InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Torn ❯ Back Again ( Chapter 4 )

" " Speaking

[ ] Thoughts

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[How the heck did they get THAT answer?]

Kagome glared at the book's answer sheet and her own eraser-marked paper. She'd been doing math for over an hour which was not helping her sullen mood. It had been two days since her mom and grandpa had gone to L.A. Two days and she had yet to escape into the well. [Damn tests]

Thankfully tomorrow she'd take the last one (math) and be able to leave. In all honesty she had never looked forward to something more than she did to going back to the past now. Her friends in the Sengoku Jidai must be worried about her and Inuyasha would definitely be furious.

"Just one more day Inuyasha... one more day..."

Taking her eyes off the pages to stare out her window, a cheerful voice snapped her from her daydreaming. "Time for dinner 'Ome."

"I'll be right there uncle Dai," closing her books, she gladly turned off her lamp and stretched.

Hurrying downstairs, she helped set up the table and was surprised when the doorbell rang. Souta offered to get it and hurried over, calling out "Who is it?"

"Alexei," an unfamiliar voice replied.

"Let him in Souta, I forgot I'd iinvited him," Daisuke took off the apron he'd borrowed and smiled, "Hope you guys don't mind."

"No," both Kagome and Souta shook their heads, standing next to each other while their uncle opened the door.

"Hey man! Its great you could make it!" Dai hugged his friend briefly

(Not like THAT folks - like a Chandler/Joey manly friends hug ok?)... (Well ok, so those hugs aren't so manly either - you get my point though!)

The stranger thumped his back and stepped away, "It was a long trip but its good to be here."

"Tell me about it," turning to their audience, Dai grinned and waved them over, "I'd like you to meet my sister's kids, Kagome and Souta Higurashi, and kids this is a good friend of mine Alexei."

"Nice to meet you," Kagome and Souta bowed as was proper, smiling when he returned the greeting with an added flair.

"Alexei Di Merrici at your service," the man caught Kagome's eye and gave her a playful wink.

To her horror, Kagome felt a blush stain her cheeks and looked down in embarrassment. It was only natural however, that any girl get flustered under Alexei's attentions. The man was, in a word, beautiful. Tall, lean, with a perfectly sculpted body. He wore a pair of faded blue jeans which seemed painted on, they fit so perfectly, with a black shirt that clung to his toned chest. His emerald eyes sparkled jovially beneath long black lashes and added, along with the deep dimple in his left cheek, a rakish air of sensuality no girl could think to turn down.

Add to that the bronzed tone of his skin, spiky black hair and a fascinating accent and you had a very attractive man.

[Wait what am I thinking?] But Kagome's curiosity was spiked causing her to speak before she thought, "Where are you from?"

"From?" Alexei removed his shoes and followed them into the kitchen, "You mean because of my accent? I am told it is quite unique."

"Exactly," sitting down in the first chair she found, Kagome watched them all sit and waited.

"I'm Italian," he explained, "I met Daisuke at work in L.A. but my homeland is the beautiful Italia."

"How interesting!" Kagome continued with her questions, hardly noticing her brother and uncle watching them.

"Sorry to interrupt but would you two mind?" Daisuke pointed to the rice between them, "We'd like to get some eating done tonight."

"Sorry," Alexei seemed to realize they were leaving the others out and focused on Daisuke. "So what are your plans now that you are back home?"

"Watching out for these two should keep me pretty busy," Dai nodded to the kids serving themselves dinner and shrugged, "But I'm not sure yet, maybe set up a small business here at home to keep me busy in the mornings."

"Think of anything yet?"

"Perhaps," Dai stole a glance at his niece and changed topics again.

Souta quickly took up where Kagome left off, finding out more about their visitor and his stay in Japan. Dinner was an interesting affair, Alexei was cheerful and fun, keeping them entertained and laughing the whole time. When dinner was over, neither Kagome nor Souta wanted to go to bed, but knew they had to. Wishing the men a good night, they headed off to their rooms and were soon asleep.

