Chapter 10: Runaway Puppy

The stillness of the earth made it appear as though it were dead. Colorless and cold, void of any sign of life, the endless rolling hills of white mourned for each other. Would anyone else see them lying dead by the valleys? Had anyone else even seen them when they had been alive? With the nearly constant fall of snow, not a footprint was left uncovered. Snowflakes evened themselves out amongst each other, so that the surfaces became smooth and looked as solid as rock. What few times the sun appeared, the wetness glimmered, more resplendent than a jewel. A land abandoned, completely unknown in the cold season, and no one to see the beauty… no one to understand what it truly meant to be winter.

When the winds did fade, only a light snoring was uncovered, which was followed by sleepy murmurs. "Mmnmm… Yes, yes. Fetch me more at once… Mm… Sweet, sweet blood… From now on, you come only to me…"

It took a little while for him to feel the odd sensation of motion, but Myouga was too groggy after such a good night's sleep to understand why he felt so odd. His little eyes just barely opened, enough to find himself face first in something red. He smiled dreamily, still half-asleep, "… Blood."

It didn't take long to realize that it wasn't blood, but some kind of cloth. As he slowly began to regain his senses, he recognized the smell coming off the red clothing. It was Inuyasha's haori, and Myouga was sleeping in the inner pocket. Lazily, he crawled towards the opening and peaked out.

He yawned sleepily as his tiny head stuck out, "Mmm… what's going on? Oh, how very lovely the mountains are this morning? … Wait… Mountains?"

The flea-youkai's eyes shot wide open as he gazed into the frozen wilderness, to the white mountains he was for some reason passing by. He looked up at his carrier, who hadn't even noticed yet that he was awake, "Inuyasha-sama! What are you… Where are we going?"

Inuyasha frowned a bit. So much for an easy trip. "What do you think? We're going to Naraku's castle."

"N-nani!" Myouga cried, "But…"

"I decided that it would best to wait after the night of the new moon to leave, just in case it took too long to find. Since that was two nights ago, last night was perfect."

Myouga stared wide-eyed at his master, "And what about me?"

"Keh! I knew I couldn't leave you back with the others. No matter how much I threaten you, you'd still manage to tell everyone. You're coming with me, and that's that."

"Oh, no it isn't, Inuyasha-sama!"

Myouga leapt into the air, intent on escaping even if it meant facing the hard cold. Even in the winter, he was far more likely to survive here than at Naraku's place. But not a second after he jumped, he felt something pull him backwards again. His back collided with the hanyou's chest and the flea plummeted downwards only to be jostled upwards again as Inuyasha ran. Myouga grabbed back onto Inuyasha's haori. It was then that he noticed he had been tied tight to the haori by a black string. He tugged tight on the knot around his waist, but it wouldn't budge. He whined loudly, "Ooh, Inuyasha-sama, how could you?"

"Keh."

If it weren't for Myouga's uncanny ability to be such a snitch, Inuyasha probably would have left the old man behind. No way could he risk leaving him with the others, though. Myouga was just stupid enough to spill the beans and ruin everything if he was given the chance. At least this way, he would have some form of companionship, even if it was Myouga.

Inuyasha sighed quietly. Ever since Sesshoumaru's arrival, Inuyasha had spent the rest of the week pondering what he should do. Night after night, he stayed up late watching as Kagome slept, wondering how much she truly needed to see him when she woke up. Perhaps she would feel betrayed? Perhaps she would feel frightened?

Perhaps she would feel unloved?

Often times he felt that being romantic made him intensely insecure, and it didn't seem to make much of a difference that he knew Kagome loved him. The problem was… did she know? Did she really know that he loved her? No way did a hanyou with a loveless past understand what it meant to show his feelings. Girls were odd… really odd… and this he noticed even as a child. They were so sensitive, so obsessive both about their relationships and about themselves, for reasons that to him seemed trivial. The observation didn't matter much. He didn't have much human contact in his life, and especially no friends. The closest thing he had to a romantic influence was Miroku… and if anything, that was just a representation of what not to do.

But that lecher did teach him at least one thing useful, and that was that females craved attention, especially from the males. He knew it had to be true, because he had seen the same thing being played out in Kagome's era. One of the initial shocks to him about the future was how dramatic love was there, how important it was. Nearly every picture or television show he saw had something to do with romance. What could he assume, except that Kagome would never understand his feelings unless he did the things she expected?

The constant kissing, he had gotten used to, although he was no more strong-hearted about being that close to her than their first time. She still set his soul aflame, and he was still utterly helpless against that. The flower-giving had taken a great deal of courage, but she had seemed happy enough for him to let it slide… especially once she kissed him. But he needed to do something more. It just didn't feel like a complete expression. No matter how hard he fought against his fight or flight instincts in order to please her, there were pieces still missing between them. He could feel it, like his very skin was being melted away.

