Broken Glass
Chapter eleven

The cool night air ruffled the leaves and needles of the trees that towered above; the fresh gust that swayed the tall foliage whipped the silver hair of a figure standing alone in the park. The sun's gentle rays sunk closer and closer to the fading mountain range in the distance. The sky was alit with dark blues, gorgeous lavenders and pinks, kisses of orange and red touched the sky.

Slowly the lone boy became aware that he was no longer alone. Like shadows in the night, several boys his own age inched towards him like lions surrounding the petrified animal they were to feast on. If the silver-haired boy in the center of the ring they formed was fearful of the inevitable punishment he was about to receive, he hid it well. His features were schooled to absolute indifference, the only movement from him the steady rise and fall of his chest and the ruffling of clothing and hair as a frigid nighttime wind slapped against him.

The tallest of the circle of boys approached the golden eyed boy and said orbs turned towards the ring leader. He kept his expression taut and emotionless as he turned to face Naraku.

"Inuyasha Cohen," Naraku stated coldly, his voice slick and trained to a monotonous tenor, "You have broken the code of loyalty."

The silver-haired boy, Inuyasha, nodded his head gravely. "I have," he agreed, his voice as cold as the wind that blew through the trees as the sky darkened.

"You are aware of the punishment you're liable to undergo?" Naraku questioned darkly and Inuyasha curtly nodded his head. "Once the punishment is issued you can never again return to us."

"I have no desire to," Inuyasha said softly, he'd been repeating the statement very frequently and he prayed that this was the last time he'd ever have to say it. He no longer wanted to live with his sins— but knew that he'd have to.

Naraku nodded his head to the boys surrounding Inuyasha. "Then as your punishment, Inuyasha Cohen, I, Naraku, in addition to Hiten, Manten, Musou, Kagemaru, Juuroumaru Hakudoushi, and Entei shall perform the departing ritual."

To anyone listening in, it sounded like an orderly ceremony that gave Inuyasha the right to leave their gang. Inuyasha frowned as the circle closed around him.

"In degree to the code you have no right to defend yourself," Naraku said coolly and threw the first punch.

Inuyasha stumbled in his step and felt his cheek already starting to swell and turn pink. Fingers gingerly came up and touched the pounding flesh, but he made no move to recuperate the movement of physical pain.

Naraku cracked his knuckles, each knuckle cracking louder than the last as a cruel, sinister smile spread over his lips. "Boys, you know what to do to the betrayers."

It seemed as if a switch had been flipped because as soon as Naraku's words left his lips, the before mentioned boy surrounding Inuyasha came charging at him. Inuyasha made no move to defend himself and didn't protest when Entei, a tall, pale boy with blazing reddish orange hair grasped his arms and held them above him defenselessly.

Inuyasha stared ahead bravely and his golden eyes locked on Naraku. The boy stood calmly and watched as punch after punch was thrown at Inuyasha's stomach.

Kagemaru and Juuroumaru moved as one as they pounded their fists into Inuyasha's gut, cutting of his air supply and pounding his flesh hard enough to ensure a series of bruises.

"This will make you think twice before you betray us again," Hiten growled out, his face bandaged and a nose brace on his face, protecting his nose as he swung a kick and hit his foot against the side of Inuyasha's face. His head whipped to the side and he glared at the fast approaching Manten, who came in the opposite direction Hiten had.

Inuyasha smirked and a small laugh escaped his lips before a large fist connected with his jaw. "What's so funny?" Manten demanded angrily, his large face contracted and turning a shade of purple— almost unnoticed in the dying sunlight.

Inuyasha's eyes darted to the fading colors in the sky. "If you'd please hurry it up? I need to make dinner for my grandmother." A kick to his stomach shut him up for a few seconds but he refused to let the smile fade.

"Ignore his comments," Naraku said dryly. "He's trying to anger you. Inuyasha is a liar. He hides behind his smile." He smirked coolly and walked towards Inuyasha and the gang members parted ways and allowed their leader to approach the outcast. Naraku came forward and grasped the collar of Inuyasha's shirt after ordering Entei to release him. "Inuyasha," he addressed the boy coldly and Inuyasha met his gaze evenly, golden eyes smoldering in the moonlight.

