Barbara and Kaeya became close because Jean and Diluc became friends. When Kaeya was finally warming up to other people, Diluc felt that Kaeya was ready to meet people their age; that was when he introduced him to the Gunnhildr siblings.
Kaeya was two years older than Barbara, a year younger than Diluc and barely a year older than Jean, but he still would say he was older than Jean by a year, to which Jean did not mind. Kaeya enjoyed annoying Barbara but clearly had a soft spot for the younger Gunnhildr sister. Despite Jean being younger than him, he felt that the eldest Gunnhildr daughter was too uptight for her own age, a different kind of uptightness from his adoptive brother.
Kaeya found joy in pestering Barbara because she was very expressive unlike Jean, but who would dare annoy Jean in front of Diluc, which was like asking for a death sentence. Kaeya was not blind and could see how much Diluc adored Jean even though he knew his brother would deny it.
One day when the four met up at Dawn Winery to play, Barbara decided to escape and disappeared from the three. The always happy Barbara was crouched behind a bush crying, this was the scene that squeezed Kaeya’s heart for the first time regarding Barbara.
“Barbara.” Kaeya called out softly as he squatted beside her.
“Leave me alone.” She whispered as she raised her wrist and waved him away.
“Barbara.” Kaeya poked her lightly on her shoulder.
“I said leave me alone!” She glared at Kaeya but she was pouting as tears were streaming down her face.
“Was I too much?” He asked with pressed lips as he sat on the grass. Seeing Kaeya sit down Barbara followed. He felt bad thinking that she was upset because of his incessant teasing.
“It’s not about you.” Barbara brought her face closer to her knees.
“Then–” Kaeya’s voice was very worried and Barbara looked at him with tears in her eyes and tackled him into an embrace as she wept. He hugged her silently as he rubbed her back. When Barbara’s weeping ceased he gently pushed her and seeing the tears on her face, he instantly wiped them away.
“Jean is very worried about you.” He sighed and she looked at him like he was lying and he cocked a brow at her. “I’m not lying, Diluc is making sure she won’t mobilize the Gunnhildr Clan resources to look for you.” Barbara pressed her lips and pulled away from Kaeya.
“Then we have to go.” She replied, her voice filled with worry. She knew her sister would actually do that but Kaeya’s face looked displeased.
“With those puffy eyes?” Kaeya crossed his arms.
“You can go and tell them that I am safe.” Barbara pleaded and he sighed, extending a hand for her to take,
“We can go tell them that you stumbled across a hilichurl and I saw you and ran as fast as I could to go and save you.” He stressed then continued, “That was why you were crying.” Barbara frowned at his lie but pressed her lips and nodded as she sniffled.
“Alright.” She agreed as she placed a hand over the hand he extended. Kaeya stood up and pulled her up, but Barabara continued to hold his hand and did not let go of her.
Kaeya and Barbara walked slowly and then a big bird that Kaeya recognized came flapping towards him. Barbara thought it was going to attack them and she instantly flinched. He felt her quiver and carefully covered her from the falcon to give her some peace of mind.
“Hello, Nightingale.” Kaeya said as it landed in front of them.
Barbara was familiar with the name as Jean had mentioned it to her before, so she took a peek from behind Kaeya. Nightingale was the falcon Diluc had raised when Nightingale was just a baby.
Kaeya had to let go of her hand when he noticed a piece of paper on Nightingale’s leg. Barbara unconsciously frowned with the absence of his hand and Kaeya squatted and took the paper and read it.
“Diluc is saying that Jean is really worried and hopes I found you, if not he will use the Ragnvindr men to find you, so as to not get Jean and you in trouble with your mother.” Kaeya summarized and took a pen and piece of paper from his pouch and wrote to his brother.
“This should stop the two from making any drastic actions.” He said once he finished writing and tied the paper on the falcon’s leg. “Go back to Diluc now.” And the bird flapped its wings and flew away.
Barbara had heard that Nightingale was a very smart bird and she was rather amazed seeing him for the first time. Kaeya’s calmness at handling Nightingale and Nightingale listening to Kaeya’s command showed the level of trust the two had formed.
Kaeya stood up and extended his hand for Barbara again, his expression serious that Barbara was startled. Kaeya to her was never a serious person. She reached out and accepted his hand and the two rushed back to Dawn Winery.
He may appear serious to everyone else but never truly to her, at least that was how she always saw him and yet, there was a small part of her that wondered if Barbara ever knew Kaeya at all.
