InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Nature of Sacrifice ❯ "..Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him?" ( Chapter 4 )

AN: Here's a bit of fluff because I think our tortured couple needs a little breather... Oh! And the first one to tell me what the title of the chapter is from... I don't know, will get much props from me! And yes, this is a paraphrase because I can't remember the EXACT quote.

 

*Giggles.* Just having some fun with this..

 

Oh! And the first part of the chapter is from Inuyasha's point of view, while the second part is Kagome's point of view of the exact same time frame. I hope it doesn't confuse you too much. -.- Gomen ne if so.

 

Thanks again to those that review! I apprieciate your comments more than you know!!!

 

PS: Yes, I do enjoy putting another face on Kagome other than pure innocence, I like making her a human being like the rest of us. If that means torturing her.. well, that's fun too. *Evil laughter.*

 

 

DISCLAMER: I DO NOT, NOR HAVE I EVER, OWNED INUYASHA. I'm simply borrowing the characters and putting them through hell. ^.^

 

Happy Reading!

 

 

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The Nature of Sacrifice

 

By Evie Lovejoy

 

Chapter Four:

"..Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him?"

 

***

 

As the sun rose, he simply gave that growling purr, rocking slightly as he held her and let her cry. They had grown up together, so how had he not known? How did Kagome slip through the cracks? He remembered his mother telling him that she couldn't go to Olive Garden as planned for her birthday, and he had worried. The next day when he heard his mother crying in the kitchen, his father trying to comfort her. His mother and Kagome's had grown up together, but from what he had been told it was a murder-suicide, and Kagome had been unharmed, living with relatives out of state.

 

His arms tightened around her as anger flooded his mind. Had his mother lied to him? And she was gone for a year, catatonic, not able to speak or display any semblance of sanity. No one was there for her, no family left. Had he known, he would have never left her side.. She was his best friend from birth for Christ's sake! He had fallen in love with the bright ray of sunshine, but she wasn't really so bright inside anymore... And from what she had insinuated, that wasn't the whole story. Kagome refused to say the rest. That part hurt. She had hidden this for so long, knowing she could trust him, and there was more?

 

But this strong girl, no, young woman now, trembled in his arms with silent sobs, seeking his comfort. He couldn't help but curse himself for not being able to help her. He had to know something was off! She hadn't contacted anyone in that time.. It was unlike her. He closed his eyes tightly, whispering, "Sorry.. I'm so sorry, Kagome.." He hated when she cried, but he didn't know what to do anymore. She wasn't the same person.. No, she was, just hidden behind scars. What could be worse than being forced to kill your own father to protect yourself? He shuddered at the thought.

 

Images of the girl so long ago flooded his mind. Innocent times.. but she never wanted to be at home. And Inuyasha's mother always insisted she stay. Hell, he was pretty sure some clothing Kagome couldn't fit in any longer was there somewhere. Then for a year, nothing. About a month after her birthday, Kagome was back in school, but she was much paler. She also kept quieter. No one asked why she was away, they had heard about her parents. It took until senior year in high school before chorus and drama opened her up a bit more. But she didn't look at him the same way anymore. She was almost.. surprised to see him laugh and enjoy himself around her. No, she was still the same girl, but something deep inside her had altered.

 

It was when he asked her to prom that their relationship changed. It had been a magical evening, picking her up at Sango's house, seeing her looking like an angel sent from heaven just for him. She couldn't afford an expensive dress, so it had been a costume from the drama department. Pure white silk draped over her frame perfectly, the bodice lacing up to reveal a modest neck line, the sleeves long and flowing; it had been from a production of Macbeth they had done, Lady Macbeth's overdone nightgown. But on her, it simply made her look stunning. Her hair was curled perfectly, draping over her back and framing her face, her makeup barely there. Yes, she was an angel from up above. She had blushed prettily when he said so and taken his arm. The night had been slightly awkward since he had asked her out on a real date basis. They had gone out after to walk along the beach, when she told him about the stars.

 

Flashback

 

Looking up to the sky, Kagome smiled, speaking softly. "You know, mama used to take me to the beach at night sometimes." He stayed silent, watching her quietly. Never had anyone pressed about her parents, and this was the first time in two years that she ever mentioned that she ever had any. A wistful look on her face, she continued, "She said the gods watch from the peepholes in the sky.. And at the shoreline, it's the closest you can get to them. She said that you could always talk to them if you could never talk to another soul."

 

Inuyasha couldn't help but be captivated by this young girl that had stolen his heart from the moment she pulled a dragon tail and said his ears were cute. Reaching up a clawed hand to her cheek, her eyes looked to his, almost startled. A stolen moment of stillness between them seemed to crackle in the air before they began leaning closer to one another. "You always have me, you know that, Kagome. Always." Something passed over her eyes and they began to water, closing as their lips met in both teens' first kiss. Soft and gentle, he instantly memorized her taste.. honey and vanilla.. mixed in something wholly Kagome. Soon he realised that tears were creeping down her cheeks. Breaking the sweet moment, he brushed her tears away with his calloused thumb. Her blue eyes looked almost desperate as they looked into his, and he would always remember what she had asked.

 

"Promise?" Her voice was shaky and as fragile as crystal, far too soft to be heard by mortal hearing. "Promise you'll stay?"

 

Her answer was a mumble before he pressed his lips to hers once more. "I promise."

