Battle of Wills (revised)

Inu Yasha trudged up the beach, the salt water making his robes sag and bunch around his skin. He stared at the string of beads in his hands as he sat down along the shore. How many times had he plotted and daydreamed about gaining his freedom? How many times had he cursed at Kagome for placing the thing around his neck when he had more then proved his worth. Such a simple thing. Such a simple action. She had removed the necklace that had bound him to her all this time and now he found himself...saddened. He wrapped his hands tightly around the beads. Had he grown to like being sat? 'No.' He decided, that wasn't it. Then why did his heart ache like this? He smiled up at Kagome as he watched her approach the beach, and it helped to quiet the pain. He sighed softly and took off his red fire rat jacket, wrapping the rosary up in it. He wouldn't let his confusion ruin their first day of freedom together. "Oiy Kagome!" He barked in amusment. "What took you so long?"

Kagome smirked and quirked an annoyed eyebrow as she yelled from the waist deep water, trudging her way back to the shore at a slow pace. "I could have gotten back sooner, if SOMEONE hadn't thrown me in fully clothed."

Inu Yasha chuckled, giving her a look of amusment as she finally overcame the waves and made her way to shore. "I'll remember to take your clothes off first next time."

Kagome blushed furiously. From the look on Inu Yasha's face she could tell he didn't mean it the way it sounded, but as a slow blush began to creep across his features she could tell he realized how it sounded after he had said it. Their eyes met for just a moment, causing Kagome to look away and clear her throat. Inu Yasha smirked as she averted her gaze. He grabbed her wrist as she began to walk back to her bag.

"Kagome," He whispered in a soft tone as she continued to look away from him. "Say it...."

She looked up at him with a shocked expression. Her embarassment long forgotten. "What?" She half laughed, not sure if she heard him correctly.

"Say it." He said a little more forcefully as he took a step forward his hand still on her wrist.

"Say what?" Kagome questioned softly as she froze in place.

"You know what." He answered as he took another step forward "Say it, I want to hear you say it."

Truthfully, she knew what IT was. The sit command would forever be known as IT between them. It had been given its generalized term after many weeks of accidental "sits". The term had never been anything they agreed upon between them. It was simply one of those things. One of those quirks of conversation that occur when you've known someone so long, that you can almost read their thoughts.

"Please Kagome..." He whispered as he stood mere inches from her. No where, did their bodies touch, but the heat between their bodies was almost tangible. It made Kagome swallow hard. Inu Yasah released her wrist and brought his hand to her chin, bringing her eyes back to his. "Please, I want to hear you say it."

Kagome swallowed again. Her heart hurt, 'and this has got to be the wierdest conversation I have ever had.' she noted humorously to herself as she attempted to ease her nervous tension. "....sit...." She whispered so quietly that it was barely audible over the waves crashing behind her.

"Say it again." He pleaded as a hand went to the side of her face.

"Sit" She repeated a little louder.

"Again." He demanded in a tone that took her breath away.

"Sit!" She barked as Inu Yasha moaned softly, pressing their lips together in a desperate kiss. Her eyes popped open. 'What is he doing?' She inwardly paniced. 'What about Sesshoumaru, I can't.....I can't....What can't I do again?' She wimpered as she returned the kiss, melting into his arms. "Inu Yasha....." She whispered with heavy eyelids as he broke the kiss.

"Kagome..." He answered back with the same dreamy, sleepy, blissful expression on his face before scooping her up in his arms and lowering her to the ground.

She could feel his arms tremble as he crawled over her. He quickly pressed their lips together again in another desperate kiss. His tongue tasting her lips. His hands still trembling as they began to gently run over her wet clothing. She was being overwhelmed again. She knew it was wrong. Was it wrong? Her heart ached. She wanted him, and hated herself for it. She loved Inu Yasha. She loved Sesshoumaru. She wanted to cry. This wasn't fair. Why had her heart betrayed her so completely? A single tear rolled down her cheek as she muffled out a moan into Inu Yasha's wanting mouth.

He pulled back, breaking their kiss reluctantly. His thumb lightly whipped away the tear that had formed on her cheek as he stroked her face. "I love you Kagome." He whispered softly as he looked down into her eyes.

