Disclaimer: sadly, I don't own the Inuyasha characters; Rumiko has that honor.
Hey readers, this is my first attempt at writing fanfiction, please be gentle. - Please read & review; constructive criticism greatly appreciated!
Unspoken Words
by: lady-rouge
Chapter 8
Kagome opened her eyes slowly and blinked quickly to clear her blurry vision. When her vision refocused, she found herself staring up at a white ceiling. She wondered where she was because her room color was not white. She groaned at the stiffness in her neck and tried to move it gently. The last thing she remembered was everyone singing happy birthday to her when . . .
She shot up in bed, frantically. That was when Sango had told her the news about Inuyasha. She shivered and looked desperately for someone, but the room was empty. Kagome jumped out of bed and ran out of the room and into the hallway. The first person she saw was Mika, a co-worker talking to another person that Kagome did not recognize.
"Mika!" Kagome shouted to her. Mika looked at her and a concerned look came over her.
"Kagome, what are you doing out of bed?" She chided and came to where Kagome was standing. "Sango and Mirouku told me not to let you get up until you are feeling fine."
Kagome shook her head. "I'm fine. But where is Sango and Mirouku," she said, turning her head to look around the room for any signs of them.
"They're gone."
Kagome's head snapped back to Mika. "W-What?" she asked disbelievingly.
"After you fainted, they put you in Sango's room and left to go to the hospital," she explained apologetically.
"They didn't wait for me?" She asked in a hurt tone.
Mika hastened to reassure her. "They wanted to, but seeing the condition that you were in, they decided it was for the best. Maybe you should get some rest," she said softly; patting her shoulder. "You bumped your head a little hard. You can call them for the news."
"No." Kagome said, shaking her head. "Please, Mika, could you drop me off at the hospital he's staying in?" She gave Mika a pleading look.
"I don't know. . . Are you sure that you're fine?"
Kagome nodded her head vigorously. "Positive."
Mika smiled softly. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."
Kagome nodded with a relieved sigh and they hurried to the car. As Mika drove, Kagome stared out the window unseeingly with an anxious expression.
Please be safe, Inuyasha.
-
Mirouku sighed heavily as they sat in the waiting room. They had been waiting for a while. Mirouku gave another heavy sigh and combed his fingers through his unruly hair. It had been a long night. They had drove straight to the hospital right after the phone call . . . leaving Kagome behind. A flash of guilt swept through him as he thought about what they had done. Another part of his mind justified that Kagome was hurt, therefore she had to rest. A loud bang rang through the room as he saw out of the corner of his eye a door hit against the wall due to too much force used on it. Mirouku moved his head quickly to see a disheveled Kagome run towards them. Her face was full of anxiety and her windswept hair had begun to slip out of the hair band that she had tried to tame it with.
"Where's Inuyasha?" she asked breathlessly as she came up to them.
"Kagome!" Sango said in surprise. "You should be in bed."
"Please tell me where Inuyasha is," she said, tears starting to form in her eyes at her frustration. No one would tell her where Inuyasha was. She needed to see him for her own two eyes. "I need to see him now." A tear trickled down the high plane of her cheek to drop onto the blue carpet.
Sango immediately jumped up from the chair she was sitting on to comfort Kagome. "Don't cry Kagome. The doctors said that he should make it."
Kagome nodded, but her eyes still held worry. "Can I go see him?"
"The doctors said that we have to wait until they call us because when we came in, he was losing a lot of blood." Kagome's face paled and Mirouku hurried on. "But hopefully we should be able to see him soon."
Silence ensued until Kagome spoke up again. "W-what happened to Inuyasha," she asked hesitantly. After saying so, she closed her eyes tightly before opening them.
Mirouku turned to her. "You might not want to hear this."
"Tell me," Kagome said
"This is what the doctors told me . . ."
-
Dr. Totosai took off his mask and sighed with relief. Everything would be okay, he thought tiredly as he walked towards the waiting room. A smile turned his mouth as he thought about the good news that he would be delivering in the next couple of minutes. Inuyasha was a very lucky man. He had seen many accidents involving these kinds of accidents and many had made it alive, but with medical problems that would haunt them for the rest of their life, he thought sadly. But at least for tonight, he had something good to tell. It was always hard being the one to tell the families or patients that someone was going to die or that they were going to be stuck in a wheelchair forever. He rubbed his eyes tiredly. It had been a long day, but a satisfying one. He saw the friends that had come to wait for Inuyasha and he hurried on. Inuyasha's brother would be coming in an hour so Inuyasha would at least have family here. As he approached them, a lady who had been sitting down in one of the chairs jumped up along with Sango and Mirouku. He wondered who she was, but he never got a chance to ask because she had already run up to him and grasped his arms.
"How is Inuyasha?"
"Who, might I ask, are you?"
"Oh," Kagome flushed. "I'm Kagome . . . his friend."
He nodded. "I'm Dr. Totosai and Inuyasha is doing much better than earlier, that's for sure. We succeeded in getting the bleeding to stop and luckily, he has no concussions though he has still not awoken yet. Once he does though, he will be out of the clear."
