InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Home for Kagome ❯ Home? ( Chapter 5 )

DISCLAIMER: Rumiko Takahashi, now and forever, owns 'Inuyasha' and all characters involved. I, now and forever, own nothing but my own twisted plot and any original characters I might add. Hope this settles any confusion. Please don't sue me, I'm broke.

 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I realise my portrayal of Eri and Yuka might seem a little OOC to some, but personally I don't think so. They have always seemed to me to very pushy and quick to judge. I am simply having them go to the next level. If you don't like it, that's your choice, but I do and it's my story, so there.

 

Also, quick note, for those of you who have noticed that my chapters have been getting steadily shorter as the story continues, I am happy to say that I have broken that trend with this one, and don't intend to go back to that. Yay! Now, on with the story.

 

Chapter 5 - Home?

 

Somewhat surprisingly, after the pregnancy scare incident, Kagome started to feel a whole lot better. As if it was the final obstacle she had to get by on the road to recovery, after she got home from the clinic Kagome felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders. For the first time since the attack, Kagome was starting to feel like herself again. Though she still felt uncomfortable in crowds and still got the occasional nightmare, she was starting to feel as if the end of her recovery might be in sight. She wasn't quite ready to take Inuyasha up on his offer to become her mate yet, but she felt that she was closer than she'd ever been.

 

Inuyasha and Kagome's family all noticed the change in Kagome's attitude as well, and couldn't be happier about it. It was wonderful to see the veil of sorrow lift from her eyes, and to see the old Kagome - the kind, fiery, passionate, warrior miko they all knew and loved so well - finally remerge. At first Michiko and Bejiro had worried that maybe it was just Kagome putting on a front, but when Inuyasha assured them that her scent once again showed her as being truly happy, they relaxed slightly. They all still worried about her of course, fearing a relapse, but so far there didn't seem to be any sign of that.

 

Three days after returning from the clinic, Inuyasha awoke early in the morning to see that Kagome wasn't in her bed. Worried about where she might have gone - not to mention more than a little surprised that she was able to get up and leave quietly enough that he didn't notice and wake up himself - Inuyasha quietly got up and followed her scent. He found her quickly enough, outside and standing underneath the Sacred Tree. She was still in her pyjamas, though she had thrown a jacket over the top and was wearing a pair of sneakers and no socks on her feet. She was just standing there, looking at the very spot where he himself had been sealed for all those years, a thoughtful and slightly longing expression on her face. Seeing no one else around, Inuyasha approached her quietly, hoping he wouldn't startle her, as she still got jumpy when surprised. However, when he was about ten feet away, she seemed to somehow sense his presence and looked up at him with a smile on her face.

 

“Good morning Inuyasha.” Kagome said with a welcoming smile as the hanyou approached.

 

“Morning.” Inuyasha said, returning her smile with a small one of his own. “What are you doing up so early? Not to mention you could catch a cold standing out here in your pyjamas like that. Winter's coming you know.”

 

Kagome smiled slightly. His protectiveness of her had gone into overdrive since the attack, but she didn't really mind. It just proved that he cared about her. “I was just thinking.” Kagome said, returning her gaze to the Scared Tree and ignoring the rest of what Inuyasha said. Despite the fact that it was already the middle of autumn, it was surprisingly warm for that time of year, and he knew it. She'd be fine, and besides she thrown a jacket on.

 

“About what?” Inuyasha asked.

 

Kagome didn't answer for a moment. Instead she looked thoughtful again, as if gathering her thoughts. Finally, she turned to look at Inuyasha, a determined glint in her eyes. “Inuyasha, I want to go back.”

 

“Go back where?” Inuyasha asked. She better not mean go back to that school of hers. Inuyasha thought. Michiko, Bejiro and I all agree, that place isn't safe. If she wants to go to a different school, maybe I'll allow that. But she sure as hell ain't going back to that one, not while I'm around.

 

“Back to the Feudal Era.” Kagome said, glancing back at the tree. “I miss Shippo and the others. Besides, I imagine they're very worried about us both by now, neither of us have been back there in weeks.”

 

For a moment, Inuyasha was relieved that she wasn't asking to go back to the place where all this pain started. Then what she said sunk in, and he started to feel worried again. After all, it wasn't like his era was exactly the safest place to be either. Besides which, so far she hadn't really wanted to see anyone but her family. The few times that those girls from her old school or that Hobo guy had called since the attack, she had always asked her mother to say that she was out, not wanting to talk to them.

