Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

A Time for Changes	By : Fuafuru46 Category: InuYasha > Het - Male/Female > InuYasha/Kagome Views: 25527 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
Author's Note: Look! Two chapters posted in a week! That should get me some extra love reviews, right? :3
Chapter 22: I’m Waiting For An Answer I Don’t Know I’ll Get
Kagome stood at the entrance of the airport with Sango by her side. As calm as she tried to be, Sango was clutching her oversized carry-on purse as if someone had every intention of snatching it out of her hands right there in the airport.
“---and you’re sure you’ll be okay?”
Kagome smirked and nodded slowly, “Lets go over it one more time.” She pulled out a list from her pocket. The note was folded over and creased many times, the two had been doing this before. “Passport.”
Sango waved her hand holding the passport, “And the airline ticket.”
Kagome pointed to her large back, “International cell phone, American money, our money, maps of New York City, credit cards, camera---“ she looked up and sighed, “You’re not going to a dessert, anything you forgot Miroku will have for you.”
Sango sighed and rubbed the back of her head and whined, “Listen to you. You’re the one always losing your sketchbooks. I don’t want to do the same thing.”
Kagome threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tight, “You get on this plane and be with Miroku. Let him take care of you.”
“And you promise you’ll call me if something goes wrong?” Sango tilted her head, looking concerned. “I mean, Inuyasha is leaving to—“
“--I am going to be just fine. You’re not gone forever.” Kagome forced a smile and pushed her friend’s shoulder lightly, “I’ll be so busy with the gallery I won’t even notice you’re gone.” She chuckled lightly.
“That’s pretty mean,” Sango giggled, hugging her friend one more time before looking back at the security entrance. “I’ll call you when I land.”
“Even if it’s early morning,” she smiled. “Get going. With our luck it will be the one time there are delays or something.”
Sango touched her friend’s shoulder and sighed lightly. Her friend always tried to stand so tall, despite everything. Even though it was summer, Kagome stood in the airport in a three-quarter purple plaid shirt and cargo shorts. Sometimes Sango wondered how she would react if Kagome ever let someone see those scars. Sango could still remember the day Kagome saved Rin and she…hoped she’d learn to be a better friend.
“I’ll see you in two weeks, Kagome.”
----
Kagome pulled open the door of the apartment lobby and was surprised to find Sesshomaru standing in the middle of the foyer, looking irritated, not that this was an unusual face. Neither Tsuki nor Kagome expected him to be here.
Once the door closed shut behind her Sesshomaru looked up and in her direction, “You have been out.”
Kagome nodded slowly, “Airport.” She looked down at her purse and then at him, “Did you call?”
“No,” Sesshomaru looked at her and could sense the worry rolling off of her. “This one did not knock on your door to avoid the half-breed.”
Kagome glared, “It’s Inuyasha. If you’re going to call him a half-breed you better call me that too. It wouldn’t be right otherwise.” She put her hands on her hips and couldn’t help but be a little angry. After just leaving the airport this wasn’t what she wanted.
Sesshomaru stared at her and then turned away from her, “You are troubled by something, human.”
A sigh escaped her lips, “What do you want Sesshomaru-san?”
“To speak with you.”
“Me or Tsuki?” She grumbled, uncapping a bottle of water and taking a sip. “I’d invite you upstairs but you’ve kinda made it clear you don’t want to.” She held out the water to him.
He waved his hand politely in front of him when she suggested the water. Truth be told with his long hair it was indeed very hot out. Being in a business suit was not adding to the fun atmosphere. “I wish to speak with Kagome.”
She held her arms out to him, “Well, here I am.”
“You do not wish to relocate for this conversation?”
Kagome shook her head, “If that is what Sesshomaru-san wishes, seeing as he waited a while for me to return, I will follow.”
Sesshomaru leaned against the wall behind him, “Polite, at least.”
“I’m human, not a barbarian.”
Sesshomaru actually smiled, “Perhaps I thought my brother’s influence had rubbed off on you. Instead it seems Tsuki has.”
Part of Kagome blushed at this comment. She’d never been too dominant or sharp-tongued and something about being able to go toe to toe with this man made her smile. “Why do you want to talk to me and not her?”
