Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Sloppy Seconds	By : CutiePieHentai Category: InuYasha > General Views: 23931 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha, nor make money from this story.

Chapter List
- 25
- 26
- 27
A/N: Okay�here�s the deal. I am a bit disappointed because the one shot I wrote, Christmas Wish, got three times as many reviews, even though it was only about 900 words and was up less time than my last chapter. Granted, I�m happy those who read it enjoyed it,�cuz I thought it was damn funny and I wrote it so pfft, but I thought that my last chapter was pretty�spiffy. And, you�ve all been bugging me for a little, I put out, and for what? You don�t call, you don�t write. I feel so dirty�Did you even respect me in the morning? Oh well, since I love you all anyways, you get a two for one special. That�s right. Two chapters posted at once. Ain�t love grand? Actually, since I�m having such a good time with this, and it relaxing, cathartic, and gratifying, I went out and bought a laptop for the sole porpoise (yes I spelled it like that intentionally, geez), of being able to write while on my breaks at work. Hence, you get more to read, hopefully faster. And you�ll be happy to note that these two chappies are loooonnggg. Especially the next one. Longest one yet that wasn�t a lemon. Lastly, I�d like to ask if any of you have found the hidden entendre through out my story�I have an offer to make. First ten people who review with the right answer I will mail you a copy of any Inuyasha episode of your choice. Really, not kidding. As long as I get your email, I will respond for your info and send you which ever you want- I own �em all, so read, review and get something free. Now aren�t I just the coolest author on the planet? Okay, so it�s sorta blackmail, but eh. On with the show�
~~~~~~~~~~
Kagome sat on the top step of the inn�s porch and stared at the night sky. The waxing moon reminded her that in only a few days there would be no moon, they would be returning to her era, and the battle against Naraku would be that much closer. And their journey would be almost to an end. �Just a few days and I could lose Inuyasha, my friends, my own life. And if not that, then I could lose my family.� She couldn�t contain the sigh that escaped as her thoughts weaved a melancholy tapestry. Trying to assuage herself and focus on pleasantries, she turned her attentions to the few clouds overhead, silvered by the moon and starlight, playing a game with herself of finding random shapes in the slowly moving fluff.

�Kagome?�

Shippo�s small voice brought her out of her reverie and she turned to face him with a slight smile, �Shouldn�t you be inside getting some sleep?�

Shippo shook his head and sat on the step next to her, �Not sleepy yet. Plus Mina had to help her mom clean up from dinner. Shouldn�t you be somewhere with Inuyasha�thought you were camping outside the village tonight?�

�Hai,� Kagome sighed and looked off towards the black outline of some mountains on the distant horizon, �He went to find a suitable place.�

Shippo followed her gaze as she returned her attention to the skies. He sensed an uneasiness about her, a deep sadness, and the scent of unshed tears. After a few moments of silence followed by another sigh, his natural curiousity took over, �Kagome? Why are you sad?�

Kagome started at his voice, wrapped up again in her thoughts and forgetting he was with her. She patted the top of his head affectionately and scooped him into her lap, �Why do you think I�m sad?�

�Because,� he started, turning his emerald eyes innocuously to her, �You were sighing and looking at the sky. You only do that when you get all mushy about that baka. What�d he do now?�

Kagome laughed and planted a kiss on his nose, �Shippo, sometimes, you are way too observant for your own good. He didn�t do anything. Well, not really. I guess I�m just worrying about what�s going to happen in the next few days�and after that, too, I guess.�

Shippo seemed to ponder that for a few minutes, his nose scrunched up in concentration, �Kagome?�

�Hmmm?�

�You�you love him, don�t you?� he whispered.

Kagome smiled and nodded before catching herself, �Hai, Shippo. I love all of you guys.�

�I know.�

�I don�t tell you often, though, do I?�

Shippo stuck his tongue out at her, �Naw, that�s okay. We know.�

�Maybe, but I should tell you more often.�

�Don�t worry about it. You made Inuyasha save me from the Thunder Brothers, you bring me treats, you protect me from dog-boy�you don�t have to say it for me to know. Isn�t that what�s important?�

Kagome nodded, �True. But sometimes it feels to good to hear, too.�

�Can I ask you something?�

�Mmhmm.�

�You told me after my mother and father were killed by the Thunder Brothers, that as long as I keep their memory alive by remembering all of the things I loved about them, that they�re never really gone, that they�re still alive in my heart. Is that true? You weren�t just making it up?�

�Hai, it�s true. Memories are what we have when we are separated from the ones we love. If you cherish your memories, they�re never really gone. And it helps to think that, some day, we�ll be reunited with those we care about, in this world or the next. Memories carry you until you�re back together again.�

�And you�ll always remember us, right?�

�Of course I�ll always remember you! I could never in a million years forget you guys. I love you all. You�you�re like a son to me, Shippo. And you remind me so much of my little brother, Souta, too. And Sango is like a favorite older sister. Miroku�s like an older brother I never had. A perverted older brother, but an older brother, none the less. And Inuyasha�well�he�s Inuyasha. He�s my�� Kagome stuttered and blushed, unconsciously fingering the healing mark near her shoulder, ��He�s my best friend.� She said at last.