 

“Are you sure your up to that?” Inuyasha asked doubtfully.

 

Kagome nodded, having a pretty good idea of what he was worried about. “I might not feel up to a shard hunt or a battle with Naraku yet.” She said calmly. “But I'm not asking for that. I just want to go back to the village for a couple of hours and see how everyone is doing. Besides, I wouldn't mind a change of scenery.”

 

Inuyasha thought about what she said for a minute before nodding. “Okay.” He said calmly. “If that's what you want, we can do that. We can go after breakfast, if you feel up to it and your family doesn't mind.”

 

Kagome grinned and quickly pulled the hanyou into a hug. Inuyasha somewhat awkwardly hugged her back, he wasn't used to holding her without the intent of giving her comfort.

 

“Yeah, yeah.” Inuyasha muttered embarrassedly. “Now lets get inside before you get sick.” Kagome smiled and let the over-protective hanyou lead her inside. Something told her today was going to be a good day.

 

###

 

It looked like it was going to be another rough day in the Feudal Era. Without Kagome around, things just seemed so awful all the time, or at least that was what Sango, Miroku, Shippo and Kaede all thought. They knew there weren't really any physical grounds for feeling that way. In fact, things in the village were actually going quite well. There hadn't been any youkai attacks since a week before Kagome and Inuyasha left. There was plenty of food stored away for the coming winter, as well as more than enough firewood. There so far weren't any of the sicknesses that were usually so common around this time of year, and all signs pointed towards a mild winter. Miroku and Sango had even managed to obtain another Jewel Shard, when a dumber than average boar demon with one attacked a neighbouring village a week ago. The demon, despite having a Jewel Shard, hadn't been very strong and they'd been able to destroy it without any serious injury. By all accounts, things seemed to be going quite well. However, with Kagome's long absence and no way of knowing how well she was recovering, it didn't seem that way. By this stage even the villagers, who remained unaware of what had happened to the young miko, were growing concerned about her.

 

When the four in Kaede's hut first woke up that morning, they thought it was likely to be just another day like all the others they had had since that horrible night Inuyasha had come with the news that Kagome had been raped. At least they weren't likely to see Koga again for a couple of days. He had come by the day before, once again demanding to know where Kagome was while once again they had refused to tell him. He usually left at least a couple of days between visits, so they knew they were safe from the crazed wolf demon for the moment. Koga was definitely starting to loose it, not knowing what was happening with Kagome. They supposed they should feel somewhat sorry for him, but he was becoming such an annoying pain in the arse it was hard to work up any real sympathy. Besides, it wasn't like he was any more worried than the rest of them.

 

The four of them were sitting morosely around Kaede's hut, eating their breakfast in silence, when Shippo's head suddenly shot up as the breeze flowing past the reed mat and into the hut brought to his nose a scent he hadn't smelt in weeks. For a moment he was silent, sniffing frantically and hoping he wasn't imagining things. His nose wasn't as good as Inuyasha's or Koga's after all. However after a few moments of sniffing, he was sure and he let out a loud whoop of happiness.

 

As one, Miroku, Sango and Kaede turned to look at Shippo in surprise. He had barely made a sound these last few weeks that he didn't need to. Why was he suddenly so loud and so happy? Before they could ask, Shippo turned to them and said the words they had been hoping to hear for weeks.

 

“They're back!” Shippo cried happily. “Kagome and Inuyasha are back! I can smell them coming this way.”

 

There was a moment of silence as the other three slowly took in what Shippo had said. Then all at once they jumped to their feet and there was rush to the door. Pausing just outside the hut, they quickly saw what Shippo had already known they would. There, coming down the path leading to the forest and the Bone Eaters Well was Inuyasha and Kagome. They were somewhat surprised to see that instead of carrying her or walking behind her with a pouty expression as was usual, Inuyasha was walking besides Kagome, holding her hand in a supportive and possessive manner, though they all figured that was understandable under the circumstances. Another thing they all noticed right away, was that Kagome wasn't wearing the school uniform they were used to seeing her in. Instead she wore a pair of long, baggy, dark grey pants, and a thick long sleaved purple `sweater'. Unlike her usual outfit, which left little to the imagination, this one kept her fully covered, something that Miroku couldn't help but feel a little upset about until he managed to push the feeling down. Kagome had been raped, it was understandable that she might feel a little self-conscious. Either way, they were all glad to see the two of them, and had to struggle to stop themselves from running over, not wanting to risk startling the girl. However, Shippo was unable to control his excitement and run over.

