InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Therapy ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 16 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: dolphingirl0113 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.25.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.25.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 1.1K | Status: Completed
Title: Soul Therapy
Author: dolphingirl0113
Chapter Sixteen
Rating: PG-13 (for language and implied sexual situations)
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.
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“Push! Inuyasha, I know you can do better then that.”
“I'm trying, wench! Stop heckling me and maybe I'll get something done!”
Kagome sighed. “Call me wench again, and I swear I'll drop you right on your sorry little, though extremely cute, butt.”
“Keh,” Inuyasha replied, grinding his teeth in irritation. Why did it seem like they were fighting more now then they had before?
Since Kagome was taking a break from work, and Inuyasha was living with her, she and her mother had erected a makeshift set of bars out of the dining room and kitchen tables for Inuyasha to practice walking, hence their current situation.
Her arms under his armpits, Kagome helped support him as he moved one foot forward, and then the other. She knew he was extremely frustrated, but there was no easy way to recover from a problem like his. Learning to walk again was no simple business.
Reaching the end of the table, Inuyasha decided he'd had enough. “I'm done,” he announced, “That's it.”
“Says who?”
“Says me, you know, the patient? The one working my ass off?”
Kagome grinned at his attempt to sound intimidating and angry. “Well, I am your physical therapist, and I say you're not done yet.”
“How many times do you want me to walk up and down this stupid thing?”
“As many times as it takes,” even patient as she was, Kagome felt her temper slipping. Removing her arms, she made sure he was supporting himself with his upper body against the tables before stepping away slightly. “Now start moving.”
Inuyasha turned his head to give her a quizzical stare. “But you're not holding me.”
“I know, I want you to do it without me this time.”
For the first time since she'd met him, Kagome saw a look of fear cross his face as he vehemently shook his head. “No, I'm not ready for that yet.”
“And since when did you become a certified doctor?”
“I'm in medical school, thank you very much, and that has nothing to do with it. I just know I'm not ready yet.”
Kagome sighed and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a more intimate embrace, leaning her head against his back. He stiffened for an instant, not expecting the touch, but then melted against her body.
“I know it's hard,” she said gently, “But you have to try Inuyasha, or else you'll be bound by fear the rest of your life.”
“I'm not afraid,” he replied, almost pleading. “I just don't want to do that yet.”
“When do you suggest is a better time?”
“I don't know-”
“Inuyasha, don't worry, I won't let you fall.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the back of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
His body reacted to her, and in the process he loosened his grip on the tables and before he knew what was happening, both of them were falling backward.
“Oof!” Kagome landed on her back with a thud, Inuyasha's larger frame crushing her against the ground. His silver hair was blocking the light, and she couldn't see a thing.
“Kagome, are you alright?”
“Mfne,” she replied, and he quickly realized that he was practically killing her with his body weight.
“Sorry,” he exclaimed instantly, trying his best to roll over. He managed to, sort of, so that instead of his back against her face, now Kagome was facing his chest.
“Well that's a little better,” she muttered against his chest, her breath warming his skin. He shivered slightly, and Kagome froze, suddenly very aware of the position they were in, and also very aware of the fact that he was currently wearing a very thin shirt and athletic shorts.
Neither of them moved, partly afraid of the uncomfortable silence that would follow, but also partly because of the fact that both of them secretly liked the position they were in at the moment.
Tilting her head up slightly so that she was facing him, Kagome caught Inuyasha's eyes in a heated gaze, one that spoke volumes about what was in her heart, and he responded by lowering his head and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Kagome felt her body unconsciously push upward against his frame, causing him to gasp slightly.
How long had it been, he thought to himself, since he had held a woman like this? Kikyou had practically avoided this kind of contact since the accident, and now he knew that was partly because she was attracted to another man.
Kagome was drowning, never having experienced such heated emotions before in her life, and never having been kissed so passionately. I guess this is what they mean by temptation and how hard it is to say no, she thought ruefully in the back of her mind.
But she was ready for whatever happened. After all, she wasn't still a naïve teenager in high school; she was a college graduate with a career. And, she added silently as Inuyasha licked her lips with his tongue, she was a woman.
“Kagome,” he whispered, and she responded by holding him tighter.
“Please don't stop,” she replied quickly, and she felt his body go slack as he gave in.
“Kagome! We're home!”
The couple froze, Inuyasha's lips on hers, but no longer doing anything, as Kagome's grandfather bounced into the kitchen clutching several grocery bags. His eyes practically popped out of their sockets when he saw the position his granddaughter was currently in on the floor.
Souta, who was home for spring break from Tokyo University, wasn't far behind, but when he saw the couple, still lip-locked out of shock at being caught, had a different, more verbal reaction.
“Eew! I am never eating in this kitchen again!”
But the final blow that drove them apart was when Mrs. Higurashi appeared, her smile faltering slightly as her cheeks turned bright red.
“Kagome,” she tried to sound normal, “Oh, I'm sorry. We can, um, do the groceries later, can't we dad?”
“Uh,” was all her grandfather could manage, staring at the couple. Mrs. Higurashi seemed to finally recover her wits and grabbed the older man's arm, dragging him into the hallway and up the stairs.
“Let's go dad,” Kagome heard her mutter before the kitchen was empty again, but, naturally, the moment was ruined.
It was a rather comical situation, now that she thought about it, with Inuyasha's eyes wide open in shocked embarrassment, his lips still on hers as she stared back at him. She did the only thing a girl like her could do in such a crisis: she laughed until her sides ached.