“This Sesshomaru cannot continue the search for the relic without your expertise.”
Part of her deflated, “Ah, so you need my education to free her?”
Her auras were changing the more Sesshomaru conversed with her. Why would the miko-girl not be delighted at the prospect of being separated from Tsuki? This was a mutual decision the two wanted, Sesshomaru had expected, was it now not the case? “She expressed her concern with being unable to generate useful content. She suggested you would know more.”
Kagome nodded and rubbed the back of her head, “You want to do this research what, like right now?”
He shook his head, “No. This Sesshomaru wishes for you to accompany him to his estate by the shore. This Sesshomaru is certain that is where the relic was relocated to.”
“Why would you have this relic anyway?” She countered, growing in suspicion of what the man really wanted with her or Tsuki.
“The Taishou name has ancestors far back to the beginning of time. Do not forget demons have the ability to live for hundreds and thousands of years. Family goods are easily passed from one generation to another.”
Kagome sighed and nodded, “Fine, you’re right. Where is this place?”
“By car, a few hours. I will have a car pick you up here and you will meet me at the estate.”
“You’ll already be there?”
Sesshomaru nodded, “It was Rin’s request to go there this weekend. We will stay and wait for your arrival…if you should accept.”
Kagome studied him, taking another sip of his water. To her surprise Tsuki had been quiet throughout the entire conversation, present, quietly, and listening. She looked around the lobby and considered her options. ”When?”
“The day after tomorrow. Monday. I have arranged an eight day stay there before this Sesshomaru is required to return here for work.”
The day after tomorrow…by then everyone would be…”---I will happily accept.” She walked up to him and held out her hand, “But you must promise me something, if you can.”
“This Sesshomaru will not make a promise he cannot keep.”
“I promise to not be burdensome to you. But if I should need you, will you come if I call? Even if I, Kagome, call?”
Sesshomaru took her hand and held it, to her surprise, gently, “This Sesshomaru will assist both Tsuki and you.” With a shake he released her hand and strolled towards the front doors, turning back to her one last time. “Remind Tsuki, she agreed to see me, one night at the estate will be dedicated to that.”
“Certainly.”
“Oh and, speak none of this to the half-breed. The last thing this Sesshomaru needs is him complaining and yelling.”
Kagome smiled weakly, watching him go.
------
Kagome sat in front of the mirror in her bedroom, watching Tsuki, who was in turn, watching her.
“Are we having a staring contest?”
“I don’t know what Sesshomaru wants with me.”
Tsuki smirked, “Perhaps it is revenge. You did blast him with holy power.”
Kagome slammed her hand on the desk, “It’s not like I even knew who he was. That was before we really talked with each other!” She pouted and looked away, “He seems just fine anyway.”
Tsuki chuckled and rested her chin in a hand. “If a great demon lord wants to help us, why not?
“What if he’s trying to trick us?”
“Well, I like him.”
Kagome turned back to her and smirked, “Oh? Do you really? Have a liking to tall, arrogant, human haters with long white hair?”
“You should hardly talk when you too are drawn to an arrogant, stubborn, white haired man.” Tsuki smirked watching Kagome begin to protest. “I live in here, are you lying to me or yourself?”
Kagome looked at Tsuki in the mirror and ruffled her eyebrows. Did she have…feelings for Inuyasha? She cleared her throat, “He’s leaving.”
“That does not change how someone can feel. Human emotions never make sense.” Tsuki pressed her hand against the glass. “Lets get out of here. For your sake, okay?”
“For my sake?” Kagome held her hand up to the mirror and touched it to hers. “What do you mean?”
Tsuki, if possible for her hard disposition, looked sad momentarily. She shook her head and smirked; more similar to the obnoxious Tsuki Kagome had grown accustomed to. “Because you need to do something productive with your life, otherwise I’ll just posses you again.”
“Kagome? Do you have a sec?”
Kagome pulled her eyes from the mirror, “What is it Inuyasha?” She called out her open door.
“Just come here, damnit!”
Kagome looked back at Tsuki in the mirror and smiled weakly, “Let me help him, and if I can get it to work, lets at least go for a run.”
