#inuyasha ficlet

[xoxopandapanda]

Inukag Week 2023: Day 2: Possession

@inukag-week

Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7

AO3

Fanfiction

It wasn’t until Kagome had met and spent a lot of time with Inuyasha that she realized how lucky she was growing up. Sure, she had known she had a good homelife, a loving family, and a future to look forward to.

Inuyasha had nothing but the clothes on his back and the chips on his shoulder.

The first time Inuyasha curled up and fell asleep on her bed, Kagome wanted to let him stay there forever. He seemed to just melt into the soft comforter, his face relaxing off the harshness that normally sat there. He seemed to just be a normal teenage boy in that moment, rather than the harsh and difficult half-demon he was when he was awake.

If Kagome could have given him that peace for the rest of his life, she would have in a heartbeat.

But as with everything, it came to an end that he was sleeping peacefully and quietly on that bed and the real world came knocking and demanded they return to the quest that engulfed their every moment.

The desire to give him everything didn’t disappear with the morning sun, however.

At some point, Inuyasha had become very comfortable with seizing anything and everything of hers and using to his own means. Sleeping bag? Now his for sitting on when camping outside until she made him get off for her to sleep. Books? A source of entertainment (sometimes kindling) for when he wanted to annoy her. Clothes? Those worked great for drying off or wiping sweat off his face, even if they were still on her body and he was just flat out rubbing his forehead on her. Shoes? Ah, perfect for throwing at the crows that gathered on Kaede’s roof. Fifty-fifty if he got them down without her having to ask him.

Kagome found herself specifically looking for things they could share. He had a favorite pair of chopsticks that once were hers, so she got another set. His long hair required softer elastic band on hair ties, so she got scrunchies and clips for them to use when bathing. He preferred open-mouth water bottles to straws, so she got rid of her original one to get a big one they could share.

There was a time when she would have been mortified at the thought of sharing every single thing in her life, but just like how Inuyasha had melded into her bed that night, they blended together.

What was hers was his, and vice versa.

It was so natural after a while, that not even having it pointed out to them would cause them to blush or deny it.

“Less to carry if we share more.” Kagome had said once to Kaede as Inuyasha chugged the entirety of the very large water jug. “It just makes sense.”

Shippo had all of his own things, so it perhaps didn’t actually make sense. She carried a special water bottle, utensils, pillow, soap, crayons, and just about anything else for the little boy. It was the same for Miroku and Sango, who each had their own designated items in her pack.

It was just Inuyasha that she shared everything with.

Soon physical possessions weren’t just the only thing the two teens shared. Inuyasha started to share her successes at school and joined in on studying with her, despite not finding much use for it. It helped her a lot to have another person to talk to, even if it was just grunting red clad boy who knew nothing about theoretical math.

Miroku had tried to help her study, and he was great for history and religious topics, however laying on her stomach next to a lounging half-demon seemed to be the best way for her to work through math equations.

Tapping his shoulder, Kagome commanded his attention to her homework. “Is that a three or eight?” The dim lighting from the fire prevented her from being able to fully make it out. She could if she scooted closer, but it was more convenient to take advantage of Inuyasha’s better eyesight. He drew an eight in the air with his finger.

“To the power of eight?!” Kagome collapsed onto her arm in exasperation. “How am I supposed to figure that out?”

“Write it out.” Inuyasha had no idea what a power of eight was, but he knew what he was supposed to say when the numbers came out. Mama Higurashi had taught him.

Sighing loudly, Kagome rearranged herself onto her elbows and started writing out the equation. Inuyasha felt a surge of pride at being helpful to her, even if he had no idea how it all worked. He didn’t quite get why she was so certain she needed school, but if it was important to her, it was important to him to.

After all, they shared everything.

Including hopes and dreams, he realized one day when in a heated spat with Miroku over Kagome. He had pressed about their future together, insinuating that they should just hurry up and get married. He and Sango had to wait after all, until the curse was lifted, but no such restrictions were on Kagome and Inuyasha.

Inuyasha had huffed and snarled out, “She wants to go to high school. It’s important to her to graduate.”

Miroku had a blank look cross his face. “What does that mean, exactly?” the monk asked.

Inuyasha felt a sense of embarrassment overcome him. He didn’t know exactly what it meant to graduate. “It means…” he scrambled for words. “…she’s finished her school.”

“What’s next for her?”

Inuyasha wanted to strangle the man walking alongside him to fetch water for Kaede. “She wants to finish school and…” his jaw worked hard as he processed if he wanted to tell Miroku what he knew or what. For some reason, the thought that it might deter further questions. “Have a career and raise dogs. Maybe get married but that’s not important to her.”

Miroku nodded as if he understood. Clearly, he did not. “What is a career?”

“Something you do until you’re old.” Souta’s basic explanation was all he knew of the topic.

“Like being a priestess?” Miroku’s eyes wandered over to look at Inuyasha’s profile. It was bright red.

Inuyasha huffed loudly. Miroku took that as a yes, so he continued to prod. “What’s this about dogs?”

“Dogs are her favorite animal and she wants to have a bunch when she’s older.” Inuyasha answered without thinking. “It’s not common to have a lot of dogs, but with the shrine grounds, she can, so she wants to rescue them from living on the street or bad homes.”