"Can we go see him?" Mirouku voiced the question that Kagome wanted to ask.
"Yes," the doctor nodded. "His room is in room 324. Just follow this hallway until you get to the end and then take a right and you should see his room at the end of the corridor."
The trio quickly left and soon came upon his door. It was left ajar and Kagome suddenly became scared to see the new changes in Inuyasha. She halted and could not move. Mirouku and Sango stopped, seeing that she had froze. "If you don't want to come, that's okay," Sango said softly.
That unfroze Kagome like a bolt of fire and she started to move again. "No, I have to see him," she said quietly. They pushed open the door and the smell of medicine hit them as they turned their attention to the still figure lying on the hospital bed. Kagome's palm flew to her mouth as she walked closer to him. She stepped right up to the bed and gazed at his pale, pale face. He had some cuts on his face, but those she knew were just temporary and would disappear in time. The light hospital blanket hid what damage was done to his body and she did not dare lift the cover. He looked so peaceful that she felt tears start to fill in her eyes as she continued to gaze at his figure.
"I don't know what possessed him to get drunk," Sango's quiet voice said as she stepped up to Kagome. "But I wish that I would have done something except leave a message on his phone earlier today when he did not show up." Mirouku just looked at Inuyasha and sighed.
"Hopefully he will tell us when he wakes up," Mirouku said softly. "Because he did give me the impression that he would show up and when he didn't I was surprised as well." He looked over to where Kagome was looking longingly at Inuyasha and he turned to Sango. "Let's go get some coffee for the three of us, Sango."
Sango nodded, understanding that Kagome needed some time alone with Inuyasha. "Hai." She turned to Kagome, who was still gazing at Inuyasha; afraid to look elsewhere or he would disappear. Kagome nodded distractedly and they left.
Kagome kept her gaze on Inuyasha and a tear slipped out. She was finally seeing for herself that Inuyasha was not dead, but why wouldn't he wake up? She walked quickly to Inuyasha's bedside and laid her arms gently around him as another tear fell and another, one after the other. "Please, Inuyasha, wake up," she whispered achingly. She could feel his warm body underneath her, which reassured her that he was not dead and that he was still living and still strong. She kept her arms around him as she gently laid her head on his chest and put her ear against his heart; feeling solace in the rhythmic beating of his heart. Mirouku and Sango told her that Inuyasha had been in the middle of the road when a car had accidentally hit him and sped off.
They had claimed that he had been drunk when this had happened.
A tear trickled down her wet cheeks. Why were you drunk, Inuyasha? She raged at him. You don't even think that I will worry if you go and do this. Tears fell swiftly and she snuggled her face into his warm chest. "You know I worry about you," she sniffed. "I want you to get better, Inuyasha. I wish that-" her mind blinked and a determined look came over her face. "All I want for my birthday is Inuyasha to be okay, please. Just let him be okay," she finished softly before settling her hand into his hand that lay curled next to hers and closing her tired eyes to welcome the beckoning sleep.
-
Sesshoumaru walked swiftly down the quiet hallway that led to Inuyasha's room. He sighed and rubbed his tired eyes. It was only 2:00 in the morning and yet, Inuyasha had succeeded in doing something stupid again. His eyes held annoyance, yet a line of worry filtered lightly behind them. Inuyasha was not one to do many stupid things, but now lately, it seemed there was something bothering him and that in turn was affecting him. Like that day Inuyasha had come to his office and had begged for a business trip. Sesshoumaru's eyebrow arched in confusion. He had to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Sesshoumaru veered sharply around the corner and took a couple of steps before spotting Mirouku and Sango carrying three cups of streaming coffee.
"Sango, Mirouku," he called with a low voice, but it carried over to them. They turned in surprise and a smile came over their expressions of worry.
"Sesshoumaru-san!" Sango said in surprise. "We didn't expect you this soon."
Sesshoumaru looked at his watch and a ghost of a smile flitted to his lips. "I'm only here 15 minutes early," he said.
Sango blushed, but said nothing. Mirouku broke the silence. "Sesshoumaru-san, how are Rin and Shippo doing?"
A smile brushed his mouth and his eyes lighted. "They're fine, but Shippo has an upset stomach and won't stop crying so Rin had to stay home and watch him." The smile disappeared and his tone became more serious. "But how is Inuyasha doing?"
"He has lost a lot of blood and luckily escaped from a concussion, but overall, he should be okay," Mirouku informed Sesshoumaru.
"So Inuyasha has already woken?"
"Actually, he was still unconscious when Sango and I left," Mirouku said. "But he might not be anymore."
He turned to go to the door and Sango and Sesshoumaru followed. Sango was behind Mirouku when he stopped abruptly; making Sango crash into him. "What's the matter Mirouku?" Sango said, stepping around him to see Kagome sleeping with her head on Inuyasha's chest. Sesshoumaru stepped around Sango and stood in shock. "Kagome came as well?"
