Chapter 19: The Town and Same Old Sad Story, With a Different Ending

After Kagome had gotten ready, the two girls peek out of the room to see if it was safe. For a moment the strange quiet scares Kagome before she sees Sesshomaru sitting, arms crossed, across the table from a very disturbed looking Inuyasha. Kagome makes her way over to him, trying to will him into looking at her. When that doesn't work she lets out a quiet "Inuyasha?"

At his name, the half-demon looks up at the girl, indecision and turmoil shining clearly in his eyes. This only causes further worry for Kagome, who takes the silence to ask, "Inuyasha, what's wrong?" in a slightly more nervous tone.

Inuyasha sighs, bowing his head, breaking eye contact before saying quietly, "We've been tricked."

Kagome's brow furrows, "What? Tricked? What do you mean Inuyasha?"

He runs a hand through his hair; "Sesshomaru didn't attack the village. He was headed for my castle to see if I was still alive, but he didn't attack the village. Someone that looked like him did. Or at least someone that looked like him to my informant."

At this Sesshomaru nods, "Correct. This Sesshomaru is much too important to busy himself with the likes of such a pathetic village. But you should not worry yourselves with this matter. This Sesshomaru will deal with it."

Inuyasha growls, "Then what the hell did you tell me for idiot?!"

Sesshomaru regards him as coldly as always, "This Sesshomaru merely thought his half-breed excuse of a ruler would appreciate the knowledge that there is a shape-shifter in your country. That is all. Now, you shall go and assist Kagome and Rin correct?"

Rin's face lights up, "That's a perfect idea Sesshomaru-sama! Little old us couldn't possibly carry everything that we'll inevitably buy, having big, strong Inu-kun (AN I figured this was safer then trying for the puppy thing again lol. –kun is something that you call a close male friend.) along will solve that problem perfectly!" she says, ignoring the grumbling fit said half-demon was giving.

Kagome can't help but giggle a bit at the immature way he was acting before sidling up to him and squatting down so that she was eye-level with his sulking form. "Ah, come on Inuyasha, it'll be fun!" She then leans in close to his ear and whispers, "Later, we might even be able to dump Rin and just have fun around town, just the two of us, like we first planned."

At this his ears perk slightly and he heaves a sigh that seems a little forced. "Fine, I'll go. But don't think you're buying a lot of crap, I won't be your personal pack mule."

Kagome flashes him a smile before she goes off in search of a suitable hat. As she does, she comes across her younger brother, who looked quite frightened, "Hey there you, I'd wondered where you had gotten off to."

Souta gulps, "I ran and hid when those two out there started going at it. I think I'm half-deaf thanks to their shouting and what not. I never knew Inuyasha could be so scary!"

Kagome rolls her eyes, "What are you talking about? You've only known him for a day. How could you know how scary he could be? Now come on and help me look for a hat, Rin, Inuyasha and I are going into town and we want him to stick out as little as possible for his sake."

Souta frowns, "Why? I think that he looks cool just the way he is!"

Kagome sighs, "Because Souta, not everyone is as smart as you, especially some of the adults. They'll make Inuyasha feel bad if they find out how different he is, understand?"

The boy thinks for a moment before sighing, still frowning, "I guess, still think it's stupid. Hold on, I know where a nice big hat is so that his ears won't be to squished."

He then takes off and comes back moments later with a large straw hat. Kagome has to stop herself from squealing, "That's PERFECT Souta!" She then grabs it and goes back to the others, plopping the hat on the hanyou's head. "There you go Inuyasha! You're very own hat."

Inuyasha sighs, "Yeah, yeah, let's get this over with." Before heading out the door. Kagome and Rin look to each other before shrugging and taking off after him, leaving the stoic figure of Sesshomaru looking on, in the back of his mind glad that it wasn't him that was being dragged along.

As the hours pass, Kagome shows the two royal figures around town, showing them some key places where she would always go, the book shop, the town fountain, the marketplace and such. As the day wears on, especially after Kagome shows Rin the town marketplace, Inuyasha's arms become slowly more and more occupied with packages and bags and various other things. It's around this time that Kagome finally takes pity on the poor hanyou and says, "Hey, we should head back, at least for a bit, I think Inuyasha's arms are going to fall off." This elicits a laugh from Rin and a long string of grumbling from Inuyasha.

Nevertheless they return home and drop off the packages, Kagome going upstairs to show him where to put them. After they're in her room she shuts the door, startling Inuyasha, who had been in the process of putting the stuff on the floor. "Thank goodness. I never thought we'd get through that. Rin's a wonderful lady, but her energy is exhausting." She laughs before smiling at Inuyasha. She then goes over to the window and opens it before looking back to Inuyasha. "So," she says conversationally, "do you think that you could get us out of here without anyone noticing?"

Inuyasha's eyes widen before smirking, "Is that a challenge? Of course I could!"

Kagome giggles, "Good, then let's go. I want to show you around town, that last round was more for Rin then you."

With that Inuyasha has a hold of her hand and is bounding out the window, his feet seeming to not even touch anything but air for several houses. He then lands on the ground, Kagome in his arms bridal style, though quickly let down. She merely smiles at him before grabbing his hand and dragging him towards town.

They're going through town, Kagome pointing out considerably more points of interest this time around, holding each other's hands shyly, when suddenly a blur rushes by them, taking Inuyasha's hat with it. Kagome barely recognizes the tell-tale black pony-tail when the blur yells as it passes through the marketplace, "Hey! Look out! There's a monster in the marketplace!"