Miroku paused for a moment, calculating his next question. “Like how she rescued you?”

Inuyasha stopped walking suddenly, causing the monk to get just a few paces ahead. Miroku tried to gauge if he had gone a step too far. Inuyasha seemed frozen eyes straight ahead for what felt like forever, and Miroku was just about to tell Inuyasha to forget his comment and change topics when Inuyasha spoke.

“Yeah.”

Miroku finally turned his body to look at his friend and see a softness cross his features. He started walking again forward, quietly whispering, “Except this time, we’re going to do the rescuing together.”

Because, after all, they shared far more than just possessions.

[mamabearcat]

“ i’m going to protect you, now. because that’s what we do for the ones we love. we keep them safe. “ 💜💜💜

Gradually getting through all these asks. Hopefully will have them done before 2022! Thanks @superpixie42 🥰😘

Dammit. Why did this sort of shit always go down on the night of the new moon?

Inuyasha staggered to his feet, gripping the untransformed Tessaiga tightly in his blood spattered fists, ignoring Shippou’s shrill protests. He knew Kagome would screech at him for heading back into battle again; she was always so worried about little things like head wounds, even when it wasn’t his human night. He was pretty sure the bleeding had stopped now anyway, and he was pretty sure dawn wasn’t too far off.

He blinked, trying to get his eyes back into focus, and did his best to ignore the pounding headache and ringing in his ear. His eye stung where his blood had dripped down past his eyebrow, but it didn’t matter. None of it mattered.

Apart from Shippou, who was currently tugging hard on his sleeve to get him to sit back down, everyone in his pack, everyone he cared about were all out there putting their lives on the line. He belonged out there with them.

He paused in the doorway of the broken down hut, trying to get a handle on what was happening. The large swarm of youkai still whirled overhead, the shrieks and yowls a cacophony that hurt even his human ears. A swarm that he could have easily taken out with one swing of his Tessaiga if only it hadn’t been the night he turned human. He gripped the currently useless katana in his fists angrily, swaying slightly as his head throbbed and his vision blurred.

Shaking his head slightly to see if it would dissipate the ringing in his ears, he spotted Miroku collapsed against a tree panting heavily, feebly clenching and unclenching his cursed hand. He’d obviously overused his kazaana.

Even though he couldn’t see her, he could hear Sango’s cries of ‘Hiraikotsu’ coming from above the swarm as she rode on Kirara, the flames from her paws just visible.

Kagome was standing out in the clearing, feet planted firmly as she shot arrow after arrow, the pink glow of her reiki trailing through the darkness. He couldn’t see her face, but could see the strain in her arms; they were shaking slightly as she took aim yet again. She ducked as a swooping youkai took a swipe at her arm, drawing blood.

With a snarl he lurched forward, ready to protect her, even as he almost stumbled over his own feet, his vision blurring.

“Are you stupid?! Get down! Kitsune-bi!”

A small ball of brilliant blue fox fire shot past his vision, incinerating the saimyōshō that had snuck its way out of the swarm of youkai.

“Inuyasha, get back inside!” Shippou hollered, trying to make his small voice heard over the whirling mass above. “Kagome told you to sit down because of your head!”

“Can’t”, he slurred. “Gotta see what’s goin’ on. Gotta help protect her.”

“Jeez. Fine, you can stay out here. But just sit before Kagome sits you.”

“Shippou, you don’ understand, I gotta-“

“I do understand you big dummy!”

Shippou’s small face was scowling, his tiny fists clenched.

“Why do you think Kagome’s out there right now? And Kirara and Sango and Miroku? You protect us all the time. But you’re hurt, so I’m going to protect you, now. Because that’s what we do for the ones we love. We keep them safe. So sit down before you fall down!”

“Oh.”

With a grunt, Inuyasha slid down the wall, the creaking wood barely holding against his weight. As soon as he was down, Shippou climbed into his lap and whipped a leaf out of his sleeve, placing it on Inuyasha’s head.

“There, that should take care of those stupid hornets of Naraku’s – they won’t be able to see you now.”

Inuyasha did his best to wipe the blood out of his eyes, then draped his sleeve protectively over Shippou’s back. Even though the kit talked tough, he was still small, and right now he could feel the tiny kitsune shivering with fright, his tail fluffed up like a terrified cat’s. He patted his hand gently on the kit’s back.

“Thanks Shippou.”

Shippou didn’t answer, but he burrowed a little closer, his tiny hand clenching on Inuyasha’s sleeve. Inuyasha watched as Kagome concentrated on taking out the three final saimyōshō with her arrows.

“She’s amazing”, he slurred, eyes blinking as he struggled to keep them focused on the girl in front of him, ducking and weaving as she avoided attacks while taking aim.

“Don’t tell me, tell her”, muttered Shippou, his tiny paw digging him in the ribs.

“Maybe.”

“Miroku, Sango, Kirara, I got ‘em all!” Kagome yelled, and Miroku lurched to his feet, his arm at the ready.

As soon as Sango and Kirara were out of the way, he opened his kazaana, sucking in the remainder of the swarm and then collapsing to his knees as soon as it was sealed. In a moment Sango was at his side, hugging him close, while Kirara moved behind him to act as a support for Miroku to lean on, her loud purr obvious praise of his quick action.