Shippo nodded and squeezed Kagome�s waist. Turning his bright eyes up to hers, he looked very serious, �Well, then�even if something does happen and you can�t stay here with us�we�ll always remember you. We could never forget you�and�as long as you�re happy� we� all� just want you to be happy� it�ll all be okay, right? So, you don�t have to be sad any more, right?�

Kagome�s eyes glistened with moisture at the innocence and sincerity he still held despite the trials he had endured for someone so young. She chuckled, nodded, and kissed the kit on his nose before setting him back on the step, �Since when did you become such a smart little guy?�

In a very hanyou-esque pose, Shippo scowled at the �little� adjective, but he quickly brightened and leaned over to whisper conspiratorily in Kagome�s ear, �Can I tell you a secret?�

Kagome nodded.

Looking around for hidden ears, he continued in a raised whisper, �Fox tail promise?� He turned and shook his tail at her, �It�s the most sacred of vows.�

This time Kagome could not completely contain herself and giggled as she hooked a pinky around the tip of his tail, �Like a pinky promise? That�s a very strong oath,� with a gentle tug she vowed, placing her free hand over her heart for added measure, �I promise. Not a word.�

Shippo looked satisfied and turned back to her, �I�m not so smart�I overheard Miroku talking to dog boy when you were gone once. He was� all grumbly and cranky� wouldn�t even eat until Miroku threatened to seal him in the hut again. Miroku said that if he worried so much about you being gone, about you never coming back, that he should tell you, but that baka wouldn�t. Said he wanted you to be happy. That someone might hurt you if they knew how he felt�course, I don�t know why someone would hurt you just �cuz you�re friends with him, but, anyway� he said that when you smile for him, that�s enough. He said he�d always remember you, too. Miroku kinda said what I said� actually, it sounded better when he said it, but it seemed to make Inuyasha feel better. I guess Miroku�s the one who�s smart.� Shippo hung his head and looked at his toes, �But�what I don�t understand is� if he doesn�t want you to leave, and we don�t want you to leave, and you don�t want to leave�why would you leave?�

Kagome smiled wearily and looked back at the sky, �Some things aren�t meant to be, Shippo. Maybe you�ll understand one day. I want to be here with you all, but I want to be wanted. I don�t want to be a burden or be in anyone�s way or make someone resent my staying here. Sango and Miroku will have each other, you�ll have Kaede or them, and Inuyasha, well, who knows... Some things have happened before I came here that I respect, that I won�t stand in the way of, as much as I don�t want them to be true.�

�It�s because of her, isn�t it?�

Kagome couldn�t fail to recognize the venom in Shippo�s voice when he asked, but for once, the feeling of an ally in her bitterness towards her rival for Inuyasha�s affections didn�t make her feel any less alone. That�s because she isn�t a rival. You�re the rival. She already has his heart. He�s promised her his life, his soul. You aren�t even a rival. Being a rival means you have a chance� �Shippo, I promised you something. Now I want you to promise me something. Okay?�

The kitsune nodded and offered his tail again.

�I know that you get mad at Inuyasha when I go home. And I know you�ve been upset with him when I�ve been sad because he was with�her�but, I want you to promise me, that no matter what happens, even if I do go home after this is all done, you won�t be mad at him or hate him. Okay?�

Shippo looked unsure, �I don�t know, Kagome. I�m not sure if I can promise that. I mean, you�re so much prettier and nicer than anybody else, and you�re a good cook, and you sing pretty- he should make you smile, not cry.�

Kagome felt herself cheer slightly with his compliments, �Thank you, Shippo. But, be that as it may, I chose to stay here, even knowing Inuyasha�s choice. I chose to stay here to be his friend. I never asked for anything more than that from him. It wouldn�t be fair of me to. Friends are there for you through thick and thin, no matter what. And he needs friends. He needs us, as much as he hates to admit it. He needs to know that people can care about him and trust him, and that it�s okay to care about and trust other people. I think after all of the times he has taken care of you and protected you, even if he picks on you sometimes, that he deserves at least that much from you. And as far as him and me, well, that�s between him and me. Don�t let that affect you. Just be his friend, okay? As long as I know that he has what he wants, that he�s happy, then I�ll be happy too.�

�Kagome, you�re too nice, you know that?� Shippo pulled a yo-yo out of his vest and began to bounce with the toy on its string, �But I don�t understand a thing about the way you grown-ups act, so if that�s what you want, then okay.�

Kagome smiled and hugged the tot, �Well, I�m done being nice for the day�off to bed with you,� She rose and brushed the back of her skirt off as she hopped off the porch, �I�m gonna go find Inuyasha. Sweet dreams.�

��Night, Kagome. Sweet dreams,� Shippo watched Kagome disappear into the inky darkness as she wandered the path to the outskirts of town. He turned to enter the inn, but stopped to look into the night. Whispering over his shoulder he called out softly, �I know you�re there. I could smell you�And I know you heard... If you let her leave us, leave you�.then you�re an even bigger idiot than I thought.�

After he walked into the inn, a shadowed figure dropped silently from the roof and followed down the path the girl had taken.
~~~~~~~~~~

