A Fight and Revelation ends With a Missing Member




~ Well, you stormed off after tossing 'Dogboy' over a table for hitting your son. 'Chatterbox' is very naive- and, iie, I'm not meaning 'naive' herself- you find out after she says aloud that you and 'Dogboy' make a good couple. 'He' doesn't deny it, though... And how the hell are you supposed to take it? Pissed because 'he' didn't say yes, shocked that 'he' didn't deny it, or neutral, non-responsive. Surely 'he' didn't expect you to hug 'him' in joy. After all, 'he' didn't say 'he' liked you. Oh, how frustrating! ~

I slammed the door open, flicked the lights on, and threw the keys onto the desk. Locating his bags, I proceeded to throw them into the hallway, not caring to be considerate, meaning if something were to be fragile, it WAS going to be broken. "That asshole!"

"Kagome-chan!" Sango shouted, running up to me. "What are you doing?"

"I'm throwing his clothes into the hallway, can't you see?" I asked nonchalantly, smiling brightly. I was enjoying this far more than I should have. "Why aren't you still dancing with Miroku?"

"Because I was worried about what happened... What DID happen, anyway?" she inquired.

"I..." Shaking my head, I walked into the room, indicating for Sango to follow me. I sat down in a chair, sighing.

"So, what's the story Kagome-chan?"

"I cursed in front of Shippo-chan on accident and he yelled at Inuyasha saying it was his fault because I was around him so much. Shippo told him to stay away from me," I giggled, then glared, "and that ass put his arm around my shoulder and hit Shippo-chan. Rin just had to open her mouth and Inuyasha insulted me, so I shoved him over the table."

Sango laughed, shaking her head in pity. "You take more abuse than any of us." Her voice turned sour as she added, "and give more, too."

"Hai, hai. I know," I laughed.

"So, why'd you throw out his clothes?"

"Revenge. He can sleep on deck for all I care," I said, looking out the window.

"Nani!? He slept here?" she asked in shock. I stared at her. Where had she been the whole time?

"Well, San-san," I snickered, "if you hadn't been drooling over that oh-so sexy houshi Miroku the whole time, you might have noticed the fact that Inuyasha took my key to this room earlier."

"I did not drool over Miroku," she huffed. "You really are pushing it, ne?" Slowly, a smile found its way to her. "Arigato, Kagome-chan... For that dance, I mean."

"Ne, you ruined my revenge on houshi," I told her. "He was really pushing it and I almost had him, but iiii~iiieeeee, you just had to go and lean on him." She looked at me suspiciously.

"And just what was he supposed to do?"

"Oh, come on, Sango-chan. You know you like it, so don't complain," I jeered, the whole time thinking, 'So she didn't know... SHE LEANED ON HIM BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO!!!! But... why'd she smirk?'

Sango's brow twitched as steam rolled from her ears.

"I DO NOT!"

"DO, TOO!" I shouted, darting out the door, laughing.

"I DO NOT! KAGOME, GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"DO TOO AND DON'T SWEAR!"

"DO NOT!"

"DO TOOOOOO!" I ran into the diner, located Miroku, and placed him in front of me as a shield.

"Nan-"

"KAGOME!"

Sango barreled into the room, ignoring all the strange looks as she searched for me. She found me, overlooking the man in front of me, and slowly made her way forward, cracking her knuckles with an malicious smile. Instead of cowering away, I smirked, stood on my tiptoes, and whispered to Miroku.

"She does like you," I said, "but she wants you to make the first move."

I know his face lit up at that. Sango saw the change, stopped dead in her tracks, looked around, then fled at top speed. Miroku followed. I grinned.

"What was that about?" asked Inuyasha.

I turned, pushed him, then left. I didn't feel like seeing him right then. Shippo and Rin followed me, questioning about anything and everything. I sighed, stepped around Inuyasha's clothes that lay strewn across the floor, and opened my door.