Kagome tore past them into the hut, her frantic cry of Inuyasha’s name growing even louder when she couldn’t locate him and Shippou straight away.

“Out here Kagome!” called Shippou, carefully climbing onto Inuyasha’s shoulder so he could remove the leaf from his head.

“Inuyasha!”

Kagome dragged the medical kit out of her backpack, and was immediately on her knees at Inuyasha’s side, turning his head to inspect the wound on his temple with anxious eyes.

“At least it’s stopped bleeding”, she sighed in relief. “And you do have a big lump, but I don’t think you’ve cracked anything.” She put her fingers under his chin, turning his head from side to side to look into his eyes. “How do you feel?”

“Amazin’”, he mumbled, struggling to keep his eyes open and locked onto hers.

Shippou snorted and rolled his eyes, wriggling off Inuyasha’s lap to go sit with Kirara.

“Huh?”

“You are… amazin’.”

Kagome’s cheeks pinked, but she rolled her eyes.

“And you are concussed. Why did you leap off Kirara like that?!”

“Cause tha’ big one was gonna hurt you. Hadda take him out. Cause-”, his eyes fluttered closed, and Kagome gently tapped him on the cheek.

“Gotta stay awake Inuyasha, it’s not good to sleep with a head wound like this. Stay with me, okay?”

“Always. Keep you safe. Protec you.”

Kagome sighed as she poured some alcohol onto some cotton wool, and began cleaning the edges of the wound as Inuyasha hissed in discomfort.

“I don’t like it when you get hurt like this Inuyasha. It makes me worry.”

“Me too. Your arm. Lemme see.” He pulled at her sleeve, trying to see the bloody scratch marks. Kagome gently removed his hand, smiling a little at his irritated huff.

“I’ll do you a deal. Tonight I’ll worry about you, and as soon as the sun comes up, you can worry about me.”

“Don’ work like that”, he whispered, hissing again as Kagome did her best to close up the wound with tape, knowing as soon as the sun rose that he would have no trouble healing this wound, but not wanting it to get dirty in the meantime.

“Oh? How does it work then?”

“I worry about you all the time”, he huffed. “Even though I know you’re smart. And you’re getting’ stronger. Too many bastards around wantin’ to hurt you.”

“Good thing I’ve got an even bigger bastard wanting to protect me then”, she joked.

“Damn straight.”

[mamabearcatfanfics]

My first writing for 2021!

I challenged myself today to create a ficlet. I did try this once before, when I wrote The Rival last year, but that was too long at just under 1300 words. Today I did it. It’s exactly 999 words. Not sure how often I’ll do these though, sticking to a word count is hard! I spent around the same amount of time culling words as I did writing them!

💕

The blizzard whirled, stealing body heat and visible landmarks. Inuyasha looked back, barely able to see his pack through the driving snow. The humans’ hands clutched Kirrara’s thick fur, leaning against her as they pushed their way forwards. Shippou was tucked safely into Inuyasha’s suikan, a small flame of kitsunebi held out in his palm to help guide them. Finally Inuyasha found what he was looking for, more by feel than sight – a crack in the cliff face that he’d used on previous new moon nights, lonely nights when there had been just him. Hopefully his safehaven remained untouched.

Inuyasha guided them inside, then dragged the heavy flat stone propped up against the wall over the cave entrance to block the howling wind. He could see, as could Shippou and Kirrara, but the dripping humans huddled near the entrance were now in almost total darkness . Miroku’s arms hugged Kagome and Sango in an effort to warm them, even though he was shivering as violently as they were.

Kirrara popped back into her kitten form, and was immediately covered by a pile of snow larger than she was. Inuyasha could hear Shippou’s teeth chattering loudly. He dusted the snow off his fire rat, then squatted down in front of the kit.

“Runt”, he said softly, so that the humans couldn’t hear, “if we don’t get a fire goin’, they’re not gonna make it. I know you’re tired but I need your help to get it started.” Shippou nodded, his tiny teeth rattling too much to talk.

“Inuyasha?”

Kagome’s voice sounded weak and exhausted. He needed to get them warm, fast.

“Just stay where you are”, he said, moving carefully around the small cave. “I used this place on my human nights – so… yes!” Inuyasha shrugged off his wet suikan before picking up the dry firewood and kindling, carrying it back to the fire pit carved into the cave floor.

It was a good cave, only small. Fire heated the space quickly, and the slanted hole in the roof acted like a chimney, drawing smoke upwards. Cosy for one. But for six of them, it would be a tight squeeze. He arranged the wood, and with a few tired blasts of Shippou’s kitsunebi, a fire crackled merrily, with everyone’s chilled hands held eagerly over the flames.

As soon as they’d all spent time rotating slowly near the fire to dry their clothes, and eaten ramen from Kagome’s backpack to warm their tired bellies, it was time to discuss sleeping arrangements.

“It’s your sleeping bag Kagome, you should use it”, protested Sango gently. Kagome shook her head.