"What, Naraku?" Inuyasha said quietly, his tone of voice returning to an emotionless drone.

Naraku raised a dark eyebrow and clucked his tongue in disapproval. A swift kick to Inuyasha's crotch shot a jolt of pain through the boy and he fell to his knees, gasping for air and losing all dignity he'd managed to hold onto at that point. The boys around the groaning boy chuckled darkly to themselves, swift kicks hitting his sides and back.

Naraku released the boy's shirt collar and the boy fell to his stomach, allowing shoes and feet of all different shapes and sizes to come slamming down onto him. He stifled yelps of pain that bubbled into his throat and struggled to get a grip on his sanity.

He clenched his eyes shut and allowed the inevitable beating to ensue. It would be over soon and he'd be able to go home, clean up, take his antidepressant pills and soothe Kaede's worries over him. He scrunched his fists tightly against the ground, unsettling blades of grass and dirt, burying themselves under his fingernails. 'Let the pain stop…' his mind screamed in agony.

He felt weak all over; he felt helpless and needy. He needed someone to rescue him but he knew no one would. It was his job to end this chapter of his life and if it meant suffering through this pain just so that his old friends could shun him, then he'd go through with it. He needed to unclip the wings that were twisted painfully behind him so he could fly away and be free.

The pain that surrounded his body like a thin layer seemed to numb away as a pair of angelic blue eyes drifted into his mind's eye. With him facedown in the dirt, his body undergoing massive amounts of abuse, Naraku's heel grounding into his tailbone while laughing sinisterly, he was able to envision the one person that had give him hope in the last week. The one person that seemed to care about him— albeit a little bit, but she still did.

'Kagome.' A gentle —almost surreal and unearthly— sigh escaped his parched, bleeding lips and his eyes drifted shut as he clutched the earth like it was his only tie to this world. Hesitant blue eyes stared at him when his eyelids covered pained amber orbs. 'Kagome, I'm sorry I lied to you. I've only been lying to you. If you knew who I really was, would you even look at me like you cared?'

The thought struck deep within him, causing a pain that was far more agonizing than what his body was undergoing, and he shooed it away. He cared for the girl. He wanted to make her happy. Did she feel the same way? Would she if she ever learned the truth— when she learned the truth?

His body no longer responded to him and he failed to move from his position on the ground even when Naraku ordered him to stand. He felt the grip on his shirt collar tighten as he was pulled to his feet. He swayed uneasily and felt the searing pain begin all over again. He was vaguely aware that Naraku had pulled out a weapon but his mind was already fuzzy.

He felt immune to everything and the only thing that kept him awake was the beautiful hue of angelic eyes.

Someone above him cursed him and grasped his shirt collar again, hauling him to his feet. He stood there emotionlessly, amber eyes staring at his attacker. He recognized it was Hiten again. The boy obviously wanted revenge for their fight where Inuyasha had plainly won.

Hiten's lips moved by Inuyasha no longer heard what he screamed at him. Blood pumped through him and he felt numb all over. He allowed the balled fists to slam into his cheeks, his chest, and his stomach, anywhere. He no longer cared; it no longer mattered to him.

He saw Naraku's eyes staring darkly at him as he roughly shoved Hiten aside and pressed the heel of his foot into Inuyasha's gut, knocking the boy to the ground. Inuyasha stared up at him, wiping blood from his eyes when it dripped into them.

Naraku knelt before Inuyasha, the blade of a knife flashing in the moonlight as he glared down at Inuyasha.

"Throwing it all away," Naraku said darkly and a dry chuckle left his lips as he lightly flipped the blade of his pocket knife between both hands, the blade flashing in the moonlight and reflecting Naraku's dark, angry eyes.

"What's to throw away?" Inuyasha asked and laughed bitterly. He clenched his eyes shut and snorted through his nose. He felt the blade press against the skin of his stomach, but Naraku did nothing to cut it or to move it. "This life was already garbage to begin with."

