InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Divine Interventions ❯ A Start ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15 A Start

Kagome looked up at him, blinking. “Inuyasha? Where are we? Why am I lying in your lap?”

His cheeks reddened at her frank question. “Kagome, we're back. We're in Kaede's hut. Like I told you, you had a bad dream, you stood up and fainted.”

“Ohh,” she said, still trying to knock her vision clear. There was a slight buzzing in her ears, and she felt like she had a headache coming, but was otherwise fine. She tried to orient herself. “Inuyasha, can I sit up now?”

He nodded and helped her sit.

“I don't remember,” she said simply.

“the dream?”

“No. I don't remember coming here with you, the trip through the well, falling asleep here, any of it.” she looked concerned. Her large, lovely eyes met his, searching for an answer “Inuyahsa, what happened to me?”

He didn't want to lie to her, but he didn't know what he should say. It was obvious she was confused, her brain still rattled from the sleeping spell. He was so relieved to see her seeming to be herself again, he didn't want to say anything that might upset her now.

He put his arms around her and hugged her. “Kagome,” he told her softly. “It's okay. Don't worry about not remembering right now. I brought you back with me, and you're safe.”

She pulled back slightly to look at him again. She smiled, but then furrowed her brows in a frown. She opened her mouth to start to speak again.

Inuyasha saw her frown in concern and wanted it to stop.

“Ssh! I told you, don't worry. You're with me, okay?

Without thinking about it, without remembering he had an audience, Inuyasha quickly kissed her surprised mouth and held her chin up in his hand. “You're with me now,” he said, smiling at her.

Kagome's eyes grew huge as she looked at him, more surprised and confused now by his actions than by her own memory lapse.

“God! What's going on here? Inuyasha just KISSED me! Oh my God, he did! He kissed me and he's smiling too!” Now she was definitely confused.

“Inuyasha, are you okay?” she asked, determined not to let her mind wander back to the kiss.

“AAGH-HA-HUM!” Miroku coughed loudly into his hand, trying unsuccessfully to cover his huge, insuppressible grin.

Kagome looked up and saw him, and gasped. She quickly stood and said “Miroku! It's so good to see you!” With a happy smile, she walked over to him.

Inuyasha sat cross-legged on the ground, his face the color of his temper, a very hot red. “Uugh! I forgot about HIM. I'm going to have to kill that damn monk for this!”

“Lady Kagome, it's good to see you too,” he said smiling. “It's very, VERY good. I must say you've grown up since I saw you last, you're figure is-so womanly. If you would care to-“

“Miroku, don't finish that thought!” Kagome said, turning red.

“Or you die!” He was hit from behind with Sango's boomerang, and passed out once more.

Kagome looked up from Miroku's dropped form to her friend.

“SANGO! I've missed you so much!” she said, rushing past Miroku.

The two women embraced. “I've missed you too Kagome!” Sango said smiling warmly at her and holding both her hands. She quickly noticed the changes in Kagome's appearance, and realized it was just as Inuyasha had said. After only a month apart, Kagome was probably her own age now, and, she noted with a twinge of jealousy as she took in her delicate face, silken fall of hair, and petite, curving figure, even more beautiful than she was before. She looked down at Miroku and said in a rather apologetic tone, “I guess I can't blame him too much for what he was thinking just now. You've grown into a beautiful woman.”

Kagome blushed and smiled. “Thank you Sango. You look as lovely as ever, and I see your aim is still sharp!”

The both laughed. “Yes, I get lots of daily practice with that letch around!”

Both women laughed again. Inuyasha, had been standing back, watching Kagome become reacquainted with her friends. He was glad Sango showed up when he did. Miroku was about to suffer much worse pain than a little bump on the head. He gave a small smile. Kagome seemed to be completely recovered from the sleeping spell and nightmare, and she looked truly happy to be back with her friends. But, best of all, he had made his intentions clear to her. He had kissed her again, and this time she was awake for it. It would have been better, of course, if Miroku had not been there leering, but he dismissed that. His cracked rib was beginning to hurt, and he leaned against the wall.

“She may not be free of Michael yet,” he reminded himself, remembering how he got hurt. “But she will be.”

Inuyasha walked over to the women just as Kagome was asking Sango a question:

“Where are Kaede and Shippo? I really can't wait to see them!” she said smiling excitedly. “I want to give Shippo some treats I brought back. Inuyasha, do you know where my bags are?” she asked looking around.

Inuyasha and Sango exchanged looks of alarm. Kagome didn't know what had happened while she was sleeping. She had no idea what she had done.

“Uh, Kagome,” Inuyasha began. “We need to talk first. Sango, can you give us a minute?”

She smiled tensely and nodded. “I'll just drag him outside to sleep it off,” she said, grabbing Miroku forcibly by the legs and pulling his unconscious form backward out the door.

Kagome looked at Inuyasha, confused again.

“Kagome, come sit with me,” he said.

He was definitely acting strange. Something was wrong, and from the way he was acting, “even that kiss” it had to be really bad.

She followed him to the small table and sat down. She noticed that he lowered himself slowly, closing his eyes as he moved.

“Inuyasha are you all right?” she asked, her voice going up in concern.

