Blissful Ignorance

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha [posted for Cassandra]



Fallen

Chapter 2



?Kagome-sama?is not well?? Miroku murmured in a question and he lifted his dark eyes upward to where Inuyasha sat on a tree branch. The night was quiet but warm and there had been no need for a fire. The group sat in darkness, the monk on his rear resting from the long journey they had taken that day. Beside him lay Shippo, the small fox demon sleeping peacefully.

The hanyou sat with his back pressed against the bark of the tree, staring out blindly into the darkness. No, Kagome-sama was not well. Kagome had not been well since the encounter with the youkai that had nearly killed her. He exhaled inaudibly, sniffing the air almost absentmindedly. He did that a lot these days, sniffing and searching the night, always prepared for a fight. So long as the Shikon no Tama was on any of their person it would be a necessity.

Below, the monk made a small, derisive sound and settled down to sleep, obviously put off that the hanyou had not answered his question. It was fine with him. He didn?t converse much with the monk although he did trust him in battle.

Sango had returned to her village several days earlier. To check up on things, no doubt. One less person to worry about.

?Perhaps you should go look for her if you?re going to be worrying the way you are,? Miroku mumbled under his breath. ?Or perhaps you?d rather I go? I think she?s bathing-?

?Shut up, bozu,? he growled finally, and he cast a wrathful look at the monk who was lying on his back, hands propping his head up comfortably, a sly smile on his face. Standing up with a flourish he shook out his clothes, the long sleeves of the haori billowing about his frame. He would not play into his little games, especially not tonight.

He was tired. Quite literally, he was drained of everything. His emotions had wrung him dry and he felt as if the slightest breeze could rip him apart. With another inward sigh he took a step and then leapt, flying through the air. The world was good to him in that, allowing him to alight on another sturdy tree branch and from there he dived once more, sailing forth.

Miroku?s smile slowly faded away as he watch him vanish into the shadows of the night. It was better that the hanyou be with Kagome at the moment. The girl from the other world had not been herself since the encounter and what she needed was a friend above all.

Although he wouldn?t have minded a good feel in the midst of comforting her.





Inuyasha landed silently upon a branch, hesitating before the river. He had heard small sounds apart from the rushing stream, small splashes and soft whispers. But Kagome had come to bathe alone. His heart quickened a bit as he looked about, searching for her figure.

She hid in the stream behind a large pile of stones, her frame glistening in the moonlight that touched down around her.

He stared for a moment, a frown on his face. No doubt he would be assaulted with an ?Osuwari!? the moment she caught him peeping but at the moment he didn?t care.

?Uso. Uso,? she whispered and he caught her pained rambling even across the roar of the stream. Her hands lifted to her ears and she bent her head, shaking it as if to rid herself of something. A thought. ?Uso?uso??

He cocked his head in confusion, unsure whether to bring himself closer. The Shikon no Tama hung around her neck, resting upon her chest and it shone in the moonlight momentarily, gleaming brilliantly. And a moment later she threw her back her head, clutching her hair to her neck and shrieked, ?Uso!?

The sound startled him momentarily, bringing him up stiffly and as she screamed it again he leapt, his dive bringing him to a crouched landing behind her, on top of the tallest stone. With an anger borne from fear he reached down and swiped at her wrist, taking hold of it tightly and forcing her around. ?Kagome!?

She whirled, staggering, and fell against the stone, looking up at him with wide eyes. And for a moment it almost seemed as if she didn?t recognize him, didn?t trust him. He stared down at her, eyebrows pulled low over his amber eyes and they gazed at each other silently, all sound lost to them both.

And then, it all happened in slow motion. Inuyasha knew she would not ever let him live it down. Dropping her head, she stared at her nude form, only barely covered by the stone she was pressed up against. His senses warned him that it would have been the perfect opportunity to flee, at least until he was out of earshot. His eyes picked up the scarlet blush that shot across her cheeks and had he had another moment he would have gladly slapped himself across the forehead.

?Osuwari!? she yelled.

His entire body crashed to the stone, chin knocking against the edge, and he winced as stars exploded before his eyes. She always did that. Damn it, he should have been used to it but she always managed to find a new spot for him to crash down unto.

?You pervert! What the hell do you think you?re doing? Can?t I bathe in peace-?