Jean and Diluc were waiting at the fence surrounding the side portion of the house at Dawn Winery. Jean and Diluc looked like they were stuck in some kind of staring contest. Diluc noticed Kaeya and Barbara holding hands as they made their way to the two. Diluc reached for Jean’s hand and pointed behind her and she turned with wide teary eyes.
“Barbara!” Jean yelled as she ran to the two while Barbara squeezed Kaeya’s hand firmly.
“Barbara where–” Jean instantly said but was cut off noticing her little sister’s appearance. “Why were you crying? What happened?” She asked, her voice filled with anger, she looked at Kaeya and their hands.
“Kaeya what happened?” Diluc said in a firm tone as he reached their side. Barbara was nervous but avoided her sister’s stare.
“She went out to look for flowers for you, Jean.” Kaeya said smoothly and Barbara glanced at him and could not hide her surprise. He turned to look at her as if saying: I have no choice, I have to tell her the truth. “But unfortunately stumbled onto one hilichurl.”
Jean was frozen at the thought of her dear sister facing a hilichurl.
“Luckily I arrived just a few seconds after her encounter, but she was petrified and scared.” Kaeya lied smoothly and Barbara was surprised at how convincing he was and at the fact that he would go that far for her.
Barbara looked down on Jean’s shoes. “I’m sorry.” She whispered gently as she squeezed Kaeya’s hand.
“Barbara,” Jean sighed seeing her sister’s anxiousness and strangely it was reassuring to see how Kaeya had comforted her in some way, since the two seemed like they didn’t get along quite so well. But she knew that Kaeya adored her sister despite his teasing.
“I’m just glad Kaeya got there in time then.” She added as she went to embrace Barbara. As Barbara felt the warm arms of her sister, she let go of Kaeya’s hand and hugged her sister back as she wept and apologized.
Diluc quietly stared at his brother knowingly, but not in full certainty, that Kaeya was lying. However, since Barbara did not say anything to oppose Kaeya’s claims and since Jean did not try to ask her sister anything more, he did not say a word. Diluc could tell as Kaeya glanced at him for a moment, that Kaeya knew Diluc was doubtful of him.
That was probably the day that the dynamic of Barbara and Kaeya really changed.
On Diluc’s twelfth birthday, when Kaeya saw Barbara he was instantly drawn to her. The moment he saw her, he knew he had to pull her away from Jean so that Barbara could relax, he knew he had to look out for her and he knew he had to keep her from feeling alone. Even though Barbara was all smiles and sunshines he knew how lonely she was feeling and how desperate she was to hide the fact, but with him she didn’t have to continue with the pretense.
They never really talked about that day just like they don’t talk about sentimental things to each other but they knew each other well even without saying them. Perhaps it started on the day he caught her crying behind a bush, hiding away from everyone.
“Jean!” He called out to the eldest Gunnhildr first as he merrily jogged to the sisters. “Barbara.” Kaeya stopped near Barbara with a smile and Barbara smiled and her eyes twinkled as she stretched her hand out to Kaeya.
Jean sighed, “Alright, you two go and play.” Kaeya turned to Jean with a smile. “Take good care of my sister.” She added with a strict tone and Kaeya bowed his head seriously.
“Of course.” And Kaeya brought Barbara somewhere not towards the other kids. Kaeya held Barbara’s hand firmly as he brought her to the buffet table.
“Look at this!” Kaeya said as he let go of her hand and pointed at the cake. “Or maybe you’d like to eat this?” He asked, pointing at a ball of meat. Barbara stared at his serious expression which she rarely saw.
Barbara saw Kaeya as a rather mischievous soul. He would make her an unknowing accomplice on his schemes at times. Kaeya was mischievous, as Diluc was rambunctious, in this sense they were a perfect match. There were times that Kaeya would unnecessarily solve a problem in the most inconvenient way that it made Barbara think that he was just after the chaos that ensued in his plan. However when it gets to that point and Barbara decides to put her foot down, surprisingly Kaeya would actually oblige to her wishes. And even when Kaeya was being mischievous, he always looked after her.
She asked once if he worried about his brother or Jean in such a manner, and he instantly told her no: because they could handle themselves. Barbara at first felt as though she should have been offended by that statement but then realized it was because Kaeya knew she could not harm another soul which led to his conclusion. Safeguarding her when the four were together was always his duty and she didn’t mind that.
“This– I think you would like a lot.” He said picking up a white piece of treat. “It has strawberries inside.” Barbara’s eyes twinkled at the thought and she smiled.
Kaeya grabbed a plate and stacked it with things he thought she would like and as she observed him, she smiled. They were mostly things she would really enjoy, everything sweet.