No way, after three days of being you all the time I’m still trying to recover.
Kagome laughed and waved at the mirror, not noticing the smile on her reflection’s face as it faded away.
Kagome knocked and pushed open the door to Inuyasha’s room after hearing him mumble from the other side. To her surprise the room looked like it had exploded with clothes. There was everything from a suit to bathing suit shorts on his bed, the floors, and some hanging from closets.
“Gees, you’re not a good packer, are you?” Kagome teased, stepping over a pair of sneakers in front of his door.
Inuyasha, in nothing but a pair of shorts due to the heat outside, growled, “I suck at this shit. Three weeks seems like forever, there’s too much crap.” Realizing the statement he looked up at her and saw the last fleeting moments of sadness on her face before she smiled and threw a t-shirt at his face. “Hey! I asked you to help me, not make it worse.”
Kagome dropped onto her knees beside him and ruffled his ears. “It’s easier if you make a list.” She started to push around the clothes on the floor until she found a piece of paper and a pen.
“This list is going to be huge,” he groaned, knocking shoulders with her before slumping, chest first, onto the floor. “Kagome it’s too hot to pack.”
She leaned on his back as she started to write the list, chuckling as he half-heartedly tried to wave his arms to move the paper. “Then lets start with easy thinks.” She began her list humming, “T-shirts, shorts, boxer, bandanas, other basics to get you out of the house. Oh! Bathing suit. If you’re in New York you can go out onto Long Island and visit the shore. That’s where the Hamptons are, where the rich people stay.”
Kagome was continuing her list, rambling and just sort of talking, as Inuyasha stared through the open door of his room. He recalled the memories of Kagome strolling through the kitchen, sketching on the floor, or sleeping on the couch. He wondered what his place with Kikyo was going to end up like. He somehow couldn’t imagine his new place being as loud or vivacious as here…
“Interesting perspective you’ve got here.”
Inuyasha’s eyes widened and to his surprise Kagome was laying on the floor next to him, face besides his, staring out into the house. “Wha?”
Kagome turned her face slightly to look at him, smiling, “You’re daydreaming. You nervous about the flight?”
He snorted, “It’s just a plane. I’m pretty sure if it blew up I’d even be able to survive.”
“Unless you fell into the ocean. Then you’d drown.”
He rolled his eyes, “You’re not putting a lot of faith in me.”
Kagome laughed, “As long as you get there, right?” She looked back to the house and sighed, “It’s going to be quiet without you. At least we won’t break as many plates.”
“Yeah…” he forced a laugh.
“Oh, are you going to be here tonight?”
“I’ve got to work one last shift for Nana, but yeah. Why?”
Kagome rolled onto her back, “I figured you’d be staying with Kikyo tomorrow so it’s easier for you two to get the airport. So I wanted to hog you for tonight, if that’s okay. Make you some bon voyage ramen!” She spread her arms out and looked at the ceiling.
From the corner of his eye Inuyasha watched her. She had changed since dropping Sango off at the airport, now sporting a dainty pink camisole and a pair of shorts. Kagome sure seemed calm after saying goodbye to Sango. “Ya gonna miss your best friend?”
She glanced at him, “Oh, Sango? She’ll be back, probably with a ring on her finger. Once she gets back Miroku is only a week away after that. That means two people for the price of one.” She patted his back with a laugh, “I get Miroku and Sango in exchange for you.”
His ears drooped slightly at the sadness in her laugh. “Kagome it’s not---“
“I’m going to miss you too. You are my other best friend,” she teased. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. “This summer has been hard but I would never have survived it without you. So obviously you have to send me a souvenir while you’re in America.”
Inuyasha rolled over and was on top of her. His hands were on her shoulders, searching for something in Kagome’s eyes. He didn’t know what he was looking for, what sort of sign, if you will. Her smile was small but her eyes sparkled, she was calm minus a slightly nervous heartbeat. “Why do you do that?”
“Do what?” she asked quietly, noting the change in his voice.
He touched the side of her face, “Why do you…” He buried his face in the side of her neck, unable to look straight into those eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. Tell me to stay.
Kagome wrapped an arm around him and closed her eyes. “You’re never going to pack if you keep procrastinating,” she mumbled kindly.
