InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Show Me How It Ends ❯ Heart Shaped Box ( Chapter 7 )

Woah, definitely been awhile. Sorry about lack of updates, I guess I shouldn't try promising a specific date on when a new chap will be out again, lol ¬_¬; sorry bout that. But I haven't given up on this story and don't intend 2. Like I said, I already have the entire plot all the way 2 the end and even the beginnings of sequel (if anyone should want 1) all planned out. It's just the whole finding time to write thing that keeps me from doing all this and I have a thing about all chapters being at least 4,000 to 6,000 words in order to be classified as worth reading. N.E. who, it turns out that I did get accepted 2 the college I wanted 2 go 2, Miami International University of Art and Design. Unfortunately 2 go there 4 four years would cost around $100,000, and if anyone has that kinda money 2 lend me, then hey, I will u'r eternal whore 2 do w whatever u wish. But until that happens I had 2 apply 2 another school, Savannah college of art and design, which is just as good, so hopefully they will succumb 2 my charm and good looks and accept me ^_____^ But just incase they're immune 2 those lets all just keep our fingers crossed and wear bunny feet and horse shoes and crap.

Luv

The Deni Pie

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C h a p t e r VII - H e a r t s h a p e d B o x

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She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak

I've been locked inside your Heart-Shaped box for a week

I was drawn into your magnet tar pit trap

I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn back

Hey

Wait

I've got a new complaint

Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Hate

Haight

I've got a new complaint

Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Hey

Wait

I've got a new complaint

Forever in debt to your priceless advice

Meat-eating orchids forgive no one just yet

Cut myself on angel's hair and baby's breath

Broken hymen of your highness I'm left black

Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back

Heartshaped Box - Nirvana

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SlASH!

Grind……

grind…..

grind…….

SLASH!

Kagome groaned throwing her arm over her face to block out what sounded like a red wood going through a dysfunctional wood chipper.

Grind ……

Grind………

Grind………

SLASH!

She supposed she could tune out the slashing, but the damnable grinding was slowly eating into her brain. It sounded like nails carving into splintery wood. She turned onto her back yanking the animal skin covers over her head to block out the sound her teeth had started grinding in rhythm to.

Grind ……..

Grind………

Grind………

……………………… ……………

Kagome let out a contented sigh ready to swan dive back into the yumminess of sleep when the unwanted noise seemingly dissipated into the early morning silence.

CRASH!!

The startled miko let out a shriek, jolting up like a jack knife as the entire earth appeared to shake with the thundering bang. Her red, now saucer sized, and very much sleep deprived eyes flittered around the empty cave in disgruntled paranoia. Seeing nothing that would cause her abrupt awakening she cautiously peeked out of her nest to look for her companion.

"Ginta? Psst, Ginta!"

When no answer greeted her she quietly slid the covers off, slipping out of her makeshift bed. Giving the cave a quick once over she came to the conclusion that the youkai most definitely was missing. Even though Kagome put two and two together summing up that her absent friend was most likely behind the noise, she couldn't help the creeping childish doubt that the horrible sounds might possibly be created by a more terrible youkai coming up the cave to gobble her up. Shaking herself of the immature fear she found that the cave floor was a little colder than she had anticipated, or maybe her mind was just now given the freedom to settle down and truly absorb her surroundings enough to realize her feet wanted socks.

Kagome yawned, stretching her joints out with a resounding pop before making her way towards her oversized back pack. Sleepily digging through the clutter her mind's fogginess wasn't able to process matching color, pattern, or even size as she randomly pulled out one sock after the other. The one sock not even remotely resembling its mate. After tugging on one sky blue ankle sock with lavender hearts on it and repeating the same function with a stark white knee sock she toddled sleepily over towards the cave entrance where the ear piercing noises emanated from.

One hand instinctually leapt towards her offended eyes as the overbearing sun beamed down into them, making her cringe. Looking down at the source of her uncalled for wake up call, the slightly annoyed frown finally was given room to conquer her face, bringing her eyebrows together in an irritated furrow and her lips into an frustrated purse. The father of such noise was, as she predicted, Ginta. An enormous tree now lay against the edge of the cliff-like entrance. Her misty eyes followed down the diagonal of the elongated trunk to the grassy floor where the wolf youkai stood digging into the bark and carving out horizontal, shelf like curves from the wood.