“It doesn’t feel right, me being warmer than the rest of you. Usually Kirrara would be able to transform to her larger form to keep you warm, but there’s no room. Shippou and Kirrara should use it because they’re smaller, and will lose heat faster.”

“What if we spread it out and use it like a blanket?” suggested Miroku.

“There’s no way I’m spendin’ a night under a blanket with you and your ‘cursed hand’ monk”, growled Inuyasha.

“Seems the decision has already been made”, smiled Sango. While they’d talked, an exhausted Shippou and Kirrara had snuggled into Kagome’s sleeping bag, and were already asleep. When a grumbling Inuyasha moved to wake them, Kagome grabbed his hand.

“No don’t”, she said softly, “let them sleep. Shippou used a lot of energy helping us and so did Kirrara – they’re both so tired. We’ll all just have to snuggle.

“Snuggle!?” the three others exclaimed. Sango looked at Kagome uncertainly. Inuyasha crossed his arms with a ‘keh’, rolling his eyes. Miroku looked positively delighted.

“We’re all good friends aren’t we?” Kagome pleaded. “I know we wouldn’t usually sleep so close together, but these are exceptional circumstances. The fire will die down during the night, and we’ll need to share body heat.”

“I don’t have a problem with it”, piped up Miroku.

Sango sighed. “I guess I don’t either. As long as no one gets any ideas”, she said, looking pointedly at Miroku. Inuyasha snorted.

“Please Inuyasha”, Kagome pleased, tugging on his sleeve. “I know you don’t need us to keep warm, but I’d feel better knowing you were close by.”

“We’re stuck in a cave with a blizzard outside, you can’t get more ‘close by’ than that”, Inuyasha remarked dryly, then sighed. “Fine. But I am not sleepin’ next to Miroku!”

Kagome hugged his arm. “Thank you. You can sleep between me and Shippou.”

“I’ll sleep next to Kagome”, said Sango quickly.

“And I’ll sleep next to you”, smiled Miroku at Sango. “I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

 💕

Inuyasha sighed, watching the shadows play on the cave roof. They were all finally asleep, apart from him. He doubted he would sleep tonight, feeling uncomfortable at the close proximity of everyone in the cave. He wasn’t used to the sound of heartbeats and heavy breathing so close.

He tried to roll, but was prevented by Kagome. At some point her arm had snaked around his neck, her fingers burrowing into the fabric of his kosode. Small puffs of air from her peaceful breathing fanned across his cheek as her head turned, whispering his name. Dammit. If had just been her in the cave, he would be able to enjoy having her so close to him.

He breathed deeply, but her sweet scent was muddied as he smelled something he really didn’t want to. Miroku was sleeping, but he was obviously having one of those dreams. Fuckin’ pervert.

Suddenly Sango’s heartbeat thumped rapidly, and she squeaked. The quiet was disturbed by the sharp slap of a hand meeting a cheek. Miroku sputtered to wakefulness.

“But Sango dearest, what did I even do?”

“Turn the other way monk” she growled, poking him hard in the shoulder until they were back to back. “It seems that even when you sleep, your cursed hand does not.”

Kagome, Shippou and Kirrara slept on. Inuyasha sighed heavily. Morning couldn’t come soon enough.

[artistefish]

GUYS GUYS GUYS Where’s that post from ages ago where like I talked about how Feudal era farmers did their work in their fundoushis, and Inuyasha probably woulda ended up doing that too, and it became this awesome long post of amazing headcanons, and I’m trying to remember if there was fic, cuz I need to find that post again cuz I just remembered it existed again today and it might get drawn just sayin

[shinjiteflorana]

Way, Hay and Up She Rises

“Look’ at this Gobshite. The sun itself not a banger-bristle over the horizon yet, and and the lad’s more sloshed than a rain barrel in a squall.”

Have you ever heard a Gaelic drinking song and said to yourself “I could make a fic outta that.”

Yeah, we’ve all been there right?

Right?

Hi I’m still dead i just wrote this ficlet and thought some of yous may enjoy it. I hope you guys are having wonderful summers!

WARNING: I am trying to write Gaelic sailors, so to say they swear would be an understatement. 

Obviously inspired by this drinking song.

.

______

Way, Hay and Up She Rises

“The right fuck.” The seaman drawled.

He scowled down at the man below him. Long hair had completely escaped the noramly messy tie that held it and splayed around and under the man, bent and frizzed, dried stains standing out on the silver strands. His frame was more lying than sitting, slumped against the wall of the quarterdeck, one arm loosy encircling a 5 liter keg. The small barrel hadn't been sealed properly after its last, emptying, swig and had dripped a puddle onto the deck that was slowly soaking into the leather leggings and bright red shirt the drunk man wore. The smell, as well, was something to behold.

“Look’ at this Gobshite.” The brown clad sailor shook his head. “The sun itself not a banger-bristle over the horizon yet, and and the lad’s more sloshed than a rain barrel in a squall. One worse than…” the observing Gunner trailed only a moment before finding the comparison he was looking for “Than the storm that dumped ol’ Oily Onigumo into the deep a turn back. You remember Oily?” He turned to his companion on the left, second of the three in throng around the snoring silver-haired sailor slumped before them. The Sailing Master didn’t respond, but stayed reflectively still, one arm crossed over his chest while the hand of the other supported a freshly shaved chin. Along with his short but tightly combed raven rattail, he was one of the only kempt faces on board. Koga scratched at his own bristly cheek before turning back to cross his arms and reestablish his glare.

