Using Love

Chrysolite Heart

A/N: Ok, well, just as a reminder, in the last chapter Kikyou saw Kagura and Naraku together and is not utterly and completely confused as to what's going on. Naraku didn't get the chance to explain anything and that's where we left off last time… Oh and of course once again ... I'm sorry for the long update. *hits self* Apologies, apologies!

Chapter 10

Kagura paced nervously. What to do? What to do? What to do? It seemed all she could do was continue to mess things up, why couldn't she ever do anything right?! She sighed, frustrated. So now what? Should she tell Onigumo what had happened? She shivered at the thought. Ok, scratch that. Talk to Naraku, did he really believe her now? She tried to register the expression on Naraku's face when she had been talking to him but came up with a blank. What about that Kikyou? She couldn't say for sure, after all, Naraku had told her that Kikyou had completely fallen for him yet when she had seen herself and Naraku together she hadn't seemed worried about it at all. There was just too much to think about. Naturally after Kikyou had ran off, Kagura was quite the bit uncomfortable and only a moment after had left without a word. Maybe that wasn't a good idea. She shook her head to clear her mind and decided to go out for a walk. Perhaps some fresh air would help…

Naraku was still stunned, unsure of what he should do. He thought back the last day's events. Kagura coming in, Kikyou catching them…Kikyou running off, he felt his heart clench. He wondered if it would be the best idea to call Kikyou, after all, he needed to explain. Not that there was really much to explain because either way, all of her pain right now was still his fault. He sighed in despair. Maybe he would put off calling her, give her some more time to think…and himself as well. Besides, he had some sort of a feeling that Kikyou wouldn't be all too happy to hear from him right now. He glanced at the clock. Not to mention it was still quite early in the morning. Well, if you consider 10:00 a.m. early. He sighed again. His head was aching from all this thinking and considering, and from lack of sleep too. He had been up all night just thinking, thinking because there was nothing else to really do, thinking because he couldn't sleep. There was a soft rapping on his door. For a moment his heart leaped, hoping it was Kikyou but he was quite quickly proven wrong. A stone-faced looking doctor stepped into the room.

"Good morning, Dr. Suikotsu," Naraku said. He noticed the curious expression pass the doctor's face at the greeting, usually Naraku was quite cold towards him but things had started to change. He had begun accepting the annoying doctor a little more every day, part of the reason may have been because he was the one who was going to heal him and the next because he was fairly certain he wouldn't have to watch any funny smiles between him and Kikyou today. Again, he winced at the thought of Kikyou and wondered how she was doing at the moment. Still asleep, having breakfast, meeting a client? He wanted so badly to know, he could almost imagine what she would be doing right now…almost.

"Good morning, Naraku," Suikotsu replied, just as polite. Naraku raised an eyebrow. What was wrong with him today? Usually the doctor was full of smiles for his patients, even for him but Suikotsu didn't even bother to try and smile and he started the regular check-up of things. They went through their regular routine, having Naraku walk a little further that day with Suikotsu taking more notes. All through the session Suikotsu didn't smile, even when Naraku managed to make it all the way from one wall to another which was a large improvement. He just simply nodded his head and jotted down more notes, it was starting to make Naraku suspicious. What is wrong with everyone today? By the time they were done, Suikotsu finally gave Naraku one quick smile.

"You did a lot better today, you're healing fast," he commented and with that turned his back to leave but Naraku didn't miss that strange glare that Suikotsu gave him before leaving. Naraku watched him leave from his bed, wondering just what was wrong before pushing it to the back of his mind. Who really cared anyway?

Kikyou awoke with a groan that moment. At first when she glanced at the clock she wanted to scream and get up to go to the hospital as quickly as she could…until the events of the day before came flooding back and made her flop back down lazily onto her bed, closing her eyes. The things she had seen came back to her like it had just happened yesterday…no wait, it actually had just happened yesterday. Nevermind. She rolled over to look at her digital clock again; she should just get up anyway. She pushed herself into a sitting position and tiredly made her way into the bathroom. Just before she had closed the bathroom door behind her she heard a knocking at her bedroom door.