"Okaasan? Isn't that Dogboy's stuff?" Shippo asked, lifting the dog eared hat."Hai. Now get ready for bed," I said, picking up the spare blanket and pillow, tossing them into my chair. "Your clothes are-"

"In the second drawer," Shippo finished. "I know."

"Okay then. Rin?"

"Hai, Rin knows where Rin's clothes are. Oneechan no need to tell Rin. Rin's clothes are in the top drawer. Rin saw Rin's clothes earlier. Is oneechan mad? Did Rin say something wrong?"

"Hai and iie. I'm mad at you arrogant brother," I said with a sad smile. "You didn't say anything wrong, Rin-chan."

"What Inu-chan do wrong?" Rin mused.

"Don't worry about it Rin-chan. I overreacted," I stated, sitting in my chair with a sigh. "Now get ready, okay?" She smiled and nodded, hopping from the bed to the floor.

"Rin get ready first," she cheered, racing Shippo to the washroom. She won. He pouted.

"I wanted to be first," he cried."Shippo-chan, quiet down-"

"THE FUCK!?" Inuyasha bellowed. "MY CLOTHES! WHO DI..." A slight pause was given. I swear I heard wheels turning. "Ka... Go... ME!!!!!" He stormed into the room, fuming.

'Damn it! I forgot to lock the door again!'

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT FOR!?"

"DO NOT CURSE IN FRONT OF THE KIDS!" I screamed, throwing my pillow at him. "AND WHY DO YOU THINK I DID IT? IT SURE ISN'T BECAUSE I WAS HAPPY!"

"Keh! If I knew why, I wouldn't ask, wench!"

"I'll give you three guesses, Dogboy," I hissed through clenched teeth.

I might have imagined it, but the fact that it was so out of place made me doubt that. He winced at the name, looking away.

"Keh! I don't have to guess anything, baka," he said, sitting in the other chair. "You're going to tell me, one way or another."

"Oh, come on. Have a little fun and try to figure it out," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. "Just don't overload yourself. Now, get out." I pointed to the door.

"Why should I?"

"Because," I stated with a calm smile, " I said so."

"That's not a reason," he said, flatly.

"Hai, it is. Now go!"

"Iie. I'm not leaving until you tell me why you did that," he yelled, pointing to his clothes.

"You really what to know?" I asked sweetly. He looked at me suspiciously, nodding. "You really, really want to know?" He nodded vigorously. "You really, really, really want to know?"

"HAI! JUST FUCKING TELL ME!"

I looked at him, a joking smile in place, answering, "iie."

"Why the hell not?" he hissed, glaring at the boy who stood near me, who currently had his tongue sticking out at the man.

"Because you swore," I sneered. "I told you not to swear in front of the kids and I meant it."

I unfolded my blanket, tucked myself in, and turned on my side, away from the sputtering singer. "Get ready for bed Shippo- chan," I whispered to the taunting boy, smiling softly. "Rin-chan?"

"Hai?"

"Are you alright?"

"Hai," she said, smiling as she entered the room in pajama's. Kittens and puppies and hearts and clouds and stars and... stars...

"Ah! How kawaii," I exclaimed, cheerily. "I want them," I pouted playfully, reaching out and tickling her.

"Hahaha! Stop it," she gasped. "Rin no have another. Hahaha. Rin say stop, oneechan. Hahahahahah."

"Alright," I sighed, giving her a quick hug. "I guess I should stop. You need some sleep, okay? Shippo-chan, you done?"

"Hai," he replied, walking out of the washroom. His pajama's weren't cute, but boyish for sure. Cars, cars, and more cars.

"Hmmm," I mumbled. "Chotto! That's the one I wanted!" I yelled in mock shock (A/N: Sugoi, that sounds funny... O.o), pointing to a blue viper with white stripes. I gabbed his shirt, yanking him forward. Can you believe I did all this whilst laying in my chair? "It's mine!" I shouted, tickling the little boy until his face turned red. "It's just not fair!"

"Okaasan... (gasp)... (giggle)... st-stop it.... (giggle)... Onegai, okaasan," he pleaded, squirming away, shoving my hands.

