Begin Again - Rated T

Chapter Seven

You can read it on AO3!

Chapter Six on tumblr here!

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It was a beautiful, bright, Saturday morning and Inuyasha was in a grouchy mood.

His older brother had called him again to ask if there had been any progress in the wedding date situation, and his answer only led to becoming the butt of the joke as usual. Inuyasha didn’t need a damn date for Sesshomaru’s wedding, no one except his parents gave a shit about him, so why would that change just because he brought a date?

However, another reason Inuyasha was so grouchy after that phone call was because he already had someone in mind, but he was too much of a wimp to ask her. Kagome would be the perfect person to bring to his brother’s wedding. She’s charismatic, funny, fucking beautiful, and she grounds him. Whenever she’s around him he tends to forget about things he should be worried about.

He knew he could ask her, and he knows that she’d probably agree to go, but the idea of asking her made his insides twist and tighten because she’s Kagome and he likes her.

She drives him crazy and he can’t get her out of his head.

The idea of having her on his arm, introducing her to his family, and watching her talk to a bunch of demons he didn’t even talk to sounded crazy. Demons love to gossip; they’re bored and powerful and have nothing better to do, so the minute he shows up with Kagome it’ll start a wave of rumors.

Inuyasha wasn’t against Kagome going with him because of those rumors though, no, he’d sulk about how he wished they were true. What also stops him from asking her to go with him is that he worries it’ll put her in an uncomfortable position. She’s a human, and he’s half-demon, that’s enough ammunition for everyone at that wedding to make comments under their breath.

He was used to it. Kagome, however, didn’t deserve to have such things said about her when they don’t even know her.

Instead of allowing himself to be grouchy in the confines of his home, Inuyasha decided to go out for a run to let out his frustration. After hanging up on his brother he quickly changed into his athletic wear, fished his keys, drank some water, and headed for the door.

It was horrendously early, around 6:30 in the morning, and he idly wondered why he could hear the girl next door padding around her apartment at this time on a weekend. He figured he’d ask her later because he’s always curious about what she’s up to. However, even he knew that teasing her when the sun was just starting to rise was a terrible idea. Kagome isn’t a morning person.

The high-pitched shriek followed by his name made the half-demon change his plans though.

He could hear her footsteps speeding towards the direction of her front door, but he was faster than her, and in a blink of an eye he was already in front of her apartment just in time to see the door swing open in a frenzy.

“Inu-!” She bumped into his chest with a muffled grunt and rubbed her nose.

“What is it? Why are ya screamin’? Is someone in there?” He managed to say as he pulled her away from her doorway and into his arms. He was listening for anything abnormal, a sign for him to walk in there and clobber whoever it was that was inside her home. But Inuyasha was awake before she was, and he would have heard someone enter her home. Inuyasha has Kagome’s walking pattern already wedged into his memory, and until now there had been no signs of someone else besides her in the apartment.

“There’s a spider! A big one, and it’s so gross! Please get rid of it!” She squirmed in his arms from the memory of being face to face with the arachnid.

“A spider…” Inuyasha heaved a sigh, dropping his head on top of hers in relief. He slowly inhaled her scent and visibly relaxed, the ideas swarming in his head of an intruder quickly leaving his mind.

Kagome stiffened upon realizing how close they were and let out a whimper. “Inuyasha?”

He didn’t move from over her and simply grunted. “Where is it?”

She squirmed again in disgust. “In my bathroom.”

He let go of her and took note of just how cute she looked in her pajamas and tousled hair. “Alright, scaredy-cat, show me where it is.”

She huffed in reply and quickly turned back around into her home, her handsome neighbor following close behind her. When she got to the bathroom she immediately stopped by the entryway and pointed to her shower curtain and whimpered again. “It’s on my curtain. Be careful, I’m not sure if it’s dangerous or not.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and snickered. “If it’s venomous, I’ll just be out of commission for a few days. I’d be more worried if you got bit by a spider.”

He walked towards the shower and inspected the area, looking for the eight-legged creature in haste. He listened closely for movement of little legs and continued his search.

Kagome gasped and it made his ear twitch in reaction to the sound. “Ew! I see it! Above you!”

Quickly he looked up and made eye contact with a black spider that looked smaller than his hand and reached for it. He could hear Kagome squealing from behind him as he ran from her bathroom towards the balcony and down the stairs.

He reappeared as fast as he left to wash his hands in her bathroom sink, and he watched Kagome from the reflection of her mirror as she hugged herself and looked around the bathroom for any more small intruders.

“Kagome, the spiders gone.” He deadpanned.

He noticed how she shivered and it made Inuyasha chuckle, “You can take your long ass showers in peace now.”

“I really hate bugs.” She sighed. “Thank you for helping me out.”

He patted her head and laughed. “If I didn’t, I knew you wouldn’t step foot in here. And we both know how much ya love to fuckin’ shower and bathe.”

She crossed her arms and leaned back against the bathroom wall. “If you hadn’t gotten rid of it then I would have to use your shower every day until we managed to find it. I bet you’d get sick of me from how much I’d use your bathroom.”

‘It wouldn’t bother me at all actually.’ He thought to himself.

He tried to bite back images of Kagome using his shower and failed miserably. The sound of clothing coming off and hitting the floor, the image of her using his soap, shampoo, and conditioner to wash her body and hair, the mixture of their scents wafting in his home, and the idea of her smelling like him had him losing his mind. He rolled his hand into a fist and made sure his claws punctured his skin to pull him out of his head.

“You’d have’ta pay half for my water bill.” He replied in a strained tone.

She giggled. “You okay there?”

He blushed and looked away from her. “Y-yeah. Just got somethin’ in my throat.”

“Want any water?” She offered him kindly.

He shook his head and made his way out of her bathroom. “Nah, I’m good. I was actually goin’ to go out for a run when someone screamed bloody murder on my way out.”

She stammered. “You saw how big that thing was!”

He laughed. “It was smaller than yer hand, Kagome.”

She pouted at him and looked away. “That’s still big.” She muttered.

“What are ya doin’ up so early on Saturday anyway?” He asked.

“I have to go to the office really quick while it’s open for cleaning. I had no time to pick up these documents, and I need them desperately for an assignment.” She sighed. “Not that I want to go anywhere this early on the weekend.”

He barked a laugh. “Get that shit done so you can go back to sleep.”

She gently pushed him out of her room and giggled. “Then go on your run so I can take my shower!”

He was only slightly relaxing his weight onto her arms as she pushed him towards her front door, the sound of Kagome’s straining to move him forward making the situation a lot funnier.

“Wow Kagome, you’re so strong.” He teased.

“You-” wheeze, “are-“ gasp, “so heavy!” She exclaimed. Miraculously, she managed to leave him at the entryway and panted after letting him go.

“Maybe after my run, I’ll be a few pounds lighter and we can try that again.” He half grinned.

“Absolutely not.” She panted. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to freshen up from that workout.”

“Have fun bein’ responsible.” He told her before walking down the steps.

“Have fun on your run!” She yelled back before shutting her door and heading straight to her spider-free bathroom.

______

The journey to her office was as boring and uneventful as any other day. Since Kagome worked from home, she was rarely ever at her building. There were moments where she did miss her coworkers, but being able to sit in her pajamas, eat whenever she wanted, and do work on her bed or couch was a better deal than being surrounded by people in office chairs. Coming back to pick up work documents hit her with a little bit of nostalgia, but since no one was there except for the cleaning crew, she didn’t have a reason to stay longer for a conversation.

By the time she had returned to her complex, it was almost 7:30 in the morning. Kagome had treated herself to some coffee and a quick breakfast on the way home from a drive-through cafe, and now that her tummy was satisfied for the time being, she was going to crawl into her bed and go back to sleep.

As she walked to her specific building she became fully aware of the work trucks and groups of people around the stairs. They were painters, dressed up in their uniforms with bits of splattered paint staining the fabric and they were currently working on her set of stairs.

“Oh, great.” She groaned. “I have to use the elevator.”

She made a quick turn around and headed straight towards the area where their elevators were located and sighed. It wasn’t that their elevators were bad, no, it’s that their elevators were awful. After going on them for the first time when she, Sango, and Miroku were moving her stuff into her home they all agreed they would never take the elevators ever again. Kagome had no idea that, for a complex as nice as hers, the elevators would be so badly maintained. They shook and creaked with every move they made and the sound alone gave her the heebie-jeebies.

However, today, she had no choice. She decided that as soon as she gets home she was not going back downstairs for the rest of the day.

She clicked the button and waited patiently for the lift to come down from the third floor; the elevators were apparently moving even slower than usual.

She heard footsteps approach her from behind and turned back to see Inuyasha jogging towards her.

“Yo!” He greeted, “How’d it go?”

He was glistening in sweat, his hair was now picked up into a ponytail; something he didn’t have on this morning, and his arms and chest looked bigger and sculpted in his muscle tank top.

She swallowed her drool and remembered that she needed to say words to him. “O-oh, it was nothing! I was in and out pretty quickly. I was able to get some breakfast on the way back too.”

He wiped the sweat from his brow and fixed his hair, the muscles of his arms flexing with every single move.