“Eh, fair enough, Oily was a right cunt anyway.” He mumbled casually.

What Koga mentioned about the sun was true, but early morning as it was, the sea spread out before them, glistening with yellow-orange light from the horizon, and the men both squinted as they looking at the drooling fool before them.

“You’d think he hadn’t a drink in his life, the lightweight.” The Gunner continued to speak, trying to fill the air still empty but for the wind. After another long moment of observational silence, interrupted only faintly by a far off seagull, another startlingly young voice piped up.

“What should we do with him?” the small cabin boy turned away from prodding the slumbering drunk with the handle of a mop to address the Gunner and Sailing Master.

The two blinked back at the boy.

“Do with him?” Koga echoed.

“Yeah, yeah! Do with him! I mean he’s in for it now, isn’t he?” The red-headed boy pumped his hands, goading in excitement. It was a rare change anyone but himself got the brunt of bullying and he was eager to make comradery with the others at the expense of the drunk hanyo. “I think we should...shave his hair off with a rusty raiser!”

Both of the humoring mens’ eyes widened, Master Sailer Miroku’s eyebrow crooking up as well before Koga completely lost it, doubling over laughing. Shippo deflated at the sound before bristeling.

“What? What did I say? Hey, I think its a right punishment, innit?” he puffed.

“Gadsakes, yah maggot, where do ya come up with it.” Koga continued to cackle. Shippo steamed.

“Well what do you think we should do?” the phrase started antagonistic but quickly hushed to a breath. Koga didn’t catch the change in both Shippo and Miroku’s attention, to caught up in his own humor. His laughter was unceremoniously stopped when he suddenly  joined Inuyasha in his sopping puddle against the wall.

Koga screeched, shoving himself up and off the booze soaked Inuyahsa, swearing up and down as he righted himself about “what dry shite had the right” before he saw that the “dry shite” was indeed the Quartermaster. In the echoing silence, Inuyasha snorted loudly from his disturbance, grumbling blurrily, swinging an imagined blade before re-embracing unconsciousness.

“Nonsense.” the emotionless baritone of Sesshomaru assessed after deciding the gobsmacked look on Koga’s face was amusement enough that he could disregard the snub. Koga tried to hide his breath of relief by turning back to the drunkard, mumbling angrily to himself and rubbing the back of his neck. The Quartermaster’s cold eyes then joined the group’s gaze. For the briefest moment his lip curled in disgust at the display of ineptitude and disgrace before him, then his cold assessment returned.

“As to what you should do with him,” Shippo stiffened upon his question actually being addressed by the Quartermaster. “Put him in a longboat until he’s sober.” Shippo’s eyes widened.

“Adrift at sea? We’re not even anchored!” he squeeked.

“Then you should hope he sobers quickly.”

Koga was back to chuckeling under his breath with the fresh suggestion, only half attempting to muffle it with a hand. Then his face lit up, his eyes catching something.

“No, No-- stick him in a barrel with a hosepipe on him.” he gestured to the wash barrel, a spigot above which drained the rain water reserve. Shippo squeaked even more at that.

“Do as you like.” Sesshomaru dismissed, turning to walk away.

“No,”

All paused at the Master Sailer’s voice, the first it had been heard since Inuyashas’ discovery. Here spoke the drunk hanyo’s one and only friend aboard. Through the awful, slimy, snake-bite smile that coiled behind the back of his thumb as he pressed the thinking digit to his lips indicating no such thing. Nor did the next words he spoke.

“Put him in bed with the Captain’s daughter.”

What they didn’t know was that the now empty keg of rum had been his.

_____

.

The Captain’s daughter obviously being Kagome, in my estimation. Xb I hope my going for a dialect with Koga wasn’t too annoying. hopefully it worked out! I didn’t do all that much research, so if you actually know a thing or too about sailing, sorry if i’m terribly off!

I’ve dearly missed you guys. I’d love to hear how you’re all doing if you have the time to send me a message. I’ll try to check back soon.

Bye bye!

[hinatashoyyo]

Kagome watched Inuyasha each day with growing impatience. He had such beautiful hair, but he did so little to care for it. He considered plucking a few stray branches grooming. She had brought a hair brush with her amongst her things, last time she’d packed, with some shampoo and conditioner  and was just waiting for the right moment to pounce. 

She’d made the unfortunate decision of choosing Shippo as her first victim with scissors, and after she’d accidentally made his bangs lopsided Inuyasha wasn’t having any of it. “Hey Inuyasha, if you’re going to wash with Miroku, why don’t you try using this?” Kagome offered brightly, now seeing her chance as Miroku and Inuyasha went off to the river together. Inuyasha raised a dubious eyebrow, glancing towards the bottle with distrust. “Oh come on Inuyasha, it’s not going to make your hair fall out. My brother uses it all the time, it’s nice.” She said, unscrewing the bottle cap, letting the clean scent fill the air. 

