Chapter 6
by Nimrodel
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Never before had Inuyasha felt both so complete and incomplete at the same time. Complete because he knew Kagome (his Kagome, he thought smugly) loved him. The elation brought by this thought alone was greater than any he had ever experienced before. However, he felt incomplete as well, because even though she loved him, they were trapped centuries away from each other, and he had no way of knowing when (if whispered a small voice in his head, which he quickly pushed away) he would ever see her again. He wondered why fate was so cruel as to make them realize their feelings for one another when they were in two separate worlds completely. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her, just inhaling her scent and enjoying her presence...but that was not possible. He was all alone...
He hugged the pillow he was holding more tightly. He was curled up on Kagome's bed, and had been for most of the day. Ever since he had found the message at the well, he could think of nothing but Kagome. He heard footsteps approaching, and he found himself hoping against all hope that it would be her, that she had come back to him finally.
It was only Kagome's mom that walked in the door though. Inuyasha realized she must have noticed by now that he barely ever used the guest room she had given him, and instead spent all his time in Kagome's room. She had never said anything about it though. Maybe she realized how comforting it was to him just to be surrounded by Kagome's scent...
She sat down at the foot of the bed. "Inuyasha?" she asked gently. He looked up at her to indicate he was listening, and that she should continue. "I know you may not be staying here much longer, but I was thinking that maybe we should get you some clothes that would fit into this time better. You must get tired of wearing the same outfit all the time..."
Inuyasha sat up and rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. "I guess..."
Kagome's mom smiled. "Just imagine how pleased Kagome would be to see you in clothes from her time..."
Inuyasha's eyes lit up a little. "She would?"
Kagome's mom nodded, smirking. "I bet she'd love it. After all, wouldn't you love to see her in a kimono?" Kagome's mom watched as Inuyasha's eyes unfocused a little and he smiled.
"Okay, let's go." He said, grinning.
"Any luck at this village?" Kagome asked as Miroku came walking back from the home of the village chief. They had been asking at every place they saw if anyone had seen a miko that matched Kikyo's description recently. So far, they hadn't had any luck and Kagome was beginning to get worried.
Miroku smiled. "Actually, yes." He watched as Kagome's eyes lit up, and chuckled.
"Where did she go? How long ago was it?" She asked urgently.
"He said that she had stopped here a few days ago, and had treated someone who was wounded. She hadn't stayed long, apparently, but had headed off in that direction." He said, pointing east.
"Well then let's go!" She said, practically dragging them along.
Miroku glanced over at Sango and smirked. "She really misses him, doesn't she?" he whispered.
Sango smiled back. "Yeah, she does."
"We're going to have to find you some clothes to wear to the mall, I think I may have some in the attic..." said Kagome's mom. "Just wait right here, I'll be right down."
Inuyasha sat on the edge of Kagome's bed, and waited. Before long Kagome's mom came down with some clothes.
"Here, try these. They're probably going to be a little big on you, but they'll do just for a trip to the mall."
Inuyasha picked them up uncertainly. "O..kay.." Kagome's mom walked out of the room and waited outside until he was done.
"Okay, I'm dressed now.." Came Inuyasha's voice uncertainly. Kagome's mom opened the door.
"You look just fine in those clothes!" She said, smiling, Inuyasha looked down at himself skeptically, but didn't say anything.
Kagome walked into the clearing, and instantly drew back. They had been following footprints they had found, presumably Kikyo's, and they stopped here. There was an aura of evil all around the clearing, although it seemed days old.
"Is something wrong, Kagome-chan?" asked Sango, concerned. Then the aura of evil hit her, and she stepped back as well. "What's wrong with this place?" She asked.
"Something...very evil was here..." Kagome said.
Miroku glanced around. "This aura is familiar...I think it must have been Naraku..." he looked worried.
"Naraku?" gasped Kagome. "...and Kikyo's footprints just end here..."
Sango grimaced. "That means that Naraku has Kikyo..."
It wasn't long before Inuyasha and Kagome's mom were at the mall. The first thing they did was look for some clothing stores.
Kagome's mom grabbed a couple pairs of jeans and t-shirts for him, then shoved him into a changing room. Inuyasha was silent for a couple minutes.
"Inuyasha...are you okay in there?" asked Kagome's mom.
"...they're too tight..." he replied.
"Let me see." she said, thinking of the baggy clothes he usually wore. What she had picked out should fit him just fine.
He stepped out uncertainly, and looked at Kagome's mom. He was wearing a pair of black jeans and a red t-shirt. Kagome's mom smiled at him. "They fit you just fine."
Inuyasha frowned. "Are you sure? They're so...tight..." he mumbled.
"Don't worry, they're supposed to be like that. You look fine in them." said Kagome's mom.
Inuyasha looked uncertain until a couple of girls passed by and looked at him appreciatively. "Okay, they'll do." He said. If only they would make Kagome look at him like that, then it'd all be worth it.
Next they went to get him some shoes, which Inuyasha soon decided were the bane of his existence. He complained about every pair Higurashi-san got him to try on, until they reached a compromise and got him sandals.
They were just leaving the shoe store, when they suddenly heard someone yelling "Higurashi-san!" Kagome's mom paused as Kagome's three friends came running up.
"Oh, hi girls. How are you doing?" she asked.
"We're just fine, Higurashi-san...how is Kagome doing? Is her tazmanian flu gone yet?" asked Ayumi.
Kagome's mom sweatdropped. "Uh...yeah...but she's in the hospital for them to do some tests on her, so she's not at home right now..." she replied.
The three girls sighed. Yuka glanced at Inuyasha. "Who's this?"
Inuyasha shifted uncomfortably under their gaze. Kagome's mom quickly answered for him. "He's one of Kagome's friends...he's staying at the shrine with us for a little while."
"Oh, I see." said Eri.
"Would you girls like to take him to find something to eat? I have a little shopping I'd like to do..." grinned Higurashi-san.
"Sure, that'd be great!" said Ayumi, and she grabbed Inuyasha by the sleeve as she waved goodbye to Kagome's mom. Once they had gone a little farther, she turned to him. "Ne, are you Kagome's boyfriend?" she asked.
Inuyasha blushed faintly. "I...I guess..." he replied, thinking about the message at the well.
The girls smiled triumphantly. "So YOU're the rude, jealous, violent two-timer!"
Waaaiii! People like my story, I'm so happy! And everyone seems to love the waff, too. ^_^ Don't worry, there's gonna be plenty of that coming. I'm planning for the last 2 or so chapters to be so sickeningly sweet that you'll all get cavities just reading them ^_^. Now all I have to do is figure out what to do until then...*sweatdrop* ...I'm also planning on bringing Houjou into it soon *evil grin* ...So, what'd you all think of this chapter? Pleeeeaaase review, onegai! I love reviews...