Naraku didn't seem to like that answer because his blade moved across his stomach, cutting his shirt and causing a small, shallow cut to spring above his belly button and to start bleeding.

Inuyasha sucked in a large intake of air, his chest expanding as he filled his lungs. A hiss of pain left his throat as Naraku continued to move his knife and cause shallow cuts to appear across his chest as well as ruining his shirt beyond repair.

Naraku stood abruptly again and dug his heel into Inuyasha's stomach, achieving a cry of pain from the boy as he clenched his jaw. Naraku smirked wickedly and ground his heel. "You pathetic little mongrel," Naraku said fiercely, his lips drawn back in disgust. "You're a pathetic excuse for a man."

Inuyasha laughed bitterly. "It takes one to know one."

Despite the lame comeback only suitable for young children in elementary school, it seemed to have the desired affect on Naraku because he turned and glared at his henchmen and walked away from the helpless boy.

"Do as you wish to him."

The final kick sent Inuyasha flying and he lay almost lifelessly on the ground. He coughed pathetically and only seemed mildly surprised when he saw blood fall from his parted lips. He observed the blood on the ground curiously, as if he were unsure as to what it was he was looking at. He licked his lips with dry tongue and wasn't the least bit surprised when the coppery taste of blood filled his senses.

"Be thankful that we're leaving you alive, Inuyasha," Naraku said darkly as he stood above him. He pocketed his knife and turned towards the ones who followed him. Nodding his head curtly, the others turned on their heel and started walking away, not even glancing back to look at the abandoned, bleeding boy.

Inuyasha watched them go with blurry vision and coughed again. "Bastards," he accused lightly and shook his head. Closing his eyes, he took a deep calming breath.

'What am I going to do now? I can't go back home. And even if I could, Bubbie would kick my ass once she found out where I've been…' He bit his lip. He couldn't go to the hospital either, because they'd ask him what happened.

He feebly got to his feet, his ripped clothing hanging off him in ribbons. His head ducked, he managed to stable himself enough to get to a crouching position.

Alone in the park, Inuyasha crawled and moved slowly towards a tree where he'd have something to hang onto so he could stand again. Golden eyes clenched shut in pain as he worked his tired, abused muscles to stand up.

Resting his back against the bark of the tree, his breaths came out in uneven gasps. Something rolled down his back and he wasn't sure if it was blood or his sweat from the exertion he was putting his body through.

"Where can I go?" he whispered out as he began moving, grasping anything that could support his weight.

He lumped around for a while, trying to find the exit of the park. Once he did, he slinked around in the shadows, avoiding the headlights of oncoming cars. If anyone saw him they'd call the police for sure. He had to remain hidden. He couldn't move very fast and already his muscles were screaming for rest. He'd have to find somewhere that was close by.

He was only dimly aware that he was moving. After a while, his whole body seemed to numb over and he felt like he'd entered into a trance— where everything was a dream. He wanted release from the pain that welled within him, but couldn't find the strength to release it nor could he allow himself to rest.

He knew that if he went to sleep he'd never wake up. "I'm lucky I'm a fast healer," he muttered to himself as a hand came to his stomach and balled the saturated material, pressing it to the cuts on his stomach. He closed his eye and breathed in sharp gasps of air.

Golden eyes flickered as he dodged another oncoming car's headlights. Where could he go?

Kagome waved goodbye as Sango drove away into the night. She and her best friend had gone off to see a movie together and Kagome was pleased that she and Sango could have some good old quality girl time. They talked a lot before and after the movie ended and they both enjoyed it, so it was all good. "It's a shame Phantom of the Opera didn't get the recognition it deserved," Kagome muttered to herself as she unlocked her door and walked inside.

"Mama? Souta? Grandpa?" she called. "I'm home!"

She paused when no one replied to her call and glanced at the clock on the wall. It was late; it was safe to say her grandfather and younger brother were getting ready for bed. Mama was probably in her room reading. Even though the clock read only eight at night, Grandpa went to sleep earlier than the rest of the family and Souta was required to go to bed at eight thirty on school nights, something that he detested greatly.

Sighing, she slipped off her shoes and padded to the kitchen, where she started making some tea.

