DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I don not own Inuyasha. I just like playing with them.

Relinquished Destiny

Ch. 8

By: Lara Winner

The moment Kagome stepped into her history classroom she could feel HIM watching her.

‘Don’t look baka!’ she snapped at herself, but reflex won out over mental urging and she found herself ignoring her own warning to her dismay. Looking up she met Inasho’s deep violet eyes in a head on stare. The boy was clearly annoyed at being caught but he did not look away. Guilt and nervousness made her drop her gaze to the ground as she made her way to her seat.

It was only when she was settled with her textbook and notebook on the table before her, that Kagome realized she needn’t be so nervous. Apparently Inasho found his view lacking for he had returned his attention back to the book he was holding. The thought made her frown.

In an attempt to relax, Kagome glanced around the room. Fellow students tricked through the door one by one, the empty seats slowly filling as the minutes ticked away. It wasn’t long before she found her gaze wandering back to the boy beside her. With his head bowed, wisps of hair escaped the band and fell forward partially hiding his face. Her heart was once again pounding so rapidly she was afraid he could hear the sound.

But Inasho made no move to acknowledge her presence and Kagome took advantage of his distraction. Her guilt was doubled ten fold as she realized she was acutely aware him. Every nerve in her body seemed to be on end seeking out his presence and she felt shame at the sudden insight. She did not know for sure that this was Inuyasha. As far-fetched as everything seemed she would not have been surprised if it were a sick coincidence that they looked so strikingly similar. Lately everything she had ever found hard to believe had become quite believable.

It didn’t seem right that she should so easily find herself attracted to this boy when she wasn’t near healed from loosing the love of her life. The pain was still there with every breath she took and it stood as a reminder of the part of herself that she had lost. A heart can only love that deeply once in a lifetime and knowing that helped her understand Inuyasha’s confusion. There was no way Kagome could blame him for loving Kikyo. Nor could she hate him for his inability to love her. All he had been able to give her was the tattered remains of affection that where left after the loss he had suffered.

Yet Inuyasha had cared. He hid it well and he tried to fight the feeling but she knew that beneath his gruff and hostile exterior he considered her companionship to be of grate value. It wasn’t love, or maybe it was in its own way, but it was simple and safe. He had nothing to loose if they were to ever go their separate ways. The emotions she aroused were not a risk or a liability and the knowledge stung.

Then again, to confuse her even more, her mind was suddenly filled with an image of Inuyasha’s face.

…Fear contorted his features and there was raw terror in his eyes as he reached for her. He screamed her name and his voice held a note of desperation, as if it were torn from his scarred soul in an anguished cry…

Kagome’s chest tightened as a vice-grip of alarm made her stiffen. She had forgotten… Amidst the turmoil in her mind and heart she had overlooked the memory. It was her last image of him. Right then she could only watch helplessly as Kaimi’s power over time took effect and she left him standing there looking completely defeated…

It wasn’t love she had seen in his actions, she scolded furiously. He was afraid to be alone, that’s all it was. But the thought lacked conviction and in its wake she began to remember…

…"What are you doing up Houshi?"

"ssshh! Sango and Kagome are asleep." …pause… "Inuyasha, Kagome asked me to inform you that she is returning to her time in the morning."

"What! Why the fuck didn’t she tell me!?!"

"Sshh! Be quiet!"

"Feh, damned stupid bitch. Who does she think she is?"

"You sound like you want her to stay Inuyasha?"

Leaves rustle and silence falls abruptly.

"It’s nothing to do with her." …pause… "We do have the rest of the shards to find, remember! She just keeps wasting time!"

"Oh, so that’s why you sulk and camp by the well till she returns? I thought you were waiting for more ramen."

"Look hentai, you don’t understand…"

Chuckle. "I think I understand." …pause… "I understand just fine."…

…"Kagome?"

Worried golden eyes frantically searched her face and she smiled slightly. She tried to sit up but firm hands pushed her down on her back and roughly skimmed her body feeling for injuries.

"Don’t move. That son-of-a-bitch threw you pretty far. Miroku’s gone to get Kaede. Are you alright?"

Inuyasha’s voice was soft and she paused. This was so unlike him. He was actually showing his concern? Nodding, she managed to croak, "My head hurts a little but other than that I’m fine."

His eyes closed briefly in relief. "Good, I’m glad." Then they snapped open containing the fires of hell as he grasped her shoulder and gave her a hard shake. "DON’T YOU EVER DO ANYTHIG THAT STUPID AGAIN!"