 

“Kagome!” He cried happily, but stopped a few feet away from her, suddenly unsure. He seen her suddenly flinch and smelt the sudden fear from her as he called out her name. As much as he wanted to jump into her arms and hug her like he'd always done, he was worried it wouldn't be welcomed now.

 

However, after Kagome got over the surprise of suddenly hearing her named shouted out in the otherwise silent street and realised whom it was, and had quickly managed to suppress her sudden fear. She smiled happily at Shippo, truly glad to see him as she knelt down to his level and opened her arms in invitation. She had missed the little fox demon so much, but hadn't even realised just how much till just then.

 

Shippo, suddenly smelling no fear but only happiness in his Foster-Mother's scent, once again smiled happily as he collapsed in her arms.

 

“Kagome!” He cried happily as Kagome stood up with him still cradled in her arms. “I missed you so much!”

 

“I missed you too Shippo.” Kagome said, for the first time in what seemed like forever fighting back tears of joy. “I didn't even realise how much until now.”

 

“Are you staying here now Kagome?” Shippo asked, hoping the answer would be yes and she wouldn't leave again.

 

“No, Shippo, I only came back for a visit.” Kagome said apologetically. “I have to be back in time for diner.”

 

Shippo was disappointed, but at least she had come back. He had been afraid he would never see her again.

 

While they were talking, Miroku, Sango and Kaede had walked up to the couple. Fortunately Kagome had noticed them out of the corner of her eye, so they didn't startle her this time.

 

“Kagome, child.” Kaede said softly, worried about the girl. She had encountered too many rape victims that never got over their attacks not to be worried about how well Kagome would recover. “How are ye?”

 

Kagome looked up and smiled at the older miko. “I'm doing really well, Kaede.” She said happily. “I missed all of you the last few weeks.”

 

“And we missed you child.” Kaede answered. “Why don't you and Inuyasha come inside and we can catch upon what we each have missed?”

 

Kagome, still carrying Shippo, followed Kaede as the old miko turned around and walked back to her hut. Inuyasha was about to follow, when he was stopped by Miroku's hand on his arm. Inuyasha took one look at his and Sango's faces and knew right away they wanted him to tell them exactly how Kagome was doing, and if she was really recovering.

 

Before they could ask, Inuyasha spoke up, making sure to keep his voice quiet to be sure no one else overheard him.

 

“She really is doing well.” Inuyasha said calmly. “At first I was worried that she was just putting on an act, but her scent tells me she's really happy, and you can't fake that.”

 

“Your sure?” Miroku asked, still worried. “She really seemed scared when Shippo surprised her.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, knowing full well what Miroku was talking about. “Yeah, she does still get scared when startled, and she still gets nightmares occasionally. She also doesn't like being around too many people at once, especially people she doesn't know. This is only the second time she's left the shrine grounds since the attack, hell, she didn't even want to leave her room for a couple of days. She's worst when people come up behind her. She gets so scared when that happens, and it takes so long to get her to calm down after.”

 

“If she's still having trouble, why'd you bring her back here?” Sango demanded. “I mean, it's not that I'm not happy to see her, or you for that matter. But if she's still recovering its not like we can really go back to hunting Naraku and the shards.”

 

“I know that, and I'm wasn't planning to ask her to.” Inuyasha said, annoyed that Sango thought that he'd put Kagome through anything like that before she was recovered. Hell, he wasn't sure anymore whether he wanted to put her through that when she was. “I wasn't even planning to bring her back now, but it was her idea. She said she missed you guys and wanted to come back for a visit.” Miroku and Sango nodded their understanding.

 

“Well rest assured she was missed to, as were you.” Miroku said. “Things haven't been the same around here without the two of you.” Just then he remembered something he needed to tell Inuyasha and he frowned. “Inuyasha, there's something you should know. Koga knows that Lady Kagome was attacked, as does Kaede and Shippo. He came here the night this started. He'd stumbled across the bodies and knew what the smells on them meant. Once he blurted out that the bodies smelt of Kagome and sex, we felt we had no choice but to tell him what we knew and since Kaede had heard what Koga said we told her too. Unfortunately, we thought Shippo was asleep but he overheard as well.”