"Alright," I sighed. 'Sugoi, I'm repeating myself...' "You're no fun," I said, poking Shippo in the stomach.

"You're childish, ne?" came the ever-so annoying voice. Inuyasha stood to leave, shaking his head.

"Well excuse me," I scoffed. "Only trying to lighten the mood. Plus, it isn't much fun when everyone takes every single thing serious and never slow down to play around and loosen up. Even Miroku, who has to be the most childish out of all of you, holds back when it comes to enjoying himself, and I don't mean the whole groping routine, either."

"Not everyone can afford to let loose like you do," he stated, folding his arms over his chest.

"I'm certain you can," I spat, my tone dripping in unsuppressed scorn. I didn't imagine it this time. Inuyasha flinched visibly, hurt at the statement. I looked away as a pang of guilt hit me full force. "I-"

"Forget it," he said, lowing his head. He turned to leave. Rin ran to her brother, holding his arm in an attempt to keep him with her. He shrugged her off. "I'll see you tomorrow, Rin. Get some rest."

Rin looked to me for assistance. I looked away from her, closing my eyes. I heard a light sob as the door shut, indicating Inuyasha had left, leaving a crying Rin behind. I opened my eyes to find Rin looking at me in hurt with tears flowing freely, her chin quivering. She looked to the door, back to me, then shot away to find her brother.

"Rin!" I called, trying to stop her, but I didn't move from my spot... I felt so bad. He looked as if I had slapped him with full strength, leaving a stinging sensation in the most excruciating way. A physical assault was one thing, but to hurt a grown man emotionally was... Unbearable.

With a heavy hearted sighed, I rose from my temporary bed.

"Shippo-chan... Onegai, be a good boy and get some rest." He nodded and crawled into bed. I tucked him in, gave his a quick kiss, and walked to the light switch. "I'll send Rin back. See you in the morning," I said, flicking the lights off.

"Okaasan," he called into the darkness. "Gomen nasai."

"For what, Shippo-chan?" I asked in confusion.

"For making you fight," he answered in sorrow. I was astounded to hear him say something like that.

"Shippo-chan, don't think it's your fault," I ordered, "because it's not. We always fight. We always have. It isn't and never was your fault. Understand?"

"Hai..."

"Get to sleep, kawaii. I'll see you in the morning," I said, then smiled as I remembered my tour of the boat earlier. "How about a swim after breakfast aaaaallllll the way to lunch," I suggested with a giggle.

"Hai," he squealed, laughing. "I got shark swimming shorts," he said. "They're really cool!"

"I'm sure they are. I'd love to see them, so sleep. Time passes faster that way."

I blew a kiss to him, smiling. I was still trying to get it through my head that I had a son... It was a little hard, though.

I kept the door unlocked, since the keys had mysteriously vanished, and left to find the singer. On instinct, I went straight to the diner. Miroku sat at a table, nursing a bruising cheek, with Ayame and Kouga. I was overjoyed to see he got his payback, but still not out of my depressed mood.

I walked by, smirking at Miroku. "I see you didn't listen," I said. His brows furrowed in confusion. "I said she wanted you to make the first move AS IN saying you like her, not groping." He frowned.

"That is not what you said," he corrected.

"But that is what I meant."

"It doesn't make any difference. You didn't say it, so I took it wrong," he huffed.

"On purpose, I would venture to say," I snickered. He looked positively appalled.

"Kagome-chan, I thought you went to sleep already," Ayame thought aloud. My smirk fell.

"Hai," I mumbled, looking to my feet. "Something happened, though."

"So that was why," Kouga muttered. I looked to him, wondering what he meant.

"Kagome... I think you went a little overboard, whatever you did," Miroku sighed. "Inuyasha looked really..."

"Nani?"

He shook his head. "You should see yourself."

"Where is he?" I asked, thinking as fast as I possibly could. I still didn't know what I was going to say to him.

"Top deck somewhere," Ayame mumbled.

"Have you seen Rin?"

