Chapter Two: Nothing Can Hold You

*“ Inuyasha, will you stop for a moment?” Kagome called out. As he heard her plea, Inuyasha slowed and then finally stopped all together.

“Did you say something wench?” She sighed and lightly smacked his shoulder. She almost wanted to ‘sit’ him, but held herself back. Was that any way to treat someone you deeply cared for? No… As she pressed against his shoulder again, she heard him groan softly and falter.

“Inuyasha? Inuyasha?” She asked softly, so as not to alert the others to her worries. “Are you alright?”

“Fine.” He rumbled below her. “ Did I stop for a reason, or were you just trying to be annoying again?”

“I just thought that since I know how much you hate the smell of the village, you might want to stop here and let Miroku carry me the rest of the way. That’s all.” Inuyasha growled at the thought of the perverted monk laying his hands on her… the smell be damned.

“Hey you two! Why did you stop?” Sango turned around to see what the hold up was.

“No reason.” Inuyasha growled violently. He heard Kagome gasp quietly and inwardly sighed. Why would she, a brave, beautiful, full blooded human love a hanyou like him? She was probably disgusted just by having to touch him.

“Inuyasha?” He heard her soft voice jingle in his ear. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Why would I mind?” He asked, this time trying to be softer. He was still slightly hurt from the thought that she might be disgusted with him.

“I’m sorry, you just seem so testy. Is something wrong?”

“Why would anything be wrong?” He kept his dejected tone. Kagome noticed his sinking mood, but decided not to comment. What ever was bugging him, it was obvious he wanted to deal with it on his own. It hurt her that he wouldn’t trust her enough just to tell her, but she knew that he was Inuyasha, and for him exceptions had to be made. After all, he was no ordinary case.

“Well, if you’re sure you don’t mind carrying me the rest of the way…”

“Of course!”

“Alright.” Kagome rushed to end the conversation. If they continued, she knew they would only begin to argue more. Silence befell them and the rest of the group as they entered the village.

Shouts from the villagers went up around them as they entered the village again. “Lady Kagome!” and “She’s back!” filled the air as people cheered. Kaede met them at the door to her hut.

“You’re back.” She hurried them inside, half smiling and half frowning. “Kagome?”

“I’m fine, I just hurt my ankle. Would you look at it?”

“Of course child. Tell me how your hunt for the shards has gone. It’s been almost a full year since you were last here.”

“I’ve finally got all of the shards. We defeated Naraku three days ago to get the last piece. Then we came straight back here.”

“Well then, you have shown your capability as a warrior and the protector of the Bone Eater’s well. I’m glad the Shinkon no Tama is complete again. I never felt quite safe when it wasn’t. It looks to me like your ankle is just a bad sprain, no actual break.”

“It was broken.” Inuyasha growled. “I fixed it before with a special remedy first before we left.”

“Well then Inuyasha. It looks like you did something right for a change, because it worked.”

“Old woman!” Inuyasha barked. He wasn’t about to let the old hag embarrass him in front of Kagome.

“Oh shut it Inuyasha.” Shippo chorused. Inuyasha took one look at the little demon and smacked him.

“Inuyasha!” Kagome yelled. “How could you do that? He was only joking!” The dog demon stared for a moment at the girl he had fallen for. He would never be good enough for her. It hurt. Without saying a word, he simply turned and quickly walked out of the hut. Jumping into the nearest tree, he climbed to the highest branch and sulked.

“What?” Kagome just watched as Inuyasha’s form disappeared from the hut. “Where did he go? Inuyasha!” She called. But it was too late. “Crap.” She sighed. Falling back against the wall, she rubbed her face with her hands. Shippo climbed into her lap, and Sango and Miroku sat beside her. At her feet Kaede hurried to wrap her injured leg.

“What’s wrong Kagome?” Shippo asked innocently.

“Nothing. Why don’t you take Miroku and get some food for us?” She suggested, knowing the demon would instantly agree to the prospect of food.

“Alright!” And Shippo jumped form her lap to the floor and began to drag Miroku out of the hut by the hand.

“Kagome?” Sango asked again.

“Sango, what’s wrong with me? Does Inuyasha hate me that much? I mean, I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I’m so tired of trying to hide everything inside, and I know that if I say something he’ll only laugh at me and send me home crying. I don’t want that. But I want him.” Kagome began to break down. For the first time in a long time she allowed herself to cry full tears over the one she loved.

“Kagome, tell him. He cares for you, and even if he doesn’t say he loves you back, he won’t hurt you. He’s not that insensitive.”

“How can he love me? All he wants is the Shinkon no Tama. And after he’s been made full demon, he’ll leave me. He can hardly stand humans anyway. I’m surprised he puts up with me.”

