Now onto the next chapter. Hope you love it. Don't be embarrassed to tell me if you do! Sorry about the wait for the update! School has started for me and I've just been so into it that I have not been able to accomplish anything on the computer!

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the characters associated with the series.

Chapter 18: Memories so close to Home

Kagome frowned as she watched the kids leave home from school in cars, while she would have to walk in the pouring rain.

It had been two weeks since the 'jail incident' and school had began a couple days ago. It was a Friday, which was a relief. Inuyasha hadn't come to school. He hadn't been feeling so well, which was unusual for him to admit, but he had.

Kagome scrolled through her backpack in search of an umbrella, but she had found none. 'I must have forgotten it.' Kagome thought with a sigh. Her frown deepened. It was the first morning in a week and a half where Kagome and Inuyasha hadn't fought and Inuyasha was sick. She hated irony.

Kagome looked ahead and saw the road had flooded about an inch. She leaned down and removed her socks and shoes. She didn't want to have soggy shoes tomorrow. She placed the items into her back pack and prepared to make a run for it.

Kagome began running as quickly as she could. She didn't mind considering how athletically fit she was, after fighting so many demons. Running didn't bother her half as much as feeling uncomfortable soaked did.

Meanwhile

Mrs. Higurashi boiled some water to make some hot chocolate. Inuyasha was asleep on the couch, which was a good thing because it was pouring. If Inuyasha knew it was raining like it was he would probably and most likely go out and get Kagome, although that would only make him more sick.

Kagome could handle the rain. She had an unbrella, right? Mrs. Higurashi was not so worried about her daughter. After all it wasn't the first time Kagome had walked home in the rain and it most likely wouldn't be the last.

Mrs. Higurashi heard something move and looked over at the hanyou on the couch.

"Where's Kagome?" Inuyasha mumbled as he sat up and yawned.

"She's on her way home from school." Inuyasha looked at the window and his eyes widened. The rain fell like bullets.

"In that?" Inuyasha yelled after a sneeze.

"Yes.. in that. She'll be fine. Lie back down. I've got hot chocolate ready for when she comes in and I've made some for you as well. It'll make you feel better.

"She'll get sick!" Inuyasha said quickly getting up and running the the door. He was thrown back as the door slammed into his face. Kagome ran in breathing heavily.

"What a work out." She said holding her knees.

"Kagome where's your umbrella?" Asked her mother.

"I must have forgotten it here." Kagome said shutting the door. She looked down at Inuyasha. "Are you alright?" She asked Inuyasha. He moaned and stood up rubbing his head.

"What were you doing out in the rain!"

"I.." Kagome gave him an incredulous look. "Was walking home from school." She said like it should have been VERY obvious.

"You idiot! Didn't you have enough sense to call so someone could come and get you!"

"I had already left the school when I realized I didn't have an unbrella. They don't let you in after you get out." Inuyasha growled in irritation.

"I've made hot chocolate." Mrs. Higurashi interupted to prevent farther fighting. Kagome smiled at her considerate mother. "You should dry up and put something warm on. We can all go and rent a movie after that."

"Sounds good mom." Kagome went straight up the steps. Inuyasha plopped back down on the couch and waited for Kagome to get ready.

Shin had been cleaning out the guest room for the past week. It was filled with all boxes and stuff, which he was moving the the shed. Now he was putting the finishing touches on the room. The bed was there, the dresser, the television, the computer... you know the basics.

Inuyasha had talked to Mrs. Higurashi about him sleeping with Kagome. At first he had been angry because male dog demons have a right to sleep with and protect their mates, then Mrs. Higurashi had explained that in this time they could not risk the effects of 'sleeping together'. Inuyasha had finally agreed. He was - after all - a guest. He had to respect his mother-in-laws wishes.

Kizoku handed Inuyasha his hot chocolate and he gratefully took it.

"So." Kizoku sat down on the other couch. "What movie would you like to see?"

"It doesn't matter. It's not like I know a lot of movies that are out anyway."

"I personally would like to see the punisher. My sister recommended it." (You have to see that movie!)

"The Punisher?"

"She said it was a fantastic, action packed movie. Although, considering the mans whole family dies... it's also a little sad. Still... does it sound enough to you?"