“Yes, yes. I'm fine, he said, sitting down and letting out a painful breath. He was hurting, and needed rest, but that could wait. “Kagome,” he began. “What's the last thing you remember?”

She wrinkled her brow and thought hard. “The last thing I remember. . . .I was with Michael, I was crying, angry. Why was I angry?” Her face was tense as she strained to remember.

He almost answered for her, but before he did, she spoke “My birthday gift. He gave me, he, he, OH- DAMN HIM!” she flared, looking down at her neck. She remembered.

She looked and held the charm up on its chain. She looked at the silver angel, its fluid design, the steadily-glowing, round, blue stone set in the middle of its cross-like form. She looked up at Inuyasha, hot, angry tears in her eyes. “I can't believe he did this to me,” she said in a hurt voice so low it was almost a whisper.

Inuyasha felt terrible for her. Michael had done this to her against her will. She was bound to him, and there was nothing she could do about it, not even with 500 years of separation.

“Kagome, he began again, gently. “What do you remember after that, after he gave you the necklace?”

She frowned deeply again, frustrated tears gathering in her eyes. “I can't remember anything!” she said, feeling a growing sense of panic. “I don't even remember coming here with you!”

It was just as Michael had said. “Except he left out the little part about nightmares with invisible creatures attacking her,” he thought bitterly. All she remembered was being put under the binding spell and her anger, nothing else. Inuyasha let out another painful breath in relief.

He filled in for her what happened after that, leaving out parts and filling the holes creatively. He didn't tell her about Michael confessing his love to her and then making her fall asleep. He told her instead that she was angry with him and that she went into her room.

She remembered that part. So far, so good. He told her that she changed clothes and fell asleep on her bed. After ordering Inuyasha not to leave until Kagome woke up, Michael left the apartment.

She was listening intently, accepting everything he told her as true. Inuyasha had picked her up and carried her through the well while she slept. He had brought here to, to Kaede's hut. “Well, that much is true,” he thought.

When she asked about her bags, he told her he brought them too, they were just outside. Kagome looked at him in gratitude and said, “Thank you Inuyasha. Thank you for taking care of me and bring me and my things. She laughed, remembering how grouchy he had been about the size of her bag. “I guess you really are a prince charming deep-down after all,” she said, teasing a little.

“Bah!” he said, blushing and looking away from her.

Kagome was thinking about everything he had told her. It all made sense, but she was still confused.

“Inuyasha,” she asked looking out the window, “You wanted to leave early in the morning. I remember waking up, doing training exercises with Michael on the roof, eating breakfast. Chloe came back and said she wanted to talk with you. . . . you went with her for a walk while I called my mom. . .”

Inuyasha looked up at her, his heart racing. How much more would she remember?

“That's right, he said.

Something happened to Chloe. . . .” she said, suddenly frowning. “Michael carried her in--she fainted-- while she was with you!”

“Yes,” he said, looking down. “I don't know what happened. We were coming back to the apartment and she just collapsed. I would have carried her myself, but Michael wanted to and since I don't really know her-“

Kagome nodded in understanding. “Okay, all that makes sense, but there's still something I don't understand--If you brought me back here this morning, why is it dark now? Inuyasha, how long was I asleep?”

Slowly, he told her about long sleep. He didn't want to tell her, he wanted to protect her and not worry her, but he knew this couldn't be kept from her. If there was something attacking her in her sleep, she needed to know. First, he told her about the presence Miroku sensed around her. He explained that they thought it this that was force that kept her sleeping for so long. She visibly paled when he told her this and looked so frightened, he wanted to stop. She heard the pause in his voice and knew there was more:

“Tell me the rest of it, Inuyasha,” she said looking at him seriously. He told her about how Michael's protection spell had worked when he had tried to wake her.

The look of realization and horror on her face was almost too much for him to bear.

“Inuyasha, what did I do to you?! God, you're hurt aren't you? You've been hurt all this time!” Tears glittered in her eyes. “Oh, Inuyasha, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to-I mean, I'm just so sorry.”

He tried to comfort her and tell her that he was really okay, it was just a broken rib. When she saw the damaged wall by the front door, she looked shocked all over again. “I did this to you?” she whispered, “I did this.” fresh tears forming in her eyes.

“Kagome, you didn't do anything,” he said earnestly. “You were asleep. You didn't know what you were doing. It was that damn binding spell and Michael's protection charm. He's responsible for it, not you.”

She surprised him by quickly standing over him. “Inuyahsa, show me. Take off your coat and shirt, now.”

“What?! No way! I'm not doing that!”

“I want to see how bad it is. I need to see.”

“No you don't!” he said, embarrassment flaring. “I'm half-demon, remember? It's no big deal, I heal quick. Hell, it'll be fine by tomorrow.”

“Inuyasha,” she said, suddenly sounding very authoritative. “Broken ribs, even demon ribs, shouldn't be taken lightly. If not set the bones may not heal back in place properly, and if there's inflammation around the site, there's danger of a bacterial infection. Really, Inuyasha, I need to see.”

“Hmph!” he huffed, “forget about it, wench. I told you, I'm fine.”

She wasn't about to forget, but then he said something that distracted her.

