Becoming Stronger

[browneyedmami.livejournal.com]

This is the first fanfic I ever wrote!!

Title: Becoming Stronger
Author: browneyedmami
Fandom: Inuyasha
Genre: Romance, Humor
Characters/Pairings: Inuyasha/Kagome
Summary: Kagome has been going home a lot more often. Wondering why, Inuyasha follows her to find her with a personal trainer...whom he thinks is being a little more "personal" than he should be...

“Please Inuyasha, I'll only be gone for a few days!”

The hanyou was very displeased with this. She had been going home more and more recently, and he was beginning to wonder why, as her mother said she didn't have school again until August….whenever that was.

“Keh” the hanyou replied.

“Why have you been going home so much lately anyway?” he asked.

“Because I want to get ahead with my school work before I enter high school.” Kagome said with a bit of uncertainty in her voice.

Sensing this, but not wanting her to know Inuyasha replied “fine, you can go home for 2 days, but no more, or I will drag you back here by your hair if I have to.”

“Deal” she said and before jumping into the well added “and I'll bring back plenty of ramen!” And with that she was gone.

Inuyasha stared at the well quizzically for a while, then decided that he would follow her. He sensed she was lying, but could not figure out what other reason she would have to go home so often. Not wanting to be in suspense, much longer he jumped into the well.

Once he was out of the well, he could hear some loud music, Kagome's heavy breathing….and…..another male's voice?!?!?

What the fuck?! Inuyasha thought.

Is she…with another man? Well, it's not like we're together….But still, she's MINE!

Not wanting to be in suspense any longer, but not wanting to get caught spying, he slowly walked the shrine grounds and found himself at the window of Kagome's room as he had many times before. He made sure he stayed unnoticed.

He peeked in to see Kagome in nothing but a sports bra and short shorts, with two dumbbells in her hands. A man was next to her doing the same thing but with bigger dumbbells. Inuyasha growled at the sight of this. He was aroused by the way she was dressed, but wanted to know what the hell was in her hands, and who the fuck was the guy standing next to her.

“Okay Kagome we're going to do some sit-ups and crunches now” the male voice said.

sit UPS? Crunches? What the hell Inuyasha growled under his breath.

Kagome and the male laid down on the floor.

“We'll try for 100 today since you got up to 80 yesterday” the trainer said, and Kagome replied “okay, I will do my best! I really need to get stronger!”

Become stronger? Inuyasha thought. Why?

The trainer laughed.

“Kagome, becoming strong by any standard doesn't happen over night. May I ask why you are so intent on training so hard? I don't take it that you need to loose weight because you are already at a very healthy weight and a beautiful girl.”

Inuyasha scowled at this, and had to force himself not to crash through the window.

Kagome blushed.

“Well, you see, most of my friends are really strong, and I always feel left behind, like I'm the weak one. One of my friends in particular makes a point at telling me all the time that I am weak, and making fun of my strength.”

Inuyasha sighed at this. He knew she was talking about him.

“Ah, I see” the trainer said. “would this friend happen to be male?” the trainer asked “if so, he's just teasing you and probably likes you.”

“I wish. There was a time when I thought he might be interested in me, but I highly doubt that now. There are moments, we almost kiss, moments we hold each other close, but nothing ever comes of them because he always runs back to his bitch of an ex girlfriend! I forgive him though….he's one of my best friends….and he was after all just a friend to start out with. Don't suppose I should ruin it now…”

Is she talking about me?

The trainer looked at Kagome with soft eyes and said “I think whoever this guy is, is an idiot that should get his head out of his ass and see just how beautiful you really are.”

Kagome blushed and started to say thank you, but the trainer didn't give her the chance as he leaned in and kissed her. She nearly kissed back, as he was an attractive man, but she still loved Inuyasha and knew he'd be furious…..she pulled away quickly and said

“can we just do the work out please? I really don't want to complicate things…”

Inuyasha was boiling mad. He wanted to cut the guys throat. He wanted to kill the bastard that kissed Kagome. HE should be kissing Kagome, not that freak. Frustrated and not wanting to take action he found himself at the well again and jumped in.

Now back in the past, Inuyasha jumped out of the well cursing himself.

“Am I not good enough? Its because I'm a filthy hanyou I bet….” he thought to himself…
.

Kagome, back in the present trained another day, this time with no distactions or come ons from her trainer. She didn't want to go back just yet, so decided to spend one more night.

Waiting on the other side of the well for Kagome's return, Inuyasha became irritated.

“That bitch's two days are up. Where the fuck is she?”

After two hours, he decided to go after her. He jumped out of the well, and went outside. It was almost dark, and Kagome was running laps around the shrine with her I-pod in her ears. Inuyasha finally spotted her, and ran up to her, blocking her from continuing. She took her I-pod out of her ears and looked up at him.