Downstairs, Alexei's cheerful countenance was gone, replaced by one of worry and regret. "How is he going to contact you?"

"I got an e-mail this morning with the first name, I've set something up for two weeks from now," Daisuke led the way to the office and opened his e-mail account.

"Two weeks?"

Daisuke rubbed his neck, "I've got to clear things up here first, ease them into the idea. Plus Kagome's leaving for two weeks tomorrow afternoon to see her boyfriend."

"She has to leave to see him?" Alexei frowned a bit.

"He lives in Izu, she stays with his family, my sister already ok'd it." Daisuke shrugged, "There's not much I can do."

"You'd better do some quick explaining, Hans won't be pleased," Alexei focused on the e-mail and sighed, knowing just how much trouble Daisuke could get into if things didn't go as planned.

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"Inuyasha you are going to come and eat!"

Sango dragged the growling hanyou to the village by his hair, seemingly undisturbed by his fierce growls and furious threats. He'd refused to leave the well for days now and she was not going to lug his food to him only to have him complain because it was cold again. Everyone knew he was on edge because of the blocked well and the girl's delay, but they were the ones getting the brunt of his anger and they were getting tired of putting up with it. Even Shippo seemed to be taking things better.

Reaching Kaeded's hut, Sango finally seemed to realize just HOW angry the hanyou was and quickly looked around for a way to... aha!

Just as she felt his control snap, Sango suddenly let go and ran as fast as she could to the grinning monk standing a few feet away. Grabbing onto his arm, she quickly jumped behind him, using him as a shield between herself and the snarling Inuyasha stomping their way.

"I'm sorry! I just wanted to get you to come eat! The well will still be there in twenty minutes!" she shouted over his shoulder, flinching when his eyes flashed red briefly.

"Damned woman! How dare you drag me here like some..." Inuyasha stopped walking as a familiar staff blocked his way.

Miroku's calm gaze met his eyes unflinching, "Now now, Sango-sama was only trying to help you get out of the rut you've been sucked into recently. That tree doubtless has some sort of print from your sitting there for so long. A break could only do you good Inuyasha, forgive her."

"Yeah what he said," Sango nodded, stiffing at his back suddenly when a familiar caress went across her bottom. To her shock, since she was standing quite close to his body, his arm reached further around her and his hand was able to get a good squeeze to her posterior.

With an enraged scream, she cuffed the monk on the back of the head and shoved him forward into the angry hanyou. A fight soon broke out when Inuyasha shoved Miroku back into Sango, toppling the girl over with the monk crushing her body, his head cushioned by her chest. After another screech and a slap, Miroku quickly clambered up, tripped on one of his robes, reached out and grabbed onto the closest thing available - Inuyasha's rosary.

They were in an all-out wrestling match when a very familiar, highly missed giggle reached their ears. Stopping mid-fight, Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha lifted their heads and froze.

Standing just a few feet away with a beaming smile on her face - was Kagome, giggling at their antics as if this were just another day.

To her credit, they did make for a funny view, with Miroku's head caught under Inuyasha's arm, his own hands back around the hanyou's waist, and Sango lying beneath them, her hands around Inuyasha's arm trying to loosen its hold on the houshi's neck. They had ALL been growling in frustration when Kagome arrived, easing her troubled thoughts and bringing about her giggle.

The moment was broken by a high-pitched shriek from the hut, a tawny blur rushing past them and knocking the girl down with an 'oomph'.

"Kagome! You're here! You're finally baaack!" Shippo clung to her and burst into loud sobs, relief washing through him now that his mother was back once again.

"Hai, I'm finally here," Kagome's smile became tender while she craddled and soothed the kitsune crying into her neck. "Shhh... its ok Shippo, I'm here now baby stop..."

The trio frozen in place snapped out of it and pulled themselves apart, completely forgetting about the petty quarrel they'd been in just moments ago. Hurrying to her side, Sango surprised Kagome with an enthusiastic hug, crying also in relief now that her friend was back.