Kaeya didn’t hate her, the moment he saw Barbara, he felt he met a kindred spirit. It was odd, because she was clearly so pure, and he did not feel the same thing about himself. He felt that he had to look out for her no matter what. He enjoyed annoying her not only because she was expressive but because it seemed like she was upset even though she was smiling. He annoyed her to keep her spirits up.
In a simple word, he adored her. He didn’t know why but maybe because Jean and Diluc were busy with each other that Kaeya felt he had to look after Barbara. She had to be protected because he could see how she could not hurt a fly, he saw how she would keep her pain inside because she did not want to worry her sister. He just saw her as someone who had to be shielded by how cruel the world truly was.
“Kaeya.” Barbara called out with a frown. He smiled at her charmingly that Barbara actually frowned deeper. She had heard the older woman saying that Kaeya would be a dangerous man once he had gotten older. She had also heard that women would surely flock to him and that he could get any girl he wanted and yet the same was said about Diluc however not as often as Kaeya.
Barbara never understood those words, but when he smiled like that, she felt like she could understand what they meant a little bit more.
You can’t be trusted, Barbara almost said it aloud to Kaeya, but as she stared at his eager periwinkle eyes, she thought that if she had said it, he would surely be hurt.
“You seemed lost in thought.” Kaeya said and Barbara smiled tightly, brushing off her dark thoughts.
No matter what, Kaeya was never truly mean to her. She knew his pestering was his way to distract her and entertain Barbara because she would be with Diluc and Jean who were not exactly the approachable types. Kaeya however, was very patient, sometimes Barbara thought he was a little too patient.
“The adults seem to say: that people should be cautious of you.” Barbara confessed with a rueful smile, and for a moment Kaeya’s eyes flashed with a dark intention that Barbara missed as she was playing with the bow on her dress. “Mother thinks I should stay away from you when I get older.”
Kaeya froze, he looked very upset. When Barbara looked up to see his reaction, she found that he was smiling at her sincerely and shrugged his shoulders.
“Adults are odd,” He spoke lightly. “They tell you to do one thing, warn you about another; and expect you to do something wrong.”
Barbara gazed at Kaeya in confusion, knowing full well that his words held a deeper meaning, but she simply could not ask him about it. She could feel any query was not welcomed at that moment even when Kaeya was smiling– politely that is.
“Well, here we go, I have all your favourites, Barbara.” Kaeya smiled as if their topic had not upset him one bit. He will continue to look out for Barbara even when he gets older, this was his silent oath to himself.
Kaeya carried two plates of food and Barbara followed behind him with one plate. Even though the plates were three and were supposed to be shared, it was mostly just for Barbara. Kaeya simply enjoyed watching her joyous eyes and smile as she ate the treats.
In a way he both admired and envied the purity Barbara had.
~.~.~.~.~
Two years passed and Barbara was still similar in that aspect, she was still pure, innocent and kind.
Kaeya quietly observed Barbara as she ate a terribly sweet cupcake and she cannot hide the joy in her eyes as she ate. But she has changed, she was much more mature at the age of eleven and was certain that she wanted to continue to make people smile. Barbara was sitting across from Kaeya with the grace and elegance of a fine young lady.
Barbara picked up her tea cup as she studied Kaeya who was sitting across from her. She was sitting prim and proper while Kaeya was leaning on the back corner of the chair while resting his head against his hand which was on the arm rest. He looked very bored and indifferent. To Barbara he was kind of different at the age of thirteen.
The two were currently at a parlour room at the Dawn Winery Manor enjoying tea and sweets and the mere company of each other.
“I heard Diluc’s inauguration as a Knight of Favonius will happen next week.” Barbara spoke gently. Kaeya couldn’t help but dislike and yet admire the gentleness that she has developed in two years. A part of Kaeya wished he had a similar kind of tenderness in him, a random thought that he shook off.
“Ah yes, but I heard that you won’t be attending?” Kaeya relayed and he noticed that when Barbara put her teacup down it was empty and so he refilled it. It was natural for him to take care of her and tend to her needs, he wondered when this habit developed.
“Oh, I couldn’t but mother changed her mind and thought that I should go and see it myself. She said that it would be best for both Jean and I to be there as a Gunnhildr.” She cleared her throat uncomfortably and Kaeya frowned. He was into collecting secrets or as Jean and Diluc would say– gossip. Kaeya had caught wind of Frederica and Seamus’ discord, though in truth a lot seemed to be aware of the rumor and were waiting for the official news of their break-up but kept quiet, like a predator stalking its prey.