“Oh hey, Inuyasha.” She said sort of out of breath

“Don't hey me wench. You're late.” the hanyou growled

“I know, I just wanted to stay one more night you know? I didn't think anyone would mind since we have no hints on the next shard.”

“Wench, I told you two days. Its been two days. Time is UP! We're leaving!” the hanyou shouted.

“No! I want to stay one more night! I'll return in the morning!” Kagome protested.

“I told you I'd drag you by your hair if I had to” Inuyasha said rather coldly.

He proceeded to grab her arm but she stopped him and took the arm that was grabbing her and twisted it behind his back. Inuyasha held back a small yelp. It didn't hurt him too badly, but man, where the hell did she get all this strength?

“Oi, bitch you will pay for that!”

“Go ahead, try and hit me! I'd prefer physical pain over the emotional pain you've caused me these past 2 years anyway!”

Inuyasha was shocked at this remark. He knew he had hurt her by constantly running after Kikyo, but never would've though to hear this…

“You dumb wench, don't you realize if I wanted to hurt you physically, I could do so very easily, and would've done it a long time ago if I wanted to?”

Kagome was somewhat taken aback by this. Had he thought about hitting her before? she wondered.

“Sit! Sit! Sit!” she cried.

After he fell to the ground, she pulled him up by his long silver hair, then slapped him across the face.

“If you want to hurt me, don't hesitate. But don't think I will stand by and take it. I wont take physical abuse like the emotional pain. I will strike you back, and if I have to, I'll shoot one of my purifying arrows up your ass.”

Inuyasha was stunned. Dumb wench he thought. Did she really think he would ever hit her?

“You bitch. After all we've been through these past two years, you think I would strike you? How dare you accuse me of such? And furthermore, I'm not the one running around in barely any clothing kissing other men. You whore.”

Almost as soon as the words escaped his mouth, he regretted them.

He saw? Kagome thought.

“You jerk! It's not like I belong you! You chose Kikyo remember? So if you get to run around kissing her and getting friendly with those damn soul collectors, then I damn sure have every right to kiss another man! Especially when he's kind to me unlike you!”

He finally got up, looked at her and noticed tears streaming down her face. Truthfully, he wanted to cry too after what had just happened. Instead, he dashed at her quickly, picked her up and headed to the well. She started to slap him and scream. He didn't care, and continued heading to the well. Finally, Kagome stopped struggling, and was now crying heavily.

“You asshole. I will help you finish finding the last few shards, but after that I want nothing to do with you!” she cried.

“Fine bitch, as long as I can have the jewel in the end to become full youkai.” He snarled.

And with that, they jumped into the well.

They returned to the past. Once out of the well, Inuyasha tried to get Kagome on his back to start back toward the village. Kagome didn't want to, but knew it would be faster, and the faster the better.

“Asshole” she murmered.

“Keh, shut up wench. You can get back to your whoring once we find the last shards and I become full youkai”

“SIT” she screamed. She knew she would fall too, but didn't care. He recovered turned over, and pinned her underneath him. He started to smell her fear and realized she was holding back tears.

“How did it come to this” she said softly enough that no normal human could hear, but he did.

“Lets just…head back to the village” Inuyasha said getting up and allowing Kagome to climb on his back again.

Neither spoke another word to the other the whole way back.

They were greeted by Miroku, Sango and Shippo. Sango sensing something was wrong, but not wanting to press, looked at Kagome, who nodded confirming, and both knew they would talk later. Miroku, also noticing the tension, but knowing Inuyasha would not talk, remained silent.

Shippo, totally oblivious to everything, jumped into Kagome's arms.

“Hi Shippo. Sorry I don't have any Pocky for you this time”

“That's ok Kagome, I don't mind” the kitsune replied, snuggling into her arms.

Miroku broke the long silence that followed and said “There are rumors of the shard in the east. We were awaiting your return to start our journey.”

“Good, lets start heading out now” Inuyasha said rather gruffly.

“Actually, Inuyasha, Sango has been working on repairing her Hiratkso, and is almost done. We should be able to leave again by morning.” Miroku stated.

“Fine, in the morning then” Inuyasha snarled.

Sango continued work on her weapon, then wiping the sweat off her forehead asked Kagome to go to the hot springs with her.

She did need a bath, but wanted to know what was going on between Kagome and Inuyasha more.

Inuyasha looked at Miroku and got the hint. They were going to follow.

They finally got to the water, and Kagome finally said

“Well, I'm sure you want to know what happened…”

The demon slayer replied “You know I do!”

The young miko began to tell the demon slayer the story, and the demon slayer became furious. Behind the bushes, Miroku, also furious, gave Inuyasha a boink of the the head with his staff.