She sighed feebly as she tucked hair behind her ear and waited for the kettle to start whistling. That's when she heard a noise. It sounded like a thump of a large animal.

Kagome lifted her head and tilted it, sitting quietly and wondering if she'd heard things. But then the sound came again. Another thump. Frowning in confusion, Kagome moved slowly towards where the noise was coming from. She gulped down a lump in her throat when she realized it was someone knocking.

"That's a relief," she muttered. "Thought it was a dead animal."

She approached her door and let out a calming breath. Who would be coming to her door at this hour? Probably Sango…

Opening the door, Kagome wasn't prepared for her caretaker to lurch forward and fall to his knees before her. His hand shot out and he fruitlessly attempted to grasp the doorway as he fell. Kagome screeched in surprise.

"Inuyasha?" she questioned and her eyes widened when she took in the sight of him.

His clothes were ripped and bloody, his shirt sleeves hanging from his arms in ribbons and his jeans torn and filled with holes. He appeared to be barefoot, robbed of his shoes. Kagome's eyes widened. What was wrong? Why was he so hurt?

She fell to her knees and gently touched his forehead. "Inuyasha, what happened?" she asked.

Inuyasha shook his head and tried to speak but he coughed, a droplet of blood falling from his bloody lips and to the ground. If his clothes were bad they were nothing compared to his condition.

He lifted his head and Kagome silently cried out from his appearance. His right eye was swollen shut and a small river of blood starting above his eyebrow where a cut across his forehead was, bloody, split lips, both cheeks bruised. His shoulders were bleeding too and his arms and fingers were practically covered in red.

His stomach was by far the worst condition; it was bleeding and his sides were black and blue and purple. He choked again and Kagome whimpered silently from seeing his blood and pain. Her hands came out and she touched him, as if afraid that her feather-light touch with pain him.

"Inuyasha?" she questioned again, her voice coming out in a small snivel.

"I'm alive," he gasped out and his golden eye closed before he fell forward. Kagome caught him and dragged him into the house as best she could.

'What to do? What to do?' she questioned. Call an ambulance? Yeah, that's what she was supposed to do.

She reached for the phone but a bloody hand stopped her. She turned towards him with wide eyes as he rapidly shook his head. "No," he wheezed out. "No. Don't call them."

Kagome looked at him helplessly, his gaze unbreakable and smoldering with emotions. She sighed and allowed her hand to drop. What could she do? She swallowed the lump in her throat and hesitantly touched his forehead.

"Inuyasha what happened?" she asked again.

Inuyasha shook his head and struggled to sit up. Kagome bit her bottom lip and touched his shoulders, doing her best to steady him. "I can't tell you." He shook his head and looked at her pathetically. "Not now."

Kagome felt a pang of hurt shoot through her but nodded her head. "I have to get my mom," she said apologetically and slipped her hold from Inuyasha. The boy let her go, his smoldering gaze never leaving hers even when she stood and left him in the foyer.

"There, Kagome," Mrs. Higurashi frowned as she helped her daughter cut the last of the bandages. Inuyasha breathed slowly, struggling to keep his eyes open. Mrs. Higurashi wasn't particularly happy with the fact that Inuyasha did not want them to call the hospital. She didn't know Inuyasha's home phone number and thus could not call his grandmother. She felt torn between going against the boy's wishing and helping him professionally or adhering to his request and keeping the doctors away from him.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed and closed the first aid kit before placing the white box in Kagome's lap. "You watch after him and if his bandages start to bleed through you'll need to replace them, Kagome." Her daughter nodded and Mrs. Higurashi stood. "Remember, you have school tomorrow."

She turned towards Inuyasha and regarded the boy with a small, sad smile. "Inuyasha," she began apologetically. "It's too late for me to drive you home and Kagome's not allowed to drive out this late at night. Especially since she doesn't have her glasses. So you'll either have to call your grandmother or stay on the couch tonight. Whichever way, it's fine."

Inuyasha nodded. "Thank you," he said weakly, eyeing her with half closed orbs. Mrs. Higurashi sighed sadly and nodded her head.