“Well, then I shall see you on that day then.” He smiled politely as he placed four cubes of sugar and a dash of milk on her cup, the way Barbara likes it.
“Thank you,” Barbara smiled as she gently looked at his hands putting the sugar cubes and such. They had known each other enough to know their preferences.
Barbara sighed and Kaeya looked up at her with the faintest worry in his eyes. She had never discussed her family’s issues with Kaeya and Kaeya did not wish to pry on the matter if she was not opening up about it. However, he clearly sees that it was taking a toll on Barbara. Kaeya couldn’t help but wonder if Diluc knows about the details from Jean, but his brother surely would not divulge such a sensitive thing to him especially since Jean is involved and it came from her own lips.
“Jean and Diluc– those two clearly like each other.” Barbara mumbled as she stirred her tea.
“It isn’t really a secret.” Kaeya replied as he leaned back seeing Barbara stir her tea, it seemed that she didn’t need him to stir her tea for her. She wouldn’t like it if he did it for her anyways.
“Well, they obviously don’t see how they look at each other with big bright loving eyes.” Hearing this Kaeya wanted to laugh at her words but ultimately didn’t. He found her words funny because Barbara was like she was describing how he sees her, big bright eyes.
It was very clear that Jean and Diluc liked one another, everyone literally calls the pair childhood sweethearts.
“They’ll figure it out.” He remarked and his companion merely lifted her teacup and drank her tea in silence. “I heard from Diluc that they are meeting today?”
Barbara simply nodded her head in response.
“And that is why you are spending time with me.” Kaeya sarcastically spoke and feigned hurt by putting a fist over his heart.
Barbara put her teacup away from her lips. “You sound as if I don’t visit you if they aren’t together.” She replied and took one last sip from her cup before putting it back down on the table.
“Well, you and I know why we became close.” Kaeya mumbled and Barbara said nothing.
Barbara had felt that Kaeya had only befriended her because she was left alone when Jean and Diluc were together and Kaeya noticed her loneliness. But even so, Barbara and Kaeya now were close friends and that was all that mattered.
“Well, while I wait for her, I might as well talk to you, aren’t we close friends?” Barbara asked with a gentle gaze and soft countenance.
“Yes, we are quite close.” Kaeya reaffirmed as he observed Barbara quietly. He wondered when she started acting so quiet and gentle in front of him, in fact he remembered thinking that she was sick but now it appeared that she was just tired. It must be due to her family discord that has become an open secret, it was clear it was close to breaking.
At the very least it appeared that now she can truly relax in front of him. Barbara’s gaze was distant and far but he let her doze off into her thoughts as he simply– just quietly accompanied her in a quiet room with only the two of them as he too got lost in his own thoughts.
In first place, yes, I know I’m crazy, but I’m absolutely in love with this little universe I created, so here is one more story, I mean not really in the MSB Universe. These are the ‘What If’ Stores
Summary: Kagome and Inuyasha both think the other is playing mind games because they’re both insecure idiots.
Disclaimer: Here is me yet again not necessarily following the intent of the prompt but alas I have run out of time. This was originally written for Valentine’s Day and has just been sitting in drafts. tbh I’m not sure if I just did some variant of this for Valentine’s Day. No idea what I’m doing with my life.
Tapping her lips anxiously with the tips of her joined fingertips, Kagome looked down at the empty box of chocolates she’d purchased for Shippo with concern written all over her face. The thief had ignored the very nice safe gummy candies she’d purchased. Ignored the handwritten cards. All the thief cared about was the box of chocolates with a cute little white dog holding an ‘I love you’ written on the lid. As awkward as the situation could be for reasons other than Inuyasha’s potentially imminent demise, there was the issue of Inuyasha’s potentially imminent demise. Surely though, surely Inuyasha wasn’t allergic to chocolate like domesticated dogs. He’d be fine probably. Totallyfine.
But…there was no Inuyasha to be seen. If the chocolate didmake him ill, he most likely was hiding so no one would see because god forbid someone help. Of all the things he did, the refusal to let anyone help him was quite possibly the mostannoying.
“Inuyasha left on a perimeter run,” Miroku suddenly offered after the slayer asked where the half-demon had gone. Both of them completely oblivious to the issue at hand. Kagome winced and cringed before tapping her fingertips together. In theory, justintheory, Inuyasha was somewhere having the same reaction domesticated dogs did when exposed to chocolate. Alternatively, he was hiding from her wrath upon having realized those chocolates weren’t for him. Either way, she needed to find him and coax him back.
