HTF

Chapter 26

~No Pain, No Game~

Disclaimer: "I made Inuyasha!" -.-* An obvious lie…

~~Inuyasha~~

Naraku doesn't hit me hard, like the hell he usually gives me in the past, but I fall backwards and out of my chair. I manage to not hit my head against some of Gumo's spare brown boxes lying about while still making my reaction appear as real as possible.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome immediately throws herself on floor by my side and helps support me into a sitting position. I rub the side of my face, acting like his little sissy punch actually hurt me. I cast a dirty look at Naraku; he readily returns it.

That's it, keep it coming…

"Gumo!" Ms. Higurashi screams – everyone under her roof jumps as I – once again – hopelessly try to shield my ears from her shrieks.

God! That woman has a set of lungs! At least she isn't yelling at me this time… If only we could make her yell at Naraku, he'd sure be running for the hills then!

He looks at me with anger BLAZING in his red eyes. Yes, red eyes.

heh! Poor guy's lost his composure. If we weren't enemies I might've felt sorry…. Nah, I still wouldn't.

I snicker at the hand gesture he throws at me.

"He did something to clog up the sinks! I just know it! And that wench!"

With speed only he can posses, he reaches over me to grab Kagome's hair on the back of her head and yanks her off the ground.

Before she could finish her shocked outcry, I send Naraku flying over the table and into the far wall. Standing, I never take my eyes off his disgusting form, but in the corners of my eyes I see Kagome on her hands and knees shaking her head.

Good, I'm glad you're okay, Kagome. We sooo did not plan for that to-

Ms. Higurashi stands over him just as he gets to his knees. All I can see is the back of her head, but I can tell Naraku's seeing a look on her face that would make Hell look like a relaxing place to go.

"That's enough! If you've got a problem with the house or the sinks or something, that's one thing, but when go attacking my family, you're gonna have to answer to me!" At this last statement, she jerks her thumb into her chest.

He looks with wild eyes at Kagome and me, I instinctively shield Kagome from him with my tall being. His eyes then dart towards Sota, who had retreated to the far side of the room ever since I was knocked into the floor. Eventually, his gaze reluctantly returns to Kagome's mom. Finally, he stands, beads of sweat drip down his forhead.

"I just-" He waves his hands in the air in one last attempt, but none of us budge. "Argh!" Without even bothering to put on his jacket, he storms outside without another word, slamming the door shut behind him.

At first, we remain where we are in silence. I shift my body to face Kagome, to check on her, but I see her part her pink lips instead as her chocolate brown eyes widen in fear.

~~Sota~~

I'm right behind Kagome as we both rush around the table to our mother's side. She had just collapsed, no one pushed her, she didn't trip – she just dropped like a stone.

"Mama!" Kagome yells, catching Mom. She glances over her shoulder wildly. "Inuyasha, please help me!"

Without a moment's hesitation, the half-demon carries our mother bridal-style.

"Oh kids." I hear her say breathlessly, eyes fluttering open. "Don't worry about me. Inuyasha, I can walk now, thank you."

He looks unsure at Kagome, but with a nod of her head, he eases Mom into a standing position. She holds her head with one hand as she tries to regain her balance.

"Mama, what's wrong?"

Mom looks at me, a smile curling her thin lips.

"Nothing, Sota." She confesses. "Realization hit me is all."

~~Ms. Higurashi~~

I'm touched the kids are worried about me, but I don't want them to feel so.

I switch my gaze from my son to my daughter. She places her hand on my shoulder and I pray she can't feel me shaking.

"I'm gonna go lay down now, okay? You kids finish the breakfast Kagome and I have worked so hard on." I walk out of the room and put my foot on the first step when I felt that same hand on my shoulder.

"Mama," I whip around to face the voice that felt so breakable.

Kagome…

She looks at me with tears rimming her eye, eyes pleading for an answer.

"Mom. If something is wrongs, tell me." She shakes her head. When our eyes meet again, her expression is of pure determination. " I'm not asking anymore, I want to know the truth." Her hand tightens into a grip on my shoulder.

Behind her, Sota and Inuyasha wait to see the outcome of our exchange. Sota looks worried while Inuyasha appears to be his usual annoyed self.

I shrug her hand off me and back up to the second step.

"You know, I bet Gramp's is lonely at the convention. Why don't you pay him a visit?" I hope this attempt of evasion will work and have the kids leaving me in the solitude I need right now.

Sota pounces on the opportunity.

"Come on!" Sota tugs on Kagome's white sleeve. "Let's go! I haven't seen him for weeks!"

"Weeks?" Kagome takes a step back. Sota rocks on his heels.

"Well, okay, maybe not weeks…. But I really want to go!"

I can see Kagome's small smile from here, as well as the furrow between her eyebrows. She glances from Sota to Inuyasha, almost asking for permission.

The half-demon shrugs. "Feh."

He turns to walk out the kitchen door without another word spoken, expecting the others to follow naturally. Sota trails him, nearly stepping on his bare heals while trying to tell him where the hotel is.

Kagome casts one last worried glance my way before running to catch up with the boys.

Don't worry, Kagome. I'll be fine… in a while….

My fingers begin to shake from the uneasiness boiling inside me.

Something to do, I have to find something to do!

I start by cleaning up the mess Gumo and Inuyasha's little brawl made. It was a small task, just some plates on the floor to accompany the scraps and crumbs of a forgotten breakfast. In my haste to find something quickly, the job was done much to early.

My eyes dart around the already tidy room.

What now?

I decide to wash the dishes from the breakfast in the kitchen; it is very unlikely the 'family' will come back to eat breakfast again. I gather all of the half-eaten plates into the kitchen and begin my tedious, though a very much needed diversion, task.

I scrub the bacon grease off of the first plate.

I thought he was a good guy…

My eyebrows knit together as I apply more force.

I thought the kids liked him…

I use all my strength to scrub the plate the back of my mind was telling me was already very clean; the plate cracks a little, but in the heat of my thinking process, I dismiss the idea hurriedly.

I thought he was a GOOD GUY!

The plate falls from my hands in pieces into the empty sink. I slump my shoulders in defeat – defeat from breaking a plate and from the fact I can't seem to get away.

Why do I feel like I'm tied to him? And that I can't get away?

Gingerly, I remove the shards of broken glass from going down the drain and toss them into trash with a flick of my hand.

I laugh out loud at my last thoughts.

"Just like a drug addict…" I whisper to no one in peticular. I look up to stare at the far wall in the tiny kitchen. "The kids would be so proud."

A/n: So Sorry for not posting last night, but I was just finally being able type! I was in some sort of a writer's block and remember that little pocket-book I carry around school with me? The one where I would jot down any plot ideas to help me on your guy's Friday nights?

Yeah, my 2-year-old brother scribbled in the last couple of pages that were left in the used book, so I had to throw it out. (I didn't jump on him for doing it, because I know as an older sister & as an artist I have inspired him to draw, I soooo know it's not his fault – he lacks the knowledge of knowing what he did was wrong… sadly…)

Anyway, so I've been carrying a piece of paper that said "they do this-" and I listed what I would have the characters do if that happened, the whole cause-effect shebang! (you didn't think I'd actually give anything away, did you? X33)

THAT helped me get out of my week-long writer's block!

Things should be running a little bit more smoothly, but I still have homework (have to memorize & recite Romeo and Juliet quotes…*cringes*) so I can't guarantee another chapter.

;3

Till next time!