"Hai," Sango said. "She was very worried about him and came despite the fall that she had."
"Fall?" Sesshoumaru turned to her.
"After hearing the news about Inuyasha, she fainted and fell." Sango said; continuing to look at the peaceful scene in front of her eyes.
Sesshoumaru was curious why Kagome would faint over such news. It wasn't like Inuyasha had died. He looked at the two still figures and wondered if there was something he was missing from getting the picture. He sighed. No one told him anything these days.
000
The first things she heard as she came to was the sound of talking. She moved slightly, unable to tear herself away from this warm heat and softness that was under her head. The talking continued and Kagome slightly groaned as she opened her eyes and looked down to see that she had fallen asleep on Inuyasha. She blushed slightly and turned towards the source of noise. Her eyes grew wide as she saw that it was Sesshoumaru, Sango and Mirouku and that they were staring at her. It was not helped that Mirouku was giving her a lecherous grin with a thumbs-up. A deep hot flush swept over her and her immediate reaction was to get away from the cause of her blushing. She quickly got up and turned to walk towards them when she was halted by the tightening in the hand that she was still holding.
"D-Don't leave me," he said softly.
Kagome turned in surprise and tears started to form. "Inuyasha?" She walked up closer to him and nudged him gently. "I'm right here."
Violet eyes blinked confusedly as they fluttered to open. He furrowed his forehead as if he was in pain. "It hurts," he said in a weak voice. "Make it stop." A tear slipped out and ran down as she stared at his pain helplessly. She heard Mirouku, Sango and Sesshoumaru step up next to her as the door opened to reveal the happy Dr. Totosai.
"I was going off duty, but I saw that the patient Inuyasha has finally awoken and I flew right over." He stepped up to get a closer look at Inuyasha. Suddenly nurses started swarming in to check on him and before Kagome knew it, she had been pushed back and far from Inuyasha. She stared past the clutter of people and noise as everyone talked to him and checked on his conditions. She stared past them to Inuyasha, who was struggling unsuccessfully to get up. His hand searched for her warm clasp, but it was gone. Tears dropped unashamedly as she stared at him. He was back. He was back to her, she though happily. She wiped them quickly away. This time, she would not let him get hurt again, she vowed silently.
"Kagome." Her head snapped up from her thoughts and she gazed towards the bed where everyone was crowding. It was Sango. "Could you come up here?"
Kagome walked up there and saw to her dismay that Inuyasha's eyelids were already fluttering close even though he fought to keep them open. She walked up and squeezed through the tightly closed circle to stand next to him again. Her teary gaze met his determined gaze in a heartbeat and he smile softly before giving up his struggle. His hand moved softly towards her pale face where a small pearl-shaped tear had slipped out and was now trailing slowly down her cheek. His look of pain changed to one of concern.
"W-Why are you crying?" He asked haltingly. "Don't cry," his words were like a caress to her soul and she smiled a wavering smile. He continued to reach for her cheek and finally got there, wiping the sad tear away before his eyelids finally closed from exhaustion. Kagome captured his hand before it fell and placed it gently by his side before turning around. They were all staring at her and the blush came back in greater degree.
"W-What?" She asked self-consciously.
"I've never seen Inuyasha act this way before, much less to a secretary," Sesshoumaru said as his gaze probed into her soul, intent on finding every hidden secret in her soul. Kagome told herself to keep her expression of only a concern for a worker and said in a light dismissive voice. "Maybe he was under the influence of the after effects of the accident. He probably wasn't thinking clearly," she said, wishing otherwise. Sesshoumaru looked at her like he did not believe a word that she had said, but thankfully he did not object to anything.
The doctor stepped up. "If you guys want to sleep in here with the patient, I'll have the nurses roll in four beds." He turned to confirm it and Sesshoumaru nodded slightly but stopped.
"You guys can leave, since things are under control."
Kagome shook her head and so did Mirouku and Sango, "We'll stay," Sango said for all of them and Sesshoumaru nodded with a satisfied look; almost like it had been a test of friendship. He said yes to the doctor and the doctor left with the nurses. The nurses rolled in the beds and set them around the room. Kagome climbed into one and laid there. She thought that she would not be able to sleep, but it was the opposite. As she lay there, the fatigue and worry she had gone through finally caught up with her and she fell into a deep sleep.
-
Mirouku woke up and stretched languidly as he got up. He looked around and saw that Sesshoumaru's bed was empty and so was Sango. The only person still sleeping was Kagome. He looked over to Inuyasha and saw that he was starting to stir. Mirouku walked swiftly over and waited while Inuyasha groaned at the bright sunlight in his eyes and moved his arm to shield his face. After a couple of seconds, Inuyasha was able to open his eyes and was surprised to see Mirouku standing next to him. Letting a startled yelp, Inuyasha tried to get up weakly, but he fell back down. "Mirouku, what are you doing in my house?" He growled.