“Kagome, it isn’t just a matter of him putting up with you. He cares.” Sango tried to convince her friend. She had seen for herself just how much the dog-demon cared for the girl. She had seen him taking extra blows to protect her. She had seen him helping her even when she didn’t ask for it. She had seen him watching her with a longing.

“If he cares at all, it’s for his silly Kikyo, not me, Kagome.”

“That’s not true. He put those herbs on your ankle didn’t he?”

“So he could get me healthy to make his wish.”

“No. He used that as a front. He did it because he knew you would be in pain if he didn’t.”

“Why do I somehow doubt that?”

“Because you’re too skeptical.” Sango chided.

“No, I’m practical. I’m just a Shinkon no Tama protector who’s fallen head over heels in love with a hanyou dog-demon who wants to be a youkai.”

“Just remember dear.” Kaede spoke up. “You don’t have to use that crystal at all. You just need to keep it close to you. If you’re not ready to grant wishes, then don’t.”

“Kaede, I don’t want to use the crystal at all.”

“Like I said, if you don’t want to, don’t.”

“What I really want is simply to go home.”

“Nothing can hold you here now child. You have what you have been searching for. You deserve to go home.”

“You’re wrong. I have so much holding me here- you, Sango, Shippo, Miroku, and especially Inuyasha. I don’t know if I could leave. It’s funny. I used to know I belonged back home with my family and friends from school. But now, now when I go home, it won’t be home. It will just be another place. I won’t really recognize any friends. But I don’t belong here either. I suppose I don’t belong anywhere anymore. I don’t have a true home anymore.”

“Your home is where your friends and family are.”

“But my friends are here, while my family’s there. How do I live in the two worlds?”

“You need to chose child. You haven’t much of a choice in the matter I suppose.”

“Chose? Chose between my friends and my family? Between the worlds? And all of this on top of my Inuyasha problem. Wow, I’m having a great day.”

“Sango? Will you see if you can find Inuyasha? I want to talk to him.” Kaede clipped sharply.

“Of course.” Sango stood and left the dwelling.

“Child, you are often confused with Kikyo the past protector of the Bone Eater’s well. But anyone who has met you will know that you are not her in anyway except for your courage and determination. Both of you had very different personalities, but somewhat similar character traits. Just remember this: Inuyasha is not blind. He knew both you and Kikyo, and he can see the differences. He didn’t help Kikyo defeat youkai, he helped you.” Kaede spoke with the wisdom of years of knowledge layered in her heavy voice.

“Kaede? I found him!” Sango called from the door. Behind her was the dog demon.

“Good. I want to know what you used to help Kagome’s ankle heal so quickly. I can’t think of any herbs that will heal a broke ankle in a matter of three days.”

“Old woman, it’s a demon’s secret.”

“One that I intend on getting out of you. Now tell me!” Kaede barked.

“I didn’t use herbs. I only wrapped it to make it look like I did. I used an old pain relief technique. I took her pain and added it to my own. That way she wouldn’t feel it.” Inuyasha hung his head as Kagome and Sango gasped. Kaede simply nodded.

“Inuyasha? You… you took my pain and added it to your own?” Kagome repeated dazed.

“Yeah, well…” Inuyasha was tongue-tied. “It was so you would be able to use the crystal.” He finally blurted out. Liar! He wanted to smack himself. That was a lie. He had done it to save her the pain. He was willing to take her pain and make it his own, as long as she was slightly more comfortable.

“The crystal?” Kagome’s face fell. “Oh. Well, I guess I should tell you that I decided I wouldn’t be using the crystal.”

“What?” Inuyasha’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped. “Why not?”

“I’m not ready for the power. To grant people’s heart’s desire? The Shinkon no Tama is not something to be taken lightly.”

“But…”

“And don’t try to touch the crystal either dog boy, or you’ll find yourself barking up the wrong tree!” Kaede pushed him aside and moved to sit by Kagome.

“So I’m stuck as a hanyou? Damn wench!” He growled angrily. But the truth was, he didn’t really mind that much. Being trapped as a hanyou had its advantages. He still had all the perks of being a demon, plus he could become human on nights of the full moon. He had both worlds, really. And both worlds meant he could maybe visit Kagome at her home on nights when he was human without many problems… not that she wanted him to.

“I am not a wench!” Kagome startled Inuyasha out of his thoughts. “I’m sick of being called one! I swear, if you call me that one more time, you’ll hear the magic ‘S’ word, and then you’ll regret it. Do I make myself clear Inuyasha?” Kagome snapped, tears threatening to roll down her soft cheeks.

“Ka…Kagome?” Inuyasha watched her eyes blur. He could smell the saltiness of tears and knew she was close to crying. He ha brought her close to crying? “Kagome, please don’t cry.” He pleaded. The room fell silent. *

~~~Hey! Sorry updates are taking so long, but school is KILLER! Anyway, PLEASE REVIEW! More coming soon! Much love, Vixen~~~