InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ You Chose Me ❯ First Meeting ( Chapter 2 )

Author's Note: Ok, I forgot to put this in the first redone chapter, so I'll put it here now, before I forget. I don't own but one character in this fanfiction, and you can probably guess which one it is. Well, here it is, the second redone chapter. Yes, I have changed it a good deal, but that was the point of redoing it in the first place. I decided I would at least try to get this one last chapter posted before I go back home, because I was not sure how long it would before I got my Internet hooked up at home. I am back now and working on the third chapter, so it should be posted soon. I would like to thank all of my faithful readers and reviewers, old and new. I am grateful to all who read or have read this, and doubly so to those who spared the time to review and tell me what they thought (though I understand that some of you have good reasons for not reviewing and I respect that.) Well, I shall bore you no longer. I hope you enjoy this latest chapter. On with the fic!

 

 

Guilty thoughts continued to plague Inuyasha's mind, tearing at his insides and wreaking havoc with his emotions. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling, for his thoughts seemed to be leaping all over the place as he struggled to make up his mind. For a moment he was angry with her. What right did she have to be spying on him? If she didn't want to see him with Kikyou, then she shouldn't have followed him, right? What he and Kikyou did was their business alone; she had no reason to be sad. Then he turned his anger on himself. Why hadn't he heard her following him, or even sensed she was there? Why had he snuck off when Kagome was finally here with him, instead of in her own era? And why the hell couldn't he choose between the two? A wet, leafy branch slapped him in the face, causing his anger to grow more. He turned to the tree that harbored said branch, letting his anger unleash upon it. Growling in his fury, he then quickly dug his claws into the bark, yanking it from the ground, and thrusting it into the air. The tree landed several yards away, its splintering crash easily reaching his ears. But he paid no mind to it. He had other things to think about. The forest was dangerous, so many demons loved to reek havoc here; Kagome could be in serious trouble. Just the thought of something happening to her brought hot tears to his eyes, and he closed them for a moment, pushing those miniature rivers back and locking them inside his mind once more. He couldn't afford to cry right now, not when Kagome could be hurt…or worse. His speed increased with each bad scenario that played through his tortured mind.

He was surprised he hadn't caught up with her by now. He'd been heading straight towards the well since he'd left Kikyou. He knew that was where she would be heading, and, being human, there was no way she could really outrun him. He remembered the smell of her salty tears as her confession had come to his ears. Those words still hadn't registered in his mind. How could they? He was too worried about Kagome at the moment. Even if nothing happened to her…what if…what if she jumped through the well and found some way of blocking him from ever coming through? What if he never saw her again? The others would blame him too. If she never came back he'd lose them too. Then it would all be gone…he'd have no love…no friends…nothing; only a wraith of the woman he had once loved…and she wanted to bring him to hell, to share the love they couldn't share in life. Why HAD he said those words…and why had he kissed her? Why in front of Kagome? He was too stressed out to remember at the moment. He thought of those grief-stricken sobs that Kagome had uttered before she ran and his ears lowered in shame. He could almost feel the pain she had felt, and he couldn't help but wonder, what she was thinking right now.

 

 

Kagome's whole body shook with her sobs. Her legs felt numb; she was afraid they might give out at any moment, but still she kept running. She wanted to get as far away from Inuyasha and Kikyou as she could. She just didn't want to face that, yet at the same time she wanted to scream at Inuyasha for being an idiot, or maybe even beg him to choose her instead. She wished she'd never followed him into the forest, never found out that her feelings weren't returned. She almost hoped that this was all a bad dream. She'd never woken up. When she did wake up, Inuyasha would be bullying Shippou and she would sit him. They'd fight and then they would all go in search of the jewel shards; everything would be fine again. She would ride on Inuyasha's back like always, her arms wrapped carefully around his neck, her cheek resting on his warm back as she listened to the steady sound of his heartbeat. The thought brought new tears to her eyes and she shook her head to try to clear them. She failed. All she could see was one great blur of green and brown. In her broken state she'd managed to get herself lost, though as far as she knew she was still heading in the direction of the well. Again she wished they were journeying; if she was riding on Inuyasha's back she wouldn't have this problem, she wouldn't even be crying. Maybe she should just go back and pretend nothing had happened. She was sure Inuyasha would do the same, but she couldn't. No matter how much she wanted to be close to him right now, she knew just seeing him would break her heart. She tripped for what must have been the fifteenth time, but this time she was unable to right herself and she plummeted straight to the ground. For a moment she thought of getting up and continuing to run towards the well, but the thought quickly left. Lying there on the ground as she was now…it felt so comforting, almost like lying on her own bed at home. If she were home she would be crying into her pillow right now, and that is just what she felt like doing. She folded her arms under her head, never minding that they were covered with wet dirt and grass, and wept.

