Chapter
3~Upon Returning
Kagome watched
him run off to the well house, curiously. "You don't?" She
whispered. "She left you?"
She sighed
and pulled her bag from under her bed. I guess it wouldn't hurt to go say
'hi' to the others, besides...she thought, I want to know what the hell he's
talking about.
She shoved a
change of clothing into the bag and a few things of Instant Noodles.
I'll tell mom
I'm going to bop in on Sango-chan and the others. I miss them anyways.
Inuyasha sat in
Kaede's hut, trying to ignore the pain in his heart. When he'd gotten
there, they'd all been asleep, fortunately enough for him. Sango was
curled up with Kirara and Shippou. Miroku was in the guest room, and
Kikyou lay next to the fire.
They look
alike, but are different in so many ways, he thought. Kagome is younger,
she is so forgiving.
Except this
time.
He'd spilled
something he hadn't meant to back there. Hopefully she hadn't figured out
what he'd meant. He snuck from the hut and moved back to the gods
tree. I'll sleep here.
"Okay, baby, just
be careful." Kagome's mother hugged her. "Don't let that demon talk
you into staying for more than one night."
Kagome smiled
up at her mom. "Okay. See ya, mom. Love ya." She ran to
the well house and dropped into the well.
Thinking
twice earlier about brinning the jewel had prompted her to leave it with her
mother. She didn't want to get attacked on a visit.
She hit the
ground on the other side of the well with an 'oof' and quickly climbed out, heading
towards Kaede's hut.
When she
opened the door, a happy little Kitsune attached itself to her neck.
"KAGOME!"
All heads
jerked up.
Kagome smiled
a bit. "Hey, guys. Just here for a visit." She moved into the
hut, noting that Kikyou sat next to Kaede. So, he lied. She's still
here. She grimaced.
"Well,
Kagome-san." Kikyou smiled at her. "It's good to see you."
Kagome forced
a smile. "Hello, Kikyou-sama." She sat down next to Sango, Shippou
still clinging to her neck. "Hi, Sango-chan, Kaede-obasan,
Miroku-kun." She murmered.
The door
opened, and once again all heads jerked up. "Ahem..." Inuyasha
stared at Kagome in shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Just
visiting for the day." She stared at him, levelly. "I'm going home
tomorrow."
Shippou
sniffled. "Tomorrow?"
Kagome smiled
at him, gently petting his ears. "I have to go to summer camp
tomorrow." She smiled brilliantly. "I'll be gone for a few weeks,
but I promise to visit once I get back."
Inuyasha
moved into the hut, sitting down in a secluded corner.
"Oi,
Inuyasha-kun." She smiled. "Want some ramen?"
He shrugged,
mentally crying at the added kun on the end of his name. He caught the
cup that she threw to him.
Sango stared
at the door. "Come on, Kagome, I want to talk a while. I haven't
had anyone to really talk girl talk with since you left."
Kagome
nodded, standing. "Let's go for a walk." She smiled.
She and Sango
moved out of the hut.
As they
walked around the village, Kagome was waved at by several villagers. She
waved back.
"You
know," Sango said, breaking their silence. "This is the first time
Inuyasha has left the God tree since several days after you left."
Kagome
glanced over at her. "Is it?"
"Everyone's
abit worried about him."
"Oh."
Kagome pulled at the hem of her skirt. "I didn't know that."
"He shuts
everyone out, even that bitch, Kikyou."
"Does
he?" She pretended not to care.
Sango grabbed
her shoulders. "He's going to die, Kagome. His guilt and grief are
killing him. He hadn't eaten a single bite of food since you left!"
Kagome
blanched. "He...what?"
"He doesn't
eat. He just mopes all day long in that damned tree!" Sango looked
around. "You have to find out what's wrong."
"Why me?"
Sango
smiled. "Because I saw him go into the well, yesterday. I know he
didn't get back till late."
Kagome
frowned. "I didn't see him."
"Then why did
you come back?"
"B-because..."
"You're
worried about him, aren't you?" Sango stared at her friend. "I know
you love him. I know you've been worried sick for him. I can see it
in your eyes. He hurt you, but you still love him."
Kagome felt
tears sliding down his face. "A lot of good it does me to try to lie to
you, huh?" She laughed bitterly. "Yes. I have been worrying,
and crying alot for the past week and a half." She collapsed to the
ground, crying. "And it's his damn fault!"
Sango knelt
down, and hugged Kagome. "I think he loves you, not Kikyou." She
smiled. "He's been trying to convince himself otherwise, but, I can
tell."
That made
Kagome cry harder. "Oh, Sango!" She sobbed against her friends
shoulder. "I don't know what to do!"
"Talk to
him." Sango smiled sweetly. "Do it because you're the only one
he'll let in. Do it because you love him."
Kagome's sobs
slowly subsided. "Okay..." She sniffled. "I'll see what I can
do..."