Chapter 10

It felt like someone drove a pick through her skull with a hammer, then left it in her head just for her suffering. Kagome resisted clutching her head and moaning in agony for Inuyasha's sake, seeing as he was hovering over her worriedly. She didn't want to panic him anymore than she already has.

"Is it getting better?" he murmured as he leaned against her bed on his knees.

She began to nod but stopped when the pain throbbed. "Y-Yeah." She felt a gentle hand against her cheek.

"Don't lie to me," he chided as his thumb stroked her cheekbone. "You're all clammy."

Peering at him, she gave a small smile. "Then why ask me?"

Inuyasha took his hand away, meeting her gaze. "Between silence and your voice, which one do you think makes me feel better?"

"Hmm," she hummed, understanding his motives now. "Should we talk about something?" She turned her head slowly to face him better. He looked deep in thought, plagued by his own mind. She didn't like seeing him so worried.

"Don't push yourself," he told her, finally settling back on his haunches.

"Mm," she hummed in agreement, watching his expression and wondered what went through his mind. So moody lately, she thought. It felt like a challenge to make conversation with him anymore. They were growing apart and Kagome could feel it, but she didn't know what to do. It was like she knew that any effort she made toward him would only result in grabbing loose strings.

"Did you see it?" Inuyasha asked softly. Kagome was about to reply that she had when he continued, "The ogre you created, it was actually real- everyone saw it. It could have hurt your classmates with it's own hands."

Kagome said nothing, oddly feeling sad when he looked her straight in the eye.

"What were you thinking? What made it real?"

"... I don't know," she replied honestly. All she had been doing was listening to math lessons... then her mind started to drift off. "I was daydreaming- I didn't even think hard about it. It just happened..."

Inuyasha lowered his head and Kagome wanted to turn away. She knew what he was thinking now. Why was he still invisible to everyone? Sure, some of the other kids saw him, yet when they got home, he was back to being nonexistent.

She believed in him- of course, she did. He had been with her since the beginning, no matter what she did, and she loved him for it. But it wasn't enough? He must be so lonely... Tears glossed over her vision as she took in his solemn face. "I'm sorry."

"Kagome..."

When he looked back at her, she couldn't help herself. She started sobbing. "I'm sorry... I just... don't know what to do..."

He looked hopeless, and a bit surprised, as he watched her cry for him. He pulled his haori over his hand and dabbed away her tears. "Tch, you're always a handful, you know," he told her.

She grabbed his hand, stilling his action. "I want you to be real," she sniffled, "I want you to be real and live and make friends and-and love. I don't want you to feel like you have to stick around me all the time."

"I choose to stick around you all the time," he argued.

"Only because I'm the only one who can-"

"Kagome!" he growled and she quieted, trying to control herself. "It's not like that. So just stop. You're only stressing your mind out more."

She nodded mutely, still reluctant to agree with him. "But you want to exist, don't you?"

Inuyasha was silent, focused entirely on his task at wiping away her tears.

"Don't you?" she repeated.

"Of course I do," he answered, pulling his hand away. "But whatever happens will happen. I've accepted it a long time ago and you should, too."

Kagome pursed her lips and adjusted on her bed so she completely faced him. "You're weird..." she finally mumbled, having nothing else to say.

"How's your head?" he asked once more.

She sniffed. "I think it's getting better..." she replied, feeling subdued.

"Good." His ears twitched and he turned toward the door. "Kikyou...?"

Kagome slowly sat up as the door opened. Seiko came in first, standing right where Inuyasha was kneeling. "How are you feeling, dear?"

"Better," Kagome assured, her eyes on the woman standing near the doorway as Inuyasha stood up and went off to the side.

Kikyou glanced at him, though he wasn't too surprised she could see him now. There was something off about that woman that he didn't trust at all. Probably the fact that she didn't age one bit since the last time they met. Or the odd scent coming from her body, covered with perfume. Either way, Inuyasha couldn't get himself to like her much.

"Excuse me for intruding," Kikyou murmured, "But I heard word from my sources that Subject 463 had managed to create a perceptible being. It had done quite a bit of damage that the Shikon Research Institute had to pay for. Not only to fix everything that has happened, but to also keep it quiet." Her eyes slid over to Kagome, taking in her ill form. "Needless to say, I've been waiting for this to happen."

"What are you going on about?" Inuyasha muttered, his eyes narrowing.

"The slightest mistake is disastrous to our cause and we usually like to keep a tight leash on the situation. It's been discussed for a long time now in the office and with this, we finally made a decision. Kagome is to go live at the Institute for the rest of her days. For everyone's safety and her own. Seiko Higurashi has signed all the necessary papers so there would be no problem transferring her there."

Kagome turned to her mother, stunned that she looked away from her. "Mama?"

Inuyasha growled. "And what if we refuse?"

Kikyou smiled. "We don't put up with the rebellious kind. If you fight us, Subject 463 would have to be put down so all of her illusions would fade and Project Dreamer would have to use other specimens. That's all."

Kagome stood, stumbling on her feet. Inuyasha stepped up to hold her steady. "I'm not going to live in some lab for the rest of my life. Humans... aren't meant for things like this."

Kikyou's gaze narrowed. "Listen closely, Kagome. If you plan on using your ability or Inuyasha's strength to escape, you wouldn't even get pass the property lines before you are shot at least thirty times. Every being you create is a mere illusion when first spawned, so our bullets would go straight through them, but they will hit you."

"Please, Kagome," Seiko pleaded, "Just go with her. You'll be better off."

"You just want her gone, you selfish-"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cut in before he could insult her mother.

"Oh, and if, by some miracle, you survive escaping. All we have to do is hunt down your father and mother and kill them." Kikyou's smile turned wicked, "After all, Hiroshi Higurashi decided to sacrifice every child he would ever have to the Dreamer project and Seiko Higurashi is one of our working 'mothers'. What good would it be if they all had the traits that you have?"

"That doesn't even make any fucking sense," Inuyasha snarled, holding Kagome tighter to him.

"Does it matter?"

"Inuyasha, stop," Kagome ordered, watching her mother break down into terrified tears. She wouldn't let anyone get harmed because of her. It wasn't worth the cost of her own life. She glanced at Kikyou. "We'll... go."

A/N: Again, this chapter hated me, especially near the end :/ Stop hating me, story, we have twenty-one more chapters to finish.

Warm-Amber92: I got a bit teary myself during this chapter. Probably because I wrote several different scenes before settling with this one x)

kittykritic: Last chapter, I thought that was true as well. But now I'm kind of iffy.

luckyinugirl: It's not like she wants him around, more like she has better things to do. (Which is still kind of bad)

Deadman19: Will do!

InuandKaglove4Life & Opalbrat: Thanks :)

Sahora: That's every stalker's dream to lock someone they love in their closet :3 And turtles are actually faster than we like to believe. Especially if they're as big as boulders.

alexischic: Don't worry 'bout it. I just have the tendency to avoid what readers want to happen :) *hands over tissue box* We're not done yet, hang in there!

Guest: It's too bad she almost doesn't need him anymore.

Skaii: You certainly have a lot of pets. *goes dino hunting to make armor out of their hides *

Inuyashasgurlforfivelifetime s: Could be... I'm sorry, I just want to ask: is there some sort of name battle over the claim of Inuyasha? xD

Pack your bags, we're going to the insane asylum!

FxA