“Sounds good. Still sleepy?” He asked her.

Kagome lifted her hand to her face and shook her head. “So tired! I’d be in bed by now if the stairs weren’t wet with paint.”

The half-demon chuckled. “Did ya forget that they were gonna restore all the stairs today?”

She peaked at him through her fingers. “When did they say that they were going to do that?”

“On Monday, when they sent an email to everyone.” He smirked at her, “You didn’t read it did ya?”

She looked up towards the ceiling and sighed dramatically. “I was too busy with work to read that email. I totally forgot about it.”

The elevators finally dinged and the doors flung open slowly, finally allowing the two neighbors to enter the lift.

“You know, at least we live on the second floor,” Inuyasha added.

“That’s true. The faster these doors close, the faster we can get home.”
‘And I can sleep,’ She thought.

Maybe she’ll dream about post-workout Inuyasha holding the dream version of her in his arms.

It wasn’t a crime to dream about your attractive neighbor anyway, and she would indulge herself in any way she saw fit.

The doors rolled closed, confining Inuyasha and Kagome inside it as it slowly started moving up to the above floors. However, the groans and creaks the elevator usually did sounded a bit more dramatic, and it wasn’t until it started shaking a little more aggressively that it had Kagome held onto the rails in a panic and Inuyasha’s ears on alert.

“Um-“ The elevator shook again before coming to a full stop. Kagome waited for the doors to slide open, but that moment never came, and it only made her breathing shorten and her heartbeat race.

“Are we stuck?” She shakily asked her half-demon neighbor.

With his ears still standing up at attention, he held onto the wall and nodded. “Yeah, we’re stuck. I think we’re close to the second floor, but not by much.”

“Oh, great. Cool.” She whimpered in fear.

“Kagome?” He asked her in concern.

“We’re stuck inside this thing and it’s so small! We’re inside a box! There’s nowhere to go, how are we-“

“Kagome. Breathe.”

“H-how are we going to get out?” She whimpered.

Inuyasha slowly walked towards her and pulled her into his arms. She was so tense, he could feel and hear her heart beating rapidly against her chest, her breathing was shallow and she was clinging onto his shirt for dear life.

“Kagome, listen to me. It’s going to be fine.” He held her tighter to him.

“It is?” She wiped her eyes.

“Yeah, it is. I’m here, and I ain’t gonna let anythin’ happen to ya.”

Kagome nodded and dove into his chest for comfort. He was doing his best right now, and she appreciated him for that. He was stuck inside this elevator with her too, and he was trying to be calm for the both of them. Having him holding her so closely helped her relax a little bit more, and once she wasn’t shaking against him so much, she pulled away slightly.

If they were in different circumstances, Kagome would laugh about how something she dreamed of came true. However, she was too busy panicking to think about how his arms were wrapped around her, so she’ll have to freak out about it later.

“We should… hit the emergency button.” She decided. Very slowly, she trudged towards the side panel and clicked on the red button to alert the firefighters. The alarm echoed throughout the small compartment as it rang endlessly. Kagome was holding her breath in anticipation that someone, anyone, would pick up on the other end.

“Hello?”

“Oh thank God.” Kagome shuddered under her breath. “Hi! We’re stuck in the elevator, can you help us?”

“Is this the Sunrise Apartment complex? If so, what building?”

Kagome was holding onto the railing with a hard grip, her knuckles were stark white. “Yes, Sunrise Apartments! Building 3!”

There was static on the other end before the dispatcher on the other side of the line replied.

“Emergency services and an elevator technician are coming shortly. Sit tight, and if you need anything else please hit the button again.”

“O-okay!” She stuttered before the line went dead. There was no more static, just the slight ringing of the bell to alert them that there is an emergency to fill up the space in the air.

Kagome hated elevators, which was another reason why she only went on them when it was necessary. Even if she had to climb 120 flights of stairs she would do it before climbing an elevator. Being stuck in an elevator was one of her biggest nightmares, and yet here she is, waiting for rescue to come and take her out of this box.

“Kagome.” Inuyasha’s voice pulled her out of her meltdown. “Come back here.”

She whipped her attention back to her neighbor, who was now sitting on the floor with his back against the steel walls. He had his arms wide open for her to come back and crawl into, and an unreadable look in his golden eyes. Without saying a word Kagome crouched down on her knees and slowly crawled over to him until she was settled next to him.

His arm wrapped tightly around her middle while she lay against his chest and clung to his tank top. “Didn’t know you weren’t a fan of elevators.”

Kagome sighed and played with the fabric of his shirt. “I never have. And now that I’m forced to get on one, I’m stuck in it.”

Inuyasha let out a puff of air and squeezed her middle to try to comfort her. “Least you’re not alone.”

She hummed in appreciation and nuzzled into his chest. “And at least it’s with you.”

They both blushed a deep shade of red and fought inwardly to calm themselves down.

It was quiet between them and Inuyasha focused on Kagome’s heart rate while she focused on steadying her breathing. There was a clear indication that she was still nervous; she was shaking against him and wouldn’t move a muscle, and all he wanted to do was break the doors apart and pull her out.

However, that may place her in more danger, and he wasn’t going to put her at risk. He wasn’t a technician or a firefighter; he didn’t know exactly where they were stuck, they could be hanging between both levels for all he knew. Although it sounded like a good plan, he wasn’t going to go through with it.

He wanted to give her something to think about while they were stuck in here, something that would distract her from the situation at hand. Begrudgingly, he remembered the conversation he had earlier with his brother, which is what made him go on a run and meet back up with Kagome who he was now trapped in this elevator with.

He figured if it was fate at this point, there was no point in avoiding it forever. If she said no, then he’ll stick to his original plan and take Shippo, but if she says yes…

“Listen, this is going to sound very random given the situation that we’re in now.” He started shakily. He was so nervous he was going to explode.

Kagome listened to him intently, the wavering in his voice making her give him her full attention.

“Don’t give me an answer until we get outta here, alright?“ He started strongly, “B-but I was wonderin’ if ya wanted to come with me to my brother’s weddin’… as my date.”

Kagome flushed at his offer and looked down at her hand to hide her face from him. “Why ask me this now?”

He grumbled and shifted his gaze away from her, “I’ve been meanin’ to ask ya but I didn’t know if you’d go with me.” He held her tighter. “B-but you’re only thinkin’ about this elevator right now, and I wanted to see if this would let ya think of somethin’ else.”

Kagome raised her head, her eyebrows shooting up at him. “So, this is just to distract me?”

“No!” He quickly argued back. “I genuinely want to go with ya! But don’t give me an answer until we get outta here.” He reminded her.

It was silent for a few seconds and Inuyasha wondered if he had totally messed everything up between the two of them.

If this blows up in his face, he can forget ever telling her about how he feels about her.

“Okay,” Kagome answered honestly. “I-I’ll give you my answer once we’re rescued.”

His cheeks tinged pink. “Cool. Yeah, exactly, tell me after.”

Kagome laughed nervously but chose not to reply to him, instead she laid her head back on his chest and tried to relax her breathing. Not only was she stuck in this elevator, but the man she had feelings for asked her to be his date to his brother’s wedding.

That means she would meet his family, and their friends and they would go dressed up to the nines.

As friends.

She had to remind herself that it would be as friends. Until she gathered her wits to confess to him, that’s all they would ever be to each other. Part of her was content with this because a life without Inuyasha sounds miserable to her now, but the other part wants more with him.

She was in a dilemma.

It was silent between them for a few minutes as the two neighbors drowned in the thoughts swarming inside their heads.

Inuyasha was mentally hitting himself for asking her to be his date in a situation like this. He could have asked her in a normal way, but he took too damn long and jumped the gun without properly thinking it through.

All he wanted was to get her to stop panicking over their current predicament, and it seemed like a good idea at the time. It would kill two birds with one stone; ask Kagome to be his date, and get her to think about something else.

It made sense to him in his head, but now he wished he could go back in time and think of saying something else.

He picked up the faintest sound of sirens coming closer to their location and he sighed in relief. “I hear ‘em comin’.” He squeezed her.

“Oh good.” She managed to say. It was difficult to talk, even with Inuyasha’s arm wrapped around her to keep her safe. Logically, she was aware that they were going to be okay. The freak accidents that were flashing in her mind about the chain snapping and then crashing into the ground was just her imagination. This elevator can hold their weight, and they’re not moving around in a way that will make their lift come down.

Being against Inuyasha like this helped a smidge. He really wasn’t letting her go at all. The grip he had on her didn’t falter, and if anything, he was squeezing her closer and closer into his body. He might not even know he was doing it, but Kagome noticed the movement.

She definitely wasn’t complaining.

Her thoughts were swirling between being stuck in an elevator, and also being squished against Inuyasha’s body. He was firm, strong, and muscular; he really took good care of himself, and yet he was also soft and comfortable. She could fall asleep on his chest if she wanted to, and it wouldn’t bother her at all.

He was insanely hot, and all Kagome wanted to do was run her hands against his body and feel him.

She squeezed her eyes shut to try to push away her sinful thoughts.

“Hello! It’s the fire department and the technician! Are you guys alright?” A loud voice echoed from the outside of the cell.