Silently, Inuyasha dropped from the trees to land beside Kagome.

She jumped and started, holding a hand to her chest, �Oh! Inuyasha, you scared me!�

The hanyou snorted, �Well, what do you think you�re doing out here by yourself, wench?�

Kagome narrowed her eyes at him, �I was looking for you, baka.�

�Keh.�

They walked quietly up a few slopes and through a grove of trees, leaves whispering as they passed. Silently, Inuyasha placed a hand around her waist and guided her towards the clearing he had found. Her sleeping bag lay near a small, already lit, fire. �Inuyasha?� Kagome asked as he moved towards a nearby tree.

Stopping to look back over his shoulder at her, he paused midstride, �Hmmm?�

�Do you mind�would it be okay if I slept in the tree again?�

Both blushed but Inuyasha nodded and wrapped an arm around her as he leapt to a thick branch. Turning Kagome to situate her in his lap, the pair looked out from the canopy of the trees. The tree they were in rose majestically above the surrounding area, giving a fine view of the small valley below. The area was nestled among a few rolling hills, orchards of oranges and cherries dotted the slopes, while the tall grasses of nearby rice paddies swayed in the soft breeze.

Kagome savored the sight, devoid of the concrete and tall buildings that had no doubt replaced the serenity of the village. Thin tendrils of smoke rose from a few homes and a flicker of light shone from a random window.

The moon had begun its ascent and Kagome�s voice caught at the sight of the valley bathed in the unearthly glow, �It�s so beautiful here.�

Kagome felt Inuyasha nod.

�Inuyasha, looking back on the last few years�is there anything you wish you had done differently?�

With her back to his chest, Kagome felt Inuyasha take a breath but hesitate, �What do you mean?�

