On the Outside by SunsetMiko

The Movies

Chapter 23 - The Movies

*Offense and Defense* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

"Oh, come on, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed as the hanyou plopped himself in the aisle seat in the movie theater.

"What? You know why I sit here, 'Gome," he said, reminding her of the first time they went to the movies together, when he'd explained himself.

Inuyasha had been attacked because of his heritage multiple times while at the theater on his own before they met, and a few times he had been cornered, so now he always took the aisle seat defensively so that he would have an escape route. It also allowed him the room he needed to fight if he had to. Knowing his reasoning, however, didn't make her situation easier because Inuyasha's seat choice made it so that she would have to sit between him and Sesshoumaru, a place she really didn't want to be.

*Let Me Be* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

With a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders, the miko sat beside her friend, trying to ignore as the taiyoukai scooted past her to sit on her right. This brought back way too many memories and Kagome's heart ached. She and Sesshoumaru had gone to the movies weekly, always picking the scariest flick out at the moment. The taiyoukai loved slasher films and the miko enjoyed the adrenaline rush the movies provided. Whenever it was too frightening or gory, she would bury her face in his shoulder and sometimes he would even hold her hand. She'd adored those times, being able to pretend that they were dating instead of just friends, but now, being there beside him again, was beyond painful.

"Promise me you'll leave me alone," she demanded of Sesshoumaru, ignoring the sadness in his eyes that sent guilt flooding through her. It wasn't her fault he kept following her around, hoping things would suddenly change. She told him nothing was going to bring back what they had and she meant it. The taiyoukai nodded his acquiescence and Kagome crossed her legs toward the hanyou, turning her entire body away from the male she seemed unable to avoid.

*A Village Covered in Blood* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

After a while, the miko got sore and found if she wanted to get comfortable, she needed to cross her legs the other way. By then, she was immersed in the film and didn't even think about the taiyoukai beside her or her quest to avoid him as much as humanly possible. When an especially gory image of an entire village murdered, bodies flung everywhere, the miko cringed and leaned towards the closest body, hiding her face against a muscular arm.

Sesshoumaru smiled, but he didn't dare move in the slightest. The feel of Kagome's forehead pressed to his arm was nearly heaven and it made his heart race. He knew she probably had no idea she was doing it, but that didn't matter. He missed the physical contact between the two of them and he didn't mind that it was unintentional. It was the best he was going to get at that point in time.

*Malignant Weapon* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

Kagome peeked up at the screen just in time to see the killer chasing after a teenage girl with a machete dripping with blood and she winced, her hand reaching out for comfort. Sesshoumaru took it, their fingers lacing together so easily it felt natural.

From her left side, the hanyou shot his older brother a thumbs up and a smirk, as if he'd planned the whole thing. Maybe he did. Inuyasha likely predicted her desire to turn away from Sesshoumaru at the beginning, knowing she would have to shift later, further into the movie, for comfort. Sure, he couldn't have been certain it would work out, but he knew how Kagome behaved during scary movies nearly as well as Sesshoumaru did.

*Checkmate* (Stella's Soundtrack Challenge)

It wasn't until the movie ended that the miko realized just whose hand she was holding and she yanked it away as if she'd been burned, her cheeks flushed a brilliant red. How could she have done that?! She was doing everything in her power not to encourage him and then she goes and holds his hand for over an hour? The worst part was how right it felt, how safe he made her feel.

She was going to have to have a talk with Inuyasha, because this kind of thing could not continue. She couldn't keep being around Sesshoumaru. Not only was it incredibly painful, but it was getting harder and harder to stick to her guns and not forgive him. She still loved the guy, no matter how much she tried to put a stop to it. If she was forced to remain in his presence much longer, she might just cave entirely and the taiyoukai would get what he wanted. Her.