Mirouku let out a chuckle and grinned. Yep, the old, grumpy Inuyasha was back. "I didn't know that the hospital was your house, Inuyasha," Mirouku said, glad that Inuyasha seemed well enough.
Inuyasha's eyes widened a fraction and he glanced quickly around the room to see that it was indeed a hospital. The events of last night hit Inuyasha and he remembered everything. His gaze landed on the still figure sleeping in the hospital bed and his eyes tightened. "What's she doing here?" He said angrily.
Mirouku's eyebrows arched. "Don't you remember that you were hit by a car?"
"Of course I remember. How can I not when my arms and legs are constantly aching," Inuyasha said with a rude look.
"Thus, the reason why lady Kagome is here," Mirouku answered smoothly.
"But I don't want her to be here," Inuyasha exclaimed angrily, crossing his arms carefully as to not hurt himself. "Get her to leave. I don't want to talk to her."
Mirouku was now confused and his facial expression showed. "Calm down Inuyasha, you don't want to wake Kagome," he said as he lowered his tone. "She's had a long night."
"Just get Kagome out of here," he said firmly. "She's unwanted."
Mirouku shook his head. "I don't understand why you want to do that, but I won't do that to Kagome. You tell her yourself if you want her to. I won't do it."
"Fine, I will," Inuyasha said stubbornly and Mirouku's gaze turned in surprise again. He was really going to do it. They both turned to where Kagome lay . . . but she was gone.
-
Kagome ran faster than she had ever run in her life. Tears blinded her path, but she did not care. She had to get out of here, this place that was slowly suffocating her.
"I don't want her to be here."
Her loud footsteps rang through the hallway as she fought to find her way out. She did not notice the worried glances people bestowed her way nor the sympathetic looks that came on their face. Looking at her disheveled appearance and crying face, an outsider would have assumed that someone important in her life had died or that she had found out that she was going to die. But in a way, that was the way Kagome felt. She felt like each breath she took was not of oxygen but of a poison that was slowly poisoning her soul.
"Get her to leave."
The pain hurt too much and she struggled to keep on running. If she stopped, the pain she was trying to leave would catch up to her.
"She's unwanted."
The outline of the doors that opened to the outside world loomed ahead of her and she ran faster until she reached it and burst through. The first thing she felt was the bright sunlight that shined warmth onto her cold shivering body. She continued to run, past the hospital, pass the happy people that surrounded her, pass the stores and finally collapsed breathlessly on a bench in a park. The gushing tears had finally stopped to leave behind an aching numbness that Kagome welcomed. It reminded of her stupidity at trying to be friends with Inuyasha again. It reminded her that she could not start over anymore. She sat there in silence for a while before getting up to hail a taxi to take her home.
-
Sango and Sesshoumaru entered Inuyasha's room with breakfast for four to notice that the room was silent. They stepped in and noticed that the TV was on, but Mirouku and Inuyasha was hardly paying attention. And Kagome was no where to be found. "Oh Inuyasha, you're up," Sango said. "How are you feeling?"
He muttered a good, not looking her in the eye. It seemed like Mirouku and Inuyasha trying pointedly to not look at each other. It was then that Sango noticed that Kagome was gone. "Did Kagome go to the bathroom?" Sango asked.
There was silence. Sango grew irritated. "Mirouku! I asked if Kagome went to the bathroom,'" she said with a glare. He coughed and ducked his head.
"I'm not sure," he said and then a guilty expression crossed his face. Sango knowing Mirouku too well caught it and pounced on him. "What did you do to her," she growled angrily. "I-I didn't do anything," he protested. "I think she heard our conversation and she left."
"What conversation?" Sango asked, giving both a glare that they would not look at.
"We were just talking," Inuyasha jumped in defensively. "And then she was gone."
"Why would she just leave without saying anything to us?" Sango said softly.
The flash of guilt that had been plaguing him all morning hit Inuyasha again but he pushed it back.
Sango face cleared and she turned to glare at Mirouku, knowing that the only way to find out would be through Mirouku. "Mirouku," she growled. "Tell me what you guys said that made Kagome leave. Now."
Mirouku flinched in her anger and gave in. "She just heard Inuyasha telling me that he didn't want Kagome here and that she was unwanted," Mirouku said timidly. Sango face turned purple with anger.
"How could you guys do this?" She said. "You," she pointed to Inuyasha. "How could you say this about her? She was so worried last night for you," she said angrily before turning away.
"I'm going to her house and I'm going to talk to her now." She left the breakfast there and stomped out while Sesshoumaru stood there with a thoughtful look on his face. The picture was becoming clearer and clearer.
-
Kagome wearily dropped herself on her green couch and sniffed. She missed her family so much. These were the times when she needed their words of wisdom and advice the most. She would call them, if not ask advice, at least to hear the comfort that her mother's voice held. She picked up the worn phone that sat on the magazine table and dialed the well known number. It rang once before her brother picked up.
"Souta!" She said happily as tears sprung to her eyes. "It's me, Kagome."