“Which way did he go?” Kagome sighed wearily – lowering her hands and glancing anxiously around the tree line. That would be his move. To hide because he didn’t feel well. Not wanting to show weakness or be babied. Probably scared because since when did he get sick with anything. In all honesty, she should’ve just given the little treats to everyone when she first got back but, like an idiot, she decided to wait until Valentine’s Day to hand them out. What did it even matter? Wasn’t like the feudal era honored Valentine’s Day or any Western tradition. It…
A small momentary flash of red in her periphery and a flare of Inuyasha’s aura had Kagome’s head whipping to her left.
“I’ll be right back,” she muttered to the others as she quickly turned and started heading towards where the half-demon had to be hiding. It probably would have behooved her to have brought some water or a barf bag but she didn’t want to panic unnecessarily. She just…needed to check and make sure she hadn’t inadvertently poisoned the poor man. Could be she was being paranoid over nothing. Inuyasha was a man after all and not a dog so it actually was entirely unlikely that he shared allergies with the average domesticated pet. Still, rational or not, she still worried and she still wanted to make sure he hadn’t…
Looking up into the tree branches, the first thought Kagome had upon seeing his visibly deflated form was that her worst fears had been realized but given that he didn’t look all that green, she was still going to be optimistic and assume that his drooping ears were because he thought she was coming to yell at him for eating the chocolates. Given the weary side-eyed glare he sent down at her, that seemed to be the logical option. What a relief.
“There you…”
“Thanks for being a friend?” Inuyasha’s interrupted acidly as he glared down at her from his perch, “Thanks for being a friend? Are you serious?”
Furrowing her brow, Kagome opened then closed her mouth a few times as she tried to figure out what exactly she’d done to elicit such an angry reaction. Inuyasha thankfully seemed to realize he’d missed a crucial piece of evidence.
“Thecard idiot,” Inuyasha huffed as he held up the offending piece of pastel pink paper Kagome hadn’t realized was missing, “The card you wrote for me.Thanks for being my friend. This is a joke, right?”
Swallowing thickly, Kagome’s mind raced a mile a minute to figure out what was offensive and immediately jumped to the wrong conclusion.
“A-are we not friends?” she tried in an extremely hurt tone before her stomach absolutely dropped at his reply.
“Are we not friends?” Inuyasha mocked acidly from atop his branch - his amber eyes reflecting hurt and confusion, “You’re fuckingwith me, right? That isn’t…isn’t…”
Trailing off, Inuyasha appeared to have realized something. For the longest moment, there was a tense silence between the two. Unbeknownst to the other, both of the teenagers were having trouble breathing for a very similar reason.
“Wait,why…areyou here?” Inuyasha finally mumbled - his tone softer and more afraid than she’d ever heard it before. It was hard to tell from this angle but she could have sworn the wind wasn’t strong enough to be rippling his clothing like that. Was he shaking?
That wasn’t good.
“Well, so, you might eaten something that will make you sick,” Kagome admitted nervously - her heart in her throat and her nerves frazzled. It took a moment for her to remember why she’d come searching for him in the first place, “Are you feeling okay?”
“Why get me something that’d make me sick?” Inuyasha asked hoarsely - his face turning to stare at her although he made no effort to move from his safe haven. Something visibly broke behind those two expressive amber eyes as his face paled then turned a little green.
Oh boy.
“Well they weren’t for you. I got you something else,” Kagome clarified hesitantly and judging by how he appeared to be fighting off nausea, she believed she had her answer.
“So did you eat them?” Kagome tried to confirm and looking even more green, Inuyasha nodded once. His gaze distant and horrified like he was going into shock.
“W-why’d you bring them?” Inuyasha asked distractedly - his voice strained and confused, “If they’re poison, if they could killme, why bring them at all?”
“Well, in my time, there’s a, uh, holiday where you give people you care about gifts. Candy. Chocolates. So I brought each of you candybut, um, dogs can’t eat chocolate. It’s toxic for them and I worried that giving you chocolate might make you sick so I got yousomething else,” Kagome attempted to explain - feeling even more miserable and awkward when Inuyasha looked even more shell-shocked.
“Y-you think I’m a dog?”
A second passed before he added in a somewhat disassociated voice, “N-no. No they had to be for me. The…the box had a white dog on it and said…it said …”
Inuyasha’s knees slowly began curling up until they hugged his chest, “You’re just messing with me, huh? Trying to be funny?”
Kagome cringed but was now more concerned than ever. Something was visibly wrong with Inuyasha. He looked a hair away from puking and a cold sweat was visible on his temple. Not to mention he was clearlygoing into shock.
