Kagome was completely floored, as if the wind had been knocked out of her. After day upon day of dreaming about InuYasha, here he was, standing in her kitchen.
InuYasha's eyes widened slightly, a small flicker inside the amber indicating that he was happy to see her, in his own way. Maintaining his composure, he managed to say, "Kagome! I-I thought you were with..."
Hearing his voice, the voice she had missed so much for so long, she finally realized it wasn't a dream. InuYasha was here, mere inches from where she stood.
Kagome snapped out of her initial shock and raced to the half demon, flinging her arms around his neck when she reached him. "Oh, InuYasha! I've missed you so much!"
His arms still at his side, InuYasha gazed down at Kagome in surprise. "Um, yeah, Kagome, I, uh, I missed you, too," he mumbled, patting her awkwardly on the back.
Kagome's eyes snapped open, and she was momentarily taken aback. He doesn't seem very happy to see me...
Having gotten used to Koga's affectionate nature towards her, Kagome had almost forgotten how awkward and uncomfortable InuYasha was, especially when it came to expressing his feelings. That's all it is, Kagome assured herself. I know he must have missed me like crazy, he just won't show it!
Kagome pulled away, sensing InuYasha's discomfort at being so emotional. That's all it is, she repeated firmly.
"Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi entered the room, a smile gracing her lips at the sight of her daughter. "Sota, Grandpa!" She called, "Kagome's home!"
Kagome's eyes lit up. "Mom! Sota! Grandpa!" She ran to each of her family members in turn, crushing them with her hugs. It had been quite awhile since she had seen them...
"Say, InuYasha," Kagome said thoughtfully, releasing Sota from her deadly grip, "What are you doing here?"
InuYasha blanched, clearly embarrassed about something. "Uh," he stuttered, "Well, y'see-"
Sota piped up, "InuYasha's been mopin' around here since yesterday afternoon. He's been mostly holed up in your room."
Kagome blinked, smiling slightly. "Oh, is that so?"
InuYasha bared his fangs at the little boy. "Quiet, you runt!" InuYasha would never admit, not even to himself, that he had missed being around Kagome's family, her things, or even her scent...he decided the best tactic would be to change the subject. "Kagome, what are you doing here, anyway?"
Kagome dropped her bag, covering her mouth with her hands. "Oh my gosh! I completely forgot! I'm really sorry, you guys, but I have to leave right away!"
"What?" Her mother exclaimed. "But Kagome, dear, you just got here!"
Kagome had already turned around, heading for her bedroom. "I'm sorry, but a friend of mine needs some medicine, and I have to get it to him immediately."
Mrs. Higurashi cocked her head to the side, narrowing her eyes as she studied her daughter's peculiar stride. "Kagome, are you limping?"
Kagome froze. My leg! Not wanting to worry her family, she shrugged it off. "Oh, it's nothing. I just have a cramp in my leg from walking so much. You know."
With that, she went into her room, InuYasha trailing after her. Once the door was closed, he said, "All right, Kagome, out with it. Why are you limping, and why do you smell of poultice and dried blood?" His amber eyes were blazing, signaling that the half-demon was about to go off at any moment.
Kagome closed her eyes to avoid his fierce gaze. She knew how he'd react and she didn't have time for it! Koga was waiting! She had to get the medicine to Ginta! Swallowing hard, she began with an air of nonchalance, "A little over a week ago, Koga and I...we were attacked by a demon." She smiled and shrugged helplessly. "Same old, same old. It's no big deal."
InuYasha gritted his teeth, his fangs glistening with the effort. "It is too a big deal!" He practically roared. "We fight demons all the time and you hardly ever get injured! You must have been hurt pretty badly, too, to still be limping."
Kagome stuffed clean clothes and the medicine for Ginta in her bag. "He was a big, powerful demon," she explained as she packed, "And he had a Sacred Jewel Shard. He was one of the tough ones, that's all."
InuYasha slammed his fist down on a nearby bookcase. "Dammit! I knew that mangy wolf couldn't keep you safe! I bet he ran off with his tail between his legs at the sight of that demon, didn't he? Or did he decide to stick around to get his hands on the Jewel Shard?"
Kagome was stunned. She realized that InuYasha was only angry because he cared. She should be happy that he was, for once, expressing his feelings towards her.
But still, how dare he?
"InuYasha, how could you even say that? Koga risked his life to protect me! He held the demon and told me to run, but I refused. Koga was almost ripped in half by that monster's claws, you should have seen his injuries!"
"Kago-" InuYasha began, his gold eyes widened in surprise.
But Kagome wasn't finished. "He was very brave! And, for your information, he could have cared less about that dumb shard. He's not nearly as obsessed with the Sacred Jewel as you are!"
InuYasha, now over his initial shock at Kagome's outburst, demanded, "Kagome, why are you defending him?"
Kagome crossed her arms over her chest. "I know you don't get along with Koga, InuYasha, but that was just uncalled for." She cast her brown eyes to the floor. "He already feels guilty enough about what happened to me."Lifting her eyes, she said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go back and get this medicine to Ginta. He's really sick."
"Don't tell me you're going back to Koga!" InuYasha cried out with disgust. "I thought you had finally seen the light and decided to rejoin us!"
Kagome cocked an eyebrow. Seen the light? Like I'm some kind of airhead who made a frivolous decision that I've been regretting? I may miss my friends, but I don't think my choice was pointless. I saved Kohaku's life! Taking a deep breath, trying to remain calm, Kagome told him, "I'm sorry, InuYasha, but I made a promise."
InuYasha shook his head in disbelief. "So that's it?" In the next breath, he asked, "But, Kagome, how are we supposed to find the rest of the Jewel without you? I mean, it's your fault in the first place that we have to look for the damn things, and now we've got to fight Naraku without your power?"
