Demonic Love

By Danyealle
(FanFiction/Inuyasha/Kagome/Sesshomaru/Kouga/Angst)

Chapter 7

A bit of stilted conversation went around for a few minutes after that until a smiling Mrs. Higurashi opened the door.  Sota was with her so was Buyo.  Immediately, the cat went over to meet Kirara.  Smiling over at the still upset kitsune who had taken refuge in Sangos’ arms she said, “This is Sota Shippo, Kagomes’ brother.  He was wondering if you would like to go down to his room and play a couple games.

The kit looked at the boy then hopped out of Sangos’ arms and walked over to him, “OK, what kind of thing do you have?”

“C’mon, Ill teach you to play video games.”  He said, leading the kid out of the room.  “I beat Inuyasha all the time and even beat Kouga when he played me.”

“Yeah, well, if it was a real sword fight I would have beat you kid!”  Inuyasha called out after him softly, so as not to wake Kagome.

Her grandfather appeared in the doorway after that with bandages, eyeing those in the room warily.

Seeing him, Kouga got up and took them, “We’ll get them changed.”

Giving the wolf demon a sharp look he then looked at Sesshomaru warily but nodded and said nothing

Looking at the handsome monk, Mrs. Higurashi smiled, “Would you like to see the shrine Miroku?”

Nodding, the monk smiled, knowing it was her intent that they didn’t see what was coming.  “Yes, I think I would like that.”

Turning to the old man she said, “Why don’t you show Miroku around Grandpa?  I’m sure you both have a lot to talk about.

“Alright.”  The old man said, eyeing all the non-humans warily.  “Follow me.”  He said walking out.

After a glance at their leader, who had changed places with Sesshomaru and was now on the bed cradling the sleeping Kagome, Ginta and Hakkaku followed the old man, curious to see more of ‘Kagomes’ world’.

Reaching over, the older woman put a hand on Sangos’ shoulder.  It was obvious that the woman her daughter talked about like a sister was very upset by seeing Kagome.  She knew it would be worse if she saw the stitches when the bandages came off.  Rubbing her shoulder, she smiled, “Kagome said you like a nice, hot bath Sango.  So why don’t I show you the tub so you can soak for a while?”

Sitting on the floor, leaning against a wall, Inuyasha watched as his baka brother began to gently unwind all the gauze wrapped around her left arm.  Kouga held her and stroked her back softly as she began to mumble in her sleep.  With his stomach churning he looked as the long gashes on her arms that were sewn shut.  He was horrified but wasn’t able to look away.

Holding her, softly stroking her back, Kouga glared at the hanyou.  They had learned that Sesshomaru was best at the bandage changes.  His long, nimble fingers were much more deft and dexterous than the ookamis, so he could gently and quickly change them.   The times he had she hadn’t even woken but it did seem to disturb her sleep a bit.

The taiyoukai stopped and looked at her face as she began to squirm around, brow furrowed.  He was about resume when she muttered Inuyashas’ name then something about ramen.  A soft growl escaped her then the words “Sit boy!”

With a startled yelp, Inuyasha crashed face first into the carpeted floor, causing Kouga to chuckle and Sesshomaru to look at him, smirking.  Once the spell let loose its’ hold, Inuyasha peeled himself off the floor with a heavy sigh.  He wasn’t about to snarl and growl like he usually did.  Instead he felt like smiling.  That command told him that his feisty Kagome was still in there somewhere.  But looking at her arm made a lump in his stomach that was threaten to make him sick.  Muttering, he walked out of the bedroom intending to get some fresh air outside.

Her mother was in the kitchen, sorting through some laundry, when she saw him.  Smiling, she asked, “Are you OK Inuyasha?”

Stopping, he looked at her then down at the floor, shaking his head.

Walking over to him, she put a hand on his shoulder and guided him to a chair where he sat down.

Putting his head in his hands, he shut his eyes, “I feel like shit.  This is all my fault.”

Wrapping her arms around him, she stroked his back softly, “No Inuyasha, this isn’t your fault.”

Shutting his eyes, he leaned his head against her chest and sighed.  Being held like this felt pretty good.  It reminded him of his mother when he was young, it was comforting.  “I said some pretty rotten things to her.”  He admitted, ashamed.

“Yes you did Inuyasha.”  She said softly but didn’t let him go.  “What you said wasn’t right and it hurt her a lot.  But she knows you were upset too and didn’t mean it.”

Breaking the hug, she looked down at him and stroked his hair, “You aren’t the reason she did this Inuyasha.  No, you didn’t help matters by voicing what she was already feeling but it isn’t your fault.  Don’t blame yourself.  Kagome made a choice to do this because she was in so much pain that she couldn’t handle it anymore.  She couldn’t make it stop and couldn’t take it anymore.  She felt this was the only way to make the pain end.”

Feeling tears sting his eyes, he shook his head.  “Why this time?  Death happens all the time and she’s seen it a lot.”

“Inuyasha, Kagome grew up differently than you and your friends did.  In our time things are and can be violent but it’s not a way of life like it is for you.  It’s more random and done by humans.  Before she was drug through the well the first time she had never seen a demon let alone battled one.  Her life growing up was very different from you and what she sees is hard on her.  All of you have grown up with it and lived with it all your lives, Kagome hasn’t.  Her existence has been very sheltered.”

Those tears that had been threatening spilled out even though he tried desperately not to let them.  Wiping them away, he whispered, “I love her and don’t want to lose her.”

Wrapping her arms around him again, she held him close.  “She loves you too Inuyasha.  You’re the best friend she’s ever had and she sees you like a big brother.  I doubt anything will ever change that.”

What she said made him feel better and after a couple minutes the tears stopped.  They talked for a bit longer before he went out and hopped into the tree to think.

~~~@~~~

Upstairs, Kouga and Sesshomaru had listened to the conversation intently.  After Inuyasha left the house the ookami looked at the taiyoukai and grinned, “I wonder if Inuyasha realized she didn’t mention that Kagome saw him as her boyfriend?  Even her mom realizes that is over.”

Smirking, Sesshomaru shook his head.  “I doubt it.  Either that or he thinks if the other is still there that will be as well.”