Broken Glass
Chapter Eighteen

The squealing over the phone was becoming unbearable. That was the one thought running through Kagome's mind as she held the phone away from her ear. She sat in her room at her desk, her elbow propped up on the desk and her chin resting in her palm. She stared at the cordless phone as Rin's voice finally fell silent.

"Done?" Kagome asked, a frown quirking her lips downward.

"I guess so," Rin said, sounding meek, but both girls knowing she wasn't. Kagome had just called Rin to tell her about her first kiss. "All stupidity aside," Rin said with a small laugh. "What was it like?"

"Um… well…" Kagome twisted locks of her hair between her fingers. "You know… it was…" She blushed hotly. She heard Rin laugh. "It's not funny! It was my first kiss!"

"Did you confess your never-ending love for one another?" Rin gushed. Kagome gave the phone a withered look, silently channeling it towards Rin.

"No," She said with a frown. "We're teenagers."

"Are you saying that teenagers can't be in love?" Rin asked curiously, her voice bubbly as she no doubt imagined different scenarios of Kagome's first kiss— Kagome hadn't dished out details yet.

"I believe it's unlikely," Kagome said.

"That's slightly pessimistic…" Rin said slowly, Kagome could hear the frown in her voice.

"I've only know him for thirteen days, Rin," Kagome said calmly.

"Ah, so you've been counting?" Rin bubbled and Kagome sighed, a blush on her cheeks. Rin had her in a corner. Yeah, she'd been counting.

"It doesn't matter, anyways," Kagome said with a sigh. "I won't be able to see him anymore."

"What?" The shriek caused Kagome to whip the phone from her ear again as a high pitched yell erupted from the phone. "Why not?"

Kagome sighed and, after she was sure Rin wasn't going to have another outburst, returned the phone to her ear. "Rin," she said calmly. "He came to my window last night. Don't interrupt," she said firmly when she heard Rin take in a deep breath. "He came to my window and told me that he had issues to work out… things that weren't my fault and that he couldn't help me anymore."

"What? That ass!" Rin protested angrily.

Kagome sighed and smiled lightly, entertained by Rin's extravagant way of speaking and carrying on. She couldn't blame her though. Her fingers moved upward and touched the lips that had touched his only an hour ago. She felt her stomach flop at the thought of him kissing her once again.

She snuggled into the warmth of his black hoodie. She'd dried it and was now snuggled deeply into the oversized warmth. The sweater reached down to her mid-thigh and the sleeves went well past her hands. She gripped the phone and smiled girlishly at the memory of what Inuyasha had said to her.

"Hello? Earth to Kagome!" Rin's voice sounded in her ear. Kagome snapped from her gaze.

"What ? Sorry." She blushed again.

She heard Rin sigh and knew she'd rolled her brown eyes heavenward. "I said." Rin giggled. "What was it like? What happened?"

"I told you… he kissed me."

"Har har. You know what I meant. A simple 'he kissed me' is not enough to satisfy this hopelessly single and hopelessly romantic girl you've befriended. Now spill," Rin said firmly.

Kagome sighed. There was no way she was getting out of this one. Unless she hung up the phone. But that was rude. She explained the scenario that had played out in her room only a short while ago. Inuyasha coming to her window, telling her that everything was going to be okay, admitting he had feelings for her, kissing her and then heroically disappearing into the sunset (as Rin so happily put it… even though it would technically have to be the sunrise). By the end of the story both girls were melting.

"How cute!" Rin squealed and gushed on her end of the phone.

Kagome smiled and felt herself melting in her seat, snuggling into the warmth of Inuyasha's hoodie and smelling the faint traces of his scent on the fabric. "I know…" she said dreamily, not aware that she sounded wistful and much like the girls in romance movies.

Glass shattered inches away from his head and he cowered in fear. Wide eyes stared up at the man above him, the elder male looking more like a rabid dog than a human being. The child whimpered and scrambled to get away from the man.

"You little bitch," the man seethed as he grasped the hair of a petite blond. The girl let out a small shout of pain as the man twisted her head to look up at him. "Why are you defending him?"