"Inuyasha…"

"YOU BAKA! YOU MORON! YOU… YOU STUPID… YOU IDIOT!"

He was so angry he was sputtering and Kagome sighed. "Your shard detector is perfectly fine. Chill out."

"Fuck the shards!" he hissed. Her eyes widened as she realized what he said. Stiffening, he looked away and scowled. "From now on leave the fighting to me. Just stay out of my way and tell me where the shards are. That’s all I want from you, got it!"

"Fine." She muttered, closing her eyes…

Kagome’s breath caught as one final memory crossed her mind.

…"If you could do this again, knowing how it would all turn out, would you?" she asked.

Inuyasha was torn but he answered honestly. "Look, Kikyo is dead. She is not the same person she was and it kills me to see what is left of her. And I don’t know what the future will bring and I don’t know if I could do this again because I have so much to loose…"…

What had he meant by that? At the moment she had assumed he was referring to his friends and his die-hard dedication to seeking his revenge against Naraku. But what if she had misunderstood? What if he had been referring to the two of them and what was slowly growing between them?

A slight throbbing had begun around Kagome’s temples. The stress of trying to deal with everything was taking its toll. But the slight pain intensified sharply when a familiar voice snapped, "Didn’t anyone teach you it’s rude to stare?"

Kagome blinked. A blush stained her cheeks but she found herself paralyzed, unable too look away. She continued to stare at Inasho dumbly.

A dark glare was directed her way. Irritation was evident as Inasho arched one brow with cocky curiosity. "Are you slow or something? "

For the first time she realized his clipped words were tempered with an accent. Though his Japanese was fluent his accent sounded American. Strangely enough the inane thought jerked her from her stupor. Kagome’s gray eyes narrowed, flashing dangerously. "Didn’t anyone teach you to be nice?"

"Heh, you can actually speak in complete sentences. Who knew." Inasho muttered, returning to his book. "Stupid girl." He added under his breath.

A devilish streak rose within Kagome and for a moment she forgot that this was not Inuyasha, but a boy she’d just met. Grinning impishly, she snatched the book out of his hands and turned it over to look at the cover. She ignored Inasho’s growl and frowned when she realized the book was written in a foreign alphabet that she guessed was English.

"Hey give that back!" He exclaimed as he reached for the book.

She let him rip the paperback out of her hands. Tipping her head to the side she regarded him with a half smile. "You’re bilingual? That’s neat."

He turned away dismissively. "Whatever. Why don’t just leave me alone."

"I just gave you a compliment. You don’t have to act like a jerk about it." She huffed.

He grimaced. "You are really annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"No."

"Well they should." He insisted absently while trying to find the page he had been reading.

Kagome gaped at his abhorrent lack of social skills. "You could be a little nicer to me. I’m just trying to be your friend."

"That’s funny. I don’t remember asking you to." He countered.

"I’m sorry. I stand corrected. Forgive me for wanting to make simple conversation. If you insist on being antisocial and unresponsive then go right ahead!" She shot back trying to get the last word.

"Gladly." Inasho looked up from his book and glared. "Now will you shut up!"

"Sit boy!" Kagome blurted the command out of habit.

It was Inasho’s turn to blink in confusion. Kagome felt her face turn twenty shades of red while Inasho gave her a strange look. She swore he wanted to laugh but the irate expression did not leave his face. Kagome was mortified. Why couldn’t she sink into the floor or maybe disappear? It would be really great if the ground would swallow her. Oh what she wouldn’t give for Miroku’s kaanaza right now…

"Uh… you have serious issues." Inasho snickered.

How dare he…

To her frustration, Kagome’s biting response was silenced as the bell sounded hailing the beginning of the class period. But the indignation she felt at Inasho’s high and mighty attitude sparked something inside her and for the first time in weeks Kagome felt almost exactly like her old self again.

 Tbc…

A.N.- I suck! This chapter didn’t come out at all like the way I wanted it to and after almost three revisions its still crap. I’m slightly disgruntled right now. But on a good note the next chapter that follows is the continuation of this scene and it sort of gets the ball rolling. As if you can’t tell I’m not good at the happier stuff. Angst is definitely my genre. So, in fair warning, there will be heavy angst and light fluff coming up in future chapters. Be prepared because this is a long twisted story.

*Hugs* Thanks for taking the time to read! Luv ya guys!!!! *_*