 

End Flashback

 

Something about this shore had brought them together and torn them apart. It was the same place where she had told him they could no longer be together. And he had known that she was breaking both their hearts. But she hadn't been doing very well. With graduation came jobs, and college.. She hadn't been able to afford college, so she was working two jobs just to save some money, while he was going to classes part time and working at his Aunt's restaurant, helping out just after their youngest kit, Shippo, was born. She never slept, he could tell whenever they had a stolen moment. But he knew deep down in his heart what was between them was timeless, and he had waited. He had waited to hold her again for nearly seven years. He just hated that it was while she was sobbing.

 

She snuggled against him, bringing him out of this deep thinking. Her sobs were subsiding and her breathing was becoming more regular, though he could still smell the thick scent of her despair in her normally clean scent of vanilla and fresh air. Rubbing her back gently, he placed soft kisses to the top of her head, trailing to her forehead. Her red, puffy eyes opened blearily, looking up at him almost in awe and confusion. Her bottom lip trembled for a moment, her voice a raspy whisper. "I'm sorry.."

 

He shushed her with a shake of his head, placing another soft kiss to her forehead. "Don't apologize. I just wish you would have told me.. Kagome, you should let me protect you." She winced at his words, causing her to look away. Confused, he tilted her head up to look her in the eye. Guilt. Guilt and fear shone in her eyes and muddled her scent. She looked away after a moment, closing her eyes and leaning her forehead against his chest. Now he was afraid. If something that she wasn't telling him was worse than what happened when she was fifteen, it had to be pretty bad. "Koibito," He started, remembering the Japanese course they had taken together in high school. They both breezed through it easily as most of their family was decended from that country, it wasn't far off. She looked up, startled, a faraway look in her eyes. "Will you.. Will you let me stay this time?" And once again, he had the distinct feeling of deja vu, as if they had done this before in some other life, and it looked like she had the same feeling. There was a long pause from her, as if she was frantically thinking, fighting her heart on this. Finally, she stopped fighting it, leaning against him once more, her voice barely a whisper.

 

"Please.. don't leave me."

 

*.*.*

 

The light of the rising sun was barely noticed through her sobbing. Yes, she cried for this life's pain, for once in a long time, she cried for this Kagome's torment. She cried because she felt helpless even now, but safe in Inuyasha's arms. He rumbled softly for her, rocked her, whispered his apologies, was gentle with her. This was home. Right here in his arms where she had always felt safe and loved.

 

She had good intentions when she had ended their relationship, but the pain still consumed her. They were right out of high school and both were busy. Though Inuyasha's parents had money, they insisted he work his way through college, so he was as busy as she had been with two jobs. She wanted to put serious money away to go to college one day herself. They never saw each other, and when they did, they would collapse in bed together and fall asleep in each other's arms. Besides, the guilt was eating her alive. She would lay in his arms chastely, and she couldn't help but feel pained that he didn't know what she did. Knowing if it went on much longer, she'd tell him everything, she commited her own murder by breaking things off.

 

Flashback

 

"Kagome, I don't understand this.. I know we don't spend enough time together, but this is only temporary! I told you forever, and I meant it. You're my mate. The mate of my heart, the mate of my soul, if not body, not yet. Please don't do this!" He looked almost frantic, his hands on her upper arms, trying to talk some sense into her. The pain in his eyes started her own tears, his standing in his eyes. 'Please Inuyasha.. don't hate me for what I'm doing...'

 

"Inuyasha.. let me go. It isn't that I don't love you, because I do. It's that.. damnit.. I love you too much.. you don't understand! I don't want you to understand. Just let me protect you for once." He looked so confused by her words, and she broke both their hearts with her words as the sun set on the horizon..

 

End Flashback

 

That memory fresh in her mind, slowing her sobs as she needed to be coherent, she needed to tell him something, anything.. He deserved so much more than she could give him.. Opening her eyes, she mumbled, her voice husky with tears. "I'm sorry.." His shushing, hushing her, his next words, all of it cut deep. How many times had he screamed at her stubbornly in his own gruff way to let him protect her? And hadn't she used the same line nearly seven years prior? She made him keep his distance when his heart, his youki, the whole of him demanded that she be by his side, for nearly as long as Shippo had been alive in this lifetime. Looking away, she closed her eyes. How could she make up for all the pain she had put him through? She couldn't.. And she was refusing him the rest of her secrets. Yes, she was protecting him, but he didn't understand what she was doing? It wasn't that she didn't trust him.. it was that she was trying to leave him some innocence in this life, something he had none of in the past one.

 

A very familar term shocked her enough to break her from her thoughts, his question bringing back too much. A younger Inuyasha in his fire-rat haori holding her close only a day before that final day, calling her koibito for the first, and one of the last times before he claimed her as his mate... Her past incarnation coming back from the well, looking up to him and asking him to be able to stay, thinking, knowing, his heart laid with his past love, the tragic priestess Kikyo. She paused for a long moment, something inside her breaking. Kagome had given up so much to see them happy, and she made Inuyasha happy.. Would she waste all this pain? Finally, her voice found her, only a whisper on the sea breeze. "Please.. don't leave me."

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

AN: Before it's asked, foxes are a type of canine and can interbreed with dogs, hence Shippo being able to be a cousin. My idea here is that because of the peace between humans, youkai and hanyous (And yes, this will be described in full detail later on in the story) that interbreeding would not be out of the question.

 

*Claps her hands.* See! I have delivered on the fluff! Now that I've done that, I can focus a little on the rest of the Inu-gumi and torture our favorite couple a little more! *Cackles.* Until next time!

 

~Evie