At once chaos ensues, mother's pulling their children to their sides, merchants closing up shops, and every eye riveted to the now very conspicuous Inuyasha. Silence falls over everything as the pair stands still, partly in shock, partly to keep from losing their balance as everything rushes away from them. Kagome looks around in awe, passing over faces that she'd known since infancy, now staring back at her in fear.

At once she feels a fury start building inside of her. For Koga and for the village she'd called home for so long. How dare they! Inuyasha hadn't been hurting anyone, and yet they acted like he'd just struck down a child. At this point, she feels his hand slipping from hers; she can almost feel the shame and sadness that radiate off of him. She sets her jaw and grabs his hand again, more firmly this time, and looks back when he looks at her in shock, her eyes clearly stating that she was not like them.

She then walks quickly and with purpose to the center of town. She reaches the town fountain and steps up onto the ledge that was supposed to serve as a seat, nearly dragging Inuyasha with her.

She gives him one last determined look before rounding on the village that was looking on in terror, a righteous anger in her eyes as she screams "How dare you! All of you! You should be ashamed of yourselves! One breath that danger might be near and you accept it as fact and bolt! This gentle soul never did anything to you, and yet one declaration that he's different and you go berserk! Every single one of you know me! Do you honestly think that if he was a monster, I would be walking with him, holding his hand?! And here I was, thinking that you would trust me! I guess I was wrong. I'm embarrassed to say that I come from the same village as you! I'm going back home, with Inuyasha. If any of you have a problem with that, please, feel free to tell me now." A few moments silence pass before she speaks again, "None? Good. Then you won't disturb us for the rest of our stay. We'll be gone soon enough, and out of your hair. Good night."

With that she steps off and walks quickly, still holding tightly onto his hand. The path clears itself and besides the sound of footfalls, all is silent, Kagome looking from side to side briefly every now and then, daring those who she comes in eye contact with to say something. Once they reach home she opens the door and goes in, closing as soon as Inuyasha steps in far enough. He then rounds to look at her, "Kagome..." he is interrupted though, by a huge sigh coming from her and her sliding down the door.

Instantly he's by her side, looking at her worriedly, "Kagome?"

She keeps her eyes closed for a few moments, taking deep breaths before smiling weakly at him, "I'm alright Inuyasha, just a bit rattled." She thinks for a moment before adding, "and still really ticked off. I swear if I ever catch that scumbag, I'll skin him alive for what he did back there." At this point her hands ball into fists, her teeth grinding together, before she feels his hand on hers, gently unballing it.

He looks solely at the hand, even when she looks at him, before saying quietly, "Don't. Skinning and making things pay is my job. Don't be angry, please. It..." he seems to need to think of an excuse for a moment before saying, "it makes you look old and wrinkly."

Kagome laughs lightly before looking at their hands, replying just as softly, "But I can't help it Inuyasha, they had no right. They had no right to act like they did. I couldn't just stand by and let them act that way, it would just be wrong."

Inuyasha's head bows slightly, making his bangs cover his eyes, a small "Thank you." issuing from his lips.

Kagome blinks, "What?"

Silence ensues for a few minutes before Inuyasha smirks, "Nothing wench. Just saying how stupid you were. What if someone would've had a bow and arrow or something and decided to put us both out of our misery? You could've gotten yourself killed!"

Kagome's eyes flash anger before she sighs, shoulders sagging a bit. A few moments quiet before she smiles, "I knew I wasn't in any real danger. You wouldn't have let me if there was any."

Inuyasha blinks, obviously taken aback, 'She trusts me that much?' he thinks. He shakes his head, then standing up and crossing his arms, turning away so that she can't see the light blush on his cheeks, "Feh."

As a strange air that's a mixture of complete ease and uncomfortability settles over the pair, a figure sneers, having seen the entire event that had happened in the center of town. "Alright Kagome, you win Round One, but you will be mine. I won't rest until that fleabag of yours is buried dead and you're mine, for good."

A.N. Alright! I finally got the chapter up! I tried last night and the stupid thing wouldn't load. Well, this chapter is finished finally! Sorry it took longer then usual; I've been sick and felt like crap. Much like Inuyasha had to feel during much of this chapter. Aren't those two soo cute? The thought of Inuyasha blushing just tickles my funny bone like nothing else lol. Alright, now onto Reviewer Replies!

Copperline Kitty- Lol, don't worry about it, I'm glad that anyone reviews at all! I'm not going to hold it against you if you forget once or twice lol. Oh, and don't hit yourself too hard, or you won't be able to review at all! Lol.

StaryKegome- Well, hear it is, the results of a day in town, a blushing Inuyasha with probably a thrown out back thanks to all the stuff he was forced to carry, a still slightly peeved Kagome that has a death threat on Koga's life, and a confused Rin, wondering where everybody went lol. Who knows what the next one will bring? I promise to try and update as quickly as possible.

RoseMaiden- Well, now you know. Honestly, I couldn't see as our Inu-kun as anything but a half-demon, I think it lends to his unique charm. Thanks for the encouraging note on the PSAT's as well, they're tomorrow, so after that I won't have to worry about them anymore (thank goodness).

ChibiSess- Well, there you are. Read it to your heart's content. As for the 'this Sesshomaru' bit, I'm pretty sure that's how he addresses himself in the manga. Why? I have no idea. Maybe he has a phobia of self or something.

RebelWriter- Lol, yep, I have those days when I don't have anything to say really too. I liked that you liked the chappie, and I'll try to update as quickly as possible. ...That's all I have to say lol. I don't have anything else.

Kailean- Lol, sorry it took so long to update, but like I said, I've been sick as anything, so I got it up as quickly as possible. I shall try to continue updating as promptly as possible.

That's all for now! R&R please!