“If you want to go poking around checking on someone, you should go look at Shippo. When he was thrown back, he landed on me and-“

She looked at him, her face a mask of freshly dawning horror. “Shippo! I hurt Shippo! Oh God, Inuyasha! Why didn't you tell me sooner!”

She turned from him and ran out the door, leaving Inuyasha sitting alone at the table with only his thoughts.

“Well, so much for all her concern for you. . . .Oh, just shut-up already.”

Kagome ran outside and was greeted by Kaede, Sango and Miroku, who were all seated around a fire pit enjoying a stew. Kaede gave her a quick hug, and seeing how upset the young woman was, explained to her that Shippo's injuries were not serious, thanks to Inuyasha receiving the brunt of the hit when Shippo went airborne.

Still stricken, Kagome asked where the young fox demon was.

“After I attended to his arm and forehead, he ran away. Just give him time, child, he'll come back when he's ready.”

“No,” she replied. “I can't do that!”

She went over to her large duffle-bag and unzipped a small side compartment. Pulling out a flashlight and turning it on, she ran toward the woods, looking for him.

Inuyasha was sore and tired. So much had happened, and now this. “Well, at least you know that charm works,” he thought. Maybe there would be some good in it after all. If it worked as well as it seemed to tonight, Kagome was well-protected from demon-attacks.

He sucked in a painful breath as he had a frightening realization: “What if she's attacked in her sleep or when she's not expecting it? She has to be frightened or upset for that thing to work, right? I'll just have to make damn she doesn't get caught unaware.”

This is what he was thinking as he walked from the hut. He was met by Miroku, who was coming to get him. Kagome had left by herself, going into the woods to search for Shippo.

“Damn it!” Inuyasha cursed. He was too sore to jump up and fly through the trees. He took off on foot, running after her as fast as he could.

“Shippo!” she called, “Shippo, please! It's me, Kagome. Shippo, please come out and talk to me! Shippo I'm sorry! Please, please come out!”

Kagome called his name over and over, shining the light ahead of her and to the sides through the trees. She knew that if the kitsune didn't want her to find him, she never would. He could even be hiding right in front of her, transformed as a tree or rock.

Finally, realizing that searching for him like this was futile, she turned off the light and stood in the darkness, speaking in a low voice now:

“Shippo. I don't know if you can hear me. If you can, then please just listen. I am really, really sorry honey. I love you Shippo. I love you and I've missed you terribly. I never want to hurt you.

I'm under a spell that was put on me without my knowledge by my protector in my time. It's designed to create a barrier between me and demons if I feel threatened or upset. When the force of the spell hit you, I was asleep.

I know I looked like I was awake, Inuyasha told me my eyes were open and I was sitting up, but I didn't know what I was doing. If I could have stopped it from happening, I would have. I would never want to hurt you or Inuyasha, ever. Shippo, I promise you, I promise-“

“You promise what Kagome?” Said a small voice suddenly appearing beside her legs.

“Oh Shippo!” she said, kneeling down to see him better in the darkness and meet his gaze. “I've missed you so much. I thought of you every day for the past two years and I was so sad! I never thought I'd get to see you again. I thought about you growing up and what you would be like. I know your hurt and it's my fault. Please don't hate me, Shippo. I don't think I could bear that.”

“Kagome,” I don't hate you, the demon child said. “I love you. I love you, and I missed you too.”

With that, Kagome cried “Oh Shippo!” and she reached out and scooped the little fur-ball of a child up in her arms. She hugged him carefully and he hugged her back. “How bad are your injuries?” she asked.

“Aw, I'm okay. Kaede cleaned me up and stuff. I'm tough, you know! Plus I landed on Inuyasha when I went flying. It's actually kind-of funny, thinking about it.. . .”

It was at that moment that Kagome and Shippo heard a loud, unmistakable “swishing” sound behind them, the sound of Tetsiga, slicing through the air.

Kagome stepped back, instinctively placing Shippo behind her. She turned on her flashlight and shone them directly in Inuyasha's glowing, orange eyes.

“Damn wench! Put that thing away! You're blinding me!” Inuyasha was breathing in hard, raspy breaths and leaning on Tetsiga.

Behind him, only about five feet from where Kagome and Shippo stood, the steaming remains of what looked like a giant cockroach demon were strewn. Kagome shone the light along the demon remains, her heart racing. Inuyasha had definitely killed it in one swipe. The cockroach was not enhanced with a jewel shard. She would have felt it coming if it had been. Still, the thing was huge, it's carapace fully eight-feet long and the antennas on its severed head almost as long. That thing, she realized, had been creeping stealthily toward her and Shippo. It hadn't made a sound, they were totally unaware of the danger.

She shined the flashlight back on Inuyasha again. “Hey!” he complained. “I told you to stop that!”

“Inuyasha,” she said, walking over to him. “Thank you. You just saved us both.” As he leaned on his sword, the young woman hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

He was surprised, and he liked the reward of the kiss. These little kisses were something that she never did when she was younger. A little older and bolder about expressing her feelings, Kagome was more outgoing in a way that Inuyasha definitely liked.

“Yeah, thanks jerk!” Shippo said, and, imitating Kagome, jumped from her arms to give him a kiss on the cheek as well.

