Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me. Parts of this story are based on my true events.

When the Rain Fell

Chapter Six: Raindrops Keep Falling

Inuyasha took a moment to wipe the rain from his face as he sat on yet another roof as he grumpily rescued yet ANOTHER trapped family. Not a single one of them knew where his Kagome was. Higher ground seemed the smart thing to do… two families he had to punch holes in the roof because they trapped themselves in their attic.

One was that obnoxious Hobo kid. "Thank you," Inuyasha mocked the exchange in his head, "Please save my precious KaGOme! I would… but I'm just a weak lame human with nothing to offer." He may have misremembered a BIT of the conversation.

Shaking his head to try and clear his thoughts and focus on his search and rescue, Inuyasha sat on top of a street lamp and sniffed the air. The stench in the air was overwhelming, depriving the dog demon of his greatest tracking asset. The water below was brown and murky, occasional colorful oil slicks drifted alongside broken trees and trash. Inuyasha could smell the rot and death. He was sick to his stomach, and even more desperate to find his miko.

Higher ground. Kagome was smart enough to go to higher ground.

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooooOOooOOoo

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

"If you don't shut that animal up," a voice hissed at her, "I will shut it up for you! Permanently!"

Kagome put her hand protectively around Boyu and tried to calm the yowling cat in her arms. Though she wanted desperately to teach the woman that it was unwise to threaten her family, Kagome grit her teeth and walked her cat and brother between the tables of donated clothes and personal supplies.

"Try to find some cat food," Kagome told her Souta, doing her best to sound pleasant and not as boiling mad as she felt inside.

Souta nodded and darted ahead.

"No one will hurt you," Kagome whispered to Boyu, "I promise you."

"Kagome! Look!" Souta excitedly waved to her. "I found pet food!"

Feeling relief that at least one problem was solved, Kagome went to stand by her brother.

"Good job!" she told him.

And he had actually found quite the motherload of pet items! Pet food, cages, donated leashes, kitty litter and litter boxes, and even flea medicine! Tears poured down her cheeks as Kagome thanked the people who donated the items. She knelt down to examine the leashes so Souta couldn't see her tears.

When her emotions were more in control, she grabbed a couple leashes and fashioned a harness for Boyu.

"Now we can take him for walks!" she announced cheerfully.

Souta loaded a box, some litter, wet and dry cat food, and even a cat brush to put into a large cage he found. "We're so lucky!" he exclaimed as he started dragging the items back to the area that they had claimed as their new 'home'.

Lucky.

Sigh.

Well… he was right. Sort of.

They did escape the flood. They had each other. And they were safe for the moment. Food and water were available. Was it delicious? Totally besides the point. It was there and it would keep them from starving. Goodness knows she had eaten worse during her journeys in the past.

Kagome slowly walked Boyu back to their spot.

"Um… excuse me…"

Kagome stopped and saw two kids around Souta's age.

"Yes?"

"Can… can we walk your cat?" The kids were staring at her cat with a look of longing. The tears starting to form told her that likely they had a cat…before.

"Sure," Kagome said, trying not to cry and think of what may have happened. "But you have to stay where I can see you at all times." Reluctantly she started to hand the leash… but her fingers wouldn't let go. How could she entrust any of her family with strangers?

"We promise!" the kids said in unison.

Kagome handed over the leash and both children took hold of it. As soon as they started to walk, Kagome walked right alongside them. Boyu seemed inclined to keep walking. Kagome found out why when he zeroed in on a bag of treats in a pile of more items.

The kids found the treats and happily gave him at leave five each.

"Okay," Kagome said as she gently grabbed the bag, "We don't want Boyu to get sick."

"I love you, Boyu!" the girl said as she kissed his disappointed head.

"Me too," said the boy who Kagome assumed was her brother. He gave the black and white cat a hug. Then the children went happily back to their mom, who smiled as her children told her about the cat on a leash.

Kagome looked at a yawning Boyu. "More treats if you bring more smiles?"

Whether or not he understood her, Boyu got up and started wandering around. Kagome met most of the people in the large area being used as a dining hall and many of the people and other animals staying in the kennel.

When Boyu let it be known he was DONE being pet, Kagome picked him up and carried him back to his new cage. Souta had put blankets in and gave it the same attention as she had done in creating their space.

"Great job," she told her brother, ruffling his hair.

Kagome picked up the cards she had found earlier. She looked at her mother hopefully, but her mother was too busy cooing soft words to her grandfather. Kagome looked at her brother, but he was already absorbed in his handheld game.

Teaching Inuyasha how to play War and Solitaire with cards had been fun. Kagome smiled at the memories. He could be so sweet so time, when he wasn't trying to be intentionally obnoxious. Even in playing silly card games he would try to 'protect' her.

Inuyasha…. I miss you…

Kagome rest her head on her knees as she drew them up and hugged them close. She was the protector now. She couldn't let her family down.

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooooOOooOOoo

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

Author's Note:

Sorry it has been so long before an update. It has been a heck of a time lately. Health, pain, and some issues with depression. Nothing like a story about a flood to help depression, right?!

Also, my kitten happened to be the goodwill ambassador at the shelter. He (thought he was a she at the time) really did go from person to person to make them smile.

What is worse is that where I was keeping my stories, partial stories, notes for stories, and all things Fanfiction related had been erased. I had to try and remember how this part of the story went.

I wasn't able to be dry at the shelter for days. I'd keep taking my dogs for a walk outside in the rain because the person closest to us kept threatening to harm him for barking. We were all staying in the kennel! Dogs bark!

In case you are interested, the story "To Play Games" is the story I wrote about her teaching him card games. Most of my stories are in the same world in my mind.