Truly, Madly, Deeply Chapter 10, an inuyasha fanfic

A.N. Updated. Thanks for reviewing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Truly Madly Deeply

(Tsuki)

Chapter Ten

(Tsuki)

Sesshoumaru entered the spacious living room to drop off the last batch of essential items he would need to stay with his brother. Though, he would have to stock up on Advil.

Maybe he would make a stop at the convenience store after work.

His silver haired brother opened a box with a knife from the kitchen.

Inuyasha rubbed his temples, "I only have one rule if you're going to live here, Sesshoumaru. So pay attention, bro." He stared his brother dead in the eye. "Make breakfast."

Sesshoumaru scoffed, "Do I look like I come with an apron?"

Inuyasha groaned, "But Sessshoumarrruuu…. I thought you got all the culinary skills! That's the only reason I agreed to keeping you around."

Sesshoumaru leaned against the wall of the room they were in, "I order and or eat a packaged breakfast each morning."

Inuyasha sighed, "That sucks." He then held up a finger, "Okay then the new rule is: The second door on the left is Kikyou's. So it's off limits."

Sesshoumaru gave his brother a look, "She has a room here as well?"

Inuyasha nodded nonchalantly, "And I have one at her house. I'm there more than I am over here, even though it's so far away."

Sesshoumaru snorted, "I never expected you to get engaged. Let alone to a living woman."

His brother scowled and gave Sesshoumaru a dirty look, "You're so jealous I can taste it!"

A finely shaped brow rose. "Jealous?"

Sesshoumaru let an arrogant smile spread across his lips. "There were two things wrong with that sentence. The day I feel an ounce of jealousy towards another is the day hell freezes over. The second: since when were emotions edible?"

Inuyasha snorted and went into the kitchen to put away some of the dishes Sesshoumaru brought with him. They would need them since Inuyasha would no longer be living by himself.

Sesshoumaru found some of his medical books and went in search of Inuyasha's book case. It was a tall cherry wood bookcase with five shelves which were stocked with serious and non serious works. The book case had well placed gold leaf trimming and was situated at a juncture in the living room wall.

On his way to the kitchen he picked up another of the many cardboard boxes that littered the floor. He recognized it instantly as one of Rin's.

He picked it up and after confirming it was empty, he put it under his arm and moved to throw it out.

Rin's things had already been settled in and she had taken the last available bed room—the attic. Of course it had had to be fixed up slightly, so she had stayed with the Taishos for a week. She would start staying with them officially starting that day.

Inuyasha had even connived his way into getting Sesshoumaru to helping him make a special lunch as a welcome.

Inuyasha sighed abruptly, "But seeing as I didn't know that you were just as inept as I am…" He cringed, "We need to learn how to cook, don't we?"

Sesshoumaru unexpectedly nodded, "I suppose we do… The girl is probably used to home cooked meals."

His brother sighed, "Yeah… I really feel bad for her, Sess. Can we really take care of her?"

There was a rustle in the closet as Sesshoumaru went to get his coat from the closet.

"Come with me to pick up a few things…"

He could skip work for today…

Inuyasha grabbed a coat with a grin, "Let me call Kikyou. I'm guessing she can help."

(Tsuki)

Kikyou laid stiffly on her fiancé's bed looking through pictures of the two of them together.

She had been watching over Sesshoumaru since Naraku was spawned. Naraku had taken a passive attachment to the elder brother, so she had done the same. Perhaps it was fate that she and Inuyasha fell in love.

But fate could not make this right.

Kikyou jumped when she heard a blaring ring in her head. She sighed and with a wave of her hand a cell phone appeared in her hand. She flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Kik-chan! Do us a favor and meet us at that bookstore you like so much. We need help with something…"

Kikyou smiled slightly, "Who's 'we'?"