“I don't see what's so funny,” Inuyasha muttered, his cheeks as red as the sky at sunset, his arms crossed, though he was still on top of her since he couldn't pull himself up easily with nothing to grab onto for support.
“Sorry,” Kagome replied, sitting up and pushing him up so that he was slightly supported on his knees, though he leaned against her. “But I think I've officially come to a decision.”
“And what's that?”
Kagome stood up and pulled him to his feet, returning him his crutches, her face still beaming with her characteristic smile. “I've officially decided that our professional relationship is going to be separate from our personal association.”
“Keh, you sound like you're reading a contract.”
Kagome chuckled. “Well, it's the best I can do, considering my mom just walked in on me practically having sex with a guy on her kitchen floor.”
What amazed Inuyasha was that Kagome, now that she was over her initial shock, didn't seem in the least bit bothered. It caused his own anxiety to go down, slightly.
“And that doesn't bother you?” he found himself asking.
“No, because the way I see it there is nothing for me to be embarrassed about.” She walked up and kissed his lips lightly, in a simple, affectionate way that made his head spin with delight. “I love you, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. In fact, I should be thanking my family.”
“Why's that?”
“Because they saved me the trouble of an uncomfortable discussion about love and relationships. Seeing it for themselves leaves no room for question.”
That comment completely broke any residual tension, and Inuyasha threw his head back and laughed with abandon as he extended his arms, as best as anyone can when using crutches, in invitation to Kagome. She came forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against his chest.
“I knew there was a reason I loved you,” he muttered into her hair, her scent surrounding him. “And I think I owe them a thank you too.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't think I would want our first time to be on your mother's kitchen floor, and thanks to them, it wasn't.”
A glint of amusement touched her eyes as she replied. “Oh I don't know, it would make a great memory to tell the grandchildren some day.”
That brought another laugh and a warm feeling to his chest, and Inuyasha kissed the woman in his arms once more to make sure she fully understood how much he loved her. He had never felt so happy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The incident in the kitchen was quickly forgotten, though the rest of the family was a little quieter at the dinner table that evening, Mrs. Higurashi out of politeness, Kagome's grandfather probably out of shock, and Souta out of disgust since, even at the age of nineteen, he was still wavering between girls either being beautiful or disgusting.
But Kagome had decided that the incident had been a blessing, because things had never felt so relaxed between her and the man currently sitting beside her, laughing at a joke her grandfather had just told. It was like they had crossed the uncomfortable phase in their relationship, and were progressing to a point that Kagome was pleased with.
She no longer had to wonder if he would mind her putting her head on his shoulder, or taking his hand under the table. She just did it, and he acted like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But always, in the back of her mind putting a damper on her joy was the thought of Kikyou and the fact that the man she loved was still legally married to her stoic cousin.
What if Kikyou decided, after truly living without Inuyasha for a week, that she wanted him back, and that it was a simple passing fancy between her and Naraku? What if she begged him, and Inuyasha relented, realizing that in truth he still loved her back?
Kagome sighed, shaking her head to rid herself of such thoughts. She didn't need that kind of grief. All she wanted was to enjoy the peace she had found at last, even though it had come in a form she would never have expected before she met Inuyasha.
Perhaps the accident happened for a reason, she mused with a smile, because otherwise I wouldn't have met him.
In her line of work, Kagome had come to believe that accidents weren't necessarily a bad thing, because her clients always ended up saying, when it was all over, that they learned things about themselves they never understood before.
One young woman in particular had been a track star all her life, but lost her leg in a skiing accident. In the beginning, she had been devastated, but since she no longer had track to occupy her days, she had discovered she had the voice of an angel, and had just recently sent Kagome a copy of her first album, set to be released in a few months. She had dedicated the album to Kagome, thanking the woman for having faith in her, and that reminded Kagome why she had taken on the job in the first place: to give people second chances at life.
“Earth to Kagome, what are you thinking about?” Inuyasha was staring at her purposefully, his amber eyes sparkling with amusement, and Kagome smiled at him lovingly.
“I'll bet she was thinking about what Inuyasha looks like with his shirt off,” Souta offered, and Kagome turned to glare at her younger brother.
“It's so nice to have you home Souta,” she replied sweetly, “And how is Sano? Doing well, I hope?”
At the mention of his current girlfriend, Souta blushed and looked away. He really had turned into a handsome man, his whole persona leaning more towards punk, but not so much that he was unapproachable.
He wore baggy jeans and large shoes, the kind where the laces weren't tied, and a black shirt that said, in white letters, `Drumming Is My Soul'. His hair was long and wavy, at certain angles covering his eyes in a mysterious way, black sideburns falling far past his ears, his eyes dark like his sister's, full of kindness. Kagome hadn't seen him in a while, and she had to admit, he had grown into a downright sexy man.
“Sano's just fine, thanks for asking,” he replied, trying to brush the comment away and change the subject. Taking a hint, Kagome decided not to push him, and forked another helping of pasta into her mouth before speaking again.
“Actually, I was just thinking about the fact that my vacation is almost over, and I'm going to have a nightmare waiting for me when I get back to the clinic. Sango, Miroku, and Kouga did their best to handle my cases, but they can't do it all alone, and they had to cancel several appointments, so I'll have overly full schedules for the next few weeks to get back on track.”