 

Inuyasha frowned. He didn't know what upset him more, knowing that that fleabag now knew how Kagome had been raped, or knowing that Shippo had found out and with that knowledge had no doubt lost a piece of his innocence. As much as the kitsune annoyed him at times, Inuyasha had to admit (to himself anyway) that he had grown fond of the runt. Despite the harsh and dangerous life that Shippo had lead so far - his father being murdered, and travelling with them while they hunted Naraku - Shippo had managed to remain in many ways an innocent child. Now the kit was forced to live with the knowledge that the young woman he loved like she was his mother, who loved him like he was her own son, had been raped. Even Inuyasha, as horrible as his childhood had been, hadn't had to deal with something like that.

 

“Where's the fleabag now?” Inuyasha asked. There was nothing he could do about Shippo right now, though he thought he should probably try talking to him before he and Kagome went home. On the other hand, he knew he certainly didn't want Koga around Kagome now. Even without his own jealousy and the fact that Kagome had all but agreed to become his mate eventually, Inuyasha knew that the ookami was the last thing Kagome needed in her condition. The Wolf Prince's habit of appearing out of nowhere, not to mention his over possessive nature, had the potential to undue weeks worth of recovery in a matter of minutes.

 

“Right now, probably trying to sniff out Kagome's `home village'.” Sango said, with a slight smirk. “After we told him you took her to her family's home but refused to tell him where that was, he stormed off claiming he would just find it himself. He's been sniffing around this area ever since. When he can't find it, he usually stops by every couple of days to try and bully the location out of us. Fortunately, the last time he was here was last night, so he shouldn't be back until after you and Kagome leave. No matter how much she's recovered, I don't think she's ready for him just yet.”

 

Inuyasha nodded, in complete agreement with Sango. Now that he thought about it, he could smell that that mangy wolf had been here recently, and wondered how it was he hadn't noticed before. Must have been too focused on Kagome, he decided.

 

With nothing else any of them could think to say, the three of them turned and went into Kaede's hut. Inside they found Kagome, Shippo and the old miko talking about what had been happening in this and neighbouring villages lately, carefully avoiding any talk of Kagome's attack. Inuyasha, Miroku and Sango all sat down to join the discussion. Inuyasha and Kagome were both pleased to hear that things in the village were going so well, and were pleasantly surprised to hear that Miroku and Sango had managed to secure another Jewel Shard in their absence. Sango handed the shard over to Kagome, who was able to instantly purify it thus confirming that whatever popular belief might state, Kagome did in fact not lose her powers when she lost her `purity'. This was much to Inuyasha's relief as he knew without her powers she would have a much harder time defending herself in his time should she decide to come back here. While he knew he would always try to protect her, he was relieved to know should he be unable to be there for any reason she could still protect herself if need be.

 

After lunch - and after extracting a promise from Kagome not to leave the hut and another from Miroku and Sango to protect her - Inuyasha decided he should really take Shippo out for a talk, and lead the kit out of the forest and to the foot of the Sacred Tree. Shippo was confused, and rather unhappy about being forced to leave Kagome, but followed. Inuyasha sat down on the tree's roots, trying to think of a way to start. This was likely to be the hardest conversation he would ever have with the young fox.

 

“I know you know what happened to Kagome.” He started, deciding it might be better to get straight to the point.

 

Shippo gasped slightly, and turned away when he felt tears threaten to fall. Inuyasha had told him once that men never show their tears, no matter what, and he wanted to appear brave in front of the hanyou who - despite their mutual teasing and bickering - had become his hero over the years he had known him, especially now.

 

Inuyasha however, instantly smelt the tears and sighed. He knew Shippo was trying to hide them. “Shippo, its okay to be upset.” He said softly. “We're all upset over what happened to Kagome. No body deserves what happened to her, especially not someone as wonderful and kind hearted as her.”

 

At Inuyasha's words, Shippo was unable to stop the tears from flowing. However, much to Shippo's amazement, Inuyasha's response was to pull the fox child into his lap and engulf him in a hug.

