Triple
By Shadow Youkai87
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha and never will.
Chapter 2
There was a knock on the door before it opened, allowing tons of unwelcome light in the darkened room. The light blinded her and she forced it shut before she noticed that someone had come in with the light.
"Higurashi?"
"Quiet!" she shot, listening at the door. Nothing. Noone was listening in. The light from the bottom of the door was covered by an old cloth before she stood and turned to the intruder. "What do you want?"
Even though it was pitch black, the only light coming from the outline of the door and the bottom of the window, she could see him perfectly.
"I asked what you wanted Hojo!"
"I wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss and to get you out of this room. I'm told you haven't left."
"If I leave, he will get me like he did my family. He wants the jewel, but I won't let him have it," she spoke in a whisper, as if even mentioning the jewel would draw him to her. "By now I'm late. Where is he?"
"Kagome, what jewel?"
She glared at him and let out a low growl. "You want it too, don't you! You won't get it!! You won't get it unless you pry it out of my cold dead fingers!!! Now GET OUT!!!"
She threw the door open and pushed the frightened boy out, closing the door right behind him, slamming it and bracing it with the desk. Noone would get in. Noone would get the jewel. Noone. She would avenge her family and live in the well, once the vile beast that had dared attack her kin was begging for mercy at her feet before she stamped the last bit of life from him. He would pay the heinous act he had committed. The murders, the raping, the pure enjoyment he had to have received from causing her this pain. He would die by her own hand if she ever laid eyes on him. Her's or InuYasha's. It didn't really matter. InuYasha wanted revenge for Kikyo, so she could ask for revenge herself. She would avenge them, as she had avenged Shippo's father, as she would avenge Sango's family and Miroku's. This was merely one more on the list. Inuyasha would come soon. She'd be safe once he came. Why wasn't he there yet? It had been months? weeks? days? yes, days. Three, if she was right. It was hard to tell when one was in utter darkness and refused food and sleep. The food was poisoned and sleeping made her too vulnerable. If she ate or fell asleep, she would die and would never avenge her family. Why wasn't InuYasha there? She knew they had fought, but he'd have come for her by now, wouldn't he? She couldn't go to the well; too far without protection and noone was allowed on the crime scene, not even her. She wanted to be with InuYasha. Why wasn't he here yet?
Knock. Knock.
She froze. The silence echoed off the dark walls. The doorhandle rattled. A voice called. The voice...
She clawed at the door, forcing away the desk and threw it open with such force that it came off its hinges. Her eyes were slow to adjust to the light. Then, she saw them. Golden pools. She needed nothing more. Throwing herself at him, she buried her face in his chest and, for the first time, tears touched her eyes. Safe. She was safe, now and forever more. Safe. Safe in the arms of her hanyou in fire rat armour. Safe. Safe. Safe...safe...safe............
Kagome had told him her time was safe and he had foolishly believed her. Mankind always seemed to be their own worst enemy in his time, so why not here? The fact that he had never once, not since the incident with the soul piper, suspected that there were dangers here as well now seemed so dumb and idealistic, not at all like himself. He had let himself relax and looked what had happened. Kagome's family was gone. What he wouldn't to hear that runt call him his hero, or the old man's complaints, or her kind mother's smile, so similar to her daughter's. There was no doubt who she took after.
But once Nishimura had told him they had been murdered, he had felt something he rarely felt, grief. Not just for his own liking of the family, but for what Kagome had to feel. His mother had been murdered as well, after all. He was a bit surprised by the empathy he felt. He had never felt it with anyone before. Well, a little with Shippo, but not enough to go so blank.
"They were murdered."
He lost everything in his mind for a moment, so blank that he didn't hear the next few words the man said to his partner before the man scurried off.
"Is...is Kagome okay?" he asked slowly, unsure of his own voice.
"She wasn't there when it happened. She just found them, but I hear she's really shaken. Says it was all her fault."
He nodded as the other man returned with some metal things. "Nishimura here'll drive you to the Hanabishi's. Miss. Higurashi is staying there."
He didn't say anything but followed him down the steps and into the metal contraption Kagome called a car. He was too stunned to even protest. They arrived at the house in what had seemed seconds but could have been several minutes and went inside to be warmly greeted by Mrs. Hanabishi before hoarse yelling was heard from upstairs.
"You want it too, don't you! You won't get it!! You won't get it unless you pry it out of my cold dead fingers!!! Now GET OUT!!!"
A boy appeared from a door and it shut with amazing speed before the sound of something scraping against the floor. The boy looked pale, as if he had seen a ghost and InuYasha was little better. There had been no doubt that the scent coming from that room was Kagome's. he wanted to run up and throw open the door and hold the poor creature and save her from the harsh realities of life.
"There goes another of her friends," Mrs. Hanabishi commented. "Not only won't she eat or sleep, but she won't leave that dark room and won't have anything to do with anyone. I hear she is a sweet, good tempered girl."
He didn't reply, even though the comment had been directed at him. The woman needed confirmation after what she had just seen, but he wasn't one to give that. He walked up the stairs and knocked on the door, earning looks of shock from the expelled boy and Mrs. Hanabishi.
"Kagome?" he asked as he tried to open the door without his strength. Barging in wasn't a good idea.
Sound from the inside of the room showed she had heard and was struggling to get out after trapping herself in. The door opened and he forced himself to not make a move. He wouldn't seem threatening if he did nothing. Instead, he looked her over. Her hair was flat and dull, as were her eyes and her skin was unnaturally pale. Her clothes, though the same as the last time he had seen her, were all wrinkled and messy looking, not at all like the clean Kagome he knew. And her scent was heavy with grief instead of light and carefree. Just looking at her made him want to cry.
Her eyes finally focussed on his and she gave the saddest smile before wrapping her arms around him and crying as he ran a comforting hand through her hair. When her form went limp, he lifted her and sat down in the hall and for the first time in his life, he allowed strangers to see weakness in him as he cuddled the small form to his chest. Everyone was silent for a few moments, save his soft whispering, before they left him alone, the boy leaving last, a look of shock, sympathy and hurt on his face.
With the boy gone and noone in sight, he whispered: "Don't you worry, Kagome. We'll get whoever did this to you."
Hi. Thanks Kush Kush and Kagome92111 and 'inuyasha' for reviewing. I hope this chapter continues in a way acceptable for you. Let me know what you think. Thanks again and R&R!