"Kagome!" His voice sang happily over the phone. "I miss you," he said. "Mom said you're going to come home soon. Is she telling the truth?"
A tear slipped down her cheek as she nodded and replied. "She is, Souta. Where's mom?"
"She's watching TV. Do you want to talk to her?"
"Yeah," Kagome answered softly. There was silence for a moment before her mother's voice came on.
"Kagome?"
"Mom," Kagome's voice cracked. Hearing her mother's voice made her want to weep and let her mother comfort her and tell her that everything would be okay. "I miss you."
"Kagome, I miss you too. You should come back, Kagome. Come find a job closer to home. We miss you so much, especially Souta."
Another tear slipped down her cheek as she replied. "Mom, just for a little longer and then I'll be back home and I won't go anywhere anymore. Once I get that check, I'm coming home," she said as another tear fell.
"How is work going?"
It's going excellent," Kagome lied as a tear fell, exposing her lie. "Nothing could be better, mom. I made many friends," she choked slightly.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Her mother said with a worried tone. "You're voice sounds funny. Are you sick?"
"No, I'm fine" Kagome wiped her teary eyes. "I just got homesick and I wanted to hear your voice, that's all."
"Oh Kagome," her mother's voice saddened. "Don't do this to yourself. Come back home and we'll find another way to get the surgery money," she pleaded.
"I've almost got enough money, mom. Pretty soon Souta will get his surgery, mom. Think about that," Kagome smiled with a happy smile. "This is worth it and I'm going to finish it," she said firmly to convince her mother as well as herself.
"How much longer?"
"About a month," Kagome said with relief. Just one more month to endure his hatred.
"Thank goodness," her mother said with relief. "We'll be looking forward to it. Oh, by the way, Kagome. Where were you last night?"
"One of my friends got into an accident and I went to the hospital to stay with them," Kagome said softly as the numbing pain flared up. "Why?"
"Why?" Her mother laughed. "It was your birthday, sweetheart. We wanted to wish you a happy birthday."
"Oh," Kagome's eyes blinked. Her birthday seemed like it had been two centuries ago, not yesterday. "Well, thank you."
"We bought you a gift that we'll give you when you get home."
"You didn't have to do that, mom," Kagome said softly as another tear slipped down. It seemed like every gesture or thought was making her cry today.
"We want to, Kagome," her mother said gently.
"Thanks mom," she said. "And say hi to granpa for me."
"Okay honey, take care."
"I will, mom," her throat felt tight again. "Don't worry too much mom. I'll get the money, okay?"
Her mom sighed sadly. "Goodbye Kagome."
"Goodbye mom," Kagome whispered as she hung the phone gently on its cradle. Just as she laid it down, the doorbell rang. Surprised, Kagome went to open it. It revealed a worried Sango.
"Kagome," Sango came in and hugged her. "Why are you home?"
"I-I felt that you guys didn't need me anymore since Inuyasha is already up and all," she lied. She was a horrible liar and Sango knew it.
"Save it, Kagome. I know what happened." Her words were abrupt, yet also trying to be gentle and Kagome's eyes filled with tears.
"You do?"
Sango saw her tears and she hugged Kagome tighter. "Don't cry over those jerks, Kagome. They're not worth it." Kagome shook her head.
"But Inuyasha's right. I shouldn't have been acting like there was nothing between us." She sobbed. "I guess I got carried away, thinking that he had forgiven me, but I was so wrong," she said softly. "He was just putting me in my place again."
Sango shook her head. "Don't think like that, Kagome."
Slowly Kagome's tears dried and she smiled shakily. "Sorry, I got your shirt all wet."
Sango laughed. "It's okay, Kagome. What are friends for?" Kagome smiled and nodded.
-
Inuyasha stared at the moving car that held Sango and Mirouku inside and watched as they waved to him and drove off. Inuyasha sighed softly. He had finally been let out on Sunday and now he was sitting in Sesshoumaru's car as they silently drove to Sesshoumaru's house. He assumed Sesshoumaru wanted to talk and Inuyasha dreaded it. He knew he couldn't get out of it and so he did not even try to protest. Sesshoumaru drove the car smoothly into the parking and they both got out. Sesshoumaru did not say anything until they had gotten inside the house and had sat down in his office.
"Why did you do it?" Sesshoumaru's words were very simple, yet very hard to answer.
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha lied.
"You know what I mean," Sesshoumaru growled, a little irritated that Inuyasha was dancing around the obvious question.
"What if I told you that it was because I felt like it?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. "What put you into that mood? From what I heard, you were supposed to have gone to Kagome's surprise birthday party, but you never showed up and instead you went to a bar and got roaring drunk." He gave Inuyasha a penetrating look. "You did not even bother to tell them that you could not make it. What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing," he Inuyasha said defensively. "Can't I just go because I want to?"
"Not, if I've never seen you go to one."
"I said it's nothing!" Inuyasha said angrily.
"Does it happen to be Kagome?" Sesshoumaru said as he gauged Inuyasha's reaction to his suggestion.
