Neh…. I'm tired… Need… sleep….

Oh yeah, and guys, I know for a fact that at least thirty people have read chapter 9, but only two had reviewed (and not even my regular peoples ;.;) and yeah, kind of feeling unloved… but I guess I deserve it for leaving for so long, oh well, time to build up a reputation of sorts again.

Yamaibara

Chapitre 10

Uchi (Home)

By, Auroras-flame

It was foggy and cold when Rin and Souta arrived back at his village. Very few were outside. Rin was looking and squinting at everything around her, trying to get a good image of what her new town looked like. Souta, however, was staring at the ground, undoubtedly going over every possible scenario in his head about how he would greet his family.

They reached the shrine steps and started to ascend them, Souta's fear and anxiousness was killing him. Rin mentioned during their climb, "You're town is so beautiful Souta."

"What do you mean? It's all foggy and disgusting now," he said distractedly.

"I know, but even though it's cold outside, I feel as if I know that there's going to be warm place for me here," Rin said happily.

Souta didn't share her warm sentiments. What if his parents… no, Grampa and Mother were angry with him? He could deal with his father, but if his mother were upset with him he wouldn't know what to do with himself.

A sudden hand on his shoulder stopped him momentarily. He looked back at Rin who smiled at him weakly and said, "It's okay, Souta-kun. No one is going to be angry with you."

Souta lowered his gaze and tried to believe her. They reached the top of the stairs and they were finally out of the fog. Rin gasped and commented on the shrine's beauty as Souta walked slowly toward the main house. Rin followed quickly and they found themselves in front of his door. He thought. Should he knock? Should he just walk in? Should he yell inside? Rin decided for him by knocking.

The disgruntled voice of his grandfather came through, "The shrine is closed! Come back tomorrow!" Rin looked at him. Souta sighed and opened the door. He stepped inside and heard his grandfather get up from somewhere in a rage screaming, "How dare you enter my home! I said the shrine was-!" his grandfather walked to the door and stopped talking suddenly to see that his grandson with some odd little girl was standing in front of him, face weary from travel, but eyes sharp from some hidden fury.

"Oh good gods… Souta…" he murmured smiling and almost at tears, "SOUTA!" he hobbled over to his grandson and hugged him while screaming at the top of his lungs, "MUSUME! SOUTA IS HOME!"

His father was the first to come back wide-eyed and with a million feeling mixed into his face. Not soon after his mother burst into the room, clad in all back scrambling to see her son. She stopped a few feet away from him and stared in disbelief. Tears fell down her cheeks and her mouth was slightly parted. She reached out to him with both hands. His grandfather let go of him and allowed him to walk to him mother. When he was close enough, his mother pulled him as close to her as possible and started sobbing on his shoulder. She dragged him to the ground holding him and crying her eyes out.

"Tadaima, Okaa-san," Souta murmured to her, both happy and relieved.

"Sou- ta…" his mother said through her sobbing. After a few minutes, she loosened her grip and Souta was allowed to get up. He walked to Rin and led her inside, he told introduced her to his family, "Rin, this is my grandfather, mother, and my… father…" he seemed to have difficulty saying the words, "Everyone, this is Rin. I met her on my journey. I'd like her stay with us."

"Hajimemashite," Rin bowed a little.

Grandpa and Mama exchanged looks.

"Souta…" his father asked a little worriedly, "Where ever did you go?"

"I went to the Yamaibara mountain," Souta said calmly.

"Souta," his mother said wiping her tears away, "How foolish of you! You could have been killed by wolves!"

"I saw no wolves, Mama," Souta assured her kindly. His father froze up in a panic at this comment, "But I found Kagome's bones." His father relaxed, but then suddenly caught tense and wary, "And, just like father said, they looked like they were licked clean by a starving wolf. I took them down to Rin's village and gave them a proper burial."

"Very good Souta," Grandpa Higurashi nodded. His mother's eyes started to fill up with water again and his was wide-eyed and panicking.

Souta turned to his worry-filled father and said coldly, "Otou-san, can you speak with me in my room please?" His father looked terrified and confused at the same time. He probably resembled a squirrel surrounded by a foreign hungry animal, not really knowing if the animal was going to eat it or not, but the promise of its demise seemed inevitable.

Both Grandpa and Souta's mother looked at Higurashi-san curiously. He glanced between them and tried to stay calm, "Of course, Souta-san."

Souta turned to Rin and motioned his head inside. He sauntered through the hall with Rin closely at his side, giving him concerned glances.

"Oh, you mean now…" his father realized frantically.