Inuyasha’s ears pricked, as he cautiously took the bottle. “Why’d you need to use something so fancy?” He said, sniffing it, he leaned back from the bottle eyeing Kagome, as he mentally catalogued scents. “This isn’t the same one you use.” He said, only realising as Kagome flushed that he’d actually said that aloud. “Yeah, well I thought you’d like a different one.” Kagome said, suddenly stuck for words, glaring towards Shippo, as he started sniggering. “Just - put it in your hair when you get it wet. It’ll make the dirt come out easier. I’ll brush it out for you afterwards.” She hair, leaning forward to hide her face with her hair, suddenly nervous. He took it from her hands as she glanced down, walking away with it without saying anything else. “Miroku can use it too.” She called after him, to which Inuyasha replied. “Yeah, I’ll let him borrow it.” 

“Unfortunately I can’t use my hairdryer so I’ll hope this’ll do.” She said, proffering a towel that she’d somehow managed to squeeze into her belongings. Inuyasha scowled in reply. “It’ll dry in the sun,” he grumbled, but to her surprise, he willingly planted himself down in front of her. “I also brought scissors if you don’t mind me cutting it.” She said, hedging her bets on his seemingly complacent mood. “What you did to Shippo looks horrible.” He replied, with a shudder. Kagome blanched. “That won’t happen this time.” She said, feigning confidence, as she lightly squeezed the towel over his hair, and smoothed her fingers through it. She bit back a smile as Inuyasha made a low thrum in the back of his throat, almost as if he was enjoying the feeling. “I’m not sure if I’ve had it cut since my mother passed.” He said quietly. Kagome swallowed, unsure of what to say. She took a lock between her fingers, making a line an inch from the ends of his hair. “I won’t take much off. It’s too pretty for that.” 

Inuyasha made a low disgruntled growl, but said nothing otherwise. “If you make it look bad, you’ll have to let me cut yours.” 

Kagome’s fingers hesitated over the lock she held in her hands, opening and clamping her mouth together. “Fine.” She said finally, the sound of the first snip emphasising her words. “I’ve always liked getting my hair cut.” Kagome continued, as she continued to work. “I had it short when I was little, and my mom said that I would always ask my dad to style and cut it for me.” 

“Hm.” Inuyasha sounded, tilting his hair forward into a nod. 

“You need to keep your head still,” Kagome said, threading her fingers through another silver lock. She swallowed, suddenly realising how long it had been since they talked like this. This could’ve been from before Kikyo had passed on from this world, and made things so different. For a moment, Inuyasha didn’t seem so far out of reach. They could still talk to each other and share things like this. Kagome was almost sad, as she made the final cut, pulling the locks together to see if they were the same length, loosing them between her fingers. “Okay, now turn to face me.” Kagome said, quietly, again absorbed in her work as she examined Inuyasha’s unkempt bangs. “How do you even see?” She murmured underneath her breath, and Inuyasha lifted back his teeth into another scowl, glowering at her with his amber eyes. She shook her head, biting back a bemused smile. Inuyasha’s eyes seemed to soften as he looked at her. “Close your eyes.” She instructed. 

“You better not mess this up.” Inuyasha warned lowly as he did so. 

“They’re already a mess.” Kagome said flatly, as she snipped them back, and more hair fell onto the grass around them. He made another thrumming sound in the back of his throat, as Kagome combed her fingers through it. Happy with the length, she leaned back to examine her work. She snipped back a few stray hairs. “Keep your eyes closed,” She said again, softly. The ends were just starting to dry, but she it looked to be the same length as it had been when she found him bound to that tree. Inuyasha wrinkled his nose, and she smiled contentedly. He lost the hard edge that his semi-permanent scowl usually gave him, and the overconfident curl of his mouth. Without all that, he had the same face that she’d found herself enamoured by. She swept his bangs back from his face for one last time, murmuring, “Let me know if you mind,” lightly touching her lips to his forehead. Inuyasha’s eyes fluttered open, wide and questioning. 

Flushing, Kagome broke from his gaze. “Sorry,” she mumbled immediately, hiding her face with her hand. Inuyasha, reached up hesitantly to finger his now cut bangs, touching his forehead. “They look awful.” Inuyasha said, frowning at Kagome. “How would you know?!” She retorted, “You haven’t even seen them yet!” 

“You said, I could cut your hair if they look bad, and they do I can tell.” Inuyasha blustered. “So it’s only right I return the favour. An eye for an eye.” Inuyasha finished. Only now did Kagome notice the faint pink of his cheeks, and the playful glint in his eyes behind his brash words. “You-” she said incredulously, not sure whether to laugh or to be mad. “Unlike yours, mine doesn’t need cutting.” She continued. Suddenly, Inuyasha’s face was right in front of hers, pushing back her fringe from her forehead. “I can’t see your eyes, so I don’t know how you’re seeing through that.” 

“You know what? Fine. I’m not arguing with you. You seem pretty set on it anyway. But, if you do mess up my hair, I will make sure you won’t be able to tell the difference between your boys from your sits your butt will hurt so bad.” 