Mrs. Higurashi made to leave the room. "Kagome, I'll be in my room if Inuyasha needs anymore help that you can't handle. And Inuyasha." She waited until the boy looked up at her. "I think it would be wise if you called your grandmother soon."

Kagome's mother left the room leaving Kagome to tend to Inuyasha.

They were silent as Kagome dampened a washcloth and wiped it across his brow and over the bandaged wounds, keeping him cool. Inuyasha regarded her reaction. The girl was extra meek tonight due to the fact that they'd had to throw away his shirt, the bloody piece of material ripped and stained beyond recognition.

She became aware that the boy's gaze was on her and her cheeks flamed a light pink. "Inuyasha," she whispered out and regarded his bandaged and bruised chest. Hesitant fingers brushed across the purple skin of his stomach. He tensed in slight pain and Kagome quickly pulled her hand away. "Who did this to you?"

Inuyasha was silent for a moment and cracked a smile. "Who do you think?" he asked sardonically.

Kagome's eyes saddened and she dipped the washcloth in the water again before dapping it along his chest. Inuyasha watched her work, his lips pursed in thought.

"You didn't fight back, did you?" she questioned.

"Why do you say that?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow. Each word he spoke was a struggle for his own throat. It hurt to speak. It hurt to breath. It hurt to do anything, yet he wanted to talk to Kagome. She spoke so rarely that he enjoyed talking with her.

Kagome was silent for a long moment. "Because I've seen you… fight." Her hands stilled again and she blinked back tears at the memories from yesterday hit her. How violent and destructive he was… "And I know this wouldn't have happened to you if you'd fought back."

She fell silent.

After a pregnant pause she found the courage to ask, "Why didn't you fight back?"

Inuyasha was silent for a long moment, golden eyes staring at the ceiling as shadows from the streetlights outside danced across the walls. The amber orbs finally turned towards Kagome and he stared her with only a slight cock of his head, which caused a jolt of pain in his neck.

The kettle in the kitchen started to whistle and Kagome feebly stood and retreated to it, turning off the stove. She heard shuffled steps as Inuyasha forced himself onto the stool of the counter. Kagome smiled sadly at him and grasped two mugs and two tea bags.

"I have some tea, Inuyasha," Kagome said with a quiver as she opened the packets and placed one in both. "It's supposed to calm you. I think it will help."

She turned her back on him and started pouring the two mugs, missing his nod of acknowledgement. It hurt to speak too much, so Inuyasha was refraining from any unnecessary speech.

Turning back to him she retreated from the kitchen. "Wait there," she called over her shoulder when Inuyasha made a move to follow her. She moved to the family room and set the mugs on the tableside next to their couch.

Moving back to the kitchen she held out her hands hesitantly to him and he took them graciously. "Inuyasha," she said quietly as she slung his arm over his shoulder and helped him move. Though slightly unnecessary, Inuyasha was thankful for the extra help. His head lolled against her shoulder and he sighed. "You need to rest."

He nodded weakly and Kagome deposited him on the couch. She made quick work of moving him into a comfortable position, added an extra pillow under his head and placed a fleece blanket over his stretched out body. Kagome looked at him sadly and helped him sit up comfortably before handing him the cup of tea.

"Let it brew for a bit, but I'm sure it will be fine in another minute." Kagome smiled as she retreated into the kitchen. When she returned she had a plate. "Just put the tea bag on this," she said meekly.

In the waves of her concern for Inuyasha, she'd felt her social limitations leave her in favor of the desire to help her friend. Now that the fear of his pain had ebbed away into only a small worry, Kagome felt her shyness returning to her and causing her to feel meek and sheepish around the gorgeous boy who now was lying on her couch. She blushed and ducked her head.

Inuyasha noticed her change in reaction and felt a sigh leave his lips. "Kagome," he murmured as he placed the tea bag on the plate she held out to him. Kagome refused to lift her head and he reached out a bandaged hand to touch the crown of her head. Kagome tensed for a brief moment before his touch became familiar and she relaxed. "Thank you," he said weakly.