"Hai," Ayame said, leaning on the table, yawning. "I sent her to bed, but she wouldn't go, so I took her to our room. Sango's watching her."

"Arigato, Aya-chan," I murmured, yawning as well. I walked away, calling to the group, "See ya tomorrow."

"Don't get him angry and maybe that will be possible," Miroku joked, laughing to lighten the mood. "I hear the water is really cold here."

I giggled and waved good-bye as I ascended the stairs to the next deck.

Walking down the first path I found, I spotted Inuyasha leaning over a rail, staring into the depths of the water. A frown completed the saddening scene. Iie, scratch that. He sighed, closing his eyes tightly while running a hand through his hair. That finished the scene.

I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and strode over to the singer. I placed a hand on his shoulder, leaning on the rail, staring at him. His eyes snapped open in alarm. Hurt wasn't powerful enough to describe the look in those golden eyes... And I thought sadness was bad... He was in pain- anguish and despair all at once...

I took a step back in shock. That wasn't the egotistical, sarcastic, arrogant ass singer I knew. It was another person entirely.

My guilt came crashing down on me, as if I'd held it aloft the whole time, only tasting a small portion of it. It was overwhelming and all I could do was fight to hold back the tears. In the end, all was for naught as I felt the beads stream down my cheeks.

"I'm... Oh, Kami-sama, Inuyasha... Gomen nasai... I-"

His mind finally registered who I was and he shoved my hand away in disgust. He turned to leave, but I wasn't going to let him, not until I apologized correctly.

"Don't leave," I pleaded, grabbing his sleeve. He shrugged it off and continued walking. "Onegai, Inuyasha, listen to me!"

"Why should I!" he snapped. "I've heard enough from you already."

"I didn't mean it and you know it," I stated defensively. "And if you didn't then you've learned absolutely nothing about me!"

"Why would I want to know anything about YOU," he sneered, turning back to face me. "Ne, you ARE just like her! An actress to the core!"

"Actress? Her?" I repeated, dumbly. "You mean Kikyo? You think I'm like her?"

"Hai, through and through," he stated, glaring.

"Since when have you thought of me like her?" I asked. If he had been the whole time... then...

'I really don't like that thought,' I sighed as I imagined myself as a replacement... Nothing had happened between us, but... 'Wait,' I thought joyously as I remembered one small factor in that. My spirit's back, immediately as I thought, 'He thought of me... As the girl that stole his heart...' That was uplifting. 'And destroyed it.' That wasn't.

"Since... you said that," he mumbled looking to the floor. "It wasn't your words, though. It was the way you said it."

"The way...?"

"Hai... You said it as if you hated me, truly hated me, with all your heart," he explained, looking up.

"Inuyasha," I breathed. "You know I don't hate you. How could I?"

"You have more than enough reasons," he stated.

"Which I forgave you for... Except the salad thing," I muttered, looking away. I had tried to make it sound like a joke, but it came out in a shy whisper. I blushed.

"Why not that when you forgave me for everything else?"

"Because... you," I turned away, my shoulders slouching.

I had to say it, but... how would he respond. The worst thing he could do was laugh and joke around about it, right!? At least, that was what my mind wanted to believe.

Taking a deep breath, I sighed, "because you didn't kiss me," and walked away without glancing back. If he heard it, then I couldn't stand to be there to hear him laugh... and if he didn't, then I wasn't going to repeat myself.

No one stopped my quickening retreat.

******


I awoke to a very impatient little boy's shouting, "Okaasan! It's breakfast time! Then we get to swim, remember! Hurry up, okaasan!"

"Alright, alright," I mumbled, shooing him away. "I'm up."

"Okaasan, look," he beamed, holding up his swimming shorts. I looked, smiled brightly, then giggled.

"They're so cool, Shippo-chan! I wish I had a swim suit with sharks, too," I pouted. "Oh, well... Get dressed and go eat."

He nodded, changed his clothes in record time, then turned to me with a 'Tada!' I giggled again, gave him a quick hug- still in my chair- and ruffled his hair.

