The Silent Hanyou

Chapter10

He's dead, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead! Oh, man Sango killed him!

Kagome was having hard time breathing when all of a sudden Inuyasha collapsed into her arms after Sango pinched his neck. She shook his shoulder slightly and called his name but he made no movement or sign of hearing her.

Oh, no…She looked up at a very proud Sango with tears glistening in her chocolate brown eyes. "What did you do? You killed him!"

Sango chuckled, "Ah, Kagome, he's fine. Just asleep, look for yourself."

Kagome shifted Inuyasha's heavy body and stared at his peaceful face. He was breathing…and kind of snoring. Kagome gave a smile of relief and parted away his bangs, hugging him closer to her. "Man, you scared me Sango. What did you do?"

Sango beamed with pride and pinched her thumb and forefinger like a claw, "Did I ever tell you guys that I come from a long line of demon exterminators? We don't do it anymore but we still have a few cool tricks up our sleeves." Sango laughed.

Miroku walked over behind her, "I see, how wonderful—ahhh! OOMPH!" Sango had grabbed his advancing hand and flipped him over her shoulder, landing back first on the grass in front of her. She wagged her finger in front of his surprised face.

"Na ah ah, that can get you in big trouble, monk."

Kagome chuckled and was brought back to attention by a small groan. She looked down at Inuyasha, who moved slightly and snuggled closer to her chest, finding a comfortable spot, sighing contently and falling back into a calm sleep. Kagome blushed and smiled.

"Wow, he sure is conked out. I was a little worried that it might not work what with his demon blood and everything, he must have been really tired." Sango kneeled down and felt Inuyasha's pulse.

"He has looked a little tired at school for the past few days." Miroku got up with a groan and dusted off his clothes. "But that's expected now that we know he works every night and also has to do homework. The poor guy," he shook his head and walked over to them.

"He can rest up at my house, let's grab his stuff and head out." Kagome was answered by a soft snore from the unconscious hanyou.

Blood…fear…death…he didn't want to open the door. He screamed at himself to not turn the handle, don't look inside…don't look inside!

He was like a puppet on strings, that evil man was the puppeteer, and he wanted him to open the door. His own child like curiosity wouldn't let him turn away neither, he had to open the door.

No!

His tiny fist, not yet adorned with claws, encircled around the cool shiny brass.

Don't…

It started to turn and something clicked.

OPEN…

The wood sprang free and a dizzying wave of rotting…something empowered his fragile nose. With two trembling arms, he pushed at the looming board separating him from the room.

THE DOOR!

His ears pounded with his scream, his throat cracked and his eyes stung. Someone grabbed his shoulders and was shaking him, calling his name.

He drowned them out, his lungs burned, and he could taste something metallic in the back of his mouth. His eyes shut tight and he twisted from side to side.

LET GO! LET GO! LET GO!

They wouldn't listen, they wouldn't hear his pleas! They just kept shaking and hurting him.

Visions of that room swirled around him, he shouldn't have opened the door, he shouldn't have looked inside! Over and over it flashed and tormented him; look again and again and again! Searing into his brain, forever locked into his memories, he should not have opened the door!

"INUYASHA! WAKE UP!"

The hanyou jumped and his eyes popped open by the harsh command. He could feel sweat and…tears cooling his cheeks and face. His gulped hungrily at fresh air and tried to stop his body from shaking.

He was on the verge of sobbing or screaming, on the latter he was certain that he had already done because his throat felt raw and his ears were ringing.

He took a few moments of staring sightlessly at some ceiling and tried to push away those images to the back of his mind, like he had done so many a nights.

His breathing finally slowed back to normal and he could feel the affects of his nightmare waning, he closed his eyes and turned his head to the side.

Breathe in, breathe out, don't think, and just breathe.

That's it, it was gone, he was safe, Inuyasha gave a sigh of relief and relaxed. Slumping onto something soft and cushy, his branch had never felt like that before. Wait, his branch wasn't supposed to feel like that and when did his tree…have a ceiling?

His eyes fluttered open when he heard footsteps coming closer to him. His vision blurred as sweat and salt stung amber but he could make out the outline of some figure standing over him.

Inuyasha squinted and whimpered as it neared him and caressed his cheek with a soft, warm palm. His head was pounding and he finally became aware of the stiffness on the side of his neck, his vision danced with every thump behind his ears and he finally closed them, feeling sick by how colors swirled and wavered.

He felt much too warm and batted away the tepid blanket that was being pulled to his chin. He whimpered as the uncomfortable heat ate at his skin even though he was wearing a t shirt.

