InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In the Heat of Passion ❯ Chapter 11: A Familiar Voice ( Chapter 11 )

A/N: Hello! I know it's been forever since I updated this story, but I had pretty much given up on it! I hope you will enjoy the new chapter though! I have decided to revive this story seeing as how my other story is almost complete. Please read and review! Thanks to the loyal fans who stuck with me! This one is going to be kind of short, but the next chapter will be up shortly!

Chapter 11

Nightfall was coming. Miroku had returned inside the hut with the firewood and now sat with Sango as they watched Kagome play with Kirara and Shippo. Sango and Miroku smiled lovingly at their friend. They were so happy to see her smile again. It had been over two days now and she was smiling for the first time. Kagome loved animals and they knew that. They decided to keep Kirara and Shippo with her as much as they could. Although Shippo wasn't technically an animal, he was still really cute, and they knew how much Kagome loved playing with Shippo.

"Kirara!" Kagome said playfully as she watch Kirara and Shippo fumble with the ribbon she had brought. Kagome had pulled out the red ribbon to play with Kirara. She laughed, however, when one of Kirara's claws accidentally plunged through ribbon and had gotten stuck. Kirara would jump and shake her foot in an effort to relieve herself of the ribbon, but to no avail. Even more amusing was Shippo trying to help Kirara. Every time Shippo would get close to catching the end of the ribbon, Kirara would shake her paw or jump, snatching ribbon out of Shippo's reach at just the last minute. Kagome usually would have laughed at the spectacle before her, but she merely smiled. Miroku and Sango were satisfied with that for now. They didn't expect anything more of their friend considering what happened.

"Oh, drat!" Kaede said from the kitchen.

"What is it, Kaede?" Kagome asked.

"I'm out of herbs for my usual bedtime tea," Kaede replied. "I guess I will just do without tonight."

"Nonsense, Kaede," Kagome said. "That tea helps you get to sleep at night. Please allow me to go and get it for you. The herbs aren't far from here so I won't be in too much danger."

"Are you sure Kagome?" Sango asked. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"That's okay, Sango," Kagome replied with a smile and reached down to grab her bow and arrows. "I'd actually just like to be alone for a little bit. Besides that walk to and from the springs refreshed me earlier. It's such a nice evening. It will be great to just to go on a relaxing walk."

"Very well," Miroku said. "But take Kirara with you."

Kagome nodded. Kirara walked next to Kagome and followed her as she began to leave. She waved goodbye to everyone then disappeared outside.

"Come Shippo," Kaede said. "I could use ye's help in fetching some water for my tea. This old woman can't carry the water like she used to."

Shippo nodded and retrieved the wooden bucket and was soon standing at the door waiting for Kaede.

"We shall return shortly," Kaede said to Miroku and Sango and she walked outside with Shippo by her side.

Miroku wasted no time. As soon as everyone was out of sight, he turned to Sango.

"How do you think Kagome is handling it?" he asked.

"Great actually. It only happened a couple of days ago and she is already smiling," she replied.

"I spoke with Inuyasha a minute ago," Miroku said. Sango's eyes grew wide.

"You saw him? What did he say?" she asked.

"He wasted no time in getting to the point. It was almost as if he was waiting on me to leave the hut so he could talk to me. We walked away from the hut so no one would hear us and then he began telling me everything. He told me how he and Kikyo had parted ways before this ever happened, and…" Miroku said but was interrupted by Sango.

"No way! Inuyasha finally called it off with Kikyo?" Sango asked.

"Yep," Miroku nodded. "He said he realized that the Kikyo he was in love with was dead and had been for years. It was only fair to Kikyo and to him that he move on."

"Wow!" Sango exclaimed. "Didn't know Inuyasha was that mature!"

"Yeah," Miroku said with a laugh.

"Continue with the part about Kagome though," Sango urged.

"Oh, anyway, he just seems really confused and remorseful. This is killing him Sango. Inuyasha even opened up to me tonight about him and Kagome. He told me everything that he remembered. I can tell that he is willing to do anything to get her back. What about you and Kagome? Did you get anything from her?" he said.

"She's just really hurt and confused right now. She realizes he didn't mean to do it, but she can't help but still be angry with him. She did take a good step forward today though. She told me she was a little angrier with the situation than she was with him. I think it is just going to take time. If you talk to Inuyasha again, just tell him not to rush her. Let her take her time and adjust to all of this. She just needs time to think and get over the fact that the person she was in love with did something this horrible to her," Sango said.

"Oh? Did she tell you that she was in love with Inuyasha?" Miroku asked.

"Uh…no," Sango replied. "I just kind of figured it out for myself. She is always worried about him. I know she's in love with him…or was at least."

"I see," Miroku said looking straight ahead again. "This is going to be tougher than I thought."

* * *

Kagome walked outside the hut and took a deep breath. It felt good to be by herself. She knew her friends were worried about her and only wanted to help and be there for her, but the truth was that she needed time to clear her head. She needed some alone time. She looked down at Kirara who looked at her with a wagging tail, waiting for Kagome to start walking again.

"Well, let's go!" Kagome said to Kirara who meowed in response.

The two of them walked quietly down the path that would lead them to herbs Kaede needed. Kagome couldn't help but feel like someone was near her. She knew Inuyasha was nearby. She could sense him, but she pretended she didn't notice. In fact, she didn't want to notice.

`He's the last person I want on my mind right now,' Kagome thought. `I don't need him. I have Sango and Miroku and Shippo and Kirara and how could I forget my life back home? Should I return home? No. I can't do that. I need to finish looking for these shards….but then that would mean I would have to continue with Inuyasha again. I can't do it without him. Maybe he should just go get Kikyo to help him with the shards. He always was so great at running after her before. Ewww! Just thinking about that makes me mad! That should have been a sign…a sign of what was to come! Inuyasha, you stupid jerk! How could you do this to me?!!!!'

"Meow!"

Kagome looked down and realized that Kirara was trying to get her attention. The demon cat had a worried expression on her face as if she didn't quite understand Kagome's disposition. Kagome had been balling her fists and stomping angrily as she walked down the path and hadn't even realized it. She stood still and took a deep breath.

"I just need to relax," Kagome said out loud. "Oh the herbs!"

Kagome had been so deep in thought she nearly passed right by the herbs Kaede needed. She knelt down and began to pick the herbs. She decided that humming to herself would help keep her mind off Inuyasha so she began to hum to a song from her world. Kirara seemed to like the sounds she was hearing from Kagome and wagged her tail in delight. Suddenly, a shadow loomed over Kagome. Kagome gasped and was about to reach for her arrows when an all too familiar voice spoke.

"Hello Kagome," the voice said.

A/N: Hmmm….who is it? Tune in next chapter to find out! But humor me and guess on your reviews! R&R!