InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Bad Influences ❯ Bad Inluence # Twenty Seven: Running Away ( Chapter 27 )

…Man, I thought about ditching this story so many times. Looking back now…I can't believe I thought this was a good idea. But so many people seem to like the story, so I thought I might as well suck it up and finish it, since I don't like to leave things unfinished. Well, here you go, this chapter is going to make things come full circle. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, nor will I take credit for Romiko Takahashi's genius. This is only a fan based fiction.

Bad Influence # Twenty Seven: Running Away

“Well, I suck at relationships.” Kagome said as she walked toward her father's grave. “Hi Daddy.” She placed the flowers on the grave and stood. “Did you ever have a stupid fight with Mom?” The grave stared at her silently. “Of course you did, no couple doesn't.”

Kagome looked around the graveyard. She almost felt a little guilty that she skipped school to be here today, but she hadn't felt like waiting until after school to come visit her father. Mama and Grandpa were going to be angry when they got the call from the school. But…“I know it's a stupid thing to be angry about…but I can't help feeling a little angry. Am I not trustworthy enough? Now I feel like I'm avoiding him. If I had time to talk to him I would.”

Truth be told, her student council meetings had been taking up more time then usual. For the last two weeks, she'd had little time to do anything other then plan and lead class meetings. There was no time to find Inuyasha to talk to him, let alone think about what she said to him. If it wasn't bad enough that student council was taking so much time, her coach had decided it was time to train harder. Competitions were coming up soon and Kagome had to lead the team like a drill sergeant. The students were annoyed about having to put in extra hours to practice, so that meant extra work in getting team members to commit to practice as well.

“At this point, I'd rather be arguing with Inuyasha.” Kagome huffed. She stayed there for a while until she figured that talking to a grave wouldn't make her relationship troubles disappear. She turned and began to walk up the hill, thinking about how to tell her parents why she decided not to go to school.

“There you are! Finally!”

Kagome jumped and then looked around for the source of the voice. In the distance stood three young men. Kagome breathed in a sigh of relief. For a moment she thought that someone from the school had found her. She inched closer to the three young men, wondering why they were here, but as soon as she got close enough to see their faces, Kagome gasped and hid behind a nearby tree. Inuyasha, Satoshi and Miroku, Kagome thought, why are they here?

“Well, excuse me for traffic, Satoshi!”

Kagome felt the urge to call him, but stopped when she realized that they were probably here to visit someone's grave. But who? She suddenly felt like she was intruding, like she should leave and let them have their privacy, but the question about who's grave they were visiting kept her rooted to the spot.

“Happy September fifteenth.” She heard Miroku say glumly. Kagome wondered why the date sounded so familiar to her. Then she remembered Inuyasha telling her that he couldn't make it to school that day. Wasn't it back when they had their deal worked out? It feels so long ago, Kagome thought.

“That's not funny.” Satoshi snapped. Kagome cringed at the tone of his voice. She'd never heard him sound so bitter.

“Sorry.” For a moment, the three of them were quiet. “So now it's been five years.” Inuyasha said.

“Yeah. Hard to believe we were only fourteen when it happened.”

Kagome blinked. Inuyasha was nineteen? Since when? Did his birthday pass while he was away during the summer? Or was he older then she assumed he was. “My mother died twelve years ago, when I was six.” Did he change the numbers when he told her that? It would explain how why his friends were college students. How much stuff did he keep from her?

“Five years…” Satoshi said. Kagome peeked from behind the tree. She saw Satoshi kneel in front of a tombstone and place flowers on the grave. Behind him, Inuyasha and Miroku were staring at the stone quietly. “Kazuma, you bastard.” Satoshi sighed again. “I wish I could say I had fond memories of you when I look back.”

“Satoshi…” Miroku said.

“It wasn't his fault, not in the end anyway.” Inuyasha said.

Satoshi laughed, a cold, bitter laugh. “I find it funny how you could say that. Weren't you there when it happened? You should be angrier then I am.”

Inuyasha clicked his teeth. “For a while I was. I lost two years of my life because of him…but it's not like I can stay angry at the dead…especially since he did not pull the trigger at the time even though he knew it would mean putting his ass on the line.”

“And after that, Maki didn't talk to us for half a year.” Miroku said. “I can't help but wonder though: would any of us pulled through is she hadn't recovered that fast?”

“I don't think she did. After that she left school for a while remember. And then after graduation, she left to study abroad. I really can't blame her. I don't think any of us could understand what she went through.”

