InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Aftermath ❯ Lost Without You ( Chapter 2 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
The Aftermath
Chapter 2: Lost Without You
by: I. C. All

A/N: Konnichiwa, everyone! This is IC with the second chapter of my newest songfic series for y'all! I'm extremely glad that so many people have liked my story! FYI, it is an 'after-the-quest-is-done' story, the first I've ever done for Inuyasha. So I'd appreciate as many comments as I can get, thanks! ^_^
Just a little note for you people - there's a small spoiler for the first Inuyasha movie in here, but it's not too big; at least, not if you've seen the trailer. If you don't want me to spoil the surprise, there will be a series of asterisks (****) before the scene, but otherwise, read away! Alright, on with the songfic!

~ I. C. All

Disclaimer: Let's face it. If I owned Inuyasha, any of its affiliated characters or Delta Goodrem's 'Lost Without You', then I wouldn't be writing this. But I am, therefore concluding the fact that I don't own any of them. So there.

Dedicated to: My friend, Sammy, who is probably mad at me right now after I promised to chat with her, but I didn't. Gomen nasai, Sam-chan! ;_;

Special Thanks to: Dragon Faere - Was it really? Yay, I actually wrote a depressing story! ^_^ And I completely agree - we all need a little love, especially Inuyasha and Kagome. As for Kikyo, well ... personally, I think she's too much of an ice queen to feel heartbreak. That, and the fact that she thinks she can just get whatever she wants. o.O Thanks for your reviews!
DestroyerDRT - Arigato! And as for the happy ending ... Read this chapter and keep a look out for the other ones! ^_^
Angelic Tears - Well, Inuyasha can be a bit of an idiot at times. Just read on to find out what happens! And it's episode # 87. It's mostly focused on Kikyo *makes the sign of the cross*, but there's a really fluffy scene there. ^_____^
FireVixxen - Okay! Calm down, girl! Here it is! And thanks for the comment and for putting me on your favorites list! Have a cookie! *hands you a lovely cookie* ^_^
Rin the Kitsune - Hey there! Haven't heard from you for a while! *huggles her and laughs at Inuyasha and Kikyo* Goodie! Kikyo is now a puddle of mud and Inuyasha ... smells! Oh, well. I'll get Kag-chan to give him a nice bath. *drags Inuyasha off, calling out for Kagome, while a random cleaner wanders in* IC-san! Do you need this puddle of mud? *grins evilly* No, throw it away! *random cleaner shrugs and scoops up the mud formerly known as Kikyo and throws her in the trash* ^.^
StarChild1 - Here's that update! And Brian McKnight sings 'One Last Cry' - it's a really sweet song. ^.^
sesshyluvsme200 - Thanks! I like that quote too! ^_^


~ Higurashi Shrine, 2009 ~

I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes
A little righteous and too proud

A young woman in her mid-twenties stood at the doorway of her old bedroom. She carefully stepped inside, sighing as she revisited all of the memories that she had here. Thanks to her mother, the place had not accumulated too much dust in the few years that she had not been here.

Kagome Higurashi's eyes trailed over the albums stacked in the corner. Maybe she'd open them, just for old times' sake. She pulled one of the albums out, carefully brushing off little bits of dust on the cover. Flopping down on the now too small mattress, she opened the album and gazed nostalgically at the first picture.

It was a framed picture of the whole gang - the ex-Shikon shard hunters. There was her fifteen-year-old self in the center, smiling happily at the camera as she cradled a happy Shippou in her arms. He'd probably be a bit older now, maybe 9 years old, if converted to human age.

To her left were Sango and Miroku. The houshi had his arm around the taijiya's shoulder and was grinning at the camera. Sango was looking slightly uncomfortable with the position, but was a good sport and smiled somewhat warily.

Kagome stifled a watery laugh as she remembered how Sango had smacked Miroku over the head after the photo was taken, his hand having wandered too close to her posterior. The two had gotten hitched a few weeks before she had left the Sengoku Jidai and were probably on to their seventh child by now, if Sango had actually taken Miroku's proposition seriously.

Kagome's eyes trailed over to the hanyou on her right. He was frowning at the camera, his arms crossed over his chest in his trademark position. She remembered only all too well how he had disapproved of the camera, but she had gone on and taken the picture anyway. She was a stubborn girl. Come to think of it, she still was. Inuyasha must have really influenced her back then.

