Raise your hand if you're mad about the last chapter *immediately raises hand*

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 9: The Distraction

Kagome didn't come to the bakery the next night.

Inuyasha figured she wouldn't, so he went to the small store to find out if Kagome's shift had gone overtime.

It hadn't.

Inuyasha frowned as he walked back to the bakery. Miroku was waiting for him when he entered with a look of concern on his face.

"She wasn't there?" he asked. Inuyasha shook his head.

"Apparently she didn't go to work at all today," he replied. "I don't know what could've happened."

"Maybe you could call her?" Miroku suggested.

"I didn't think to ask for her number," Inuyasha admitted. "So...I don't really know what to do next."

Miroku paused for a moment. "Well, you know where her apartment building is, right? Why don't you go see her?" Inuyasha frowned.

"Isn't that weird?" he asked. Miroku chuckled.

"She ran out on you without an explanation," he pointed out. "That's weird. I think you stopping by her apartment to check on her would be fine."

Inuyasha nodded. "You're right. Maybe...maybe I'll go do that now."

Miroku smiled. "That's the spirit!"

o.O.o

As soon as Inuyasha began walking, he started to lose his nerve.

'Maybe I shouldn't,' he pondered. 'But I'm worried...but maybe it's weird...but we're friends. This is just...a friend checking on a fellow friend. Yeah. That.'

Inuyasha had never been in her apartment building, so he wasn't entirely certain which one she lived in. Normally he would be able to scent out a person, but since he rarely caught her scent, that wouldn't work.

Luckily, he saw an array of mailboxes in the lobby of the apartment. When he saw one labeled Kagome H., he went straight to it.

I wonder what the 'H' stands for, he wondered as he hurried up the stairs. I haven't really thought to ask what her last name is...or to tell her mine, for that matter. Whatever. It's not like it's a big deal.

When Inuyasha reached apartment 4C, he paused outside the door.

He could feel Kagome's aura, strong and unbridled.

It was full of power, just as he remembered from the times he'd startled her, and her scent…it was still just as enthralling.

That hint of coconut reminded him of macaroons, and he suddenly had the impulse to bake a few dozens of them just to keep that aroma around him. He allowed himself to bask in the unrestrained scent and aura for a moment until he finally figured it was time to get on with his plan.

Inuyasha knocked on the door lightly, hoping he wouldn't startle her too much. He didn't want her to hide that aura again.

There was no such luck; her aura disappeared as soon as he knocked. He stifled a sigh and could only hope he would feel it again soon. To his relief, her scent was still there; even if he didn't smell it on her person, there was no doubt it would be all throughout her apartment.

Kagome opened the door and looked shocked to see him there.

"Inuyasha?" she asked when she saw him.

That's when he noticed the stark difference in the marks on her face.

They had a pinkish hue rather than their typical subtle appearance. That explained the usual two discolored spots on her face. She must cover them with make-up.

At the close proximity, he could tell they were scars.

But how did she get them? he wondered.

The frown on Kagome's face pulled him from his musings.

"What are you doing here?" Kagome asked, her voice not unkind but definitely not welcoming.

"Sorry," Inuyasha replied immediately. "I just…you seemed upset last night and then you didn't come by the bakery today and you weren't at work when I went to meet you at the store, so...I was worried."

Kagome hesitated. "I...I didn't go to work. I wasn't feeling well."

"Are you okay now?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome hesitated.

"Yeah," she replied. "I'm fine."

Inuyasha figured he should leave, but the sadness in Kagome's eyes was one he hadn't seen since he'd looked into her eyes for the first time.

"I could still show you how to make anpan," he offered. "In the conventional oven. We don't have to use the wood-burning one."

Kagome grimaced. "Uh, maybe...it's kind of late now, though, so...another time?" Inuyasha nodded.

"Yeah, of course," he replied. "Sorry again...I'll see you tomorrow?"

Kagome gazed at him for a moment.

Inuyasha could see an internal conflict within her blue irises, and the sadness in them only grew more and more obvious.

"I'm not sure," she finally said. "Good night, Inuyasha."

So he left.

O.o.O.o.O

"You mustn't break your focus," Sensei-sama scolded the little girl yet again. To her, it felt like the thousandth time that day.

The little girl bowed, unable to keep a sad frown off her face. "I apologize, Sensei-sama," she replied remorsefully, her guilt born more out of fear than true regret.

A butterfly had flown past her during their training session, and the beauty of it had drawn a smile from the little girl. It was the first genuine smile she'd had in weeks.

The distraction was enough to yield her yet another scolding. The little girl felt like she got more scoldings than actual training.

Her sensei's frustrated sigh brought her back to reality. "You get distracted too easily. You must focus on what it is you are trying to do." The little girl bowed again.

"I'm sorry, Sensei-sama," she repeated, just wanting this training session to end.

"Do you need a reminder of what happens when you disobey and allow yourself to become distracted?" he asked. The girl shook her head, still able to feel the heat of the matches she'd tried and failed to hide from him, only to be caught by her mother.

"No," she replied. "I'm sorry."

"We are done for today," her sensei replied as he waved her off. "Go meditate in solitude. My time of tolerating your lack of ability in learning how to control your power is up for today." With that, he frowned at her once more and stalked away.

Kagome curled into a ball on the floor of her shower as the water streamed over her body.

"No distractions," she muttered to herself. "The bakery is a distraction. Inuyasha...Inuyasha is a distraction…"

But Kagome couldn't help it. She knew she couldn't.

Seeing him that night with such genuine concern in his eyes...it had solidified what she knew had been blossoming in her heart.

She'd already fallen for him.

And she wanted to take the risk and she wanted to do all the stupid cliche stuff, like reach for the stars and give it her all.

So she made a decision.

She would take the risk.

Now she could only plead with the universe that it wouldn't blow up in her face.

To be continued…

Much love.