Inuyasha seemed to mumble something into the phone as if he were embarrassed, "Mmmyrbbbrthur…"

Kikyou rose from the bed and as she did her red attire shifted into something street worthy. The dress elongated and wrapped around her legs, to become black jeans. Her odd boots turned into sneakers and the gloves became red sleeves that attached to what was left of her dress.

She brought her hair down and exited his room, her lips upturning further.

"I didn't quite catch that…"

"Mybrother…"

Kikyou laughed as she walked out of her apartment a purse appearing at her side, which she promptly grasped. "I'm guessing that you're saying that Sesshoumaru's with you. But before you affirm that, let me just say… You caught me at a good time. One of my girl friends took me out to lunch near there, so I'm a few minutes away."

She could feel Inuyasha grin, "Great… See you there."

Kikyou inwardly sighed, "Bye."

The raven haired girl visualized the area she knew that Inuyasha was talking about and found a café close by.

Within seconds she was in the café's bathroom. She emerged from the room unseen and walked into the front of the store. She stood in line and ordered a small caramel latte to go and left once she got it.

Kikyou hurriedly walked to the bookstore and got there just as Inuyasha did. They had just stepped out of the car as Kikyou came into view.

They looked awkward standing side by side looking as if they clearly weren't used to being out in public together.

Inuyasha embraced her immediately and Sesshoumaru extended his hand politely.

It was odd that she was actually speaking to the subject of so much chaos. She normally kept off the scenes or stuck to using her influence through secondary contacts.

That was ironically how she met Inuyasha.

Said person made out as if he was telling some sort of secret as he drew her closer.

Kikyou obligingly moved in. "We're trying to get some chick stuff for Rin. We thought you could help."

Kikyou feigned confusion, "Rin?"

Sesshoumaru rubbed his temples and drawled, "You thought this out quite well. I'm impressed."

Inuyasha sheepishly looked at Kikyou, "She's our cousin. Her parents were killed in a car crash eight days ago."

Kikyou let the pain she felt for the situation wash over her face, "I'm so sorry…What do you need help with?"

Sesshoumaru answered for his brother, "Everything…"

(Tsuki)

Kagura felt slightly nervous for some reason as she walked into the hospital she knew that Sesshoumaru worked at.

She was carrying a bag with take out she had just picked up. She was hoping that Sesshoumaru would prefer it to hospital food.

The pink eyed woman sauntered into the hospital in a sleeveless collared fitted denim dress and a straw hat that matched her sandals.

She received looks as she walked up to the receptionist's desk but they were firmly ignored.

Kagura impatiently tapped the desk to get the young girl at the desk's attention, "Miss?"

The girl looked up at her, "Yes?"

"Page Mr. Taisho for me. I brought him lunch."

She cocked her head to the side, "Are you sure he's expecting you?"

Kagura's temper flared a bit, "I'm sure that that's none of your concern, so just do as I asked."

A sigh came from behind the desk and the girl picked up a phone, she dialed in a few numbers and when someone picked up on the other line, she asked, "Hi, do you know if Dr. Taisho is in today?"

A slightly pleased look came over her face and she put down the phone poorly hiding a smile, "He switched shifts with another doctor." She folded her hands over the papers on her desk and whispered, "That's why people plan ahead."

Kagura's brows rose.

He switched shifts the day she decided to make the first move and talk to him again.

Kagura closed her eyes in barely concealed annoyance and mentally screamed.

(Tsuki)

Rin had managed to keep up appearance for a good week. She was a little more volatile than usual and was sparking more conflict than she wanted. Especially in her archery club, though.

She had insisted on participating in using the targets despite her shoulder because it calmed her.

However, every time someone spoke to her, she just snapped at or unknowingly insulted them. She had trouble expressing herself before the accident, but now it was even worse. She would constantly say the wrong things and word statements wrong.

She sighed.

The only one who was somewhat exempt from it was Souta. She tried her hardest to put on her happiest face for him, because he had helped her so much doing their summer course.

Anyone else was a free target, though.