I just wanna find a way to compromise
'Cause I believe we can work things out

Kagome turned the page, the album now opened out to a picture of Inuyasha and her arguing. Miroku had taken the picture, and Inuyasha had beaten him up pretty badly for it, but nonetheless, the photograph was still developed.

A sad smile touched her lips as she reminisced. She and Inuyasha were arguing for the umpteenth time about her right to be able to go back to her own time freely. They had often argued back then. The last time they argued was when the Shikon no Tama was complete.

I thought I had all the answers
Never giving in

Kagome had wanted to go back to her own time. Inuyasha wouldn't let her. In reality, Kagome hadn't wanted to go, but because Inuyasha had Kikyo back, she had nothing more to stay for.

The Shikon no Tama had actually been used in reviving Kouga, Ayame, Kagura, Kanna, and all the other youkai that could not be revived by the Tenseiga, but it still needed to be purified. Kikyo had offered to do so, and Kagome couldn't oppose her decision, so she had opted to go back to her own time instead.

Kagome had unofficially won the argument and left the next day.

But baby, since you've gone
I admit I was wrong

Ever since then, Kagome had resumed living her original life in the present. She graduated from high school, then college with a degree in Japanese history. Of course, since she had spent a large amount of time in the Sengoku Jidai actually meeting with the very people she was supposed to be studying, it wasn't very surprising to her and her family.

She was then recommended by Hojo to the best historians and had gotten a very good job. Hojo had been a good sport and realized that Kagome loved another, even though he didn't really know who it was. He was now a successful doctor, happily married to the freshman girl, Naoko, and had two beautiful daughters.

But of course, no matter how much Kagome tried (and no matter how many times her friends tried to set her up), she could not forget Inuyasha.

All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How am I gonna be strong without you?
I need you by my side

Kagome bit down hard on her lip. Her hands quivered as they traced over Inuyasha's face, and then her own. Crystalline tears fell from her eyes and she shut them tightly to prevent the leakage of any more.

She shut the album quickly, her hands trembling on the cover. She couldn't bear to look at anymore - the photographs only reopened old wounds. The wounds of loving someone that would never be able to love her freely in return and having to leave the people that she had come to care for so much.

'If Inuyasha were here, he'd tell me to stop being a big sissy and go back to being strong, stubborn, hard-headed Kagome,' she thought sarcastically to herself. This thought brought no comfort - rather, it intensified the flow of tears. Kagome fumbled around in her purse for a tissue, and pulled one out. She dabbed at her eyes with it and blew her nose.

It was hopeless. Through the years, she had learned to rely upon herself, but also to depend and trust in Inuyasha to always take care of her. Inuyasha was like the support beam in her life - when he was gone, she collapsed completely.

There was no denying it. She needed Inuyasha.

If we ever said we'd never be together
In the end, you wave goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you

Kagome stood up and wandered to the bathroom, still wiping her tears away. After splashing some water on her face and wiping at it with a face towel, she gazed at herself in the mirror.

No longer was she the small, lithesome, impulsive, fifteen-year-old Miss Kagome Higurashi, who was often absent from school due to strange illnesses, but now she was the tall (er), beautiful, levelheaded, twenty-seven-year-old Dr. Kagome Higurashi, a well-renowned historian.

Although that doesn't seem to apply right now, Kagome thought dryly, taking in her reflection's puffy eyes, stuffy red nose, flushed cheeks and bedraggled appearance. She closed her eyes, trying to remember the day she left the Sengoku Jidai for good.

~ 10 years ago in the Sengoku Jidai ~

Kagome sat at the edge of the Bone Eater's Well, digging through her yellow backpack, which was worn, over-used, yet still as large as the day she brought it over for the first time.

She blew a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her eyes and looked around the clearing. A surprisingly large group of people (and youkai) looked back at her, some smiling, others with grim expressions on their faces. "Alright, have I got everything?" she said, trying to sound like her usual cheerful self.

"Wait, Kagome! You forgot your hanker-thingy!" a small voice cried. The group parted to let a panting Shippou through, waving a lacey pink handkerchief wildly. Kagome smiled sadly as she caught the kitsune cub in her arms.

"Why don't you keep it?" she said softly. The baby kit looked up at her with tear-filled eyes. "Really?" he asked. Kagome nodded. She didn't trust herself to speak - her throat was too tight from suppressed tears. Shippou looked down at the hankie and burst into tears.