Kagome's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. Her face suddenly felt hot, as if she'd been slapped. Is-is that all he cares about? Didn't he miss me? Me, not my powers? After all this time thinking that he had feelings for me, it's just–
Kagome abruptly turned her head so he couldn't see the tears that had welled up in her eyes. Hands quivering, she quickly zipped up her backpack and slid it over her shoulders. Making her way for the door, she muttered, "My mind is made up. Good bye, InuYasha."
Before her hand touched the doorknob, InuYasha gripped her arm and swung her face around so that his eyes met hers. "Kagome, quit being stupid. Just forget it and come back with me. I'll take your bag."
Kagome felt her last nerve break. Roughly slapping his extended hand away, she shouted, "Ginta could die, InuYasha! People from your era don't have this kind of medicine!"
InuYasha snorted. "If he's a real demon, he can handle it."
"Sit, boy!" Ignoring the white-haired half-demon's cry of pain at her soul command, Kagome ran into the kitchen and swiftly hugged her brother, grandpa, and mother in turn. "I love you all, and I promise, I'll explain everything soon!" Before her family could ask any questions, the priestess raced towards the well.
Once she was inside, she swiftly thrust a hand out before her, placing a seal on the doors to the enclosed well to keep InuYasha out. She knew he would try to follow her...and she couldn't let him.
She sighed, one foot dangling on the inside of the well. Why did she have to go this far? Why did she have to seal the door to get him away from her just so she could keep a promise? A part of her said she had to do this because he cared. But that voice was so... repetitive. Every time InuYasha did something to annoy her, anger her, or make her sad, that voice spoke up with the same answer every time. "He's only doing this because he cares. Most likely because he loves you." For a long time, that answer had been enough. But now, for some reason, it wasn't. There was a loud yell and banging against her seal on the door as she put the other foot inside the well, coming to sit on the rim. She knew that somewhere deep in his heart, he loved her. He really did care. But that was only half of his heart. And that half was so unsure and so confused that it really didn't mean all that much. Sometimes his heart belonged to her. But sometimes it belonged to someone else...
...She couldn't take this anymore. Koga wouldn't do this... he'd just accept it and let me go. He wouldn't torture me this way. And she knew that Koga truly, without a doubt, loved her. She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut to drown out the shouts and bangs of the enraged half-demon on the other side of the door. She'd been thinking about both of them a lot lately. Pitting them against one another, in her mind
...And Koga always came out the winner.
With a confused heart and mind she jumped down into the well for the millionth time, blue magic engulfing her and cushioning her fall into the past.
Once her hand gripped the edge of the well, she thought, My seal can't hold InuYasha forever, but...it will give me enough time to get back to the caves...with Koga...
"Kagome?"
Still dangling, Kagome lifted her eyes to see Koga standing before her. Before she could respond, Koga rushed over to her and held out his hand. "Here, let me help you." In one swift motion, he effortlessly lifted the bag from Kagome's shoulders and pulled her out of the well. As her feet touched the ground, her legs wobbled a bit, and Koga put his hands on her waist to steady her. "Easy there, Kagome."
Being so close to him, after what she had just been through...it was all she could do to explain to herself what she did next."Oh, Koga!" She cried, flinging her arms around him.
Koga blushed. "Um, Kagome...?" He asked, unsure if he was allowed to tighten his arms around her the way his heart so desired. Finally, he decided it was all right. Stroking her hair gently, he leaned his head down to rest atop of hers.
Kagome tightened her arms around him, and didn't release her grip for a few moments. This was all that could help her right now. She didn't know why...but it was. Finally, she lifted her eyes to his and managed to lie, "Sorry, I just...this whole thing with Ginta, I guess, has me stressed out. I-uh, I got the medicine," she added, a bit lamely.
Koga nodded, peered down into her face. "Hey, Kagome...have you been crying?"
Kagome struggled to smile. "I'm...I'm all right. Let's just go help Ginta."
"Okay..." Koga said uncertainly, slinging the backpack over his shoulders as he gathered her in his arms.
For once, Kagome had no desire to argue with this arrangement. She wanted...no, needed the comfort of his strong arms around her. She tightened her arms around his neck and buried her face closer to him, closing her eyes. I never thought I'd miss this, she thought absentmindedly as she let his familiar scent comfort her.
As her grip tightened, Koga caught for the first time a scent different than her own hanging around Kagome. InuYasha's scent cloaked the priestess. What-? Was InuYasha there? Is that why Kagome seems so...so sad?
Curiosity overtaking him, he opened his mouth, then shut it as he remembered the task at hand. His questions could wait until later. Right now, he had to save Ginta.
As Koga began racing towards the waterfall, he glanced down at the solemn, subdued girl in his arms. Something happened to her...something bad. And that bastard InuYasha is involved. She's hurting...but in a different way than I've ever seen before...
Finally, after an eternity of anxious thoughts and feelings, the duo reached the caves. Sliding out of Koga's arms and grabbing her bag, Kagome ran inside.
"You're back!" Hakkaku sighed with relief. "Y'see, Ginta?" He told his unconscious, weary friend, "I told you Koga and Sis wouldn't let you down!"
Sliding to her knees beside the ill demon, Kagome produced the medicine and a canister of water from her pack. I just pray that this works...
Author's Note: Hi, everyone! Lizzie here (or, Chibimoon 921)! I just wanted to say thank-you to Rikana for helping me write out the part where Kagome puts the seal on the well door and struggles with her thoughts about InuYasha before jumping down the well. And thanks to all of you for your lovely reviews, they really help me!