"We were afraid you couldn't come, when you didn't return after the two days and then Inuyasha couldn't get through the well and... oh thank kami!" Sango pulled back and wiped at her eyes, feeling oddly embarrassed at her outburst.

"It is good to have you with us again Kagome-sama," Miroku's smile was warm and welcoming, showing he too was happy to have her back.

"Its so good to be here," she smiled, looking over to Inuyasha who was surprisingly quiet. He wasn't even looking at her, instead he headed into Kaede's hut and closed the curtain behind him.

The others exchanged curious glances but figured he'd explode soon enough. Focusing on Kagome again, they were asking questions about her time away when Kaede's voice called out to them. "Come inside and let the girl set her bag down, the food's been ready for a while now."

Doing as told, Kagome followed the others in and smiled at Kaede, giving the older miko a small hug when she entered the hut. "Ye've been sorely missed child."

"Thank you," she whispered, looking around for Inuyasha, frowning a little when she spotted him in a corner of the room, eating his food with his head bent down, bangs covering his face.

Sitting down and leaving her backpack by the wall, she set Shippo on her lap and was once again bombarded with questions. "Wait a minute and I can explain!"

When they stopped, she bit her lip and proceeded, "I know I only said I'd be gone two days, I never meant to be away for so long and I didn't want to worry you but..."

"Did the well block you out?" Miroku interrupted

Kagome shook her head, "No, Inuyasha couldn't get through, but... I could."

Inuyasha stiffened, but said nothing, ears twitching while he listened. Miroku and Sango shared a look while Kaede spoke. "Did ye know why it blocked Inuyasha?"

Kagome hesitated a moment, looking up as Inuyasha raised his head a bit to glance at her. By the look on her face he knew this wouldn't be good, and it wasn't. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to..."

"You sealed me away?"

It was a statement more than a question, and one she couldn't deny so she sadly nodded her head.

"There was no choice Inuyasha, I..."

But her apology was cut short when he stood and walked out of the hut. "Wait!"

Jumping to her feet, Kagome rushed past the others and ran outside, just in time to see a blur of red disspear off to her left. "I didn't want to do it!"

"Don't worry, he'll be back," Miroku stepped out beside her and set a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I was so looking forward to seeing him," Kagome sniffled, blinking back her tears again.

"He has been worried Kagome, more so than the rest of us excluding Shippo I would say," Miroku gently squeezed her shoulder, "Our quarrel earlier today began when Sango knocked him out of a tree by the well and dragged him here by his hair."

Kagome gaped, "Sango did that?"

Miroku chuckled, "Hai, he'd been sitting there for days, we were getting desperate."

Nodding her head, Kagome stared out into the forest and sighed, listening when he spoke again. "It must have hurt to hear that the one person he spends all his time protecting sealed him away. Especially since the last person he cared for sealed him in sleep for fifty years."

"Kami-sama you're right," Kagome choked on a sob, shrugging his hand off her arm and heading into the forest.

"Kagome wait!"

"Baka!" Sango's hiraikotsu sent him sprawling to the ground, "That is NOT what she needed to hear!"

"I'm sorry!" Miroku rubbed his head, wincing at the pain from the hit and the knowledge that she was right. He hadn't meant to make her feel worse, he'd just been thinking out loud - if a bit too loud.

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"Inuyasha!"

Kagome sniffled and wiped her eyes, regretting running out on her own the way she had. Here she was in the middle of the forest, alone, arrow-less, and feeling a familiar pull that was not the least bit welcoming under such circumstances. [Please let me be wrong, or hopefully something harmless might have found it like a bunny or a squirrel!]

Stepping around a large tree, the shard was coming closer, much closer, and it was fast. [Maybe its just Kouga?] Pressing her back to the tree, she took a step backwards and screamed when she was roughly grabbed by the arm and swung into another tree.

"Ohh..." moaning and coughing from the impact, she tried to focus on her attacker but was stopped by a strong grip on her neck, lifting her off her feet.

Her assailant's voice was deep and frightening as he threatened her, "Give me the shards miko and I won't have to kill you."