"I don't want you to gooooo!" he wailed at the top of his little lungs. "But I have to, Shippou-chan ... I can't stay here anymore," Kagome tried to explain. Shippou only responded by wailing even more loudly. Kagome hugged him tightly and let Sango take him, and turned to make her final goodbyes.

At the side of the crowd stood Kouga and Ayame. Kouga had finally given in to Ayame's persistence and the two were to be mated next summer. Ayame had given up on the rivalry between Kagome and herself after Kouga's decision, and the two girls had grown quite close.

Kagome smiled warmly at Ayame and gave her a friendly hug, then turned to Kouga and did the same. "You two take care of each other, okay?" she asked. They both nodded, Kouga half-smiling and Ayame with tears rolling down her face.

Kagome moved on to Ginta and Hakkaku and hugged them both too. "Watch Kouga for me, okay?" she winked, grinning widely. Ginta and Hakkaku both grinned and saluted her. "We'll miss you, Kagome-nee-san," Ginta said. "Me too," was her sad reply, before she moved on.

Next were Kagura and Kanna, who both escaped the clutches of Naraku. Kagome wasn't sure what to do, so she just nodded to the both of them. To her surprise, Kagura nodded back and Kanna handed her a white flower. Kagome smiled her thanks and moved on.

Sesshoumaru-tachi were next. Sesshoumaru was standing as tall and aloof as ever, but for some unexplainable reason, he seemed less formal than he usually was. He nodded to Kagome, and Kagome nodded back. Behind him, Jaken made a disapproving clicking noise with his tongue.

Kagome grinned to herself when she heard the sound of him being headbutted by the two-headed dragon. Rin hugged her tightly around her legs. "Bye bye, Kagome-nee-san!" she smiled. Kagome patted her head and smiled back.

Kagome then turned to Kaede and hugged her tightly. "Arigato, Kaede-baa-chan," Kagome whispered, biting her lip to stop the flow of tears. "Be a good lass," she smiled. Kagome sniffled and nodded, hugging the old woman one last time.

Next in line were Miroku, Sango and Shippou. Kagome grinned, seeing the way Miroku's hand covered his wife's relatively flat stomach protectively, which would probably not be as flat in the next few weeks. 'It's a shame I won't be able to stay to see that, though,' Kagome thought sadly.

Instead, Kagome moved to hug her best friend tightly (who hugged her back with just as much strength), and then Miroku. "Keep him out of trouble, okay?" she smiled at Sango, who gave a watery laugh. "Make sure she doesn't strain herself too much," Kagome told Miroku, who nodded, smiling grimly.

Kagome then patted the little kitsune's head. Shippou gave a loud sniffle and hugged Kagome as best as he could. "I'm gonna miss you ..." he sobbed. "I'll miss you too, Shippou-chan," was Kagome's only consolation, before she planted a kiss on top of his head and let him go.

I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is I'm lost without you

Kagome turned to the last two people, and her breath caught in her throat. She forced herself to walk over and attempt to smile. She bowed to Kikyo in a respectable way and took off the string bearing the Shikon no Tama around her neck. She handed it over with trembling hands to the miko, who nodded back in acceptance.

She faced Inuyasha and nodded to him too. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his fists tightly clenched, and possibly blood dripping from his hands as he nodded back. The youkai behind her shook their heads sympathetically, except for Sesshoumaru, who shifted ever so slightly.

Kagome couldn't bring herself to do any more than nod (at least, not in front of everybody and especially not in front of Kikyo), so she turned and walked shakily to the well. As she climbed in, she gave everyone one last look before she left the Sengoku Jidai.

I keep trying to face the day
I'm lost without you

Ayame was crying in Kouga's shoulder and he seemed to be holding back his tears as well, trying to be brave in front of his soon-to-be mate. Ginta and Hakkaku were openly crying, hugging each other in a semi-comical fashion. Kagura and Kanna were also emotionless, but seemed to be sad in an expressionless kind of way.

Rin didn't seem to be aware that 'Kagome-nee-chan' was leaving for good, and was simply waving happily. Sesshoumaru remained impassive and Jaken was unconscious.

Kaede was holding a wailing Shippou, while crying herself. Sango and Miroku were in the same sort of situation as Ayame and Kouga. Kikyo was indifferent, but Inuyasha ...

