The Club

Christielea54

Chapter Twenty

Inuyasha swore under his breath. He couldn't fall asleep! Every time he closed his damn eyes he would see the look on Kagome's face when he'd kissed her.

What in the name of all that was holy, and how about everything that wasn't too, had possessed him to do that?! I mean, it's Kagome! he thought. The idea that he might like her was ludicrous, at best.

But her lips were really soft… and kissable… and…

He fell back onto his pillows with a frustrated sigh. He was so screwed, wasn't he? Either she liked him back and he'd have a clingy girlfriend to deal with, or she'd hate him for kissing her like that, and his goddamned heart would break again.

o0o

Kagome sat in bed that night, unable to fall asleep. Thoughts of Inuyasha kept flooding her mind. Did that kiss mean that he likes her now? Or did he just do it to get Miroku off his back? That didn't sound like him at all! Even if he did like her, would she let him risk their friendship like that? Did she even like him back? Of course not! she thought. It's Inuyasha! Moody, standoffish, arrogant Inuyasha. It wasn't even possible that she-

But then the feeling of his lips on hers would come drifting back, and she wasn't so sure anymore. She'd remember all the sweet things he'd done for her. Like fix the shutter on her upstairs window without telling anyone, and defending her from Sesshoumaru, and driving her to see her grandfather when he was sick, and helping with Shippo, and helping her with her math homework, and throwing her a great birthday party, and there were just too many to count!

Would it be awkward between them now? Or would he act like it never happened? That would be so like him!

She sighed. What should she do?

o0o

Inuyasha woke up with, to his shame, butterflies in his stomach. That didn't happen to him too often, and it was making him edgy. Not only did he have Kagome to worry about, but a few short days away was his supposed big debut. There were so many what-ifs running through his head, he could barely register them all.

He was just getting ready to go down to The Club when he heard Kagome rushing up the stairs frantically, calling his name. What was she doing up here? She was never here this early! He felt his stomach tighten in apprehension. Did he really have to deal with her reaction this early in the morning?

But all thoughts of that flew out the window when he saw her. She was about as pale as a ghost, and she was shaking as if she'd seen one too.

"What's wrong?" he asked with an audible amount of concern in his voice that surprised even himself.

She began wringing her hands nervously. "Miroku was just hit by a car!" she blurted out.

He blanched. "What?"

"Come on, he's at the hospital right now. We have to go see him!" she wailed, grabbing his hand and heading for the door.

Hastily Inuyasha flipped the sign on the door so that it said 'Sorry, we're closed,' and locked the door behind him.

Kagome stood staring at the space where Miroku's car was usually parked. Inuyasha came up behind her, immediately recognizing what she was looking at. "Don't Kagome. He'll be fine."

She spun around to face him. "How can you say that?!" she shouted. "He was hit by a car! A car Inuyasha!"

He looked shocked at her outburst.

Tears started to form in her eyes. "I'm sorry Inuyasha. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have yelled."

He shrugged it off, letting her know that it was okay. She was just stressed. She always got like that when she was worried about someone, anyone really. Didn't matter who, she was just like that. "How are we getting there?" he asked.

"My mom said she'd drive us downtown whenever we want to go. My house isn't too far that way. I brought my bike, do you have one?"

He shook his head in the negative.

"Do you want to sit on the rack on the back of my bike then?"

"Sure."

Arriving at her house, Mrs. Higurashi came outside with her keys and a warm homemade chocolate chip cookie for each of them. "Comfort food," she said with a motherly smile. "It's good for the soul." It didn't take long to drive to the hospital, and when they got there, Inuyasha felt all this worry for Miroku hit him full force. Seeing the building made everything seem more real, more believable.

Kagome's mother pulled up to the entrance and turned to face them. "If there's anything you two need at all, or your friend Miroku too, just call, alright?"

"Thanks Momma."

"Of course dear."

Inuyasha nodded his head in Mrs. Higurashi's direction, before leaving the car and walking up to the building's entrance.

But Kagome stopped walking, and just kind of stood there, staring up at the professional, impersonal front of the hospital. Softly, she spoke.

"I'm afraid of going in there," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm afraid of what we'll find out."

Inuyasha wanted to console her, but wasn't sure how. Finally he settled on telling her in a rather gruff voice, "You're going to find out whether you go in or not, you know. And Miroku would probably like it better if you were there, so come on."

"…okay." She seemed surprised by his logic, but took a deep breath and nodded her head in determination.

As they stepped inside, the calm quiet of the lobby was shattered when a shout of 'Kagome' rang through the air, and Shippo sprinted across the room to meet them.

"Hey Shippo," she said, opening her arms for a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"I was at the orphanage, and I saw Sango leaving, but she looked so upset, so I asked her what was wrong, and she told me, and then said I could come," he explained dejectedly.

"How is he?" Inuyasha asked sternly. Being nervous made him angry.

Shippo seemed to sag at the question. "They won't tell me!"

Inuyasha and Kagome traded looks. That couldn't be a good sign.

"His room's over here," Shippo continued, and somberly led them through the pristine clean white hallways to the intensive care unit. Also not a good sign.

Sitting on a chair outside of Miroku's room was a short, old, balding man who was staring off into space.

Kagome cleared her throat. "Hello, is this Miroku's room?" she asked.

That jerked him awake. "Ah, yes it is. Who might you be?"

"Kagome Higurashi, a friend. This is Inuyasha."

"Mushin, his cousin," he replied. "Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too." He must be that obscure relative that took Miroku in as a child! Kagome realized.

Inuyasha spoke up. "How's he doing?"

Mushin snorted. "Go look for yourself."

I know it's been a while, so review and tell me what you think so far!

My page breakers aren't working anymore! Why?