Kagome’s breath hitched at the sound. She looked up at Inuyasha and smiled happily. “Yes! We’re okay!” She yelled back.

“Alright, that’s good! We’re gonna work on getting you out of here, so sit tight, everything is fine!”

Inuyasha sighed in relief and stared up at the ceiling, noticing his reflection staring back at him. It was a mirror, and he took note of how he and Kagome looked while sitting beside each other. She was resting on him, her chest slowly rising and falling while her handheld onto his shirt. His arm was around her, hand resting between her stomach and the top of her thigh. They were so close to each other, and he became hyper-aware of how her body felt on his.

He coughed and flushed at the images playing in his head.

This was not the time.

“Are you okay?” She asked in a tiny voice.

The half-demon chuckled. “I should be askin’ you that.”

She shrugged against him and blew air out of her nose. “If you’re gonna take care of me, then I’m gonna take care of you.”

He rolled his head to the side and smirked. “And just how do you plan to takin’ care of me, Ms. Higurashi?”

She lightly smacked his chest and scoffed. “I take it back, you can suffer.”

He laughed loudly and it echoed throughout the elevator, the down drowning out the alarm for just a second. “That’s harsh, Kagome. And in my time of need?”

She giggled at him, and in turn, she felt his chest vibrate in appreciation of the sound. “You’ll survive.”

It got quiet between them again, but it felt comfortable and quiet, so quiet that he heard the girl loudly yawn against him.

“Wanna take a nap?” He asked her with a smirk on his face.

She shook her head. “If I nap, then I won’t know if anything’s happening.”

“You don’t have’ta worry about that. I told ya already, I ain’t lettin’ anything happen to ya.” He grumbled as he stared at the double doors.

She sighed. “Alright, then. I trust you.”

She tried to snuggle back into his chest and find a comfortable position to lay in, but with the way they were sitting, she couldn’t find a way to rest. She huffed and grumbled in frustration and sighed defeatedly.

“Ain’t comfortable enough for ya?” He teased her.

“I just… I can’t find-“

“Wanna sit on my lap?”

It shouldn’t have made her blush, it should have been a question that made her angry at the mere implication. However, the question had the opposite effect on her.

“A-are you sure?” She stuttered.

“Y-yeah. Just- you need’ta sleep. Yer tired. Come on.” He flushed as he effortlessly lifted her from the ground and onto his thighs, the girl before him fitting comfortably into his lap. He positioned her on her side, with her legs pointed towards his left, and her left arm resting between his torso and her body.

She was so warm and small compared to him, and he immediately wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. Her head rested between the crook of his neck, and she sighed against him, her right hand still clutching his shirt tightly in her grasp.

“Thanks,” Kagome said in a small voice.

“Bah.” Inuyasha was looking up at the ceiling again while staring at their positions in their reflection, a blush painted all over his face at their close proximity.

Before he knew it she was asleep in his arms, the movement of her chest rising and falling becoming a pattern for him to pay attention to. Her head fit perfectly in the space between his neck as she slept against him, the warm breath coming from her parted lips tickling his exposed skin.

Inuyasha wondered if this is what it would be like if he just told her. He’s already admitted to himself that he misses being so close to someone special, and if it was Kagome, he would be the happiest half-demon alive. He was so close to admitting his feelings at the diner last week, but if he can’t even ask her to be his date to the wedding, how is he going to ask her to be his girlfriend?

He choked at the idea of introducing Kagome as his girlfriend and it made the girl in his arms stir. “Fuck.” He whispered as he watched her settle back in his arms. “Can’t wake ya up yet. You won’t be too happy if I did.”

The vice-like grip she had on his shirt went slack, and now her hand rested limply on his chest. As he watched her sleep, he couldn’t help but get tired as well. Inuyasha rarely slept, as a half-demon, he never needed as much rest as a regular human does, but he felt comfortable with Kagome; so comfortable that he could sleep.

Creeeeeaaaak.

Inuyasha’s ears picked up the sound and jolted awake, his arms still wrapped snugly around the sleeping girl before him. “What the fuck?”

He didn’t want to wake her up, but he had no idea how long he had been out, nor what the progress was with their current situation. It was starting to get a little warm in the elevator, but not enough to make anyone pass out. He heaved a sigh and raised his head towards the roof of the elevator. “What’s going on?!”

There was a brief moment of silence, but the half-demon knew there were people on the other side of the lift, he could hear them talking and doing work.

“The technician is trying to lift up the elevator somewhat, so we can try to get the doors open and pull you out! The entire system’s down, so it’s taking longer than we all would like!”

Perfect. Just perfect. He was glad Kagome was sleeping.

“How long has it been since ya got here?!” He yelled back.

He felt Kagome move again, and she heard her moan in protest to the noise he was making in the elevator.

“About an hour! The tech’s telling us he’s made progress in restarting the lifting mechanism, so it shouldn’t be too long now!” The voice echoed.

He wanted to tell them to hurry up, but that would be no use since they were already doing their best. He would have to settle for their word and take it as it is. “Alright!”

“Hm?” Kagome’s voice squeaked against his chest. “Inu…yasha?”

He grunted in response while she fought to wake up, her eyes blinking against the lighting of the elevator. She looked adorable like this, with her nose scrunched up in confusion and fatigue.

“Are we still…?” Her voice was laced with exhaustion.

“Trapped in the elevator? Yeah, we are.”

Her eyes shot open like saucers and he realized he fucked up. He could have delivered the news to her a little better than that.

“B-but, they told me while you were sleepin’ that we’re close to gettin’ out of here!” Inuyasha quickly added. “It won’t be long, I swear.”

Kagome nodded and tried to compose herself a little, the news of being freed calming her. There was no other thing for them to do except sit here and wait, no matter how badly she wanted to rip those doors open and climb out of the lift itself.

As she came to her senses, another thought occurred to her, and she looked down to see that she was indeed snuggled into Inuyasha’s lap. If this were a cartoon, steam would come out of her ears from how flustered she was. They were in a predicament, and Kagome knew he only offered her his lap because she was in need of sleep; especially after panicking when the elevator stopped moving, but she couldn’t stop the heat from rising in her body and making her cheeks turn red.

“Um, I can move?” She asked him shyly.

Inuyasha blushed and looked away from her. “N-no, it’s fine. If it helps you feel safer, I don’t mind ya on my lap.” He felt hot, and he was aware that the raven-haired beauty on his lap was part of the reason why.

Sweat dripped down the side of his face and Kagome swiped it away reflexively, immediately pulling her hand back once she realized what she had done. “S-sorry! I just saw-“ She stuttered, “And you look so red! A-are you okay? Are you hot? Overheating? I can get off!”

His grip around her tightened when she started moving off of his lap, his chest rumbling in a low vibration. “Fuck no, stay here.”

“But, you’re heating up,” Kagome mentioned in concern.

He half grinned at her and laughed at the seriousness of the situation. “So are you. Your skin is hot, and you’re just as sweaty as I am right now.”

Kagome nervously laughed. “That’s definitely not attractive.”

Inuyasha laughed along with her. “Who cares? It’s just me.”

She looked into his eyes before quickly breaking eye contact and staring at his chest. “B-but what if I care if it is you?”

He raised his brow at her, “What do you mean? It shouldn’t. I don’t care if ya look like this, look at me, I probably looked fucked up right now.”

The girl above him giggled. “I guess we’re both hot messes right now.”

Inuyasha looked up at her with a serious face. “Wow, seriously?”

She hid her face into his chest and laughed. “Hey, I tried my best!” She paused and wiped away some sweat from her forehead. “It really is hot though.”

“I think the AC’s broken.” Inuyasha groaned. “It’s only goin’ to get worse until they get us out of here.”

“Oh man,” Kagome shuddered. “I’m getting really hot.” She began to remove the top four buttons of her shirt and sighed in the momentary relief that she felt.

Inuyasha watched her unbutton her top and blushed. “W-what are you doin’?”

Kagome pulled back from him and looked away, completely forgetting to tell him that she was about to do that. “Sorry! I forgot to ask you, and I needed to remove the buttons. It’s so hot.” She cried.

He wanted to bang his head against the wall because , of course, , that was the logical thing for her to do in a situation like this. She’s wearing a button-up blouse, they were about to hit the hour and a half mark of being stuck in here, and it was hot as fuck.

If he wasn’t in a muscle tank he would have done the same thing.

“I-it’s okay.” He shyly reassured her. “You need to do this for yourself, you’re fuckin’ overheating.”

“Okay.” She breathed. “I trust you.”

He didn’t need to hear her say that to know that she did, but it felt good to hear those words come from her regardless.

In intense silence, Kagome continued to unbutton her blouse, the relief from removing the shirt hitting her immediately. The air inside the elevator was warm no matter what, but removing this extra layer of fabric was enough to help Kagome feel less claustrophobic and heated.

She placed the blouse beside Inuyasha’s legs and sighed. She was too nervous to look at the half-demon, especially since she was wearing nothing but a bralette, and hid her face back into his chest. “I feel better.”

Inuyasha stiffened while she relaxed into him, the feeling of her bare skin burning his. “I’m glad. I wish I had water to give ya.”