“Aargh! I didn't say you could kiss me, brat!” the startled hanyou roared at the child.

“You didn't say she could do it either, but you didn't seem to mind,” Shippo said in a mock-hurt voice.

Kagome giggled.

“Next time you're roach bait, fox!” Inuyasha snarled.

“Shippo, don't tease him. He did just save us after all. We should all get back to Kaede's. I'm starting to get the creeps here.”

The thought of a cockroach, even a tiny one, made Kagome shudder. This giant one was a B minus movie nightmare come true.

Inuyasha nodded. He wanted to go back too. The only trouble was he was having difficulty breathing and walking without being in pain. Kagome noticed that he was sill leaning on his sword and not making any sudden movements.

“Inuyasha. It hurts, doesn't it?”

“I'll be fine,” he grunted. To Kagome, the answer was as clear as a “yes.”

“Here, let me help you get back to Kaede's. I want you to lean on me.

Shippo, can help to carry Tetsiga with your injuries?” she asked.

He quickly said “yes,” excited to be allowed to help.

“No way! I don't need any help walking, and Shippo's not going NEAR my sword.”

“Inuyasha, you're not really in any shape to argue. Now, if you want to get back to Kaede's before morning, I suggest you let us help you.” She tried to sound as reasonable as possible.

“Hmph!” he grunted. “I was fine enough to come out here and save your sorry asses, wasn't I?”

Kagome was annoyed at this last comment. So much for being reasonable. She remembered how a rude comment like this in the past would have earned him a fast “sit.” She wondered briefly if he still had his rosary, what she would do now, but since she didn't have it, she decided to improvise:

“Yes, Inuyasha, you did,” she said smiling up at him in a soft, cooing voice, “and our sorry asses are very grateful to you. Now, will you please allow us to express our gratitude for saving our lives by letting us assist you?”

He looked at her skeptically and suppressed his own smile. Oh, she was really adorable when she was trying to play him. So adorable, in fact, it was starting to work.

“Fine,” he said. “If it makes you feel better. But I'm only doing it for you, not because I need your help.”

“Yes, Inuyasha, we understand,” Kagome said smiling. She gave him another quick kiss on the cheek. Only the darkness of the night hid his blush and obvious pleasure.

“I think I'm kind of glad he doesn't have the rosary now. . . this way of controlling him promises much more fun!” Kagome thought, smiling at how cute she thought he was when he was grumbling. She was still worried about his injuries and was glad to be getting back to camp without any more delays.

They made their way back with Inuyasha leaning heavily on Kagome for support. Shippo was walking in front, struggling under the weight of the sword, but managing nonetheless.

Inuyasha only growled at him once, when he tried to drag it along the ground. Shippo thought about saying something about how when it wasn't transformed it was just an old, beat-up sword anyway, so this couldn't hurt it any, but in the hanyou's present state, decided not to press his luck.

As they walked back in relative silence, Inuyasha reflected: “I was right. The spell doesn't protect her if she's not aware of a danger. Her emotions trigger it. If that cockroach had attacked her before she even had a chance to think. . . . “ He didn't want to think about that. Michael's protection wasn't enough to keep her safe. She still needed him. He was going to protect her, no matter what.

They reached camp as Miroku, Sango and Kaede were drinking tea. Miroku and Sango had attempted to repair Kaede's wall, nailing boards back together and covering the gaps in the wall with blankets for the night. Inuyasha was hurting, and so not really listening to their conversation as they approached, but the way the three humans stopped talking when they returned told Inuyasha that the current topic of discussion was “the kiss.” He was going to have to have a serious talk with the monk about keeping his big mouth shut.

Kagome filled the three in on what had just happened with the cockroach demon, and gave Inuyasha plenty of hero credit for saving them and while she was talking, Kaede brought them each over a bowl of stew. Inuyasha took his, but Kagome politely declined, explaining that meat wasn't in her diet anymore.

“You don't eat any meat at all, child?” Kaede asked concerned.

“No. I'm a vegetarian. Only fruits and vegetables.”

“But, Sango said, “You can't possibly survive that way, you'll grow weak. You need meat to sustain you.”

Inuyasha was also alarmed. “What did she eat, grass and leaves?” Kagome tried to explain the basics of nutrition to her friends; how fats, carbohydrates, and proteins were all needed for optimum health in the correct balance and that all were present in plants if you ate them in the right combination. They looked at her as if she had started howling at the moon.

“I know it must seem strange, but I've been a vegetarian for almost two years now. I'm on a special diet now too, one that Michael makes me stick to religiously, so I really don't ever eat anything but my own food.”

At the mention of Michael's name there was an awkward silence.

Kagome excused herself and said she needed to get her meal out of her bag, which was now inside Kaede's hut.

As soon as she left, Inuyasha turned to the group and said “None of you idiots say a word to her about Michael placing her under a sleeping spell!”

If any of them questioned his command, no one dared voice it. Although it was clear to all of them that Inuyasha didn't like Michael, it was also clear that Inuyasha had his reasons for not wanting Kagome to know what he did to her.

Miroku and Sango both strongly suspected that the kiss in the hut meant that Inuyasha was finally starting to admit his true feelings for Kagome, and that this had something to do with his insistence.

