Chapter 14

"I guess we're done for the day," Miroku stated as he written down the last of his notes. "Normally, you would be sent to testing your ability but I recommended against it. Especially since you just recovered today." He turned to Inuyasha, who had been let in half-an-hour ago. "I would also recommend that you don't kill any more of her illusions. From my deductions on the situation, I assume that you accidentally harmed her by forcefully getting rid of her monster."

Inuyasha set his jaw. "I figured it'd be something like that," he replied with a guilty tone that Kagome didn't like. "So what exactly happened to her?"

Miroku pulled out a cheap looking phone from the pocket of his lab coat, dialing in a number. "I would have to scan her brain for that. I'll try to get the permission to do so tomorrow. Even if the pain's gone, the damage could still be risky."

Kagome stood, walking over to Inuyasha. "We can go now?"

"I just dialed Sango's pager, she should be here soon." Miroku took a seat, stretching his arms above his head. "So, would you mind me asking about Inuyasha's origin?"

"I mind," Inuyasha grumbled before Kagome could work up a good response to answer. She frowned at him but he only crossed his arms, giving the doctor a hard look. An awkward silence passed between the three of them before a knock came to the door and Sango opened it.

"Ready?" Sango asked.

"Yep, she's all cleared. I can register in the database when I get back to my office," Miroku said with a nod. "I'll see you at home, sweetie."

Blushing, Sango closed the door behind Kagome and Inuyasha and wordlessly started leading them back.

Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, a question on her face. Silently, he nodded once and glanced behind. She followed his gaze to the little shadow that followed them sneakily. She knew something was starting to exist. Her dreams last night rendered it at the phase Inuyasha was in and, if she was right, it would only take a little more imagining to give the being some detail.

Sango looked over her shoulder. "You guys are being quiet. Did something happen in there?" Why was there a suspicious note in her tone?

"No. Nothing," Inuyasha muttered, sounding peeved at something. "At least, I hope not." His gaze slid to Kagome.

Kagome huffed when she realized what he meant. "It's not like you have any medical experience! If I let you stay, the most you could do was stare!"

"You really think I'm that much of a pervert," he sneered, the both of them stopping to level their glares at each other. "And here I am, supposed to be the fucking father figure in your life..."

"You're not my father, so it doesn't count," she snapped back.

"Whoa, whoa. I'm sorry I asked. Let's keep moving," Sango advised.

Kagome was the first to start walking again, simmering silently. "Jerk," she muttered under her breath.

It seemed that they were led to their room faster than they were led out. Kagome blamed it on her distracted thoughts with her sudden anger at Inuyasha that she didn't pay attention to her surroundings. But she didn't miss it when Inuyasha noticeably slowed down going through the door, allowing a split second for their new friend to dash in with surprising speed.

The door clanked closed and Kagome walked close to the shadow. "Is he dangerous?"

"If he is, he won't be to you," Inuyasha assured. "How do you know he's a 'he'?"

Kagome looked at him dully. "He came from my imagination. That's what I want him to be."

"Well, work your imagination," he said, jumping onto the bed to sit on the center. "Let's see what you can conjure up. It's been a while."

Kagome looked at the dark figure, who stood idle, shifting it's weight from foot to foot. She never really seen her own creations in the making before. Her nightmares were always creating monsters when she was sleeping. Inuyasha was also created during sleep, at least, that's how she remembered it. Slowly, she reached out, barely touching his head before he suddenly became visible.

It was like paint had splashed over him, coloring him in and making him an actual person. It was a kid, with carrot-orange hair and stunning emerald green eyes. He was dressed in a similar old style close to Inuyasha's own clothes, with pointed elf-like ears and the feet and tail of a young fox.

"What the hell is he supposed to be?" Inuyasha asked curiously, leaning forward.

Kagome smiled and hugged the child to her chest. "He's so cuuute," she squealed, petting his soft hair and ignoring Inuyasha's groan.

"Seriously, Kagome? Now ain't the time to create useless, cute things."

"His name is Shippo," Kagome dubbed the boy.