?Shut up!? he shouted at her as he managed to lift his head. A moment later he was back on his feet, still clutching her wrist. ?What the hell is the matter with you?? he growled at her, shaking her wrist, angrily, purposefully, staring her in her eyes. ?You had me worried half to death, screaming your head off like that! What the hell is going on??

She blinked at him, mouth forming an ?o? in surprise. ?Eh?? she questioned. And a moment later she waved her free hand at him, her face breaking out into a wide smile, eyes sliding shut. ?Ah, gomen, gomen. I didn?t think anyone was around-?

He quirked an eyebrow, mouth clamping shut as she continued to wave cheerfully.

?I was practicing?for a play, at school, you see?? she went on and he stared at her as she spoke, catching onto the way she kept her eyes closed as she spoke, the way she was still trying to wrench her wrist from his grip. ?And I thought everyone was asleep. And because my part is such a?a forceful one??

You?re lying.

?I didn?t think you would be awake and I didn?t think anyone would hear me. Gomen.? A moment later she ducked down even further behind the stone, looking about quickly. ?Eh, Miroku-sama? Doko-?

?Asleep,? Inuyasha said dully, staring at her. And the expression on his face was one of sadness, almost. She returned her eyes back to his face at his tone, but the expression on his face closed over and without another word he released her wrist, rising to his full height. She stared at him, her words dying away as he merely let his gaze roam across her face and then he turned away, silver hair blowing behind him.

?Inuyasha-? she whispered.

He leapt off the stone and landed on the bank of the river, folding his arms across his chest and facing away from her. ?Get dressed. I?ll wait for you.?

She didn?t say anything for a moment and he kept his gaze fixed on the darkness of the woods before him, standing stiffly but firmly.

?You?really don?t have to-?

?Just do it,? he ordered, tossing the growl at her over his shoulder.

She said nothing else and he listened to her as she pulled away from the stream, slowly padding over to her heap of clothes on the other side of the stone, lying on dry grass. He managed to shut away the noise as she dressed once more, managed to not try to picture what she was slipping on now, or if she needed help. It seemed to take her forever but he was sure it was just him. He lifted his eyes up toward the sky and swallowed inaudibly. His time would be soon. Another turn at humanity.

She came up behind him and he was suddenly aware of her, all of her. His skin pricked up as if sensing magic and he pulled back a step as she came to stand beside him, long hair hanging damply. She was magic, he realized, meeting her eyes. All of her was magical. She smiled at him faintly and he looked down, suddenly feeling her hand brush his. A slender, pale hand. His eyes focused on that before slowly running up along the arm, following her limb to her uniform and catching on the Shikon no Tama around her neck, resting close to her breast. His gaze flew to her face and the smile was still there but it was different somehow. The same smile. A different expression.

?Are you?afraid of me?? she asked quietly.

His head shot up, eyes widening as he frowned. ?No, of course not. I would never be afraid of you.?

She seemed to measure him silently.

?Just as you would never have a reason to be afraid of me,? he finished, feeling as if he spoke through a veil. Uncertain. ?Why would you ask me a question like that??

She tilted her head, shrugging faintly, and that gesture also seemed off. He glared at her, wanting to see passed the smile to what she thought, what was running through her head at that very moment. Instead, she turned her face away, her hand leaving his without warmth, and she went to take a step back toward where they had left the others camped.

Inuyasha took hold of her wrist once more, causing her to stumble backward in surprise and he held her wrist beside his face for a moment, honey-hued eyes cold. His claws dug into her skin slightly and she grimaced, coming toward him a step.

?Inuyasha, itai-? she whispered, clenching her hand into a fist as he merely gazed at her.

The hanyou studied her expression, calculating for a moment. And then, slowly, he brought her wrist toward his face, sniffing her skin almost imperceptibly. Her eyes glazed over slightly as he looked into them, breathing faintly against her arm. She smelled like herself, that wonderfully soft scent that was all her own, underneath the fragranced soaps and sprays she used. She seemed limp as he gazed at her and after a moment he lowered her wrist away, lifting his other hand to it, to massage away the small pricks his claws had left in her flesh. She swallowed as he did so, her eyes dropping to stare at their hands together.

?Gomen,? he whispered, also looking at their joined hands. His thumb grazed the back of her palm momentarily before finally releasing her entirely. And then he swept passed her, red haori billowing around his lean frame.

Kagome stared off after him for a slight instant and as he glanced over his shoulder she went to catch up, walking with him back toward the group.


To be continued...