She awkwardly shrugged in his arms, “As soon as we’re free I’m drinking an entire gallon of water.”

He laughed. “I believe ya, fuck it, I’ll drink one too.” He could feel her laughing against him and he couldn’t suppress his grin. It felt good knowing she was relaxing more and more while they waited in here, especially compared to the full-blown panic she had when this all started.

The elevator creaked again and Kagome gasped, her arms flying around Inuyasha’s neck in reaction. “What’s happening?”

He wrapped both of his arms around her torso tightly and listened for any signs of danger. So far, nothing sounded like it was snapping apart, instead, the sound was similar to an engine boosting back into power.

The elevator shook before moving upwards, the sudden movement making Kagome’s grip around his neck tighten from fear. “Are we moving?” She asked, her voice muffled in his neck.

“Seems like it. The engines back on.” He answered her calmly.

“The tech got it to move! We should be able to force open the doors now!” The male’s voice was louder and closer, confirming with the pair of neighbors that the lift did indeed move closer to the second floor.

Inuyasha felt Kagome’s chest rising and falling against his, and he was made aware of her current appearance. Her skin against his was making him tingle, and he could feel the swell of her breasts against him, and he forced himself to not think any further.

‘Sesshomaru in underwear, Sesshomaru in underwear, Sesshomaru in underwear’, he repeated like a mantra.

Suddenly, Kagome pulled away from him and smiled prettily. “Um… I’m going to get dressed before they see me like this.”

Inuyasha growled at her words, the thought alone making him want to get in front of her and shield her from other eyes.

He looked away as she put on her blouse, but his excellent vision was not helping as he could still see her from his peripheral and he had to repeat his mantra all over again

He’s positive he’s never going to be able to get that image out of his head.

“You can look now.”

When Inuyasha turned back he made direct eye contact with Kagome, and he heard her breath hitch in reaction. His arm went back around her waist while she sat comfortably on his lap, and he noticed that she had one hand on his chest while the other played with the nape of his hair.

Brown eyes hovered towards his lips, and his gold eyes followed close behind.

“Inuyasha.” She breathed, her eyes moving back to stare into his.

“What is it?” He asked huskily.

Her gaze shifted towards his mouth again, and if she didn’t tell him what was on her mind he was just going to devour her lips and kiss her senselessly.

“Can I-“

They were interrupted by the sound of metal banging and creaking from behind them, making Kagome jump and launch herself under Inuyasha’s chin. It was loud, and terrifying, and it just interrupted whatever the hell was going to happen between the two of them.

The doors were forced open, revealing a team of firefighters standing on the other side in their uniforms.

They couldn’t have waited five more minutes?

“Are you guys alright?!” The voice that had been speaking to them for the last few hours asked.

“Yeah, it’s just hot as hell in here,” Inuyasha complained.

The forced opening of the doors revealed half of the brick wall of the shaft, meaning the elevator was still not completely at level with the second floor. The top half, however, had the sunlight peering in and a group of people clad in yellow.

“When the system’s power shut off, so did the AC, let’s get you guys out of here and check out your vitals.” Another fireman spoke.

Inuyasha shifted Kagome in his arms and stood up from the ground with ease, suppressing a grin when the girl let out a little startled yelp from the sudden movement. He slowly walked over to the entryway and lifted her into the arms of the fireman, and as soon as she was out of the lift, Inuyasha pushed himself out of the car with ease.

“Where are we going?” Kagome asked in a little voice.

The man carrying her made his way down the stairs, white paint staining the soles of his boots. “Paramedics are gonna check you out real quick, you two have been stuck in there for almost two hours. It’s just protocol.”

Kagome nodded before trying to move her head to catch a glimpse of white fluffy ears. “And Inuyasha?”

“Right behind ya.” He called out to her while he descended the steps.

She sighed in relief and laid her head on the fireman’s chest, she was so tired, but the light breeze was already making her feel a bit better compared to the still, stiff air from inside the lift. Her body felt a little heavy, and she was super thirsty. The arms of the fireman were comfortable thanks to his padded suit, which allowed her to relax comfortably until they reached the ambulance.

Once they arrived they sat her down on the back ledge of the truck and the paramedics began to check on her. They poked and prodded her, and asked her a bunch of questions about how she felt and her medical history. She was given an IV to help aid her dehydrated body, took down her blood pressure, and did a bunch of other things.

When the paramedic’s partner came to check on Inuyasha, he quickly thanked him and denied his sustenance. “I’m fine, focus on her.” He told him gruffly.

He stood a bit off to the side until they were done hovering over her, and as he watched her he noticed how tired she looked. They may have been stuck in there for two hours, but for Kagome, it may have felt longer. Like a dog looking for its owner, Inuyasha quickly walked over to the raven-haired girl and flushed when she leaned forward to lay her head on his chest.

“How are ya feelin’?” He asked her gently.

Kagome shrugged, a sound that came off as a little hum leaving her throat. “Like a weak little worm.”

He chuckled at her words and took a long strand of her hair into his hand and began to play with it. “That’s a new one.”

She shivered from the tickling sensation she felt as his fingers touched her ebony locks. “Just call me worm Kagome.” She chuckled.

He scrunched his face and laughed breathily. “That one kinda sucked.”

Kagome meekly shrugged, “I have an IV in my vein, I tried my best.”

They went silent again, the only sound surrounding them being the engines of the emergency vehicles running and the voices of the people around them. The half-demon focused on Kagome’s breathing while he played with her hair, the weight of her head on his chest reminding him of just how comfortable she felt being around him.

“By the way,” She started again, her voice still small, “My answer is yes.”

His hands stopped moving, the waves in her hair now only moving from the light breeze. “Really?”

She giggled and slid her head upwards, leaving her chin to rest snuggly on his chest. “Really.”

Pink tinted his cheeks handsomely, a half-grin showing up on his face. “Really, really?”

She snorted. “Really really.”

“Really, really, really?

“Say really one more time and you’re gonna go dateless!” She threatened.

Inuyasha burst out laughing, the sound echoing around the lot. “I have a backup if ya end up taking your answer back.”

“Oh yeah?” She smirked. “Who is it?”

“Shippo.” He smirked back at her.

“No way!” She giggled ferociously, “I bet he would make a fantastic date.”

“Eh.” Inuyasha replied, his fingers still playing with her tresses. “I think you’d make a better one.”

“Hmm.” Kagome hummed in appreciation. “When is the wedding anyway?”

Inuyasha shifted his gaze to the side and laughed nervously. “Next weekend.”

“What!” She yelled in shock. “I need to find a dress in such a short amount of time?!”

He grumbled in embarrassment, the vibrations rumbling in his chest. “You’d look fine in whatever ya end up wearin’.”

Kagome closed her eyes and sighed, the breeze kissing her face wonderfully. “Alright, I can’t deny that.”

“Keh.” He simply responded. “Knew ya wouldn’t.”

They fell back into a comfortable silence, allowing themselves to become surrounded by the noises of the people and the vehicles all around them. While Kagome continued to rest her head against the half-demon chest; allowing for the cold fluid running in her veins to restore her energy, Inuyasha continued to play with her hair and soothe himself to the sound of her heartbeat.

ll, he was able to finally ask her to be his wedding date and getting to hold her so close was just a bonus.

Besides his terribly long day that was another reason why he had decided to call Shippo to meet him at their favorite bar. He wanted to update the fox kit on everything that happened, and also celebrate the fact that he finally asked her after dodging the idea for so long.

Begin Again - Rated T

Chapter Ten

you can read it on AO3!

Chapter Nine on tumblr here.

__

The drive to work was easy, stress free, and manageable; the complete opposite of what Inuyasha was feeling right now.

After the wedding he had gone to bed and stared at the ceiling the entire night in complete agony and despair, mentally kicking his own ass until he was black and blue. Inuyasha was given so many chances to do it right, and all he seemed to do was mess it up every time.

He didn’t even tell her anything, he just kissed her and ran away.

Kagome deserved more than that, including a better kiss, and he still couldn’t do either thing right! He was so close to expressing his feelings, grabbing her by the waist to pull her into him, and giving her a kiss that left her ravaged and boneless. He sucks at expressing himself, he’s even worse at talking to others, but he needed to show her how much he wanted her, and then he ruined it with a little peck and a quick escape.

Inuyasha knew she wouldn’t be awake so early in the morning, even with things on her mind she loved to sleep in late, therefore he took advantage of that and ran off to his shop before she woke. He needed to organize his thoughts and give her exactly what she deserved from him.

Besides an explanation.

He wasn’t paying attention to the stack of papers on his desk, copies of receipts and signed documents that were in need of organization. It’s quick work, and Inuyasha normally gets this done within the hour, but he was stalling. He knew that when he got home he had to face the music, whether it was Kagome’s fiery wrath or his attempt to mend what he cracked; it was down to either of them to start the conversation.

His shop wasn’t open on the weekends because he and Shippo had lives to live and they had built loyal clientele that keep the business running. If they came to work on Sunday, it was more operational work, small things that they had no time to finish during the week that needed to be out of the way before Monday rolled back. If he had a choice, he would never come on a Sunday at all, but he was the owner, he needed to be on his game.

