InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Long Way Home ❯ Chapter 1

Kagome finished off Shippo's topknot with the fluffy bow he liked. She remembered those first few weeks with him, watching him struggle with the tie. Inuyasha huffed that only babies wore bows in their hair. Kagome had sent the hanyou face first into the ground for that remark and offered to fix the bow for the kit.

He'd hesitated a moment, stiff with that protective pride she'd grown to recognize from Inuyasha. When he crawled into her lap, as if afraid she'd push him off, she'd tied the biggest bow she could and let him survey her handiwork in a tiny mirror retrieved from the depths of her backpack. He'd put his paw to the edge of the bow, gazing at its reflection almost reverently.

Her heart practically broke. It had only been for a split second, but she'd caught it-his parents had done this for him before they were killed. Kagome had hugged him close until his little body relaxed into hers, taking the comfort she offered, and that was that. As Inuyasha would say, they were stuck with each other.

"You know Shippo, you're going to have to learn to do this yourself."

"I like it better when you do it."

Kagome smiled at the kit as he gave her a hug of thanks and scampered off to play, but it faded the moment he was out of sight. Shippo thought she'd always be here. Oh, he fretted Inuyasha would make her mad and drive her down the well for good, but that fear was tempered by the knowledge Inuyasha could always come after her. It never occurred to him that the well would not be open for Inuyasha or that Kagome would leave of her own choice.

"You coddle him too much."

What timing. Kagome closed her eyes. Don't think about it. Think about your tests, Naraku, Miroku's aching head-anything! She couldn't quite shake the threatening tears though. It was stupid anyway; he didn't need to see them in her eyes to know she was crying. "He's just a baby."

"He's a spoiled brat is what he is!"

It takes one to know one, she thought with annoyance.

"Be nice, Inuyasha! I won't always be able to spoil him like this!"

There was a heavy silence and she could practically feel his thoughts churning. Baka! Do you want him to figure it out? You've already made him suspicious with your moping! Kagome tried to force herself into a more relaxed position, her efforts completely ruined by his next question.

"What exactly do you mean?"

Abandoning her plans for a nap, she stood and huffed off. Be angry, Kagome. He understands anger; he won't question anger.

"Baka! Soon he'll be too big and won't want me to fawn over him!"

"Listen here bitch, he's already too big for that and-Oi! Where are you going?"

"I'm going home! Since you have nothing better to do than yell at me, there obviously aren't any jewel shard rumors and I have tests to study for!"

"No you aren't! You've only been here for two days!"

"Two days in which we've done nothing but sit around!"

He was really at her heels now, trying to edge around to see her face.

"That never bothered you before! What's gotten into you?"

Because when we're not moving, all I can think about is that I'm going to have to leave all of you behind. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kaede-I'll have to leave them. I'll have to leave you, Inuyasha.

The tears broke free and she panicked.

"Osuwari!"

**********

Inuyasha was sitting with his back against the well picking grass out of his teeth with a claw when Miroku strolled up. The monk took in the dirt speckled silver hair, grassy teeth and disgruntled posture and surmised Kagome had gone home. Nothing out of the ordinary, so what was with the look on his companion's face?

There was a distinct lack of anger that usually graced the half-demon's face after Kagome used the incantation. The only time Inuyasha had calmly accepted Kagome going home was after she had caught him with Kikyo. But why use the necklace unless Inuyasha had tried to stop her? Miroku glanced to the sky yet saw none of Kikyo's shindamachuu. Gritting his teeth, Miroku decided to figure it out the hard way, "What happened?"

"Bitch sat me is what happened."

Inuyasha's foul mouth aside, the words held no heat; had he wanted her to sit him? Why wasn't he upset? As always, Inuyasha didn't seem inclined to share any further. With a sigh, Miroku settled himself in the grass for a long prying session, his staff resting against one shoulder.

"So what were you arguing about this time?"

"The brat."

Miroku made a sound of understanding. Nothing unusual. Inuyasha had always been jealous of the attention Kagome showed the child. So then…why did Inuyasha have that pensive look on his face? Why wasn't he ranting and raving about Kagome going home? Why hadn't he gone to get her already?

Inuyasha startled him by continuing, his gaze intent on the ground, "She was crying."

Miroku relaxed slightly. That was why Inuyasha hadn't gone after her yet; he was feeling guilty. Glad to be on familiar ground again, Miroku dropped his staff between the hanyou's pointy ears. "No wonder she went home!"

Inuyasha snarled, snatching the staff out of Miroku's surprised hands and flinging it out of reach, "I wasn't done, bouzo! She was crying, but it wasn't from our stupid argument! She was already crying when I got here!"

Inuyasha sank back against the well with a huff, his ears pinned back in annoyance. Miroku settled back down slowly. An anxious feeling was developing in his gut, "My apologies, Inuyasha. I am merely accustomed to the results of your usual arguments with Kagome."

"Usual. Tell me, Miroku, when was the last time you heard me and Kagome argue in our usual way?"

Miroku paused. Actually, Kagome hadn't raised her voice or sat Inuyasha in several weeks. Come to think of it, even Sango had mentioned Kagome didn't seem her normal cheerful self lately. He'd just brushed it off. Even Kagome had her bouts of sadness, but they'd never lasted more than a few days.

Inuyasha spat the last of the grass out of his mouth and leaned over to pin Miroku with a serious look he'd rarely seen on the youth, "Damn it! She always smells like she's crying, even if she's not. I only picked that fight with her to see if she would fight back."

Miroku felt a chill run up his spine. What was it about this conversation that was so unnerving? Something about people who couldn't pull themselves out of a melancholy?

"But she did fight back, Inuyasha."

"Keh."

"Maybe you're making this out to be more serious than it is."

"And maybe you need to get your mind off Sango's ass and start paying attention."

Miroku rolled his eyes, "If you're so concerned, why don't you just ask her, baka."

"Shut up."

But a moment later, Inuyasha stood and jumped down the well.

A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. So sad.