The hanyou seemed frustrated and upset. But all he did was give a small wave, and only then did Kagome clearly see the blood flowing from the wound on his palm. But she didn't have any time to react, as she had already let go of the edge, and was falling down into the dark depths of the well, never to come back.

~ Higurashi Shrine, 2009 ~

Kagome sobbed and collapsed on the bathroom floor. Miserably, she thought about how pathetic she must have looked at the moment. She wrapped her arms around her shaking form, rocking back and forth like a little child, wishing with all her might to be her old self again.

How am I ever gonna get rid of these blurs
Baby, I'm so lonely all the time

A few hours later, she sat in the living room, curled up on the comfortable loveseat that her mother had recently bought. On the coffee table in front of her lay a half-empty chocolate ice cream tub. Kagome's eyes never left the television set as she scooped up another spoonful of ice cream and dipped it into her mouth.
 
But even though Kagome's eyes were focused on the television, her mind was completely occupied with something else. Something that involved blurry images of a certain inu hanyou with long, silver hair, furry dog-ears and soulful amber eyes.

Kagome bit down on the spoon, focusing on the chocolate ice cream melting in her mouth and trying to ignore the ball of loneliness that had settled itself in her stomach.

Everywhere I go, I get so confused
You're the only thing that's on my mind

Kagome stared blankly at the soap opera that was currently playing. Apparently, Kaiyo had found out that her boyfriend, Ryu, had still continued his love affair with her twin sister, Kyoko, and was currently threatening to leave him.

"Kai-chan! Please! Don't go!" Ryu called out, running after his 'girlfriend'. He was pretty good-looking, Kagome mused. Ryu was tall, well built, had long, dark hair and glittering mauve eyes. Kind of like a human Inuyasha ...

Kaiyo whirled around to face Ryu, tears flowing from her eyes. "Iie, Ryu. I can't bear with this any longer ... You don't need me anymore. I only cause you trouble," she sobbed. She was quite pretty as well - tall, though not as tall as Ryu, a nice figure, healthy, waist-length black hair and perfect mahogany brown eyes, slightly red from crying. Kagome felt a slight twinge of déjà vu and increased the volume, sitting up slightly to listen.

Ryu held Kaiyo's arms and pulled her towards him. She stood in shock as he enclosed her in a warm embrace. "I need you … Don't you understand?" he whispered, tucking her head under his chin and breathing in softly.
 
****

Kagome gaped at the television in shock. Her mind flashbacked to the time when they were fighting Menomaru and she had been forced back to her own time, unable to return to the Sengoku Jidai. She remembered when she had 'talked' with Inuyasha through the Goshinboku tree, and he had embraced her in the exact same way that Ryu had embraced Kaiyo.
 
****

Numbly, Kagome stood up and shuffled towards the kitchen, not even bothering to close the television. She didn't even notice the closing scene, where Kaiyo buried her face in Ryu's shoulder and cried.

On my bed, so cold at night
I miss you more each day

Kagome lay on her mother's bed. The rest of the family had gone to spend the night at a distant relative's house, which was the reason why she had come here. The time was now 11:20 PM, quite close to midnight. She could hear the rain pattering down outside in torrents.

She stared up at the dark ceiling and sat up. Kagome looked over at the window, illuminated only by the streetlamp outside. If she looked carefully, she could make out the faint shadows of the main shrine, the myriad of raindrops falling from the sky and what seemed to be Buyo leaping around outside.

Kagome looked down at the white covers of the bed. Unbidden, a memory of the sleeping bag that she used to sleep in while she was traveling in the Sengoku Jidai resurfaced in her mind. She shivered, remembering the gaze of the hanyou that sat in the tree directly over hers, watching her, protecting her from the dangers of the night.

Kagome sighed, wishing the yearning in her heart to go away.

Only you can make it right
No, I'm not too proud to say

Mechanically, Kagome pushed the covers off her and scuffled out of bed. She wrapped one of the smaller blankets around her for warmth and walked sluggishly out of the room and downstairs. She flicked the light switch in the living room on and blinked wildly to let her eyes adjust to the sudden brightness.

After she could see properly again, she shambled to the doorway. She pulled an umbrella from the rack and slipped on her rubber shoes. It was night, after all, so no one would really see her. Kagome took a spare towel, flung it over her shoulder, and picked up the house keys, dropping them into her pocket before opening the door and walking out.

