InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The curse of the dragon ❯ Demons and Darkness ( Chapter 56 )

~<>~ Curse of the Dragon ~<>~

 

 

~<>~ Chapter 56 ~<>~ demons and darkness

 

 

Kagome sat in the chorus room staring out the elongated windows into the parking lot, tears brimming in her eyes. It had been nearly two days since she had heard anything from InuYasha. She had prayed, after a restless night on Thursday, that she would come into school to find InuYasha asleep on his desk in English, or even more so to be waiting by her locker with flowers. But there were no flowers…there was no white haired Baka in their English class…or gym…or science. There were no missed calls on her cell phone with long-winded explanations pertaining to his absence. He was just…gone. Rin had been absent as well as Sesshoumaru, which only added another knot to her stomach. `Do they know something…do they know where InuYasha is?' after that freak had hung up on Kagome, Sesshoumaru had let a slight glower of distaste settle on his face before storming from the building, Rin in tote. Kagome had seen him on his cell phone and he looked angry. But she didn't get the chance to ask Sesshoumaru what was going on; he all but had dragged Rin into the car and left. With a sigh, Kagome turned and looked over her right shoulder. Sango and Miroku were cuddled together, both sets of eyes plastered on her back. A sad smile etched her face as she met Sango's eyes. They hadn't left her side since the morning. Miroku had been adamantly convinced that InuYasha would be back in school in the morning and yet when they walked as a group into English, he looked nearly as crestfallen as she herself had. `Yash is his best friend…I guess I would be just as worried if Sango or Rin vanished.' She shivered involuntarily and threw her head back to stroke her face with cupped hands. “Where are you InuYasha?”

 

A chair scrapped the floor next to her as an arm was draped over her shoulders. Shocked, she turned quickly, a glazed over hope coating her chocolate brown eyes. Two cerulean blue eyes stared back at her with a small smile etched on rosy lips, “dead, hopefully….”

 

Kagome gasped and shoved Kouga backwards; pulling her shoulders from his grasp, “don't say that!”

 

Kouga's smile faltered when tears surfaced in her eyes and he moved closer, an actual apologetic look overtaking his face, “don't cry Kagome…come on, I didn't mean it! Don't cry! Not over that mutt, come on…”

 

Kagome's tears suddenly took a turn towards the dark side as she stood from her chair and poked a pointer finger at the wolf, “you, sir, have a lot of nerves! After that show yesterday at the talent contest…and now saying…God, Kouga, don't you get it?”

 

Kouga frowned and stared hard at her finger before looking up her arm slowly, letting his eyes trace her chest and neck then focusing on her eyes. “Kagome, I think you don't get it. He left…he's gone. He got what he wanted then got the hell out of dodge.”

 

Kagome recoiled and wrapped her arms around her body, her eyes meeting Kouga's with a look of dread. “He didn't…he wouldn't.”

 

Kouga rolled his eyes and stood, kicking his chair backwards and took a step towards Kagome. “Look babe, he was scum when he got here, but you didn't want to see it. You practically threw yourself at him, making the three F violation a hell of a lot easier for him to commit.”

 

Kagome felt her eyes narrow as she shook her head rapidly, “no…he was not scum. He wouldn't….” She paused and stared around her for a moment, her eyes focusing on Kouga's nose, “what…are the…”

 

Kouga held a closed hand in front of Kagome, slowly, he counted up with his fingers, “Find her…fuck her…forget her.” he noticed Kagome's absolutely horrified look and held out a hand to her shoulder, “Kagome, face it…he got what he wanted and went home with his tail between his legs. He just wanted to get between your legs, unlike some of us…”

 

A hand clamped down on Kouga's shoulder and turning slowly, he came into contact with a balled fist. He stumbled backwards, crashing into a number of chairs and falling onto his back, holding his nose with a string of unrecognizable curses spewing from his mouth. Miroku stood where he once was, his fist still clenched and his eyes closed, trying to suppress the rage that was flowing through his veins. After a moment, he gave Kagome a short nod before stepping over the fallen chairs and dropping to his knees next to Kouga. He grabbed Kouga's sweatshirt with one hand and pulled the wolf demon closer to his face, their eyes connecting with a near atomic explosion of anger. Miroku shook the demon once, then lowered his face to be inches away from the wolf demon, “first and foremost, never disrespect a woman. Insinuating that they are anything less then goddesses is asking for death. Second, never disrespect a woman in my company or you'll find yourself in another situation much like this. Third, and this one is very important, so pay attention,” Miroku narrowed his eyes and dropped an octave in his voice, “never insult my friends. Do it again, Kouga and I'll fuck you up. Questions?” Miroku sneered at the wolf and dropped him to the floor, allowing his head to hit the tiled floor with a crack. He scoffed once and shook his head slowly, his eyes washing over the defeated Youkai's body. “Baka.” He turned back and wiped his hands on his jeans and offered Kagome an apologetic smile. “On behalf of the male race, let me apologize for him.” he grabbed Kagome's hands and pulled her towards Sango, who was staring at Miroku agape. Sitting down on the chair, he cast one arm around Sango's waist and pulled her onto one knee and with Kagome's hands still in his; he pulled her to sit on his other leg. “Now, ladies, where were we?”

 

Kagome blinked and looked up to meet Sango's infuriated gaze. “Is he serious?” she blinked again and looked down at Miroku, “are you seriously doing this?”

 

Miroku blinked and then gave her a dazzling smile, “but of course.”

 

Sango's right eyebrow twitched as her hand connected with the back of Miroku's skull. “Hentai!”

 

Kagome giggled as she pulled herself from his lap and cast the nearly unconscious boy a smile, “thanks anyway, Miroku.” She felt a twinge in her gut and looked back at Kouga, who was sitting up with Shippo and Hojo's help. She frowned and moved a step closer to Sango, who had hauled Miroku upright and was tapping his cheek, trying to bring him back to sanity. She shook her head and fell into an empty seat.

 

“He didn't leave you, Kagome. You know that, right?”

 

Kagome looked up to meet Sango's gaze and sighed. “I know…it's just…hard, you know? I'm so worried about him.”

 

Sango kneeled down in front of her best friend and grabbed her hand, “Kagome…it's okay…he's okay. I'm sure that whatever came up was really important that he hasn't had the time to get to a phone.”

Miroku, who blinked away the daze from which Sango had initiated him into, pulled his chair closer to the two girls. “Kagome, if there is anything I have learned from Yash over this past month, it is that he means what he says. And he has said, many times over, how much he loves you. He wouldn't run out on that…so don't listen to that fucking idiot over there. InuYasha is just…he's….” Miroku frowned and met Sango's gaze, searching for the right word. Unable to grasp it, he sighed and shrugged, choosing to remain quiet.

 

Kagome closed her eyes and sighed, nodding in agreement with Miroku. “I don't think he ran away from this…but…what if….” Her voice lodged in her throat and she dropped her face to stare to the floor. `What if he's hurt, what if he's really badly injured and needs help. What if he's dead?' she gasped as the last thought crossed her mind and instantly tears fell. “No…no…no…” she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the pictures that now swirled through her mind. `I'll die…I will honestly die if he's…he couldn't…. No…he is still alive!'