Her family… would that fill the void?

If he had ached for a family's love, why wouldn't she? Wasn't that why he had left her behind for what would be about eight days? But on the other hand, he was already risking their closeness by taking off once again without telling anybody. He didn't forget how upset Kagome was when he left the last time. Not to mention that with every passing mile, he felt the dull ache of her absence grow more and more palpable.

Inuyasha sighed, 'Who am I kidding? There's no winning against this thing.'

What he had to do, he had to do. Whatever lost ground with Kagome, he would regain it. Because she was Kagome, and she loved him, and she always forgave him with time.

Maybe if he could get her home to her family, then maybe he could finally feel worthy enough. Maybe, just like the movies he saw, he could find the courage to tell her, this time with words, how much he loved her.

The snow was getting thicker, harder to run through. He consciously ignored Myouga's protests as he worked his way through the four inches of snow that still managed to delay him. A trail of broken snow was left in his wake, winking at the mountains in the vacant dawn.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Kagome awoke from a full-night's sleep only to wince and retract her exposed arms into her sleeping bag. The cold made her hands feel so numb. She breathed hard into her palms to warm them up, and small puffs of steamy air escaped through her fingers and dissipated in the chilled air. She groaned, 'What I wouldn't give for an indoor heater right about now… and some hot chocolate… and a hot bath with some good shampoo…'

She opened her eyes completely and was confused for a moment to find the wall opposite her empty. '… and a hot hanyou,' she smiled to herself.

The young miko giggled lightly as she thought of how that would really hit the spot right about then. Her arms crossed over her head and she arched her back as she stretched, making a little squeaking noise. 'I wonder where he is.'

Kagome prepared herself to face the cold outside her sleeping bag, and sat up quickly just to get it over with. If she cocked her head to the side, she could see passed the beaded door and into the outside world. 'Clear skies. He's probably out hunting. Maybe this time he was smart enough to wear shoes.'

Glancing at the corner behind her, she noticed that the "shoes" she had "made" for him were still there. Even if they were poorly constructed, at least they would have given him some warmth. 'Perhaps not.'

As she got to her feet, she did realize that something was missing: her friends. Instinctively, she glanced at her watch. "Twelve o'clock? That late? How could I have slept in so long? I need to get to work."

Kagome hurriedly dressed herself and stumbled outside as she tied on her shoes. She dashed over to the woodpile and picked up as many dry logs as she could. On her way back towards the door, she spotted the others coming up the hill. "Oh, there you are. I'm so sorry. I slept in. If you could just tell Inuyasha to hurry up with that food, I'll have it ready in no time."

"Uh… Kagome-chan?" Sango said timidly.

Kagome looked back from the doorway, trying her best to keep all the logs in her arms. "Nani?"

She quickly noticed the serious looks on there faces, and she tensed up. They could only look that way for one reason. "Where's Inuyasha?"

Miroku scratched the back of his head and looked into empty air with a grimace, "Um, Kagome-sama, don't take this the wrong way, but… we don't know."

"Nani?" She gasped.

"We've searched the village and the nearby forest for two hours. There's no sign of him. He's gone."

"NANI?" Kagome bellowed.

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'Shoes… shoes… Why didn't I just fucking take them?'

Once he got the fire started, Inuyasha began rubbing his feet as hard as he could to regain feeling. He had thought that he could handle the snow throughout the day, but what he didn't consider was that for the past two years, he hadn't spent more than an hour at a time outside in winter. His ankles and soles stung. Myouga was curled in the hem of Inuyasha's haori, shivering like there was no tomorrow, which according to him, wasn't that unlikely.

Inuyasha's honey eyes gazed long into the fire, trying to quell the emptiness that he felt from the moment he left the village. He had forgotten how hard it had been to be alone. Perhaps it didn't seem so hard before, until he met that silly girl from down the well. He couldn't help but smile weakly. Even if he didn't love her, he would still owe her his heart for what she did for him. After he had her, it was impossible to think he could ever go back to living the way he did. The hanyou never thought he needed anyone, not like he needed her.

What were the impossible things he had gained because of her? Adventure, definitely, and someone to look after. Not just Kagome. Shippou, Miroku, Sango, and Kirara too. They all needed him, didn't they? To protect them, to guide them. Kagome was the start of it all. He had a purpose, he had friends, and he had… he had a… girl? No… a woman? No………

'…… A… mate?'