“Okay. So first off, obviouslyIdon’t think you are a dog. You are a man. But just like I can’t jump out of trees because I’d break my neck, I was worried that you couldn’t eat chocolate because of how you were built,” Kagome pointed out - deciding to focus on the most important issue first, “I’m really sorry I brought something like that. I’ll be more careful in the future, okay? Why don’t you come down and have the nice, safe gummy candies I got for you?”
Inuyasha simply gaped down at her like she’d grown a second head - his green facade turning blotchy as his chest began heaving.
One second passed then two and then…
“WHATTHEHELL?!” Inuyasha spat as he rolled off the branch and landed to stand over her, “WHAT DID I DO?!“
Startling slightly at this development, Kagome’s own temper flared to life - as a defense mechanism or something else she wasn’t sure.
“What are you even talking about?!” Kagome hissed back – completely baffled and hurt, “You’re not even making sense.”
“AM I A JOKETO YOU?! JUST SOME HALF-BREED YOU CAN TOSS ASIDE WHEN BEING MORETHAN FRIENDS FINALLY GROSSES YOU OUT?!” Inuyasha bellowed - hurt and heartbreak written all over his face, “AT LEAST HAVE THE BALLS TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU’RE LEAVING ME INSTEAD OF WRITING PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE NOTES AND…”
“IWOULDNEVERCALL YOU A HALF….wait did you say more than friends?” Kagome abruptly changed her tone – her sapphire eyes growing wide and large as what he was so upset finally hit home, “What exactly do you think is happening?”
“Youtellme,” Inuyasha challenged hatefully as he once again held up the pastel pink notecard, “Because I thought we were doing fine.”
“Okay. I did too but by fine, you mean…we were fine being morethan friends? You thought we were morethan friends?” Kagome tried to get some clarification and Inuyasha crumpled up the note in his palm.
“Are you freakingkiddingme?!”
Kagome narrowed her eyes and scowled, “Am I kidding? What about you?! You neversaid anything about us being together. The only thing you’ve made clear is that you chose Kikyo.”
For the first time, Inuyasha seemed to realize his mistake. His face once again turning green as set he set and reset his jaw. A thousand emotions raced behind his expressive eyes - everything from relief to horror to heartbreak.
And then finally the emotion he seemed to land on was determination. Maybe. Honestly it was hard to tell.
“When?When did I say that?” Inuyasha huffed defensively, “Because last I checked I was very clear about how I felt about you.”
“Icompletely agree,” Kagome hissed and amber eyes widened in weary surprise at her adamant response, “So you don’t get to stand there and yell at me when all you’ve done is make me feel second best. You don’t get to…”
“The hell are you even talking about?! I straight up told you I loved you! I’ve never said that to anyoneelseever. Not even Kikyo. What more do you wantfrom me?” Inuyasha interrupted with a frustrated groan – his hands shooting up like they were going to strangle her, “And all this time you…this isn’t funnydammit. Whatever you’re doing stopit.”
Kagome huffed and rolled her eyes.
“Stopwhat?! Inuyasha, you have never told me…”
“Isaidstop!” he interrupted harshly as he literally trembled from holding some negative emotion back, “Enough! Your joke isn’t funny. I don’t…I…”
Kagome groaned softly as Inuyasha kept struggling to find the words he wanted - her mind trying and failing to turn over. If anyone was playing some cruel game, it was him.
“I’mnot trying to trick you,” she finally sighed heavily - deciding to address the first issue, “I would never do that.”
The distrust and unease behind his eyes honestly made her feel a little ill. They needed to get on the same page and quickly. There had been more miscommunication than she’d realized.
“Ilegitimately thought we were only friends. That you were my best friend,” she continued when Inuyasha seemed more focused on staying calm, “But you said you love Kikyo. That you chose her. I neverthoughtwe were together.”
After a long painful moment, the gravity of the situation hit home and Inuyasha’s heart shattered behind his eyes.
“Wait.Wait. No. No, I told you,” he argued weakly, “I did. I-I told you and…and you…you…”
Closing his eyes when Kagome merely looked confused, InuYasha attempted to collect himself before trying again.
“I thought that…that I was clear,” he began hoarsely, “And that you…you lovedme.”
Wincing, Kagome didn’t like how his voice cracked but she also didn’t like the idea that all those times he’d run off to Kikyo he had done so under the impression he was actually in a relationship with her. If these past few months were what being in a relationship with him would be like, Kagome suddenly wasn’t sure this was what she wanted.