As if on cue he looked up and smiled a greeting at her, completely oblivious to her less than pleased expression at being the early bird to catch the evil youkai shaped worm this morning. After taking one last swat at the helpless log he again raised his head to her, waving dramatically. Kagome was never a morning person. Even years of rude awakenings from InuYasha's frantic shouts and insults to get moving hadn't curbed that. While she had always been annoyed by pessimists she couldn't help but want to strangle every happy morning person in existence, which was why she had been grateful she hadn't been cursed with them on her Shikon Shard quest. Unfortunately, now she had one to deal with. And that one she had to deal with was smiling, and carving, and waving, and moving, and breathing!

"Oi! Nee-san, sleep well?" He called up to her cupping a hand to the side of his mouth.

Her frown only thickened. She could only imagine what she looked like so early in the morning. Her hair unbrushed and unkempt, probably frizzing and spouting out in every direction with volumes of inky locks, even more so now that it was cut and had no extra length weight to hold it down, her eyes red from being torn from sleep, and her pajamas were more than likely wrinkled and worn from unnecessary travel. In all probability she looked more like a demon than he did, but at that moment she couldn't have cared less. He woke the demon up and he would have to deal with her.

"I was!" She snapped. He looked at her curiously before shrugging and going back to his work. Kagome sighed, deciding to just forget it. She was awake anyway and wouldn't be able to get back to the sanctuary of sleep. She observed his work wondering what on earth was so important that it needed seeing to so early. A bold foot came out, tapping the clean cut of the top of the thick tree. It had been cut of all branches and leaves leaving it barren, looking more like a desolate log than the mighty oak it had once been. "Ginta, what are you doing?!" She called down.

Looking back up from his work he saw her foot pawing interestedly at the tapered top of the tree. "I'm not always going to be here to take you to and down from here, so I thought you might want a ladder so you could come and go as you please!" He called back up to her.

Immediately she felt guilty at being so irritated with him and addressing him so callously. Running a tired hand through her wild hair she took in a deep breath letting it out slowly, he definitely put her on a roller coaster of emotions. Angry, guilty, content, remorseful, so many to pick from! A wry grin broke against one side of her mouth as she stared down at his work. It looked nothing like a ladder. It looked more like a crude bookshelf. She laughed a little, but it was a big improvement from her later situation of sitting around all day coming down with cabin fever while she waited for him to return from whatever it was he was doing. She smiled, squatting down resting her elbows on her knees, becoming interested in her new present. It was so hard to believe he had done all this by himself. Cutting this massive tree down, scaling it and cutting off all the limbs and branches, bringing it here and positioning it so perfectly.

Her thoughts brought her eyes back down to the youkai as he worked so thoroughly. He was working fast. He may be done by the afternoon. Seeing that he was pretty much absorbed in his mission and didn't really need to worry about entertaining her, she stood up returning to the cave to dress and make herself look at least halfway descent.

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`ow…….ow…OW!' Kagome cringed as the brush snagged yet another tangle in its decent towards her ends. She clenched her eyes shut, grabbing the hair above the knot, before it tapered into a tangle, and gently worked the brush through. Letting out a sigh when the pain was over she began to hastily brush the rest of her newly tamable mane. Setting down the torture tool she ran her fingers through the onyx locks feeling the silky softness of them as each strand glided through them with ease. Picking up the brush to return it to her back pack she couldn't help but glance at it and all the hair it had yanked from her head. `Well I guess that's what you get when you don't have conditioner…'

"Still, I would've thought less tangles would be one of the perks of having shorter hair." She mumbled idly to herself spitefully pushing the brush into the deeper recesses of her back pack.

"Is that why you cut it?"