Within four hours of sulking and milking time, Inuyasha was done with the bookkeeping portion of his job. He closed up shop and drove to the nearest fast food joint, he wanted a burger and damn it he was going to get himself one.

The car’s radio was playing music on low volume while Inuyasha ate quietly inside of it. He watched the cars of hungry people pull into the drive through to stuff their faces just like he was. It was miserable being alone, and for the first time he couldn’t find any comfort in the solace.

As he ate, one of the songs that he and Kagome had sang to yesterday started to play, and he rolled up the volume just a bit to hear it. His passenger side was empty, even with the memory he had of her singing along to the music couldn’t fill up the void. Her wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, blue dress snugged to her body, dark eyes and a smile that could kill him and resuscitate him all at once; she looked like a dream and he felt like an idiot.

His stomach was full as he continued to drive with no destination, he didn’t want to go home yet because he still needed time to sulk and think. The last thing he wanted to do was lose her, he couldn’t run away forever, and he knew he needed to explain it all once and for all.

In such a short time Kagome had changed so much about his life, seeing her everyday was enough for any shitty day at work instantly had made it better. He doesn’t know when she went from the girl next door who he likes to tease to the girl he can’t stop thinking about, but ever since he came to the realization of his feeling he’s been neither here nor there. Too afraid to speak up, show her what she means to him, eating his own words and looking like a hypocrite instead of taking a chance to be able to call her his

She stays on his mind daily, from morning to night; even on days where he doesn’t go to sleep. Everything she does repeats in his head like a movie, he thinks of her laugh or her smile and he becomes a flustered mess from the safety of his own home. He wants to hold her close, touch her skin, breathe her in and become enraptured with everything that is Kagome.

She is everything, and he’s taken more than enough time to let that truth sink in.

“I cant’t lose her,” he said into his reflection from the rear view mirror, expression serious, “Not when I’m this close.”

He made a right instead of a left like he had originally intended, because that right turn would lead him where he’s destined to be, and the former would just waste more time.

It was a bit of a drive to get home, but he had made up his mind, even if it took hours to get to there, for her he would do it.

____

Inuyasha has been avoiding Kagome all day, and it was starting to get on her very last nerve.

After he had run off to hide from her, she never saw him again. She thought she would see him in the morning, and yet he hadn’t made a sound since the day had started. Kagome had forced herself to change out of her dress and get ready for bed, told herself she would talk to him in the morning, ask him if he was okay, and why did he run after kissing her.

However, her mind had other plans and her fatigue didn’t hit her until it was three in the morning after tossing and turning for hours. Her body and brain were exhausted, she had nothing more left in her to squeeze out, and figuring out Inuyasha would have to wait until tomorrow.

Well, it was now tomorrow, and those ears of his were nowhere in sight. She waited patiently to hear if he was alive in his home, but a sound never came from it, she was only met with silence. Their little knocking technique didn’t work on him either, because every time she knocked on the wall he never knocked back.

Breakfast was made with little to no interest because Kagome wasn’t hungry, she just knew that she needed to eat or else her body would shut down. For hours she cleaned her house to distract herself, waiting for a lifeline if her favorite half-demon decodes to leave his house or return home. Her house was spotless, and she was running out of options. Huffing angrily into her bathroom, she grabbed her favorite set of loungewear and scrubbed her body clean. Paramore blasted loudly while she showered, but this time Kagome was too upset and frustrated to sing along.

If Inuyasha was home right now, he would know he was in deep trouble.

Kagome couldn’t stop the self-doubt from hitting her like a slap to the face. Did he regret kissing her? Is that why he ran away? If he was going to regret it, why do it in the first place? Did he not want her? Was it an impulsive decision that he was disgusted with?

“God, he doesn’t make sense,” she argued in the shower. “If I had just gone with my plan, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Hot water hit her back, an attempt to get to relax her muscles and ease her mind.

It didn’t work.

“Maybe if I told him it would have been worse than this,” her voice echoed in the bathroom.

Finally clean and rid of sweat and grime, Kagome brushed her hair and moisturized her skin, hoping that maybe the hydrating lotion would help her relax.

It didn’t.

It was now the afternoon, she was sitting on her couch trying to read a book with Buyo beside her lap when the jingle of keys took her attention away. Immediately she had two options, either it was Inuyasha, or her friendly elderly neighbor who never seemed to mind when she and the hanyou next door were rowdy late at night. The thing is, Mrs. Bostelo usually leaves early on Sundays to visit her grandchildren and doesn’t return until eight in the evening.

Right now, her clock told her that it was 4:30, and Mrs. Bostelo always arrived to see happy meowing kittens bellowing about her return. Kagome could hear them every time like it was a routine, yet this time she heard nothing.

She did hear a guttural, deep ground come from her door that sounded a lot like Inuyasha.

Swiftly she shut her book closed and tossed it to the side, she hadn’t been reading anything anyway, too distracted by what was going on in her head.

“I’m so scared right now I feel like I’m going to throw up,” she said as she paced around her living room, quickly hyping her self up to run to the door. “But look where fear led me, Buyo. The guy I want is right next door to me and he kissed me and I haven’t seen him all day.”

Her slippers were on her feet before she could process was she was doing, “I need answers, Buyo. I need to tell him! I’ve played this cat and mouse game enough time to count.”

Her keys were in her hands in seconds, if he was about to run inside his apartment, she’d be prepared to lock her door before he shut her out, “I screwed up by not telling him before, but not anymore Buyo. Fear be damned, rejection is inevitable and I deserve to be loved and to love someone back.”

Fists rolled into tight little balls, Kagome heaved out a breath of air and opened her door. There he was, standing right outside her door with a sorrowful look on his face. Ready or not; she was going to talk to him. Tell him how she feels about him, and deal with the painful consequences of rejection later.

“Kagome,” his voice wavered, it sounded breathless and astonished, and it made her body shiver.

She was beautiful, hair still cascading in waves around her face and shoulders while she wore a pair of puffy pants and a tank top.

He’s never wanted her more than right now.

“Can we talk?” She inwardly cringed, sounding angrier than what she actually felt.

Her heart was pounding in her ears. She wants him so much, hopes that he wants her back too. Kagome has her mind made; Inuyasha was her muse, her second chance, the person she wanted to create new memories with. It could turn into something beautiful, filled with trust, and worth the battles and the falls. She wanted to be his second chance too, if he let her, all he needed to do was give her the green light.

He heard Kagome’s breathing increasing and moved closer to her, “I-I was just about to ask you that.” She didn’t say another word, instead she grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward, successfully leading him into her apartment and away from their neighbors. It was silent, the air felt heavy and constrictive; it was like their lungs were being squeezed into a box that kept getting smaller and smaller. Before Kagome could give him a chance to speak, she swallowed her nerves and decided to face the problem head on.

“How do you do something like that and run away, Inuyasha?” She shakily asked, her tone was a whisper yet it screamed like venom. She knew he could hear her, because his ears stood at attention facing her direction, flicking every so often. “Do you regret it? Is that why you ran away?”

Inuyasha’s eyes were locked onto hers while his heart thumped rapidly in his chest, she looked so unsure of herself, the complete opposite of the Kagome he’s gotten to know, and he wanted to grab her shoulders and shake some sense into her.

However, he was the one who made her feel this way, and due to that he hates himself so much right now.

“I don’t regret kissing you.” He finally spoke, his baritone voice becoming the loudest sound in the room, “I can’t regret somethin’ like that.”

“Then why did you run away?” She asked, her voice becoming a little louder then before.

He groaned from his own frustration and stared up at the ceiling for some kind of answer. Inuyasha never wanted to fuck this up, and now he did, and was too scared to work up the courage to talk to her. Rejection was at the peak of the mountain, and he was hanging off it, only holding on by the grip of his fingers.

That grip was beginning to slip one by one.

“I was scared,” his eyes met hers, gold and full of worry, “Scared that I messed up everything we had because I decided to kiss you without even askin’ ya first!”

Kagome looked into his eyes to search for any kind of lie and found nothing, instead, she found a man who was desperate and afraid, just like she was. “I-I’m scared too!” She cried, “Scared that I would mess it all up!”

Slowly the truth was coming out as they uncovered more from each other, there was no other way to do it. They both wanted more with each other, the possibility of blossoming into more tastes so sweet; it was just at the tip of their tongues. One taste and they would both be addicted to it forever.

Inuyasha stared at her wide-eyed, clearly in disbelief, “God Kagome you drive me crazy.”

“What?” She asked breathlessly.

He walked closer to her with enough room to grab her and pull her into him, but also with enough space to stay apart. “You’ve driven me so crazy that none of this was supposed to happen the way that it did!”

She squinted at him in question, her heart threatening to pull itself apart inside her chest. “Are you saying you didn’t want to kiss me the way that you did, or that you didn’t want to kiss me but felt like you had to?”

Inuyasha stared at her wide-eyed, “Yes, well. No? Not like that!”

Kagome pulled herself into a tight hug to protect herself, “Inuyasha, you’re not making any sense right now,” her voice wavered.

“Fuck, Kagome!” He growled out, his patience was wearing thin. Talking about his feelings has never been easy, and confessing to the woman he’s borderline in love with was proven to be even more difficult. But he did this, and he needed to fix it; he didn’t want to see her like this because of him.