Kagome's lips curved into a gentle smile and she nodded her head. "It's not a problem," she said tenderly as she touched his hand and examined it for any blood stains on the white bandages. Satisfied, she released his hand, removed her own tea bag and started drinking her tea.

His eyes were droopy. Inuyasha realized this the second time he nearly lurched forward from startling himself out of sleep. His head kept lolling and he felt as if his eyelids had weights attached to them.

When his cup was empty, Kagome took it from him and placed it on the coffee table behind her. Kagome sat nestled between the coffee table and the couch he was lying on, and watched his eyelids falling shut only to open again.

"You're tired," Kagome stated the obvious and watched as he nodded slowly. "I don't think you should fall asleep, Inuyasha. You need to call your Bubbie."

Kagome's blue eyes pleaded with him as she stood and retreated to the kitchen, grasping the cordless phone and coming back to him. He struggled to sit up, hissing curses of pain under his breath as he rested himself against the pillows behind him. He reached out a shaking hand for the phone and Kagome placed it in it.

He dialed his home phone number and placed it as best he could between his ear and his mouth comfortably. The said dog ears twitched downwards as he listened to the ringing of the phone. By the fourth ring, Bubbie picked up and Inuyasha started conversing with his legal guardian.

"Bubbie?" he questioned once the woman had answered the phone and said the traditional greeting of 'hello.' He paused as the woman spoke and his eyes saddened. Kagome watched him silently, deciding that Bubbie had been worried about Inuyasha's disappearance. "I went over to Kagome's." It wasn't necessarily a lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either.

There was another pause as Bubbie spoke frantically to him. "Bubbie…" Inuyasha trailed off with a small sigh as he fiddled with a strand of his hair that kept falling in front of his left eye. Golden irises glanced at Kagome before he returned his attention to the lock of silver hair in his grip.

"Bubbie…" he said again but the woman continued to talk. "I'm fine," he reassured. "Kagome and I just lost track of time. I stayed for dinner. Yeah. I'm glad there were some leftovers for you."

Another pause. "I know, Bubbie, I'm sorry. I know I should have called." Inuyasha licked his dry lips, still tasting the distant flavor of his own blood. He sighed as Bubbie continued to nag on her end of the phone line.

"Hang on," he told the phone and pulled it away. He covered it with his palm and his dog ears perked towards her. Kagome blinked in confusion as he looked at her. "There's no way possible that your mom could give me a ride?"

Kagome sadly shook her head. "Mom hates to drive at night… I could go ask her…"

Inuyasha shook his head. "No, I wouldn't want to bring your mom out of her comfort zone," he sighed and thought. "Let's see, Souta's too young to drive, you can't drive me because you don't have your glasses, I can't drive because I only have a permit and need an adult, your mom can't drive because she hates to drive at night and…"

"Grandpa's too senile to drive," she joked and cracked a faint smile. "Actually, he's on restriction from driving. He had his license suspended when he started to speed."

Inuyasha nodded his head. "Bubbie can't get me," he said apologetically and lifted the phone back to his mouth. "Bubbie," he said slowly. "I'll be home soon. I'm going to walk."

Kagome's eyes widened and, before she realized what she was doing, she had her phone in her hand and was talking to Bubbie.

"Um…" Now that she had the phone she had no clue what to say. She glanced at Inuyasha. She couldn't tell the truth. Inuyasha had made it clear that he did not want Bubbie to know about what had happened to him. "Inuyasha won't be able to walk there."

"And why not?" his grandmother demanded.

"Um… He's really tired. He's practically falling asleep standing up."

There was a silence on the other end while Inuyasha's grandmother pondered the girl's words. "And what do you suggest we do then, girl?"

Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat. Fiddling with a piece of her hair, much like Inuyasha had done only minutes ago, Kagome struggled to speak. Finally, feeling a blush spreading past her cheeks and igniting her face a bright red, Kagome found her self stuttering out, "He… could spend the night."

She could tell Bubbie was surprised by the breath of air she quickly sucked in. She dared to glance at Inuyasha and found that his golden eyes were wide. She felt her ears turn pink.