“I have only ever thought we were friends,” Kagome confirmed awkwardly. For the longest time, Inuyasha remained silent with his eyes closed and his breathing somewhat unsteady - something so out of character Kagome began to get very concerned. There was, of course, still the issue of him eating chocolate and maybe, just maybe she was being a butt about this conversation but…but if anyone should be hurt by the number of times he’d hurt her it was her. How was one supposed to interpret almost getting murdered by someone (more than once) and having the man you love defend said person instead of taking your side? How else was she supposed to interpret him sending her home time and time again because he very explicitly told her he picked Kikyo? And all the times he ran off to see her? And all those times he’d thought…
“I-Itold you though,” he repeated a little desperately - his voice shaking, “We were inside the tree, ya know, after you shot me and…had left. Isn’t thatwhat made you come back? B-because you loved me back?”
Blinking rapidly, all Kagome could think was that Inuyasha was teasing her. Lying to her because, no, that was not correct.
“You didn’t say you loved me. You said you neededme…”
For a brief almost imperceptible moment, Inuyasha recoiled like she’d slapped him.
“Stopteasingme. This isn’t funny,” Inuyasha finally managed to choke out, “I-I know what I said. Don’t stand and lie to…”
Mind racing to capture the memory, Inuyasha simply trailed off while focusing on breathing regularly.
“You said you were scared to come back. Said that’s why you left and I said, very clearly, ‘I l-love you. Haven’t you realized…’”
Kagome sighed heavily as he froze then went rigid while those amber eyes betrayed his internal screaming.
“…that yet…oh shit,” Inuyasha breathed as his mouth fell partially open.
“Your words were ‘I need you beside me,’” Kagome corrected awkwardly - internally screaming herself when Inuyasha suddenly folded his arms tightly across his chest and clenched his eyes tightly shut.
A shuddering breath soon followed.
“Tell me what you need me to do,” Inuyasha offered desperately - his eyes still closed like he was unwilling or unable to look at her, “J-Just tell me what you want me to do. I…look I’ve never…I don’t know how to fix this so tellme.”
There was something in his tone that had Kagome’s stomach churning and her anger began to fade as a result. That…that almost sounded like how he talked to Kikyo. He looked afraid and desperate and some other unidentified negative emotion. This…
“What are you wanting to fix?” Kagome finally asked - slowly and deliberately since there was a lot of miscommunication happening without her realizing, “What do youwant?”
Pursing his lips to let out a controlled breath in an unexpected showing of frazzled nerves, Inuyasha finally opened his eyes and squared his shoulders.
“I want….I want us to be together,” Inuyasha managed much more confidently than he felt, “For you to give me a chance and…and, if you won’t, I want you to be nice to me still. I don’t wanna be afraid of you.”
Blinking rapidly, the next question and answer Kagome had for those first two statements flew the coop. This was new. Since when was Inuyasha direct like this? Honest like this?
“Afraid of me?” Kagome breathed in mild horror, “Why would you be scared of me?”
Swallowing thickly, amber eyes wavered slight then closed as he tried to pick his next words very carefully.
“Notafraidbut…but until now, you’ve been nice. To me, ya know?” he began slowly - clearly trying to make sure he was explaining everything correctly, “I don’t want that to go away.”
Kagome felt her heart crack as Inuyasha licked his lips and clenched his eyes tighter shut like he was anticipating being hit.
“B-but I see nowthat I haven’t…I haven’t been clear,” he continued shakily, “I thought I knew what I was doing with you but…but it wasn’t what I thought and I need…how we are, in…in whateverway, to continue. Friends. Being together. Doesn’t matter. I just…I needyou beside me. If that’s okay.”
Kagome did notlike this version of Inuyasha. Scared and unsure. Lost. Desperateeven. There was something disturbingly familiar about it that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Kagome promised then and Inuyasha visibly wilted in relief.
“Good. That’s…that’s good,” he breathed before clearing his throat and addressing his next concern, “Ya know, I can change. Be different. I can. Just give me a…”
“Stop. Inuyasha stop” Kagome pleaded softly as she took a step forward and reached up to cup his cheek. A gesture he leaned into with a shaky sigh. For a moment, he rubbed his cheek against her palm before biting his lip and trying to get out what he needed to say.
“I don’t know how to…I don’t know things,” he mumbled, “I really thought…”
Her thumb gently stroked his cheek and he seemed to lose his train of thought. Humming, Inuyasha leaned into her touch and whatever tension he’d been holding melted away. Which was weird but it’d been a really weird day.