 

“It's okay to cry Shippo.” Inuyasha said as he gently rubbed the kits back while he continued to do so. “When this first happened, I cried.”

 

“You, you did?” Shippo asked around his sobs, looking up at Inuyasha in surprise.

 

Inuyasha nodded. He had cried, the very night this happened. After he had managed to move the last body to the well house in preparation for bringing them to the past to be disposed of, it had all suddenly hit him at once and he'd been unable to do anything but cry. He had sat there in the well house for a good fifteen minutes, surrounded by the bodies of boys he himself had killed, crying as he hadn't since that fateful night so long ago when he had buried his mother. He had sworn then he would never cry again, thinking he would never love anyone as much as his mother and therefore no one else would deserve his tears. Kagome, however, had proven him wrong on both counts, and so he had sat there crying for the second woman to ever truly accept him, grieving for her loss of innocence and subsequent pain. Part of him had desperately wanted the comfort he was trying to give to Shippo now. He didn't believe he deserved it, truly thinking it was all his fault still at that point, but Kami how he had wanted it.

 

He had dried his eyes before going to the past, and no one had known but him, but it had happened.”

 

“Yes Shippo, I cried.” Inuyasha said gently. “When someone you care so much about is hurt so badly, it's hard not to cry.” Shippo nodded, and buried his face in Inuyasha's haori again.

 

“But, Shippo, no matter how much it hurts us, it was Kagome who was hurt more, you know that right?” Again Shippo nodded, of course he knew Kagome was hurt more. How could he not know? “Well, Shippo, Kagome's trying to heal now and she needs our help. Nothing either you or I can ever do will make this go away, but we all need to move on. Kagome's trying to heal from this and she needs us to be strong for her and help her through it. I know it's hard, but do you think you can do that? Can you be strong enough to help Kagome heal?”

 

Shippo thought about it for only a moment, before looking up at Inuyasha and nodding, a determined glint in his eyes. He would do anything to help Kagome. If she needed him to be strong, he would be strong.

 

“What do you need me to do?” He asked, determined to help.

 

Inuyasha grinned, and hugged Shippo a little tighter, proud of the way he was acting. “Right now, all she needs is for us both to be there for her and support her. Kagome needs her friends and her family right now Shippo, she needs to know there are still those out there who love her, and who won't judge her by what happened. She doesn't like talking about it if she can avoid it, so don't bring it up, but if she does make sure she knows you don't blame her and still love her. In the mean time, try to be patient and supportive of her. You know she's not recovered yet and might not be for a long time.”

 

Shippo nodded. He understood all right. He would be strong for her and try to help her in anyway he could. Inuyasha must have seen this in his eyes, because he nodded back in approval and stood up to head back to the village.

 

###

 

It was nearly time for dinner when Inuyasha and Kagome got back to the Shrine. Kagome was rather looking forward to a nice dinner with her family, followed by a peaceful evening and an early bed, but apparently that was not to be.

 

“Kagome!” Three voices yelled out behind her just as the two of the reached the door, making Kagome cry out in alarm and try to bury herself in Inuyasha's arms. Inuyasha turned around to growl at the three girls who had scared his Kagome so badly, his ears practically flat with his head in his anger. This turned out to be a good thing as Kagome's three girl friends from school came running up, appearing completely oblivious to the fact that Kagome was half scared out of her wits.

 

“Kagome! Why the hell didn't you tell us you were dropping out of school?” Eri demanded loudly.

 

“Is it your health Kagome?” Yuka asked, her voice just as loud. “Did you come down with another horrible illness? Oh yeah, hey Inuyasha.” She added as an after thought when she finally seemed to notice the half demon.

 

“Kagome, are you okay?” Ayumi asked softly. Inuyasha noticed that unlike the other two who carried only the scent of curiosity (well, that plus deodorant, shampoo, and a bunch of contract smells from this damn smelly time) she smelled truly concerned. It seemed she was the only one to notice how truly distressed Kagome was.

 

“Yes, I'm fine.” Kagome said, slowly pulling away from Inuyasha. Inuyasha could tell she most certainly wasn't fine. She was still covered by the scent of fear and her heart was beating so loudly he was sure even the humans could hear it.

 

Ayumi also seemed to notice that Kagome was still distressed. “Are you sure you're okay Kagome?” She asked, worried. “You look so pale, and you were so startled when we called out before? Do you think maybe you should go in and sit down? Should we leave?” Inuyasha decided then and there that Ayumi was definitely his favourite of all of Kagome's future friends.

