A/N: Hey everybody! Thanks again for all the reviews! 130+!!!! YEAH!!! Sorry for taking so long on this chapter! For that I promise it will be extra good and extra long! * Crowd cheers * P.S.! – I'm welcome to idea's and feedback so tell me in your review * hint hint * and I will take your idea into consideration! Haha…. anywho, Enjoy this chap and please R/R!!!! ^-^

Disclaimer: Inuyasha owns me.

Don't Say a Word

Chapter 4: Rationalized Lies

Inuyasha couldn't sleep. No matter what he did, it felt so strange to him not to have Kagome near, and the separation from her was nearly driving him mad. No matter how he forced himself to believe that Kagome was nothing more than the "shard detector" it was times like these when he realized how much of an effect her absence had on him.

Rolling over on the hard floor of Kaede's hut, he laid his head on his arm and closed his eyes for the 50th time that night, trying as best as he could to get some much needed sleep.

He hated sleeping on the floor, almost as much as he hated sleeping inside. But due to the fact that the young hanyou was tonight, no longer a hanyou, it was for the best that he slept inside. Even if it meant bearing with Miroku's snoring.

Kagome…

The thoughts began to run freely through his mind, and for once, Inuyasha did not stop them. Ever since 4 day's ago when Kagome had disappeared into her own world, her face was still a clear imprint on his mind. One that he could not so easily get rid of.

'Dammit! Why can't I get her out of my head? Why can't I this time…' He thought angrily, pissed at the mere fact that something he could not control right now was controlling him.

'She's just the shard detector…nothing more, nothing less.' He concluded, satisfied that he was coming into more control of his thoughts and feelings. With this affirmative thought, Inuyasha allowed the soft breeze batting at the hut to lull himself to sleep, oblivious that the tormentor of his thoughts was not where he thought she was.

**************

Kagome squinted and sat up slowly, shading her eyes from the bright morning sun whose rays crossed Kagome's eyes. But as soon as she sat up and leaned back up against the wall of the bone eater's well, she immediately regretted in doing so.

Her battered body immediately reacted to the movement, sending long streams of pain throughout her body. As soon as she felt the coursing pain run through her, it was then when she began to remember what had happened.

Kagome reached up and touched her cheek, gasping as her cold fingers came in contact with the wound. Her cheekbone felt swollen and unnaturally smooth, and Kagome had a sinking feeling that it was black and blue. Her right forearm had a deep gash, and the blood had dried crudely on her skin leaving her arm feeling numb and stiff. Luckily, the wound on the nape of her neck had been unharmed and the bandage was still intact, covered by her knotted hair.

Yet even in the state Kagome was currently in, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of relief fill her. The sheer fact that for now, she did not…. No, would not have to face reality. She had escaped. Kagome brushed past the guilt that still held her down, and concluded that for now she would be selfish.

That was until she remembered him.

Inuyasha…what would he say? What would she say?

Kagome leaned her head back against the well, reluctant to stand and instead pondered this new thought.

'There's no way I could tell him…I wont.' She confirmed with herself, flinching as a cold breeze caressed the open wound on her arm.

'I promised…I promised.' Kagome reminded herself over and over, fighting back the reality that she was not doing the right thing. That she was…. running away.

'I am not running away! I'm not!' She screamed at herself inside of her head as the guilt began to rise even more.

"Jii-chan…Souta…. Mama..." Kagome whispered aloud, startled by the sound of her own dry voice.

'No.' Kagome thought as she forced herself to forget about her family.

'It's Mama's fault for letting him in the house…. It's all her fault. She can deal with it on her own…. without me.' Kagome continued, not even realizing the fact that she was lying to her own conscience.

'I won't go back…not now. I'll stay here until she can fix everything on her own.'

Kagome's hand brushed something, on that final thought, and she was somewhat happy to see that she had brought her yellow bag. Kagome lunged for it and took it into her lap, eagerly rummaging through it.

After Kagome gulped down half a water bottle and ate what was left of a candy bar from the last time she had been there, she attempted to stand.

It was a painful ordeal that took much effort on Kagome's part, due to the fact that she was very stiff and sore from the bouts she had taken earlier. She had poured some water onto the wound in her arm, which washed some of the dried blood away, yet as soon as the dried blood was gone the wound began to bleed again.

Kagome quickly rummaged through her pack once more, noting that if it bled uncovered any longer there could be a chance that Inuyasha would smell it, which was the last thing Kagome needed. Kagome didn't even want to think about how Inuyasha would react to her being in such a mess.

Thankfully there was a small strip of cloth bandage in her first aide kit, and Kagome used it to tightly wrap it around the wound on her arm to stop the bleeding.

'…and the smell.' Kagome thought as she wound it around a few times before tying it off at her wrist.