Kagome emerged from the hut holding a small rectangular package. Four sets of eyes looked at her, mystified. She sat down, seemingly oblivious, and opened the plastic wrapper. She was looking forward to this meal, a chocolate-raspberry flavored high-protein energy bar. She bit into her bar, a look of pure pleasure on her face as she chewed.

Her friends just stared at her, incredulously. Kagome still didn't seem to notice, and asked Sango for a cup of tea.

“Lady Kagome, “Miroku asked. “Is that all you will eat?”

“For tonight, yes,” she said. “But I try to eat a piece of fruit twice a day, and take vitamins.”

He stared at her, and she realized he had no idea of what she meant.

“Hey you guys!” Kagome said, “Don't worry about it okay? What I eat is really healthy and delicious.”

“Kagome, can I try some of your dinner?” Shippo asked.

Inuyasha was extremely annoyed, seeing how tiny the “meal” was anyway. He didn't want Shippo eating any of what little food she was willing to consume, but before he could voice this, she said,

“Sure Shippo!” She broke him off a piece of the bar and handed it to him.

He put it in his mouth excitedly, and, his eyes huge with shock, he spit it out, gagging.

“Kagome! That's not the chocolate you used to bring me!” He said. “This stuff's AWFUL!”

Kagome laughed, “No, it's not as good as a chocolate bar, I suppose, but I did bring back plenty of those too. Would you like one now?”

He stopped spitting in the grass and jumped up into her lap, eyes shining. “Yes, yes, yes! Please Kagome!”

“All right,” She laughed, “I have some small gifts for everyone. I'll just go them now.”

Kagome went back inside to bring the items she had packed for her friends out of the duffle bag. Digging through the bag, she frowned. She hadn't had much time to choose gifts, and, since she didn't do any shopping, these were all things of hers, She hoped her friends wouldn't mind the “used” gifts. At home, the thought of leaving these small things here with them had felt right, but now, it just didn't seem like enough.

She had left in such a bad way last time, she shook her head remembering. She never thought she would get a second chance to make things right, but Inuyasha had given that to her, all of them did. Now she wanted to live up to that chance and do everything she could to bring their quest to a successful ending, including, when the time came for it, proper goodbyes. But she didn't want to save these things for later. Once they started shard hunting again, anything could happen.

Best to do this now, to make sure it gets done. She found everything she was looking for and re- joined her friends.

To Shippo she gave two candy bars and promised him more later. She also gave him an artist's kit in a wooden box. She had gotten it for Christmas from Sota a couple of years ago, but never had the time to use it. The box had paper, markers, oil paints, pastes, a pencil sharpener and colored pencils of every color. He was absolutely delighted, and gave her a giant hug, then ran off to “create” and eat chocolate.

For Kaede, she brought a recent paper-back book on herbal healing. It was in Japanese, with pictures of all the plants, their common and scientific names, and their suggested uses. There was also a separate section on illnesses and diagnoses. Kagome thought that even if the names had changed, most of the plants found in modern Japan were found here. She was sure Kaede knew more than this book, but thought it still might interest her. She also brought seeds from her trip to America--mint, chamomile, sage, Echinacea, osha, rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro, and others. She didn't know if they would all grow in Japan's climate, but she thought there was a good chance that some might.

Kaede thought some of the seeds resembled those of plants that grew nearby. Others baffled and intrigued her as Kagome explained their medicinal and seasoning uses.

“You have learned much in your time about healing since you last left, child.”

Kagome hugged her and thanked her for the compliment. Then Kaede excused herself to go inside and rest.

Next she gave Sango a small bottle of perfume. Sango liked it, Miroku loved it, and Inuyasha complained that it was too strong and sneezed several times when Sango waved it under his nose. She also gave her the bracelet she had purchased at the Medieval Fair in Austin last year with Paul. She had been instantly attracted to the leather cord bracelet with the striking brushed-silver slide charm. The woman at the booth told her the charm was Teiwaz, the Celtic Ruin symbol for The Warrior.

Sango was touched deeply by Kagome's generosity and gave her a warm, sisterly hug. As Kagome was being hugged, she suddenly found her self moved to tears. Her eyes shed just a couple of tears.

Sango looked at her friend, knowingly. Kagome was sentimental and often cried when she was happy. But suddenly, something changed. She began crying heavier, weeping and quickly found herself desperately trying to force it down.

Kagome was unprepared for the sudden break in the wall of her mind's fortress. She thought she was steeled against her loss and grief, her fears. But all the changes of the last few months, the last forty-eight hours, were beginning to catch up to her.

Sango looked at her in alarm and patted her gently.

“Kagome, what is it? What's wrong?” Sango asked.

Kagome knew she was on the verge of letting it all go, that she was worrying her friends, making a scene. The way her friends were looking at her made her envision white uniformed orderlies and soft padded walls.

To her horror, a deranged laughter now reached her ears, and she realized it was coming from her own mouth. “Stop this, Stop it right now!”

Kagome stepped back, and bent over placing her hands on her knees while she took several deep, steadying breaths.

“Lady Kagome?” Miroku began.