 

“I'm fine.” Kagome said, not very convincingly, but apparently Eri and Yuka were convinced. Either that or they just didn't care in their quest for gossip.

 

“Why didn't you tell us you were dropping out of school Kagome?” Eri demanded again. “We just thought you were sick again the last couple of weeks, then when we asked the teacher this morning if he knew when you were coming back, he told us you dropped out over three weeks ago! All the times we've called you since then, you never told us that!”

 

“Yeah, you weren't even home most of the times, and the others you mom said you were busy.” Yuka continued. “What's going on, you're not pregnant or something are you?” She glanced towards Inuyasha as she said the last part. Inuyasha heard Kagome gasp slightly at Yuka's words, no doubt flashing back to the scare she had gotten when she thought she might indeed be pregnant. However, before either of them could say a word, Eri spoke up again.

 

“Oh Yuka, of course she's not pregnant.” Eri said dismissively. “After all, she's not a slut like that Akina Yabumotou. You remember her Kagome? That hottie Kano Saito's ex-girlfriend? She's dropped out of school too! Rumour is she's going to extensive therapy to recover from the `trauma of her attack'.” Eri said the last four words with considerable drawl, making it clear she still though Akina's tale of her rape to be a lie. “If you ask me, she should be going to see the shrink about her obsessive lying. I'm sure that's part of the reason Kano's run away. Have you heard about that? I know you haven't been in school, but it's been all over the news…” At this stage she was cut off when Inuyasha, who was beyond furious, growled and got right in her face.

 

“What makes you so sure that this Akina girl is lying?” He demanded. “She might have very well been through one of the worst things any woman can go through, and here you are calling her a slut when you don't even know her!”

 

Eri blinked confused. “What do you mean? Or course she's lying! Kano's too much of a hottie to rape anyone, he doesn't need to.”

 

Just as Inuyasha was trying to think of something to say to her for her ridiculous answer, the girl continued, and soon Inuyasha found himself seriously wanting to strangle the girl.

 

“Besides, everyone knows that even if it was true, she must have been asking for it.” Eri said righteously. “Most rape victims are, dressing like sluts and being in places they shouldn't. Either that, or they get all upset the morning after and decided it's easier to cry rape than deal with the fallout.”

 

Inuyasha was seeing red, and it took all of his willpower not to kill the girl on the spot. “No one,” he said through gritted teeth, “asks to be raped. No woman deserves it. It's always the attackers fault, they're the ones who choose to do it. Rape isn't about sex, it's about the rapist's power over the victims. If you had any idea what victims of rape go through, the pain and the anguish they suffer, you would never say such bullshit, you stupid bitch.” As the scent of Kagome's tears reached him, Inuyasha almost lost his fight not to kill the bitch standing in front of them. Fortunately, before he lost control completely, he heard the door opening behind him, and another familiar and welcome smell reached him.

 

“Kagome, Inuyasha is that you? I thought I heard your voices, welcome back.” Michiko was about to stay more, when she noticed that Eri, Yuka and Ayumi were there. She was considering whether she should maybe invite them in, when she realised that Kagome was upset and almost in tears, and that Inuyasha was right up in Eri's face and almost trembling with wrath. Her good feelings towards the girls vanished in a instant.

 

“Dinner's ready Kagome, Inuyasha, come on in. You girls should go home now, I imagine your parents are expecting you.” The tone of her voice made it perfectly clear that she wanted them to go, now.

 

As Inuyasha lead Kagome into the house and Michiko firmly closed the door behind them, Eri and Yuka were confused. Michiko had never acted like that before. And what was Inuyasha so upset about, it wasn't like he knew Akina Yabumotou, did he? When they were halfway down the Shrine steps, they also realised that they had never gotten an answer as to why Kagome dropped out of school either.

 

Ayumi on the other hand was silent, not to mentioned worried. She alone had noticed how jumpy Kagome was and how her eyes had filled with tears at Eri's prejudiced description of rape victims. She feared that she know knew why Kagome had dropped out of school.

 

She had no intention of telling Eri and Yuka her theory through. The last thing Kagome needed was for those two gossipmongers to start telling the whole school that she had been raped. Ayumi just hoped that she was wrong, or if she wasn't, that her friend would be able to get through this.