The child watched as his father pushed his mother aside and came storming towards him. The child cowered and tried to squeeze his way under the couch but the man already had him by the collar of his shirt. He pulled the child to eye level and stared at him, sneering.

"You worthless little shit," the man barked at the child, ignoring him when the child started to cry. "Do you think you're something special? Do you think it's cute when you disobey me? Huh? Is that it?"

"No," the child cried out, squeezing his eyes shut and bowing his head. A quick jerk made him whip his head back up and lock eyes with his father. "No…" he sobbed again.

The man sneered and threw his son. The boy landed on the couch with a large thud. The man turned back towards his wife.

"And you!" he barked at her. "Don't defend the little shit again! That will just encourage him to be disobedient."

"Yes…" the woman wheezed against the wall, her breath feather soft. By nature his mother was a delicate woman and the man's constant abuse of his family left her small and weak. The child was too young to know it was wrong and the mother was too frail to stand up against her husband.

"Good," the man sniffed, turned on his heel and took a swig of a can of beer after opening it. He burped and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before turning around and eyeing his son. "Get out of my sight," he snarled. The child obeyed.

He slinked away like a kicked puppy and ran to his room. Sitting on the ground, he stared at the wall blankly, unsure what to do. It was often this way after one of his father's 'episodes' which were becoming much more frequent. He'd retreat to his room and not make a sound until he was called down to dinner. There, provided his father wasn't drunk, the man was calm, charming and cheerful whereas his mother was always open and smiling.

He sighed. "Smile like you mean it," he murmured. It was something his best friend often said.

As if silently beckoned, there came a tapping at his window. The child lifted his head and moved to the window. Opening it, he looked down and was greeted with the familiar mop of silver hair and bright golden eyes.

"Hi, Naraku," his best friend, Inuyasha, greeted. Naraku nodded his head and stepped aside, allowing the silver-haired child to squeeze in.

"How'd you get here?" Naraku asked curiously. Inuyasha's grandmother didn't let the ten-year-old move around on his own.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Snuck out," he said casually. "Come on, let's go." The boy motioned to the open window with a tilt of his head and a subtle raising of his eyebrows. Naraku smirked and followed after the boy.

He stared out his window, sitting on the sill like a dog awaiting its master. The boy sighed and shifted his gaze to the sky. The dark clouds rumbled but didn't spill their rain, as was predicted by the weatherman that morning.

Downstairs he could hear the distant screams of a man and the shattering of glass. Dark eyes stared at the sky before glancing at his hand. The small scar stared up at him—evidence that he did indeed have a blood brother. A feather soft sigh left his lips and he brushed hair from his eyes.

He stared out the window, trying to ignore the screaming fit his father threw. The man was a terrible alcoholic and the boy was surprised he hadn't keeled over and died yet. His mother, a feeble lady barely strong enough to support herself, had died years ago. The stress she felt in the home had caused her to overeat until she eventually died of heart failure. A pitiful end to a pitiful woman. The screaming fits his father threw everyday were what caused her to jump over the edge of sanity, the boy had decided to himself.

Pounding came at his door and he looked up as a beefy, greasy and incredibly dirty man came into the room. "You." He pointed a beefy finger at his son.

"Me?" he said calmly, raising an eyebrow and tilting his head to the side. He was no longer fazed by his father's antics. "What is it that you want, father?" His voice was mocking. That was obvious.

Years ago he'd fought against his father. Though he'd lost, apparently his father had gotten the hint. Despite the dysfunctional nature of their relationship, Naraku was no longer thrown aside like a rag doll whenever his father had a fit. Instead it was mostly verbal abuse… but it had been years since his father had taken physical anger out on Naraku.

'I'll be gone in a few years anyway…' He told himself bitterly. 'No one will believe the delinquent anyway. No point in telling them I have an abusive asshole for a father.'

The man sneered. "Don't get all snippy with me, boy." His face contorted into that similar to a pug's or a bulldog's and he grunted. "I need you to go and by some food. I'm hungry." The man muttered to himself and waved a beefy hand towards the front of the house. "Hop to it, boy."

The boy didn't move.

"Naraku," the father said darkly. "Move."