Kagome looked up, pale and abashed. “I'm sorry everyone. I'm okay. I guess I'm just a little tired, even after sleeping a day away,” she forced herself to smile as she wiped the tears away. She wanted to reassure them with a laugh, but didn't dare attempt it, not now when an evil flood of it might come pouring out of her.

Her friends, however, were not smiling. All three looked at her with deep concern.

“Okay, Now they ARE all looking at you like your crazy! You caused this, now fix it!” Kagome told herself.

“Was it the earlier nightmare that upset you?” Sango asked.

Kagome nodded, trying to brush it off. “Yes, that's what it was--the earlier nightmare.”

“. . . the nightmare that happened a few months earlier . . . .” Kagome shivered at the unwanted memories, that try as she might, refused to be forgotten. She thought she had pushed those memories down, she had dealt with it and was so happy to be living a productive life again, accomplishing things.

“Why is it all coming back so strongly now?”

Inuyasha, had been uncharacteristically quiet, watching her with unblinking eyes that seemed to see her very thoughts.

Now he spoke: “What really happened?”

Kagome was taken aback by his abrupt directness. “Does he know? No, there's no way, so just calm down. You don't have to talk about it.”

“When? What do you mean?” she said, trying to keep her voice even.

“In the dream Kagome. What happened in the dream?” His large, orange eyes were assessing her, probing for answers.

Truthfully, she didn't remember. The dream had nothing to do with why she was crying, but what could she say now? It always bothered Inuyasha when she cried, and she had expected him to demand to know what was wrong earlier.

“How can I make him stop asking me about it?”

“Inuyasha, I don't want to talk about it just yet. I'm not sure how much I remember. We can talk about it later, okay?”

Kagome didn't know it, but her heart-rate had sped up again, and the undeniable scent of fear that Inuyasha had begun thinking of as her “lying smell” was back.

“Sure, Kagome. Later is fine.”

She gave a tense smile and let out a shallow breath, stunned by her good fortune. Inuyasha wasn't going to press, and she wouldn't have to fight him after all.

Inuyasha wasn't letting go of anything. He was just getting better at hiding his feelings around this more complex version of her. He closed his eyes as he reflected on his own feelings.

“I know you better than you think Kagome. Why have you changed in this way? You were always so honest, so open before. I hate it that you're keeping things from me when you're hurting. I won't make you tell me what it is, but I know you're upset about something and I AM going to find out what else you're keeping from me.”

He was getting angry, and he remembered something he had heard Sota say once, chasing his sister: “Liar, liar, pants on fire, Kagome.”

“Hey!” she said, forcing a smile. “If I promise no more water works can we PLEASE get back to having a little fun? I still have presents to give out!”

Her brightness was convincing, at least to Sango and Miroku, who both smiled in relief, and agreed to drop it.

She handed Miroku, a purple silk box with a white-embroidered pagoda design on the lid.

“This belonged to my grandfather, Miroku. He died a few months ago, and he left this to me.”

“I'm sorry for your loss, Lady Kagome,” Miroku said with true sympathy.

Inuyasha was stunned to hear of Kagome's grandfather's passing. This must be one of the things that had happened in her life to change her. He found himself saddened to hear that the old man who had given him so much trouble was actually gone. He smiled at the memory of Kagome's crazy grandfather trying to banish him and seal the well.

“This was one of his most-treasured possessions.” she said, and found herself shaking her head and laughing a little “I'm laughing only because he knew I never really believed in this stuff, but he left it to me anyway. He was so stubborn! I know he would be happy that it was being given to someone who might appreciate it.”

She handed the box to Miroku who nodded in thanks. He opened the lid and gasped. Inside was a glass amulet shaped like a six-pointed star. The glass was milky-white in the center and translucent on the star's tapering points. “Lady Kagome,” he said, “This is indeed a powerful charm for banishing evil. It has grown in power with the time that has passed since it was created. I think in your time this would be very old-- I have only seen something like this once before. Are you sure about giving this away? This is a very valuable object for collectors of such things, not to mention the fact that it is truly a powerful instrument in fighting evil.”

Kagome smiled at him. “Good, she said, then it's been placed in the right hands.”

Inuyasha watched this and remembered back to earlier in the evening, when Miroku helped Kagome wake up by chanting a prayer. “Maybe I haven't given the monk enough credit, maybe he isn't a complete charlatan.” he thought.

Just as he thought this, he saw Miroku place his gift on the bench to give Kagome a hug:

Kagome and Miroku embraced, Miroku's hand slid down her back, and, before he knew what was happening, he was flying over Kagome's back, and landing hard in the dirt. He was having trouble breathing, something was crushing his throat. . . . He opened his eyes, expecting to see Inuyasha's claws around his neck, but instead saw that the weight was Kagome's boot.

She stood over him, hands on her hips, and one foot pressing firmly into his exposed skin. “I told you it was great to see you again, Miroku, NOT to be felt up by you.” she said looking down at him with a calm, dangerous grin.

She released him just as Sango hit him with the boomerang, again knocking him out. As she moved away from his prone form, Kagome told Sango they needed to talk about new ways to punish Miroku--she didn't think he could take many more blows to the head without serious brain damage.

Inuyasha and Sango stared at her in amazement.

“Where the hell did you learn how to do that?” Inuyasha demanded.