 

Somewhere behind the three, the bell rang dismissing the students into the crappy weather for the weekend. Sango hugged her friend, wrapping her arms around Kagome's shoulder and pulling her head to her shoulder. “Please Kagome, don't cry. He's fine…he's doing just fine.”

 

Kagome sobbed quietly, wrapping her arm around her friend. “Then why hasn't he called?”

 

Miroku frowned and quickly answered, “Because he's a baka.”

 

Sango nodded, stroking her friend's hair with her hand. “Kagome…you know boys don't think straight. He probably doesn't even realize…I'm sure….” She sighed and hugged Kagome tighter. “Whatever it is, we'll be fine. We'll get through this and find him. Don't worry!”

 

Miroku stood quietly and grabbed both the other girl's backpacks and his own. He lifted them with a grunt and then stared down at the two. “Come on, ladies…we should get going. Kagome, why don't you come home with us and watch a couple movies? I'll order pizza.”

 

Kagome blinked once then slowly released her death grip on her friend's shoulders. “I think…”

 

Sango stood and wrapped her arm through Kagome's armpit, “I think it sounds like a marvelous idea. Come on…I'll drive.”

 

Kagome slowly pulled her arm free from Sango and licked her lips. “I think…I think I'm going to pass.”

 

Miroku met Sango's quick glimmer of concern and he restated, “Kagome, I think it would be for the best.”

 

Kagome shook her head and took her bookbag from Miroku, “it sounds wonderful…but I have a lot of homework….”

 

Sango put her hand on Kagome's and stared her down, “homework for classes that we're all in together. Come on, girl…just give in and come with us. You shouldn't be alone.”

 

Kagome winced and stretched once before settling her bookbag on both of her shoulders. “It's okay…I'm fine.”

 

“Liar.”

 

Kagome shot Sango a dark look before turning her back to them. “You two go back…have a good time. I got some stuff to take care of. I'll call you tonight.”

 

Sango rushed to catch up to her friend and put a hand in front of her, pausing her in mid step, “Kagome…”

 

Kagome glowered at Sango before staring down to the hand on her shoulder. With frigid tone that Sesshoumaru managed to freeze to his words, Kagome mimicked perfectly, “Sango, I really need my time to figure this out. Let me go. Now.”

 

Sango shook her head, her jaw set in determination. “I can't do that. You're my best friend Kagome, and to let you just wander around heartbroken…”

 

Kagome's eyebrows fused as she coughed out, “heartbroken?” Kagome looked towards the wall, trying to control the tears that begged to be shed. `Try trampled…destroyed…obliterated…. Heartbroken, no…crushed, much better of a word.'

 

Another voice broke into the conversation, “How else would you react if you were made a whore then dumped by your boyfriend? Oh…excuse me…made a public fuck toy, that's a better term.”

 

Two heads of black hair whipped around to stare at the intruder. All three pairs of brown eyes met and clashed in an enraged fury. Sango was the first to retort, “Kikyo…shouldn't you have a cock filling that hole on your face, like you always do? Do us all a favor and go choke on one.”

 

Kikyo turned around from the group of girls she was talking with and began to circle the two girls slowly, her eyes roaming over their faces like a shark picking its prey. Her three lackeys; Yura, Kaguya and Abi sat back and laughed as they watched their leader try to make fools of the two. “My, what a vocabulary you have Sango, but I guess that is to be expected though from a dike who can't even control her younger brother.”

 

Sango pulled away from Kagome and snarled, “fuck you, you whore! You don't know shit about what you're saying! And as for me being a dike…let's not forget who's the one who hangs around chicks all the time…and that would be you.”

 

Kikyo rolled her eyes and flipped her hand at the girl, “I can't help the truth about you, Sango. I mean, you have lesbian stamped on your forehead. Are you sure that you and Higurashi aren't…you know…” She laughed a rather eerie laugh then turned her to glare at Kagome, “but honestly, Kagome…what were you expecting; for someone like InuYasha to love you?”

 

Yura sighed and tapped her foot on the floor, her eyes digging into Kagome's back. Her velvet like voice sliding through the halls, “I heard you fucked him…and half the football team, after the last game three weeks ago. I also heard you didn't stop there. Oh me, oh my how the mighty fall…”

 

Abi joined Kikyo in circling the pair like hawks, her eyes glittering in mischief. “Come on Kikyo…I can take the strong one…teach them why they shouldn't fuck with the Right Hand…”

 

Sango immediately lifted her hands to her sides, ready to fight if needed. “I'd watch that mouth of yours Abi. I was able to take you down in ninth grade, I can do it again in a heart beat.”

 

Abi sneered and screamed, “you got lucky that time, bitch!”

 

Sango brought herself closer to Kagome, ready to protect her friend if it came to swinging. “Luck ain't got nothing to do with it!”

 

Kikyo rolled her eyes and shoved her hair behind her ears. “If you two know what's good for you, you'll disappear and take that little whore, Rin, with you.”

 

Kagome's eyes narrowed, “there isn't any use comparing Rin to a whore…like yourself. She's a saint and it's sad that you are picking on her when she isn't here to defend herself. I dare you to say that shit to her face…I'd love to watch her rearrange yours. There are a lot of whores in this school, Kikyo…starting with you as the queen of them all, but Rin isn't one of them.”

 

Abi laughed loudly, “I don't know what she has you all believing but I'd love to hear her side; truth is, Rin was fucked by Naraku in every hole she has and loved every minute of it.” she set her eyes to Kagome, “and your next on his list…”

 

Sango growled and took a step towards Abi, “You bitch…”

 

Kagome put an arm in front of Sango, her eyes not much more then mere slits but her words flawlessly calm, “It's a shame when you turn a girl who was raped into some type of whore. You known damn well that Naraku held her down while he forced himself on her. And I'm sure you know all about Naraku and how he fucks. I'm sure that he fucked each and every one of you…and you are all too afraid to admit that he raped you so you let people think that you wanted it, just so you didn't seem weak. You are too afraid to stand up to him and you hate it that Rin was the squeaky wheel and got away with it. You hate her because she was strong when you couldn't be.”

 

Yura growled deeply, her eyes near a blood red shade, “You dare think that you understand us? Naraku never...” her words fell from her lips as she merely sneered at Kagome and instantly looked away, falling back to stand next to Kaguya, who looked like she didn't give a damn about anything going on.

 

Kikyo, on the other hand, was livid. She lifted one hand towards Kagome, ready to attack. “You whore…you think that we are jealous of the fact that Rin got out? You think for one minute I couldn't have stopped Naraku if I had wanted to? Who do you think I am?”

 

“Naraku's whore, apparently.”

 

Kagome shot Sango a short smile and turned back to the girls. “Just go away, we haven't done anything to you!”

 

Kikyo laughed again and backed a foot up, her hand slowly beginning to glow pink, “I know you're a miko, Kagome. Let's see what you can do.”

 

Kagome's eyebrows arched in confusion as she backed away from Kikyo, “I'm not a miko, Kikyo…and even if I was one, I haven't been trained. Not to mention, you can't purify me, I'm human.”

 

Kikyo laughed even louder, a near sadistic tone bellowing into her voice, “then let's see how much heat you can stand.”