The command had an underlying threat to it. Naraku sighed and stood up, frowning at his father. The man burped and took a large gulp of the beer can he was holding. "You're going to kill yourself that way," he chided.

"I'm sure you're eagerly awaiting that day," his father said darkly. Naraku snorted.

"Perhaps. Where's the list?" His father handed him one. "I'll be back later, asshole."

He retreated before his father could throw another screaming fit and throw the beer can against the wall. He didn't want his room smelling like hops. He left the house. "Good old dysfunctional family. No place I'd rather be," he said with a snort.

He left the house soundly and slowly made his way to the store, taking his time and prolonging his inevitable return. He frowned thoughtfully as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. He pulled out the list his father had provided him with and read over the food items.

"Beer? How does he expect me to get beer?" He snorted. "Let's see… bologna, mayonnaise, pickles, potato chips… good to see he's running a healthy diet. Oh, Cocoa Puffs." He snarled to himself. "Idiot…" he cursed his father. "You really are going to kill yourself this way."

Standing inside the grocery store, he grasped a basket and began moving, grasping food items he knew his 'dad' would want. He cursed silently to himself.

In the aisle for bread, Naraku's shoulder collided with another's. He looked up, ready for a witty comeback when he realized who it was. A dark smile appeared on his lips and one dark eyebrow rose to his hairline.

Inuyasha gave him a calculating look before moving along, not saying a word. Naraku followed him. "Inuyasha," he greeted the boy. The silver-haired boy ignored him and Naraku frowned thoughtfully. "Ignoring me, are you?"

"I have no time to talk," Inuyasha spoke as he grabbed a jar of peanut butter and tossed it into the blue basket he held. Naraku watched him from behind. He was tense and his hand gripped the basket until his knuckles turned white.

"Really?" Naraku smirked.

"Yes," Inuyasha said tensely, but never turning around to look at him.

"Huh," Naraku chuckled, finding some amusement in the boy's behavior.

Inuyasha turned to face him and gave him a forced smile. "Was there something that you needed, Naraku? Or are you going to let me shop in peace?"

Naraku crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side, observing Inuyasha. "It's a free country, I can shop here just like you."

Inuyasha snorted and continued moving. Naraku followed.

Inuyasha stopped once they reached the fresh produce sections. He sighed angrily and turned to look at him. "Okay, what the hell do you want?"

Naraku feigned hurt and innocence. "I'm appalled that you would actually think…"

"Shut up, Naraku," Inuyasha growled, turned on his heel and marched off angrily. Naraku followed him again, staying a close distance behind him but far enough away that the boy couldn't suddenly lash out at him without him noticing in time to block. Not that Inuyasha would do that in a grocery store… not now.

Inuyasha plucked some bananas off their respected shelf and placed them in his basket. His lips were pursed and his muscles were tensed. He continued moving, not looking or speaking to Naraku.

Naraku frowned at the treatment, but continued in his quest to spring a conversation out of his old best friend. He sighed when it became obvious that the silver-haired teenager was not going to speak to him. Naraku stuffed his fists into his pockets, ignoring the bump of his basket as is settled in the crook of his elbow.

It seemed like only yesterday they'd become friends. He remembered it so well. They'd been in the same third grade class with Ms. Otly. The woman had been rather strict and hadn't been sympathetic for Inuyasha when he'd come for his first day of school ten days later than the rest of the children. The little silver-haired boy had suffered Pneumonia and hadn't been able to come to class.

Naraku himself was a new kid. No one had bothered to befriend him, the class pairing off into their own groups of friends and not bothering to open their world to him. He was a lonely child with no friends. They looked at him in disgust and didn't bother to talk to him. He became the ridicule of the school, almost as bad as Kagome Higurashi, a girl in another class who was often picked on for no real particular reason.

Because of his desire to have friends and Inuyasha's desire to fit in, they'd befriended.

"Oops!" Giggles rippled along the cafeteria as milk was dumped over the small Kagome Higurashi's head. Naraku sat at a picnic table opposite her, watching silently. The girl struggled not to cry and simply dabbed at her wet hair with napkins. She sniffed and wiped her big blue eyes.