Sango said “Kagome, I know you don't want to hear this but….Inuyasha doesn't deserve you and you can do so much better.”

Behind the bushes Miroku nodded in agreement. Inuyasha couldn't believe all of this! His friends were turning on him?!?

Sango continued “Even if he did ever get over Kikyo, what about the way he always treats you and the horrible things he says? What if he ever hit you?”

Kagome said “Oh, he won't if he knows whats good for him. Why do you think I hired a trainer? I knew I needed to become stronger for the battle of Naraku, but I also wanted to become stronger so Inuyasha wouldn't see me as a weak, pathetic human anymore. I may never be as strong as him, but if he so much as lifts a finger to me, he'll have it coming!”

Sango nodded in agreement and then said “I feel like throwing my Hiratsko at him right now…”

Kagome laughed “No, you just got repairs on it. His thick skull would probably crack it again. And anyway, after we get the last few shards and defeat Naraku, I intend to stay home forever.”

Sango sighed, but then said “I understand. You don't need the heartache of seeing him go with Kikyo to hell. You will be missed, at least by me, and most definetly by Shippo. And I'm sure you'll also be missed by that perverted monk.”

Kagome said “I'll come by to visit every once in a while, if I still can after all this. So don't worry. I just won't see Inuyasha…oh wait, it wouldn't matter, he's going to hell…literally.”

At this point Inuyasha was boiling mad. He wanted to scream at everyone for talking so badly about him. He almost flew out of the bushes from what he heard next.

“Every week I'm going to try to go home to continue my training. Besides…my trainer is cute. That kiss wasn't half bad either.” Kagome stated

“Oooo! I'll make sure to get you home every week. Just make sure to return with details!”

Now he had it. He almost leapt out the bushes, before Miroku caught him. They both decided to go back to the hut. Once there, Miroku had many questions for the hanyou.

“Do you still love Kikyo? Do you love Kagome? Do you care for her at all? Do you realize how much we need her not just for battle, but for peace of mind? Do you have any idea how precious she is to all of us?!” Miroku spat out all of these questions at once.

“No, Yes, Of course, yes, and yes.” Inuyasha replied shortly.

“Then why the HELL are you treating her so badly?!” Miroku nearly shouted

Inuyasha couldn't answer that one. He really had no reason to be so mean to Kagome, but couldn't let that be known. He needed to justify himself….but couldn't think of anything to say except “Keh” and he walked out of the hut.

The girls returned to the hut shortly after, and all decided to get a good night's sleep. It was the night of the new moon, but this seemed to go unnoticed to everyone.

Inuyasha returned, and the all went to bed. All except the miko and the hanyou that is…

Kagome couldn't sleep. She had too much on her mind. Careful not to wake anyone up, she exited the hut.

Little did she know, the hanyou in his human form follwed her shortly after.

She found the sacred tree, and stared up at it. She then said to herself “I need to stay strong. I love him so much. I just wish he felt the same.” Choking back tears she sat down in front of the tree.

She got up soon after, with intentions to go to the well. Realizing what she was doing, he couldn't take it anymore, and stepped out in front of her.

“I need to talk to you.” He said in a gruff tone.

Kagome not wanting to argue said “Ok, I'm listening”

“You're NOT going back to that trainer as you call him. He's gotten a little too personal lately, and I don't like it.”

Kagome replied “Why do you care? Aren't you going to hell with Kikyo? Isn't she the one you love?”

He all but yelled

“No stupid, I've loved you for some time now. How could you be so dense? And you're strong enough already! You don't need some bozo to help you! And if you wanted some training you could've asked me or the others!”

Realizing he had just basically told her he loved her, he turned a shade of pink that made Kagome giggle.

“If you can honestly tell me you love me…..and that you're only intentions with Kikyo are to avenge her death and NOT go to hell with her….I will not go home and train anymore.”

Inuyasha didn't need to think about it. He knew what he had to say. He just wished he could've said this a long time ago.

“I love you Kagome. More than you could ever know. Could you forgive me?”

Kagome giggled at this, seeing her hanyou apologize. She finally responded

“You have to give me something first.”

“Oi, what is it wench?” Inuyasha said

“A kiss” the miko replied.

Blushing many shades of pink, the hanyou finally said after a bit of a silence “Only if you promise to never kiss anyone else but me.”

Kagome smiled “Of course.”

With that, he kissed her, picked her up and started heading back to the hut. Half way there, Kagome had fallen asleep in his arms. Once they arrived at the hut, he whispered in her ear “I love you too Kagome.”

He thought she hadn't heard but she then smiled to herself and hugged him tightly before he laid her in her sleeping bag and kissed her on her forehead. The others had stirred and were smirking at this display of affection, but made sure to remain unnoticed.

Once this battle is over I'll make you mine forever Inuyasha thought before drifting off to sleep.