“Don't hit the ground running too hard,” Inuyasha warned, though his voice was tender, “The last thing you need is to be so overwhelmed that you're demanding another vacation in a month.”
“I won't,” Kagome shook her head. “I love my job, and this is the first vacation I've taken since I started working for your brother.”
“Keh, in two years you never managed to take some time for yourself?”
Kagome blushed. “So maybe I need to get a life. Besides, I get time off over Christmas and New Years, and any other major holidays where the clinic closes down. So it's not like I never get a break.”
She could tell Inuyasha wanted to tease her some more, but ended up deciding not to. She smiled, knowing that meant it was probably something he didn't feel comfortable saying it in front of her mother. Licking her lips, she fell into silence, letting her imagination run wild for a few moments.
Once they were finished with dinner, Inuyasha, Souta, and their grandfather all retired to the living room to watch television, Souta seeming to warm even more to the man with silver hair and amber eyes, despite what he had seen earlier that day. That made Kagome happy.
“Kagome,” her mother began, picking up the dishes and walking over to the sink, “Would you help me please?”
“Sure,” Kagome picked up a dish towel in order to dry the dishes as her mother handed them to her, and for a while they lapsed into silence, focused on their task. But Kagome sensed her mother wanted to say something, and finally sighed. “What is it, mama?”
Mrs. Higurashi blushed. “Well, it's just that, um, I want to make sure you know exactly what you're getting yourself into.”
“Please mom, I don't need the sex lecture, okay? I think I know by now where babies and STD's come from.”
“I know, sweetheart, and it isn't that. I'm just worried that in the end you're the one who will wind up hurt.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's just that, well, Inuyasha is still married to Kikyou, and that fact can do weird things to people. Here, he's been able to forget about her for a while, as have you, but what about when he goes back and sees her again? How do you know he'll still love you?”
Kagome felt her temper flare, covering for the fact that, deep down, she knew her mother was voicing the fears that had been plaguing her for the past few days. “Where is all this coming from, mama? I thought you liked Inuyasha.”
Mrs. Higurashi sighed, seeming to search for the right words before continuing. “I do. I think he is a wonderful man, extremely handsome, and headed for great things once he's graduated from medical school. I just think that neither of you are grasping the seriousness of the situation.”
“I get it, okay?” Kagome rubbed the plate in her hands harder then was necessary as she spoke. “He's still married to her, and in order for us to be together, he has to get a divorce.”
“But it's not that simple, Kagome. Divorce is a big deal, even if the couple mutually decides that it needs to happen. Both Kikyou and Inuyasha will go through some aspect of the grief process, because they are losing something that they once had.”
“And what would you know about it? You and dad never got divorced.”
“No, but I did break up with many boyfriends before I married your father, and I know that if I hurt that much then, that it can only be ten times worse for a couple that is getting divorced.”
“What's the big deal?” Kagome burst out, then lowered her voice, though it was still laced with venom. Why couldn't her mother just be happy for her? “They don't love each other any more. They know it.”
“That may be true, but Kagome, it's the whole idea that is hard. Do you understand what I mean by that?”
Kagome shook her head, forced to admit she didn't. Mrs. Higurashi sighed again and removed her hands from the sink, wiping her hands on a nearby towel.
“When a couple gets married, they form so many dreams together. Dreams of children, of building a home together, of loving each other forever. And when you get a divorce, you have to say goodbye to all those dreams as well. It's not easy.”
It made sense, and Kagome felt her anger dissipating, replaced by a sense of despair. Was her mother right? What if she and Inuyasha couldn't stay together, because the divorce would be too hard for him? Or worse, what if he and Kikyou decided to stay together?
Seeing her daughter's suddenly slumped shoulders, Mrs. Higurashi took Kagome in her arms. “Oh sweetheart, I don't say this to shatter your hopes. I just want you to understand the gravity of the situation you've chosen to involve yourself in.”
“But I didn't choose to love him, mama,” Kagome whispered, and she felt her mother nod.
“I know, we don't choose who we love, our hearts do. And sometimes, it doesn't make any sense logically. I never in a million years would have thought I would marry your father. We were so different in so many ways, and all we ever seemed to do was fight.”
Kagome smiled, realizing that sounded an awful lot like her and Inuyasha. And her mother and father had married in the end. So perhaps there was hope after all.
The phone rang, breaking the moment and startling the two women. But Kagome was smiling again, because that was her personality. “I'll get it.”
Walking over, she picked up the phone as she brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “Hello?”
“Kagome?” She felt her blood go cold.
“Kikyou, what's up?”
Inuyasha, hearing his wife's name, turned from where he was sitting on the couch, and Kagome saw him give her a meaningful stare. She sighed and turned away, unable to look at him while talking to his wife. It just made her feel uncomfortable.
“Um, I was wondering if you knew where Inuyasha was.”
“Inuyasha?” Kagome hesitated only a moment. “Yeah, he's right here, just a second.”
She held out the phone, indicating for him to come get it, and he complied, though Kagome didn't miss the scowl now in place on his face. Not dreaming it was directed at her, she just assumed he was frustrated with his wife for interrupting his time away.
“Hello? Yeah, hi Kikyou. I thought we decided we weren't going to talk to each other until the week was over.” He paused, leaning slightly against the wall despite his crutches. “That is none of your business; I can do what I want.”
Kagome blushed, having a feeling they were talking about the fact that he was at the shrine. She walked away, moving back to help her mother with the dishes.