Naraku watched her silently, taking a bite out of his turkey sandwich. It was only the tenth day of school and the girl was already being tortured. He didn't know much about the girl. Nor did he know anything about her past and the reasons as to why she was being made fun of… But it didn't take a rocket scientist to know that hanging out with the girl would lead to his exile in the elementary school world.

The girl sniffed and kicked out her feet before standing and retreating to the bathroom. He watched her run.

His silent sweep of the outside eating area was interrupted by the shuffling of feet. Naraku blinked and looked around, surprised to see the small and feeble looking boy who'd come to his class for the first time today. He'd been very sick, according to their teacher, and had needed to miss school. The poor boy was already incredibly lost when it came to learning about salmon— which the class was at that moment in time.

He looked down at the boy, who stared back up at him. He was short and small, his long tuffs of silver hair falling out from beneath his large Seattle Mariner's baseball cap. Bright, big and slightly sleepy looking golden eyes stared up at him.

"Um…" the child's voice was soft and hesitant. Naraku stared at him. "Do you know… where they're selling milk today?"

Naraku blinked his eyes. "They sell milk in the same place, I think." He pointed a small finger towards the lunchroom, which had its doors wide open to the students.

"Oh…" the child trailed off. "Okay. Thanks."

He walked away as quickly and silently as he'd arrived. He moved into the lunchroom and disappeared from view.

A short while later, Naraku spotted the boy again, sitting alone at the base of a tree, completely lacking the said milk he'd set out to buy. Naraku frowned thoughtfully and stood, taking his Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles lunchbox with him. He stood before the boy who looked up at him in surprise.

"Why aren't you eating anything?" Naraku asked curiously, staring down at the boy. He struggled to recall the name of the sickly boy who'd been gone for so long. "Inuyasha?" he questioned, the boy's unusual name springing to mind.

Inuyasha frowned. "My Bubbie forgot to pack my lunch."

"Your… puppy?" Naraku asked, wide-eyed. His puppy could pack his lunches?

"No! My Bubbie!" Inuyasha protested, looking slightly irritated. "Everyone always thinks I say puppy but I said Bubbie! Bubbie's my grandma."

"Why do you call her Bubbie?" Naraku asked, curious. He sat down in front of Inuyasha and unzipped his lunchbox. Opening it, he took out his half eaten turkey sandwich and took a bite out of it.

"Because… that's just the way it's always been," Inuyasha protested, his dark eyebrows slanted downward in annoyance. He watched Naraku eat his food with a hint of envy in his golden eyes.

"Do you want some?" Naraku asked, noticing the boy's hungry gaze on his lunch box. He held out the rest of his sandwich. "It's turkey."

Inuyasha observed the sandwich before cautiously taking it and taking a bite out of it. "Thanks…" he said slowly, munching on the food. He swallowed the large bite he took and grinned at Naraku. "What's your name?"

"Naraku," he said slowly, watching the boy devour what was once his sandwich. He held out a cookie to the boy who took it happily.

"What's in this cookie? Any chocolate?" Inuyasha asked cautiously.

"Huh? No." Naraku shook his head. "My… well… I'm not allowed to eat chocolate." He didn't tell Inuyasha about how his father didn't want him to have chocolate because he liked it. He didn't want to burden the boy with this. He pursed his lips and took a bite out of his sugar cookie. "I'm sorry…"

"I don't like chocolate anyway," Inuyasha declared happily. "I'm allergic."

"Really?" Naraku's eyes went wide. "That's… not cool."

"Nah." Inuyasha shrugged and polished off the rest of the cookie. "I don't like chocolate anyway."

"Oh…" The two boys fell into silence. They ate sitting next to each other. Naraku frowned. "Want to be my friend?"

The sudden question startled the silver-haired boy and he grinned brightly. Nodding his head vigorously he chirped, "Yes!"

Inuyasha grabbed a carton of milk and continued walking, wary of Naraku's presence behind him. He struggled to ignore him and to not acknowledge the boy's presence. Sango's words hung and echoed in his head reminding him painfully about the part of him that wished to speak to Naraku. At this moment in time, Inuyasha would have cheerfully strangled him.

