Hitori ni Sasenai
by Lady Mac
Ookay, big honkin' author's note on this one. First of all, for those of you with vivid imaginations and weak stomachs, this chapter contains a fair amount of detail about vomit. If you really don't want to read that, please email me at yammy911juno.com and I will eventually get around to emailing you the "clean" version of this chapter. It's really not that different, I just take out a few sentences. So don't email me unless it will really really make you sick, because I don't have much time and I barely ever check my email.
But I promise, as gross as it is, it is important to the plot! And anyways, I am such an ER junkie that it's not funny anymore, so I love that kind of stuff. And besides, my boyfriend (whom I talk about waaay too much, it seems) just had a timpanoplasty two days ago (I have no idea if that's spelled right - if you know, please tell me), and he shared with me the wonderful story of his reactions to anaesthetic, morphine, and inner-ear microsurgery. That's why they tell you not to eat for "X" hours before a procedure, in case you were wondering. ("Eeew! That's gross!")
Next on the docket: Boatloads of angst in this chapter. Lots and lots. Beware if that makes you sick, but no clean version for you! Eat A Rock!
Also some Miroku and Sango, and a little bit o' foul language. Though I'm sure y'all can handle that after the semi-lemon in chapter two - this is "R" rated, after all. I didn't really want to do that, but the Nefarious Plot Bunny demanded it of me. (Damn you, Nefarious Plot Bunny!)
Finally, I should explain "Eat A Rock." It's one of the wonderful slogans of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers Marching Band (bwa!). It basically means "suck it up, you pussy," but I think it has a better ring to it, and it also looks better when emblazoned across the seat of a pair of red mesh shorts (gotta get me some of those). "On, Wisconsin . . ."
Many, many, many heartfelt thanks to everyone who reviewed so far! I love y'all!
Why am I rambling like this? Ack! Stop me now! You want a story, not a sugar rush!
Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha in my dreams. Mmm, dreams.
Chapter Three
Grass Stains
Sango was the first to hear weeping. She followed the sound to the base of Inuyasha's tree, and was stunned to see Kagome kneeling on the ground, her petite form quaking with sobs. She ran to the girl's side, suddenly very worried. "Kagome! Kagome, what's wrong?"
Kagome simply couldn't regain her composure. She just kept crying, her body shaking under the gentle touch of Sango's hand.
"Kagome! Please, talk to me! What's happened? Are you hurt?"
Kagome lifted her head and looked miserably at Sango with tears pouring down her face. "I-I-I-I-I-Inuya-y-y-y--"
She seemed to be in no condition to speak. "Inuyasha?" Sango extrapolated.
Kagome nodded and broke down again, crying into her hands.
Of course, Sango thought. The only time Kagome ever acts this way is if Inuyasha's done something really awful. The poor girl. She looked at her again, then took her elbow gently. "Come on, Kagome. You can't just sit out here alone. Let's get you to Kaede's." She lifted her to her feet, then picked up the huge pack from behind her and started off for the old miko's hut.
Miroku heard the story from Sango when he returned that evening. "Again? When will he stop doing this to her?"
"I don't know," Sango said. She looked over at Kagome, who was sleeping fitfully on a futon near the fire. "But by the looks of it, this is way worse than anything he's done before."
"Yeah," Miroku agreed. "Normally she just gets really angry at him and threatens to go home."
"She's never cried like this before." Sango looked into the monk's eyes. "I'm worried about her."
Miroku stared back. Then, before either of them realized it, he took her into a firm embrace, and held her there as she set her head on his shoulder. "And just when they seemed so happy," she whispered.
He stroked her long hair. "Yeah." Then an idea hit him. "I should go find him."
Sango sat up. "You what? Are you sure that's a good idea?"
"It is my belief that repression only makes things worse," he said matter-of-factly. "I am living proof of that."
"Hentai, you." She chuckled a little, then wearily sighed and glanced at Kagome. "You had better go, then. Maybe he'll tell you what's going on." She looked at him for a moment, then turned and stared into the fire.
Miroku paused as he watched her, the firelight reflecting from deep within her eyes. He leaned over and let his lips gently brush her smooth cheek, then stood swiftly and was gone.
He didn't have to go far to find Inuyasha. The boy was sitting on the gravel at the shore of the pool where Kagome and Sango would always bathe, and the last quarter moon reflected off the still water.
"Inuyasha?" he ventured.
"Go away, monk," the hanyou spat back, but the words lacked their usual venom.
He came up behind the silver-haired boy. "Inuyasha, tell me what's going on."
"I said, leave me-" He spun on Miroku, claws at the ready, but the monk caught his wrist and held it at a distance from his face. "-alone." Inuyasha's voice broke, and his golden eyes sparkled with a sudden swell of tears.
Miroku stared at him, unmoving. "What happened between you and Kagome?"
"That's none of your business, you lecher," he choked, freeing his hand from Miroku's grip. He crouched by the water again, and tossed a pebble into the middle of the pool.
Miroku moved forwards and stood by his side. "We're worried about her," he said, watching Inuyasha's face in the water. "She won't eat. She won't talk, except to say your name. She hasn't stopped crying since Sango found her this morning."
Inuyasha buried his face in his hands. "I am in such deep shit."
Miroku sat beside him and dipped his toes in the water. "What did you do?"
He took a ragged breath through his hands. "I got her pregnant."
Several things went through Miroku's mind as the same time. "Shit," he finally said.
"I don't know what to do. I can't handle this. I'm too young."
"Well, first off, are you sure she's . . . you know?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," he said miserably. "She has these test things from her time that told her so." He stifled a sob, then turned and grabbed the monk's arm. "Gods, Miroku, what am I gonna do?!?"
Miroku looked into the boy's eyes. "Take it like a man."
"Like a man!" He flopped backwards onto the gravel. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Support her. Don't make her deal with this alone. Eat a rock, if you will." He made eye contact with the hanyou, who sat up suddenly.
"Excuse me," he mumbled, and rushed to a patch of long grass where he proceeded to vomit onto the ground.
"Kami-sama!" Miroku jumped up and ran over to him. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Inuyasha nodded feebly as he continued to retch for the next few minutes. When he finally calmed down, he sat back on his haunches. "When she told me," he said, pulling a sticky hair from his mouth, "I just couldn't handle it. I - I walked away from her. Just left her there." He looked down at what used to be the contents of his stomach, and his face turned slightly green. "I felt so sick after I did that. I've been eating grass to try to lose the feeling."
One of the benefits of being a dog, Miroku thought, making a face. "Has it helped any?"
"A little."
Miroku glanced at the puddle of bile and bits of green, then looked quickly away. "Well . . . if you're through being sick, why don't you come back and talk to Kagome?"
Inuyasha wiped some spittle from his chin and picked at a speck of grass that had dried to his shirt. He sighed. "Just let me wash up a little first so I don't smell like puke."
Miroku sighed and followed him to the water.
Dum-dum-dum! Sorry if this chapter's a little short, but I don't know how the next chapter is gonna go and I wanted your ideas and opinions on the matter! How will Kagome react to seeing Inuyasha again? Will she accept him after what he did to her? Will he accept her after what he did to her? And what will become of the baby? All will be revealed - eventually. And it depends on you guys, too! Write them reviews! Write, write, write! Kick 'em in the shins! (Sorry, AP Chem relapse. I'll try to avoid those.) Thanks for reading!