Rin winced as Souta clenched his teeth. Although his father couldn't have possibly seen Souta's expression, he seemed to walk quicker after that. They made it to his room and Souta asked Rin if she wanted to sit down on his bed, she declined quietly. His father was looking between the pair and started to chuckle nervously, "Goodness Souta, you certainly are growing up quickly. You go on a journey and you bring back a girl…" Souta glowered at his father with embarrassment and fury and Rin rested her face in her hand, though not to hide a blush, just in embarrassment for Higurashi-san and how quickly he was digging his own grave.

"Don't you start with me," Souta growled. Higurashi-san froze. "I know what you did to Kagome, and I will not forgive you for it," his voice was eerily quiet, "You traded her for your life and you disgust me."

"How… did you…!" Higurashi-san stuttered loudly. Souta shushed him, "Do you want Mama and Grandpa to here you?" he hissed softly. He lowered his voice, "How…? What…? Didn't the inu get you…? Oh gods, is Kagome alright?" his father was pouring out with questions.

"Inuyasha didn't lay a finger on us," Souta said, "But then, of course we didn't steal anything."

"But what about Kagome…? Is she alright…?" Higurashi-san wanted to know.

"What about us? I'll have you know we did get attacked by wolves just because of your lie," he snarled.

Higurashi-san grabbed his younger son's shoulders firmly and said, "I'm sorry that happened to you. But you're alright and I want to know: IS KAGOME OKAY?"

Souta hit his father's hands off his shoulder, "Of course she is! Do you think I would have allowed her to stay there if she wasn't okay or unwilling to stay there?"

Higurashi-san sank to the floor and sighed with relief, "Oh thank the gods."

"Get up; you don't deserve to be happy. Your daughter is in a castle filled with demons and we'll probably never see her again. You have no honor, no guts, and as far as I'm concerned, no children. You are scum and if everybody knew what you did, nobody would forgive you," Souta snapped.

"Souta-kun!" Rin finally cut into the conversation, "That isn't true! You haven't told him what Kagome-chan said!"

Souta gave her a pleading look to be quiet. Higurashi-san looked at her, 'What? What did my daughter say?"

"She said she loved you, Sir," Rin said, "And that she was okay and that the people there are nice to her." Higurashi-san stared at Rin, "Hontou desu ka? Is that true?"

"Yes. She said you were her father and she'd always love you…" Rin assured him.

"That's enough, Rin," Souta snapped. Rin looked at him and slowly lowered her gaze. She knew she was out of line when she said that. Souta turned to his father, "I want to make it clear that I would have ratted you out the second we got home if it not for Kagome and Inuyasha. I'm not going to tell anyone about what you did, but you will not even look at my general direction while you're here because although I owe Inuyasha, my pure disgust for you comes first."

Souta turned away from him. Higurashi-san knew that that was his sign to leave but he sighed and got up. He walked slowly over to Souta and wrapped his arms around his shoulders. Souta began thrashing violently to get him off, but before Higurashi could be thrown away he said, "I'm so happy you're both alive…"

O.o

"So Kagome," Shippo narrowed his eyes in consideration, "You're a priestess, right?"

Kagome looked across the lunch table at the little kitsune and warily nodded, "Yes, I am, but how did you know that?"

"You give off a pretty interesting aura, but I just know because I overheard Sango and Miroku talking," Shippo shrugged.

"Oh, why did you want to know?" Kagome asked.

Shippo held up the jewel, "The human girl, Rin, gave me a pretty good idea while she was here. As a priestess you should have purifying powers and should be able keep this safe. Then I could leave the castle without the wolves tracking me down… hopefully."

"Just what is that thing anyway?" Inuyasha said examining it from a distance.

As Shippo explained the Shikon Jewel and its power Kagome pondered to herself. Wasn't that the jewel that Kouga wanted? If she took it and tried to take care of it, it would stop putting Shippo in danger of the wolves, but if she did take it, there would be a lot more opportunities for Kouga to get it… but was that such a bad thing? Yeah the jewel was powerful, but what did Kouga know about how to use power? Perhaps she should look into that before accepting any responsibilities.

"So that's why the wolf wanted that jewel so badly…" Inuyasha murmured. Miroku and Sango were also suddenly interested. They exchanged looks and said, "Inuyasha, do you think that could…?"

"Maybe… Hey shrimp, can that jewel do just about everything?" he asked.

Slightly peeved on being called 'shrimp' he replied, "If used correctly, it could resurrect the dead, so… yea… probably." All three glanced at each other hopefully but Shippo cut in, "But, if used impurely, the consequences could be fatal." All three deflated slightly only to start looking at each other again. Kagome glanced at Shippo, he seemed to be confused as much as she was, and that made her feel better. Shippo shook his at the three and turned back to Kagome, "So, are you willing to take it, Kagome?"