She looked up from her pack no longer surprised at the sudden appearances he was so good at making. Although she was surprised at his new state that he made this one in. Ginta stood there casually wiping the sweat from his forehead with a removed armband. Kagome watched him stand there; not looking so much as winded as he was overly hot. His question seemed to be more rhetorical than for her because his attention was away from her as soon as he asked it and turned to wringing out his dampening armband. She was glad he wasn't focusing on her, that meant he couldn't see the way she stared. He couldn't see the way she looked at him as he seemingly blocked the sun, creating a Godlike outline of fuzzy sun beams around his body. His chest was completely bare. The only things he appeared to be were his fur wrap and leg and arm bands. Every inch of him covered in a thin layer of sweat as each bead dripped down his body, mapping out every curve and crevice of wiry muscle in his lean form. The wolf youkai wasn't handsome, at least not in any conventional way. He didn't possess anything that would make a girl swoon but for the second time since she met him, Kagome found herself charmed and somewhat enchanted by him. He had something unidentifiable about him, something she couldn't name in his awkward features, something that separated him from everyone else, and it captured her. It made her look twice and study him to see what it was and if it was even there or just a figment of her imagination.

So it was a bit ironic that as he stood there, covered in and secreting sweat, and probably smelling every bit as worked as he looked, she found herself oddly wanting to touch him. She didn't know why or where the thought came from, but maybe she would be satisfied if she laid a hand to that shining chest, or helped him wipe off the cooling sweat.`Stop it!' Kagome could feel her cheeks burn as she whipped her face away from the underdressed youkai. What was she thinking?! `Stupid hormones…' She shook her head trying to rid herself of the complicated thoughts. Maybe she was just lonely….

"That's and interesting pattern…"

Kagome looked up from her thoughts at his voice, looking at him before she noticed his focus on her dress. She glanced down at her yellow and blue plaid sun dress. It was one of her favorites and was the coolest thing she could find that would help against such humid weather. `He's probably never seen plaid before…'

"Arigato," She murmured, tugging on a shoe.

"Are you going somewhere, Nee-san?" He asked conversationally plopping down next to her while he continued to wipe himself of the thin sheen dripping along his body.

Kagome shrugged. She didn't know what she was doing but she knew she wanted to get out of this cave and at least try to have an eventful day. "I'm thinking about taking a walk. Maybe trying out that new ladder you got me?" She said amiably, knowing he would be pleased that she was so interested in his `present.'

As she predicted, his face lit up and he nodded warmly. "It's not done yet. I'm about half way through, so I'll have to help you down a little ways." He added.

She nodded tying her other shoe absentmindedly. It was now day five since this all began and Kagome just felt she needed to have some time to think. Things were beginning to settle down and now was the time everything was beginning to sink in. She idly glanced at Ginta out of the corner of her eye. He seemed to be doing better. How did he deal with all this? He simply sat there wringing out his armband lost in his own thoughts. Was he even dealing with this? Or was he just living day to day like she was trying her best not to do? Not for the first time she found herself sympathizing with the young wolf. How hard it must be to go from depending on a pack to only being able to depend on yourself. She supposed she wouldn't want to talk about it either just yet if she were in his shoes. She wouldn't bring it up, not yet anyway, let him deal anyway he knew how for now. "Ok I'm ready!" Kagome exclaimed jumping to her newly covered feet.

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It really wasn't that bad of a day out, she surmised. The sun beat heavily but there was a nice breeze blowing through that tickled her calves and swam up under her dress. Kagome stretched her arms above her head, enjoying the air. She and Ginta had said their temporary good byes and she had left him to finish his work and he had left her to enjoy her walk with a quick warning not to go too far.

She turned her attention to the fluffy grass beneath her as she continued her stroll. His warning had oddly made her miss InuYasha. She had been with him for so long she grew used to him following her wherever with his insistent ranting on how she couldn't go off by herself.Even though she knew she had wanted some time to herself she couldn't help but miss the forced company the hanyou had given her, and she had to admit that she had enjoyed it even though his over protective side could become somewhat grating.

Out of the five days she had been with Ginta, for four she already found herself becoming lonely. None of the familiar faces, she now believed she had taken for granted, surrounded her. No Sango to bathe with and comfort her, no Miroku's hand to watch out for, no Shippou to coddle, and no InuYasha to talk to.

She really did miss the hanyou. She really did miss her whole life before the whole Naraku thing started. Absorbed in her own thoughts she was surprised to see the deep green of the grass suddenly turn into a decaying black beneath her feat. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she surveyed her surroundings. The cave was a way in the distance but still very much visible. Had she gone that far? Her eyes flickered back down to the ground. The white outline of her shoes began to turn a dingy grey as they gathered a black sooty substance.