“Well you certainly seem to have a different set of rules when it comes to Naraku,” Inuyasha snapped suddenly, and Kagome looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, having to lean down so that his crutch wouldn't fall over. “I know, it's not exactly the way I saw things working out either, but we have to face facts, and the fact is that things have changed between us. I mean, can you honestly say that you missed me that much?”
There was a long pause, and Kagome scrubbed at the glass in her hands furiously, making sure there was not one ounce of moisture left. Finally, he spoke again.
“Look, can we talk about this in person? I really think doing something like this over the phone isn't exactly a good thing. Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then, bye Kikyou.”
He hung up the phone, and Kagome looked at him with a nervous smile, unsure of what to say. But she couldn't help the relief in her gut, knowing nothing in the conversation had sounded intimate or loving.
“Inuyasha-”
“Why did you do that?” his voice was sharp, and Kagome felt what she had intended to say vanish. Mrs. Higurashi looked up from where she was back to washing dishes, realized this was private, and left silently.
“Do what?”
“Tell her I was here?”
Kagome sputtered, her gut clenching once more. So much for feeling relieved. “I-I guess I didn't think about it. I'm not exactly the kind of person who can lie naturally, you know.”
“Did it occur to you that I didn't want her to know I was here?”
Kagome felt her heart clench. “Why? I thought you didn't love her any more.”
“That's not the point!” He was obviously fast losing his temper. “We're not divorced yet, and I guess I didn't want to seem like I was having an affair before the papers are even signed.”
At that Kagome felt her temper burst into full bloom. The fact that he was married certainly hadn't stopped him from telling her he loved her, or from kissing her, or nearly having sex with her earlier that day.
“Excuse me, Inuyasha, if I misunderstood,” her voice was cold, and he suddenly seemed to realize what he had said, because the anger left his eyes. “But I assumed that when a man tells me he loves me that means he doesn't care who all knows. And I also assumed that, at this point, we are practically having an affair, in a sense, but that it didn't matter, because you didn't love her. But now I'm thinking I was obviously once again the fool!”
She threw the glass she had been holding throughout his phone conversation down on the ground, the sound of shattering glass reverberating throughout the house, before storming out of the kitchen fast enough that he, with his crutches, couldn't follow her.
“What did you say to her?” Souta demanded, standing in the opposite doorway leading into the living room. His eyes were penetrating, full of protection for his older sister, and Inuyasha felt suddenly uncomfortable.
“I didn't-” but he stopped himself short, knowing it was all his fault. Kagome was right. The way he had been treating her, he shouldn't have a problem with his wife knowing he loved another woman. It wasn't fair to Kagome, and the thought of hurting her was worse then the thought of telling Kikyou the truth. “I said something stupid.”
“Damn straight,” Souta replied, obviously agreeing whole-heartedly. “So don't just stand there, go apologize.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, go and apologize; it's the least she deserves after what you just said.”
“You heard?”
“Of course I heard, you two were yelling, and this house isn't that big.”
Inuyasha lowered his head dejectedly, knowing he had made a total ass out of himself, and turned to follow in the direction that Kagome went.
He found her outside by the Goshinboku, her head bowed in silent prayer, the wind rustling her hair gently. She looked beautiful in the light of the moon and the stars, as though she had a glow of the otherworld.
“Kagome, I,” he didn't know what to say, but she turned to look at him, her eyes softer now, not as full of anger as they were of pain. He felt his heart clench. “Kagome, I'm sorry. I know that's not good enough, but it's the best I can do. I've never been good at this sort of thing.”
“Inuyasha,” she gave him a sad smile, not moving toward him like he had expected her to. “I love you so much. Do you know that?”
Hearing those words was still like receiving the best present anyone could ever give, and he nodded his head. “Yes, and I love you. Never doubt that.”
Kagome looked back up at Goshinboku. “This tree always makes me feel so calm,” she stated, and he remained silent, unsure if she wanted him to say anything. “Whenever I'm upset, I come here. It's the place where I first realized that I loved you, and that I didn't care that you were married.”
She met his gaze, and his breath caught. “Kagome, please don't be angry with me. I don't know what to do about this whole thing.”
“What do you know then?”
“That I want to be with you,” he replied honestly, and she smiled, this time more like her old self.
“And I want to be with you.” Still, she made no move to come to him, and he waited. “But I won't be someone you have off to the side, besides having a wife.”
“I wouldn't ask that of you, Kagome. You deserve more then that.”
“That means,” She continued, “That while I will support you in every way to help you with this ordeal, I think we should cool off a little with our relationship for a while.”
“Kagome,” He felt himself panic, “I don't want to lose you.”
“I'm not leaving you, Inuyasha, I just think that something like what happened today in the kitchen shouldn't happen again, at least not until you and Kikyou are divorced. That just adds extra drama that we don't need right now.”
Inuyasha felt himself relax, and he gave her a smile, which she returned before rising to her feet and embracing him in a way that had become unique to her. It was gentle, and yet firm, telling him that she loved him, but not in a possessive or overly-passionate way.
“I agree,” he finally said, and she pulled away to look at him with a smile. He grinned back, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “But does that mean I can't kiss you?”
She seemed to think for an instant. “No, I think kissing is still allowed, after all, I have to release all my pent up frustration somehow, and my fists can't handle a punching bag.”