But then again she had not slept in three days straight. Not since the funeral…

Rin hurriedly rushed into the bathroom and emerged herself in a stall not caring to make sure that the bathroom was empty.

She leaned against the lime green wall and felt nauseous.

Tears pricked at her eyes.

"Why'd they have to leave me? I can't do this without my parents. I can't…"

The bell signaling the start of her next class rang and Rin slowly straightened up and left. She missed the stall two doors down from her creak open and the short haired girl who stepped out from it.

(Tsuki)

Kagome rubbed her head as she sat at her desk and waited for two thirty to come by but wishing it wouldn't.

She had seen her murder her husband…she had seen her buckle under the pressure and then murdered her self… she had seen a malicious looking piercing crimson eyes in a baboon belt… she had seen her kill him so many times… she herself had even been attacked twice.

But all traces of all her dreams always evaporated once she woke up. All that stayed behind was her lack of sleep and the frightening feeling that chilled her spine.

And the archery club was not making anything better.

She barely got through her kindergarteners while keeping a smile on her face—but once she went to the high school, it was like the girls and boys had it out for her.

Half of them could not shoot and the ones that could spent most of their time chatting. But all of them made it clear that they were not doing archery because they wanted to.

To make matters even worse the best one there was a long haired brunette with a horrible attitude.

"Am I well enough to participate? Unless you're blind, you can easily see that I can still manage a bow even in a sling."

Kagome's cell phone alarm went off and she shut it off as she exited the classroom, locking it behind her.

"I've been doing archery every since I could hold a bow. I don't need you to correct my posture! It's good enough to put to shame everyone here, so go help someone who actually needs it."

Kagome descended the steps that led into the parking lot.

"Make yourself useful and pick up the stray arrows! I told you that I didn't need your help…"

As she pulled up into the high school's parking lot she decided to pay a visit to Sango's office. Kagome felt tears prick her eyes as she made her way up the flight of stairs that would take her to the second floor and make her way down the winding corridor to the student counselor's office.

She was just so sick of everything!

Kagome opened the door and was happy to find Sango sitting at her desk writing a report.

The raven haired girl bit her bottom lip, "I need to talk to you Sango."

Sango smiled and as she finished one last sentence she said, "Pull up a chair! I always have time for you, Kagome-chan. …Hey are you alright?" She had looked up and what greeted her was a nervous wreck that in no way looked like her Kagome.

Kagome did not take her offer and paced the floor. "No, I'm not. I haven't really slept in two weeks, Sango. I get four hours nightly on a good day and I-I feel like I'm about to snap!"

Sango stopped writing completely and stood, "Kagome?"

"Sango I don't know what to do... I just keep having this dream—n-no it's a nightmare!"

Her friend moved closer to Kagome and held out her arms as an invitation to embrace her. "Calm down, Kagome! Tell me what's going on."

Kagome moved towards the rectangular window and leaned against the pearl colored frame in a defeated pose. She shook her head as in declination of the offer.

"I don't know what to do, Sango!"

Sango ran her hands through her hair, "Calm down, Kagome-chan. Just do that for me and I'll help you with everything else."

She was hysterical and she knew it, "Don't tell me to calm down! This guy is about to die..."

Her sentence hung open as the back of her legs knocked into the ledge of the window and lunged her backwards into open space.

Sango rushed forward and grabbed her arms. She threw herself backwards and they rolled onto the carpeted office floor.

The brunette wrapped her arms around the shaking form that was her friend.

Kagome hugged her back, "I'm dreaming about the murder-suicide of two people… But I-I don't know who they are, Sango-chan and I don't know what the hell is wrong with me! I'm at my breaking point and I can't take it anymore. If I see him die one more time, I don't think I'll be able to take it!"

Sango closed her eyes, "You've been going through this all by yourself for that long? God, Kagome…Why didn't you say something? I could have helped you, Kagome-cha! It's my job—"

Kagome's eyes suddenly snapped open and she detached herself reluctantly from Sango, "I have to look over the archers. Can you drive Souta home? He hates waiting for me to pick him up."