Kagome twisted her head about her for once seeing that she stood in an enormous circle of incinerated grass, black with death and left over ash. Her mouth went slack and her eyes widened, glossy tears marinating her orbs but refusing to fall. `Kouga….' For some reason she couldn't summon the urge to instantly leap away and avoid such a tender, sacred place. Instead she felt her knees gradually lowering to the ground as if gravity had suddenly multiplied two fold. Sitting on her heels she hugged herself awkwardly, the once playful breeze suddenly feeling too bold and bitter. No one was there to replace her arms with their own. No one was there to hold her and tell her it was okay. No one was there at all. `I'm lonely….' She thought miserably. At least when she was with InuYasha and everyone else she had them to keep her mind off being homesick. Now not only was she 500 years away from her home but she was alone.

Ginta was no replacement for her friends. He was kind and polite, which was amazing considered his admitted feelings towards her. It wasn't the kind of hatred she knew. Then again Ginta was too friendly show the kind of anger and wretchedness she thought hate to possess. His hate had no fire, no passion, it was quiet and drowning, like dying of suffocation. Very passive, but just as deadly. She could feel his resistance towards her. She could feel that forced kindness he only reserved for her out of respect for Kouga. At times she could forget that he felt the way he did and could pretend that they had come together to help each other through this time and could relay on one another. But that wasn't the case. This entire situation was beyond help. Kagome couldn't help but wonder how long he could hate her with them having to remaining in such a close vicinity together. He had every right to feel the way he did, but didn't he feel the same need for comfort and companionship in this time of mourning, the way she did? Perhaps this was his own way of punishing her, allowing her to deal with her own self pity and guilt. Then again that would mean he would have to suffer the same. `Misery loves company, I guess….'

This place for some reason began to soothe her a little. Kagome felt her body being pulled to the sooty earth as gravity exuded its force and laid her gently on her side allowing her to curl up into herself away from the wind. The smell of ash and decay spread into her nose and she didn't care. Soot and cinders gathered against her sun dress and body, turning the once bright colors in dingy grey parodies of their former selves, and she didn't care. Lost sleep seemed to find her again and beckoned her to close her lids and loose herself but her conscience scolded her for lying on sacred grounds, scolded her for resting in the mixture of her dead friend's ashes and cinders that enveloped her in a consoling embrace.

And she didn't care…….

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How long was she planning on staying out there? Ginta thought carving his claws into the last step of the `ladder.' Using the top of the used-to-be log as leverage he leaped onto the cliff edge of the cave to admire his work. It really was a good idea; he couldn't be expected to always be there when she wanted to get in or out. Speaking of which, what was she doing exactly anyway? She had been gone nearly all afternoon and if it weren't for the fact that she hadn't gone out of his range of smell he would have gone after her. But from what he could tell she was beyond the caves but not so far as to enter the forest, so she had to be somewhere around the valley surrounding the caves.

Evening would be approaching soon and he should probably go hunt, even though there was still plenty left of the puma, but there really wasn't anything else to do anyway. Besides, it couldn't hurt to stock up, and it would give him the chance to check on Kagome before he left. After popping all the kinks out of his legs Ginta bounded from the cave entrance to land safely on the grassy floor. `First to check on Nee-san.' He thought beginning to follow the trail she left behind.

Well, she really wasn't that far at all. It didn't take long for him to find her with his youkai speed and sense of smell. Her colorful outline caught his eye, her figure lying down in the grass. Picking up the pace he wanted to hurry so could possibly bring her back and could still have time to hunt. Her outline began to become less fuzzy and more focused the closer he got. So did the large circle of burnt decay surrounding her. His feet stopped instantaneously, only a few feet away from her sleeping figure. He stared wearily at her prone body before taking a hesitant step back. The smell of rot and ash filtered through his nostrils, shattering any thought he had of staying, before he took off for the forest, filling his mind with the hunt. Leaving her alone.

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Dust clung to the insides of her nose forcing a sneeze out of it. Kagome groaned tiredly opening her bleary eyes. Her surroundings seemed less bright, more shadowed and dark. Eyelids hurdled open as her back sprung up to attention. It was practically evening! Had she really slept the day away?! Kagome turned her head to look around and noticed the sun was low but had not yet set. So maybe she hadn't slept the entire day away….She hadn't realized how fatigued she was until now. Still, she did feel more refreshed and rejuvenated than she had all week. `Although now I'll never get to sleep tonight….' She thought exasperatedly. Well, there wasn't anything she could do about it now.