"I'll be out in a minute. Then we'll swim. AFTER you eat something."

He squealed and ran away, chanting, "Swimming, swimming, everybody swimming! Swim time, play time, its gonna be a fun time! Swimming, swimming-" and the door swung shut.

I giggled softly for the third time, smiling as I stretched. Standing up, I folded my blanket, placed it at the end of the bed, and returned my pillow. I'd had another, quite scattered, dream- ne, the ones that confuse you while you have them, then you forget about once you wake up? That kind. Anyway, enough reflecting on pointless topics at such a time.

I searched through my stuff... My bathing suit, the one that I like the most, was missing, and I had one guess as to who took it. If Shippo had told anyone about the plans to swim today, then Sango would need mine, since hers was a little... revealing. And guess who's bikini I found?

"Sango," I growled, my eye twitching in irritation as I examined the clothing. It was bright pink, which had to be her favorite color, and had black- with a slightly purple tint- squiggles. I sighed. She wouldn't give mine back and I knew it.... Oh, poor me.

I slipped into the almost-too-small-to-be-visible-type-of-bikini-thing, tossing a light shirt over it and a pair of shorts on. Leaving, I noticed the keys were still missing. 'Better ask about that.'

Sango, Miroku, Kouga, and Ayame sat at a table, chowing down on their breakfasts. Sango wore MY swimsuit, Ayame wore hers- which was also a bikini similar to mine- NOT Sango's, but the one I owned. The guys wore everyday clothes... 'So, they're going to sit and watch,' I mused dryly. My day started getting worse by the second.

"Ohayo, Kagome-chan," Ayame called, smiling and waving me over to them. "Why aren't you wearing a swimsuit?"

Sango choked on her food, an evil grin on her face. I glared at her.

"I am... Oh, Sango-chan," I called sweetly. "How was last night? I didn't get any details." Sango growled. "No matter, I'm sure you enjoyed it. I see Miroku got a bruise this time, so it must have been good."

This time Miroku choked.

Looking to me in a heavenly daze, he asked, "Is that what it means?" I gave an exasperated snort and Sango hit him over the head.

"Iie, houshi," we said in unison. He pouted, rubbing his skull... He grinned.

"Kagome... You wouldn't happen to know where Inuyasha slept, would you?" I looked at him, puzzledly. What the hell was that supposed to mean?

"Iie," I mumbled. "Why?"

"Because he didn't go back to our room," Kouga answered, sitting back and pushing his clean plate away. "We haven't seen him since last night, either."

"Nani!?"

"He hasn't checked in and I couldn't find him," Miroku mumbled, frowning in thought. "I just thought that he..."

"I know what you thought, Miroku," I hissed, "but nothing happened and I haven't seen him since last night either. He was still on the top deck last I knew... Sango-chan?"

"Nani?" She asked, looking up from her plate.

"Did Rin have the key to the room? Mine are missing," I stated. She shook her head. "Honto?"

"Hai," she sighed, as she continued eating.

"Hmmm... I'll be back in a minute," I muttered, making my way to the table Shippo and Rin sat at. "Ohayo, you two." They looked up from there food, smiling.

"Is it time to swim?" Shippo asked, hopefully.

"Almost," I said, smiling. "Have either of you seen Dogboy?" I asked, knowing I'd be scolded by my son for saying 'his' name.

"Iie," they replied.

"Oh... Alright, finish your food then San-san will take you swimming," I told them.

"Oneechan no swim with Rin? Rin want oneechan to swim with Rin," the girl pouted.

"I will, but I have to find Dogboy first, okay?" They nodded. "Now, hurry up." I left the now chanting kids, giggling. They could be cute at times.

First stop, my room. Nothing... Second stop, searching the bottom deck. Nothing.... Next deck.... Wouldn't you know it? I found nothing... Sighing, I decided to join my friends at the pool on the top deck. Rounding the corner, I put on my best happy face. It fell as soon as I comprehended the scene in front of me. I think, had it been able to, my jaw would have hit the floor in ten seconds flat.

'I am dreaming...'