She bowed her head and said, "Let me think about it for a while, is that okay?"

"Yup." Shippo pocketed the jewel which Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango were now following with greedy eyes.

Kagome finished her meal and got up to put her dishes away and retrieved food for the wolves. She went upstairs and found Kouga alone in his room looking outside his window.

"Lunch time," she said cheerfully. Kouga didn't appear to notice. She frowned, "Kouga, are you alright?"

Kouga glanced back at her and said rather sadly, "Yeah, I guess so."

Kagome tilted her head curiously, "Kouga, what's wrong?"

Kouga started gazing out the window again, "I just miss home, I guess… With the pack and stuff…"

"You can leave anytime you want, you know," Kagome said losing a bit of her sympathy.

"Yes, I know, but I can't really leave," Kouga sighed.

"Why not?"

"All of my pack is counting on me to bring back the Shikon no Tama. Without that, they'll just consider me to be quitter and a failure. And failures in my pack… they don't even deserve to live. I'll be disowned from my pack, maybe even killed," he explained/

Kagome's eyes were wide in shock from the sheer brutality of it. Wolf packs weren't really like that, were they?

"That's why I need the Shikon no Tama… if I ever want to go back…" Kouga said solemnly. He turned back to her and gave her a weak smile, "But you understand don't you Kagome? Not being able to go back to your own home. You too are bound by the invisible chains of this castle…"

Kagome turned her head away, remembering Souta's leave the day before. She bit her lower lip and had the sudden need to leave, "I… need to go give Hakkaku-san and Ginta-san their food. Good bye Kouga-san."

"Please Kagome, just Kouga," he said as she walked out the door. That only made her move faster. After she was gone, Kouga picked up his chopsticks and started to chow down on his rice. He mumbled cockily to himself, "That was easy…"

O.o

Kagome whacked herself over the head once she got in her room after giving the wolves their food. How could she be distracted by the laments of a wolf? What she needed to find out was Kouga's ability to harness power.

Kagome sighed and sat on her bed. But now that she talked with Kouga, maybe she should accept the responsibility of the jewel and then give it to him. It would be cruel not to. But… Shippo wouldn't want Kouga to have the jewel (obviously). So… what should she do?

'Perhaps I should talk to Shippo about it,' she thought, 'Maybe if I can convince him that giving the jewel to Kouga would be the best thing, then he might let me… and if not, well at least I tried… I guess…'

Kagome then felt a drop of water fall down her cheek. She wiped it off only to find that her entire face was covered in sweat.

"Why is it so hot in here?" she murmured to herself. She tried to ignore it but then it became slightly steamy and she had to shed off a couple layers of clothes. She opened some windows and then looked around. She glanced at the door leading to the bathroom. She put her hand on the shoji and felt its heat. Some one was definitely in there.

She thought about knocking, but obviously, if someone was in there, the last thing they would need is Kagome disturbing them. That, and since Sango always took baths with her now, she would undoubtedly walk in on something she really didn't want to see.

Kagome was about to walk away, but then heard talking from the bathroom.

"THAT'S HOT!" came thundering from the other side of the shoji. (AN: -.- Oh dear… that came out wrong…)

Kagome blinked a few times, and then looked at her bed and then at the door. She shouldn't eavesdrop but…

O.o

Miroku sighed blissfully and soaked himself in the hot water. Inuyasha stared at it distastefully and stuck his finger in it every once in a while only to snarl at it.

"You always make it too darn hot!" Inuyasha whined.

"Shut up…" Shippo said indifferently as he treaded in the water, the Shikon Jewel nearly dragging him down by his neck… Inuyasha shot him a glare, but uncharacteristically held back his comments.

"So why'd you guys tell me to come along exactly?" Shippo asked suspiciously.

"Oh, you know, some manly bonding time and all that sort of stuff," Miroku chuckled merrily.

"Yeah… of course," Shippo narrowed his eyes.

"So Shippo, out of curiosity, why did you want Kagome to take care of the Shikon Jewel thingy…?" Inuyasha asked as he tenderly put his feet into the water.

"I told you, she's a priestess," Shippo snorted, clearly not liking the subject they were on.

"But I mean, why Kagome? Miroku is a priest, he could purify the jewel, why not him?" Inuyasha clarified.

Shippo took one distasteful look over at Miroku, and then at Inuyasha, "Would you trust him with a source of unlimited power?"