He squeezed her again. “Just shut up for a little bit, okay?”
Kagome giggled and opened her eyes, staring up at the ceiling, “Okay, Inuyasha. Okay.”
- - -
Sango was pulling her large suitcase behind her scanning the American crowds in the airport. The flight had been long, boring, and…boring. She’d watched the same American movie throughout the flight and now had a deep hatred for that brunette actress who married a vampire. The American crowds were certainly louder than Japan. Couples were walking around, kids with parent, tons of shuffling and hussling.
* = English
“Are You Lost?*” a man asked her in English.
“Um…” she cleared her throat, “I’m looking for someone*?”
“Ah. Is he handsome?*”
Sango sighed and nodded, continuing her walk, “He’s my boyfriend*”
“Perhaps you’re going to bear his children*?
Sango looked behind her at the man and practically shrieked when she saw Miroku standing. He opened his arms to her and watched her drop the suitcase and leap into his arms. She repeated his name again and again as he ran a hand through her hair, “I have truly missed you, my darling Sango.”
“I’ve missed you too,” she whispered in his ear, pulling her face back to meet his in a sweet kiss.
They kissed and Miroku picked up her bags with his one hand. Sango looked at the back of his tall frame and couldn’t help but notice how different he seemed. Was he taller? Did he stand a little straighter? Somehow her Miroku seemed more mature, wearing a button down, blazer, and jeans.
He turned back to her and grinned, “Are you checking out my ass?”
Sango laughed out loud, “Well there goes that notion.”
“What notion?” He tilted his head at her, “I’ll have you know this is one of the best asses in all of New York.”
Sango swung her arm around him and the two started to walk towards the exit, “You’re the same as you’ve always been. Lets just hope you didn’t make any trouble.”
“Oh? Are you going to punish me if I have?” he teased, kissing the crown of her head.
“I just might. I am a fighter you know.”
Miroku threw his head back and laughed, “Well that sounds pretty sexy. Good thing I’m into that kind of thing.”
Sango elbowed him and chuckled, “At least your humor hasn’t changed. If you were too polite then I wouldn’t know what to do.”
- - -
Inuyasha pushed open the front door to the café to find Nana and Kagome in conversation on the yellow couch. The no-name worker behind the counter waved and prepared to leave for the end of his shift. Inuyasha dug his hand into his pocket and clutched the cold item in it. He’d finally finished packing when Kagome left to go for a run. She had promised to meet him here and they’d eat ramen tonight with a movie. She’d spend the rest of the day working on errands and apparently still beat him here. Her hair was tied back and she wore a sweaty white shirt and shorts.
“Hello there, my laziest worker,” Nana teased from the couch with a wave. Her hair was red today. “Can you sweep the front please?”
“Barking orders before I even clock in, come on, Crazy Lady,” he moaned, hopping over the counter to find an apron to put on.
“Hey, if you’re not going to be here for a few weeks I better milk you for all I got tonight.” Nana looked to Kagome beside her on the couch and picked up the empty plate and cup. “Do you want another?”
“You recognize that I’m a drain on your resources right? Stop feeding me mochas all the time,” Kagome laughed, trying to hold onto a piece of blue charcoal in her hand.
Nana laughed, “You’re my favorite customer. Let me spoil you, okay?”
“You’re too nice.” Kagome smiled and looked back to her artwork, “At least I can tip, right?”
“Then you’re just giving money to Inuyasha and not Nana.” She patted the top of Kagome’s head and smiled. “You remind me of a daughter. You are Crazy Nana’s unofficial daughter. Crazy Kagome.”
Inuyasha finished ringing up a customer when Nana squeezed behind the counter with him and started Kagome’s drink. “You really like her, huh?” Inuyasha teased, “You’re going to adopt her at this rate.”
Nana chuckled and poured the chocolate to the bottom of the drink, “If I was younger and if she was younger, maybe, but Kagome doesn’t need a mother anymore.” She started foaming the milk and looked at him, “She’s the best thing to walk into your life.”
Inuyasha’s ears wagged under his bandana, “What?
“She’s the best thing to ever happen to you,” she said again, pouring Kagome’s drink into a cup smiling. The machine’s hum lowed and she looked at him. “What?”