 

Sango's eyes widened as she readied herself to push Kagome out of the way.

 

“FÅ«jin no mai” **

 

Sango shoved Kagome out of the way with just enough time as a near wind tunnel erupted around the girls, knocking Kikyo back into a wall and nearly rendering her unconscious. Abi looked frazzled as she jumped back to the other two, running her hands through her silky black curly locks as if to make sure that they were still intact. As Kagome turned to see what the hell had created such a blasé, she watched Kikyo's lackeys parted like the red sea. Her eyes widened as Kagura swept gracefully through the crowd, a single fan in her right hand and a look of death on her face. At the same time, Miroku pushed through the amassed crowd to join the two girls, frustration etched on his face. Exchanging glowers with Kikyo's groupies, Kagura raised an eyebrow and sent the three scampering down the halls. She laughed callously and turned her attention to Kikyo. “Anyone who lays down for Naraku willingly should be shot…think of the diseases that he probably gave you,” she laughed again as Kikyo groaned. “Did you not think of that? Naraku is the biggest man whore known to woman! Now do us all a favor, Kikyo and get the hell out of my sight, before Kagome and Sango kick your ass into next week, you stupid bitch.”

 

Kikyo stood up and glowered at Kagura yet didn't mutter a word. Instead, she pushed past the girl, hurrying to catch up with her fleeing counterparts.

 

Kagura turned back to the three girls and watched with a glowing amusement sparkling in her ruby orbs as Miroku uttered apologies and was saying that Kouga deemed it necessary to try to fight again. Kagura glanced around the monk to see Kouga bracing himself against the wall and Ginta nursing his bloody nose. She laughed again and shook her head. She looked back to the three and gave them a deep scowl, suddenly returning to why she had searched the three out. “I'm looking for Sesshoumaru.”

Kagome turned her attention back to Kagura with a cocked eyebrow. `What is her angle? She hasn't said two words to me since we got into high school…now she's protecting us? Wait…Sesshoumaru?' she blinked once and shook her head, realizing that Kagura had been talking to her. “What did you say?”

 

Kagura narrowed her blood red eyes and sneered, “are you deaf? I told you I have important things I have to talk to him about. So…where is he?”

 

Miroku crossed his arms slowly; knowing that angering the wind Youkai would not be a smart move yet was angered over her impudence. “I don't think he really wants to talk to you…”

 

Kagura rolled her eyes and huffed, “it's about Rin. I'm sure he'll want to talk about that whelp any day of the week.”

 

It didn't take a detective to hear the jealous and vindictive tone in her voice. Sango crossed her arms, “what do you know about Rin?”

 

Kagura stared at Sango for a long moment before turning on her heels, “Tell Sesshoumaru to call me…or if he doesn't have the balls or liberty to do that, to find me in school on Monday. He'll want to know what I do about Yamaoto.”

 

Miroku rubbed the bridge of his nose, getting rather annoyed with the run around games all the girls of the school had decided to play that day. “Just tell us so we can tell him. And who is this Yamaoto?”

 

Kagura threw her hand at the trio over her shoulder and disappeared into the crowd, ignoring their last questions.

 

Kagome watched Kagura saunter off into the pack of kids and shook her head. `Every day things get weirder and weirder.' She sighed and looked over her shoulder. The crowd had dispersed and the path leading out of the school was clear. She pushed past Sango and Miroku, who were nearly as dazed as she was, and headed for the door.

 

Sango realized that Kagome was missing a moment later and turned to look at her friends fleeing form. “Kagome, wait!”

 

Kagome heard her but didn't show it. Breaking into a slow jog, she pushed her way out of the double doors and into the down pouring rain. `I just need to get away…to think!' she hiked the hood of her coat up over her head and jogged down the walkway towards the parking lot.

 

“Kagome!”

 

Kagome turned and her eyes landed on the miserable face of her best friend, who was standing under the awing by the band room door, her arms wrapped around herself. Kagome gave her a short wave and screamed over the rain, “call me tonight. Maybe…me, you and Rin can go out tomorrow.”

 

Sango paused, her hands tapping on her arms, “Kagome…are you waiting for your mom to pick you up?”

 

Kagome shook her head and turned and started to walk again, “no. I'm going to walk home.”

 

“What about Naraku, Kagome? What about Kikyo? She all but attacked you in there. What makes you think that she won't try that shit again?”

 

Kagome turned and glowered at Miroku, who was standing behind Sango, worry etched on his face. “What about him? Miroku, I'm not going to hide under a rock and pray that no one will find me. As for Kikyo and her want-to-be's, I'll take care of them if I need to.”

 

Miroku sighed then ran down the hill after Kagome. Reaching the bottom, he paused before her and grimaced, “come on, Kagome. It's horrible out. Why do you want to walk home?”

 

Kagome balled her hands to fists and stared Miroku straight in the eye. “Look, I'm really tired of you people telling me what to do. I need to walk…I need to think. You are all stifling me right now! I know you're worried, but I'll be okay. Just give me my space. Please!”

 

Miroku backed up a step and frowned. “InuYasha will have my balls if something happens to you.”

 

Kagome frowned and turned away from the boy, “that's if he comes back.”

Miroku threw his hands up and grabbed her arm. Twirling her around, he grabbed both of her shoulders and shook her. “Is that what this is about? Kagome, he's fine!”

 

“Then prove it to me!” Kagome felt tears beginning to leak down her face as she ripped herself from his grasp, “Give me one shred of evidence that supports your thought! Prove to me that he is okay! Go ahead…please!”

 

Miroku frowned and lowered his hands, “I know he is.”

 

“How. Have you talked to him?”

 

“No but…”

 

“Have you seen him?”

 

“Kagome, I…”

 

Kagome turned her back to Miroku and began walking towards the exit of the school lot, “I thought so. Just go home and take care of Sango.”

 

Miroku stood there, watching Kagome walk from the building utterly helpless to stop her. Sango soon joined him and they stood for a moment in the rain before heading back to her car. The silence became deafening and after getting into the car, Miroku pulled out his cell phone. “I need to try to reach him.”

 

Sango sighed and shook her head slowly, turning on the car and blasting the heat. “Go ahead and try…but I don't think you're going to get anywhere with it.”

 

Miroku shrugged and dialed his friend's number, praying to God that the weirdo had given Yash back his phone. No such luck. A voice answered the phone and Miroku cringed. `This is supposed to be a guy? No way…not a chance in hell!'

 

“Hellllloooo?”

 

Miroku grimaced before carefully talking, “yeah…let me speak to InuYasha.”

 

There was a long pause and a deep airy sigh. “Look cutie, whoever you are, he's taken by Moi. So hang up and try another one of your gay lovers, okay?”

 

Miroku cringed and looked to Sango, his eyebrows creased and his face a complete sheet of disgust. “Look, I want to talk to you about InuYasha. Have you seen him in the past forty eight hours?”