"Young lady, if you think of a minute that I'll—"

Kagome quickly cut the woman off, surprising herself, "He could stay in my brother's room. Or my grandfather's room. He's so tired that he's basically falling asleep now."

Inuyasha continued to look at her with a mixture of shock and admiration printed clearly on his face. Kagome flushed and swallowed another lump, trying to keep herself from shaking. She hadn't spoken back against an elder in forever. Her grandfather didn't count.

She could tell that Bubbie was thinking it over. "Let me speak to your mother," she finally said and Kagome gulped.

"Yes ma'am," she said quickly and stood. Covering the mouth piece with a pale, quaking hand she looked down at Inuyasha. She smiled and lowered her gaze to her feet. "I'll be right back."

"Kagome…" he whispered but the girl didn't stop to consider what the boy wanted to say. With a turn on her heel, the girl darted away from the family room. Standing before her mother's doorway she knocked quietly on the door. She heard her mother call a faint 'come in' before opening the door.

"Kagome, dear, what is it?" Mrs. Higurashi questioned as she looked up from the book she'd been reading in her arm chair in the corner. Kagome trotted over to her and quickly explained the situation at hand. Silently holding out her hand for the phone, Kagome's mother accepted it.

"Good evening," Mrs. Higurashi addressed the caller, Bubbie, on the other line. Kagome stood patiently before her mother waved a hand towards her bed, beckoning Kagome to it.

The girl did as she was told as the two woman discussed with each other. Kagome could only hear her mother's end of the conversation, but she was pretty confident that Inuyasha wouldn't have to walk alone, injured tonight.

As Mrs. Higurashi clicked off the phone she gave her daughter a critical look. "Kagome," she said firmly which caused Kagome to cower under her mother's gaze. The woman calmly stood and set her book down where she'd been sitting. She folded her arms across her chest and gave her daughter a deep look.

Warm brown eyes closed and the woman sighed. "Kagome," she repeated again. "I'm glad that you and Inuyasha are friends, and I'm glad that you care about him…. But I want you to know, that under any other circumstances other than what's happened tonight, I would have Inuyasha walk home."

Kagome nodded her head silently.

"I don't approve of a boy sleeping over at a girl's house at your age. When you were younger, maybe, but not now. I consider it indecent and Inuyasha will be spending the night in either Souta's or Grandpa's room, understand?"

Kagome nodded again. "Yes, Mom," she said weakly.

Mrs. Higurashi smiled reassuringly. "I know you care about Inuyasha. And he's injured. That is the only reason I'm allowing him to stay, understand? The same goes with Mrs. Cohen. I trust this will never happen again."

"Yes, Mom," Kagome said again with a nod.

"Now, then." Mrs. Higurashi smiled comfortingly to her daughter. She waved her hand in a shooing manner. "Go attend to your guest, Kagome. You do have school tomorrow."

"Thank you Mom," Kagome smiled brightly and retreated from the room, shutting the door behind her.

She retreated to the family room and smiled shyly at Inuyasha. He'd shifted in her absence and had his feet propped up on the coffee table as he leaned against the back of the couch. He glanced up at her, his eyelids droopy, but a small smile on his lips.

"What's the good word?" he questioned when she sat down beside him.

"You can stay," Kagome said, feeling her heart race at sitting so close to him. She fidgeted and took in a deep breath of air. "You're going to sleep with Souta or Grandpa, though."

Inuyasha accepted this with a nod of his head.

They sat silently for a long moment, both staring in opposite directions of each other. Kagome, meek as always, didn't start up a conversation nor did she chance a look at the boy beside her, no matter how much she may have wanted to. She gulped down another lump in her throat and felt her heart rate increase within her chest. Why was she getting so nervous over Inuyasha? Despite the fact he was kind, sweet and helped her around, he was only a friend to her, and she never felt this way around Shippou or Miroku…

She fidgeted beside him and stiffened when she felt him place his hands on hers. "Something wrong?" he questioned.

"Just worried about you," she lied and blushed brightly.

Inuyasha smiled and removed his hand, leaning against the cushions of her couch. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"You're Bubbie's going to see this tomorrow, you know," she said quietly. "What are you going to tell her?"

