Kagome gave the side pocket of her backpack a compulsive check to make sure she was adequately supplied for the next few days. The thought of being stranded in the Feudal era without certain modern conveniences right now would be a little too much to bear. Finding herself well-stocked, she shouldered the pack and grabbed hold of the vines that lined the well's interior, pulling herself up toward the open sky above.
She almost thought she caught the sound of her name being called; faintly, as if from a distance. Kagome climbed a bit faster.
He burst from the trees just as she was pulling herself out of the well: a blur of red and silver, claws at the ready.
"Kagome?" he asked frantically. His eyes scanned the area for potential enemies. "What happened?"
"Inuyasha?" Puzzlement washed over the girl's face and she paused, one leg thrown over the side of the well. "What..?"
Finally satisfied that they weren't about to be attacked, Inuyasha turned to Kagome. "What d'you mean, 'what?'" His voice was gruff, but he seemed surprised by her confusion. "...Aren't you hurt?"
Kagome shook her head, looking just the tiniest bit uncomfortable now. "I went straight home from school, packed my bag, and came here." She adjusted the large yellow backpack on her shoulder as if for emphasis, and gave a weak chuckle. "How could I possibly have gotten hurt?"
Inuyasha gave her a suspicious look, eyes narrowing. "Keh. Don't give me that. You're hurt. I could smell it all the way from the Goshinboku." At this, Kagome's eyes opened wide and her cheeks pinked brightly. Heedless, Inuyasha plunged ahead. "You absolutely reek of bl–"
"Sit!"
His face hit the ground in a kiss of pain. Groaning, he picked himself up from the dirt and glared at Kagome. She was still flushed, an expression like mortification on her face. "What the hell was that for?" he sputtered. "I was worried about you, stupid!"
Kagome gave a slight wince. "Sorry," she said in a small voice. She still hadn't moved from the spot, one leg slung over the well's eastern wall. Now she slid the backpack down from her shoulder and dropped it gently to the ground. He'd meant well, after all. She offered him an apologetic smile. He scowled and turned away.
After a moment, an ear twitched. "Kagome, are you sure y–"
"I don't want to talk about it, okay? Especially not with you."
"Why not?"
"Because it's personal, that's why."
He turned back toward her, his scowl deepening. Delicately, perhaps without even realizing he was doing it, he sniffed the air. That was the last straw. Kagome snatched her backpack up with a vengeance. "Forget it. It was a bad idea coming here today. I'm going home."
"Oi, Kagome, you can't ju–"
"I'm going home. I'll be back in a few days." She spoke in a tone that brooked no argument. Then she was gone.
The boy sat for a moment in silent confusion.
A cloud of gnats gathered, buzzing around his head.
In a nearby tree, a bird chirped.
Slowly, comprehension dawned.
"Oh. ...Oh!"