How could he dare to dream? But the hope just wouldn't leave him alone. Her hair smoked in his fingers, her scent explored him, her kiss dissolved his body. He had been told before that anybody who wanted something so desperately risked losing himself to his wants, and Inuyasha wanted Kagome, more than anyone else, more than anything else. And he wanted the world for her. He wanted a place where he could build a life, a home, a family… with Kagome. He wanted to kiss her every morning and then again every night. He wanted her to know forever and always that he needed her.

'But would she even want me?'

A part of him was outraged that he would think such a thing. Kagome loved him. He knew that. 'Keh. Perhaps she would, but… right now, I think I would lose my mind if she said yes. I still can't believe that I have her now.'

"Inuyasha-sama?" Myouga snapped the hanyou out of his thoughts.

"Huh? What?"

"Is everything alright? You look awfully red in the cheeks."

His observation only caused Inuyasha's cheeks to redden more. Myouga pointed, "Oh! There it is again!"

"Urusai!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he slapped Myouga aside with his palm.

Myouga groaned as he swung back and forth on the string connecting them together. Inuyasha stuffed his hands into his sleeves, "Stay out of my business."

"What are you thinking about?"

Inuyasha turned his cheek and huffed, "What are you, a woman? I've had enough of women and feelings, thank you very much."

'Women and feelings?' Myouga mused, 'Women… and… feelings…'

His eyes lit up a moment before his eyes narrowed slyly, "Inuyasha-sama."

He didn't know why, but for some reason, the hanyou didn't like that tone of voice. It could only mean trouble. His cheeks pinked again as he saw the way Myouga was staring at him, as though he knew the biggest secret in the world. "W-what?"

Somehow even when his eyes closed, they were lit up. He swung like a pendulum on the string as he clasped his hands together joyfully. "Oh, I knew it. I just knew it. It happens to all of us, Inuyasha-sama. It's just a matter of time."

The hanyou's dark eyebrows pinched together. "Huh? What is?"

"You mustn't worry, young master. We all must find a way to cope with these feelings. It is truly a burden in a male's life."

"Male?" Inuyasha's hands suddenly felt hot, "I don't… Myouga-jiji, explain yourself!"

With the length of the string, Myouga was able to leap onto Inuyasha's raised knee. Quickly he pulled the string behind him and began his speech, "Now, the first thing you should know is this, Inuyasha-sama. A true show of strength would be that you wait until both of you are ready…"

Inuyasha said nothing as he stared at the flea in utter confusion.

"… Second, you must realize that this must be permanent. Only with the conscious consent of both could the bond be formed, but if you wish to keep the bond, you must never be with anyone else…"

'Be… with…?'

"…And lastly, there would be a half and half chance that the child would be a hanyou or a human if Kagome-sama conceives."

"NANI?" Inuyasha yelled, echoing off the mountains.

He froze, stiff as a rock, but Myouga didn't seem to notice. "Why, yes. At least that is what has been concluded. You weren't the first hanyou to seek a human as a mate, after all. Though you are the first hanyou to seek a miko…"

Before he could say anymore, Myouga was pulled through the air and found himself staring into big angry golden eyes. "You listen to me, Myouga-jiji!" Inuyasha snarled, "If you ever EVER mention this 'advice' of yours to anyone, especially to Kagome, I will rip you apart so many times, you will become nothing but dust. You got that?"

Myouga shivered, "But… Inuyasha-sama. I was only trying to help you. Every male has to understand how to make sense of his urges."

"Urges! You… I am not having this conversation with you!" His face was bright red, "You know what? Fine!"

As quick as he could, he cut the string with his teeth and threw Myouga to the ground. "You win! Go and run away again! Just get out of my face!"

Myouga made a yell of joy as he immediately bounded away, hoping the hanyou wouldn't change his mind before he could make his great escape.

Inuyasha growled and crossed his arms tightly into his chest as he forced his hard blush away. "Stupid Myouga-jiji," he muttered to himself, "Who does he think he is?"

He sighed, 'Alone again. Seven days to go.'

Myouga wiped his brow, "Whew! Thank goodness I escaped."

As he bounced away into the night, looking for someplace warm and far away from the hanyou, he smiled to himself, 'Inuyasha-sama, you are more like your father than you'll ever know.'

To be continued…

Hahaha… the good old "birds and the bees" talk. Anyways, I've always been under the assumption that Inuyasha is utterly confused by the social behaviors of Kagome's era, therefore he thinks that Kagome expects certain things from him. This is why although he is romantic with her he still is insecure about a lot of it. Hopefully, this will work for you, cause it's a rather important point in the story.

Okay… so… please please PLEASE review! If you do, I'll get the next chapter in faster.