Inuyasha looked surprised and then he turned angry. "Why the hell would you think that?"
"Ever since she came here, you have gone through so many mood changes that I've decided that she has to be the one behind it."
"Well you're wrong," Inuyasha said stiffly.
"If you won't tell me, I'll ask Kagome to tell me," Sesshoumaru said softly. "I won't have the company torn apart by this problem."
"She won't tell you," Inuyasha said smugly. "I know her."
"So you two do have a problem," Sesshoumaru said with a smug smile. Inuyasha remembered his blunder and he scowled. "It doesn't matter because you won't get anything out of Kagome anyways."
"I can make her," Sesshoumaru threatened. Inuyasha seemed unfazed. "I can put her job on the line."
Inuyasha became angry. "That's cruel, Sesshoumaru."
"If I have to do it, I will. I can't let you jeopardize your life over a worthless girl. I promised your mother to take care of you."
"She's not worthless!" Inuyasha growled.
Sesshoumaru just nodded slightly. "So are you going to tell me or not?"
"No, but I'll kill you if you fire Kagome," he said softly. "This is our argument, not hers."
"We'll see about that." Angry, Inuyasha stomped out the door and left.
"Sesshoumaru," a feminine voice said. "I heard a lot of yelling, who was it?" Rin asked before coming to sit in the spot that Inuyasha had vacated. She was a slender woman around the age of 26 with short dark hair that fell softly around her shoulders.
"It was Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru said tiredly. "He wouldn't tell me why he was drinking."
"How is Inuyasha?" Rin asked worriedly. "Is he okay?"
"He's fine. Just a little bruised and scratched, but his temper is still the same." He turned to Rin and sighed. "Before Inuyasha's mother died, I promised to watch Inuyasha and I'm trying to do that, but he won't let me."
"Do you have any idea?" Rin asked softly before getting up to rub the tension in his shoulders.
"Yeah. Kagome Higurashi, his secretary. I just don't know what to do."
Rin nodded. A visit to Kagome was in order, she thought firmly, to insure the family bond.
-
Kagome stared at the closed oak door. She had gotten there a little early, but with some reassurance from Sango at the front desk and a very sincere apology from Mirouku, Kagome was now late. She took a deep breath and opened the door that led to their office. Inuyasha was typing on his computer when she entered and he glanced up. Their gazes clashed together. He had a guilty look on his face, but he did not apologize or say hello. So this was the way Inuyasha was going to be, Kagome thought sadly. She turned away from his hostile look and went into her office where she found all the work that had to be done and the times that he would be gone that day. Kagome heaved a sigh and sat down to begin her work. She just had to be strong for one more month and then she would finally be gone and never come back, she told herself sternly before she set out to do her work. She put her whole mind into the tasks at hand and soon became absorbed in it so much that she did not hear the knock on her door until it opened slightly to reveal a young woman around the age of 25.
"Hello," Kagome said with a smile. "I'm sorry but Inuyasha is not here at the moment. He went to a meeting, but will be back in two hours. I wasn't expecting anyone because Sango did not call me about it or else I would have told her that."
"Oh no," the young woman said with a slight laugh. "I came to speak to Kagome Higurashi. Is that you?"
Kagome nodded in surprise. "Yes. What can I do to help you?"
"Actually, I was wondering if I could speak to you for a moment about an issue at hand," the lady said nervously.
"If I can help you, then I'd love to," Kagome said beckoning to the chair.
The woman gave a big smile and took the offered seat.
"So, fire away," Kagome said.
"I don't know if you know me, but I'm Rin, Sesshoumaru's wife," Rin began.
Kagome nodded and looked curiously at Rin. "Go on."
Her face became serious. "And I want you to go away."
Kagome looked at Rin with surprise. "W-Why?" She asked. "I haven't done anything to you."
Rin nodded her head. "I know, but you're hurting my family. Please," Rin begged. "They mean everything to me and I can't just sit there and watch them destroy each other."
"I haven't done anything," Kagome said softly to Rin.
"Yes. I don't know what happened, only that you were the cause of Inuyasha being drunk. Is that true?" Rin turned to look at Kagome.
At those words, Kagome paled. "Me?"
"Yes, that was all that Sesshoumaru could get out of Inuyasha because he wouldn't say anything else. What did you do?"
"I-I didn't do anything to Inuyasha. I didn't even get to see him that day," she stammered.
Rin looked like she was deep in thought. "Nothing?" She pressed.
Kagome's eyes watered as she searched for any possible reason, but she couldn't think of anything. "N-No."
Rin looked confused for a minute and then her eyes brightened. "Have you," she started slowly. "Have you ever known Inuyasha in the past?"
It was then that everything clicked and Kagome snapped her head up to meet Rin, tears starting to fill her eyes again. "Yes," she whispered. "A . . . long time ago."
"Please tell me," Rin pleaded.