After that task was done, Kagome pulled out a dark colored sweater from her pack and slid it over her head to cover her tattered school blouse and the bandage on her arm.

Kagome was presentable. With the long sleeve sweater on it would be impossible for Inuyasha to see the wound on her arm, or the state of her shirt. Yet one thing Kagome could not hide so easily was her blackened, raised cheekbone under her right eye.

'I fell…' Kagome concluded, running her hand over her mussed hair to smooth out the knots that had collected during the night.

Yet Kagome felt as if she was forgetting something. Something…. important. Yet there was no room in Kagome's brain for wandering thoughts, so she pushed it out without hesitation.

Kagome slung the pack over her shoulder gingerly, careful not to disturb the wound on her neck, and used the walls of the bone-eater's well to help her stand.

Her body groaned in protest, but Kagome stood firm near the edge of the well, pulling her self up until she was shakily standing.

'Just act normal.' Kagome thought as she took a few wary steps forwards until she got firm footing.

Yet Kagome had no idea how hard it would be to keep something in that wanted so badly to come out. Kagome failed to realize that sooner or later, it would have to come out.

*************

There was no doubt about it. It was not an infliction of his imagination. The familiar scent that wafted around Inuyasha's nose was one he immediately recognized, causing him to jump down from the roof of Kaede's hut where he was seated.

Kagome.

Yet even though he was positive that the scent belonged to Kagome, it was somehow altered and distorted, tracing signs of emotions that Inuyasha did not recognize. The usual warm, pleasant smell of Kagome had been changed in a way that Inuyasha did not like. It now contained heavy undertones of sadness, anger and…pain. Something that Inuyasha was all too familiar with.

'No…..it can't be Kagome. Why would she come back so early?' Inuyasha thought, trying to convince himself otherwise than his true instincts.

But this was something that he could not ignore. The disturbing smells that traced through Kagome's scent worried him, and if there was any slight chance that Kagome was hurt or in danger, Inuyasha would not tolerate it one bit.

As he jumped down from the roof, Kagome's scent was becoming closer and stronger. As her scent became stronger, Inuyasha began to feel more and more anxious, almost holding back the urge to bolt from where he was standing to find her.

No matter how much Inuyasha told himself that he did not care for Kagome that way, he could not surpress some of the feelings that he felt towards her. At this exact moment the only reason that Inuyasha was not leaping off to find her was due to the fact that he did not want his feelings revealed.

'Why am I so anxious for her? She is only the shard detector….' He reminded himself as he moved back towards the door of Kaede's hut, poking his head through the curtain door where Sango and Miroku slept peacefully side by side. Somehow Inuyasha had the feeling that Miroku had not been in that spot when he went to sleep. Rolling his eyes at the lecherous monk, who let out a strange noise as he stirred, Inuyasha quickly let the curtain fall and pulled back to the porch, not wanting to wake them.

Just as Inuyasha turned around, he heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching the hut, then stopped abruptly.

Inuyasha turned around slowly and before his eyes stood Kagome, with a very apprehensive expression on her face. Her eyes were lowered to the ground, and she shifted uncomfortably under his intense stare.

Without hesitation, Inuyasha strode forward and took her chin roughly in his hands and cocked her right cheek towards him painfully. Kagome winced, trying to pull away from his strong grip on her face, yet his hand would not yield.

"What happened?" He asked gruffly, running a finger over the raised black and blue mark under her eye. Kagome yelped in surprise and pain, and pulled back abruptly. Thankfully, Inuyasha let go.

"I fell while I was climbing out of the well." Kagome answered readily, not meeting Inuyasha's gaze fully. Luckily Kagome had been rehearsing answers to all of his questions and was prepared for his interrogation.

"Stupid wench…." He muttered, flicking off a leaf that rested on the shoulder of his haori. Yet what astounded Inuyasha most was the sheer fact that Kagome did not answer.

She didn't even react to him. No 'Sit', no glare…nothing. At this point the silence was causing him to regret his actions so much that he would have been relieved if she sat him.

But to Inuyasha's relief, he heard the curtain slide open and Miroku's head popped out, interrupting the uncomfortable situation, which Inuyasha was grateful for.

"Kagome? What are you doing back so early?", Were the first words that came out of the Monk's mouth.

Kagome smiled a bit forcefully, and Inuyasha noted that her eyes were very red and her face was tired and strained.

But Kagome had an answer.

"Well I didn't have anymore tests for the week so I thought that I would come back early!" She replied a bit too cheerfully, glancing at Inuyasha who would not lower his gaze from her.

As Kagome turned her head away from him, Miroku got a full on view of the mark under her eye, and just as Inuyasha did stepped forward to examine it.

"Kagome! Where did you get such a wound?" He exclaimed, as he examined it with his eyes.