Scratching at the hand gripping her neck, Kagome could hardly breathe, forget handing anything over. Her legs swung back and forth while she frantically attempted to kick him, find a means of support, anything to get herself out of this mess.

Feeling her lungs burn hotter and hotter by the second, she saw the world around her slowly dimming, the edges of her vision blurring while a vague shout reached her ears. A blur of red went by, but her hazy mind barely registered the movement as she drifted into the darkness.

A cold blast entering her lungs woke her later, the burning both soothed and worsening as her body was wracked with coughs. She sucked in great quantities of air, clutching at the grass beneath her with one hand and the neck of her shirt with the other. A whimper escaped her when an attempt to swallow worsened the pain. Her throat hurt terribly, not just to breathe, but overall. She'd been crushed before but never by the neck, and kami was it bad.

She shook her head and tears slipped from her closed eyes when she was pushed onto her back, whimpering again when something softly caressed her neck. A low growl reached her ears and she opened her mouth to call out for help, a pathetic and estranged cry escaping her lips instead. A hand gently covered her mouth even as a familiar voice scolded her softly.

"Stupid bitch, you should have known better than to come out here alone."

Opening her eyes, a wave of relief washed over her when she met a pair of golden orbs. Behind him she saw the darkening sky and wondered where he'd taken her, focusing again on his touch when he covered her neck with a wet cloth.

"Where...?" she swallowed and attempted to whisper.

"The spring about a mile away from Kaede's place," Inuyasha tucked the cloth around her neck carefully and sat back a little. "What were you thinking? You knew I'd come back."

"Hai," Kagome mewled at the burning in her throat and was surprised by his next actions. Lifting her carefully from the ground, he rested her upper body against his chest and scooped up some water into his hand, lifting it to her lips for a drink.

The water did its job and soon she thanked him in a stronger voice, one hand moving to remove the cloth at her neck while she sat up and slid sideways so she could look into his face. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Feh"

Moving to leave, he was surprised when she grabbed onto his haori and buried her face into his chest. "Bitch what the...?"

The scent of Kagome's tears stopped him short, making Inuyasha lower his head to look at her. She was trembling in his arms, her small frame wracked with desperate, heartbroken sobs. Something was seriously wrong, despite her crybaby tendencies, this was far from her usual bout of tears. Her smell proved it also, radiating both fear and pain, two things he did not like to smell on her.

Slowly wrapping his arms around her back, Inuyasha held her tight while she cried, resting his cheek against the top of her head while taking in her scent, which he also realized held an air of sickness. She finally loosened her hold on his chest with one hand, bringing it back to her neck and rubbing it gently, soothing the ache. Feeling warm and safe once again in his arms, Kagome snuggled closer and closed her eyes, whispering softly for him to forgive her seconds before falling into a deep exhausted sleep.

"Feh, you've still got a lot of explaining to do wench," feeling a shiver run through her when a breeze went by. Inuyasha lifted her and easily hopped up into a tree, settling in with her on his lap and his arms securely around her, blocking the breeze with his haori sleeves. [Like what the hell made you cry like that?]

Looking down at her sleeping peacefully in his arms, Inuyasha saw the faint smudges of black beneath her eyes and knew she hadn't been sleeping well. Examining her carefully, he focused on her neck and winced, remembering again the fury that had swept through him at the sight of the demon gripping it tightly and her feet dangling high off the ground. He'd caught the idiot by surprise and dealt with him quickly despite the jewel shard in its back.

But she would have a nasty bruise around her neck, he could see it forming already and shook his head. "Not even back for one day Kagome, and look at the mess you got into."

A soft sob reached his ears, just as the slightest smell of tears hit his nose, making him instinctively tighten his hold around her. Kagome's voice was a mere whisper, but the pain and loneliness in it managed to tear at the hanyou's heart.

"Please... don't go..."

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Hmmm... so any guesses on who she's dreaming with? Sorry the chapter's shorter, and that it took forever to update.

(I promise things'll move faster soon - we'll get to the main plot next update.)

Ja!