Standing up proved slightly more difficult to do with legs that were still more asleep than the rest of her body. Yet on the second try she was standing and walking with little more than a slight drunken wobble, and even that would go away after a few walk-abouts. Looking down she gave her once pristine dress a once over, not feeling the impulse to swipe away the dust and ash that clutched her clothing so desperately. Maybe she just didn't care enough. After popping her back once more she started her dreary stroll home. Or what should now be called home since she had no where else to return to. `I wonder where Ginta is…' Thinking of the wolf now she couldn't help but wonder why he had not come to get her. It was getting late and he had just let her stay out. `InuYasha would have come to get me……….then again, InuYasha probably wouldn't have let me go out in the first place….' The memories of the rash hanyou and his over protectiveness flooded her thoughts, forcing a little laugh out of her and exorcizing all bitterness from her mind. Still, she couldn't fight the feeling of being abandoned by the wolf youkai.

She had only gotten a few yards away from the circle of ash before turning back halfway to look at it once more. As if she owed it a goodbye at the least. Staring at it she realized it was the closest thing to a grave Kouga would get. In a few months, probably after winter when spring finally came, all signs that it had ever been there would be gone. The grass would grow again, greener than it had before, and the remaining ash would be blown away. And what would be left of Kouga then?

Giving the grave site one last lingering look Kagome continued on her way home. As long as Ginta wasn't worrying over her whereabouts then he shouldn't mind if she picked up a few things on the way…..

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He smelt her before he actually saw her. She had apparently already come home, maybe a few hours before him, he was glad that he wouldn't have to go and fetch her then. Swinging the few rabbits he had caught over his shoulder, Ginta made his way up the ladder, choosing to take the longer way than simply leaping up. Her scent faintly covered the carved log but the trail wasn't fading as quickly, so perhaps she hadn't gotten back that long ago after all.

Reaching the top he nonchalantly threw the rabbits to the wall, running a casual hand through his hair. A fire was already going but there was no Kagome to be seen. His eyes scanned the entrance of the cave briefly before sitting down to begin dinner. He could still smell her whereabouts in the caves so she was probably just having a look around.

Reaching for the first rabbit he sat down on one of the short logs that had unofficially won the title of living room furniture and began to skin it. He hadn't caught much, knowing that there was still left over puma and the fact that he was only hunting for 2 and not the entire pack. This would be enough for now.

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Kami was definitely with her tonight. Kagome sighed contentedly reclining into the water. She had gathered bundles of sticks, twigs, and foliage, wanting to make some torches for the deeper recesses of the caves that she had been too afraid to venture into. It was possibly one of the best ideas she had ever had. After making a fire for the night and using those flames to light the first made torch, she began to stroll deeper into the cave, noting how at one point it broke off and lead four different ways. She had decided to go to the left and looked along the walls noting that she had no way of hanging the torches. She was glad she had only made one to begin with and hadn't wasted the time making so many.

Adjusting the bundle of sticks still under one arm she continued, she had gone this far, might as well take a look around the place she would be staying in for little under a year. She was grateful at bringing a torch, the caves had gotten darker the deeper she went and she knew had it gone out she would have been terrified senseless. It was then that she had stumbled upon this blessed place. The cave tunnel had gradually gotten a miniscule lighter, and then she saw it. Holes about the size of a large arm were scattered specifically around the ceiling, letting in large beams of moonlight. Moonlight which shined over pools of water.

Kagome had gasped in delight when she found them. Each pool was about the size of a very small Jacuzzi, it could fit one person comfortably, but only one, the water was relatively up to her collar bone, and it was frigid. But it didn't matter, it was water and it was clean. Kagome immediately built a fire next to her chosen pool before quickly undressing and stepping in. Yes it was absolutely toe numbing, but it was the closest thing to her very own bath she would have. Besides, after a half-hour or hour the fire beside her began to warm her enough, and even heat the water somewhat so her teeth weren't chattering.