He laughed before sealing the statement with a heady kiss, and there, under the stars and the protective shadow of the ancient Goshinboku tree, they reached an understanding.
“I'm trying, wench! Stop heckling me and maybe I'll get something done!”
Kagome sighed. “Call me wench again, and I swear I'll drop you right on your sorry little, though extremely cute, butt.”
“Keh,” Inuyasha replied, grinding his teeth in irritation. Why did it seem like they were fighting more now then they had before?
Since Kagome was taking a break from work, and Inuyasha was living with her, she and her mother had erected a makeshift set of bars out of the dining room and kitchen tables for Inuyasha to practice walking, hence their current situation.
Her arms under his armpits, Kagome helped support him as he moved one foot forward, and then the other. She knew he was extremely frustrated, but there was no easy way to recover from a problem like his. Learning to walk again was no simple business.
Reaching the end of the table, Inuyasha decided he'd had enough. “I'm done,” he announced, “That's it.”
“Says who?”
“Says me, you know, the patient? The one working my ass off?”
Kagome grinned at his attempt to sound intimidating and angry. “Well, I am your physical therapist, and I say you're not done yet.”
“How many times do you want me to walk up and down this stupid thing?”
“As many times as it takes,” even patient as she was, Kagome felt her temper slipping. Removing her arms, she made sure he was supporting himself with his upper body against the tables before stepping away slightly. “Now start moving.”
Inuyasha turned his head to give her a quizzical stare. “But you're not holding me.”
“I know, I want you to do it without me this time.”
For the first time since she'd met him, Kagome saw a look of fear cross his face as he vehemently shook his head. “No, I'm not ready for that yet.”
“And since when did you become a certified doctor?”
“I'm in medical school, thank you very much, and that has nothing to do with it. I just know I'm not ready yet.”
Kagome sighed and walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist in a more intimate embrace, leaning her head against his back. He stiffened for an instant, not expecting the touch, but then melted against her body.
“I know it's hard,” she said gently, “But you have to try Inuyasha, or else you'll be bound by fear the rest of your life.”
“I'm not afraid,” he replied, almost pleading. “I just don't want to do that yet.”
“When do you suggest is a better time?”
“I don't know-”
“Inuyasha, don't worry, I won't let you fall.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the back of his neck, sending a shiver down his spine.
His body reacted to her, and in the process he loosened his grip on the tables and before he knew what was happening, both of them were falling backward.
“Oof!” Kagome landed on her back with a thud, Inuyasha's larger frame crushing her against the ground. His silver hair was blocking the light, and she couldn't see a thing.
“Kagome, are you alright?”
“Mfne,” she replied, and he quickly realized that he was practically killing her with his body weight.
“Sorry,” he exclaimed instantly, trying his best to roll over. He managed to, sort of, so that instead of his back against her face, now Kagome was facing his chest.
“Well that's a little better,” she muttered against his chest, her breath warming his skin. He shivered slightly, and Kagome froze, suddenly very aware of the position they were in, and also very aware of the fact that he was currently wearing a very thin shirt and athletic shorts.
Neither of them moved, partly afraid of the uncomfortable silence that would follow, but also partly because of the fact that both of them secretly liked the position they were in at the moment.
Tilting her head up slightly so that she was facing him, Kagome caught Inuyasha's eyes in a heated gaze, one that spoke volumes about what was in her heart, and he responded by lowering his head and capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Kagome felt her body unconsciously push upward against his frame, causing him to gasp slightly.
How long had it been, he thought to himself, since he had held a woman like this? Kikyou had practically avoided this kind of contact since the accident, and now he knew that was partly because she was attracted to another man.
Kagome was drowning, never having experienced such heated emotions before in her life, and never having been kissed so passionately. I guess this is what they mean by temptation and how hard it is to say no, she thought ruefully in the back of her mind.
But she was ready for whatever happened. After all, she wasn't still a naïve teenager in high school; she was a college graduate with a career. And, she added silently as Inuyasha licked her lips with his tongue, she was a woman.
“Kagome,” he whispered, and she responded by holding him tighter.
“Please don't stop,” she replied quickly, and she felt his body go slack as he gave in.
“Kagome! We're home!”
The couple froze, Inuyasha's lips on hers, but no longer doing anything, as Kagome's grandfather bounced into the kitchen clutching several grocery bags. His eyes practically popped out of their sockets when he saw the position his granddaughter was currently in on the floor.
Souta, who was home for spring break from Tokyo University, wasn't far behind, but when he saw the couple, still lip-locked out of shock at being caught, had a different, more verbal reaction.
“Eew! I am never eating in this kitchen again!”
But the final blow that drove them apart was when Mrs. Higurashi appeared, her smile faltering slightly as her cheeks turned bright red.
“Kagome,” she tried to sound normal, “Oh, I'm sorry. We can, um, do the groceries later, can't we dad?”
“Uh,” was all her grandfather could manage, staring at the couple. Mrs. Higurashi seemed to finally recover her wits and grabbed the older man's arm, dragging him into the hallway and up the stairs.
“Let's go dad,” Kagome heard her mutter before the kitchen was empty again, but, naturally, the moment was ruined.
It was a rather comical situation, now that she thought about it, with Inuyasha's eyes wide open in shocked embarrassment, his lips still on hers as she stared back at him. She did the only thing a girl like her could do in such a crisis: she laughed until her sides ached.