Kagome opened up the umbrella and stepped out into the pouring rain. Wincing slightly as she carefully treaded through the wet grounds, she began calling out for her cat. "Buyo! Come here, you silly cat! You're going to make a mess all over Mama's floor!" she shouted through the downpour of water.

She finally spotted the calico cat by the Goshinboku tree, yowling as he tried to dry himself. Kagome's eyes softened as she walked over and picked the cat up, drying him with the towel over her shoulder.

Buyo meowed and looked up at his mistress, eyes wide in the dark. His ears flicked and swiveled as he listened to the rain fall. Kagome felt a twinge of sadness as she remembered the way a certain someone used to do that. Looking up from her cat, her eyes fell on the Goshinboku tree, and the twinge turned into a full-blown clenching.

The groove was still there, slowly fading but still fairly noticeable. Kagome reached out a hesitant hand to touch the wood. Her eyes slid closed as her hands fell on the bark. Memories flooded back and Kagome pulled away. She gave the Goshinboku tree one last look before turning back around.

All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How am I gonna be strong without you?
I need you by my side
If we ever said we'd never be together
In the end, you wave goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you

Kagome walked aimlessly around the shrine, too lost in her own thoughts to pay attention to where she was going. Eventually, she found herself at the old well house. Kagome pushed the door aside with one hand, the other still cradling Buyo to her. Coughing slightly, she entered the old well house once more.

After letting her eyes adjust to the dark, she carefully treaded down the steps leading to the well, pausing at the bottom step. She sat down and laid Buyo on her lap, absentmindedly stroking his fur. Kagome tugged at the makeshift shawl around her shoulders, attempting to warm herself up.

The old well house was cool and dark. It was a bit musty - Jii-chan must have conveniently forgotten to clean it out. Kagome slowly made out the Bone Eater's Well. Her eyes trailed guiltily over the wood covering the top of the well, sealed with various ofudas and magic spells.

After she had graduated from college and moved into her own apartment, she had requested her grandfather to seal the well, so that, by the almost impossible chance that a certain inu hanyou made his way through, there wouldn't be any odd questions about where Kagome had gone to.

Of course, considering the previous spells that Jii-chan had 'cast', they probably wouldn't work, but at least there would be some kind of resistance. Besides, its power probably wouldn't be tested anyway - Inuyasha must have descended to Hell with
Kikyo, so there probably wouldn't be any chance of him coming over.

Still, she couldn't help hoping that he would actually try to come over.

If I could only hold you now
Make the pain go away
Can't stop the tears from running down my face

Kagome mentally cursed herself when she felt her cheeks grow damp once more. Buyo whined as his fur became wet once more, but tried to comfort his mistress as best as he could. The poor cat almost immediately regretted the action as Kagome pulled him close, squeezing him like a stuffed toy.

Kagome sobbed into her cat's fur. It was just her luck that she'd end up the loser. She had always been somewhat unlucky in her life. She suspected it had something to do with breaking a mirror under a ladder, in front of a black cat on Friday the 13th, or so her grandfather said.

But then again, it could just be her. Maybe she really wasn't supposed to end up with Inuyasha. Maybe she really was supposed to go back to her own time, marry a nice, sensible boy, have normal, human children and die an old lady in a peaceful room.

Still, everytime she thought about the hanyou, a fresh bolt of pain would sear her chest, rendering her dazed, regretful and despaired. Kagome sobbed even more into Buyo's fur, clutching him tightly, imagining that it was him who she was embracing, and that he would be holding her tightly, vowing never to let her leave him again.

Shame her dreams rarely came true ...

All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How am I gonna be strong without you?
I need you by my side

Buyo meowed desperately, trying to get away from his mistress without hurting her. He searched the well house frantically, looking for something that would distract her. Suddenly, he heard a faint thump from inside the dry well. Buyo stopped squirming and stared curiously at the well, trying to figure out what had made the noise.

Kagome noticed Buyo's sudden stiffness and looked up from his soaking wet fur. Noticing his intent gaze on the Bone Eater's Well, she, too, focused on the structure.

Kagome jumped, hearing a muffled string of curses coming from inside the well. Buyo jumped from his mistress' arms, yowling loudly. But all Kagome was concentrated on was the 'thing' that was inside the dry well.

