Chapter 14: Love Sick Stomach Ache

By the time Kagome reached the door to the bus she just stopped and stared at it. Her eyes were teary but she refused to let any tear drops fall and her chest felt heavy with regret. Wasn't she supposed to feel better after admitting something? Well, maybe if Inuyasha had said something. Then again, she hadn't given him much time to say, let alone do anything. Maybe she should have stayed just a little longer to see if he had anything to say. But, of course, she didn't. Instead she ran from him.

She shook her head trying to clear up her thoughts and completely forget about what had just happened. They had been getting along pretty well until Inuyasha asked her if it was her who liked him. Then things just went down hill.

She should have just kept her mouth shut. She should have just played it cool and lied to him. Lied straight to his face like she had been for those few moments even if it felt wrong and hurt. At least this wouldn't have happened. If this hadn't happened she could have just admired him and he wouldn't even have a clue. Now she would have to erase her feelings for him completely.

When she looked up at the darkening sky she began to wonder how long she been standing there. It seemed like forever. She suddenly snapped out of her gaze when she saw Sango force the doors open and look down at her with a worried expression.

"Kagome, what are doing?" she asked tilting her head to one side. "You've been standing there for a long time now. Are you alright?"

Kagome looked up at Sango and then her eyes drifted towards the window next to the door where she saw three faces quickly retreat. They must have been watching her.

"I'm fine," she said quietly forcing on a grin. "I'm just going to go for a walk. I need some time to think."

"Are you sure you're alright? You don't look ok," Sango quickly put in. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Kagome shook her head and said, "No, I'm fine. I'll be back before you know it."

"Ok, but where's Inuyasha?"

"How should I know, that stupid…"

Sango didn't catch everything Kagome said but knew she wasn't happy with the hanyou. But that was nothing new. The two of them always seemed to be fighting about something.

Kagome started to walk out towards the street again making sure to go the opposite way of where Inuyasha must have still been and crossed the street. She just needed to clear her mind of all this nonsense. That was all.

After Kagome had disappeared, Inuyasha just stood where he was with far off look on his features. His eyes seemed to be looking past everything that went by. Did Kagome just say that she loved him?

Now he had a bunch of questions going through his mind. Like if he should go after her or just pretend it never happened. His heart and hopes said to run after her and tell her what he felt, but his brain thought other wise. So did his pride. Sometimes being stubborn really pissed him off.

Finally after standing for what seemed like for ever, his heart had gotten the best of him. Before he could even stop himself or take another though, he was running towards the bus to find Kagome. His brain kept telling him to stop but he didn't. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to go. He wanted to find out if he heard right and maybe get all of what he felt for her off his chest.

He forced open the doors to the bus and only got stared back at by four people. But none of them were Kagome. His eyebrow rose in confusion and his mouth opened slightly.

"Oh, Inuyasha we were just wondering where you…" before Miroku could finish his sentence Inuyasha was gone. "You were…"

"Where do you think he's going?" Ayame asked tightening one of her pigtails.

"I think I have an idea," Sango answered with a little grin Ayame's way.

Inuyasha stopped when he reached the road without any sign of her. He moved his head back in forth in every direction. His eyes finally seemed to automatically drift to the side walk beneath his two feet. They just stared down at his pair of old black and white Converse as he could hear people walking by him going on with their own idle chatter. But, everything seemed quiet. Or numbed.

To InuYasha, it seemed strange that Kagome would suddenly just fall in love with him. They hadn't known each other very long. And, yet, she loved him? Sure, he liked her more than a friend, but he wasn't sure about love. She couldn't love him. She just thought she did. It was nothing more than a crush. That was all.

InuYasha furrowed his brow and began to grit his teeth, trying to force himself to continue after her. But his feet wouldn't go. What was the point? That was all his brain would tell him. There was no hope for a guy like him to be with her. He was rude, loud, and… well, basically everything Kagome didn't like.

Finally looking back up, and looking down the streets one more time, InuYasha turned to his left. Maybe just go for a short walk. He now hoped that he would not run into Kagome. If he did, he knew that he would end up spilling his heart out to her. Or he would attempt to and only screw things up even more than they already were.

The young woman sat at the park bench with her legs crossed and she slouched forward with her forehead resting in her hands. Her long black locks of ebony hair were falling around her and she was shivering slightly. The day had quickly changed to night and she knew she should start back to the bus where she was staying with her friends. But she was afraid to go back now. He would be there.

