad to have your company.”

 

They made their way back to the path, side by side, and began walking together in companionable silence, very slowly since Inuyasha still couldn't move very fast.

 

“You seem to be walking a lot better now,” Kagome commented, and Inuyasha shrugged.

 

“I guess.”

 

“You don't believe me?”

 

“It's not that, it's just that I thought once I started walking, well,” He turned slightly pink, “I wouldn't have to use these for very long.”

 

Understanding what he meant, Kagome nodded. “The bones in your legs were shattered, Inuyasha, so they were kept immobile for over three months. The muscles are weak; weaker then you could ever imagine, and your body has grown accustomed to not using them. You're having to retrain your entire body to function normally again.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, but then stopped suddenly. “Who told you that I shattered both of my legs?”

 

Kagome realized her mistake, and blushed. Would he be upset that Kikyou had told her about the extent of his injuries after the accident? “Um, Kikyou did when I was over at your house last week.”

 

“Why did she tell you?”

 

“I asked her.”

 

He frowned and looked away, to which Kagome furrowed her brow in puzzlement. It wasn't like it was that big of a deal, so why did he seem so upset about it?

 

“Inuyasha?” she touched his arm again. “Did I do something wrong?”

 

“Why didn't you ask me to tell you about it?”

 

“What?” He looked at her, and she saw a slight amount of pain in his eyes.

 

“Why didn't you ask me to tell you about my injuries? Why did you ask Kikyou instead?”

 

It was Kagome's turn to look away, feeling slightly uncomfortable. “I guess I didn't want to force you to talk about it. You seem so sad whenever anyone mentions the accident, and I just didn't want you to have to explain yourself.”

 

“But you did want to ask me?”

 

Kagome recalled that night on the balcony, as she had done already at least a thousand times, and nodded her head. “Yes.”

 

He smiled suddenly and, leaning against one of his crutches, took his other hand and touched her cheek tenderly. She felt like her skin was on fire, and was quickly ensnared by his gaze, his beautiful amber gaze.

 

“Just ask me next time,” he whispered. “Because maybe I want to share things with you.”

 

“You do?” Kagome could barely recognize her voice, as it was shaky with emotions she couldn't even begin to understand.

 

“Yeah stupid, I do.” She smiled at the way he called her stupid, like it was a good thing, and he returned the gesture.

 

A thought suddenly occurred to her, and Kagome pulled back from his touch and glanced at a bench alongside the path. “Would you like to sit down and talk?” she asked.

 

He seemed surprised by the question initially, but then smiled and nodded, allowing her to lead him over to the bench. After they sat down she felt him looking at her again, and tried not to smile at the attention which her heart, at that moment, was desperate for.

 

“So what do you want to talk about?” he finally asked, and she looked over at him with a smile.

 

“I don't know, we never get to just talk,” she shrugged and then giggled. “Ask me something.”

 

“What?”

 

“Ask me something, anything you want. And then I'll ask you a question.”

 

He smiled, remembering the game from before. How long had it been since that Sunday? Two months? “Okay, tell me why you were at the university.”

 

“Because I was signing up for classes that I will start in a month for the spring term.”

 

His eyes lit up. “You're going to Tokyo Medical School starting next month? That's great, I'm starting back up again then too.”

 

“Maybe we'll see each other,” she commented.

 

“Yeah, maybe.” He left the comment hanging, and there was a brief silence before he looked at her and grinned. “Your turn.”

 

“Okay,” Kagome bit her lip, thinking of something. “What was it like, being in that car accident?”

 

“Sheesh, you don't beat around the bush, do you?”

 

“You told me you wanted to tell me stuff.”

 

“Touché,” he chuckled before looking away, through that window that Kikyou had used as well. Kagome decided you couldn't use that window unless it was to remember something important in your life.

 

“It was like seeing through fog,” he finally stated, and Kagome gave him a curious look. “I remember the lights heading toward me, and I remember the car spinning out of control, and the way my head was snapped back and how the nose of the car was pushed back so much that it crushed my legs and the steering wheel rammed into my stomach. But I don't remember feeling any pain. It was like I was watching myself get hurt, and not actually experiencing it.”

 

Kagome nodded, both of them staring straight ahead, not needing to look at one another to have a connection. “Does that answer your question?”

 

“Yes.” Kagome found herself smiling despite the rather serious topic. “Your turn again.”

 

“Well, since we're on to serious issues, tell me why you were at my house a week ago.”

 

Kagome felt her body go tense immediately. She had been afraid of a question like that. How was she supposed to answer? She wouldn't lie.

 

“Kikyou needed someone to talk to.”

 

“And you just happened to be in the neighborhood?”

 

“No, she called me.” Kagome knew he was asking more then one question, but didn't care. She was more interested in saying the right thing in response.

 

“Okay, your turn.”

 

“What?” Kagome had honestly expected him to push the subject, but found him sitting there smiling at her instead. It broke her heart as she realized he trusted her enough to tell him if something was seriously wrong.

