Sneaking a Peek by SunsetMiko

An Agreement

Chapter 63 - An Agreement

Paeniteo - to repent, regret, be sorry (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Inuyasha leapt into the god tree and slid open the window to Kagome's room. The scent of her illness hit him hard and guilt overwhelmed him. This was all his fault and he deserved each and every time Sesshoumaru had hit him.

"Kagome?" he asked softly, unsure if she was awake or not.

"Inuyasha?" she said quietly, her voice hoarse.

"Kagome, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean any of what I said. You're strong and smart. You take care of our entire pack. You're not a burden. I couldn't do this without you. Please be okay."

The miko smiled. She knew he would come to apologize eventually. "I'll forgive you, on one condition," she said while scooting up into a sitting position in her bed.

Inuyasha swallowed hard. He had an idea of what her condition would be and he didn't like the idea in the least. Still, he needed her forgiveness. He'd accused her of something she hadn't done and then said horrible, hateful things to her. He needed her to forgive him so that he could be her protector again. He needed her because she was his very best friend. She meant the world to him and if she couldn't forgive him, he would lose everything, his best friend, his pack, and his will to fight.

"Name it," he whispered while praying that she didn't say what he thought she would.

Emiror - to wonder exceedingly, to be astonished at (Stella's Latin Challenge)

"You'll stay out of my relationship with Sesshoumaru," she said before coughing, the painful sound making Inuyasha's chest ache with more guilt.

"But Kagome," he started, but the miko cut him off.

"Look, Inuyasha, I know I'm going to end up hurt eventually, but I'm going to enjoy myself until it happens. I know he can't mate me. I know he needs an inu mate and full demon children. That doesn't mean he doesn't care about me. He does. I can see it in his eyes."

Inuyasha was stunned silent. Kagome expected to get hurt and she was okay with it?

"He makes me happy, Inuyasha. He's playful and fun and I think I'm in love with him."

"You... you love him?" the hanyou repeated.

"I think so. You can't see it because you don't like him, but he has feelings for me too. Even though it can't last forever, that doesn't mean I can't choose to be with him anyway."

Inuyasha remembered the conversation he'd had with Sesshoumaru that night, the night before their fight. Sesshoumaru said he desired to make the miko his mate. Could he be serious? Kagome was usually such a good judge of character. She could read people's eyes and see their true feelings and intentions. So why did she think Sesshoumaru would leave her?

"Does he know? That you love him?"

Kagome was surprised that her hanyou friend wasn't screaming at her again about how stupid she was being, giving up her heart to someone who couldn't keep it. Instead, he sounded thoughtful, concerned, which confused her.

"No, I haven't said anything, and I probably won't. He doesn't need to feel guilty when it's time for him to leave."

"What if he didn't want to leave? What if he wants to stay with you?"

Umectus - wet, moist, damp (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Tears filled Kagome's eyes at the thought. "But he can't! He's a Lord. He has responsibilities to his lands, to his people, to take an acceptable mate, to produce a powerful heir."

"And you don't think he can do that with you?" Sesshoumaru needed to tell her his plans, Inuyasha decided. She couldn't be allowed to continue thinking the taiyoukai would leave her when he had no intentions of doing so. He couldn't be the one to tell her. He still didn't trust Sesshoumaru, but Kagome's words had made him realize that the taiyoukai was genuine in his desire for the miko. She would be the one to know. It was possible, if he truly considered it, that Sesshoumaru wanted her just for her, not for her power as he'd assumed. Kagome was an amazing woman and any man would be lucky to have her love.

"He can't. Look, Inuyasha. If you want me to forgive you, then you have to promise you'll stay out of it from now on. No fighting, no rude noises, and definitely no accusing him of being after something else. He's in this relationship because he cares about me. I don't need you trying to protect my heart. I know it will get broken eventually and that's my choice, not yours."

"Okay," the hanyou agreed. "I'll stay out of it, but I can't promise watching you kissing him won't make me gag."

Kagome laughed, once again ending in coughing, and when the fit ended, she smiled at her best friend. "Thank you, Inuyasha. I promise everything will be all right. I'm a big girl. I can handle it."