Sango sighed and nodded, "I'm going to pick up some sleeping pills for you. Stay over at my house tonight. I really don't want to see you alone after the window incident."

Kagome laughed despite herself, "Thanks a lot, Sango…"

Sango smiled a bit, "No problem."

(Tsuki)

"Sesshoumaru-san, I think we should head back. High school club practices end at five. It's three thirty now and knowing Inuyasha's habits, the only homemade thing in your house is probably the Okaa-san's Homemade Lemonade mix in your pantry."

Sesshoumaru raised his brows, "You know him so well and you still agree to be his fiancé. I suppose that could be chalked up to another mystery of life."

Inuyasha scowled, "Your envy's showin' again, bro."

Kikyou hid a smile and Sesshoumaru ignored the comment, half tempted to reiterate his claims on the impossibility of being jealous, "I need to stop by the hospital to pick up files I had needed to this morning."

He seemed to think something through for a moment, "I will request a ride home from a resident."

Inuyasha gave his brother a look, "You're the reason why I didn't finish my residency."

He pulled out his car keys as they exited the athletics store. Inuyasha had long assumed when a box of arrows was delivered to his house, that the girl was interested in archery.

So they had purchased a target that could be set up in the back yard. She wouldn't have that much expanse to shoot from, but it was something. "Besides," Inuyasha had added as they pushed aside the rest of the day's purchases to make room for the target box, "it would give her something to do when her shoulder heals."

Sesshoumaru relinquished the front seat to Kikyou seeing as how he would only be in the car for no more than five minutes.

(Tsuki)

"Did you hear about the couple that passed away last week? They were her folks apparently! The last name sounded familiar but I didn't make the connection until I heard her in the bathroom, mumbling something about her parents leaving her… That being I don't see how she can act so high and mighty. She's an orphan!"

"Can you believe her? She's running around, not even pretending at least to mourn when her parents are dead! It's so disgusting…"

"Are you serious?" There came a cruel laugh. "I bet her parents were happy to leave her. She's so much of a brat; I think I'd rather die than live in the same house as her!"

"You know a kid's some form of rotten if their parents would rather end their life then raise them!"

Kagome felt herself boil with anger, "What the hell is going on?"

Three girls had ganged around Rin. There was a dark blue eyed brunette with a pixie cut, a wavy haired girl with milk chocolate eyes, and a raven haired girl with shoulder length black hair with midnight streaks.

All three of them looked surprised to see her. They soundlessly gaped at her. The one closest to her spoke up, "Ms. Higurashi… We thought you weren't coming…"

Kagome's frowned, "Yuka, Ayumi, and Eri—I'll repeat my question: What the hell is going on?"

Ayumi spoke up, with a sheepish blush, "She's been giving us attitude all week, Miss Higurashi. She's snapped at you countless times and she's undermined our skills countless times during practices."

Eri nodded regaining her bravado as she shoved Rin against the wall that led into the target fields. "It's been pissing me off all week seeing her going around as if she's so wonderful just because she skipped a year!"

Kagome slipped in between them and in front of Rin, "Touch her one more time and I'll make sure all three of you get suspended."

Rin stared blankly up at Kagome as the raven haired girl glared at the three, "I don't know who exactly gave you the idea that you could not only abuse another student, but tell her that her parents died just so that they would have nothing to do with her!"

Yuka scowled, "But didn't you hear all the crap she was spewing? She's been bad mouthing you all week!"

"Then let me handle that!"

"Why are you sticking up for that parentless little bitch?!"

"Are you honestly attacking the fact that she lost her parents? My father died when I was younger—are you going to say it was so he wouldn't have to raise me?" Kagome felt her anger swell to indescribable levels and a few tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "You don't know what she's dealing with! Don't you dare assume that it's a wound that you're free to throw salt at!"

