#deflowering is such a cruel term what if more flower

[ultravioletence]

so tired of tending to houseplant

what if houseplant tended to me for a change?

[petri808]

Chapter 2 of 8

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@inukag-week​ ~~~ Loyalty prompt

When Kagome opens her eyes the next morning, it was a breath of relief to hear the birds chirping and no sounds of rain.  The storm has passed.  She looks over to say good morning, only to see Inuyasha’s bed empty.  ‘Wow, he could have at least waited to say goodbye.’  But the sound of splintering wood catches her attention.  She gets up and throws on a shawl to go outside.  ‘Oh… Ohhh!’

What she finds is a bare chested Inuyasha chopping firewood.  

At the additional scent, he turns and heaves the ax onto his shoulder, “good morning milady.  I’m sorry, did I wake you?”

“Huh?  Oh, n-no, you didn’t.”  She takes a few steps forward.  “Why are you chopping my wood?”

“You’re a little low, so as a thank you, I figured I’d cut some for you.”

“Wow, thank you!”  Not only was seeing such a handsome male a generous sight, but the homely aspect caused quite a stir in her mind and body as it pieced together what was going on.  She was thankful for his help and just a little… or maybe a lot more intrigued by it all.  Her maternal instincts didn’t miss the idea of what kind of provider this man would be.  

“It’s no problem.  I’m almost done.”

Willing her heart to focus on reality.  “Hey, um, I’ll whip us up some porridge for breakfast, do you eat porridge?”

“I do.”

“Great!” she points a thumb back to the hut, “I’l--l just be inside then.”

“Okay,” he chuckles.

‘Breathe, Kagome, just calm down, that’s not the first male chest you’ve ever seen…’ Gods help her, but if he wasn’t one the finest specimens!  She assumed he would be fit, but, “how is that man still single,” she whispers to herself aloud.  Surely any woman would happily accept him as a husband; including herself.  Imagine the… Kagome stops herself there and shuts down her thoughts before it lead to unsavory and naughty ones.  They were friends.  The friendly neighborhood hunter and she the helpful village herbalist.

To switch her mind back to reality, she focuses on breakfast.  Some rice porridge, fresh fruits and honey.  It wasn’t a very filling meal, but she hoped it would be enough for the man.  There was a bit of left-over stew as well if Inuyasha was still hungry.

“Here ya go,” he piles the last armful of wood next to the hearth.  “That should take care of the week for ya.”

“Thank you very much Inuyasha.”  She beams at him.  “That really was very sweet of you.

He dusts off his hands and she directs him to sit.  Kagome then places a large bowl in his hands.  “It smells delicious,” he grins, “thank you for the meal.”

She waves her hand, “it’s the least I could do.”

They eat in a companionable silence for a time not really knowing what to say.  It was strange, but not uncomfortable this sense of normalcy, like a couple sitting down to a meal before going out for the day to work or whatever they did.  No matter how much she tried, Kagome couldn’t stop fantasizing.  It was just such a nice thought…

“What are you smiling about?”  

“Hmm?” She looks over to him a little doe-eyed and confused.  

“You’re smiling to yourself,” he chuckles.  “What are you smiling for?”

‘Oh, damn!’  it was one thing to be thinking about stuff, but she’d started to zone out and it was showing.  “I um, was just thinking about, well um, I have some flowers that should be blooming soon, and yeah it just popped in my head and made me happy,” she smiles wide to drive home her response.  “So, what are your plans for the day?”

Inuyasha bellows, “you make me laugh, I love it!”  Kagome didn’t need to know that he could detect scent changes and she was certainly not thinking about flowers, unless in terms of being deflowered.  “I don’t have any since I have enough meat to last a few days.  Probably work on some things around my property.  Do you need any help, anything that requires heavy lifting,” he leans forward a little, “I’d be happy to help?”

Kagome deadpans, is he flirting with her?  She flushes a little with the warmth rushing downward.  She squeezes her thighs together a bit, pretending to shift her position, “I wouldn’t want to trouble you…”

“Tis no trouble at all, I’m happy to help a fair maiden in distress.”

“T-That’s really kind of you Inuyasha, but I can’t think of anything right now.  All I planned to do today was scout for a few herbs Kaede will be running low on in the forest.”

“Hmm,” he taps his nose, “I can help with that, and besides, if we run into any wild game that would benefit us both.”

She’d forgotten he must have a higher sense of tracking abilities.  “O-Okay, sure, if you don’t mind.  I mean it’s pretty boring work.”

“I’m rather enjoying spending time with you.”

Again, another dose of heat floods along her cheeks, “I do too,” her voice is quiet but filled with happiness.  “It’s nice to have company.”  

“I agree.”

The pair finishes their meal and cleans up the dishes.  Once that’s done and the hut is locked up, Kagome grabs a basket and her bow and arrow, and they head out into the surrounding forests.  The storm from the night before left many areas damp and sometimes muddy, but it had also livened up much of the flora.  It was a reminder of how nature, though seemingly cruel at times, functioned for a purpose.  The rains brought life sustaining water to the plants and animals.  

With Inuyasha’s nose to guide them, the pair were able to find many different herbs useful in treating all kinds of illnesses.  He’d even caught a couple of hares using the bow along the way.  By the early afternoon, and her basket full, they’d taken to simply enjoying a stroll through the forest.  Kagome usually didn’t do such a thing, because the woods could be dangerous, but with Inuyasha at her side, she knew she didn’t have to worry.

But as they get closer to her hut, they can see someone waiting in front of it; the wolf yokai Kouga.  ‘Crap, was is he here?!’ Inuyasha slows his pace falling slightly behind Kagome.  

“Kouga?  What brings you here, is everything okay, is someone sick?”

As Kouga spoke to Kagome, he kept his eyes trained on Inuyasha. “Yeah, Ayame asked me to get something for teething, now that the pup’s teeth are coming in its driving him crazy.”  He was shocked to see the hanyo there, but not just any hanyo either.    

“Oh, yes, sure I can whip something up for that… um,” Kagome finally notices the two males staring each other down. “Kouga, do you know Inuyasha?  He recently moved to the village.”

“I know of him,” Kouga glares, “no good half-breed mutt that was such a coward he ran away from his duties.”

Damn it this wolf was gonna blow his cover!  Inuyasha glares back, “if you say another word, I’ll…”

Kagome steps in between them.  “Look, I don’t know what your problem is with Inuyasha, nor do I care.  All that matters to me is he’s my friend and he helps me out a lot.  I’m sure he has a valid reason for running here, and I’m not interested in prying out unnecessary information.  So, if you want the medicine, I suggest you stuff the male aggression and wait quietly or leave.”

“Fine, I’ll wait,” Kouga crosses his arms, “but I suggest after I leave, you ask this hanyo who he really is.” He turns around and walks a few feet away to sit on a fallen log.

“Ugh,” Kagome mumbles under her breath, “damn busy body,” she turns to Inuyasha, “come on,” pulling him by the arm, “help me so he’ll leave quicker.”