But Kagome's anxiousness was getting the best of her.

'I can't let them find out…I can't let them find out!' She reminded herself panickly, pulling back roughly from Miroku.

"I said I fell!" She snapped, immediately regretting that she had lost her calm composure.

Miroku's eyes darkened as he gave Kagome a concerned worried look. Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest and cocked his head at Kagome's sudden outburst.

"No need to get angry about it." Miroku commented slowly, re-entering the hut leaving Inuyasha and Kagome alone.

After a moment of silence, Inuyasha finally spoke.

"You should have Kaede-baba treat it.." He muttered roughly, trying not to sound too concerned. Yet even the young hanyou was taken aback as Kagome brushed past him to enter the hut, stopping only to meet him squarely in the eyes.

"I can take care of myself." She stated bluntly, pushing the curtain aside and closing it forcefully behind her. Forgetting all of his concern for the girl, he allowed the anger to build inside of him.

Punching the curtain aside, he re-entered the hut and sat himself forcefully in the corner, brooding like hell.

"Dumb bitch…" he muttered, throwing Kagome a glare, which she returned just as readily as ever.

Due to all the racket they were making, Sango stirred slightly from underneath the blanket that covered her completely.

"Morning already…?" She asked drowsily, rubbing her eyes to look around the room. As her eyes laid on Kagome, she sat up fully and her eyes opened wide.

"Kagome? What are you doing back so early?" Sango inquired, looking to the brooding Inuyahsa, and the silent Monk.

"I thought that I would come back early since I finished most of my tests for the week." Kagome answered weakly, giving Sango a faint smile.

Sango frowned at Kagome's appearance and weak reply, yet out of courtesy to her friend decided not to interrogate her about it.

"Where's Shippo?" Kagome suddenly asked, for a split second forgetting her predicament to focus on the small Kitsune that she had not seen since she had gotten back.

"He went with Kaede to a house on the other side of the village. Someone is sick and called for the healer immediately." Miroku answered, not once looking up.

Sango stood and began to kindle a fire in the room, which reminded Kagome that she had packed some ramen in her yellow bag. Thankfully the minute Kagome had arrived home from her last escapade in the Senjoku Jidai, she had immediately put 3 packets of the ramen in her yellow bag, afraid that she would forget.

Seeing Kagome reveal the pack of Ramen immediately sparked Inuyasha's interest, and he scooted closer to Kagome who held the bag out of his reach as she handed it to Sango to cook.

"Don't worry Inuyasha.." Sango teased, dumping the hard noodles into the boiling pot of water that sat atop the roaring fire.

"It won't run away."

 Kagome giggled slightly at this comment, realizing how thankful she was to be back. Inuyasha, who would normally respond smartly to this comment, remained silent, relieved to hear Kagome laugh a little.

As Sango stirred the flavor mix into the pot of cooked noodles, Kagome felt her stomach growl loudly. Realizing that it had been over 24 hours since she had last eaten a meal, she quickly accepted the bowl that Sango handed her and immediately began to eat.

Kagome ate much quicker than usual, of course not to be compared with Inuyasha who slurped up the noodles in one bite just as Kagome had taken her first.

This for one could not be helped.

After they had all had there fill, Inuyasha taking 3 bowls of ramen to fill him, Kagome began to repack her belongings, thinking that they were going to go shard hunting. However much to Inuyasha's disliking Miroku had other plants in mind.

"They need an exorcism in the next town over, and I am obligated to go therefore you are going to have to postpone until tomorrow." Miroku pointed out informatively, adjusting the rosary around his hand.

"Shikon no Tama is more important!!" Inuyasha replied angrily, waving his arms up and down like a child.

Kagome and Sango just watched quietly, trying not to laugh at Inuyasha's antics.

Miroku, seeing the two girls exchanging glances with one another, took this opportunity to catch Sango off guard.

"Sango, I might be in need of your assistance." The monk said quickly, causing Sango to raise an eyebrow out of surprise.

"You are not able to go by yourself?" Sango asked slyly, trying to catch the monk into revealing his true intentions. Unfortunately, the monk remained calm and true to his words.

"It is not wise for people to travel alone! And you wouldn't want me to run into trouble along the way by myself…" He trailed off, smiling to himself as he waited for her reaction.

"Then I will accompany you for safety reasons." Sango replied, looking to Kagome who tried to hold back a grin.

"That is unless Kagome need's me here?" She asked quickly, looking to Kagome who shook her head innocently. Sango continued to look at her, raising her eyebrows up and down trying to give Kagome a hint. But much to the Monk's favor, Kagome didn't notice.

"No I'll be fine here.." Kagome replied, her voice beginning to take on the tone it had when she had first arrived back. Quickly catching herself, she put on a happy face to reassure her friend.