“I don't see what's so funny,” Inuyasha muttered, his cheeks as red as the sky at sunset, his arms crossed, though he was still on top of her since he couldn't pull himself up easily with nothing to grab onto for support.
“Sorry,” Kagome replied, sitting up and pushing him up so that he was slightly supported on his knees, though he leaned against her. “But I think I've officially come to a decision.”
“And what's that?”
Kagome stood up and pulled him to his feet, returning him his crutches, her face still beaming with her characteristic smile. “I've officially decided that our professional relationship is going to be separate from our personal association.”
“Keh, you sound like you're reading a contract.”
Kagome chuckled. “Well, it's the best I can do, considering my mom just walked in on me practically having sex with a guy on her kitchen floor.”
What amazed Inuyasha was that Kagome, now that she was over her initial shock, didn't seem in the least bit bothered. It caused his own anxiety to go down, slightly.
“And that doesn't bother you?” he found himself asking.
“No, because the way I see it there is nothing for me to be embarrassed about.” She walked up and kissed his lips lightly, in a simple, affectionate way that made his head spin with delight. “I love you, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. In fact, I should be thanking my family.”
“Why's that?”
“Because they saved me the trouble of an uncomfortable discussion about love and relationships. Seeing it for themselves leaves no room for question.”
That comment completely broke any residual tension, and Inuyasha threw his head back and laughed with abandon as he extended his arms, as best as anyone can when using crutches, in invitation to Kagome. She came forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning against his chest.
“I knew there was a reason I loved you,” he muttered into her hair, her scent surrounding him. “And I think I owe them a thank you too.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't think I would want our first time to be on your mother's kitchen floor, and thanks to them, it wasn't.”
A glint of amusement touched her eyes as she replied. “Oh I don't know, it would make a great memory to tell the grandchildren some day.”
That brought another laugh and a warm feeling to his chest, and Inuyasha kissed the woman in his arms once more to make sure she fully understood how much he loved her. He had never felt so happy.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The incident in the kitchen was quickly forgotten, though the rest of the family was a little quieter at the dinner table that evening, Mrs. Higurashi out of politeness, Kagome's grandfather probably out of shock, and Souta out of disgust since, even at the age of nineteen, he was still wavering between girls either being beautiful or disgusting.
But Kagome had decided that the incident had been a blessing, because things had never felt so relaxed between her and the man currently sitting beside her, laughing at a joke her grandfather had just told. It was like they had crossed the uncomfortable phase in their relationship, and were progressing to a point that Kagome was pleased with.
She no longer had to wonder if he would mind her putting her head on his shoulder, or taking his hand under the table. She just did it, and he acted like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But always, in the back of her mind putting a damper on her joy was the thought of Kikyou and the fact that the man she loved was still legally married to her stoic cousin.
What if Kikyou decided, after truly living without Inuyasha for a week, that she wanted him back, and that it was a simple passing fancy between her and Naraku? What if she begged him, and Inuyasha relented, realizing that in truth he still loved her back?
Kagome sighed, shaking her head to rid herself of such thoughts. She didn't need that kind of grief. All she wanted was to enjoy the peace she had found at last, even though it had come in a form she would never have expected before she met Inuyasha.
Perhaps the accident happened for a reason, she mused with a smile, because otherwise I wouldn't have met him.
In her line of work, Kagome had come to believe that accidents weren't necessarily a bad thing, because her clients always ended up saying, when it was all over, that they learned things about themselves they never understood before.
One young woman in particular had been a track star all her life, but lost her leg in a skiing accident. In the beginning, she had been devastated, but since she no longer had track to occupy her days, she had discovered she had the voice of an angel, and had just recently sent Kagome a copy of her first album, set to be released in a few months. She had dedicated the album to Kagome, thanking the woman for having faith in her, and that reminded Kagome why she had taken on the job in the first place: to give people second chances at life.
“Earth to Kagome, what are you thinking about?” Inuyasha was staring at her purposefully, his amber eyes sparkling with amusement, and Kagome smiled at him lovingly.
“I'll bet she was thinking about what Inuyasha looks like with his shirt off,” Souta offered, and Kagome turned to glare at her younger brother.
“It's so nice to have you home Souta,” she replied sweetly, “And how is Sano? Doing well, I hope?”
At the mention of his current girlfriend, Souta blushed and looked away. He really had turned into a handsome man, his whole persona leaning more towards punk, but not so much that he was unapproachable.
He wore baggy jeans and large shoes, the kind where the laces weren't tied, and a black shirt that said, in white letters, `Drumming Is My Soul'. His hair was long and wavy, at certain angles covering his eyes in a mysterious way, black sideburns falling far past his ears, his eyes dark like his sister's, full of kindness. Kagome hadn't seen him in a while, and she had to admit, he had grown into a downright sexy man.
“Sano's just fine, thanks for asking,” he replied, trying to brush the comment away and change the subject. Taking a hint, Kagome decided not to push him, and forked another helping of pasta into her mouth before speaking again.
“Actually, I was just thinking about the fact that my vacation is almost over, and I'm going to have a nightmare waiting for me when I get back to the clinic. Sango, Miroku, and Kouga did their best to handle my cases, but they can't do it all alone, and they had to cancel several appointments, so I'll have overly full schedules for the next few weeks to get back on track.”
“Don't hit the ground running too hard,” Inuyasha warned, though his voice was tender, “The last thing you need is to be so overwhelmed that you're demanding another vacation in a month.”