He'd thought about it since he'd left the park where Sango had spoken to him. He couldn't deny that he'd been best friends with Naraku. The best of friends. They were practically inseparable. They'd spent all their time together which explained why they'd decided to bind themselves as blood brothers.

That day in elementary school when he'd forgotten his lunch and Naraku had shared with him had marked the beginning of their friendship. They'd been companions. They'd needed companions. Naraku was lonely and new, trying desperately to learn his way around. Inuyasha needed reassurance that he wasn't a freak.

Two happy children. How was it that they became the way they were?

Inuyasha licked his lips and made his way to the checkout counter. After paying for his food that he'd purchased for Bubbie, the boy made his way back towards his house.

"So, how's your girlfriend?" He could hear the smirk in Naraku's voice. Inuyasha growled but didn't respond.

Naraku walked along side him, dark red eyes glinting as he observed the silver-haired boy. He crossed his arm after whipping his black hair from his eyes. "Why isn't she here? Why aren't you following her like the dog you are?"

Inuyasha cringed. Naraku was by far the person who knew the most about him, sadly. Naraku knew everything about his fears and his pet peeves. Being called a dog was one of them. Naraku knew of his heritage, Naraku knew that he hated the fact that he was different from everyone, and Naraku knew that Inuyasha hated his ears. Hated to be different… the bad kind of different.

Naraku cooed, mocking the boy as he strutted at his side. "Did she get sick of you, by chance? Or could it be that you'd rather hang out with me instead?"

Inuyasha growled but resisted the urge to give into the boy's taunting. That was what Naraku wanted. He wanted to get a rise out of Inuyasha. He wouldn't allow it.

"You're better off, you know. Kagome Higurashi was just a little…" Before Naraku could finish his insult Inuyasha threw his bags of groceries to the ground.

"That's it, you little ass!" Inuyasha growled and fisted his hand around Naraku's shirt collar. He turned around and slammed him against the building they'd been walking along. "You can insult me all you'd like but you've caused Kagome pain."

Naraku smirked as Inuyasha's hold on his shirt tightened. The brick of the building dug into his back and he raised an eyebrow. "Did I?"

Inuyasha growled. He was livid, beyond angry. His knuckles were white and he looked like he was debating punching Naraku's lights out.

They glared at one another, red locking with gold. Naraku continued to give him a challenging look. "Did I, Inuyasha? Or was it perhaps you that did it?"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" Inuyasha asked, pulling Naraku away only to slam him against the wall again. "Answer me!" He demanded after Naraku refused to speak.

Naraku gave him a long look, taking his time before answering. "If you'd just left her alone and stayed friends with me the poor girl could go on with her life. She'd have her stupid glasses and she'd be invisible. She wants to be invisible, Inuyasha. Is she invisible around you?"

Inuyasha growled again, his eyes narrowing. His hold on Naraku tightened. "That's not true. I know that's not true."

"What's not true? That she wants to be invisible? Oh, she does," Naraku said casually. "Anyone with eyes can see that."

Inuyasha fisted his free hand and almost bolted it towards Naraku's face but resisted. That would be what the dark-haired boy would want.

"You'll betray her eventually…" Naraku said smoothly. "Just like you betrayed me."

They stood there in silence, Inuyasha's eyes wide. 'Am I the bad guy?' the thought appeared in his mind again just like after he'd spoken with Sango. He'd betrayed Naraku. He'd abandoned their friendship, their companionship, after years of separation. Did that make him a bad person?

Certainly both boys were at fault here. Inuyasha couldn't deny that he'd been cold to Naraku. He'd betrayed his friendship and abandoned him for years. Then, when he'd returned as a new person he'd dumped him like a sack of garbage. He'd treated Naraku like he didn't have feelings.

True, Naraku was a dark and disturbed individual who needed years and years of psychological help… but that didn't change the fact that the boy did have feelings. Feelings that Inuyasha hadn't taken into account.

Inuyasha sighed. Despite the truth in that realization, that didn't put Naraku in the right. Though Inuyasha had done his share of betraying and abandoning, he couldn't deny that, Naraku had gone out of his way to try and make Inuyasha's life horrible. He'd sabotaged his budding relationship with Kagome as best he could and taken Inuyasha's dignity and integrity as a plausible reason to blackmail him.