Her head sunk back in ecstasy, her eyes opening a fraction to behold the small amount of beautiful sky the new hole-made-skylight allowed. She could see stars freckling the face of the sky, but no moon. She gazed pleasantly as dark night clouds shifted here and there along the ink colored atmosphere.

The blackness reminded her of the ash the water had cleansed from her body. Another wave of desolation and loneliness, that her moment of relaxation had numbed her to, washed over her once more. Dripping arms came up to wrap around her naked body once more. Even with the fire and moonlight, the cavern now seemed just that much darker. Had her mother been there she would have caressed her hair and told her that it was ok to feel that way, that the pain would go away and until then she would hold her comfortingly. Had InuYasha been there, he would have looked at her awkwardly before telling her she was being stupid, then he would shift about uncomfortably before asking if she would be okay, and the macho-tough hardness he used to conceal any feelings other than anger and pride would break, just a little, and she could see the real concern underlying them. But no one was there, no one was with her. Kagome wondered briefly if when Hakkaku came back and lead them to a new clan if she would make any friends; or if everyone would just look at her uneasily and politely ignore her once they found out that they couldn't eat her and had to put up with her living with them.

She supposed either way she would be alone. There would be no husband, 2.5 kids, or white picket fence for her. She doubted she would ever be comfortable taking a companion in front of Ginta and Hakkaku. She doubted that anyone would even want to take her as a wife or lover, since there was a good chance the only remotely intelligent beings she would be seeing for most of her life would be youkai. Why did her future have to look so desolate? Why did she even have to go with Ginta and Hakkaku? What use would she be? She would basically just be there for little more than decorative purposes. Like an old trophy or medal on the wall, soon they would forget what it was there for, but just so long as it was there.

---flashback---

You're my woman and I'm in love with you!"

---end flashback---

---flashback---

Kouga's forehead touched the earth as he lay on top of her. His mouth open in a distorted, silent scream, as blood dripped from it like a broken faucet. His lifeless eyes lay open staring unseeing at the ground.

---end flashback---

Kagome closed her eyes, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat. It seemed every time she thought of being selfish, of running back into her mother's arms, into InuYasha's arms, she remembered that once scene. His eyes were still open….She knew if she left, those eyes would never leave her. She would always feel blood dripping down her porcelain hands. Life would be unbearable, any happiness she would ever receive, were she to leave, would be tainted with that memory, with that guilt. At least when she was here, happiness, when she felt it, was real and unsoiled. She was even proud of herself for being happy fulfilling her debt to Kouga. Perhaps this life would never let her attain full happiness, but it was better than returning to her old life and only attaining a stained, corrupted parody of happiness.

Sinking further into the water, Kagome felt a sort of muted pride in her decision. The sort of pride a martyr would have sacrificing his life for something he so greatly loved and believed in. It was the most difficult, the most demanding, decision, but no right decision worth making is easy and free. No, she wouldn't be a martyr, it wasn't anything so grave as that, but she was giving up a life. Much in the same way she gave up a normal life for the life of being the reincarnation of a dead miko destined to track down Shikon no Kakera and help overcome evil. And now she was giving up that life for the life of redemption. Monks and Nuns did this all the time! It wouldn't be so bad. Though this new life often left her feeling dejected and lonely. Kagome sighed, happy she wasn't Buddhist or Catholic. Yet for some reason she seemed to be paying the penance all the same.

Slender fingers traveled through her sopping hair, down the back of her neck, to the side, and ended with her palm resting on her collar bone and the finger tips touching the side of her throat. Matted eyelashes, spiked with water drops, slid to the tops of her cheek bones as she tried to relax herself and relieve the despondency from her heart. The fire didn't seem to warm her anymore.

"Hey, you found the watering holes!"

Kagome gasped, her body wrenching around at an uncomfortable angle, her arms crossing in front of her naked breasts. Ginta stood there indifferently, not looking at her but gazing around the large tunnel with a pleased and innocent smile on his face.

"I knew there were some somewhere but I just didn't get around to looking for them." He stated as if an explanation were necessary, still walking along the path examining pool after pool.