Ayumi knit her brows with a scowl, "Stop treating her like the victim! If she's so tormented, then why not take a leave of absence? With that attitude, she wouldn't be missed!"

Before Kagome could help herself, she brought her palm against the girl's cheek. Ayumi looked at the woman with widened eyes and Kagome rubbed her temples as she coolly said, "I expect not only a letter of resignation from each of you but an apology and don't be surprised when you three are given a suspension. You are free to join other clubs, but I don't want to see you disgracing this one with your presence."

The three looked as if they were about to argue with her, but the look Kagome gave them was enough to make them squelch their anger. "Don't even think of talking back to me."

She clenched her fists. "Losing a parent at such an age is the worst pain you could possibly feel! The next time I hear you picking on her, I won't be this lenient. While she was in the wrong for what she said, you three took this further than you should have. Now leave my sight."

The three avoided her gaze as they walked away from her.

Kagome sighed and turned her head to look at Rin who had taken to leaving against Kagome's back. She was shaking viciously and her eyes were overfilling with tears.

She looked surprised to find them there as she touched her cheek.

Kagome wrapped her arms around the girl, mindful of her shoulder.

"I'm guessing everyone else left when they realized there was no one keeping them here." Kagome sighed, "Let me take you home…"

"Y-you really lost your father…?"

"…When I was a younger, yes."

"I'm sorry… For everything—I don't know what's wrong with me. I-I'm so sorry." Her body wracked with sobs and Kagome stroked her hair and let her cry. She felt tears of her own trail down her cheeks as she listened to the agonized wails that she herself had emitted not so long ago.

(Tsuki)

As Inuyasha pulled into his driveway he quickly noted the unfamiliar car parked in front of his house. "Is Sesshoumaru home already?"

Kikyou unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, "I doubt he could have gotten home first. We just dropped him off."

She furrowed her brows together and Inuyasha did not even bother locking his car as he moved protectively in front of Kikyou and over to his porch. Seated there was a haggard looking young woman and Rin.

They had fallen asleep leaning on each other.

Kikyou came out from Inuyasha's back and looked the girl over, "Kagome Higurashi?"

Her fiancé looked at her in confusion, "You know her?" She put her hand on Inuyasha's shoulder and he became still. His eyes drifted close and Kikyou touched his forehead. As he drifted into a deep slumber, Kikyou brought her attention to Kagome.

Kikyou walked towards her and kneeled to embrace her. She closed her eyes as she touched her head, "Why do you look so worn?"

Her eyes snapped open in surprise and she frowned harshly as she turned away...ashamed.

She was a hypocrite.

Kikyou closed her eyes again.

To implant dreams was a difficult process. Artificial dreams not only had parasitic features, but they were fastidious with their choice of hosts. Once in a host, even though they had to follow the guides of their creation, they were almost free willed.

She had had no control over who the dreams went to…

When they had picked this girl she could not change that. But she could have paid more attention to how the dreams were reacting in her.

There had only been one time that she had entered her dream state, but it had not been for examinational means. She had probably then amplified the problem.

Kikyou felt ill.

And she had accused of Yura as acting so tactless and thoughtless, while she herself had been too preoccupied with her guise of being a part of humanity.

Kikyou moved Kagome back to how she was. These dreams were not what she wanted.

They were not supposed to appear so graphically.

Something had corrupted it.

And then Kikyou knew immediately who had tampered with the implanted dreams.

She could feel his presence on the seeded visions.

As Kikyou started the process of eradicating the dreams, she glanced at Inuyasha. She quickly looked away.

Admittedly she had felt above humankind. She was an immortal being that could do things they could not. Things that they could only dream of doing… And had she wanted to, she could end any of their lives as long as she said that it was for a greater purpose.

But then she really saw the big picture…

And she realized that they would forever have something she would never have.

They were capable of having love that could outlast her eternal existence.

And she was not.

(Tsuki)

A.N. Review!