A Love Found After Centuries by inumaru_rapture

Slippery Beginnings

Kagome hopped over the rocks used as a bridge to cross a river. Inuyasha padded a barefoot on the dirt on the opposite side, impatient to get to a safe place because this was the night he was turned into a mortal. Sango and Miroku were walking ahead, actually emerged in a conversation. Shippo was standing in the middle of the two groups, calling to Kagome and Inuyasha to hurry up.

"I am! I am! Just waiiiaaaah!!!!" Kagome screamed as she slipped on a slimy rock. Her eyes were clamped shut, but she didn't feel the cold rush of water...instead she felt the warmth, breath, and heart-beat of someone. Her eyes opened and she was staring into Inuyasha's chest, his arms wrapped around her waist.

"You all right?" He sounded worried, which was unlike him, especially as of late. Kagome looked up at him, their faces close. Color covered her cheeks as she nodded. "Good. Now come on, clumsy."

Inuyasha changed his tone, clearing his throat. He jumped across the river holding Kagome by the waist then let her go, his hands disappearing into his robe and his arms crossing.

"Arigato..." Kagome whispered before Shippo came running to see if she was okay.

-That night..................

Kagome was laying on the ground as the fire popped and crackled. Inuyasha sat, holding his Tetsaiga in his arms, eyes shut, but not sleeping. Miroku had gone off to get some water, and Sango was sleeping.

Sitting up, Kagome looked to Inuyasha. He didn't move. She sighed softly and pulled her knees to her chest. 'Why do I have to love him so much? He loves Kikyo...not me....' She thought as she stared at the flames. Tears formed in her eyes, as thoughts of seeing Kikyo and Inuyasha together passed through her head. Trying to stay silent, she dropped her head into her knees and let the tears flow.

A hand slid down her back and someone sat behind her, pulling her into an embrace.

"Why do you cry, Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice whispered in her ear. His breath tickled her neck and heated her cheeks. Kagome sniffed and moved to wipe her tears, but Inuyasha's hand beat her as he gently took the tears from her cheeks. "You deserve to be always happy, you should never have a need to shed a tear...ever..." Inuyasha's eyes were kind, caring as Kagome had turned her head to look at him.

"I don't deserve any more than I have..." Kagome whispered. 'What a lie,' her mind told her. 'You want to be with Inuyasha so bad you can't hide it anymore.'

"Kagome...please don't lie to me...or yourself. You should know that I understand you better than anyone...I know you're upset about Kikyo...but...you shouldn't be..." The wind took his mortal black hair and gently played with it. Kagome stared at his face, unable to keep her hand at her side, her palm cupped his cheek, fingers lightly trace his skin. Inuyasha's eyes shut and he nuzzled his face into her hand.

'Why is he doing this?' Kagome asked her mind. 'Maybe he loves you as much as you love him...' her mind retorted.

The brush stirred and Inuyasha hopped to only sitting next to Kagome as Miroku appeared. A slight growl trembled in Inuyasha's throat as Miroku made a face of understanding, winking with a thumbs up, and left into the forest again.

"Why bother?! I know you'll be spying!" Inuyasha cried into the forest after him. Miroku came out, shrugging.

"I thought I would try..." came his response. Inuyasha's face was a little red, but not as red as Kagome's as she sat there, silent.

-Still later into the night..........

Sango sat up with a cry. Miroku was at her side in a second.

"What's wrong, Sango?" He asked softly, brushing her sweat laded hair from her cheeks.

"Just a nightmare..." her voice trembled. She was shaking. Miroku wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. She tensioned in response.

"Please...trust me to just hold you. I promise I will not try to fondle you." Miroku whispered, slightly hurt. Sango relaxed slightly and fell into his embrace. Soon, she was asleep again and Miroku laid down with her in his arms, he too falling asleep.

Kagome watched from between partially opened eyes. A longing to be held like that cursed through her veins as she bit her lip and turned from them.

-The next morning........

"WHAT IS THIS MIROKU!!?? YOU GIVE ME HELL FOR TALKING WITH KAGOME AND YOU SLEEP WITH SANGO ALL NIGHT?!!?" Inuyasha's yells woke Kagome up. She sat up, wiping the sleep from her eyes. Sango was red in the face and Miroku had a large lump on his head, but he looked satisfied.

Kagome, not saying anything, just stood and wandered off to take a bath and wake up. She waded into the river, her clothes neatly folded on a rock by the shore and knelt in the river bed. 'Why am I so sad?'

Kagome asked herself, as she hugged her arms and let tears fall from her eyes into the river.

Suddenly, a river demon raged up in front of Kagome and roared. Kagome turned tomato and screamed, hurrying to get her clothes. The demon grabbed her before she reached the shore, his muck hands coating her body and some of her face.

"You shall be my mate.." the demon bellowed and dove into the river with Kagome screaming for Inuyasha, who had just arrived over the hillside with Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo. Kirara, transformed into her large cat form, leapt at the demon, drawing his attention to the people on the shore.

"YOU CAN'T HAVE MY MATE!" The demon cried, clenching his fist around Kagome, and shooting poison muck at the group.

"KAGOME!" Inuyasha's cry met her ears before she went unconscious.......