"Besides, Kagome looks as if she needs a rest." Miroku added, much to his surprise receiving a glare from Kagome.

"I said I was fine earlier." She replied irritably, loosing the temporary pleasant mood almost at once.

Miroku shrugged slightly, not wanting to cause problems between the two of them and picked up his staff that was leaning against the wall.

"In that case we will be leaving!" He replied cheerfully, brushing off Kagome's ill-tempered mood.

"We'll probably be back tomorrow." The monk added on a final note, exiting the hut to wait on the front porch for Sango.

Sango, who already had her Hiraikotsu hauled across her back, quickly leaned forward to Kagome's ear before she left.

"Get some rest Kagome…" Sango whispered, looking the younger girl squarely in the eye, obviously noticing that something was not right with Kagome. Sango, having the woman's intuition that Miroku and Inuyasha obviously lacked, she had noticed many things that both had failed to realize.

"Sango I'm fine! You don't have to worry about me." Kagome replied quickly, trying to hold back the irritation in her voice that screamed to come out.

Inuyasha looked up to watch the two from the corner where he sat, surprised at how Kagome was acting towards Sango, who obviously was only thinking about Kagome's best interest.

Sango stood back a little, concerned now even more for her friend who was acting not as she usually did. But without another word, Sango walked towards the door to join Miroku on their short journey.

'Wait Sango!' Kagome thought, the word's not able to come out.

'I'm sorry Sango…. you were only trying to help.'  Kagome thought sadly, hanging her head at the way she had acted towards Sango, who was only trying to help. But the words were left unsaid, leaving Kagome feeling even worse than she already did.

"What's the matter with you?" Inuyasha asked dryly, eyeing Kagome as she leaned against the wall to rub her aching head.

"Nothing." Kagome replied flatly, trying her best to ignore the hanyou's questions.

"Still…. you didn't have to be so rude to Sango. She was only trying to help ya know." Inuyasha continued, standing up to lean against the wall opposite Kagome, intent on finding out what the source of her problem was.

Kagome dropped her hands from her aching head quickly to turn and face the hanyou.

"I said nothings wrong! Will you just leave me alone?!" Kagome snapped, stepping toward's the door to leave the hut. Inuyasha however, was quicker.

"What the hell is that matter with you Wench?!" He asked again, reaching out to grab her arm. But what came next was something that he didn't expect at all.

Kagome fell to her knees and let out a painful scream as Inuyasha's hand enclosed tightly around her right forearm. Inuyasha jumped back with surprise, as Kagome snatched her arm away to cradle it against her.

The smell came at him all at once, causing Inuyasha to double back and gaze at the girl who kneeled on the floor cradling her arm.

Blood.

Kagome reeked of it. Without a second thought, Inuyasha strode forward and gripped Kagome's shoulder, careful to avoid where he had touched her the first time.

Kagome shook his hand off violently, trying to crawl away from Inuyasha whose irritation at the girl began to grow rapidly.

"Stop dammit!" He hissed as he made another grab for Kagome, who pressed herself into the corner of the room, her arm clutched to her stomach.

Inuyasha sighed heavily as he grabbed the girl firmly by her shoulders. Kagome was not in her right mind; the pain that seared through her flesh was almost overwhelming, causing the room before her to spin rapidly.

After prying her obviously injured arm away from the screaming girl, it was then when Inuyasha noticed a large dark area on her sleeve, which Inuyasha immediately identified as blood.

"Kagome…what did you do to yourself…" Inuyasha muttered as he rolled up the sleeve of her sweater.

"My arm…. got caught.." Kagome answered weakly, letting out a small cry as Inuyasha unstuck the sweater from the open wound, revealing a blood soaked bandage wrapped crudely around the wound.

"You're a terrible liar Kagome…" Inuyasha replied as he unwrapped the bloody bandage as gently as he could. What he saw next was very unnerving.

A 5-inch long gash dug into Kagome's flesh, blood pouring freely from the wound as the bandage dropped to the floor. Inuyasha could tell that it had been left uncared for and feared that it might already be infected. Kagome's eyes went haywire at the sight of her blood-drenched arm, and Inuyasha realized that Kagome must have lost a lot of blood.

"Kagome stay awake! Look at me Kagome!" Inuyasha exclaimed, stopping his task to shake Kagome's shoulders to keep her alert.

Inuyasha's voice sounded strained and far away to Kagome, who struggled to keep consciousness. The intense pain in her arm had subsided, due to the fact that her arm was now numb.

As Kagome felt her body go limp, and the last thing she heard was Inuyasha's voice calling out her name.

'Kagome!'

'KAGOME!'

************

Yay! I hope you liked it! I added some more suspense and drama! W00t! Gotta love it. Anywho, please R/R!!!!!!!!!!!!