Inuyasha sighed and processed this information. Kagome's words were true and he had no idea what he was going to tell her. He bit his lip. "Guess I'll be wearing long sleeves for a while," he tried to joke but Kagome didn't laugh. She really was worried about him. He sighed and pushed away his humorous attitude. This was serious. Naraku and his cronies had nearly caused him to go to the hospital.

'Wouldn't put it past him, either. He was still hoping I'd change my mind.' Inuyasha pushed away his dark thoughts and focused on Kagome beside him. His vision was blurry and he felt lightheaded.

Kagome felt a small peep of surprise escape her when she felt Inuyasha's head loll against her shoulder and rest there. He breathed quietly and nestled his head into her hair. "You're soft," he murmured.

"What?" Kagome asked with her eyes wide in surprise.

Inuyasha's nose bumped against her neck as he got himself more comfortable and rested against her. Kagome slowly found herself relaxing, the soft breathing against her neck causing a steady rhythm of her heartbeat and a calm to wash over her in waves. It could have also been the tea she'd had to drink, but she wasn't sure.

"You're soft," he repeated quietly, his breath gentle and feather-soft. "Your skins soft, for example. Your face is soft…" he cut himself off before he commented more on her 'soft' physique. He cleared his throat and let out a small sigh. "You speak softly… there's just… something soft about you."

Kagome blinked her eyes, unsure how to take his compliments. She felt his head loll and he lurched forward, catching himself before he fell against her. "Sorry," he mumbled and rubbed his eyes.

Kagome shook her head. "It's fine," she stammered out, her lips quivering and her hands shaking.

Inuyasha looked at her for a long moment. "Kagome, thank you for all you've done."

Kagome nodded her head. She had helped him without an explanation. She'd asked for one, but he'd been unable to tell her— and despite her curiosity, she did not press the issue. Her main concern had been his health.

He lifted his head and looked at her. "It's no problem," she stammered out again, feeling foolish with all her stupidity. He continued to look at her and Kagome fidgeted under his intense gaze. "What?" she finally questioned quietly.

Before she realized what was happening, she felt a pressure on her cheek. It took her a brief moment to realize that his velvet soft lips were upon her cheek. She felt as if her heart had literally stopped. Sure, she'd been kissed on the cheek by her family all the time… but this was the first time that anyone outside her family had given her such displays of affection. And despite the fact it was only on the cheek, Kagome came to a startling realization. It wasn't any different from being kissed by her brother.

That fact alone had been slightly disappointing, really. She, like many teenaged girls her age, often dreamed about a romance to last the ages. And being kissed by a rather attractive guy who one would never expect to pay any attention to you was all rather enigmatic; the fact that it wasn't any different from Souta's kisses was extremely disappointing.

But then, as he pulled away, Kagome felt her stomach flop and her heart skip a beat again. Her cheeks flamed red and she could still feel the presence of his lips against her soft skin. She quivered under his gaze as he smiled at her. It had all happened rather quickly, but Kagome's mind was reeling.

'Okay, now it's nothing like Souta,' she decided with a weak, jittery smile. Inuyasha had just kissed her. Okay, granted, it was on the cheek but that was more affection than any guy had ever shown her.

She ducked her head and suppressed the goofy grin that threatened to spread across her face. Inuyasha had just kissed her.

The thought had never crossed her mind— but now that he'd actually done it, she couldn't imagine why she hadn't thought of it. Now that it had happened she yearned for more.

She glanced at him but found that he was resting his head against the couch, his eyes fluttered shut and his breathing soft. She didn't miss the remarkably gorgeous smile quirking his lips upward, however.

Author's notes: Upon many pleas from the beta to have him kiss her, I compromised. He kissed her cheek— somebody break out the champagne already! Just kidding. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I personally felt that the fight scene was pretty weak and mediocre, but my heart just wasn't in it… I wanted it to be kind of fierce, but still tame. I think I failed, but whatever. I'm much happier with the last half of the chapter, anyway. So there you go, some angst and some fluff to make you barf.