 

Another sigh and Miroku could just about hear someone in the background. “Look, snuckums, you sound cute so I'll help you out. Dog man was here about…ohh…twenty-four hours ago…and he left his phone here, with me, so I could hold it until he gets back. Which he will…he will come back to me and I will…”

 

Miroku shivered and yelled, “Look, I really don't want to know your relationship with InuYasha, which I am sure is strictly platonic…”

 

Jakotsu laughed one insane giggle, “Strictly…oh, it's strictly something sweetheart. Strictly my…”

 

Miroku's eyes shot open and he screamed, praying that it would pause Jakotsu's rant. “Agh! I don't want to hear this! Just tell me where he is!”

 

Jakotsu laughed again, successfully creeping Miroku out and he snidely answered, “Well, if you're going to be rude about it…”

 

Miroku shook his head, and let out a puff of air. “You have some audacity, you know that? Just tell me where the hell the guy, whose phone you stole, is!

 

Jakotsu paused for a moment before slowly responding, “Maybe I don't wanna…maybe I wanna sandwich…”*

 

Miroku threw up his arms in the air and shook his head, “This is fucking ridiculous! Tell me where InuYasha is or I'll personally come down there…”

 

“Oh honey, I would have to pencil you in between clients and that could be sketchy…specially since with Inu here, I need to conserve my…”

 

Miroku fought the urge to snap closed the phone, his eyes nearly falling out of his head. “Look, you sick sadistic freak… I don't want to…”

 

There was a long pause and a loud bang. Miroku pulled the phone away from his ear and grimaced as a short shouting match ensued with a voice that he knew all to well. `Fuck, this isn't good.' Miroku tapped his fingers on Sango's dashboard before shouting, “Hello?”

 

Another voice took over the conversation that only allowed everything to spiral downhill further then it already had. “Yo…whatcha want?”

 

Miroku rolled his eyes and pushed his back against the backrest. “I want to talk to InuYasha. Is he there?”

 

Another pause and Miroku could just about see the subtle confusion in the human's eyes. “InuYasha?” another pause, apparently him reading the LCD screen of the phone. Miroku knew his name must have been displayed by the way that Bankotsu repeated his name while trying to place the face. “Miroku…Miroku? …Oh, you're that little shit with the dike of a girlfriend, right?”

 

Miroku all but growled, “Keep it up Bankotsu and I'll rearrange your face next time I see you. Where the hell is InuYasha?”

 

Bankotsu laughed callously, “Fuck if I know…but you got me curious.” He pulled the phone away from his ear and screamed, “Jakotsu, just where fuck did you get this phone, bitch?”

 

Jakotsu's whiny voice echoed from somewhere behind the boy, “uhh…InuYasha?”

 

Bankotsu's voice echoed through the phone, “Why the fuck is InuYasha here and not boning that piece of ass he is attached to there?”

 

Miroku took a deep breath, slowly counting backwards from 10. “That is what I'm trying to find out. He disappeared yesterday, same day as you and Hiten, and we haven't heard shit from him. Now, have you seen him?”

 

Bankotsu paused then laughed loudly. “Maybe he got tired of all of you pricks! Decided to come home to where his real family is.”

 

Miroku opened his mouth to say something then paused. `His real family?' he nearly hit the dashboard with his palm. `That's it…family…his family. Why didn't I think of this before? His mother is buried in Kyushu…I'm sure he has surviving relatives over there. I know he mentioned something…maybe two weeks ago…about grandparents. That has to be it…he's there to see them…maybe to get something.' A slight glimmer of hope overtook Miroku's heart as he shook his head slowly, `I think I got this now. He's there…to finish something. That's why he left without Kagome…because he didn't want her to…stop…him? Oh. That really can't be a good thing, can it? What is he doing?' he heard some grumbling and gave in to the darker desire in his heart. `This guy is really starting to piss me off!' “Hey Bankotsu…”

 

The two freaks shared another laugh and Bankotsu's voice cut through the phone wave, “what is it?”

 

“Fuck off.” Miroku snapped shut the phone and put it into his pocket. He took one look at Sango's face and grimaced. “Bankotsu is there but I think I know where InuYasha is.” he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, `I really hope I'm right.'

 

Sango stepped on the gas, pushing the BMW a little faster. “It doesn't matter if he's with that asshole.”

 

Miroku put one hand to his head and shook it, opening his eyes slowly, “No, Bankotsu had no idea Yash was back there, therefore meaning that InuYasha went there for another reason, and one that I think I know what it is.”

 

Sango rolled her eyes and switched lanes a little to fast, nearly launching Miroku across the car. “Why?”

 

Miroku grabbed onto the upper handle of the car and cringed, “because…he has family there. Maybe…just maybe…he had to deal with his family back there.”

 

Sango hit the break at the red light, screeching to a halt and glowered at Miroku, “back where?”

 

Miroku sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing how bad it was going to sound. Either way, by time this was done, InuYasha was going to be up shits-creek without a paddle “Kyushu.”

 

~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~

 

Kagome walked down the street, her coat now sufficiently soaked and her hair matted to her head. Yet she didn't feel the cold…she didn't feel the wind…she didn't feel anything. Walking through puddle after puddle, she couldn't help the fire in her gut telling her that something was wrong…that InuYasha was in trouble and she was helpless to do anything about it. With each step, another part of her felt like it died. `Why would he just leave? He has to be in trouble! It's not fair that I can't help him! After everything he's done…after everything we've been through; he can't leave me…not now. I never got to stand up for him. I never got to tell him how proud of him I am or how much I appreciate everything he's done for me. I never got to tell him how much I love him.' she sniffed up her tears as she took a turn and walked into a park a block away from her house. Sitting down on the swing set that was nearly as old as she was, she slowly began to swing herself on the black seat. `I can't lose him. I love him so much…I can't even remember what a day was like when he wasn't…by my side. I don't want to know this feeling anymore! I want him there when I wake up…I want him always next to me. I want…I want InuYasha!' she let herself glide to a stop, suddenly feeling very cold. But it wasn't from the rain or the fact that her clothes were now nearly transparent against her tanned flesh, it was from the sudden emptiness that consumed her, from the hollowness that the missing piece of her soul mourned for. `Where are you InuYasha? Please…come back to me.' she let the tears fall as she put her head into her lap, never once caring to the fact that the temperature was hardly above forty degrees.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

InuYasha felt like he was swimming…or drowning…maybe both. His head was pounding like a steel drum, his body ached, his bones chilled from the cold rain and freezing soil…his eyes nearly refused to open. Somewhere in the darkness he heard his name being whispered…somewhere just out of his reach of sight. Wait…could he even see? He tried to blink yet the darkness the clouted his eyes would not relent. `Maybe my eyes aren't open…' it was as if he didn't have any control over his body at all. He tried to take a deep breath but it merely made his lungs burn more…a burning feeling that shot through his chest and up his spine. It was a torturous feeling that buried agony in each of his muscles, dug holes in each of his bones, and for a moment, InuYasha wondered if he had died. Everything felt so lethargic…his body sluggish to react to anything he wished for it to do. He was cold and yet not…he felt like he was floating in a pool of tar; it was sticking to his body and slowly dragging him into the murky depths of death. He was sure that a part of his lungs were not accepting air but wasn't too sure why. His breaths were in short pants and tore at his chest whenever he inhaled. Then he felt a stunningly painful blow to his right cheek. An open hand slap, he was nearly sure of it. If anything, it jarred some rapid feeling into his icy cold cheek, and that was a good thing. He let his eye flutter open to gaze blindly up into a gray ceiling. Ceiling? Wasn't he outside? He scurried through his memories from the past…day…days? Suddenly he found himself unsure about anything. `Damn, did I ever had an acid trip this bad? What the fuck…why can't I remember? I'm clean…I haven't taken anything…what the hell….'