“I told you, Michael's been working with me, mostly on defensive moves,” she said.

“Will you show me?” Sango asked. Both women laughed.

Inuyasha shook his head. He hated that Kagome was with Michael, but he had to admit, she had gained some serious new skills.

“Inuyasha,” she said turning to him, “I have something for you too, and before you ask, no, it's not more ramen!”

“Oh Kagome,” he said, more than a little surprised that she had thought of him. “You gave me a gift just now, watching you deal with Miroku like that!” he shook his head again.

She walked up to him smiling and held a slender and long black velvet pouch in her hand. “This is for you.”

He looked at her quizzically. “Kagome, I can come with you to your time, I don't need anything.”

“I know you don't need anything,” she said, “but I want to give you this, okay?”

He opened it and held a silver flute, etched with engravings of mountains and trees.

It was beautiful, but Inuyasha didn't understand what it was.

“It's a flute Inuyasha. It's the first instrument I learned how to play. It takes practice, but it makes amazingly sweet, beautiful music. I don't know if you'll ever want to try it, but I have a feeling that if you do, you'd get the hang of it quickly.”

He looked at her, unsure of what to say. Why was she giving him this?

To fill the silence, she continued to speak: “My father gave this to me when I was a young girl,” she said shyly, but still looking him in the eyes. I want you to have it because I want to give you something to remember me by someday.”

He was stunned. No one besides his mother had ever given him a gift. Before him stood the woman who also found and gave him the gift his father bequeathed him, Tetsiga. As he stood looking at her, he realized with dismay that over the years she had given him so many, many gifts. . . .There were so many small things she did for him, things that he had never told her he noticed. Now she was giving him this, something her father gave her, something precious to her. This was unfathomable; he couldn't even think of what to say in the face of such startling kindness.

His heart was beating so hard in his chest he thought the others could hear it. His throat was dry. What could he say to this woman that could ever be enough?

She was looking at him, watching his face for some kind of reaction, hoping, praying he wouldn't laugh at her gift or say something dismissive. He looked away from her, and she interpreted his avoidance as a sign of his displeasure. She didn't want to cry now.

“Come on, Kagome, if he doesn't like it, so what? That's not the point of giving something, is it?” She lowered her eyes and started to turn to leave.

“Kagome,” he whispered, his voice horse, “Thank you.”

She gave a small smile and an inward sigh of relief. “You're welcome.” she said quietly.

After lingering a little while longer around the fire, and admiring Shippo's new self-portrait that he painted, the group decided to turn in. Kaede had a small side-hut for drying and storing herbs that they normally used as home-base for their treks. Inuyasha's rib was starting to give him a lot of pain again, and he knew he needed to rest so his body could mend. Kagome went inside and changed into a sleeping shirt that looked like a short pink dress and brushed her teeth with bottled water.

“It's always the little things like indoor plumbing and running water you miss,” she thought.

When she and Sango finished getting ready to sleep, the women and Miroku began spreading out their bedrolls. Inuyasha turned and began walking away, ready to leave them and get his rest too.

“Inuyasha, please, wait a minute!” Kagome called.

She followed him outside, where he stood waiting, trying not to favor his hurt side too much in front of her.

“Oh, I hope this works,” she thought.

“I want to ask you a special favor.”

He looked at her, waiting.

“I know you don't like to do it, but could you please spend one night here in the hut with me?”

He looked at her and blinked. “Did I hear her right?” he wondered, starting to blush.

“I'm only asking because of my earlier nightmare. I'm a little uncomfortable about going to sleep tonight. If you stayed with us, I know I'd feel safer.” Her violet eyes seemed impossibly wide as she looked up at him.

“Oh, that's what she meant.” He looked at her, trying to decide. She looked so delicate and vulnerable, and when she said she felt safer with him, he felt a warm rush of pleasure. Still, he didn't know if it was wise to sleep inside tonight. He could rest in the tree and still keep an eye out for potential dangers. This way, he wouldn't have that advantage. He wasn't planning on sleeping too much-he was still worried about Kagome's dream too. What Miroku said about a “dark force” causing the dream was ominous. He wanted to stand-guard over her. In the tree he could hear her if she started having a nightmare again, and he could keep watch too.

“Do you remember anything else from your nightmare?” he asked her.

She shook her head and he could tell she wasn't lying about this.

What had upset her earlier? What was it she was hiding this time? He wanted to know, and the thought that she was keeping things from him bothered him deeply.

He didn't want to confront her tonight, however, not after her gift. He couldn't bring himself to begin what he knew would likely end in a fight. His arm brushed against flute, tucked into his belt under his coat. He was still so moved by what she had done, by what she had given him.

“I'll stay on one condition,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“Tell me what you meant earlier, when you gave me the flute.”

She looked at him, puzzled. “What I meant by giving it to you?”

“Yes.”

She took in a deep breathe, closed her eyes. She stood quietly, thinking about the difference in what she wanted to say to him and what she knew she could.

“Inuyasha,” she answered after a moment. “Seeing you again yesterday changed my life. I didn't think I would ever see you again or ever be back here with you again. When I left before, I almost destroyed the well with my anger. I was so selfish then, all I could think about was me. I've had plenty of time to think back on it over the past two years, and it always made me feel so sad. I couldn't even tell you how sorry I was.