[xoxopandapanda]

InuKag Week 2023: Day 1: Love Language(s)

@inukag-week

Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7

AO3 

Fanfiction

He hadn’t really dealt with other people in any other capacity than a hostile one for most of his life, so Inuyasha didn’t always know how to read another person in the way someone socialized when young could. He struggled with always feeling as if the people around him were just waiting on baited breath to show him their hostility, and often believed others to be a threat to him when they were perhaps tying to do the right thing by him.

He was quick to snarl and snap at anyone who presented even a mild inconvenience to him, his mind always looking for threats that were not always there.

Kagome had squeezed into his life (starting with being squeezed to him by the madame caterpillar), and was never actually put off by his behavior. He would cut her off, insult her left and right, accuse her of things she didn’t do, and yet she still stuck around.

“Jerk.” His quip about her having slow legs was apparently louder than he intended. “You’re just abnormally fast.” She tossed him a look over her shoulder. “Not everyone is as athletic as you.”

Intended as an insult most likely, her words hit him differently. She thought he was athletic. Not a freak, not an abomination.

Athletic. The word bounced around in his head for the rest of the day.

Souta had told him once that women liked athletic men. He hadn’t really understood what that word was (and honestly still didn’t), but Kagome had used it to describe him.

Did that mean Kagome liked him? Like liked him?

Inuyasha used whatever excuse he could to go see Souta and ask more about what it meant to be athletic, much to Kagome’s dismay.

The two of them had huffed loudly at each other for a few minutes before she ran off to ‘study’ with some friends that Inuyasha had a vague notion existed. He knew they knew he was important to Kagome and that was all that mattered. He had established himself as a part of Kagome’s life and they were friendly to him mostly.

“Souta.” He announced, sitting down next to the boy as he played on the ‘television’. Bright lights and bouncing shapes filled his peripheral, but his focus was on Kagome’s brother.

Souta didn’t look at him. “What’s up?”

“What is an athletic man?”

Souta froze. The bouncing shapes stopped and a descending noise of disappointment left the TV. Inuyasha knew that meant Souta had lost (although what he lost was still a mystery). “What do you mean?” Souta looked at him with the same bewildered look Kagome had given him hundreds of times.

Inuyasha huffed and leaned back, crossing his arms across his chest. “You told me women like athletic men. What is an athletic man?”

Souta’s face relaxed as he leaned back on his hands and shrugged. “It’s a guy who is good at sports.”

“Sports?” Inuyasha furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

“Yeah, like running, jumping, hitting balls.” Inuyasha’s lean in and further crinkled face told Souta that his explanation was not working. “Using arrows to hit things? Swinging swords? Punching?”

“Fighting?”

Souta pondered for a second before saying, “Yeah, fighting without the killing part.”

Inuyasha nodded fiercely. “I’m good at that.”

Souta wondered if he meant fighting or not killing, but figured he didn’t really want an answer. “Athletic men have muscles and are good at sports.”

“I have muscles. And I’m good at sports.” Inuyasha’s chest puffed out as he sat ramrod straight. “I’m an athletic man.”

Inuyasha stood up abruptly and announced, fist pumping in the air. “I’m an athletic man, and Kagome must LIKE ME.”

Souta didn’t have time to react properly before Inuyasha had vanished from the house. Grandpa walked into the room, confusion drenched across his features. “What was that?” He asked his grandson.

Souta locked eyes with the older man. “I don’t know but I don’t know if it’s a good thing. Something tells me Kagome’s not going to be pleased with it.”

Kagome probably would not have been pleased with Inuyasha’s newly form conclusion that she was all but professing her love by calling him athletic. Instead, she was left in the dark as she, and by proxy the rest of the Inugumi, dealt with Inuyasha’s new found confidence and boldness.

Miroku had to leave Kaede’s hut when Kagome came back from her break in the future as to not insult his friend by accident.

Inuyasha had waited, not patiently but not anxiously either, for Kagome to walk in the door and loudly announce. “Kagome! You are athletic!”

Not expecting any sort of announcement of the kind from her half-demon friend, especially not a nice one, Kagome balked and rolled onto her heels from startlement. “Excuse me?”

“You are athletic!” Inuyasha repeated himself, his face becoming slightly flushed. “Am I athletic?” His voice dropped a bit with this question.

Miroku slunk past the priestess in training, covering his face and clenching his jaw. Whatever was going on was wild at best, and inappropriate at worst. Best to leave before it got worse and he had to mediate a solution.

Kagome moved to the side to the let the monk pass her in the door frame, her eyes still locked on Inuyasha, mind racing to figure out what was going on. If it was anyone else, she would have thought this was a prank happening. But Inuyasha was the most sincere and honest person she had ever met, so what was doing?

Kagome’s mouth opened and closed once, before she agreed. “Yeah, you’re athletic.”

“And that’s good, right?” Inuyasha’s voice was even smaller.

Kagome nodded, slipping her loafers off and stepping into the room. “Of course. It’s a great thing to be athletic.” She avoided making eye contact with anyone as she placed her backpack down and got settled in for the night. Whatever had sparked this outburst was not something she wanted to engage with, and she secretly hoped that by playing along with whatever had just happened would encourage Inuyasha to drop the fixation on being athletic.

Inuyasha let out a loud and pleased huff, squatting down to go through her backpack looking for snacks. Kagome took a chance to look over at Sango, who was sitting down, mouth agape, staring at Inuyasha’s back. At mentally connecting with Kagome, Sango shook her head and Kaede let out an audible snicker, causing Shippo to loudly ask, “What’s athletic?”