 

A voice broke through the subtle silence that had enraptured the hanyou for what felt like hours. The voice was strained…maybe even pained; it was gruff and demanding and yet…worried. InuYasha could only make out a few words but was able to put them together quickly, “wake…InuYasha…open…damn eyes…come on, kid…”

 

InuYasha blinked again, his vision beginning to take in more of his surroundings. He was on something softer then the ground and yet not…something that stank of curry and rice. `A seat…in a taxi…' he chewed on his bottom lip for a moment only to find his mouth parched and his lip already cracked. He guessed the strange metallic taste in his mouth was that of his own blood. He made a face as a blob of color took form over him again. InuYasha frowned and brought a hand sluggishly to his face and tried to wipe his eyes. He realized, staring at his hand for a long moment, that it was covered in dirt and blood. `What the hell happened to me?' The blob that was staring at him, muttered something to another person…a person who InuYasha couldn't see and suddenly the taxi jerked into motion. InuYasha grasped to the seat in front of him only to be blocked by a Plexiglas window. He paused, his eyes beginning to focus. `Please let this be a taxi and not a cop car!' he looked up from where his head was resting on the seat to find another person staring down at him, sitting next to him against the passenger door. InuYasha eyes focused on their golden stare. In a very rasp voice, he called out with heavy confusion, “Sesshoumaru?”

 

The man laughed, deeply, and rolled his eyes. “Not quite kid…come on and wake the fuck up. You're really done for now.”

 

InuYasha grabbed the `oh shit' bar across the cab very slowly, his bone cracking and burning with every movement. He felt like he hadn't moved in fifty years. Only after he struggled to get himself upright and pressed his back against the seat did he turn to look at the man next to him. He swallowed twice before carefully asking, “what the hell…are you doing out here, Ryen?”

 

Ryen stared at his nephew for a moment before pulling a bottle of water out of his backpack and opened it. He held it out to the boy with a frown, “I could ask you the same but I don't think I need to.”

 

InuYasha took the bottle and swallowed a generous mouthful, his eyes never leaving the older demon. “Look, I told you I had…” he groaned and put a hand to his head, closing his eyes with the unbearable pain that pulled at his temples. Almost immediately, Ryen was holding two Excedrin tablets under his nose. InuYasha frowned but swallowed them with his next gulp of water. He rested his head for a moment before cracking open one eye, “I told you I could handle it.”

 

Ryen raised an eyebrow and looked over InuYasha very quickly, “you're right, InuYasha…what the hell was I thinking? You can take care of yourself, I forgot! I am so sorry…I mean, I really am. Tell you what, I'll tell the cab driver to turn his piece of shit around, I'll carry you back out to that fucking Kami-forsaken field that I found you in, allow you to be fried by another bolt of lightening and leave you there, again, to die. How does that sound?” he reached up to tap on the window then paused, his finger lying on the glass. “Or…you can tell me what the hell is going on.” He gave InuYasha a rather sadistic smile with a devilish glint to his eye, “Either one is great for me…you tell me what you want to do! How's that sound?”

 

InuYasha scowled at the man for a moment before finishing the bottle of water and handing it back to him. With a grunt, he cracked his jaw and then his neck. “Fuck off, asshole. I got shit I got to handle.”

 

Ryen took a deep breath and sat back, crossing his arms across his broad frame. “InuYasha…I understand why you are here. I honestly didn't at first, and came here figuring you were doing something stupid…again. I got here, did some investigating and found your hotel. What startled me…and worried me, was that you haven't been there in two days. So I figured out who was here that you knew and came up here. Let me say, that little man in that damned shack is very unpleasant.”

 

InuYasha raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes, “welcome to my life.”

 

Ryen cleared his throat and looked to his hands, any traces of amusement or joking gone from his voice, “that was your mother's grave?”

 

InuYasha turned his head to stare out the window, “Yeah.”

 

Ryen nodded once, “I see.” He waited for a long moment before reaching down and handing InuYasha a slightly singed box. “I found this about a good hundred feet from where I found you. Care to tell me what the fuck happened out there?”

 

InuYasha turned slowly and took the box from Ryen carefully, staring at it as if it were the Holy Grail before putting it down in his lap. What happened…that was the question wasn't it? “I don't know. What I can remember is sitting down at my mother's grave from talking to my grandfather and waking up to see you. Everything else…” he closed his eyes and tried his best to remember. He could remember feeling so cold…he had to be sitting there in the pouring rain for at least ten hours. Then he heard a number of loud claps and felt like his body was on fire. His eyes jolted open and he shivered once, “I just remember being cold and then…like a thousand volts of electricity ran through me…bloody fucking painful.”

 

Ryen tapped his chin with one long finger, “not far from the truth though. The tree that you were under was burnt to a near crisp…looked like a bolt of lighting fried it. I'm guessing you got the blast as well. You're fucking lucky to be alive, let me tell you!”

 

InuYasha frowned, an odd sort of loathing foaming in his mouth. `Lightning? Well…it was raining…and I guess…maybe…' he shifted he weight and looked down at his clothes. He was covered in mud and his skin still felt like it was on fire. He dreaded the thought of actually seeing how bad he really looked. If it was anything like how he felt…. “You got a shower I can use?”

 

Ryen stared at the boy from the corner of his eye, a rather sarcastic look etching his face, “yeah, let me pull that out of my fucking back pack as well…you want the kitchen sink with that?” He rolled his eyes and turned to stare at the teen, “I took a red eye flight over here as soon as I was free to get you so that you didn't fuck anything up more then you already have.”

 

InuYasha scowled and ran a hand through his hair. “What time is it?”

 

Ryen looked to his watch then back at the boy, “about six pm.”

 

InuYasha cringed and stretched once, “I did what I needed to do.” he paused, his grandfathers words coming back to haunt him and he frowned. `Mom…that's why I stopped in the field; he said…she…but she would never of…' he sighed deeply and dropped his head to his hands. “I should get back before Kagome freaks out completely.”

 

Ryen watched his nephew's actions, measuring each look that crossed his face before carefully daring to add, “she's worried sick about you. Apparently, some asshole got a hold of your phone and has really been freaking her out. I don't know the gist but what I do know is that she is ready to string you up by your balls. You really need to call her before she maims you for all of this shit!”

 

InuYasha grimaced and the scowled. “Jakotsu has my phone? Fuck. I really don't want to go see that bastard.”

 

“I'll get it from him, don't worry.

InuYasha opened his mouth to warn Ryen of the thought before a grin flashed across his face. `Oh, this will be amazing.' He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling at the idea. Ryen would mop the floor with Jakotsu if he tried his shit with him. “That sounds good. But I really need a shower.”

 

Ryen looked over the boy then nodded slowly, “yeah, two days of dirt covering me and I would need one too.”

 

InuYasha's eyes nearly fell out of his head when the words left Ryen's mouth. “Two days?”

