InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I hide myself behind the moon ❯ Sacred Grounds ( Chapter 13 )

Somewhere there are ships

Near the sacred grounds

And your heated lips.

(Night snipers)

***

- Kagome, are you going to eat that, - Sango asked irritably. - Or just look at it like you're a hunger-striker!?

Kagome raised her head, giving her friend an absent look.

- Did you say something?

- As a matter of fact I did!

- Oh, sorry…

Sango looked over at her friend, who was indeed only staring at her plate. She also looked tired, her eyes darkly shadowed, her mouth downturned.

- What is wrong with you? - she asked curiously. - Are you worried about something?

- No, just sleepy, - Kagome answered briefly and looked up. - Where is Miroku? I thought he came to the dining-room with us?

- He left half an hour ago, honey, and you notice that only non, huh? Kagome, I know you're troubled with something… c'mon, tell me… Is it because of yesterdays night? Because of Inuyasha?

- No… I mean yes… actually, it's not what I mean… what I mean is… erm…

Sango raised her eyebrows.

- So?

- My parents, - said Kagome uneasily. - I keep thinking about them. Mom is probably worried sick… I wish I could somehow tell that I'm alright… I miss them so much… Mother, granddad, Souta, - she lowered her head with a quiet sigh.

Sango suddenly felt very awkward, suggesting:

- Maybe, you can go see them some day.

- Some day, - repeated Kagome, her voice averted. - I don't think Inuyasha…

- Inuyasha, - said Sango, dropping her fork with a clang. Kagome twisted in around in her seat to see that Inuyasha had indeed arrived, late, at the breakfast table. He flopped down in the seat next to her and she found herself staring at him in amazement.

- I'm here, - he said, cheerfully, grabbing for a plate of eggs and shoveling them onto his plate. - And I'm starving.

The girls stared at him in amazement, wondering, whether he heard their conversation.

- What? - he asked, glancing up and grinning. - Why are you staring at me like that?

- N-nothing, - said Kagome, making an evident effort to sound cheerful. - We were just talking about…

- Ye, ye, I heard that… about your family… will someone pass me the salt? - he asked, moving on to the bacon.

- I miss them, - said Kagome said into the silence. Her voice was very quiet, her eyes now fixed on her plate.

Inuyasha looked at her for a second. Then he leaned across the table and kissed her soundly on the cheek. When he drew back, there was a smile on his face, and her eyes were bright with surprise.

- So why didn't you say anything earlier? - he asked, waving his fork. - We could visit them today.

At that Kagome looked startled.

- Today?

- That is if you don't have anything against it.

- N-no… but … we?

- You, me, the Shikon no Tama.

- So, you're going with me just to protect it, huh? - her voice came out in whisper. - Everything… that was… was for it?

Inuyasha put his fork down carefully on his plate, and glanced at Kagome.

- Kagome, - he said, very softly, - I don't care about this damn Jewel. But I care for you and I'm going to protect you, even if you don't care.

There was a strange, whirling feeling in the pit of Kagome's stomach, as if she'd just been dropped from a great height.

Inuyasha pushed his chair back and stood up. "Let's go."

She looked up, a sharp scarlet flush covering her cheeks

- Sure, we could go now, I suppose, - she said, tucking a dark curl behind her ear, and glanced over at Sango, who was peacefully eating her breakfast, not paying any attention to them. - Why don't you come with us?

Sango shook her head.

- I can't, I have already promised Miroku to spend the morning with him, because he is leaving in the afternoon.

- Oh, so that's how the things are by you two, - Kagome made a face at her friend, and reached to take Inuyasha's outstretched hand.

***

Jaken banged the door shut behind him and spun to face Rin, who was sitting on the bed, her feet touching the floor, and she looked cool and unruffled, as if any moment she might start examining her nails.

- Rin! - he barked, and the girl looked up. Her face was open and inquiring, her eyes wide and clear.

- No need to get harsh, - she smiled at him politely, which only served to annoy Jaken further. - Are you not happy to see me after such a long time?

- Ah, yes, am I supposed to be? You stupid little girl! Why did you run away?!

- I have a right to remain silent, you know, - said Rin calmly.

For a moment, Jaken just stared at him, then let out a deep sigh.

- Stupid human girl, - he murmured. - Do you even know how I was worried for you?

- I'm sorry, Jaken. I'm really sorry…

He glanced at her. A moment ago she was smiling and teasing him, and now her eyes were full of tears.

Rin slowly got up and went to the window.

- And… the lord… how did he react?

- Must I tell you that? Must not. And will not…

- Jaken!

- Do you even now that the lord left this morning?

The blood had begun to pound in her ears, and her mind hummed with disbelief. Surely Jaken hadn't just said what she thought she'd said. "He went away? This morning? For how long?".

- Do I know everything? I don't. He never says anything about his plans to me. To anyone… The lord only told me that you were back. Oh, he was so furious when you ran aw- - Jaken flapped his small hands over his mouth.

Rin slowly looked at him with consideration.

- Furious?

- I was not supposed to say that. And it was not actually so. He was indifferent at first, then furious.

- Jaken… I…

- Be quiet, girl. Or you'll say stupid things. I know you will. And I don't want to hear them. Do you think I am blind? I am not. I see everything, but what can I do? Nothing. You are unhappy. But you weren't always that way… You don't even smile now. Do you still know how to do it?

A look of astonishment flashed across Rin's face - she had not expected Jaken to react this way, and this long clumsy but emotional speech surprised her. She lowered her eyelids, hiding her expression.

- It's not like that, Jaken… I… I met these two girls… and they saved my life… and then…

- Ah, don't, - snapped Jaken. - You weak pale girl. You must first eat, then you will tell me about them.

Rin said nothing after that, and followed Jaken to the door without making another sound.