 

###

 

The second the door closed behind them, Inuyasha pulled Kagome into a hug and held her as she cried. Looking very upset herself, Michiko asked Inuyasha what had happened. Trying to keep the anger out of his voice to avoid further upsetting Kagome, Inuyasha told her what Eri and Yuka had said. Suddenly looking ever bit as angry as Inuyasha felt, Michiko made a mental note to never let either of them in her house again.

 

It was about this time that Kagome stopped crying and pulled away from Inuyasha slightly. “I'm sorry for breaking down on you like that.” She said softly.

 

“You have nothing to be sorry for sweetie.” Michiko said instantly, beating Inuyasha to it. “What those girls said was stupid and cruel, and you had every right to be upset.”

 

“It's not that.” Kagome said. “Well, not exactly. I knew that there would be people out there with opinions like that. I thought I was prepared for it. I thought as long as I knew that my family and friends loved me and didn't blame me for what happened, that I'd be okay. That it didn't matter what some strangers who didn't know me thought.”

 

“But they weren't strangers, were they?” Inuyasha asked softly, seeing instantly where this was going.

 

Kagome shook her head sadly. “No, they weren't strangers.” She said softly. “But they're not my friends anymore either. I don't think I could be friends with them after what they said, and truthfully I don't think I want to. I knew we were drifting apart, but I never realised just how shallow and cruel they could be until now. Ayumi was the only half decent one there, and even she didn't do a thing to stop the other two.”

 

There was a moment of silence before Michiko tentatively asked Kagome if she wanted any dinner. She and Inuyasha both expected her to say no, and were surprised when Kagome nodded and headed for the kitchen. Inuyasha quickly followed and took her hand. He gave it a slight squeeze, trying to let her know that no matter what anyone else said, he would always be with her. When Kagome squeezed back, he knew she had understood.

 

###

 

Back in the Feudal Era, Koga was livid. He had been making another pass of the village, still trying to find some clue as to the location of Kagome's home village (a task quickly becoming every bit as hard and every bit as frustrating as finding Naraku), when he realised that for the first time in weeks he could smell Kagome and the mutt. Their scents were coming from the village itself, most strongly at the hut where the others of their pack had been staying, and Koga had hurried over hoping to see his woman again. However when he got there it was only to learn that while the two of them had been there, they had only been visiting and had just left to return to Kagome's village a couple of hours ago. Despite this setback, Koga had been ecstatic, as he could no doubt now follow Kagome's scent right back to her home, provided that he didn't run into her and the mutt on the way. Then it would simply be a matter of killing the mutt and taking his woman safely home to his den.

 

However this was not to be, as in a clearing in the middle of the forest, one containing a useless old dried-up well, the scent had disappeared into thin air. Again. Koga was so frustrated he almost destroyed the stupid well, before running off again to try and find another lead. He would find Kagome's home village, even it took a couple of hundred years to do so.

 

###

 

That night, Kagome lay awake in bed thinking about everything that had happened that day. It had felt so right to be back around her friends in the Feudal Era again. They had welcomed her happily. They hadn't tried to make her talk about the attack if she didn't want to, but had instead made certain that she knew they all cared about her and wanted to support her, and that they in no way blamed her for what happened. She hadn't even realised just how much she had missed them until she saw them, but when it came time to leave part of her hadn't wanted to go.

 

Then when she got back to the Shrine, she found herself wishing she hadn't. She could barely believe Eri, the girl she had considered her friend for so long, could say something so mean. Yes, she realised Eri had no idea that Kagome had in fact been raped. And yes, Kagome too made been guilty of not believing Akina's story when she'd first heard it. But the other things she said, that rape victims ask for it. Kagome had certainly never thought anything like that, and was horrified that Eri apparently did. There was no way her friendship with Eri would be able to survive hearing her say that, even if she herself hadn't been a victim of rape. And Yuka and Ayumi weren't much better, they hadn't tried to stop her. While she was proud to no end of what Inuyasha had said, the whole conversation still hurt. And the aftermath of it meant that her oldest friendship, with the girls she had once thought would be her best friends forever, was now over.