She deserved an answer, even if it meant pulling apart the last layer of skin he had to protect himself. He was going to be left vulnerable, but damn it all, he told himself he was going to confess last night at the wedding. Just because it was now the day after didn’t mean he felt any different.

‘Spit it out, you idiot!” He yelled inside of his head. The tension was high inside the living room, not even the sleeping cat on the couch could brighten up the mood. He had made up his mind last night, and confirmed it with himself this morning; and if he had any sense in keeping his word he would do it now.

“When I kissed ya, I even surprised myself, b-but I’ve been wantin’ to kiss you for a long time. Even before I knew what I felt for you.” His voice was shaking, or maybe it was his entire body, but he couldn’t take it back now. The words left his mouth and now it was up to Kagome to give him an answer.

Kagome hugged herself tighter and groaned, his confession made her entire body tighten. He feels the same way about her as she does about him, and it was making her brain short circuit.

“You make me want to pull my hair out!” She bit her bottom lip in order to get ready, it was now or never. “Inuyasha, I like you. I like you so much. I’m so infatuated with you that sometimes I wanted to go outside and scream. To go tell the entire world how much I like you!” Her chest heaved as she panted from how strongly she spoke.

Inuyasha swears he felt his heart stop beating. Everything clicked, her sleepy confession wasn’t something she did just during fatigue, she likes him back, and he wanted to go into the other room and bang his head against the wall. “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

Her body was screaming from the number of emotions she’s been flipping through this entire time, “I should ask you the same question!”

His ears flattened and his face dropped, knowing good and well he didn’t tell her earlier out of fear. If he had been as confident as he pretends to be, maybe this wouldn’t have become a giant misunderstanding.

Kagome’s heart panged painfully at the look on his face, apologetic and broken. She didn’t mean to make him feel like it was his fault, she knew of his past, and it wasn’t difficult to figure out why he had been quiet for so long.

The distance between them was killing her, and she gathered herself to move closer to him until their chests bumped. “No, Inuyasha, I’m sorry for yelling at you. I know better, and I understand why you didn’t tell me.”

Inuyasha grumbled, his frustration directed at himself, “S’not yer fault it took this long for me to tell ya.” He hung his head and sighed, “A part of me thought you’d reject me, and I guess that stems from what happened with my ex.”

Kagome nodded, fully understanding what he meant. The story he told her when they ate at the diner never leaving her memory. She laid her forehead on his hard chest and laughed through her nose, she felt the his muscles contracting as she rested on his body, “I’m at fault too.”

Raising her head so her chin rests on his pectorals, she met his piercing gaze. “After what happened with my ex, I was scared about meeting the same fate if I tried again. But then, I met you, and the more my feelings grew for you the more scared I got.”

Inuyasha’s hands immediately went to her waist to feel her closer, both of their confessions were out the window, and a mixture of emotions were cascading around them like a waterfall. He wanted to tell her she didn’t have a reason to apologize because he was scared too. He let his fear of losing her hold him back from this moment, from the truth, and that his past didn’t play such a big role in this as she thinks it has.

He squeezed her sides, whether to feel or to calm his nerves he didn’t know. “Kagome, you shouldn’t take all of the blame when I fumbled around you too. I let fear stop me from comin’ clean to ya.” He paused, releasing a shaky breath. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

She rested her palms onto his chest and pushed her head off of it, allowing them to be face to face, the feeling of closeness and the intimacy was so strong she could taste it. “Remember when you came home drunk after the elevator?”

A quizzical look etched his face, “Yes. I woke up on yer couch and then ya stuffed me with pancakes.”

A smile spread across her cheeks which made Inuyasha’s chest tighten, he hasn’t seen her smile since last night.

“After I helped you inside because I was not letting you sleep on the balcony, you almost kissed me, a-and other stuff…” she clears her throat, “I was never going to tell you because you woke up so afraid thinking that you did something wrong, and you didn’t! Please, don’t think you did. I-I was actually so disappointed when you pulled away because you told me you didn’t want to kiss me in the state you were in.”

Inuyasha was fighting his tongue, he wanted to say something, anything; ask her questions and apologize for almost taking advantage of her when he showed up drunk. However he let her speak, she asked for more time to explain, and he would give her as much as she asked for.

“It made me realize you felt the same way I did. And it scared me because I want you so much, but I couldn’t let go of the fear that tugged at me. Fear that you would reject me because I was broken, or because you didn’t feel the same way.”

He made a move to say something, but she tapped his chest with her finger to signal that she wasn’t done. “After the second incident with Kei, it changed. I told Kei that I had found someone new, someone else that treats me the way I deserved.”

The hands on his chest gripped his shirt desperately as if she was trying to cling to whatever courage she had left. “Inuyasha, I was talking about you.”

“I’m sorry,” his voice cracked. “I didn’t mean to go in and try to kiss you when I was drunk.” His hands snaked from her waist to her cheeks as he cradled her head between them. “When I say you drive me crazy, I mean it in the best way possible.”

Kagome lifted one hand from his chest and flattened it against his, she could instantly feel the size difference and the warmth that spread from it.

His forehead touched hers as he inched closer, the desire to fill in any remaining space so strong it was like the sun’s gravitational pull.

Clearing his throat he steadied himself, everything that happened to them since the beginning had come to this, and he wasn’t going to mess it up any longer. “You’re always in my head, you make me happy, I want to protect you with my life, and fuck it, I want to make you feel like you’re the happiest girl in the world. I didn’t avoid ya because I regretted kissing ya,” he paused and took a breath to steady himself. “I avoided you because I thought I ruined everything I had with you.”

He was breathing hard, golden eyes searching through rich brown as if trying to expel the remainder of his feelings into her soul. “I didn’t want to lose you.”

Kagome flashed him a smile, bright and inviting, “You could never lose me.”

There was a change in the air and it felt refreshing, like some invisible force flicked on a switch and changed the entire lighting of the room. The oxygen they breathed into their lungs felt cleaner, as if the contaminated and heavy particles in their chests had become purified. Each time they inhaled their chests felt lighter and the weight on their shoulders disappeared.

It didn’t matter to either of them that they had baggage, insecurities, or faults; they simply wanted each other with all of the difficult parts included.

“Can I kiss you?” He blurted, raw and guttural, as if his body depended on it, pulling himself impossibly closer to her. “Can I kiss you for all of the times I didn’t, for all of the times I wanted to, and for as much time as you’ll let me?”

She watched in bated breath as he leaned closer to her lips, and Kagome raised herself on her tiptoes, the warmth of her mouth washing over his lips, “You can kiss me forever.”

For a moment it was as if a clock had stopped ticking and the entire planet lay frozen, the only movement being captured was the synchronization of their bodies. Inuyasha’s mouth was on hers within seconds, the rapid speed not giving her enough time to catch her breath. His hands were still latched against the sides of her face like an anchor, yet his fingers now found solace in her hair, entangling themselves in her tresses in order to hold onto reality.

Kagome’s knuckles were stark white as she gripped his shirt hard enough to rip it apart, she was too busy pouring her feelings into their kiss to worry about his clothes, and she knew he wouldn’t give a damn either. Their mouths molded into each other so easily as they fought to stay afloat or risk drowning in each other.

Inuyasha moved his hands from her face and bent down to grab underneath her thighs, the movement causing their mouths to part and a needy whine to escape Kagome’s throat. The absence didn’t last too long because his lips found hers again after lifting her up from the floor. She gasped at the sudden change in position and Inuyasha swallowed it with his mouth, allowing for his tongue to enter and deepen the kiss.

Her legs wrapped around his waist while her arms snaked around his neck and shoulders to pull him closer. Long, silver hair fell through her fingers as she gripped for support and it only made him kiss her harder. She moaned into his mouth which caused his chest to vibrate in a low, satisfied growl that had Kagome’s body heat up and her stomach flutter.

She pulled away first, her lungs desperately clinging for more oxygen as she stared into his eyes. Inuyasha was looking at her like a predator, his auburn gaze so piercing it was like he was staring directly into her soul. He couldn’t get enough of her, and he wanted to keep kissing her lips until they were swollen and red, and until she couldn’t kiss him any longer.

“God, you’re beautiful.” He said as he panted, “I can’t get enough of you.”

He kissed her lips, her chin, jaw, and then down her neck while he walked them into his bedroom. Kagome breathed heavily, her thoughts only on how his lips felt on her skin and Inuyasha, Inuyasha, Inuyasha. Slender fingers gripped his shoulders to stabilize herself, her body tingling with every brush of his lips on her neck.

She doesn’t know when they reached her bedroom, nor does she expect to feel her back hit the mattress in one smooth, sudden landing. Her hands were still gripping his shirt while he kissed her, the changing in a position not stopping his mouth from exploring every inch of her.

“Inuyasha,” Kagome breathed, whiny and needy, “Kiss me again, please kiss me again.”

The half-demon sucked on her neck, ears flicking at every tiny moan that left her pink mouth. He wanted to devour her entirely, leave marks of his lips all over her body and permanently tattoo them on her skin. Her scent was enticing as always, vanilla and strawberry body wash mixed with her natural scent and he wanted to drown in it.