 

“Ask a question.”

 

“Um, what kind of doctor do you want to be?”

 

“Orthopedist.”

 

“Really? Maybe we could work together.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

They smiled, and the tension faded from the air once more. It was certainly, Kagome decided, the most interesting conversation she had ever had with someone.

 

“Is it my turn?” she nodded, and he seemed somewhat nervous before replying. “Do you like Hojo?”

 

“Hojo? No, at least, not any more then I would any other friend.” She stopped suddenly when she realized exactly what he had just asked her. Why did he care so much?

 

Inuyasha had a relieved expression on his face, and let out a long sigh. He had been afraid to ask, but for some reason something had compelled him to find out exactly what Kagome felt for that wimpy man.

 

“What's it like to love Kikyou?” Kagome could have smacked herself for asking such a question, but couldn't take it back once the words had been spoken.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean,” Kagome stopped, trying to figure out exactly what she meant, “What's it like to come home to the same person every night, knowing you love them?”

 

“I don't know, nice I guess, why do you ask?” Inuyasha gave her a long look, wondering what had prompted her to ask such a question, but also wondering why he could no longer say with absolute certainty what it felt like to be in love with Kikyou.

 

“Because I've never been in love like that,” Kagome replied bashfully, making Inuyasha think she looked rather adorable. “Frankly, I don't think I've ever really been in love before-” She stopped, shutting her mouth so fast that Inuyasha realized she was about to say something she didn't want anyone to know.

 

“Before what?” His heart had started to beat much faster, and he found himself desperate to know what she was going to say. “Tell me, Kagome.”

 

“No,” she replied quickly, looking away. Inuyasha reached over and turned her face so that her eyes met his, and was shocked to see them welling up with tears. But more then that, he saw the answer to his question, the rest of her unfinished statement.

 

“Kagome,” he whispered, knowing his eyes mirrored her own emotion.

 

“Don't,” she said suddenly, turning away again. “Don't do that. I have no right to feel this way, and you're not making things very easy for me.”

 

He felt his heart ache as though it were an open wound at what she said. She didn't deserve any of this. She was young and beautiful and innocent of pain and suffering, and he wanted her to stay that way.

 

But he couldn't stop himself from whispering her name again, any more then she could stop her head from turning reluctantly to meet his gaze once more. They were trapped, both of them, in a situation they had never planned, and neither knew what to do.

 

She was innocent of everything about love, and he was married. She was bright and cheerful, while he carried the weight of pain on his chest. But for some reason those differences seemed to cancel each other out, because they felt so comfortable in each other's presence, she soothing his broken heart, and he giving her heart inspiration.

 

“Inuyasha,” she whispered his name as though it were the most beautiful sound in the world. He moved closer, his hand once more on her face, and this time she didn't pull away despite the tears in her eyes.

 

When his lips brushed against hers, she felt her heart break and soar at the same time, for while it was her first kiss, and one she had wanted ever since she first saw him, she had also just betrayed her cousin in the worst way. But she didn't pull away, despite the guilt gnawing away at her conscience, quivering under his fingers as they brushed away the tears on her cheeks.

 

He pulled back a few moments later, never having gone any further then a gentle caress, and Kagome found herself feeling happier then she had ever felt in her life. She was unable to stop the smile from creeping onto her face, and he smiled back, suddenly seeming shy, as though he weren't married and having done that a million times before with another woman.

 

Inuyasha had never felt something like that before. With Kikyou, there had always been passion, so much so that even in high school they had sometimes found it difficult to keep their hands off each other.

 

But with Kagome, he hadn't wanted it to be like that. He had just wanted to be gentle and careful, as though she was a glass doll that would break if he were too rough. And strangely enough, all the passion he had ever shared with his wife had not wrought half the emotions now swirling around in his chest as Kagome, sweet, beautiful, innocent Kagome, sat across from him with a blissful smile on her face.

 

The sound of laughter broke the moment, and both turned to see a couple walking along the path in their direction, their heads bent in intimacy as they talked about something the woman obviously found funny. Something about her laugh was familiar.

 

Suddenly Kagome went rigid, and Inuyasha, not understanding, looked closer at the couple before he too felt his muscles tense in shock. “Kikyou, what's going on?”

 

The woman stopped moving, her figure going rigid at once as she realized who was in the vicinity. Kagome tried her best not to look accusatory, after all, she had just kissed the woman's husband, but all the same she couldn't help but wonder what her cousin was doing with the man called Naraku looking like they were out on a date.

 

“Inuyasha! What are you doing here?” The question only made her seem guiltier of something, and Inuyasha frowned.

 

“I could ask you the same question,” he replied, though for some strange reason he wasn't angry at the thought that she was cheating on him, but more by the idea that she would go behind his back rather then be honest.

 

“I was just out taking a walk when I, um, met my friend Naraku,” she indicated the tall man with the dark hair and intense eyes. The man nodded in the direction of Kagome and Inuyasha, but neither responded as both were unsure of exactly what they should do.