"Yeah, sure. Whatever." Inuyasha took a sip of his hot chocolate after blowing on it to cool it down a little. "Hey.. is there any marshmellows."

"Of course." Mrs. Higurashi giggled. She got up and placed her own hot cocoa on the coffee table as she headed into the kitchen to get the mini-marshmellow bag. She took a few and handed the rest of the bag the Inuyasha.

Kagome walked down the stairs a few moments later, dressed comfotable.

"You ready to go?" She asked.

"Dear are you going to drink your hot chocolate?" Mrs. Higurashi asked.

"I'll drink it when we get back." Kagome went over and put the hot cocoa cup into the microwave to keep it heated.

"Alright than."

"So what are we getting?" Kagome asked.

"The Punisher." Kagome nodded to her mother as they walked towards the door. Kagome looked back to see her husband still sitting on the couch.

"Aren't you coming?" She asked.

"Feh." Inuyasha put his hot cocoa down and crossed his arms. "Why bother. You know what you're getting."

"Okay than." Kagome and her mother waved as they let for the video store.

Inuyasha leaned farther back into the house. He never felt so miserable. He was sick, yes, but that wasn't all. He missed his real home. He missed the feudal era. He had no doubt that the horrid air in this time is what had made him sick. He had a sensitive nose after all. So many smell would make any person or demon sick.

He missed the fresh, lustful grass, the wonderous smell, the clear streams, the trees all around to jump to, he even missed the battles. He missed his freedom...

With that last thought he fell into another slumber.

Later

Kagome and Mrs. Higurashi walked in the door. Kagome looked first to Inuyasha who was asleep on the couch. She was surprised that he had been sleeping so much. He usually was awake more than all of them.

Kagome could only think of two reasons he would sleep so much. One - He's sick and Two - He's depressed. Though, she had no idea what he could be depressed about.

"Should we wake him?" asked Mrs. Higurashi. Kagome looked at Inuyasha for a second more before replying.

"No. We should let him rest. He's sick." Kagome was very worried about him. He never, ever acted this way. "Can we wait until later tonight to watch the movie?" Kagome asked. Her mother nodded.

"Of course." Kizoku walked off worried for bother her daughter and son-in-law.

Kagome looked closely at Inuyasha. 'What could make him so depressed?' Kagome thought in frustration. She watched closely as Inuyasha shuffled a little and mumbled something.

"My time?" Kagome could have sworm she heard him say. "My time! Of course. He means the feudal era..." Kagome looked down. She missed the feudal era too. Everything about it. She missed her friends there as well. They were probably depressed, just as Inuyasha was about this whole mess. 'Boy are they going to be shocked when they here the news about me and Inuyasha.' Kagome couldn't help the smile that crossed her face. There was nothing wrong with looking at the bright side of things, was there?

Kagome felt a wet spot on her cheek. 'Oh come on Kagome. You're not going to cry again are you!' Kagome asked herself in a hopeless matter. 'Of course you are!' Kagome ran from the room before she awoke Inuyasha with the smell of fresh tears.

Kagome found no where else to run, but the well. Kagome ran into the well house and shut the door. She sighed and fell to her knees. It was safe to cry now.

Kagome let some tears fall as the memories of her friends went through her mind. 'I miss them all so much.. and poor Inuyasha.' Only now she took the time to really think about how much Inuyasha must have been suffering in a basically unknown time period.

"I'm sorry. Gods please forgive me." Kagome pleaded. She should have been less selfish and thought over how not bothering to look for a way to get back could have been affecting Inuyasha and the others. She was so cought up in her own time and friends and school that she ignored her other friends and her mate.

Kagome got up and ran down the steps and leaned over the well. She looked into the hidden portal.

"I want to go back! How? Please give me some kind of clue on how to get back. I want Inuyasha to feel free again!" There. Kagome felt it. The power of the sacred jewel. It was faint, but it was there. Kagome's eyes widened. Was there possibly a shard left in the modern area or something?

A moment later Kagome could no longer sense the jewel.

Monday

Kagome sat in the class. It was first period and Kagome felt horrible. She had thought about being sick from Friday, but realized this was a totally different kind of sickness.

This was morning sickness.

HA! Cliff hanger. There. I hope you loved it with all your heart.