"Yes?" she called, her voice cracked a bit and she cleared her throat.

"Oh! I was just about to call you to get up Ms. Kikyou! We have breakfast prepared for you if you'd like it in bed!" Sango's voice came from the other side. Kikyou half-smiled at the thought. They were so considerate and breakfast in bed sounded nice…but then again she was already out of bed so maybe not…

"Thank-you Sango, and no, it's alright. Just leave the food downstairs, when I'm done I'll come down to eat," Kikyou replied, her voice was still a bit cracked and she cleared it again.

"Oh, ok then," Sango responded. Kikyou heard the clatter of plates on a tray and Sango's footsteps as she made her way down the spiral of stairs. There was another voice downstairs and Kikyou assumed it was Miroku. She shut the door of the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Kikyou felt somewhat refreshed after her shower, but in another sense still felt quite groggy. Everything that had happened yesterday was still on her mind and she wasn't sure what she should do about it. She should she go find this woman and demand answers? Or should she go to Naraku and demand answers? She wasn't sure she was up to doing either one. But maybe there was an explanation for all this and if she didn't give them a chance, she could be the one in the dark. She thought about this for about a seventy-third of a second. No, if they wanted to explain something to her they would find out a way to contact her. It wasn't as if Naraku didn't know her number or where she'd usually be. She continued to replay the scenes in her mind from the hospital. But what other explanation could there be? She asked herself as she made her way downstairs for breakfast. Miroku greeted her at the bottom of the stairs and it was all she could do to muster a small smile and greet him in return.

In the kitchen, a king's breakfast awaited her. There was so much food and it all looked so good but Kikyou simply could not find her appetite even as she took a seat in front of all the delicious food. Sango came into the kitchen that moment.

"Good morning again, Ms. Kikyou," Sango said cheerfully.

"Just Kikyou, is fine," Kikyou replied with another small smile.

"Oh right, Kikyou," Sango corrected herself hesitantly. She looked at Kikyou for reassurance and Kikyou nodded.

"You didn't have to make such a huge breakfast, I can't possibly eat all of this!" Kikyou said. Sango beamed.

"Well, you don't have to, just eat whatever you like and anything left we can throw to the dogs," Sango replied. Kikyou blinked.

"Dogs?" she echoed. Sango took in Kikyou's confused expression and laughed.

"I'm sorry, that was just an expression," Sango explained. Light dawned to Kikyou's face.

"Ah, I see, because when you said that I was thinking 'Huh? I don't have any dogs,'" Kikyou responded. Sango smiled.

"Yes, but really this is nothing," Sango continued, gesturing towards the tray of food. "We can throw out leftovers," Kikyou nodded.

"I suppose, although you don't have to make so much next time," Kikyou said. Sango simply nodded and smiled.

"Although, now that you mention it, I think it would be a good idea to get a dog, they can be very good company you know," Sango told Kikyou as Kikyou buttered a piece of toast.

"Maybe, I'll think about it," Kikyou responded thoughtfully. Sango nodded and then went off to continue her morning chores. Kikyou chewed on the bread slowly and poured herself a glass of milk, wondering what she would do all day because she was quite sure she wasn't about to go to the hospital. She thought about what Sango had just said. A dog… would that really be a good idea? Or was Sango just kidding about that too? Maybe she would do a little research and find out…she smiled to herself, well at least now she had something to do and quickly finished off her bread so she could get started.

A/N: I know, this was one of those chapters that isn't really needed but I wanted you guys to see how everyone was doing (except for Onigumo I suppose) after the previous day's events. Anyway, hoped you liked it and review please ... even if you're mad at me! Thanks!

Sad Girl: Awww, I didn't mean to make you cry, though that's touching. And as for your suggestion, don't worry, I've already got a plan formulating. ;P

MadeNew: I would definitely be blown out if I were Kikyou in this situation ... thankfully... I'm not ^^

Aira Slytherin: Thanks so much, hope I don't dissappoint you!

newbie202: Definitely keeping the suggestion in mind, thanks! And I'm sorry about the earlier typo ... *smiles sheepishly*