Lifting his mouth from her neck proved to be a difficult task as he continued to kiss her some more, but as shakey, gentle fingers made their way into his hair and over his ears it made his body jolt to a stop.

Kagome exhaled slowly as she gently stroked his ears, the white fur was as soft as his hair but with a completely different texture. They were as delicate and velvety as she believed them to be, the realization making a happy giggle bubble from her throat.

Inuyasha braced his hands against the mattress and lifted himself up, watching Kagome as she played with his ears. His lips were parted in wonder as he looked at her, paying attention to the flush of her skin and the way her hair haloed around her head. Her mouth was pink and swollen from kissing her, and there was a part of him that wanted to ravage her more until they were painted red. She seemed to be glowing under the light of his lamp, ethereal; like a goddess, and he took a mental picture of how she looked to keep in his memories forever.

Kagome was oblivious to his acute observation until her eyes moved from the fluffy appendages to his auburn gaze. He was looking at her so intensely that she squeaked from embarrassment, immediately dropping her hands and resting them against her hand on the bed. “I-I’m sorry, I should have asked you fir-“

He kissed her again, sloppy and deep, tongue darting into her mouth to taste her more. She moaned into the kiss and he drank it, feeling small hands slither up his forearms and onto his shoulders, resting them there to hold on.

Inuyasha broke away from her lips before resting his forehead on hers, “You can touch my ears whenever ya want to.” He pecked her lips again and again, “Ya never have’ta ask.”

Kagome made a noise of excitement as she cupped his face and kissed him back, “I can’t get enough of you,” her delicate fingers made their journey back up to his ears again.

While she touched his ears, Inuyasha kissed her nose, cheeks, and all over. The endless, soft pecks tickled her skin making Kagome erupt in light, joyous laughter. “You’re tickling me!”

“Get used to it,” he said with a smirk. “I’m gonna kiss ya all over, today, tomorrow, forever, just like ya said.”

His lips met hers again, once, twice, before they moved to her jaw. “You’re going to be worn out by the time you’re done!”

“Kagome, baby,” he risked kissing her lower, above her chest, where the soft skin of her bust poked out of her tank top. She gasped and it sent his body into a frenzy, his lips continuing to leave marks on her body. He didn’t dare move any lower, afraid he’ll be moving too quickly and make her nervous. “I’m just tryin’ to make up for the lost time.”

They kissed for what seemed like hours while nervous hands explored each other’s bodies over the fabric of their clothing. Skin never touched skin besides one clawed hand venturing underneath her top, just enough to feel the heat of her stomach and the contraction of muscles that moved whenever there was a stroke of a finger. The warmth of their bodies washed over them like a wave, the movement of their mouths unfurling all their senses, tasting each other until there was nothing more but a mixture of souls.

“Mmm, Inuyasha.” Kagome called softly, “Come here, please?”

His eyes met hers from the valley of her breasts, barely covered up by the thin fabric of her shirt. Her arms were spread wide open as she invited him into her, and it didn’t take him long to figure out what she wanted.

Inuyasha crawled back into her and rested his head underneath her chin, his arms wrapping around her back to pull her in close while she rested hers around his neck and the back of his head. For a moment, they lay in peaceful silence, allowing themselves to catch their breath while listening to the beating of each other’s hearts.

“I wanna keep kissing ya,” the half-demon admitted. “I’m already addicted.”

She snuggled into his hair and smiled, “We have the rest of our lives for you to kiss me. I just wanna stay like this for a little.”

Inuyasha played with the hair that lay against the pillow, being careful not to snip any of the ends off with his claws. A thought came to him then, and he decided to finally put a voice to it. “Remember when Myoga and Totosai called me from the table to talk?”

Kagome hummed in reply, “Yes, but you never explained what happened after.”

The half-demon chuckled, kissing whatever skin he could reach from her neck he could treat to himself. “They came to talk to me about ya, basically fuckin’ giving me pointers on how to ask ya to be my woman.”

Kagome snorted from above him, “And how did that go exactly?”

“It was a waste of my time, clearly. I think if I had done what they told me to do I would be so embarrassed to ever look at ya again.” He kissed her neck more, and a low moan escaped Kagome’s lips, she held him tighter while he continued his attack on her skin.

“I doubt that,” she moaned. “I‘d probably barge into your apartment to talk to you like I did earlier.”

“God, and I’m so glad you did,” he licked her neck and she gasped from the sensation. “Now I can make ya do those sounds forever.”

“And kiss me forever,” Kagome smiled. “Just like I said.”

“Yeah,” he lifted his head and stole another kiss, this time sweet and filled with promises of tomorrow. “Ya can’t take those words back now, Kagome.” She giggled in happiness, the sound was cute and bubbly, “I don’t think I will.”

__________

It was a Wednesday and Kagome felt like she was floating on air. Sunday came and went like a storm, where the clouds that covered the sky finally settled and the sunlight peeked through, warming the land that had once been flooded due to pouring rain. Work could have been extremely stressful for her, but she wouldn’t even care, because as soon as her shift was over and Inuyasha came home they would lounge on the couch and snuggle to their heart’s content.

It felt like it was too good to be true.

On Monday, with enough shoving, Kagome managed to get Inuyasha to go to work with a chaste kiss. He ended up arriving late due to his insatiable need for her, opting to share another passionate kiss instead of getting ready for a day at work. With enough persuasion, she managed to get him out, and he pouted the entire time. While he was gone at work, and she was too distracted by him to focus on her current tasks; there was a moment where she panicked. She was so happy that she was now with Inuyasha, he made her feel like there was a cloud underneath her feet with every step she took. He was all over her like she was his lifeline, and her lips were the only thing that could supply oxygen into his lungs. And yet, she panicked; because she briefly thought that this could end as quickly as it started, and she’d lose him like how she lost herself with Kei, and maybe even more.

However Inuyasha was there to pick her up, remind her where she was and that whatever bump they encountered in their new relationship they would climb it together.

And she cried because damn it, how could she think of her last relationship and what it did to her when she was now with Inuyasha? Someone who cherished her for everything she had and everything she lacked, knew of her baggage and still looked at her like she was the sun. Behind this tough-guy persona was a man who treated her like she was this delicate, beautiful thing who deserved to be protected and adored.

He wasn’t what she was used to, and she needed time to get accustomed to that.

And yet Inuyasha knew that, and that’s why he doesn’t get upset, because she’s trying, and there will be a day where she doesn’t have to doubt herself or her actions. There will be a day where it clicks and she won’t even notice it. Kagome will just continue to live day to day being treated the way she should have always been treated, and eventually, she’ll stop worrying about whether or not she did something to upset him.

Inuyasha will make sure that Kagome never has to doubt anything ever again. He cared deeply for her, the magnetic pull he felt when he first met her had finally found it’s spot against the cool metal. In a sense, he felt like he had found his home, but he knew it was too early to admit something as big as that. It didn’t matter to him if Kagome had to adjust to this sort of treatment. This was another part of healing, and she was human. He lacks patience with everybody, but for Kagome all of that disappears, and all he wants to do is be near her and hold her close. Everything that comes at them, they will handle it together. Now, as his piercing gaze landed on her small frame, he felt his heart thump again. She was captivating him, like a painting he needed to admire, delicate and yet full of a fire that would not be put out. Inuyasha just wanted to come up at her and kiss her for hours, but life was unfair; he can’t stop what’s happening to ravage his her lips.

He chuckled as he walked out of her bathroom dressed in his red hoodie and worn-out jeans, his girlfriend waiting for him patiently at her front door.

“Ready now?” She giggled, “I’m in desperate need of caffeine.”

Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he grabbed his car keys, poking her in the cheeks as she opened the door. “Ya gotta get that coffee addiction checked out babe.”

Kagome smacked his arm and scoffed, “Until my job gives me enough time to sleep, maybe I wouldn’t need so much.”

He laughed and followed her out the door, making sure to close it quickly before Buyo ran out. “Why are we goin’ out anyway? There’s coffee at home.”

She hopped down the stairs in excitement, “It’s a new cafe that just opened in town! They have bear-shaped ice cubes and so many pastries.”

“Bear-shaped ice cubes, huh?” Inuyasha chuckled, “Never thought of that one.” He looked up at the sky and noticed the grey clouds beginning to roll in, and he made a mental note that they needed to make it back home before the rain started.

He held her hand on the quick drive to the coffee shop, it was just a ten-minute drive down the road. The car ride was peaceful as they sang along to the radio, Inuyasha kissing every knuckle on her hand as many times as he could while his other hand held the wheel.

They parked a block down the street because all of the lots were full and they were lucky enough to find a spot not too far from the cafe. They walked hand in hand, updating each other on how work went for the day and what pastries they wanted to try that Kagome would read off the online menu.

“Okay, so the bear ice cubes isn’t the only bear themed item on the menu,” she smiled, “They have waffles, cakes, and rolls that are all shaped like bears!”

Inuyasha raised his brow, “What do they have that isnt bear shaped?”

Kagome laughed and squeezed his hand, “They have a berry tart that’s called ‘berry-nice to meet you.’”