He appeared to have forgotten the subject of their entire conversation yesterday as he walked around the same tunnel she was very much naked in with complete oblivion. An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, her arms falling from their protective guards and her body slumping tiredly back into the pool. What was the use? He obviously didn't care and had no interest in her or her nudity, so why bother? She found that the fight had been beaten out of her as of late. Mist colored eyes returned to her skylight, courteously ignoring his presence. A slight shifting almost escaped her hearing, had the tunnel not been completely silent with the exception of the burning sticks and her breathing. Choosing to ignore it, her attention went back to the glittering stars, whose light had been muted by a passing cloud. Her eyes widened and a confused and slightly indignant furrow worked its way in between her ebony eyebrows as a quiet splash pilfered through her ears. It wasn't so much as a splash as it was a mute separation of water. Water which must have separated due to a body dipping into it.

Kagome's head whipped around in the direction of the sound, finding, as she predicted, a very much relaxed Ginta reclining into another pool a few pools diagonal of her. A pang of outrage crept out of her but was soon quelled. At least he had the decency to keep his distance from her own water hole and to have his back facing her. That was as close to a bathing screen as she was going to get she supposed. Shaking her head in wonder at his carelessness she turned to the side of the hole, folding her arms over it, she gently laid the side of her head in their cradling softness. Observing him she noticed how he was seemingly unconscious to her presence. A small laugh escaped her. She guessed that was his equivalent to giving her privacy. As long as he felt comfortable bathing with her, and she had just lost the fight to avenge her modesty, she might as well strike up polite conversation. They were going to be together for a good long while anyway. Her mouth opened but he apparently beat her to it.

"There's some cooked rabbit by the fire if you're hungry." He stated, his back still turned to her.

Her mouth opened and closed, she had forgotten she hadn't anything to eat all day. It was funny how someone could forget such important things when their mind was so cluttered. "Thank you." She managed. She didn't have to ask which `fire' he was referring to. The fire that was always made at the entrance was pretty much dubbed `The Fire', just as the entrance in her mind was christened `The Living Room.' "They aren't staring at me are they?" She asked uneasily.

"Nani?"

"The rabbits, I can't eat them if they're going to look at me with those burned eyes and everything." She stated, already feeling nausea boiling in her stomach at the thought.

Ginta laughed, sliding deeper into the water. She watched with a bit of jealousy. The water came all the way up to his neck; she had obviously chosen one of the shallower pools. "No, they're ok, I took off the heads."

Well that morbid solution solved that morbid problem. She thought fighting down the disgust. A change of subject couldn't be more welcomed. "I was thinking of putting torches along the cave walls. You know, to solve the darkness problem."

"There are a lot of tunnels here. You really think you can put one along every wall?"

Good point. Kagome couldn't think of an answer, so she sighed, burying her cheek more comfortably into the crook of her arm. Her eyes left the soaking shoulders of the young youkai and wandered to the darkness of the deeper recesses of the tunnel. "I took a walk today." She began.

She felt more than saw the wolf nod in acknowledgment. "You said you were."

She nodded back, more to herself than to him. "I went back to Kouga's resting spot. It was more of an accident than anything else."

He didn't nod, didn't respond. She took that as a cue to continue. "I want to do something. Come next spring there won't be anything left of it. I wanted to plant something there, nothing girly; I know he wouldn't like that……Just, something. Something to show that it was there. You, know?"

When she again received no response, she turned to look at him just in time to see him getting out of his pool completely unabashed at it nudity. He shook himself of the water, unmindful as she froze there in shock watching him walk coolly away from her with that same innocent look on his face as though she had never been there.

Her eyes followed his form until it disappeared into the swallowing darkness. Her body began to loosen from its tensing shock and allowed the other side of her head to lay in the other crook of her arm, still facing where the shadows had swallowed him. Her heart seemed to submerge in the new emptiness that engulfed the once warm room. The loneliness wouldn't be so bad. Not really……………………

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Hey how was that? I'm glad I was finally able to finish this chap! R&R ppl, I need reviews, criticism and such, so ya know, be a reviewer here. I also believe InuYasha will make an appearance next chap, so its gonna start getting more NC-17, so if u don't like it then stop reading, and if u like it 2 much 2 stop but don't want to read that part then skip through it, because its not gonna turn into a plotless porno with every kind of sex and position in every chapter. So there ya go! Luv ya!

The Deni Pie