"I-I'd rather not," Kagome said and turned her face away. "But you're right, it is my fault. I can tell you that I was a very horrible person back then," she choked back tears. "I hurt Inuyasha badly and he still hates me for it." Kagome turned sad haunted eyes to Rin. "You've known Inuyasha for a while, ne?"
Rin nodded; sympathy in her eyes for Kagome.
"Then you must know that Inuyasha is not one to take betrayals lightly. That's what I did, Rin." Kagome bit her lip hard to hold back the tears that always came with the memories that she tried so hard to suppress. "It happened on my birthday, six years ago."
Rin suddenly saw the picture much clearer now. Kagome held much threat to Inuyasha then, if that event that happened six years ago still affected Inuyasha. Rin reached over to Kagome, who was struggling to hold back tears. "I'm so sorry, Kagome. I didn't know."
Kagome nodded slightly. "You have no need to worry, Rin. I pose no threat anymore because he hates me now. I-I found that out yesterday."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes, and I'm glad that you and Sesshoumaru care about Inuyasha so much," she said softly. "That makes me feel better when I leave in a month."
"A month?" Rin said shortly.
'Yeah," Kagome smiled sadly. "Don't worry. In a month you or Inuyasha won't ever have to see me anymore. I'm going back home."
Rin nodded and her eyes watered. "I'm sorry for being so selfish, Kagome, but only when the well being of my family is involved."
Kagome nodded and Rin thanked her before leaving, giving her one more compassionate glance before she turned and disappeared through the oak doors. And Kagome, Kagome just sat there as she finally gave into the insistent memories that were fighting to be released . . .
OOO
Kagome looked at herself in the mirror. It was the night of her birthday and she was dressed elegantly in a midnight dress that hugged her body and brought out the paleness of her skin. Kagome stared at the stranger in the mirror. It did not look like her at all. This Kagome looked like she was going to a ball when in fact, she was only going to eat out with Naraku. Kagome hugged herself as she shivered. It's for the sake of the family, she told herself sternly. Think of Souta and not your selfish desires, she reminded herself. She wanted Souta to be better, but why couldn't they sacrifice something else, she thought. After that thought crossed her mind she gasped and slapped a hand to her mouth. How could she have thought such a selfish thought? A tear trickled down as she looked at herself. She had never dressed this elegantly before, but the first time that she did, she wanted it to be for Inuyasha, not Naraku. Her father was so happy that he had gone out and gotten her a dress as a surprise. Kagome sighed. She had not told Inuyasha anything. Half of her still hoped that things would go wrong and somehow she'd end up with Inuyasha and the other half told her that this was wrong, but Kagome ignored it constantly. She would think back to this in the future and regret her thoughtless actions.
"Kagome!" It was her mother. "Naraku's here." Kagome quickly grabbed her purse and before casting a last longing look at the picture of Inuyasha holding her on her dresser, she left. She came down the stairs and did not notice the way Naraku looked at her. He had a very pleased look on his face.
"Kagome," he said softly, looking over her appreciatively. "You look beautiful, just like a goddess."
Kagome nodded and looked at him in the silk black suit. "You look nice as well," she lied, sneaking a peek at her parents. Her dad was beaming happily and her mom had a sad smile on her face. Kagome's heart lurched. Did her mom know something that she didn't? Kagome did not give it much thought after Naraku's arm came around to lead Kagome out the door.
"Have fun, kids!" Kagome could hear her dad's voice faintly as the door closed. They were alone and Kagome shivered. She breathed in the fresh scent of the environment that surrounded them before getting into the limo that Naraku had come in. It was a sleek and shiny car, well fit for the rich, she thought. They sat silently through the whole short ride with neither saying anything though she could feel Naraku's cold gaze rake over her silent form as she gazed out the window. The car sailed to a smooth stop and the door on Naraku's side opened to reveal the driver. As they got out, Naraku took her arm to lead her in and Kagome fought the urge to repel away. Once they were seated down, Naraku turned to her and stared intently into her eyes.
"Kagome, I am so honored that you are here with me."
Kagome nodded distractedly. "As do I," she said before averting her gaze to the closest distraction: the menu. As she ruffled through the very elegantly named and very expensive dishes, Naraku spoke again.
"Kagome, I really like you a lot and although it is still very early, I would like to ask you to marry me."
Kagome's head jerked up. She stared at him in shock and a heavy feeling settled in her stomach as she fought the urge to run away and hide in the comfort of Inuyasha's warm embrace. Things were moving too fast. She needed time to think things over. She felt so torn between her instinct and her responsibility. In the long time span that elapsed between them, Kagome jumped to the natural one. The thought of letting Inuyasha go tore at her. "I-I'm sorry Naraku," she said earnestly to him. "But I can't," she ended softly. "I'm truly sorry for making you think otherwise."
A cold anger flashed through his eyes, but was quickly gone in an instant; making Kagome wonder if she had imagined it all. His eyes were warm again as he looked at her. "Can you tell me why not?"
Kagome continued on. "I just don't think the idea of you and I will work out," she said gently. Naraku averted his gaze for a while, hiding his expression and Kagome became scared of his reaction. He was like that for a moment until he turned back to her with another warm smile.
