Awaiting the Warmth by Angeltiger

Regretful Decision

Angeltiger: Ok, before everyone gets bent out of shape, I am well aware that I have two prefectly fine stories that I should be updating at this moment.

Inuyasha: Yeah, so why ain't you snapping?

Angeltiger: Well ya see, I've had another idea scratching around in my head. And I tried to ignore it, but it seems it won't give my inferior mind a rest. So I let it out.

Kagome: Sounds good to me. What's this one about?

Angeltiger: Well, I had originally signed on to FF to write Sess/Kag fics. And yet, here I am, three going on four, and neither of them were what I wanted. So I decided to do something about it.

Inuyasha: So you're adding to the already horrific population of bad Sess/Kag fics?

Angeltiger: That seems to be the case.

Sesshomaru: Not that I mind in the least.

Kagome: I'm sure you don't.

~Disclaimer~

Sabriel: Angel-chan's dealing with her grandmother right now, evil witch. So I wanted to let you all know that she doesn't have time to own Inuyasha. She tried that once, and you remember how that worked out right? Right? But I can think a few more meaningful punishments. Those lawyers were weak. *evil glint* Maybe I'll have to try them out.

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"Why are we doing this again?"

"It is required."

"By who?"

"Whom."

"Huh?"

"By whom?"

"Alright prissy, required by whom?"

"Time to get on with this tale."

"Wait just a minute!-"

~~~~~~~~~~

A lone girl sat at the edge of a pond, slowly dipping her toes in the cold water, watching as the ripples fanned out until they bounced off the opposing edge, just to come back at her. Though the action greatly lost it's speed, and it came back to her as if in slow motion.

This, she decided, was her life. It started out so grand, having a near abundance of hopes and dreams to live off of, thus the ripples. But as she progressed, they fanned out until she could no longer grasp them...until they hit something solid that shattered the majority and changed everything, leaving a few of the strongest to come back to her. Only to slowly fade away in front of her very eyes. Yes, she sighed, this was her life.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Why are you making this sound all poetic?"

"There has to be something interesting to this story."

"But you don't even know what all happened!"

"I know enough."

~~~~~~~~~~

The girl stood slowly, fully expecting the rustling of the bushes behind her. She hung her head in shame and closed her eyes, ready for the merciless assault on her pride that was inevitable. She only hoped it would be over soon. Her battered heart couldn't take much more.

When nothing happened she raised her head slowly, slitting one eye halfway through the process. The man clothed in red before her did nothing but stare, as he had for- what she assumed- was near five minutes. It made shivers go up her spine, and she wished nothing more than for him to yell at her to scold her for what she had done, to give some sign of life other than the slow rising and falling of his chest. Yelling she could handle, but this was sheer torture.

"Inuyasha..." she stared, flinching as her voice was louder than expected in this strangely silent clearing. She caught herself before she spilled her heart -or what was left of it- to this handsome dog-eared being before her, causing bitemarks to form in her bottom lip from the process. What did she have to be sorry for? That other woman kept getting in the way. She could never be with Inuyasha if that girl was still around...not in the way that she wanted to.

She had seen the two embracing, and nothing but anger and jealousy coursed through her frail veins. She had almost hoped they had burst, but she knew it wouldn't kill her. She would still be standing there, witnessing her love holding another, it had been too much than she could bare.

"Why did you try to kill her?" The question rang out, circling around her as if to choke her already tight throat. Could she tell him the truth? That she wanted this female dead so that she could have him to herself, with no battles for his interest? No, there would be no way for him to comprehend, the pain she felt when that girl's head was buried in his chest, his arms protectively enveloping her. There was no way...

"She..." If not the truth, what could be said? She searched her partial soul for an answer, grimacing at her lack of a whole one. Yet another thing that girl had stolen from her, that soul was rightfully hers, as was Inuyasha. Inuyasha..."She...should not be here."

A silver brow arched high in his face, mild confusion yet complete understanding clashed on his features. He took a small step forward, slowly reaching out an arm to her, "What do you mean?"

She shook her head violently as if to shake off the tears that weren't there, invisibly streaming down her pale face. Her dry eyes raised to meet his own, glistening in the near darkness. "She doesn't belong here! If she would have stayed where she was meant to be-"

"Then you would not be here." He interrupted calmly, retracting his hand. "If she had lived a happy, normal life, you would not exist today."

"How..." her lips trembled, and she slowly brought a finger to them, confused as to why they were able. "How do you know that?"

"She would still have her soul." He replied, sliding his hands in either sleeve. His face grew, if possible, more serious. "And you would have not gotten it, so you would not exist."

Her head hung yet again, his wisdom and truth of words surprising her. Why had she not thought of it that way? It made perfect since, she owed her very life to the girl she wanted dead. But that would not stop her, the girl would be eliminated. "That will not stop me from killing her."

Inuyasha sighed, long and drawn out. This was not the woman he knew so well, she would have never wished someone dead. But...things had changed, and he himself was now only realizing it. "I understand."

"No you don't!" She shouted, wishing her tears would come to show her frustration. But she knew they wouldn't, she wasn't able to cry anymore. "Because of her, I can't have you!" She wanted to scream and shout, to throw a tantrum to shake the earth, but she knew it would help nothing. Besides, she had stopped that in her childhood, it would only make her a fool to start again now.

"No." He commanded, taking the few steps required to stand a few feet in front of her. His hands lashed out to grip her shoulders harshly, giving them a small shake. "You do have me!"

Her head shot up, momentarily forgetting about the bruises that might have formed. Her eyes squinted in pure confusion. "Wha...what?"

"I choose you." He smiled at her bafflement, completely expecting and already prepared for it. He smiled softly, closing the gap and enclosing her in a warm embrace. "I don't care about her...like I care about you." He looked deep into her eyes, slowly reaching to press his lips against hers.

Her breath caught in her throat. Was this real? Had he really chosen her over the one that looked so similar? When his lips met hers the world was put on pause, time itself revolving around the two reunited lovers.

When the innocent kiss was broken, they pulled back, both reluctant. The girl smiled at the hanyou, glad that she had won. She had won against all the odds, after all, she had a few serious disadvantages over the other woman. But she had won her lover's heart, and all would be well soon enough.

"I will protect you always," he smiled, "I promised you before didn't I?" He cuddled her close, nuzzling the nape of her neck with the tenderness one would give a newborn babe. "I swear I'll keep that promise...Kikyo."

~~~~~~~~~~

"I hate that woman."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons..."

"If it weren't for her than we-"

"O-o-okay, let's move on."

"To what?"

"Huh? I thought-?"

"Never mind. We'll continue this tomorrow."

"What!? That's all you're writing tonight?"

"We have other things we could be doing."

"Ohhhh, hehe...ok."

~~~~~~~~~~

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Angeltiger: Well, whaddaya think? If you can't tell, it's a clash of past and present, so if it gets to confusing lemme know and I'll label them.

Inuyasha: *swirly eyes* Too much confusion

Angeltiger: Shut up Inu, you don't count *turns to Sabriel* Sabby? Did you send out the advertisements for this fic.

Sabriel: Not yet.

Angeltiger: Well get to it little missy.

Sabriel: *grumbles* I'm goin', I'm goin'.

Angeltiger: *sighs and turns to small audience* Well, do ya like so far? Lemme know how I'm doin' and I'll be a happy l'il camper. Oh! And Pixie Stix are more than welcome!

Sabriel: *from backstage* Not if I get them first!

Angeltiger: Gah! Get back to work kid!

Sabriel: *more grumbling*