“I won't,” Kagome shook her head. “I love my job, and this is the first vacation I've taken since I started working for your brother.”
“Keh, in two years you never managed to take some time for yourself?”
Kagome blushed. “So maybe I need to get a life. Besides, I get time off over Christmas and New Years, and any other major holidays where the clinic closes down. So it's not like I never get a break.”
She could tell Inuyasha wanted to tease her some more, but ended up deciding not to. She smiled, knowing that meant it was probably something he didn't feel comfortable saying it in front of her mother. Licking her lips, she fell into silence, letting her imagination run wild for a few moments.
Once they were finished with dinner, Inuyasha, Souta, and their grandfather all retired to the living room to watch television, Souta seeming to warm even more to the man with silver hair and amber eyes, despite what he had seen earlier that day. That made Kagome happy.
“Kagome,” her mother began, picking up the dishes and walking over to the sink, “Would you help me please?”
“Sure,” Kagome picked up a dish towel in order to dry the dishes as her mother handed them to her, and for a while they lapsed into silence, focused on their task. But Kagome sensed her mother wanted to say something, and finally sighed. “What is it, mama?”
Mrs. Higurashi blushed. “Well, it's just that, um, I want to make sure you know exactly what you're getting yourself into.”
“Please mom, I don't need the sex lecture, okay? I think I know by now where babies and STD's come from.”
“I know, sweetheart, and it isn't that. I'm just worried that in the end you're the one who will wind up hurt.”
“What do you mean?”
“It's just that, well, Inuyasha is still married to Kikyou, and that fact can do weird things to people. Here, he's been able to forget about her for a while, as have you, but what about when he goes back and sees her again? How do you know he'll still love you?”
Kagome felt her temper flare, covering for the fact that, deep down, she knew her mother was voicing the fears that had been plaguing her for the past few days. “Where is all this coming from, mama? I thought you liked Inuyasha.”
Mrs. Higurashi sighed, seeming to search for the right words before continuing. “I do. I think he is a wonderful man, extremely handsome, and headed for great things once he's graduated from medical school. I just think that neither of you are grasping the seriousness of the situation.”
“I get it, okay?” Kagome rubbed the plate in her hands harder then was necessary as she spoke. “He's still married to her, and in order for us to be together, he has to get a divorce.”
“But it's not that simple, Kagome. Divorce is a big deal, even if the couple mutually decides that it needs to happen. Both Kikyou and Inuyasha will go through some aspect of the grief process, because they are losing something that they once had.”
“And what would you know about it? You and dad never got divorced.”
“No, but I did break up with many boyfriends before I married your father, and I know that if I hurt that much then, that it can only be ten times worse for a couple that is getting divorced.”
“What's the big deal?” Kagome burst out, then lowered her voice, though it was still laced with venom. Why couldn't her mother just be happy for her? “They don't love each other any more. They know it.”
“That may be true, but Kagome, it's the whole idea that is hard. Do you understand what I mean by that?”
Kagome shook her head, forced to admit she didn't. Mrs. Higurashi sighed again and removed her hands from the sink, wiping her hands on a nearby towel.
“When a couple gets married, they form so many dreams together. Dreams of children, of building a home together, of loving each other forever. And when you get a divorce, you have to say goodbye to all those dreams as well. It's not easy.”
It made sense, and Kagome felt her anger dissipating, replaced by a sense of despair. Was her mother right? What if she and Inuyasha couldn't stay together, because the divorce would be too hard for him? Or worse, what if he and Kikyou decided to stay together?
Seeing her daughter's suddenly slumped shoulders, Mrs. Higurashi took Kagome in her arms. “Oh sweetheart, I don't say this to shatter your hopes. I just want you to understand the gravity of the situation you've chosen to involve yourself in.”
“But I didn't choose to love him, mama,” Kagome whispered, and she felt her mother nod.
“I know, we don't choose who we love, our hearts do. And sometimes, it doesn't make any sense logically. I never in a million years would have thought I would marry your father. We were so different in so many ways, and all we ever seemed to do was fight.”
Kagome smiled, realizing that sounded an awful lot like her and Inuyasha. And her mother and father had married in the end. So perhaps there was hope after all.
The phone rang, breaking the moment and startling the two women. But Kagome was smiling again, because that was her personality. “I'll get it.”
Walking over, she picked up the phone as she brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “Hello?”
“Kagome?” She felt her blood go cold.
“Kikyou, what's up?”
Inuyasha, hearing his wife's name, turned from where he was sitting on the couch, and Kagome saw him give her a meaningful stare. She sighed and turned away, unable to look at him while talking to his wife. It just made her feel uncomfortable.
“Um, I was wondering if you knew where Inuyasha was.”
“Inuyasha?” Kagome hesitated only a moment. “Yeah, he's right here, just a second.”
She held out the phone, indicating for him to come get it, and he complied, though Kagome didn't miss the scowl now in place on his face. Not dreaming it was directed at her, she just assumed he was frustrated with his wife for interrupting his time away.
“Hello? Yeah, hi Kikyou. I thought we decided we weren't going to talk to each other until the week was over.” He paused, leaning slightly against the wall despite his crutches. “That is none of your business; I can do what I want.”
Kagome blushed, having a feeling they were talking about the fact that he was at the shrine. She walked away, moving back to help her mother with the dishes.