“Yeah,” Inuyasha said, “I think I rather would have died then go through that.”

Miroku moved forward, holding a white rose. “Maki couldn't be here, but she asked me to put this on the grave for her. She also told me to say, `You bastard. You caused us nothing but trouble, and you had the gall to die and leave us to pick up the pieces.'”

Satoshi laughed. “She would say something like that.” Kagome heard a sob.

“Satoshi.” Inuyasha said.

“I'm fine.” He rubbed his eyes and stood. “You know, sometimes I wish that I didn't give a shit about my brother like you do. At least it would have made blaming him easier.”

“I disagree. I may hate Sesshoumaru, but when I saw your relationship with Kazuma…before all of that happened…I was really envious.”

Miroku stepped forward and placed a hand on Satoshi's shoulder. He looked down at the grave and said. “Don't worry you shit-head. We're recovering.”

“Should we go home and get wasted?” Miroku said.

“Why the hell not? We skipped lecture today anyway.”

“Don't call in a stripper Miroku.” Inuyasha said.

“Hey! Do you really think that I would do something like that on a day like this?”

“Yes.” Inuyasha and Satoshi said together.

“Dickheads.”

“If anyone's a dick, it's you.” Inuyasha said. Miroku made a move to hit him, but Inuyasha moved out of the way and turned his back on them. “You guys do on ahead. I'll meet you at the apartment.”

“Change the subject, why don't you.”

“Calm down, man. It's not like we meant it. Plus, making fun of you has always made him feel better.” Satoshi patted Miroku on the back.

“Yeah thanks.” Miroku rolled his eyes and turned around. Kagome saw him pause before he could walk up the hill. “By the way, Inuyasha. I heard that Haruhi got enrolled in your school.”

Inuyasha stiffened. “What about her?”

“You don't feel weird about her being that close?”

“Not really. She's just a bitch that's all.”

Miroku turned around. “I'd watch yourself around her. She'd do anything to get you in trouble.”

“That bitch.” Satoshi said. “It's not like it was OUR fault her sister bit off more then she could chew.”

“But we're the only one's alive that she could blame.”

Inuyasha sighed. He walked toward another grave. “I'll see you later.”

“Later.” Satoshi said. He and Miroku walked up the hill. As soon as they were out of sight, Kagome focused her attention on Inuyasha. A few graves down, she saw him kneel. He placed the lilies he was holding on the grave and stood. He didn't say anything, just stared down at the grave quietly before moving away. She watched him walk up the hill. When he was halfway up, he paused, turned around, stared at the grave and then left.

Kagome waited behind the tree for a while before she moved. She walked over to the first grave and looked down. “Kazuma Kanzaki.” She read. Satoshi's brother. She remembered how Maki had shown her his picture in her scrapbook. Without thinking, Kagome walked over the grave that Inuyasha had gone to alone. She paused, wondering if she should go, but her feet moved forward anyway. Kagome knelt in front of the grave. “Izayoi Takahashi.”

Kagome was sitting the student council wishing she could leave. So much planning for graduation, so much that it had made her have to skip practice. Another week had gone by and still she couldn't find time to speak to Inuyasha, not to mention that he hadn't been near her for a while. He kept to himself, and hardly spoke during class. She would have thought he was angry her if not for the fact that he looked so miserable during class. He didn't speak unless spoken to and he didn't sleep. He paid attention in class, in fact he was so focused on his work that the teacher complimented him on his work ethic and that's what worried Kagome. He had seemed so resigned since she saw him visit the grave almost a week ago.

Not to mention, Kagome thought, that she had no way to talk to him with all this work pilling up.

“You look miserable.” Sango said from across the table.

“For once,” Kagome said, “I HATE student council. It used to be so much planning for events…now every waking second it's we need this, that went wrong. I'm sick of it. Not to mention studying for entrance exams…you know what, why don't I just go study abroad, American colleges don't need any entrance exams. I've got good grades and plenty of extra curricular activities. Getting in a university there should be a synch.”

“But the money for learning abroad won't.” Sango answered.

“Oh yeah, I forgot about that.” Kagome put her head against the desk.

“That's not the real reason you're upset is it?”

Kagome looked up. “I kept trying to meet up with Inuyasha to tell him I'm sorry, but all this stuff keeps getting in the way.”

“You mean you two STILL haven't made up?” Sango said incredulously.

“Yeah, well he leaves right after school, I'm busy and he seems so out of it in class that I can't even talk to him.”