Inuyasha slowly lowered Naraku to the ground. But no more. He wouldn't do this anymore. At least, that's what he told himself.

He shook his head. "Never again," he vowed, "Will I sacrifice a person's feelings for my own desires."

Naraku frowned and righted himself once he realized he was once again safe on the ground. He cleared his throat and gave Inuyasha a once-over. "Fine," he finally said. "But it doesn't change the fact that you'll break her heart again."

Naraku turned on his heel and walked back to the grocery store, content in his ability to squeeze under Inuyasha's skin. He needed to buy his 'father' groceries… and he needed to plot new ways to get Inuyasha back on his side and away from Kagome.

"It won't hurt you," Naraku said with a roll of his eyes. Inuyasha eyed the cigarette he held in front of him.

The slim object, its tip burning red with a thin line of smoke trailing upwards, was one of the greatest forbidden fruits that Inuyasha could picture. Well, there were other things, but at the moment his attention was focused solely on the little white stick Naraku held in his hands.

His best friend of three years wiggled the stick, gesturing it towards him. "Come on; take it before it burns out completely."

Inuyasha hesitantly took the cigarette and examined it. He glanced at Naraku who sucked on one of his own and his other friends who eagerly hung over Naraku's shoulder, awaiting the verdict in regards to the cancer stick.

Inuyasha mimicked Naraku and sucked on it. He coughed lightly but quickly concealed it. No point in losing face around your underlings.

The cigarette burned his mouth and throat and he exhaled too quickly. The smoking stick didn't provide him with any kind of pleasure at all… but he felt strangely mature and grown up, as it is often the case with children.

Kagome clutched the door handle and then released it, her hands fidgeting and grasping one another. She stood stupidly before the wooden door that led to the outside and gulped down a lump in her throat.

Her mother passed by with a laundry hamper in hand. "Kagome?" she questioned her daughter. "You've been standing at the door for ten minutes now… are you expecting someone?"

Kagome shook her head. "No, mama."

"Then come away from there, sweetie. If you have nothing to do you can help me fold laundry." Mrs. Higurashi motioned to the hamper held.

Kagome shook her head again. "It's not that mama… I…" She trailed off and fidgeted. Sighing, she turned away from the door. "I want to go see Inuyasha but I can't get enough guts to even leave the house."

Mrs. Higurashi gave her daughter a look. "Why would you go over to Inuyasha's, Kagome?"

Kagome realized that her mother was not aware of Inuyasha's unexpected visit and nervously fidgeted. "Well, you see, Mama…" Kagome struggled to find a plausible reason as to why she'd go to Inuyasha's. Telling her that the boy had been in her room last night and had kissed her wouldn't sit well with her mother. "He called me last night and we made up."

Mrs. Higurashi sighed. "Fine, sweetie. Nevertheless, you can still help me fold laundry."

"Mom…" Her daughter sighed and followed after Mrs. Higurashi, slouching and shuffling her feet.

"I'm sure Inuyasha will be happy to see you when you do come," Mrs. Higurashi reassured her daughter.

Kagome folded laundry with her mother, her blue eyes never straying from the mounds of fabric being separated into four separate piles for the four members of the household. Kagome gulped a lump in her throat. She wanted to see Inuyasha but wasn't sure if he'd want to see her. He'd told her that he had issues he needed to work out… would that mean that he would be upset and maybe even angry with her if she showed up at his house? Or was he hoping she'd come and reassure him that she wanted to help.

She frowned. She didn't know what to do. But she knew one thing… whatever was wrong with Inuyasha had something to do with her. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Despite that knowledge, however, Kagome could not figure out what it was that was stressing Inuyasha out.

'I hope he's not lonely…'

Author's notes: I apologize for the last link… the 'equal sign' don't appear on fanfiction because this site is a bitch.

Fanart:

(By me):
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)17349749

(By Hanyouvixen):
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)17449698

(By Musicxwhore):
www(.)deviantart(.)com(/)deviation(/)17378901

(By Rachel):
anime(.)darkpact(.)com(/)o(/)picture(.)cgi?mode(equal sign)link&id(equal sign)113170673&board(equal sign)default