InuYasha surely would never speak to her now. He was probably back at the bus fuming about what had gone on between the two of them and by the time she got back everyone would know her little secret. It would be terrible. Humiliating. She couldn't go back. Not yet at least. It was just… too much for her right now. And not only did she have this to worry about; she had to perform in that concert coming up next weekend. She had to go back. For Sango and Ayame at least.

With a long sigh escaping from between her rosy lips, Kagome got up from the bench and began to make her way over toward the parks pond. It was small and had a little bridge going over it. There was a little baby weeping willow growing by it and crickets could be heard singing all around now. She climbed to the center of the bridge and looked up at the sky. All of the stars seemed to be missing. The lights and smog of the city didn't help. She had never seen a clear sky. It would be strange to see.

Another sigh managed to escape her lungs, Kagome let her chocolate colored irises travel down toward the still water beneath the surface of the bridge. Everything was still around her and all she could hear was the distant rumble of cars and the crickets. Nothing else. This was all that she needed. Some peace to finally sort things out in her mind.

"Kagome?" came a soft call.

Kagome felt her heart jump when she heard the voice. She also felt nervous. Maybe it was InuYasha coming after. Maybe he had finally decided to just talk to her. What was she thinking? She was the one who had run off, but maybe he liked her too. She put on a slight smile before turning to see his beautiful eyes staring back.

"InuYasha..." Kagome felt her smile fade away as her eyes met light jade instead of fiery gold. "Sage?" Kagome squinted her eyes and then tilted her head to the side slightly as she stared back at the man. "Is that you?"

The man smiled at her, his sunglasses were perched on top of his head and Kagome could tell by the smile that it was the same Sage she had met back at the party, Sara's older brother. Kagome hadn't known that his eyes were green. A sharp piercing green color, unlike his sibling's soft blue eyes. He wore a dark black leather jacket and his hands were hidden away in his jean pockets.

"Yeah, it's me," he said with a soft chuckle as he walked up the bridge and stood a few feet away from her. "I thought it was you standing out here. But, I wasn't sure." He smiled over to her with that charming little smile of his that made his eyes shine like to emeralds. "May I ask why you are out here at this time of night?"

Kagome wasn't sure what to say at first. She hardly knew Sage and wasn't sure if she should even tell him what was going on. He hardly knew her or InuYasha and she doubted that he would even care. But she was desperate at the moment. She had to get this off of her chest sooner or later and since everyone is the bus probably knew by now she might as well spill. Besides, who would Sage tell?

"I just needed some time to get away from the others for a while," Kagome decided to say as she looked back over to him with a smile. "Now, what are you doing out here?"

"I live around here," he answered simply as he leaned onto the railing of the bridge. "I usually like to go for an evening walk. Well, more like midnight stroll. Walking is good for you."

Kagome only nodded and moved some of her hair from her face tucking it away behind her ear. Apparently she wasn't going to get any more time to herself. Maybe Sage could get her mind off of everything. It was worth a shot anyways. He was here so she might as well talk with him until they both decided to leave. Or at least until he did.

Her eyes went back over to Sage who was busy looking down into the pond. He wasn't bad looking. Actually, he was quite handsome. Kagome could tell that he was a demon of course. The pointed ear had given that away almost immediately. That meant he would never be interested in a human. Why did all of the cute ones either have to be arrogant assholes or demons?

"So, how do you know InuYasha, Kagome?" Sage asked looking behind his shoulder at her. He then spun around and leaned back against the rail so he could look over at her. "Have you two known each other for a while or something?"

"Oh, no. Well, kind of," Kagome answered shaking her head back and forth. "We are on tour together… well, our bands. We share a bus. The six of us…"

"A band? So that's what you do," Sage answered nodding his head with his usual smile spread across his lips. "I was wondering what you did."

"Yeah…" Kagome trailed off as she looked away from him. Her eyes almost distant

"You'll be in town a while then?" Sage asked looking over at her curiously. His eyebrows were raised slightly as he rocked himself back and forth slightly. "Just curious…"

"Um, yeah. Until next weekend at least," Kagome confirmed this with a nod and looked back over to him. Why would he care about something like that? "Why?"

"Oh, I was just wondering…" Sage cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck as his eyes shifted to the side for a moment. But they quickly turned back toward her. "If maybe you would like to go out for some lunch some time. I wouldn't mind getting to know you better, Kagome." As he finished off what he had to say, Sage gave her a bit of a nervous looking smile.

Kagome only smiled at him and laughed softly. Was he asking her out on a date? Maybe this Sage wasn't such a bad guy. Most demons would never ask a human out on a date.

"I would like that… very much."

So she had just confessed to InuYasha that she had feelings for him. He would never have them back. And now she had it off of her chest. Forget him. Forget InuYasha.