“Sounds like you need to apologize soon, otherwise you'll break the poor guy.”

Kagome rolled her eyes at Sango, “I don't think that's the reason he's so glum.”

“Miroku hasn't been himself either.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he hasn't tried to grab my ass in days.”

Kagome sighed. Before she could stop herself she said, “It doesn't bother you that you're dating a college guy?”

Sango glared at her. “Why should it? I'm eighteen.”

“Well, it's just that I found out that Inuyasha is a year older then me.”

“He's nineteen? No way. Did he get held back a grade or two?”

“You didn't know? I mean, didn't Miroku tell you?”

“No, I thought that Satoshi and Miroku were older then him since they're both in their first year of college, well, I guess it will be their second year soon. But why the sudden interest in his age?”

Kagome didn't answer. She remembered how Inuyasha said that he had lost two years of his life. How? Why? “I don't know, I guess it was just a surprise that's all.”

Sango clicked her teeth. “Yeah sure, it sounds like you're trying to find out some secret without asking him about it yourself.”

Kagome squinted at the desk. “It's not like he'll tell me if I ask.” She said.

“Kagome, you really should learn to-”

“AHHHHHH!”

Sango and Kagome jumped. The rest of the students in the room looked around, searching for the source of the scream.

“S-somebody get help, quick!”

“Call a teacher!”

“It's coming from outside!” One of the students shouted and Sango and Kagome ran to the window. Down below, a group of students had huddled around a body. Someone was bleeding.

“Call the police!”

Half of the students rushed from the window and ran out of the room, those that stayed behind where stalled as a teacher came into the room a second later. “Sit down. Don't leave this room until it's safe to do so.”

Kagome hesitated, looked out the window again and sat back down. What happened? None of the students in the room talked to each other. They didn't move until sirens were heard in the distance. The teacher stood by the window and looked out. Kagome fidgeted. She had to leave; she had to find out if Inuyasha was still in school. After what felt like an eternity another teacher came into the room, spoke to the teacher near the window and left.

The teacher faced the classroom and said, “All after school activities have been cancelled. School will resume tomorrow. You're all encouraged to go home. Any student that's caught loitering at school will be punished. Have a good night.”

The students scrambled to get their things and leave. Once outside, whispers were heard between them. Kagome and Sango walked slowly behind the group. “What do you think happened?” Sango asked.

“I don't know.”

“That boy was bleeding a lot. You don't think…”

Kagome shivered. “How could this have happened in school? You don't think it has anything to do with the gangs recently?”

“It's really weird though. The cops should have caught them by now. Kagome, I don't feel very safe going home alone. Do you think I could hang out at your place until my dad picks me up, it's closer.”

“Yeah, that's a good idea.”

As Kagome and Sango got outside, they noticed the police officers standing around a line of yellow tape. Behind them were a group of students being questioned by another officer. Kagome looked away and hustled Sango along, not wanting to know what happened. But she couldn't escape hearing what the other students were saying.

“A groups of boys came into the school and started yelling at each other. There was a fight and then suddenly they all ran off…and that's when we saw the boy on the floor.”

“They weren't wearing any school uniforms. Our school doesn't use uniforms so maybe some of them were students from our school but I didn't recognize anyone besides the students they approached here…”

Kagome blocked out the noise. She didn't speak to Sango until the two of them got to her house. Mrs. Higurashi came running as soon as they entered through the front door.

“Kagome! I got a call from the school! Are you two all right?”

“We're fine, Mama. Did they tell you what happened?”

Mrs. Higurashi looked from Sango to Kagome. “No. All I know is that one of the students was severely injured and had to be taken to the hospital. They told me that they decided to cancel school tomorrow too.”

“I wonder what happened.” Sango said.

“Why don't you two go up stairs and try to relax. Sango, I'll call your father.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Higurashi.” Sango said.

Once they were in Kagome's room, Sango slumped down on Kagome's bed, and then turned over to see that Kagome was dialing the house phone furiously.

“What are you doing?”

“I'm calling Inuyasha. I hope he wasn't at school.”

Sango got up and snatched the phone from Kagome's hand. “You're being paranoid.”

Kagome glared at her. “What if he was in that fight? I can just picture it.”

“And what if he wasn't. I don't know about you, but calling him to yell at him for fighting, which he may not have been, is not a good way to speak to each other after a fight, don't you think.”

Kagome sighed. “I'm worried Sango…”

Sango offered her the phone. Before Kagome could take it, she said, “But only if you promise not to get angry at him.”