�Is there anything that you regret�anything that you wish you could change?�

Inuyasha was silent, thinking of the things he and the girl in his arms had gone through. He thought of telling her that he regretted saying Kikyo�s name when she was held captive by Urasae; if he hadn�t, Kikyo would not have been resurrected and he would never have caused Kagome so much pain. But then, he wouldn�t have been able to see the fierceness of her loyalty, may never have known the depths of her trust, and may never have known about the trick that Naraku had played on he and his past love. He thought of telling her that he wished she hadn�t been able to come back when he had thrown her back to her own time, then she would be happy with her family, living her normal life in the future. But then, he would have missed her smiles and her strength at his side. And he wouldn�t have known the acceptance he felt because of her. He knew he would not have made it this far without her. He thought of telling her that he would have rather she had not caught he and Kikyo together when she tried to drag him to Hell so that he wouldn�t have caused her so much heartache. But then, he would be in Hell, for it was her voice that saved him. And it was then, and after when she had asked to stay at his side despite her torment, that he realized his respect for her and how much he cherished her friendship. He contemplated the times he had turned demon, but if he had not, he would still lust for the power, uncomprehending of the damage and destruction he would cause as a full youkai. He wanted to regret her capture by the Shichinintai, because he almost lost her to their poisons, but his grief finally made him recognize the depth of his love for her. No, he could not regret much of what had befallen them, because without the trials, he would never have known her power and her strength, would never have felt the passion that she ignited, would not have known the unwavering trust she held and instilled. It was paltry in comparison, but he settled on, �I suppose I wish that I had protected you better. And I kinda wish we hadn�t fought so much. I mean�you do always come back, so I guess I shouldn�t have argued so much about you going home.�

Kagome smiled and curled further into his embrace, understanding without him saying the thoughts he did not voice, her own mind mirroring his, �You do protected me, Inuyasha. No one has ever made me feel more safe than you�you know that. And sometimes it�s been fun to argue, ne?�

Inuyasha chuckled, �Keh. You say that, but you don�t get slammed into the dirt when you make me mad.�

More moments passed in quiet reflection of the past years the two had spent together before Inuyasha asked the same of Kagome, wondering if her asking meant that she had regrets, �Is there�anything you would change? Anything you missed out on?�

Kagome had been thinking while they sat quiet and answered with no pause and a shrug of her shoulders, thinking to quell his unanswered questions, �Eh�I sometimes wondered what my life would have been like if I�d never fallen down the well. But once I did, everything over there seems boring. My friends worry about things that don�t seem important now. Boys and clothes and make-up� stuff that used to mean something to me�I guess with what we do over here, all of that seems so� mundane.� She was quiet for a moment before continuing, �I wouldn�t change any of that, though. I have missed little things; Souta�s birthday, Mama�s promotion, I won�t get to graduate with my friends�and I would have like to go to prom� but if that�s what I had to exchange for my experience�s here�well, it seems worth it. You�my friends, all of you, are worth it.�

Kagome turned her head slightly so that she could see Inuyasha out of the corner of her eye, �Hey, do you think that maybe you might be willing to go out and do something when we get to my time?�

Inuyasha shrugged, he didn�t really like much of her time and never felt very comfortable going out on his human nights, but he knew that if she was asking, it was something that would make her happy and seeing her smile would make any amount of discomfort worth it. Not willing to tell her how much her happiness meant to him, he gave his usual response, �Keh.�

Kagome giggled and settled against him again, �Arigato, Inuyasha. I don�t know what we�ll do, but since it might be my last night back, I�ll think of something fun, okay? And I promise to get you something good to eat.�

Her words reminded him that she may be leaving her family forever, that she may be giving up everything she had ever known, for him. He felt guilty and elated all at once; guilt that she would have to give up so much, but happy that she might be with him, that he might never be alone again and that he may have her by his side. He thought of what he could do to show her his appreciation for her sacrifice, but he knew he had nothing to offer in return. He cleared his throat, offering small consolation, �Maybe�if you want�we could go back a day or two early��

Kagome gasped. He�d never volunteered to let her go home early, even if he was going with her, and she knew how much he hated the gaudy sights and overpowering smells of her era, �Really? You wouldn�t mind?�

�Well�like you said�you might not be able to go back. And, well� I know how much I would give to be able to spend more time with my mom�You should be able to spend as much time as you can with her, and with Souta�� He tried to cover his embarrassment by adding gruffly, �Besides, not much to do here, anyways.�

�I�I�d like that. Thank you.�

Inuyasha felt Kagome relax as she drifted off. He was pleased that for once he�d seemed to have said the right thing. It wasn�t much, but lately he�d been realizing that it didn�t seem to take much to make the girl happy.

Maybe, just maybe, he could make her happy.
~~~~~~~~~
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