New Enemies and New Friends: Chapter 7

Still don't own Inuyasha, wish I did cause I could sure use that kind of cash flow.

 

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"You can’t just fucking decide that! I’ll take her back right now!"

Inuyasha screamed to Kagome’s mother who had called Kagome and Inuyasha into the kitchen to talk after the pair had returned from the shopping they had done immediately after coming through the well to find no one home.

"Don’t use that kind of language in my home, you know better." Kagome’s mother calmly corrected him then said, "I can decide to keep Kagome here until she graduates, I am her mother. It’s only two months and the week after that will mark her eighteenth birthday and three years you all have been chasing after the pieces of the shard. Considering the fact that you haven’t been able to find this Naraku person at all in the last year, I don’t think two months and a week is much to ask for. After that I will have no objections to Kagome putting off collage for the year as she asked, as long as you both visit me at least every two months."

"No way!" Inuyasha insisted stubbornly, "Let’s go Kagome."

"No, Inuyasha." Kagome shook her head, "Mama is right. I won’t go with you now. You can take this stuff to others and let them know what’s going on. If you don’t want to stay with me you can hunt Naraku on your own."

"I’m not leaving you here now that I know there are a lot of demons in this time too." Inuyasha snapped, "I’ll take this shi… I mean stuff to the feudal era and be back in a few hours. But I can’t believe you’re insisting on staying the whole time."

"Thank you." Kagome called as Inuyasha picked up their purchases and headed to the well house. "Don’t forget to ask Karma what she thinks of the bag!"

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At Kaede’s hut Sango had introduced Karma and they were filling the old woman in on what had been happening since they last saw her.

"I swear every time I start to believe these old eyes of mine have seen everything to be seen, ye all deliver a new surprise." Kaede was about to say something else when the door burst open and Inuyasha walked in tossing assorted packages to Miroku, Sango, and Shippo. He then pulled a single strapped red leather book-bag from his shoulder and tossed it to Karma.

"Kagome won’t be coming back for a while." Inuyasha announced then seeing the shocked faces of his friends added, "Her mom won’t let her until she finishes school and turns eighteen in about two months." He sat down between Karma and Miroku continuing, "I’m gonna stay there, but I need to know what you all are going to do."

"Well it would be rather pointless to hunt Naraku without the two of you as well," Miroku answered with a look to Sango and Shippo who were nodding in agreement. "We’ll stay here unless we are called to another village to vanquish any troublesome demons. Karma, what do you wish to do?"

"Doesn’t really matter," Karma said with a shrug, "I’m sticking with you guys. I’d go insane if I was stuck alone again after you all have taken me in."

"Good." Inuyasha said with satisfaction, "I’ll come by every few days to check on you all. If you hear any rumors about Naraku you stay put till I get here. Now open that shit Kagome got you and make certain it’s what you all wanted. Kagome found that bag and freaked out over it because it matches your sheaths, Karma. She put a bunch of stuff in it that she said was none of my business, but I did see her put a few books in there. One of them was a textbook to teach you how to write, but I couldn’t read the titles of the other ones so I guess they’re in your language."

Intrigued, Karma opened the bag and dug around till she found a couple paperback novels and exclaimed happily, "Where did she get these? I love supernatural romance novels and she even had my favorite authors!"

"I don’t know where she got ’em" Inuyasha shrugged then asked, "Romance novels? What are they smut books? I didn’t think Kagome was like that."

Miroku looked up instantly from inspecting his gifts but kept his mouth closed. Sango started to yell at Inuyasha for implying anything like that about Kagome, but Karma laughed and interrupted her.

"They aren’t smut, little brother." Shaking her head merrily Karma continued, "Romance novels are mostly about the chase and hardships couples go through in order to find true love."

When she kept silent about the books also containing erotic scenes, Miroku and Inuyasha quickly lost interest. Sango questioned her a bit more before Karma promised to read them to her when they were alone with a wicked smile on her face. Inuyasha stayed a few hours making sure to get everyone’s opinions on their gifts for Kagome, and then announced he had to get back. After Miroku, Sango and Shippo sent messages of love and how much they were going to miss Kagome, Karma stood up with Inuyasha.

"I’ll walk you back to well." She said.

"Whatever." Inuyasha replied knowing she was going to stick her nose in his business again.

Karma slightly surprised him by staying silent until they had reached the well.