"Inu Yasha..." She whispered back, her voice heavy with emotion.


In a flash of white and a gust of wind he was gone. Kagome blinked. "Inu Yasha?!" She exclaimed as she sat up, turning towards the ocean as a large splash caught her attention.

Inu Yasha sputtered, "What the hell?!" He barked out loudly as he resurfaced.

"How...." She muttered as she looked at Inu Yasha, soaked from head to toe yet again the same confused expression looking back at her. Something was blocking the sun where she sat. A feeling of dread crept over her body. She looked at Inu Yasha again, as if it would be the last time she would see him. The last time she would see anything ever again. Her heart began to ache again. She swallowed hard, and attempted to slow the beating of her heart. She had brought this down upon herself. She turned, leaning back on her palms as she met a cold and emotionless gaze. "Sesshoumaru..." She whispered so slightly that it could have been mistaken for the wind.

He simply stared at her, his eyes burning holes into her soul. There was no anger. There was no pain. Just a cold emotionless stare that seemed to squeeze at her heart until it threatened to burst inside her chest. She wanted him to yell, to scream, to hurt her, anything that would numb the pain that threatened to shatter her soul. He simply stood there, staring at her, his gaze unyielding and emotionless. Every time an apology or explanation threatened to spill forth from her lips, she fell silent, and still he stared.

She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as Inu Yasha beckoned from the waves, approaching the shoreline.

"Oiy Kagome! What the hell was that."He barked

Kagome could not look away from Sesshoumaru. "....I don't know...." She answered back so softly that only Sesshoumaru could hear.

"Oiy Kagome!" Inu Yasha barked again.

This time she turned to face the hanyou quickly making his way back to the beach. "I don't know Inuyasha." She answered as she began to hug her knees. "I didn't see anything." She lied meekly staring at her feet as she felt Sesshoumaru's eyes finally break the connection they had to her soul.

Inu Yasha sniffed at the air. "Felt like a demon." He sniffed again. "I can't pick up its scent though."

Kagome took in another long breath, wrapping her arm around her body. "Maybe it was the wind." She answered in a despondant tone as she felt Sesshoumaru's eyes upon her again.

"Feh! That was no wind!" Inu Yasha barked as he sat down next to Kagome wrapping his arms around her shoulders, rubbing at her arms comfortingly. "Are you okay Kagome?"

She jumped slightly as she felt his hand upon her. "I'm fine....." She answered back in the same despondant tone, looking down the length of the beach.

"Don't worry Kagome. I'm here to protect you." Inu Yasha reassured softly.

She turned to face him, a sad smile upon her lips. "Thank you Inu Yasha." She smiled once more before letting her gaze fall to her feet again.

Sensing the darkness in the mood he changed the subject. "How bout some dinner, huh?"

Kagome grinned rising to her feet. "Sure, what would you like?"

"Oh Hey! I didn't mean that!" Inu Yasha remarked as he jumped to his feet beside her. "I could make us something."

Kagome laughed. "No no Inu Yasha." Her eye's locked with Sesshoumaru's once more and her expression melted to sadness. "I can make it." She needed to keep herself busy. Anything to take her mind off those eyes.

"Well okay!" The hanyou barked happily. "I'll grab us some fish?" He asked in a questioning tone.

Kagome smiled as much as her aching heart would allow her. "That would be lovely."

"Don't worry Kagome! Won't take long." He smiled as he headed back out to the water.

Kagome stood there, the same sad smile upon her lips, as she watched him move deeper and deeper into the water. Her back was to Sesshoumaru. She wouldn't face him, even if it meant she had to stand there until Inu Yasha returned. She could hear Sesshoumaru's footsteps moving closer. Each step caused tears to well up in her eyes. She wouldn't cry. Whatever he did to her she deserved it. She took a deep breath, crossing her arms over her chest, as she willed the tears away.

Two large and warm arms wrapped themselves around her waist. She could hear him sigh softly as he buried his face into the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply. He squeezed her in his arms tighter as he felt her begin to tremble in his loving embrace.

She cried.