'There's only one person that swears like that and could possibly be in this situation ...' she thought fervently to herself, but shook her head. 'No! It can't be him ... Could it?' she pondered quietly. Kagome stood up and slowly moved towards the well, her eyes trained on it the whole time.

At this distance, she could hear what the 'thing' was saying better. "Stupid sealing spells ... Must be that old fart ..." the 'thing' grumbled. Kagome's eyes widened in surprise and took an involuntary step backwards.

Kagome gasped as the wood covering the mouth of the well suddenly smashed into pieces. Instinctively, she lifted her arms to cover her head, shutting her eyes tightly and holding her breath. She heard whatever the 'thing' was step out of the well, still cursing a blue streak. Suddenly, 'it' paused. She could almost feel 'its' eyes staring intently at her huddled form.

'Oh, no! It's going to eat me!' she thought irrationally. It was amazing what a few years in the Sengoku Jidai could do to one's paranoia. Kagome tightened her arms around herself, awaiting the cold jaws that would surely snatch her up and eat her.

But it never came. Warily, Kagome lowered her arms and lifted her head.

Her soft, brown eyes met the warm, amber eyes that she had been longing to see once again.

If we ever said we'd never be together
In the end, you wave goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you

The owner of those two, beautiful pools of gold gasped and took a cautious step towards her. His arms slowly reached out for her, his eyes unbelieving, though they held a tiny spark of hope.

"Ka-Kagome?" he breathed hoarsely, his voice coming out in a rasp.

That was all it took for her to run into his open arms and envelop him in her tight embrace, knocking all the wind out of him. She started to sob desperately again, her tears wetting the achingly familiar material of his red haori. "I-Inuyasha ... I've ... You jerk! ... Why did you-? ... Inuyasha!" she bawled, her small hands clutching at his haori.

The said hanyou gulped and hesitantly moved his arms around the young woman. But as soon as his arms were fully around her body, they tightened around her shaking form, as if he never wanted to let go of her. Rocking her back and forth gently, he whispered small, comforting things like, "Kagome, please don't cry. You know I don't like it when you cry. Please stop, Kagome. I'm here now. There's nothing more to cry about ..."

These words seemed to calm Kagome down. She lifted her face from his shoulder, staring up at him with puffy eyes and tears still trailing down her cheeks. Gently, he lifted a clawed hand to wipe away the tears from her face.

As he was doing so, Kagome observed him more closely. He looked somewhat the same as he had all those years ago, but he had ... changed, somehow. His eyes held a more deeper meaning, his hair now fell down past his hips and his body had matured even more, turning him into someone that would put movie stars to shame.

Inuyasha smiled warmly at Kagome. "Stupid girl ... Crying over something again ..." he said, though his voice held no anger in it. Only warmth and tenderness.

Kagome burst into tears again.

I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to face the day
And all I know is
I'm lost without your love

After she had calmed down once again, she tearfully looked up at Inuyasha.

"Why?" she asked hoarsely. Even Inuyasha had to lean in closer to figure out what she was saying. "What?" he asked confusedly. "Of all the times you could have chosen to come across, why now?" she asked quietly, her gaze dropping down from his face to her lap.

Inuyasha grew silent, his body tensing even as he kept his arms securely around her. Kagome nudged him gently.

I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is
I'm lost without you
I'm lost without you ...

Inuyasha looked up at Kagome. "It's ... It's a long story," he said hesitantly. Kagome continued to look expectantly at him. The hanyou sighed and gave in. "I'll tell you inside. You should be asleep by now, baka," he said, standing up and carrying her easily.

Kagome elbowed him lightly, but allowed him to carry her out of the well house. The rain had stopped, and somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed, signaling the start of a new day.



A/N: Whew! This has to be my longest work so far! Now, I'm off to work on my other stories ... After I take a little nap ... Don't forget to review! Ja ne! *faints on the keyboard* uyhtggaswwu$)@umdlmfe|R">[}:?wjoj91!TKT

~ I. C. All

Quote of the Day:
Miroku (to Sango, after he catches her fall): Are you hurt?
Sango: Thank you, Houshi-sama. You saved me ...
(Miroku feels her up and Sango smacks him as always.)
Sango: How dare you touch me there!
Miroku (turns his head to face the camera, showing the hand imprint on his cheek): It was only a mistake. I was only checking to see if you had any injuries. I'm just worried.
Sango: You worry too much!