“Well you certainly seem to have a different set of rules when it comes to Naraku,” Inuyasha snapped suddenly, and Kagome looked at him out of the corner of her eye. He then sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, having to lean down so that his crutch wouldn't fall over. “I know, it's not exactly the way I saw things working out either, but we have to face facts, and the fact is that things have changed between us. I mean, can you honestly say that you missed me that much?”
There was a long pause, and Kagome scrubbed at the glass in her hands furiously, making sure there was not one ounce of moisture left. Finally, he spoke again.
“Look, can we talk about this in person? I really think doing something like this over the phone isn't exactly a good thing. Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then, bye Kikyou.”
He hung up the phone, and Kagome looked at him with a nervous smile, unsure of what to say. But she couldn't help the relief in her gut, knowing nothing in the conversation had sounded intimate or loving.
“Inuyasha-”
“Why did you do that?” his voice was sharp, and Kagome felt what she had intended to say vanish. Mrs. Higurashi looked up from where she was back to washing dishes, realized this was private, and left silently.
“Do what?”
“Tell her I was here?”
Kagome sputtered, her gut clenching once more. So much for feeling relieved. “I-I guess I didn't think about it. I'm not exactly the kind of person who can lie naturally, you know.”
“Did it occur to you that I didn't want her to know I was here?”
Kagome felt her heart clench. “Why? I thought you didn't love her any more.”
“That's not the point!” He was obviously fast losing his temper. “We're not divorced yet, and I guess I didn't want to seem like I was having an affair before the papers are even signed.”
At that Kagome felt her temper burst into full bloom. The fact that he was married certainly hadn't stopped him from telling her he loved her, or from kissing her, or nearly having sex with her earlier that day.
“Excuse me, Inuyasha, if I misunderstood,” her voice was cold, and he suddenly seemed to realize what he had said, because the anger left his eyes. “But I assumed that when a man tells me he loves me that means he doesn't care who all knows. And I also assumed that, at this point, we are practically having an affair, in a sense, but that it didn't matter, because you didn't love her. But now I'm thinking I was obviously once again the fool!”
She threw the glass she had been holding throughout his phone conversation down on the ground, the sound of shattering glass reverberating throughout the house, before storming out of the kitchen fast enough that he, with his crutches, couldn't follow her.
“What did you say to her?” Souta demanded, standing in the opposite doorway leading into the living room. His eyes were penetrating, full of protection for his older sister, and Inuyasha felt suddenly uncomfortable.
“I didn't-” but he stopped himself short, knowing it was all his fault. Kagome was right. The way he had been treating her, he shouldn't have a problem with his wife knowing he loved another woman. It wasn't fair to Kagome, and the thought of hurting her was worse then the thought of telling Kikyou the truth. “I said something stupid.”
“Damn straight,” Souta replied, obviously agreeing whole-heartedly. “So don't just stand there, go apologize.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, go and apologize; it's the least she deserves after what you just said.”
“You heard?”
“Of course I heard, you two were yelling, and this house isn't that big.”
Inuyasha lowered his head dejectedly, knowing he had made a total ass out of himself, and turned to follow in the direction that Kagome went.
He found her outside by the Goshinboku, her head bowed in silent prayer, the wind rustling her hair gently. She looked beautiful in the light of the moon and the stars, as though she had a glow of the otherworld.
“Kagome, I,” he didn't know what to say, but she turned to look at him, her eyes softer now, not as full of anger as they were of pain. He felt his heart clench. “Kagome, I'm sorry. I know that's not good enough, but it's the best I can do. I've never been good at this sort of thing.”
“Inuyasha,” she gave him a sad smile, not moving toward him like he had expected her to. “I love you so much. Do you know that?”
Hearing those words was still like receiving the best present anyone could ever give, and he nodded his head. “Yes, and I love you. Never doubt that.”
Kagome looked back up at Goshinboku. “This tree always makes me feel so calm,” she stated, and he remained silent, unsure if she wanted him to say anything. “Whenever I'm upset, I come here. It's the place where I first realized that I loved you, and that I didn't care that you were married.”
She met his gaze, and his breath caught. “Kagome, please don't be angry with me. I don't know what to do about this whole thing.”
“What do you know then?”
“That I want to be with you,” he replied honestly, and she smiled, this time more like her old self.
“And I want to be with you.” Still, she made no move to come to him, and he waited. “But I won't be someone you have off to the side, besides having a wife.”
“I wouldn't ask that of you, Kagome. You deserve more then that.”
“That means,” She continued, “That while I will support you in every way to help you with this ordeal, I think we should cool off a little with our relationship for a while.”
“Kagome,” He felt himself panic, “I don't want to lose you.”
“I'm not leaving you, Inuyasha, I just think that something like what happened today in the kitchen shouldn't happen again, at least not until you and Kikyou are divorced. That just adds extra drama that we don't need right now.”
Inuyasha felt himself relax, and he gave her a smile, which she returned before rising to her feet and embracing him in a way that had become unique to her. It was gentle, and yet firm, telling him that she loved him, but not in a possessive or overly-passionate way.
“I agree,” he finally said, and she pulled away to look at him with a smile. He grinned back, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “But does that mean I can't kiss you?”
She seemed to think for an instant. “No, I think kissing is still allowed, after all, I have to release all my pent up frustration somehow, and my fists can't handle a punching bag.”
He laughed before sealing the statement with a heady kiss, and there, under the stars and the protective shadow of the ancient Goshinboku tree, they reached an understanding.