“Kagome,” he interrupted, “We've already spoken about this and you don't need to apologize anymore.”

“It was my fault. I'm the one who hurt you,” he thought.

“I know, and thank you for that, you've been unbelievably understanding about it, but I didn't give you the flute because I was sorry for leaving or to say thank you for finding me either. I want you to have it because when this quest is over, you'll have a life to live and I will too, so we will go separate ways. I guess giving you the flute was selfish of me.”

“Selfish?! How could you say you're selfish?” he asked, incredulous.

“I'm selfish because after the jewel is restored and Naraku is defeated, I want you to have something that if you ever look at will make you remember me,” she said blushing.

“I wanted to give all of you something to remember me by,” she added quickly. “It's easier to think about saying goodbye if I think you won't forget me.”

He was stunned by her reasoning. “Kagome, do you think I could forget you?”

“I hope you won't,” she answered honestly.

Her words echoed in his mind: “When this quest is over . . . . we will go separate ways.”

“But I don't want to remember you. I never want to have to. I want you with me always,” he thought.

He looked at her beautiful, earnest face and felt his heart constrict for her again. He removed the flute from his belt and handed it to her. Kagome was afraid he was returning the gift, that he didn't want it after all.

“Show me,” he said.

She looked at him, baffled by his meaning.

“Make music for me, Kagome.”

Her eyes grew huge. She didn't expect him to ask her this. “Inuyasha, it's been a long time and I never was very good at playing. . . .”

“I don't care if you're good. Just play.”

Obediently, Kagome took the flute from his hands and removed it from it's velvet pouch. It had been such a long time since she had done this, she cringed thinking how embarrassed she was going to be if it sounded terrible. She closed her eyes, and willed herself to remember.

She played the only tune she remembered the fingering for, the one her father had taught her. It was a lullaby she played for Sota when he was an infant. As she played, she heard the word in her mind:

Hush a bye, don't you cry, go to sleep, my little baby.

When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little ponies.

Blacks and bays, dapples and grays, running in the night,

Hush a bye, don't you cry, go to sleep, my little baby.

When she stopped, she saw Inuyasha was not looking at her, he was looking out, toward the woods.

She had no idea how much the melody had moved him, how beautiful it was. The music was peaceful, soothing, and somehow bittersweet. As she played, visions of running with his mother, laughing and chasing each other in the woods came back to him. He felt a rush of anguish, and turned away, not wanting Kagome to see him weak. “He hated it,” she thought with her head bowed in dread.

“Maybe it sounds terrible to his ears, God, maybe the sounds even hurt him!” She flushed with embarrassment as the fumbled to put the flute back in the velvet pouch. She held it out, tentatively, hoping he would still accept it.

“Inuyasha,” she asked, holding it out to him, “Will you please still keep it for me?”

Her voice and words returned him from his visions of past times. He fixed his intense amber eyes on hers and accepted the flute back, tucking it back safely into his belt. “Thank you Kagome. That was-very beautiful,” he said with painful honesty.

She was blushing again, this time with happiness.

“Sure. Are you ready to go in?”

“Not yet,” he said as he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. She was shocked by his sudden show of affection, but she happily accepted it, putting her arms around him, and returning the hug. Again his senses were enveloped, soothed with her warmth and her scent.

He heard her heart beating steady and gently against him. His own heartbeat roared through his ears, propelled by a rushing tide of emotion. He knew she thought his hug was a gesture of their friendship, a reassurance for her insecurity, a thank you for the music.

“Stupid woman,” he whispered down playfully in her ear as he held her. He felt her respond with gentle laughter. He was glad she wasn't annoyed. For once she seemed to understand him, but the feel of her breath on his chest, even through his shirt, sent a rush of heat through his veins that left him weak.

“I don't need anything to make me remember you,” he whispered hoarsely. She looked up at him, smiling, and for the second time in one day, Inuyasha kissed her.

It was quick and sweet, and this time, there was no one around to interrupt. Just as the roaring in his head demanded that he kiss her again, deeply, Kagome pulled away.

She tried to suppress her desire to kiss him back and her feelings of amazement. “He's your friend, nothing more, so snap out of it! It's not like you haven't been kissed before. This is just his way of showing you he cares about you, as a friend. Don't read more in. Don't look for more, Don't you DARE even hope for more!”

Still she could not help but try to hold on to the memory of the sensation, the feeling of his arms around her, his hair brushing against her face, his lips. . .

“PAUL, PAUL, PAUL, PAUL!” her mind screamed back at her.

“Think about Paul! . . .or,” said a smaller, unbidden voice, “think about Michael.”

For a moment, Inuyasha thought she was responding to him, feeling what he felt. Then, like the kiss, it was gone.

“Come on,” she said. “We better go join the others before they start to worry.”

As they walked together silently back to the hut, Kagome smiled. Her small deception had worked.

She had convinced Inuyasha to stay in a warm bed where he would rest better and she could watch him for signs of infection. The kiss? Well, that was an unexpected bonus. She wasn't going to allow herself to get excited or even think about it, but smiling couldn't hurt.