"Kagome, lemme go!" the kit whined, kicking his feet in a halfhearted attempt to escape her tight embrace.

"You're keeping him?" Inuyasha sniffed, a strange look in his eyes as he stared at the two of them.

Kagome released Shippo, watching him look around curiously. "Of course, I am," she replied, crawling over to Inuyasha. "I have a plan. Don't worry," she told him when they were face to face.

"You better," he muttered back before leaning back, laying down on his back.

Shippo leapt up onto the bed, sitting on Inuyasha's chest. "Are you my big brother?"

Inuyasha frowned at him.

"It makes sense, don't you think?" Kagome said, standing to sit at the edge of the bed. "Since you both came from my mind..."

Grabbing Shippo by his fluffy tail, he rolled over on his side and dropped him. "Keh."

Kagome sighed and crawled over next to him. "What's wrong with you? Were you really mad at me earlier?"

"No, I wasn't mad... unless you really think of me as a perv," he muttered.

"I don't," Kagome replied, leaning over his shoulder to look at her face. Shippo made a small noise of discontent as he got back on the bed and laid down at the safest space near their feet, taking a nap. "I know you do what you think is best for me. So what's the matter?"

"Nothing," he told her, shrugging the shoulder he wasn't laying on.

She sighed, laying against him. "Well, if it's anything I did, I'm sorry..."

He snorted. "Can't apologize if you don't know what you're apologizing for, Kagome," he said softly.

With a little laugh, Kagome looked up at the camera, wondering how many people were observing her or listening to them. It was unsettling to know that she would get no privacy at all during her stay here. What would they do when they learned that Shippo had been created. Would she get a bigger room to accommodate the extra person? Or would they ignore her additions to limit her imagination? She guessed it would be the latter. It wouldn't make sense to bend to their subject's needs.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha murmured, shifting to sit up. "Why did you create me? How did you think of me?"

So that's what's been bothering him, she thought as she lowered her gaze to her hands. "I... I don't really remember. All I know is that my dad played a big influence, even though I hardly knew him. He used to tell me stories before I went to bed... I'm guessing that's how you got your appearance- with the fairy-tales and all... I'm sorry, I can't remember exactly..."

"...'S okay," he replied, relaxing his tense posture. "Doesn't matter much. I just wanted to know."

Kagome looked up at him, noticing an age-old sadness in his gaze. She never told him, but he was very much like an open book to her. Sometimes, it plagued her. What is he thinking about? "I'll tell you when I remember," she told him, hoping to erase some of the sadness.

"Don't force it" he cracked a smile, "You might hurt yourself thinking too hard."

She smiled as well. "Idiot."

His smile turned into a small, playing scowl as he reached over and ruffled her hair like he would when she was a child. "Watch it."

Glad he was back to himself for the moment, she turned to Shippo. Even though she was happy that she gained a new companion so easily, it still haunted her to think that her favorite illusions were the ones most miserable.

A/N: I am really, really sorry that this chapter is so late. My bf texted me, hours flew by, and before I knew it, it was late and this chapter wasn't even written yet. Forgive me!

Dwarg91: Yep, and everyone was right in their guesses of who it was :)

Bai Hikari Tsubasa: There's no time to really develop Miroku and Sango's relationship during this story, so they're peaceful with each other (for now)

Deadman19: Do you happen to have a Pogo account? We can set up a date to play together there. If I win, I get to gloat about it on the next chapter.

Warm-Amber92: Now that I think about it, it certainly has that feel, what with Kagome in a place full with freaky supernaturals and her own imagination. Gotta switch it up.

xXxAddicted2ChocolatexXx: Yes to both questions!

ForeverWeird: *blows streamers for no apparent reason*

Opalbrat: Rin had a very, extremely small part in the beginning and I don't think she's going to make another appearance. I'm still thinking about adding Sesshomaru. I don't want the plot too big, ya know?

InuandKaglove4Life: I can't exactly build conflict with Miroku and Sango, especially since the month's half-way over. Sorry 'bout that.

There might be some time skips spanning weeks, depending on where I want to take the plot. This is just an 'IF' statement, so I might not.

FxA