 

Ryen stared at his nephew, measuring the amount of confusion on his face before pulling out a cigarette, jarring open the taxi's window and lighting it up. He inhaled once, his eyes staring at InuYasha from the left side before exhaling out of the right side of his mouth into the cold dusk air. “Yeah…two days…today's Sunday kid.”

 

InuYasha blinked then snapped his head to look at Ryen. “Shit…I was lying there for two days?”

 

Ryen shrugged and took another drag, “Maybe.”

 

InuYasha slowly shook his head, his eyes still burning from his awakening. `Holy shit, is this really happening? I was struck by fucking lightning? No…that isn't right. But what…what did happen?' his mind still drew dark blanks for the past forty-eight hours and InuYasha shivered. `How the fuck did I ever tolerate missing time when I was stoned?' He cringed, remembering the last time he couldn't recall time. it was when he and Sesshoumaru first moved to Tokyo…the first weekend when Launia left to go back to Kyushu….or to sleep with Diegosan; probably to plot Sesshoumaru and his own death. That weekend…he still could hardly remember anything besides for tons of bottles…a long line of shots…an X-Box marathon and…his brother being somewhat social. `that's what happens when you get Asshole drunk.' InuYasha shook his head, trying to focus his thoughts to the present. “So…I've been gone for the whole fucking weekend?”

 

Ryen took another drag then sighed, holding the stick over to his nephew who graciously accepted it. “Yeah, baka…the whole fucking weekend. Now you know I'm not trying to be your dad or some shit like that, but you really need to call Kagome.”

 

InuYasha cringed at the sound of his lovers name and rolled down his window, letting the air rejuvenate his body. `Shit, Kagome's going to kill me.'

~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 

Kagome sat with a cup of hot coco, her eyes settled into the two other pairs staring back at her. She sipped the drink then gave off a flashy smile. “We should go to the mall…you know, do something we haven't done in a while together or something.”

 

Rin shrugged then nodded, stretching back to lie down on Kagome's bed. “I agree…it's been forever since we've been together as a group. I miss you guys.”

 

Sango laughed and poked Rin in her exposed stomach and laughed when Rin jumped nearly a foot in the air, a smile etched on her face. If one thing would never change, it would be how ticklish Rin was. “Well if you weren't always so busy with Sesshoumaru…”

 

Rin rolled over and flopped herself down, resting length-wise on Kagome's bed, peering down at her friends from above them, peaking out from behind a pillow that she had shoved over her face, “are we going to talk, Miss. I let Miroku move into my house?”

 

Kagome laughed and rolled her head back, “she has a point.”

 

Sango crossed her arms, a slightly smile thinly pressed on her lips. “Look at the pot call the kettle black. You little wench, come here!” Sango grabbed a pillow and whacked Rin once on the ass with it. Rin yelped and chucked a pillow at Sango and hit the door with a loud thud. Instantly the girls quieted down until Kagome broke out in a rash of loud giggles. Rin soon followed. Sango merely shook her head, a giant smile encompassing her face. “You two are to much.”

 

A soft knock came to the door and it jarred open, Souta's head becoming a target as soon as he poked it inside. “Are you guys okay, I heard…”

 

Instantly, a pillow thumped Souta right between the eyes. He stumbled backwards but caught his balance, then kicked open the door and glared at Rin, who was laughing madly on the bed, another pillow poised in her hands.

 

Kagome laughed with her friends, holding up a hand towards Souta and tears rolling down her cheeks, “I'm…sorry…” she broke into hysterical laugher and doubled over, holding her knees to her chest.

 

Sango watched Kagome laugh, tears becoming present in her own eyes as she picked up the pillow that Rin had so perfectly hit Souta with. “We're fine…just one of those girl things…”

 

Souta's eyes widened and he slammed the door shut as another pillow came hurdling at his head.

 

Rin laughed as Sango chucked the pillows back to her and fell over from her standing position to rest her chin on top of Sango's head. “Let's go out…I want to go out.”

 

Kagome laughed and looked to her clock. “Well…it's six pm so I guess if we hurry, we can make it to the mall.” She sniffled once, then made a face and reached up to her computer to grab a tissue.

 

Sango watched her friend carefully before exchanging glances with Rin. “Kagome, you've been blowing your nose like every two minutes. I knew it wasn't a good idea for you to walk home on Friday.”

 

Rin's jaw dropped as she swung herself off of the bed to land between the two girls. “You walked home? Are you nuts?”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes, shooting Sango a glower before shrugging, “well…not really. I just needed time to think.”

 

Sango shook her head slowly, “it wouldn't have been worth it if…”

 

Kagome quickly interrupted her friend's train of thought, “but nothing did so drop it. I just want to have a normal day today…no talking about bad things, remember? You're the one who set the rules.” She blinked when she noticed Rin was already halfway into her closet, throwing clothes at the two girls. “Rin…what are you doing?”

 

Rin called from somewhere in the depths of the closet-beast, “I'm trying to find you both something nice to wear to the mall.”

 

Sango exchanged glances with Kagome before carefully stating, “Rin…it's not like we're going to pick up guys. We're just going to go shopping.”

 

Rin peaked her head out from the door and shrugged innocently, “so? Don't you want to look nice while doing it? I'm not saying dress like a whore, ya know!”

 

Kagome laughed and picked up the small dress that Rin had found for her. “Are you sure about that now? Cause I'm sure that if Sesshoumaru found you walking around in this, he'd have a couple things to say…”

 

Sango laughed and shook her head, “nah, he'd have it off of her in like two seconds…”

 

Rin paused in the closet, her eyes shifting from playful to a rather ambiguous emotion that surged through her quickly. She shook her head, dismissing the slight pang that accompanied her friend's words and forced out a laugh, “yeah, right. Come on guys, let's focus here?”

 

Neither of the two girls outside of the closet missed the strained silence that had ensued the joke and made a very careful note not to approach that topic again until they sorted it out with Rin. Kagome sighed and rubbed her head, `great…more secrets. Just what we need.' She sighed and stood up and grabbed a brush from her dresser. “I say…screw the mall and let's play a game of truth.”

 

Sango paused, crossing her arms slowly and evaluated her friend's idea. “Well…we could…or we could go shopping. Come on, Kagome…how often does Inu…” Sango paused, her mouth falling into a thin line and she looked to the floor. “Whatever…doesn't matter.”

 

Rin emerged from the closet, an armful of clothes cradled against her chest. She sighed and dropped them to the ground before falling into them. She looked at the sullen looks on Kagome and Sango's faces before sighing deeply. “I guess the mall is out of the questions, ne?”

 

Sango sighed and put her head against the bed. “What's happening to us, guys? We used to be able to talk about anything without reserve and now we're tiptoeing around subjects.”

 

Kagome flushed as she dropped back to the ground to sit Indian style. “I don't think that we're so much tiptoeing as being…sensitive?”

 

Rin shrugged and picked at some invisible hair on her shirt, “I think we just need say `fuck all' and get smashed.”

 

Kagome sighed and gave Rin a long glance, “I don't think…that would solve anything.”