Inuyasha and Shippo looked at Miroku together, "Good point." Miroku smiled innocently, "Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, why not to me, then?" Inuyasha proposed.

Shippo started to laugh, but then quickly stop when he saw neither of the older guys laughing. He looked up at Inuyasha, "You aren't serious, are you?"

Inuyasha glared as Shippo spelled it out for him, "What part of 'priestess' did you not understand? You're just about as holy as dirt. I'd never let you even touch it."

"Why not? Because I'm a demon? What makes you so different then?" Inuyasha crossed his arms.

"First of all you're a hanyou, not a demon," Shippo verbally slapped his face, "Second of all, you, being part demon, would use it for something stupid and power-hungry, much like the wolf," another blow to the gut, "and third of all, I'm different from you because I'm not an insecure little half demon that feels that he needs to trick a little kid to get some easy power."

"Why you….!" Inuyasha tried to jump in after him, but Miroku skillfully pulled the little kitsune out of harm's way.

O.o

Kagome sighed and turned away from the shoji. Oh great, more talk about why she should take the jewel and more reason to not give it to Kouga. This was putting her in such an awkward position…

She really just needed to talk to Shippo one on one, and soon.

Inuyasha dropped his sword and looked around at the massacre. What happened? Had he done this? His clothes were ripped and blood was leaking out several fairly deep cuts in his body. He saw a familiar body in the distance and his eyes grew wide in horror. He tried to rush over to her but a petite feminine hand grabbed his wrist before he could go anywhere. He stumbled backward and stared at the owner of the hand. She had lost a lot of blood from a massive wound in the chest (judging by the trail) and her eye was gorged out, giving her the appearance of crying blood from her empty socket. Her other eye was crying also, "You couldn't save her, could you!" she screamed in agony and regret, "You couldn't save any of us! The sword we made for you… ye couldn't even use it!"

Inuyasha gasped, "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"It's too late for that! My sister's dead! Your mother's dead! They are all are dead!" she yelled. Inuyasha winced as a surprisingly strong grip started to bury her nails into his flesh, a truly miraculous occurrence. Her body began to weigh her down and with it came her nails, giving him four long scratch marks down his wrist. He yelled in pain he never felt from a single scratch wound before.

"I curse you Inuyasha!" she screamed. She started to glow with a light blue light, a long sheet of paper appeared out of no where with a brush striking up and down violently spelling out a long contract in red ink. Inuyasha watched in awe and shock. This wasn't priestess magic! How was she doing that?

"These scratches will always remind you what you have done to you and all of your close one's families… They will never go away until you repent for what you have done and for what you have failed to do while they were all alive… while SHE was alive. And Inuyasha… may the gods have mercy on you if you ever even consider of touching someone besides-"

Inuyasha sat up in his bed, panting. He clasped his head. He never had dreams about something that had gone on in his past before… What had triggered this one? He glanced up at his wrist. Had it been the cause of that?

O.o

3,284 typed words of sheer (not including the intro or this ending thingy) story type goodness. I know you're all out there (points out all people who read chapter nine, but didn't review). I know that there are twenty of you who did not review and for that, I bestow upon you the shame fingers of doom! Bestow Bestow. Okay, enough silliness, I'm not all that upset about lack of reviews, because I kind of deserve it for the whole leaving for half a year thing… most of you probably aren't even here anymore… Oh well. A big thankies to the 1 out of 30 people (that I've last checked) who have read chapter nine and reviewed (Ethuliel) (I hope I spelled that right…). This chapter is for you n' stuff! And because you reviewed for my chapter, you're review gets responded to first! (Oh yeah, and Kitsune Ryune as well, thank you for reviewing!)

(Hey, in case I'm just flipping out or something, could some one tell me if responding to my reviewers is banned from I got this thing last summer that was some e-mail petition to stop from banning responses to reviewers, but I've heard from some of my other reviewers that something like that never came up or maybe they just banned having an entire chapter as a talk to reviewers You know, like those IMPORTANT NOTICE! Chapters that just interrupt the story. So if anyone can clear this up for me, that'd be super cool and stuff…)

Ethuliel: thank you so much for reviewing! I was feeling kind of lonely there for a while. I appreciate your review very much and hope to hear from you again!

Kitsune Ryune: Yup, it's a Beauty and the Beast spin off sort of thing; and oh geez, you're referring to the fourth Inuyasha movie, right? The Guren no Horaijima? Well, I have the first three movies, but I had never seen the fourth or heard any summaries about it. So, I looked it up online and started freaking out from the scratch thing. That was ENTIRELY unintentional… and kind of creepy. Thanks for telling me, I would have been in the dark the entire time if not for you.