 

“You remember him from the party, don't you Inuyasha?” Kikyou continued, sounding almost desperate to turn the moment into a light conversation.

 

“Yes,” he replied, his voice cold.

 

Kagome stepped back from the man at her side, trying to distance herself from the situation. She frankly didn't want to see this because, deep down, she realized she wanted Inuyasha to know the truth so that he would leave Kikyou and be with her.

 

A silent tear rolled down her cheek at the cruel thought, and Kagome hastily turned away, wiping her face with the back of her hand, but in the process drawing everyone's attention to her.

 

“Kagome, what is it?” Inuyasha's voice immediately went soft, his eyes filling up once more with the emotions of the previous few moments when they had been alone. But that only made it worse for her and before long Kagome was weeping outright without any control.

 

“I should go,” she stammered, stepping away another few feet, but Inuyasha advanced toward her.

 

“No, please don't go,” he pleaded, but she shook her head, unable to stay any longer. Suddenly the kiss, which had been so wonderful, now seemed like poison in the presence of Kikyou. Dear God, what had she done?

 

“I have to,” she whispered in reply, and looked at Kikyou and the man she knew as her cousin's beau, “Please excuse me.”

 

But Inuyasha wouldn't let her go, putting a hand on her arm to stop her movement. “Please Kagome,” he whispered, and she found herself nodding despite herself, unable to ignore his amber eyes.

 

Satisfied that she wouldn't run off, Inuyasha returned his attention to the couple before him, his look hardening once more. “Now, can you please tell me the meaning of this?”

 

“I told you,” Kikyou replied, “We met by chance, and decided to take a walk. Naraku works at the firm where I have my apprenticeship, so we see each other often.”

 

Lies.

 

Kagome couldn't believe the lies pouring forth from her cousin's lips. It sickened her, and she nearly wanted to vomit because she was in the middle of it all. She didn't want this. She just wanted to go back to being normal again, without a care in the world, or a man in her heart.

 

“Tell him the truth Kikyou,” she found herself saying before she could stop herself, and all eyes turned to her.

 

“Kagome?” Inuyasha had a questioning look in his eyes, a look that showed his innocence and inability to comprehend the concept that his wife might be falling in love with another man. It broke her heart.

 

He turned back to face Kikyou. “What truth?”

 

Kikyou became very fidgety, playing with her fingers, and then twisting the fabric of her knee length, sleeveless blue dress. “It's nothing, Inuyasha, she's just seeing things.”

 

“No I'm not,” Kagome replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

 

Why was she doing this? Why was she betraying her cousin's trust and, in the process, telling Inuyasha what would probably be the most painful truth of his life? And more importantly, why was she risking the possibility that she could lose him when he found out she had kept such a secret from him in the first place?

 

Inuyasha placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, lifting her chin up so that he was looking directly at her tear-stained face. He smiled gently, and Kagome felt her heart rip even more. “What is it Kagome? Tell me, I promise I won't be mad at you.”

 

Gods above, she thought, he had the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. And she desperately wanted to tell him the truth, to tell him what his wife had told her, so that he would be angry with Kikyou, and leave her. But then, her conscience said, what kind of person would I be?

 

Tears began to flow freely down her face again, and Kagome found herself glancing over at Kikyou, whose face was tense with the anticipation that her husband would know the truth: that she was falling in love with another man and out of love with him.

 

But Kagome couldn't do it. She couldn't betray her cousin, the woman who had been like her twin sister since they were very young. They hadn't been close lately, but their bond was still there, Kikyou had proven that when she had called Kagome over to her home to talk.

 

Realizing she had a decision to make, Kagome sucked in a deep breath and looked back at Inuyasha. As she met his amber gaze, so full of warmth and kindness, she realized something: she loved him, completely and without doubt. But she also loved Kikyou, and in this case, blood ran thicker then water. She had made her decision.

 

“It's not my place to say anything in this case,” she whispered, holding back the next onslaught of tears.

 

“What?” Inuyasha raised an eyebrow while she heard Kikyou exhale a sigh of relief.

 

“I'm sorry Inuyasha,” Kagome felt her voice crack, “But I can't tell you. It must be her, your wife, the woman you,” she swallowed at the painful words, “The woman you love.”

 

“Kagome,” he seemed to want to say more as he touched her face, but stopped, and she took it as a sign to pull away. Glancing one more time at Kikyou, she let the tears fall again.

 

“I'll see you at the clinic, Inuyasha,” she stated in a very flat voice, one that cut his heart, her tears adding salt to the wound. She obviously knew something that was tearing her apart, and surprisingly, rather then being angry with her for keeping secrets, all Inuyasha wanted to do was hold her in his arms and comfort her and tell her everything would be alright.

 

But he couldn't do that now, not with his wife standing before him, very close to a man who was, by all intensive purposes, a stranger. And so he was forced to watch Kagome, his Kagome, for he could not deny how he felt now, walk away from him with her head hung low and her shoulders slumped in defeat.