The half-demon chuckled, completely at a loss for words when it came to the places she chose to take them to. “Of course it’s fuckin’ called that.”

A squeal of excitement immediately caught him off guard. “There it is!” she said as skipping along the sidewalk with her boyfriend in tow. The name Kuma Coffee hung off the side of the building, the sign was large enough to see across the street and it had a brown bear cub’s face drawn beside it.

The inside wasn’t as crowded as Inuyasha had expected it to be, thinking maybe he and Kagome had been lucky enough to arrive before the evening rush. They ordered their coffees, a sandwich to share that wasn’t bear shaped, and two pastries each. Kagome made sure they both ordered something different so that they could try more things at once.

The entire cafe was bear themed, and Inuyasha had to give it to them; they really did make it work. And he’s not saying that just because Kagome likes the place so much. The food was good, and so was the coffee and the pastries. He ended up getting the berry tart, and Kagome managed to eat her giant cinnamon roll that was the size of her palm. The fact that it was themed to be a bear’s head made it gigantic, and yet she ate the entire thing without giving up.

Did he help her?

Maybe.

But, it’s a cinnamon roll. He couldn’t help himself.

“So, what did you think?” His girlfriend asked with curiosity.

Inuyasha hummed in deep thought, he made sure to stare at Kagome as he did so, trying not to laugh at how antsy she was getting with every passing second. “You win again, Mrs. Higurashi,” he grinned.

Kagome gasped in delight, “Yes! You liked it!” She danced in her chair while she sipped the remaining contents of her iced coffee, “Next time it’s your turn, take us wherever you want to go.”

He took the last bite of his raspberry tart and shrugged, “I don’t think I know any places besides the bar, babe.”

She smiled, “I know you’re a beer connoisseur and all,” she paused when he started to laugh, “But ya gotta give me something better than that.”

He threw his head back laughing, eyes crinkling shut as his smile grew and her breath hitched. Inuyasha was the most handsome man she’s ever laid her eyes on, and she found him the most attractive when he laughed like this.

Her heart soared from the joy she felt, “What’s so funny?”

“I gotta step up my game, babe.” He grinned, “Or else yer gonna keep winnin’ every time we go out to eat.”

Kagome rested her hand under her chin, smiling coyly, “I didn’t realize this was a competition, Mr. Taisho.”

He smirked at her, “Only if you want it to be, Ms. Higurashi.”

The tension in the air was thick yet playful, their new and fun challenge awakening both of their competitive sides. It’ll be a struggle for Inuyasha, since now he has to find places that Kagome would definitely not know about, but he’s excited to start.

“This will be fun,” she wiggled her brows playfully, “I’ll continue to blow you away with my choices.”

Inuyasha laughed again, “And I’ll find ya a spot that’ll make you eat those words.”

The couple laughed, the atmosphere between them was light and filled with energy. After a few more minutes of talking and sharing little jokes, they decided it was time for them to go back home and become couch potatoes for the rest of the day. With the gloomy weather rolling in, taking a nap on the sofa while the rain poured on the roof sounded like the perfect idea.

However, they were a little too late, and as soon as they stepped outside the rain was already clamping down onto the earth. Their only choice was to wait it out or run to the car, but it was a block away, and they didn’t bring an umbrella.

“Let’s go back inside and wait it out,” Inuyasha declared. “Hopefully it won’t take too long to stop.”

Kagome stood at the edge of the sidewalk, the small, slanted roof above them covering them from the rain. She poked out her hand and let the water drip down her palm, it was cold and yet so inviting.

Water signified cleanliness, purity, and life. Like the flow of water, life changed drastically whether or not it was for one’s own benefit. Kagome thought of this as a sign, another chance to get it right, to love again, and move forward. Her life had changed so much in the last ten months, and the last three had definitely thrown her in for a loop.

She spent eight months healing from her ex, and the remaining three grasping at straws as she figured out her feelings for Inuyasha. Someone who was a complete stranger, who had started out as her neighbor, then a friend, and now her lover. It’s amazing how much can change in such little time, and with what she had experienced in the past, she was so lucky to have found her person in him.

Inuyasha’s addition into her life came unexpectedly, at a time when she was still fragile and learning about herself. He was a friend she needed without knowing it, and as they grew closer, he became the person she wanted to take a chance with. Whenever he came around it was like a new wave of water washed over her, and she didn’t want to talk about her past or think about what her ex had done to her. She wanted to talk about him, learn about him, and grow a new connection from the ground up. The past and the heaviness of it all didn’t carry as much weight as it used to, because here was a person who knew about what she had gone through, and continued to see the value she had.

It took her so long to see her own value during those first eight months, and after meeting Inuyasha, everything had been sealed. She knew she was more than her past, more than her ex, and deserved more than what she was given.

She wanted to grow a garden with Inuyasha, alongside her own garden where she watered her own flowers, and sometimes if she needed help; he would come by and water them too.

Kagome turned around and met his eyes, a childlike smile appeared on her face, one of joy and wonder. “It’s just water, Inuyasha.”

The half-demon watched in disbelief as she stepped out of the safety of the roof and out underneath the pouring rain. She had a smile on her face the whole time as she let the water wash over her, and sloshed her feet out onto the wet pavement.

“Kagome yer gonna get sick! Are ya crazy?!” He called out to her, “What the hell!” He grumbled before running out and meeting her in the rain.

He grabbed her arms and pulled her in, both of their clothes were now absolutely soaked and they both needed to take a shower when they got home. “Kagome-“

She kissed him, successfully cutting him off from whatever it was he was going to say to her. Her hands grasped his cheeks as if he was an anchor, and she was going to fall if she didn’t hold on tight enough. Inuyasha ignored the rain after that, too busy kissing her back to think of anything else besides the taste of her lips and the feeling of her body pressed against his. With one hand on the small of her back and in-between her shoulders he held her closely; as if the rain would sweep her away if he didn’t.

He pulled away from her and grinned, immediately lifting her up and carrying her bridal style before spinning them around once. Kagome’s laughter was loud and infectious, the sound kept him warm from the bitter cold rain.

“This is so fuckin’ cliche,” He rasped at her, the look in his eyes was full of adoration, “I never thought I’d kiss ya in the rain.”

Kagome giggled as she tightened her hold around his neck and shoulders, shrugging in delight. “There’s a first time for everything.”

He kissed her again with the same passion, want, and need as the first time. He kissed her for her strengths, her weaknesses, her beauty, and for everything that was her. Nothing else mattered, not their wet clothes or the freezing harsh rain. Their hair was stuck to their faces and their clothes were so soaked they would need to squeeze them dry when they returned home. Right now though, how they looked wasn’t their concern, too busy wrapping themselves around each other in an attempt to stay grounded.

For the first time, Kagome feels like there’s nothing that can hold her back, not with Inuyasha’s arms wrapped around her so tightly that the fear of falling never came to mind. She finally found the person she’s been looking for, and she wasn’t going to let him go.

What’s past is past, their lessons were learned, and although they both experienced a sorrowful love that fell apart, that didn’t mean it was their end.

It was a rainy day outside of a cafe when they both experienced it begin again.

mamabearcatfanart:

Imagine my surprise and delight when I realised that @artistefish had started adding one of my favourite fics, Abnormalities, to AO3.

So I decided to do a redraw of a piece of art I did many moons ago, a beautiful moment from Chapter 4 when they are reunited. These poor babies I just want them to be happy!

And I’m also going to tag @sins-week for the Wrath/Patience tag. Because Kagome is ready to fry a whole lot of ‘scientists’ to get her and Inu out, but they have to be patient and wait for their chance to escape.

If you haven’t read this fic yet, please do! It’s not quite finished but what is done is so worth it!

kstewdeux:

@inukag-week

June 12th, 2022 - Domestic

Summary: Some demons make Inuyasha have an existential crisis which screws up his plans.

Disclaimer: I misunderstood the assignment but it’s too late now.

“Would ya look ah that! Bastard really is domesticated! Look how he came runnin’ when she called!” the spindly ogre cackled and his companions cackled with him, “It gets bettah! He’s got a collar!”

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kstewdeux:

@inukag-week

June 13th, 2022 - Role Reversal

Song:Ashes by Celine Dion

Summary: A limited yet calculated body snatching incident.

Disclaimer: Here I am. Continuing on my trend of choosing the most random and incorrect interpretation of the prompt.

Letting out a shuddering breath, Inuyasha took an involuntary step back - his entire body trembling as the world crashed down on him. In the span of thirty seconds, Inuyasha made it through the first four stages of grief then circled back to experience all four at once. Well, save one. Kinda. There was no doubt in his mind that what was just admitted wasn’t true although part of his mind was desperately praying this was a cruel joke.

Because surely, surely the powers had better things to do than continue to find increasingly devastating ways to punish him for existing and execute the people who dare love him.

It would’ve been better for everyone if that arrow in his heart stillpinned his corpse to that tree. Better yet, he wished that at least one of the people who’d tried to kill him over the years had been successful. He’d even take being held prisoner and someone inflicting excruciating never ending torture at this point. Having a limb amputated. Getting his eyes gouged out or being mutilated in any number of ways. Anything other than this.

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