“Okay.”

She dialed his number and waited. No answer. She tried again. No answer. One more time!

“Hello?”

“Inuyasha!”

“Ah! Don't yell; I can hear you just fine!”

“Where are you?”

“Satoshi's. What, you want to talk to me now?”

“When did you get there?”

“Right after school. Is this an interrogation?”

Kagome breathed out slowly. “Thank goodness.”

“Kagome? What…are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I'm fine.”

“…What happened? Why are you so out of breath?”

“I'm just glad you weren't at school today.”

Sango mouthed the words “Oh my love, who I was worried.”

Kagome smacked lightly on the arm. Sango fell back against her bed, laughing. Over the phone, Inuyasha said, “What's the matter? Did something happen at school!” Suddenly he sounded out of breath. “Did Har…what happened at school?”

Kagome looked at the receiver before she explained what happened. When she was finished, Inuyasha asked, “You say a group of boys did it? Did you get a look at the leader?”

“No. I only saw what happened after the fight. Are you okay? You sound so frantic.”

He suddenly went quiet. “No, it's nothing. I guess I'm just a little paranoid.”

“About what?”

“Nothing. I'm just glad you're okay. Are you going to school tomorrow?”

“Oh that's right. School is canceled tomorrow.”

“It is? Awesome.” For some reason, Kagome wasn't happy that he suddenly changed the topic. There was more to his nervousness then worry for her. Something he wasn't telling her…again.

“Kagome?”

“I'm here.”

“Okay, now you're making me worry.”

“It's nothing. I wanted to say I was sorry for yelling at you earlier this week.”

“…What?”

“I said I was sorry. If you don't feel comfortable telling me something, then that's okay. But if you ever have trouble, I'm here if you need someone to talk to.”

“You know, you're making me feel like a real dick.”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, now I feel bad that I didn't tell you…but I'm not ready to tell you.”

Kagome took a deep breath. “That's…fine. You don't have to tell me anything yet.”

Inuyasha didn't answer. Kagome pulled the receiver away from her ear and then she heard him say something. “What was that?”

“I said I'm sorry.”

“For what?”

“Not being able to tell you…it's just…it's not my story to tell. Can you meet me tomorrow?”

“It depends on if my Mom's not shaken enough to let me go outside.”

“Then I'll come over there.”

“Inuyasha?”

“What?”

“Did you have a bad run in with a gang once?”

There was a pause. “What do you mean?”

“It's just that, you don't sound like yourself. I mean…”

“I did.”

“What?”

“I did have a bad run in once…but that's all I can tell you. Believe me, I'd like to tell you more, but I can't.”

Kagome sighed. She was surprised that he told her that much. “Okay…”

“So can you meet me tomorrow?”

“Sure.”

“Great, I'll meet you at your place. Is that okay?”

“That's fine. I'll see you.”

“Bye.”

Kagome hung up and turned to face Sango. “Well, that was the smoothest make-up ever.” Sango said as she flopped down in her bed. Kagome waked her with her pillow.

“Hello, Inuyasha.” Mrs. Higurashi said pleasantly when she saw Inuyasha come up the steps of the shrine.

Inuyasha blushed. “Hi, Mrs. Higurashi. Did you just come back from shopping?” He said, gesturing to the bags in her hands.

“Oh I was planning on making some steak again today. Would you like to join us?”

“That's okay, I'm pretty well fed, here let me help you with those.”

“Oh that's okay, oh dear.” Mrs Higurashi said as Inuyasha didn't listen to her and took half her bags. “Well if you insist, thank you. I'm guessing you're here to see Kagome?”

“Yeah, is she okay?”

“She's fine. You did hear what happened at school right?”

“Yeah, it's a good thing I went home early.” Inuyasha said. He walked with Mrs. Higurashi into the house, took off his shoes and helped her unload her groceries in the kitchen. “I really wouldn't mind if you stayed over though, I always make more steak then the four of us could eat.”

Inuyasha smiled, realizing that there's no way to refuse her. “If I stay that long, I promise to join you.” He said.

“That's great. Kagome's probably in her room. I'll let you get to her, I can take care of the rest myself.”

Inuyasha nodded and left the kitchen before he blushed again. If there was one woman in the whole world who made him more nervous then Kagome, it would have to be her mother. He walked up the stairs to Kagome's room. Before he could knock on the door he heard her brother's voice. “I hope I haven't lost my game. It's been so long since I played soccer and my cast is going to come off soon.”