No one answered the child’s question, as no one wanted the experience to continue and he was easily distracted by candy.

Kagome would later learn what exactly was going on when Inuyasha told Koga off by shouting “Kagome likes me because I’m athletic! LIKE LIKES ME!”

Apparently, she had found a new love language with him.

[xoxopandapanda]

Inukag Week 2023: Day 3: Safe

@inukag-week

Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7

AO3 

Fanfiction

There was no safer place to be than in his arm, Kagome swore. She was crying over some stupid dramatic thing that had happened at school that day, bawling loudly into Inuyasha’s chest, hiccupping through her woes. Whatever it was, she knew she would forget about it in a week or so, but in the moment, the teasing from school mates was just wearing her down.

He dropped his arm around her, draping her in his big billowing sleeves, one hand on the back on her head, the other snuggly wrapped around her waist.

He hummed softly, the vibrations from his chest more present than the actual noise. Her wails quieted down into just huffs and gasps after a few moments.

“I’m here.” His voice was gruff, but still soothed her. “I’m right here.” He didn’t quite know what was wrong or why this was all so distressing to her, but he wanted to offer her the comfort she was so clearly seeking.

He pushed aside his selfish thought that she should just quit going to school altogether and stay with him if it was causing her this much distress.

“Promise?” Her voice was raspy and pitchy from crying. “Promise you’ll always be here?”

“Yeah.” He meant it.

Standing behind him was not something she liked doing during battles. She was his equal and could hold her own in a fight (demonstrated by the arrow she shot at Naraku for mocking Inuyasha). However, right now she knew she needed his protection.

The large blast from the very angry serpent demon would have most likely obliterated her if Inuyasha hadn’t leapt in front to spit it with a wind scar timed just right. She turned her shoulder away from the wind whipping past her, closing her eyes.

“Hold tight!” Inuyasha shouted over the roar of Sango’s attack and Miroku’s shouts. He lifted her against his chest with one arm, still holding out the Tessaiga in case a swing was needed. She clenched her fists into his front and felt the earth leave her feet as he maneuvered into a safter location. Placing her down behind a hill of misplaced dirt from the battle, he grabbed her shoulder and pushed her back to look at him.

His golden eyes glowed fiercely. “Cover me.” He was trusting her to keep him safe while also staying safe herself.

Kagome nodded. “Always.”

­­­­­­­­­Giving up her family and her friends in the future was difficult and somedays she was just so overwhelmed by the realization that she was not going to see Souta graduate, or her friends get married, or her mother become a grandmother that she just cried. She would try to do it discretely, as to not stress out the man she had chosen over everything else, but he was much more aware of her actions than even she knew.

“What’s wrong?”

His innocent question caused her to let out a sob that echoed through their home, the one he had built himself just for her, knowing she would feel safer in a structure than just out in the open. She shook her head and held her abdomen tightly.

There was just a lot going through her head right now, and she hadn’t even told him about the baby. Sango had assured her that it was certain she was expecting, but without the modern medicine and tests, she didn’t know if she could be certain of it.

And she didn’t want to bring his hopes up only to tear them down.

Perhaps all the emotions rolling though her at the moment should have been an indicator, but it wasn’t and she wasn’t sure in the least as to what was actually happening around her. Kagome’s shoulder’s shook as she tried to take a deep breath and collect herself. “I’m just having a hard time right now.”

Inuyasha sat behind her and pulled her back into his chest. “Tell me how to fix it.”

Fat tears rolled down her face as she reached up to grip his arms that were wrapped around her tightly. She shook her head, bowing it down into her chest. “There’s nothing you can do. I’m just having a lot of emotions.”

His wet nose nuzzled the back of her neck, and his hot breath danced across her shoulders. “I’ll do anything. Just tell me.”

“Just say with me.” Kagome felt her body starting to decompress against him, the warmth and weight of his presence a grounding sensation to her.

He hummed his agreement.

At two days old, their baby was very much in love with her father. She preferred him over her own mother, only wanting to be cuddled by Kagome when feeding or feeling particularly fussy. Kagome felt heartbroken that her own daughter was not even a week into this world and more bonded with Inuyasha than her.

“Count it as a blessing.” Sango had told her when Inuyasha stepped out to walk their baby outside for a bit. “It’ll keep him around more. Miroku was home much more once the girls were born, since they only wanted his attention.”

“I don’t think that was ever an issue.” Kagome griped, using a wash cloth to wipe herself down while Sango scrubbed the bedding. She was so thankful for the slayer’s unwavering support throughout the whole ‘bringing a baby into the world’ ordeal. “He rarely ever left home while I was pregnant.”

Sango laughed. “True. It was a rare sight to see him in the village without following directly behind you.”

Kagome rinsed the cloth and chuckled her agreement. “I had to chase him off to Kaede’s a few times, because he was driving me mad with his hovering.”

“He just wants to keep his girls safe. It’s a father thing, I think.” Sango wrung out the sheet she had finished, standing to bring it outside.

Kagome nodded. “There’s no safter place to be than with him.”