"Are you okay…can you hear me, Inuyasha?" The voice was gentle and motherly, making his ears twitch. He sniffed cautiously, a cinnamon and sugary smell reaching his nose. It was a woman…oh, what the hell was going on?

Foggy memories of scaring the shit out of his friends and arguing with Kagome drifted into his brain. He remembered how Kagome wanted him to live at her house……and Sango told her to open her arms….and…and…everything else was a blur.

He didn't feel like he was in danger but his instincts made him open his eyes again, he rubbed at them lazily with back of his hand and gulped a couple of times to dampen his caked and scratchy throat. Blinking till he could see clearly, he pushed back at the raging head ache, and stared curiously at the woman who was staring back at him with concerned eyes. A very familiar color of eyes, as well, but with their own uniqueness, the woman's face was just as soft and short billowy black hair framed her cheeks.

She looks a bit…like Kagome…except older…speaking of Kagome, she suddenly came into view behind the woman and also stared with the exact same look. He immediately felt at ease now that he saw her but that didn't quell his flash of irritation.

What the hell happened?

Kagome chuckled as the hanyou glared at her, relieving her like nothing else could. It had scared her to death when she heard that god awful scream, full of terror and pain. And the way Inuyasha writhed under her mother's grasp, the tears and sweat cascading down his pale face. Yes, having him angry at her and acting like the normal Inuyasha eased her heart quite a bit.

She knelt down beside her mother and touched his cheek, his glare softened momentarily and he leaned into her touch. "Are you okay, now, Inuyasha?" she whispered gently. "Was…it another nightmare…like the one at school?" The last time he had said that it was just homework that caused his nightmare, she didn't by it but had let it go. There was no way he was going to lie about this one though, she knew it was the same nightmare (except much worse by the way he was screaming) and she wanted to know what it was.

He nodded and then raised his hands, so that one was writing an imaginary pencil on an imaginary piece of paper.

Kagome turned to her mother, "Can you go get me some paper and a pencil, momma?"

Her mother smiled and got up, "Sure, would you like some water too? You look parched, Inuyasha." Inuyasha blinked and nodded lightly. Momma, that's Kagome's mother? She seems…nice…like Kagome…the woman smiled again, that calming motherly smile, and walked out of the living room. Inuyasha turned his attention back to Kagome, who had stood up and was placing her hands behind his back.

He groaned and grunted as she lifted him and then laid him back down onto her lap. He looked up at her beautiful face and tried to summon back his glare…he couldn't do it…his head ache was fighting back with a vengeance.

"You're going to tell me what it was about this time, Inuyasha. The real reason, I want to know what scares you like that," Inuyasha sighed, closed his eyes, and shook his head no.

"Yes, you are. You know you can tell me, Inuyasha, I am your friend. You're supposed to be able to tell me anything," Kagome stroked his forehead soothingly, her fingers gliding easily over his sweaty skin.

Inuyasha sighed and his ears twitched as Kagome's mother came back into the room. Kagome helped him sit up and he gulped down the water greedily, the liquid cooling his whole body and lessening his head's thumping. Kagome took his empty glass and then handed him the pad of paper and pencil.

"Now, tell me what it was about." Inuyasha growled, regaining his anger now that he was waking up and his head ache was disappearing.

No way, I'm not saying a damn word. I want answers first! I'm at your house aren't I? I told you I wouldn't do this so how in the hell did I get here? Why does my neck and head hurt…and holy shit its morning!

Kagome grounded her teeth, "No cussing, Inuyasha, my mother's here. And, yes, you're at my house, and yes, its morning because you have been here all night. Sango knocked you out last night and we brought you here, you've been asleep on the couch ever since…until…you started to…scream…"

Inuyasha's golden eyes widened. I was screaming?

"Y—yeah, Inuyasha…what was it about?"

It doesn't matter okay. It was a long time ago. Now take me back!

Kagome blanched, "Uh, no way! You're here now and you're stuff his already in the extra room and momma already said it was okay. So tough cookies, you're living here now!" Kagome stuck out her tongue at the shocked teenage boy.

Kagome…DAMMIT! I told you…you didn't have to do this…I lived there for 8 years, I can take care of myself…I don't need your pity or your charity.

"It's not pity! I'm just doing a true friend's duty. And it's not charity! You can work around the house or even pay rent if you want to, okay?" Teen glared at teen and Kagome's mother sighed. It was time to get involved, or things weren't going to go anywhere fast.

