Chapter 8
By Nimrodel
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Later that day, after much thinking and daydreaming, Inuyasha finally climbed out of the Goshinboku. He was in a very good mood, happy he had found away to (hopefully) make it up to Kagome for the way he had treated her...although he was beginning to wonder how long it would be until he would see her again. Should it have taken them this long to find Kikyo? What could have happened that it was taking so long? Inuyasha sighed, attributing his impatience to his anxiousness to see Kagome. He ached to hld her in his arms, to tell her how much he cared, not to mention give her the locket he had found her. He hoped they would be back soon.
As he walked by a closed door in the house, he heard raised voices. When his sensitive ears picked up his name, he flattened against the wall near the door, listening silently.
"I can't you believe you got that DEMON clothes!" yelled Jii-chan.
"He couldn't just go around wearing his normal clothes all the time, father. He needed something else." replied Kagome's mom calmly.
"Why would he need new clothes? He's a demon! You wasted perfectly good money on him!"
"I don't see the money as wasted at all." said Kagome's mom firmly.
"He doesn't even help out around the shrine at all, and you're letting him stay, feeding him, even buying him clothes! I won't stand for this anymore."
"Father..." said Kagome's mom through clenched teeth, "he is our guest, and he is welcome under my room for as long as he cares to stay."
"I refuse to live under the same roof as that disgusting youkai!" yelled Jii-chan angrily.
"Be quiet, father, he'll hear you!" hissed Kagome's mom.
"It's a little late for that," said Inuyasha, walking into the room quietly. "I heard everything." he said with a hint of anger. He glared at Jii-chan. "Look, I never asked to be stuck here. Believe me, I want nothing more than to go home. But you know what? I'm STUCK here, far away from home, and far away from the only people who ever cared about me. I'm in a world I don't understand half of, and YOU think YOU have a right to complain? I don't find living with you to be too much of a picnic either, but you don't hear me complaining every chance I get. All you can do is whine about living with a 'disgusting youkai'. I'm half human you know," he said defensively. "You make me sick, jiji, but you know what? You get your wish. I'm leaving." He turned to Kagome's mom and bowed. "Thank you for everything you've done, Higurashi-san. I know you tried your best to make me feel welcome." With that he straightened up and left, slamming the door.
Kagome's mom stared dumbly after him for a second before turning disbelievingly to Jii-chan. "Look what you've done! I'm going to go find him and talk to him..." she said, leaving as well. She could be heard yelling his name, obviously having no luck in locating him. He didn't want to be found, and he didn't want to talk. All he wanted was Kagome...
***
"Ne, Kagome-chan...it's getting late, I think we should stop..." said Sango.
"No!" replied Kagome fervently. "We have to find Naraku! We have to get Kikyo so Inuyasha can come back..."
"Kagome-sama," Miroku said, "Looking in the dark will do us no good. We need our rest."
"But..." began Kagome.
"Do you think Inuyasha would like to see you become ill because of him, Kagome-sama?" asked Miroku.
Kagome sighed in defeat. "No, I suppose not...but it's been days, and we still haven't found any sign of Naraku..." tears were beginning to form in her eyes. "I miss Inuyasha..."
Sango walked over and put her arm around Kagome. "I know Kagome-chan, but wandering around in the dark isn't going to help get him back. Don't worry, we'll start looking again first thing in the morning."
Kagome could only nod silently. They stopped at the first available place they came to and made camp.
***
It was late that night when Inuyasha finally climbed down out of the Goshinboku where he had been hiding all day. Luckily no one had seen him. Now that it was dark and everyone was hopefully asleep, he could get the things he needed and go.
Silently he jumped into Kagome's room through the window. He changed quickly out of his modern clothes into his haori and hakama. Looking around, he took only one thing: the picture of him, Kagome, and the others. He stared at it for a second, biting his lip sadly, before finally stuffing it up his sleeve. He already had the necklace for Kagome. He was ready to go.
He crept over to the window sill silent as a shadow. He was about to jump out when the door behind him suddenly opened.
"Inuyasha!" it was Kagome's mom. "You're still here!"
Inuyasha looked down at the floor. "Not for long...I'm going. I'm too much trouble here."
Kagome's mom walked over to Inuyasha. "You're not trouble, Inuyasha. Don't leave." she said, a hint of pleading in her voice.
Inuyasha sat down on the floor, his ears drooping. "I am trouble, all I do is make you and that jiji fight."
Kagome's mom walked over, gently lifting his face to look at hers. "Inuyasha, you are no trouble. I don't mind you staying at all, and Souta loves that you're here. Jii-chan just has trouble accepting you, and I think he's wrong."
Inuyasha sighed. "I'm still the cause. Once I leave you won't have to worry anymore..." he trailed off.
"Baka...where do you think you're going to go?" asked Kagome's mom.
"I...don't know." admitted Inuyasha.
"That's because there's no where else you really could go, Inuyasha. Besides...what would Kagome think if she came back and you weren't here waiting for her, hn?" said Kagome's mom, smiling a little.
Inuyasha set his stuff back down. "I guess you're right..." Something about Kagome's mom made him feel accepted once more...she must be where Kagome got it from. "How did you know I was in here?" He asked.
"I saw you jump out of the tree...I've been looking for you all day, you know." Kagome's mom replied.
Inuyasha felt a slight stab of guilt. "I...I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Inuyasha. You had every right to feel the way you did." Kagome's mom said softly.
Inuyasha pulled the picture he had taken out of his sleeve. "I miss Kagome..." he whispered sadly.
"So do I, Inuyasha...but I'm sure she's fine."
***
Kagome couldn't sleep...it seemed ages since she saw Inuyasha last, and it had only been a few days. Every time she closed her eyes, images of him bombarded her, keeping her from sleep.
She stood up, deciding to go for a walk. She had never realized before how comforting Inuyasha's presence was, or how much she missed him when he wasn't around. Now that he was no longer there with her, she felt empty...hollow...alone...
Kagome sat down against a tree...there was a thin crescent moon in the sky. It would be the new moon soon, she realized. Her thoughts were once again drawn irresistably towards Inuyasha. In only a day or two he'd be turning human for a night...he'd always seemed so much more...vulnerable...in that form. She wondered how he felt in her time. She hoped he wouldn't have to stay there permanently, as she was privately beginning to fear, though she would never admit it to herself.
"Inuyasha...I miss y-mmmmpppphhh!" she said, as a hand clapped over her mouth. Another strong arm snaked around her waist, holding her captive.
"You're coming with me." whispered a voice in her ear.
***
Hey minna...sorry the chapter took so long. I've been busy getting ready to go back to school, and I've also been working on a couple of other things. *sniffles* Not to mention I only got 3 reviews last chapter...pleeeeease review. Onegai? I beg of thee? 3 more chapters left. The last 2 are going to be completely filled with waff...and the more reviews I get, the sooner I'll be motivated enough to write them.
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