 

It was then that Kagome realised that, aside from her family, she really didn't have anything to keep her tied to this era anymore. She'd already officially dropped out of school and had no intention of going back, thus also meaning that she no longer had any real hope of getting into collage or getting a good job here. And now, she no longer had any friends. Eri, Yuka and Ayumi had pretty much been the only friends she had left, she had lost touch with all her more casual ones months if not years ago. Her family was still here, and of course, she still loved them. But her life and her future no longer rested in this time. No, her future was in the past, in a small village run by an elderly miko who she thought of as someone akin to a grandmother. It was with a young fox child she loved like a son, with a lecherous monk who was like a brother and a wilful demon slayer who was like a sister. It was with Inuyasha.

 

With that realisation, Kagome couldn't help but smile. What had been unclear to her for so long she could suddenly see and understand perfectly. It may have taken this horrible incident to finally see it, but Kagome now knew where it was she really belonged. She knew where, and when, her home was.

 

Now, she just needed to explain this to Inuyasha and her family, and try to make them agree with her.

 

###

 

The next morning after Souta had left for school, Kagome sat down and tried to explain to Michiko, Bejiro and Inuyasha that she wanted to move to the Feudal Era, permanently and only come back to the present era to visit occasionally. Surprisingly, Michiko and Bejiro took the news quite well, much better that Kagome had even dared to hope. It wasn't until that moment, that Kagome realised that Michiko and Bejiro had been expecting this for some time. They had realised long before she did that she wouldn't be happy living in the modern era forever, and that her home was now five hundred years in the past. They had been worried that maybe she was rushing her decision a little bit after what happened, but they said in the end they trusted her and that it was her choice. If she wanted to move to the past, they would support her decision.

 

Even more surprising was Inuyasha's reaction. He was adamantly against the idea in the beginning. At first, part of her couldn't help but be a little hurt, fearing he had changed his mind and didn't want her to be a permanent part of his life. However, Kagome quickly realised that he was only worried because of all the danger in his time and because he wanted to keep her safe. Touched by his concerns, Kagome assured Inuyasha that she knew all the risks of living in the past, but still wanted to. It had been her true home for a long time now, and that despite all the demons and wars of his era, since the attack she actually felt safer there, as long as he was with her. Besides, there there was also Miroku and Sango and Kirara, and even Kaede and Shippo, who would all work to help protect her if need be. On that argument, Inuyasha finally agreed, though somewhat reluctantly. However, he did make her agree to stay in her own time until he and the others could build a hut for her in the village. If she was moving there for good, she couldn't exactly stay in Kaede's one room hut forever.

 

Later that day, Inuyasha made a return trip to the village alone to see the others for help in building a hut. They were all overjoyed by the fact that Kagome wanted to move to their time permanently, and started immediately. Many of the village men, upon hearing the reason for the new hut, also volunteered their services, and construction moved along swiftly. What emerged a week later was a little different from what Inuyasha had first imagined, but he was rather pleased with the result. It had been decided that for now, Miroku, Sango and Shippo would share the new hut, in order to give Kaede her space back. Accordingly the new hut had three separate rooms, a main common room and two bedrooms, one for Kagome and Sango and another for Miroku and Shippo. It was just slightly out of the village, and near a small hot-spring (Miroku had been severely warned by both Inuyasha and Sango that if he ever peeked on either of the girls he would not live to regret it). There was a small plot of land out the front that could be turned into a garden in due time, and the villages had helped to furnish it as best they could, wanting to help repay the travellers who had helped them so many times in the past.

 

And so, a week after Kagome's first visit since her attack, Kagome moved into her new home in the Feudal Era.

 

 

Author's Note: From what I have read in other fanfics, many believe that if a miko (aka Shrine Maiden) loses her virginity or `purity' she loses her powers. All I can say to that, is that if Tsubaki who is evil and Kikyo who is dead are `pure' enough to have powers, I'm not going to have Kagome loose hers because she's no longer a virgin. If you don't like that idea and want her to loose her powers when she loses her virginity, well then you can write your own fanfic. This one's mine and what I say goes.

 

Name translations (there may also be other translations, but these are the ones I found)

 

Michiko (Kagome's mother) - Beauty / Wisdom

Bejiro (Kagome's Grandfather) - Enjoys peace

Kano (One of Kagome's rapists) - One's masculine power; capability

Akina (Kano's ex-girlfriend and first rape victim) - A Spring Flower