Inuyasha sighed, “Crazy lady, I couldn’t hear you.”
“I think you’re making a mistake, Inuyasha.” Inuyasha looked at her and frowned lightly. Nana liked to tease him, but he could tell she was trying to be serious with him. She stirred the drink quietly and glanced at him. “I know I give you shit, but you’re the closest to a kid I got and I don’t want ya to make a mistake like this.”
“It’s just three weeks, Nana. Just be happy for me, damnit.”
Nana turned to him and thrust the drink into his hands, “What do you think that shows to her? You’re leaving one girl that you spend everyday with for a different one? One that’s hurt you before?”
“I’m coming back!” He barked, growling a little louder.
Nana put her hand on her hip, “Then why are you going at all? If you’re going with Kikyo just to come back to Kagome, what are you doing besides hurting Kagome?”
Inuyasha stepped back and frowned, “But I…I don’t want to lose her again…”
Nana sighed and pushed him past the counter, “Go give her that before it gets cold.”
Kagome looked up when Inuyasha held the drink on front of her eyes. “Thank you, Inuyasha.” She patted the yellow cushion next to him, “Can you sit?”
Inuyasha looked over at Nana and she nodded, “For a few, but I do have to work, ya know.”
Kagome laughed, “I know, I know, it’s our last drink until you return.”
Inuyasha slumped into the couch beside her and looked at the sketch. It was unlike any of the other sketches Kagome had done before. This one was entirely in color. He’d seen this painting in the café before slowly come to life. Now looking back at Inuyasha was Kagome standing in front of a mirror. She wore a basic white cami, her scars actually accented in the painting. Her hair was longer, cascading down her body to the small of her waist. Behind Kagome was the mirror from her bedroom. Leaning through the mirror was Tsuki, hair short, eyes bright red like the demon she was. Her hand was covering Kagome’s eyes, as if to shield her from something. Kagome’s look involved the inhale, as if surprised. The two shared a secret, untouchable, and forbidden.
“Wow.”
Kagome looked at him and smiled, “You like?”
“Kagome, it is absolutely amazing.” Inuyasha looked at her and back at the drawing, “It’s so…freakin’ real.”
Kagome folded her legs in under herself and smiled gently, “It’s going to be one of the five I’m judged on…it’s one of my favorites.”
Inuyasha smiled, “Do you have a lot of drawings with her? Of Tsuki?”
“Of course, three or four of them, different views and stuff.”
“Where are they?”
Kagome smiled, trying not to think about how he wouldn’t be there to see her gallery show. “That’s a secret. They’re in storage so no one can see them.” She jabbed him lightly and laughed, “I promise I will let you see them someday.”
There was a quiet on the couch between the two of them. Kagome took a sip of her drink and held it out to him as if it was a peace offering. He took the cup and looked at her. “Keh, could you at least pretend you’re going to miss me?”
Her eyes fell to the floor and Inuyasha almost regretted what he said. He watched layers of her façade crack as her smile fell to a frown. She rubbed her arm, a nervous tick he knew she did, before looking up at him. “You know I’m going to miss you, right? Doesn’t that go unsaid?”
“Close your eyes, okay, Kagome?”
She raised an eyebrow but closed her eyes slowly.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver chain. She tensed slightly when he leaned in towards her but relaxed as he brushed away the very ends of her hair ponytail. His breath tickled at her neck and his touch was gentle. A new weight, cold, touched her chest. She reached up to touch it but he stopped her. “Wait, okay?”
He cursed under his breath but finally got the clamp on the necklace to latch. Once set, he pressed the side of his face against hers and just barely pressed his lips against her cheek. “Look, I’m not good at this stuff. I ain’t good with saying bye and being cool but…”He leaned back and watched her open her eyes and pick up the chain to look at the metal fang looking back at her. “But Kagome? If you need me, call me, and I promise I’ll come back. And I know you hate promises and all that crap, but damnit, trust me. I will come back.”
“You’ll be pretty far away, Inuyasha,” she smiled as she looked down at the necklace. “But at least now I have a piece of you with me.”
- 21
- 22
- 23
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

A Time for Changes