“That feels nice. I like it,” he admitted softly as he cracked one eye open to gauge her reaction. Despite that being the oddest thing Inuyasha has ever said to her, Kagome smiled sadly and decided not to make it that big an issue.
“I like when you talk to me,” she offered and Inuyasha nodded once in understanding before placing his hand over hers.
“I’ll work on that,” he promised before swallowing thickly and asking hopefully, “So…so you’re gunna give me a chance?”
“Of course,” Kagome laughed softly as she ran her thumb over his cheek again earning a content hum, “I love you.”
“Thought so,” he breathed in relief before turning his face to bury his nose in her palm, “You scared the shit outta me woman.”
A moment passed then two.
“My stomach does hurt,” he admitted with a groan as he pulled back and cringed.
“I don’t know if I can fixit but I can make it better,” Kagome cooed happily and Inuyasha nodded once in understanding before looking like he was going to seriously regret whatever he planned on saying next.
“I’d like that too but…but before we, uh, do anything, I want you to know that…that I don’t even understand why I’m like how I am with Kikyo,” he offered wearily, “That scares me. She’s hurt you and…and I let it happen and I still go and I don’t know why. But, for the record, I’ve…I’ve been trying to…”
“Well we’ve got time to figure everything out,” Kagome interrupted before smiling reassuringly, “I’m not going anywhere in the meantime.”
“I’m not either,” he mumbled earnestly, “I’m going to do better okay?” he insisted with a determined nod, “I just won’t go to her,” he let out a shuddering sigh, “I won’t. This can’t happen again.”
“Whether you go or not, it won’t,” Kagome hummed affectionately before looking off to the side and asking a question he was fairly certain he’d already answered, “What do you want?”
His sore stomach churned. Didn’t they just clear the air so to speak? Had she been fucking with him this entire time? Had he misunderstood the-
“Wha-“
“Imean, what have you been wanting to do since you thought we were together?” Kagome interrupted curiously as she took his hand and began leading his mildly relieved yet rattled form back towards camp, “Seems to me like you’ve been holding back.”
Wrinkling his nose in confusion, Inuyasha chewed the inside of his cheek while giving this clarified question some serious thought.
“I held back to protect you,” Inuyasha offered shakily, “It’s too dangerous to let people know. To be open about things. People’ll call you a dark miko. Kikyo’ll be back on her bullshit trying to kill you faster than I can blink. Naraku too. Nobody’s gotta know.”
“Oh they’re going to know. Now what do you want?” Kagome corrected earning a bemused groan.
“I’m fine with how things have be-“
“Well I’m not. Can I tell you what I want?” Kagome hummed and Inuyasha nodded once, “I want kissesandcuddlesandhandholding.”
Inuyasha blushed at her wish list which seemed wildly inappropriate. As if they needed another reason for people to stare at them.
“Idon’t want you to do thatinpublic,” Inuyasha mumbled as he gave her hand a light squeeze, “But I w-won’t stop you if you do it when it’s just us.”
“What about around our friends?”
Inuyasha’s blush deepened even though he muttered a faint ‘guess that’d be okay.’ After a long moment, Inuyasha let out a soft sigh and cleared his throat.
“At night. I want to hold you at night.“
Kagome paused mid-step and blushed furiously. Inuyasha immediately backpedaled.
“I-I know what you’re thinking. S’not for th-,” he amended quickly, “For that. I just…I…”
Kagome turned to face him - her hand still in his. Swallowing thickly, Inuyasha thought hard about expressing his concerns. His woman said she wanted words and he’d said he’d try…
“Sleeping…sleeping is hard. Ya know, for me. I think it’d help knowing you’re safe. That I’m right there to p-protect you,” he finished lamely - visibly uncomfortable with what was happening, “That’s all. We don’t gotta….”
“I’d like that actually,” she hummed and Inuyasha let out a shaky relieved sigh.
“Really?” he asked as a slow grin began blooming over his face and a weird flicker of hope flashed across his face, “That’d really be okay?”
With a coy smile, Kagome nodded before moving closer. As her eyes met his and she came so close that her hips nearly cradled his, a shuddering breath left his lips and his nostrils flared in anticipation.
“More than okay,” she breathed before leaning forward and pressing her lips against his.
How long they kissed or what the rest of the world was doing, Inuyasha would neverremember. But the memory of her molded against him, the feel of her lips and the love she managed to express in that largely innocent moment stayed with him for the rest of his life.
That and the unfortunate knowledge that chocolate, while tasty, would make him puke. Thankfully Kagome understood not everything was about her.