 

Sango shrugged and leaned back against the bed, resting her elbows on the mattress, “maybe…maybe that's the problem. We're so busy trying to solve something that everything is whizzing right by us.”

 

Rin shrugged and blinked once, “even life.”

 

Kagome nodded, “especially life. Think about it…in another year and a half, we'll be graduating.”

 

Sango shrugged, “well…I'm sure we'll be going to school around here.”

 

Rin blinked once, “some of us will probably be getting married…”

 

That turned heads. Both Kagome and Sango snapped their heads around to stare at Rin. “Did you just say the M- word?”

 

Rin blushed and dug her heel into the carpet, “maybe…”

 

Kagome nearly jumped to her feet. “Has Sesshoumaru asked you something you're not sharing?”

 

Rin blushed and shook her head, a small smile starting to pull at her lips. “No…but something tells me that he's pretty adamant that we'll be together for a while.” She unconsciously brought her hand to her neck and smiled brighter.

 

Kagome exchanged another glance with Sango before moving closer to Rin. “And what makes you think that?”

 

Rin caught her bottom lip between her teeth as her hands worked free the Past, Present and Future that Sesshoumaru had bought for her. Both girls stared at the jewels for a moment before bursting into a fit of girlish giggles and each staring hard at the rocks.

 

Sango was the first to recover her voice, “Rin, those have to be like half a carat each! That had to be really expensive…”

 

Rin blushed and let her fingers trace over the jewels, Sesshoumaru's words echoing in her mind. “No…it's around a carat and a half but each one is different in size. I love it…he's so fucking prefect…” she flopped backwards and sighed happily, staring up at her two friends. “I love him so much.”

 

Kagome smiled as she looked at the jewels. Suddenly, her smile faded and her eyes widened, her breath nearly catching in her throat. “Wait, hold on…back up. Rin…is that a Harry Winston©?”

 

Rin creased her brows as she gently touched the necklace on her neck. A small laugh broke out from her mouth, “yeah, right Kagome; me…sporting a Harry Winston, could you see it?” she touched the necklace again as her eyes widened slightly, “what makes you think that this is an HW?”

 

Kagome brought herself to her knees and looked at the diamonds slowly turned the gems over in her hand. She backed up and looked at Rin face to face. “Don't freak out but something is telling me that this is a Harry Winston. Don't forget that mama worked for five years in the jewelry industry.”

 

Rin slapped one hand to her neck, the other to her mouth. After a moment of giggling madly, she slightly dropped her hand, “if this is a Harry Winston…”

 

Kagome finished the sentence for her, “it's probably worth over ten thousand dollars easy.”

 

Sango stared from one girl to the other completely lost. She didn't follow trends…or follow jewelers, but when that number hit the air, Sango's eyes widened to extreme widths, “ten fucking thousand dollars? Are you shitting me? Around your neck…Rin, that's…”

 

Rin wrapped her arms around herself, once again falling over backwards, “I love my fluffykins…”

 

Kagome laughed, shaking her head at the star struck girl. “Wow…Rin you really…I mean…holy shit!”

 

Sango laughed and shook her head. “Asking Miroku to get milk from the store on his way to the house is a pain in the ass…never mind asking him for a rock worth ten thousand dollars.”

 

Kagome giggled and pointed a finger at the two girls, “you ladies have no room to talk. Rin…how much is your car worth?”

 

Rin stopped laughing and blinked twice at Kagome. “Not as much as my fluffy.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and laughed, “you see my point. Trade in your car and you could have over four hundred and fifty of those things!”

 

Sango laughed and shrugged, “Miroku's isn't much better. His Ferrari is worth somewhere above two hundred thousand.”

 

Kagome crossed her arms, “point made. Meanwhile, InuYasha still walks everywhere…” her lips formed a pout and she turned to look out the window.

 

Sango glanced to Rin, who had sat up, and then back to Kagome. Sango approached her first, “come on, Kagome…no worries, remember? Just a fun night.”

 

Kagome nodded though didn't speak. `are you looking up at the sky as well, Inu? Are you okay?'

 

Sango sighed and hugged her knees, “You still haven't heard anything from him?”

 

Kagome sighed and shook her head; “It's been four days…four damn days.”

 

Rin pouted and walked towards Kagome. Wrapping her arms around her friend's frail frame, she hugged her. “Come on Kagome, Yash is as resilient as Sesshoumaru. It would take an army to bring just one of those two down. I'm sure he's fine.”

 

Kagome nodded slowly, her eyes never complying to the thought though. “I know…but it still hurts. I mean, how hard would it of been to simply call. Just pick up a damned phone and call.”

 

Sango sighed loudly, “He isn't the brightest one in the box, you know. Maybe he only knew your number through his phone and when losing it to that weirdo…”

 

Kagome shivered and made a face. “Weird is right! That kid is so in a league of his own…”

 

Rin giggled and hugged Kagome again, “smile Kags…it will be okay. We'll make it okay.”

 

Kagome laughed hollowly. “That's easy for you to say when you know where Sesshoumaru is. I don't know where Yash is…I don't know if he's okay…or if he's hurt. I never got to tell him things I wanted to…never got to…”

 

Sango sighed and interrupted her friend, “Stop, Kagome! Give it a rest! The baka just managed to fuck another thing up…”

 

Kagome shrugged off Rin's arms and turned on her friend, “look Sango, you know I love you like a sister. I really do. But you really need to stop. I love InuYasha and you really don't make that easy. It's like you don't accept him or something. You're always bashing him, calling him names, beating him up…or at least trying to…just get off his back for once, please.”

 

Rin made a face and took a step away from the two, ready for Sango's explosion. She wasn't disappointed.

 

“Kagome, that's great that you think that…makes me feel wonderful. Tell me, Kagome…this great boyfriend of yours…the one who doesn't fuck things up…where is he right now? How many hours over these past four days have you not talked to him? How many hours have you spent crying over him? Tell you what, tell me to stop worrying when I don't have to…but this baka isn't getting better. I think he's actually regressing in his mental capacity…”

 

Kagome stared slack jawed at Sango for a moment before quickly snapping back, “you're wrong Sango and you really need to back off. Please…understand this…I love him. I'm in love with InuYasha and I trust him. I know that if he disappeared…no matter how bad it may seem…it was for a good reason.”

 

Rin smiled slightly and looked to her shoes, “she has a point, Sango. you can't help who you love…and if she is in love with Inu then you should be happy for her and supportive. Not all of these guys are saints…not even close…but we can't bash them for it either, ya know?”

 

Sango shrugged and crossed her arms. “Whatever…I'm just trying to look out for my best friend.”

 

Kagome laughed with a roll of her eyes and coughed, “whatever…you're just trying to piss me off.”

 

Sango laughed and raised an eyebrow, “is it working?”

 

Rin laughed louder and threw a pillow at Sango, “shut up!”

Kagome laughed and ducked under a pillow flung at her by Sango. “you two are to much!”

 

Rin laughed then launched herself at Kagome and Sango, crashing in-between the two and laughing while doing it. “Come on and cheer up! I swear, the night isn't getting any younger and neither are we. Let's go shopping!”