"You should use this time to talk to her, Bro." Karma said finally, proving his assumption correct.

"Sure, I’ll just go up to her and say I love you but I’m still gonna die for Kikyou, sorry." Inuyasha growled then turned bright red as he realized he had said the big L word aloud before saying sadly, "I can’t do that to her knowing we’ll never be together."

"Shouldn’t she get some say in this?" Karma pointed out, "She will probably choose to be with you even knowing that."

"I would never let her ruin herself knowing I plan to die an early death." Inuyasha said getting really pissed at his adopted sister.

"It isn’t ruining herself to be with the man who loves her and who, I’d stake my life on, that she loves in return." Karma answered back. "You can’t tell me you’ve never been with a woman. If I remember right boys are considered men here before they are even fifteen years old."

"That is entirely different, those women were of loose morals. I don’t think Kagome would be understanding of a man’s needs, unlike Kikyou was. She knew I had to go to those women to sedate my body, but that it didn’t involve my feelings." Inuyasha mumbled not liking to have this talk with Karma, "I’ve stayed celibate since meeting Kagome because of that and I didn’t want her to think I was a pervert like Miroku."

"You poor thing!" Karma laughed, "You do realize most women have the same needs as men, don’t you? And in our time it isn’t that wrong to have sex with someone before marriage."

"I’m done with this conversation." Inuyasha said with finality.

"Fine," Karma rolled her eyes, "Just at least talk to Kagome. I wasn’t really saying you should jump her instantly."

Inuyasha growled a warning at her as he jumped to the edge of the well. Karma laughed at him and said,

"Okay, I’ll drop it. Love you, Little Brother."

Inuyasha just waved and jumped into the well. Shaking her head and laughing Karma returned to the village.

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"I’m back." Inuyasha said as he climbed through Kagome’s window startling her.

"Have you ever heard of doors?" She asked setting down her pen and turning around to face him. "I could have been changing or something you know."

"Well if you’re so worried about it shut the window." He replied with a bit of an attitude, "Do you want to know what they said or not."

"Of course I do." said Kagome, "Did we remember everything? How did Karma like the bag? Was I right about it matching her sheaths? Did Shippo like…"

"Damn, will you shut up and let me talk?" Inuyasha laughed at her, "Yes, we remembered everything they asked for. Karma liked the bag, but I didn’t bother to check if it matched exactly. Shippo always likes new coloring books and you know it. Sango liked her shit, Miroku liked his. Now I want to know when you started reading those sappy books you stuck in the bag for Karma."

"Sappy books? Oh, you saw those. I’ve been reading them forever when I get a chance to relax here." Kagome answered with a slight blush as she continued, "I thought Karma might like them to kill time in the past since they’re written in english. Did she say if she liked them or not?"

"Yeah, she said the writers were her favorites and wanted to know where you found them. Why are you blushing? Karma lied didn’t she, those are smut books." Inuyasha stated the last part accusingly.

"They aren’t smut, but they do have a few intimate scenes in them that are um… never mind but they aren’t smut." Kagome defended herself blushing even redder. "Go eat, Mama made dinner an hour ago and I have a lot of work to do."

Inuyasha was tempted to press the matter further but he had smelled the food Kagome’s mother had made all the way from the well house making his stomach growl. He shrugged and headed out the bedroom door.

Oh great, why didn’t I just admit I see his face as the man in those books? It would have been just as embarrassing and he probably thinks I’m perverted now anyway so at least I could have had a chance at finding out how he feels about me after all this time together. I’m such an idiot. Kagome thought as she turned back around to face the small mountain of work she needed to catch up on. When Inuyasha returned after devouring all the left overs, he sat on her bed and began digging around in her nightstand until he found a novel written in japanese. He pulled it out as Kagome turned around to see what he was doing.

"Put that back, Inuyasha! I don’t go through your things do I?" She asked as she tried to take the book from him.

"Bah, that’s only because I don’t have anything to go through. You just do your damn homework and leave me alone to read." Inuyasha ordered holding the book out of her reach, "If it isn’t smut you shouldn’t mind so much."

"Fine. I don’t care anyway." Kagome lied then told him, "Take it to the living room so you don’t bother me while I’m working."