"I understand, Kagome. But let me give you my birthday present at least," he insisted.
Filled with guilt, Kagome hastened to agree and she nodded. He reached into his suit pocket and took out a small velvet box that had Kagome's eyes widen. She knew even before he opened it that it was a ring. He flicked it open with one finger to reveal a sparkling diamond ring that confirmed her guess. He reached over and placed her hand in his as he slid the ring easily onto her finger. "It's . . . beautiful Naraku," she said, unsure of how she should respond. It was beautiful, but . . . that was all. She had no desire or need for it.
"Happy Birthday, Kagome," he leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I hope this is your best birthday." Kagome gave him a light smile and was about to thank him when a voice froze her.
"Kagome!" It sounded like it was wrenched out of the person's mouth. The words froze in her throat and she spun around.
Inuyasha.
000
Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed at her eyes profusely. She felt so tired, tired of relieving the past; tired of hating herself for hurting Inuyasha and also tired of disappointing her family . . .
000
Kagome felt like her soul had been broken into so many pieces that she did not know what to do anymore as she stared at Inuyasha's ram rod straight figure retreating with the servers and another sob broke shook her tiny frame. As she kept her gaze riveted on Inuyasha, she could feel distantly the presence of Naraku coming to her and settling next to her. Kagome spared him no glance. "I-nu-yasha," she whispered pleadingly, but he did not hear her. From a distance, she watched as Naraku took her arm a bit harshly and guided her to the limo. Kagome just sat silently in the eerily quiet limo as she prayed silently to get home quickly. She watched Naraku lead her into her house and watched the look that transpired between her mother and father as they saw the state that she was in. She watched as Naraku took her father aside and talked to them in a quiet tone.
In a trance, Kagome walked slowly to her room, all emotions devoid from her expression and blotchy face. Kagome continued on until she reached her bed where she collapsed on it. Her gaze moved unseeingly around the room until a picture caught her eye. It was the picture of her and Inuyasha at the park, where they had celebrated her birthday with a picnic by the beautiful sunset and blossoming trees. In the picture, Inuyasha had on a tilted smile and an amused glint in his warm eyes as he looked down at her laughing face that was directed at the camera. A choked sob escaped her throat and she covered her mouth to suppress the sound as she tore her gaze away from it. She tried to will sleep to come, but even sleep was against her today.
A slight swish was the only sound to warn her that someone had entered her room. Kagome looked up to see her mother with a concerned gaze on her face. "Kagome, darling, please tell me what's the matter." Her mother came and sat down next to her on the bedside. Kagome shook her head, but her mother grabbed her hand. "Kagome," a tear ran down her mother's cheek. "Can you ever forgive me? Even though I knew that you loved Inuyasha, I went with your father on this idea and now everything's ruined. Talk to him, Kagome and tell him the truth."
Kagome shook her head this time and a tear slipped out. "It's no use, mom, Inuyasha already told me that he hated me," she finished by squeezing her pillow tighter and burrowing her head in the bedspread.
"Kagome, don't think like that," she admonished gently before pulling Kagome into her arms. "Just give him time to cool off. Find the courage within you and go talk everything out," her mother said while she patted Kagome on the back gently. "I will talk to your father, Kagome. I'll make him see that everything can be solved a different way; that we should not hurt a child for another." Kagome's eyes brightened and the heaviness lifted slightly from her shoulders.
Kagome sat up ad grasped her mother's arms. "Oh mom, do you think Inuyasha will understand?"
She nodded with a smile and Kagome hugged her mother tightly. "Of course and I will go talk to Naraku as well." Kagome hugged her again and Kagome's mother left with a slight smile on her face. Maybe things would still turn out alright, Kagome thought with a lighter heart. All she had to do was find courage and then go to his house and talk to him, she thought happily. He had to understand.
It was not until two days later that she finally found the courage to go talk to him. With a bit of encouragement from her mother, Kagome walked anxiously to the house whose location was engrained in her memory. Her palms started to sweat as she neared her destination and butterflies rose up in her stomach, but she continued on. As she saw the house come into her view, a sense of dread rose up in her, but she did not know what. It turned into panic and she broke into a run. She came into a stop in front of the front door and banged desperately on the door. To her surprise, it swung open with a creak to reveal the inside of the small house to her and seeing it, she fell onto her knees.
It was empty.
000
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COMMENTS:
Nauriell: LOL
Kurokumo: Maybe I should make him die just to spite you! LOL J/K'-' Also, would you recommend the Inuyasha movie?
Lady Mac: You'll find out soon enough! Any guesses?
dark bebi pan ssj4: Wow! That really makes my humble story feel good! Thanks!
azn-anime-anjel, Mini Nicka, kikyo fan but inukag fan, inu-dog-dem, animemistress419, Rinelwin: Thank you for taking the time to review. I appreciate it lots!
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TO BE CONTINUED
Please read and review. I'd love all your feedback and ideas.