“Oh, that's cheating! That's a foul, why didn't you get a red card!” He heard Kagome yell.

“It's a videogame Kagome, not the world cup. Hey, you said Inuyasha used to play soccer right?”

“That's what his friend told me.”

“I wonder why he quit, he looked like he was pretty good that one time we played.”

“I don't know, maybe he got tired of it. Goal!”

Inuyasha smiled. Without knocking he opened the door and came in. “For the record, I've never gotten tired of soccer, I'm just too lazy to play now.”

Kagome jumped from her place on the floor and turned around to glare at him. “Inuyasha! You scared the bejeezus out of me!”

Behind her, Souta's players kicked the ball into Kagome's goal and he turned to look at Inuyasha and say, “Hey thanks for coming in, you distracted her long enough for me to win.”

Kagome turned and stuck her tongue out at Souta. “That's cheating you know.”

“It's not my fault you weren't paying attention.”

Kagome rolled her eyes. “Just you wait, I'll beat you in the real deal.”

Souta grinned. He turned off the videogame and picked up his controllers. “I'm looking forward to it. Hey, Inuyasha, play with me later?”

Inuyasha blinked. “Yeah sure. You're going?”

“Yeah, well I don't want to be here while you two get all mushy.” Souta left the room, smiled at the glare he was receiving from Kagome. Once he was gone, Inuyasha turned to her and said, “You okay?”

“I'm fine, he's just annoying.” Kagome replied.

He shook his head. “That's not what I mean.”

Kagome's mood sobered. “You mean about yesterday? I wasn't hurt, I'm just a little weirded out.”

Inuyasha turned to face her desk, fiddling with her pencil holder. “They didn't say just what happened yesterday huh?”

“Nope, no word from the school.”

“And Sango?”

“She's fine.”

“That's good.”

He saw Kagome look at him from the corner of his eye. She had a frown on her face. “So, are you going to tell me why you're so worried?”

Inuyasha clicked his teeth, “What, I shouldn't be worried about my girlfriend and her best friend?”

“That's not what I mean. I don't know, it's just that I have a feeling you've got more to say then you're letting on.”

Inuyasha signed, “Look, Kagome-”

“Oh Inuyasha!” Mrs. Higurashi's voice was heard from the hallway. “There's someone who's here to see you.”

Inuyasha frowned. Here? “Okaaay.” He said as he reached for the doorknob. Kagome must have also been surprised because she said, “Maybe it's Satoshi or Miroku. But why would they be here?”

The two of them went down the stairs. Near the front door, Mrs. Higurashi was talking to a young man who was elegantly dressed in a suit. “Oh no, he comes by every so often. He's very welcome here. He's helped my son and daughter before.”

“I certainly hope that's the case. My brother can be a bit unreasonable most of the time.”

Inuyasha paused on the bottom step, narrowing his eyes. His blood went cold. Here? That bastard. Next to him he heard Kagome call his name but he didn't take his attention off the young man standing by the door. The young man looked at him apathetically, his brows raised. “There you are, he said.”

Inuyasha walked toward the door. “Sorry, Mrs. Higurashi,” he said as he put on his shoes and went outside, “I guess I can't stay for dinner.”

“Oh, don't worry, I'll save you a piece.” She said kindly, but Inuyasha could see the worry and question in her eyes. She wanted to know who this man was. Behind her, Kagome looked from him to the young man next to him nervously. “Inuyasha, who is this?”

Inuyasha sighed. He looked at the other man, narrowing his eyes. Long silver hair that extended down to his back, golden eyes, he looked like his father, and Inuyasha hated that bastard. “This is Sesshoumaru, my older half brother.”

“Oh!” Mrs. Higurashi said. “It's very nice to meet you! I've never met anyone from Inuyasha's family before.”

Sesshoumaru spared her a glance. “The pleasure's all mine.” He said unemotionlessly.

“Why the hell are you here?” Inuyashas said suddenly. “Who told you I was here?”

Sesshoumaru sighed. “Father asked me to find you and pick you up. You've been missing from home for a while, so he asked me to fetch you. You're friend Satoshi mentioned this place so I came here.”

Inuyasha growled. “The old man? What does he want?”

“For you to come home. And he won't take no for an answer this time. I was told to come and find you, and drag you home is I have to.”

There, DONE! I finally found time after finals to finish this. I hope this will tide you over until I can come up with the next update, enjoy.