Inuyasha ignored the order and laid down on her bed opening the book. It took Kagome a long time to refocus on her work, but not long after she did Inuyasha got up with the book and left out the window. She watched as he disappeared and shrugged thinking rather amused, If he’s at the part I think he is I doubt I’ll see him for awhile. It was hot enough to make even Miroku blush if he read it.

Inuyasha didn’t return to her room all night and never even made an appearance at breakfast the next morning. Kagome was slightly worried and preoccupied by it all day at school. Her girlfriends constantly asked her if she and Inuyasha had another fight and hinted lightly that she should go on a date with Hojo. The girls wanted to push the matter of her dating Hojo instead of staying with Inuyasha who cheated on her even if he was polite to them most every time they had met him, but the girls refrained because Kagome had previously warned them to stop doing that if they wished to remain her friends.

"We didn’t fight." Kagome told them as they left school for the day, "Inuyasha found one of my romance novels last night and started reading it in my room but he left and I haven’t heard from him since. I’m a little worried that he thinks I’m some kind of slut now that isn’t worth being around."

"That’s insane." One of the girls burst out, "It isn’t like you’ve actually slept with anyone. Heck I think you’re probably the only willing virgin in our class. It’s only a book."

The other two nodded agreement as Kagome explained, "Inuyasha has sort of old fashioned values. He wouldn’t think anything wrong about a man having sex before marriage but the woman would be a slut. He probably thinks that since I read things like that I must be one too. He’s… Oh no!" Kagome stopped mid-sentence when she spotted Inuyasha leaning against at tree well within his hearing range.

Her friends spotted him a moment later as he walked forward to meet them. All four girls blushed, Kagome because she knew Inuyasha had to have heard the conversation and the other three because they felt a little guilty seeing the object of their discussion. Inuyasha nodded to the other girls as he took Kagome’s arm.

"I need to talk to Kagome alone, I’m sure you all won’t mind" Inuyasha said and began to walk away pulling Kagome slightly.

They walked in silence which was making Kagome very nervous. When they arrived at the house Inuyasha led her to the garden instead of going inside. He sat down on the glider and pulled Kagome down next to him after he took her school books from a pair of unresisting hands.

"I never once thought you were a slut, Kagome." He started off, "I went into the well house and read the book all the way through, it took me till almost eleven this morning. I had to leave because… well…I um…I oh fuck."

Kagome looked at him almost certain of what he was going to say but still asked, "You had to leave because, why?"

"I couldn’t stop thinking about doing those things to you." Inuyasha blurted out in a rush, "It’s not that I think you’re that type of person. I… care… fuck I’m just gonna say this shit and don’t interrupt me." He took a deep breath then looked her in the eyes and continued softly, "I love you. I have for a long time. I love you so much I couldn’t even be with another woman to relive my desires since I’ve met you. That damn book was making it painfully obvious to me and if I would have stayed I don’t think I could have stopped myself from taking you."

"Do you think I would have objected? I love you too, Inuyasha. I see your face every time I read books like that and wonder what it would be like with you." Kagome interrupted grabbing his hands when he paused for a breath.

Instead of looking happy as she expected Inuyasha’s face became a mask of torture. He closed his eyes and tilted his face to the sky with clenched teeth. He stayed like that a few minutes before lowering his head to look at their clasped hands.

"Kagome those were words I feel like I’ve waited my whole life to hear cross your lips," Inuyasha sorrowfully stated, "but we can’t be together. I can’t forget my promise to Kikyou. I refuse to be with you only to willingly die at the end."

"Inuyasha, I know about your promise to Kikyou. I’m her reincarnation, remember. I’ve seen you both together more times than I care to think about, but it’s never been enough to make me feel any differently in my heart. I won’t let you go without a fight no matter what, so I don’t really see a problem with us openly expressing our feelings."

Inuyasha’s face slowly lost the tortured look but was still sad when he raised his eyes back to hers and asked with little hope, "Could you, maybe, um… I mean would you still be willing to be with me if I ask you to allow me to speak with Kikyou first?" Seeing her face fall into depression he added, "Don’t’ look like that, please. I need to close my relationship with her as much as possible before we’re together. It won’t change that I still plan to enter hell with her but I would feel less like I was a cheating bastard."

He pulled her into a tight hug as she nodded tearfully. He stroked her back and kissed her head repeatedly as she cried in a mixture of happiness and sorrow. They stayed cuddled together until Kagome’s grandfather showed up in the garden with a pair of hedge trimmers effectively breaking the mood.