 

Deep green eyes gazed at the young woman from the shadows, full of pity and jealousy. Yes, he knew all about what had happened, for the most part anyways. There was nothing that went on in the current forest he was in without him knowing. He knew that the young woman had come into the forest to confess her love for that white-haired half demon, only to find him confessing his love to another. How cruel was fate, he thought, leaving this young woman to drown the soil in her tears, uncomforted. He could not allow this. Too much cruelty had befallen her already. His soft green hand came up to rest on the tree at his side as he continued to watch her, and he couldn't help wondering about the hanyou. How could he get some a lovely gem as this? And what would possess him to let such a treasure as this slip through his fingers, and for a woman who was most definitely dead, and had been for some time? Surely his preternatural senses had alerted him of this fact? The young woman's sobs were dying down; he knew she would drift off to sleep soon. However, he could not allow her to sleep uncomforted. Otherwise she might be forced to relive that horrid moment of her life. Well, he would put a stop to that, he told himself as he stepped out of the shadows and towards her. He would comfort her and put her heart at ease.

 

Kagome's sobs were finally dying down when she heard the rustle of bushes behind her. She started to get up, but crying had made her so tired that she immediately dismissed it as the wind and burrowed her face further into the comfort of her uniform sleeve. She didn't want to move just yet. She wanted to lie here and forget everything. She wanted to sleep, but she soon found that she couldn't when she felt the slightly warm pressure of a hand on her back. She raised her head, her eyes staring forward and tearing up as her body began to shakes with the new sobs building up inside her. She knew it had to be Inuyasha, it couldn't be anyone else, and she just didn't want to face him right now. Just the thought of talking with him about it made her heartache grow. She quickly buried her face in her already soaked sleeve again, the tears coming forth once more.

 

“Inuyasha, I-I don't want to…I don't want to talk about it right now,” she uttered softly before the trembling of her voice turned into another sob. More threatened to come out, but she held them back, managing to speak once more. “Please…just go away…”

 

“Inuyasha,” came the slow, uncertain reply. It was definitely not Inuyasha's voice. “So, that is the bastard's name… I shall have to remember that.” The voice was softer than Inuyasha's, calm, and almost relaxing. The hand she felt on her back begin to travel up and down her back in a lazy, comforting way, and even through her fear Kagome felt like closing her eyes and allowing it.

 

But she just couldn't, and she knew that. She could vaguely sense the demonic aura that surrounded the owner of her voice, and just this brought her back to her senses. She might be in great danger right now, and she wasn't even armed. She was sure Inuyasha hadn't followed her; he was probably still with Kikyou. She was going to have to fend for herself as best she could, and the first step to that was to face her attacker and not be afraid. She rolled over quickly, causing the owner of the hand to pull it back and away from her. She caught a glimpse of a large object that seemed to be glowing bright red, and in the confusion caused by her blurred vision immediately assumed that this was the demon's eye. She squeezed her eyes shut; with an eye as big and as red as that she knew the demon must be immense; she would never be able to defeat him alone. There was no helping it; she opened her mouth, and screamed Inuyasha's name. The demon moved quickly, covering her mouth with one of his warm hands, causing her eyes to fly open in surprise; that hand was the size of a humans! And that was the first time she saw him, the one who would in some strange way bring her and Inuyasha both closer and farther apart than they had ever been.

 

 

When Inuyasha reached the well he was surprised to find that Kagome was nowhere near it. He was sure that he would have at least caught her before she went back to her own time. Of course there was no real way for him to tell if she had even been there recently; since she came and went through the well so often, the area around the well was always permeated by her scent. He loosened up, breathing a sigh of relief; at least she was no longer in danger. But he still couldn't leave. After hearing the pain in her voice, he knew he needed to go after her and at least try to comfort her. He wasn't sure how, but somehow he knew that it was his responsibility. His ears lowered again, and a small whimper escaped him as he thought of how, right now, she was probably sobbing into the pillow on her bed. He sighed again. After the pain he'd just put her through, he wondered if her family would even let him see her, let alone console her, but he had to try. He stepped forward, resting a hand on the edge of the well. Once more the scene played in his mind, his confession to Kikyou, her lips against his, the hurt in Kagome's voice, but something wasn't right. Somehow he felt he was going to say more before Kikyou's lips met his, but in all of his frustration, he just could not remember what. He dug his claws into the wood, listening to it splinter as he growled low in his throat. He didn't have time for this. He'd have to think about it later. Right now he had to go after Kagome. He shook his head to clear the confusing thoughts, and pulled his claws out of the wood, planting one of his feet there instead. He was just getting ready to hoist himself over the edge when he heard Kagome scream his name.

 

He jerked his head around immediately, his ears perking up as he uttered one solitary word. “Kagome…”

 

He turned and ran in the direction of the voice so fast that the leaves on the trees in his path shook wildly, and were almost torn from their branches. Fear fueled his speed now, overwhelming his guilt. Once again those scenarios played through his mind; scenarios of her hurt, scared, dying, or even leaving him for good. He just had to reach her in time. He couldn't lose her, especially not after what had just happened. Hold on, Kagome, he thought, I'm coming. Just hold on a little longer.