"Inuyasha, dear, you can't live by yourself, you're too young no matter how capable you are of taking care of yourself or how long you lived there. It's against the law and if anyone would discover you, they wouldn't hesitate to take you straight to the nearest orphanage."

Kagome glare hardened even more and she didn't break eye contact with equally glaring Inuyasha, "Don't bother, momma, we already told him that last night and he still wouldn't listen."

Why wouldn't you just LISTEN TO ME! Oh, no, instead you had Sango KNOCK ME UNCONCIOUS!

"I did not tell Sango to knock you out! She did it by herself but it sure was easier than arguing with you, you stubborn dog!"

Inuyasha growled. I'M NO DAMN DOG KAGOME! I'M A HANYOU, GET IT RIGHT! WHY DO YOU NOT CARE ABOUT THAT? WHY DO YOU NOT HATE ME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?

Kagome's mouth hung open and her fury immediately cooled. She looked at his amber orbs and was greeted by confusion, anger, and a frustrating hurt. "I could never hate you, Inuyasha."

He scribbled maniacally and shoved the note in her chest. Why not? Why didn't you get disgusted when you met me, why do you want to be my friend, why do you even want me to live with you, why don't you care about what people say about you when they see you with me? I don't understand how you can be so…so…accepting.

Kagome's mother decided that it was time to leave as the argument took a new turn. The teens didn't even notice as she left the room.

Kagome felt tears moisten her eyes but she tried not to let them fall. "I like being with you, Inuyasha…I don't care what people think…I like being your friend…"

Why? Why do you not care?

"About you being a hanyou and what people say behind my back?"

Inuyasha nodded frustrated.

Kagome smiled and inched closer to him, "Because I don't. I like you…for you, not because of your blood. Even though the ears and everything are definitely an added plus," she touched one of his triangular ears for emphasis.

Inuyasha shook his head and batted away her hand. That's not good enough, what's the real reason? There has to be something else.

Kagome sighed and came closer. "Isn't that good enough? I like being friends with you because I like being with you. I like arguing with you, talking with you, or just sitting by you." She could feel a blush coming on but went on by the confusion still lingering in his amber eyes. She had to make him understand, that him being a hanyou didn't matter. "I don't care what you look like, I don't care how people talk, you're my friend because…you're Inuyasha…you're you."

Inuyasha was feeling light headed as her scent filled his head. She looked so beautiful, her lips so lush and tender looking, oh damn he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to hold her, to hear more and more of her lulling and reassuring words, it was getting hard to think straight as she came closer and closer.

Kagome's smile grew larger as she saw Inuyasha relax, "Do you see now, Inuyasha? I like you for you and I want you to live here because you're my friend and you're welcome here. So will you?"

Will I…? He nodded dumbly and leaned forward. The warmth of her breath making his lips tingle, he wanted to…so bad…but would she hate him then? Would she be disgusted with him?

He smelled like after a spring rain, all fresh but powerful, as he became mere inches away from her. Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to….uh, yes! Kagome felt a sense of satisfaction that he had given in to live with her and was now….wow, this would be her first kiss.

Closer and closer they became, it wouldn't be long now, their first kiss….

"OH, COOL! HE'S AWAKE!"

The spell was broken once again as a little black haired boy bounded in and launched himself between the two blushing, embarrassed, and pissed off teens.

Inuyasha blinked and felt way too warm once again. He had almost kissed her! Oh, dammit, he had almost kissed her and the kid blew it.

Kagome was feeling the same way, she growled menacingly at the boy, "Souta…can't you leave me alone for two seconds!"

The little boy eeped and turned to the hanyou, quickly shaking his hand, "Hi, I'm Souta, Kagome's little brother and I think you're super cool. And now, I must…run for my life!" Then he leaped from the couch and fled.

Kagome went after him, muttering an 'excuse me for a second' to the half demon and then the house was creaking and thumping by the sibling's wrestling and running.

Inuyasha blinked again. Super cool…what is it with this family?

Miss Higurashi walked in, unperturbed by her children's squabbling, "Would you like some breakfast, Inuyasha. I've made pancakes."

Suddenly the hanyou's stomach growled, "I'll take that as a yes, come with me. Kagome's told me that you have quite an appetite so I've made lots." Inuyasha followed her in a daze, a heavenly smell drifting to his nose.

A family…Kagome had given him acceptance, friends, and now a home again.He owed her so much…and now here was the question. How could he pay her back? Maybe a kiss would do…Inuyasha smirked, gawd this girl was making him experience strange things. And, hell, he loved every minute of it.