 

Trying to set her mind else where, Kagome nodded absently, giving Sango a `white flag' look of peace. “Yeah…I could use some new clothes. Just something…” she coughed once into the back of her hand then sniffled. With a frown she finished her sentence, “…to make me feel better while I'm sick. Damn it…I didn't want to be sick!”

 

Sango gave her a measured glare, “I warned you, Kagome! But you didn't listen to me…oh no…you decided to do shit on your own….”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and put on her sneakers. “Come on…last one to Rin's Porsche is stuck buying dinner.”

 

Rin narrowed her eyebrows, “Hey…why do I…” it only took her a moment to realize she was the last one in the room. With a grunt, she tore out of the room and laughed as she caught up to the girls on the steps.

 

Kagome swung herself around the corner and paused, catching her mother staring out the back window solemnly. “Mama?” Kagome paused and took a step closer to her, the smile falling from her lips. “Is everything okay?”

 

Ms. Higurashi turned around and smiled at Kagome, nodding slowly. “Yeah…everything is fine honey.”

 

Kagome stared at her mother for a moment before shrugging. “Me, Rin and Sango are going to go to the mall…” Kagome coughed again, this time the bellow being a little deeper and with a little more phlegm. She took a deep breath and coughed again, this time putting her hand on the kitchen table to balance herself while she rode out the annoyance.

 

Mrs. Higurashi was by her side in an instant, looking at her daughter pointedly, she asked her, “are you okay?”

 

Kagome nodded while the coughs consumed her body. It only took a moment to leave her gasping for air before another attack hit. She felt her knees wobble and before she knew it, she was being supported by three sets of arms that carefully put her down in a chair. She looked up to the worried faces as she choked back the coughs.

 

Mrs. Higurashi pushed past the girls and put a hand to her daughter's forehead. “Kagome…my god you're burning up! You're going to bed young lady…”

 

Kagome tried to argue before another fit of coughs shook her frame.

 

Sango frowned, her face filled with worry as she helped Mrs. Higurashi stand Kagome upright. “I told you, you shouldn't have walked home yesterday!”

 

Mrs. Higurashi paused, her eyes slowly turning to look at Sango. “What?”

Instantly, her eyes snapped back to Kagome, who had blanched a little under her friend's statement. “You told me that you were hanging out with Sango yesterday after school Kagome. If she says you walked home and you told me you were with her…where were you?”

 

Kagome paused, mid step, and coughed once more before swallowing hard and answered, “had…to think…”

 

Rin was by her side in an instant, a cup of water in her hand. Kagome took a generous sip and they continued moving her up the stairs to her room. Only after they laid her down did the coughs subside.

 

Mrs. Higurashi left the room and came back with a thermometer. Placing the end in her mouth, she looked to the other girls, “I think it's time we call it a night. It sounds like Kagome has a cold and will need her rest…”

 

Sango frowned and looked down at Kagome, “are you going to be allright? This is so sudden…”

 

Kagome shook her head and took another sip of the water, her coughs settling down. Yet she suddenly looked so tired, so drained. With a yawn , Kagome nodded, “yeah…I told you I wasn't feeling good on Thursday. That's why I had Rin try our early with me for the play…remember?” before anyone could answer, Kagome began coughing again.

 

Sango frowned and wrapped her arms around her body, “Kagome…this isn't cool. You need to get better. We have school tomorrow and you need to be there. Kenchi will be announcing parts for the play.”

 

Kagome rolled her eyes and muttered something into the plastic tube in her mouth. Moving the stick to the side of her mouth, she shot Sango a dark playful glower, “not that it matters for people who didn't try out!”

 

Rin quickly retorted to Sango's comment, “look, you've been moping around for the past two days…you're not getting any more free days from us. If you're still sick tomorrow, I'll get your homework but you better be damn well sick…” Rin paused and turned to Sango, “You didn't try out for the play?”

 

Mrs. Higurashi cleared her throat and shot the two other girls a blank gaze, “let's focus on Kagome getting better more so then school or the play for right now…okay ladies?”

 

Rin looked up to see the disconcerted look on Mrs. Higurashi's face and wrapped an arm around the older woman. “It's okay, mama…she'll be fine.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi kissed the top of Rin's head before pulling the thermometer from Kagome's mouth with a deep scowl. “Kagome…you're really feverish. Lie down and shut your eyes and try to get some rest. I'll bring you up some broth. I just want you to get some rest now.”

 

Sango glanced over Mrs. Higurashi's shoulder and cringed. In a span of ten minutes, Kagome's temperature had gone from her normal 99.2 to a burning 102.1. Sango made a face and shook her head slowly, “get your sleep Kagome, I'll pull a Yash watch and tell you if I hear anything.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi looked over her shoulder at the girl and frowned. She walked from the room but quickly returned with a cold cloth that she put Kagome's forehead. “And just where is InuYasha?”

 

Kagome froze…her eyes falling to meet Sango's gaze with a pleading glare. `Don't tell her…please don't say it.'

 

Rin, who had missed the stare completely, blew it all. “We're not…really…sure. He had some stuff to take care of that he went about in his very own…uhh…InuYasha manner of doing so. Where's Ryen?”

 

Mrs. Higurashi let her back straighten on Rin's retort and she sighed deeply. With a small callous laugh, she took the glass of water away from Kagome and handed her two Cold Pills she had grabbed from the bathroom. “It makes sense now…Ryen left this afternoon…said there was some things he had to take care of.” She paused, as if searching for the right words. “Where…do you think…InuYasha went?”

 

Sango quickly answered, “Kyushu…maybe to deal with some family issues.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi nodded once, trying to keep a friendly façade, she failed miserably. “Like those boys he hangs around with?”

 

Kagome's eyes widened and she coughed again before dryly adding, “No mama…I'm sure that he's not running with them. He wouldn't just leave me…”

 

A strange look surged through her mother's eyes as the older woman quickly stood from the bed. It took Kagome only a millisecond to realize the look was one of pain. She nearly wanted to smack herself. `Of course…is this what she went through when Ryen…disappeared? Did she hold out hope…and for how long? Was she obstinate that she was going to see him again? Did her friends try to talk her out of him? Did she…was she crushed?' Kagome swallowed hard, her eyes begging her to take a short nap as she sunk deeper into her pillows. She had been dealing with the cold in silence since the day before. Her head had been hurting since early morning and by afternoon she had been sufficiently dizzy. And yet when both Sango and Rin had called her, she didn't have the heart to say no. But now…now she was ready to pass out. Letting her eyes close, she could just about hear her mother usher the two girls from the room. With one last thought before dreamland claimed her, she wondered, `did mama love Ryen as much as I love Inu?'

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*

 

I really wanted to write more but I've been working on this for this past week and

 

I think I want to shoot myself. The next few chapters is what I've been waiting to get to for like two months so I'm happy that I've gotten this far. Sorry it's taking so long, with school winding down and now working full time…it's hell on wheels. :-/

 

Thanks to all those who have reviewed! I love you all!!! As for the nominations for who the doctor is…I can say that a few of you have gotten it right. I'll say this also, it's not Kanna and I threw in Kikyo's groupies to give another taste of who it's not. Those who were correct, and ye shall know after the next few chapters, good job!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*- Props to Eddie Izzard (comedian) for that Line.

**- Dance of blades (translated very loosely)