 

 

Those green eyes were wide still from the sound of her scream. He was confused for a moment, wondering why she was so scared. But then he realized why. Here he was, someone she had never met before, reeking of the demon scent and touching her. How could he have been so thoughtless? He looked into her eyes, noticing the tears that streamed from them once more, and reached his other hand out slowly.

 

As his delicate fingers brushed the offending tears away from her eyes he spoke to her in the same soothing voice. “Shh… Don't be afraid. My name is Tani, and I am here to comfort you and mend your heart.” A comforting, though sad smile followed his words, bringing an end to her tears.

 

Now that she was calm he began to notice her beauty, even in sorrow. Her eyes were first, and his gaze devoured them, the chocolaty orbs seeming to sparkle even through the tears. Then, her skin. It was so soft against his fingertips, and even though her cheeks were pallid from her weeping they seemed to have a glow all their own. He suddenly realized how perfect she had seemed as she lay crying on the ground, how her every curve had complimented her in some way, from the graceful curvature of her slender legs, to the swell of her bosom as it heaved in her sorrows. His eyes were brought back to the present as they fell upon her soft pink lips, and his fingers followed, gently playing over them. He wanted to touch them…feel them against his. She was so perfect, her beauty, the soul that looked out at him through her eyes, even the sorrow that ached to be comforted. He realized he wanted her. He wanted her to leave that retched half demon called Inuyasha and become his. He wanted to know what it would feel like to be loved by her.

 

Kagome wasn't really sure who this stranger was, despite his name. She sensed the demonic aura around him, but despite his green skin and hair, he looked…human. She thought for a moment that he might be a half demon like Inuyasha, but there was no mistaking this strong aura. She trembled as his fingers left her cheek and began to trail over her lips. She looked into his eyes, noticing the warm kindness in them, but there was also a strange sadness, and something else…longing? She was about to open her mouth to say something when his lips suddenly closed over hers, warm and soothing. Her eyes started to close, but then they quickly snapped open as she pushed him away. Her hand met his cheek with a resounding clap.

 

“What do you think you're doing, you creep?” she yelled, her voice unusually high from the shock and her cheeks flushed.

 

Tani sat there for a moment, eyes wide as he stared at her incredulously. He slowly brought his hand to the offended cheek, eyes blank. She'd smacked him, pushed him away. She'd called him a…creep? He wasn't quite sure what the word meant, but it seemed to fit somewhere in his mind with `monster'. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead in his palm. He remembered this feeling that was aching through him. He believed it was called rejection. The glowing red sphere that hung from his neck pulsed as he remembered what his long dead mother had once told him.

 

“I can see it in your eyes…” she had said, though he hadn't been quite sure what she was talking about at the time. “You will not love one of our kind; you will fall in love with a human. But listen to me…no human woman will ever love you. Humans fear our kind and will never accept us.” He remembered her eyes softening as his lower lip trembled, and she placed her hand gently on his cheek. “Fear not, my son, for there is a way.” He had watched in awe as she removed the necklace from around her neck and slipped it over his head. Even back then the jewel had glowed as brightly as it did now. “With this jewel you can make a woman love you, but once you've used it, it will work only on that woman, so choose wisely.”

 

Tani's eyes opened and he looked down at the jewel, lifting a hand up to grasp it. He looked up at Kagome once more, noting the anger and slight fear in her eyes and his grip tightened. With one quick tug the cord holding the jewel snapped, and then seemed to disintegrate, disappearing from sight. He moved towards her, a slight pain tugging at his heart when she tried to move away from him. That settled it; he knew this was the only way she would ever love him, and he was sure that she was the one he wanted. Kagome could see the pain and desire shining in his eyes and she was afraid. Her eyes fell to the jewel, the jewel that had made her think him more fearsome than he actually was; a jewel that strangely resembled the Shikon. She had no more time to ponder this, for it was at that very moment that he grabbed her wrist, preventing her from moving farther away. He moved closer, his face dangerously close to hers as he pulled one side of her skirt down, exposing her hip and placing the hand with the jewel over it.

 

His eyes seemed somehow distant as he spoke to her once more. “Soon, you will forget that Inuyasha, and you will love me in his place.” His free hand came up, his fingers entwining themselves in her hair. “I won't hurt you like he has.”

 

He pressed his hand down, and a scalding heat spread through Kagome's hip. It felt almost as if the jewel were melting into her. His face came closer and their lips met again as the pain doubled. Kagome had no time to retaliate. There was one last shock of blinding pain, and then everything went black.

 

 

Author's Note: Well, hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading and I will have the next chapter posted as soon as I can. There may be a few errors. I checked over it the best I could, but my editor was booted offline in some bizarre stroke of bad luck. So please, bear with me. ^-^; So, until next time; farewell and enjoy.