A/N This is a VERY short chapter that wasn't planned, but this is the way the pencil took over! Hope you like it… there is a point to this chapter later in the story.. I've been enjoying writing it, hope you enjoy reading it.

Please review, I'd love some feedback!

Chapter 5 - A MOTHER'S ANGUISH

Morning light streamed into the open window, forcing Kagome to open her eyes and acknowledge that Inu-yasha had, indeed, left before she awoke. Her thoughts flitted back to the previous night and the way that Inu-yasha had asked her, openly and vulnerably, what she was planning to do after the jewel was complete. She wanted to tell him that she's stay with him, just as she was constantly at his side now, but would he continue to push her away if she admitted how she felt?

Reluctantly, Kagome forced herself out of bed and began to straighten her sheets. She picked up the blanket that Inu-yasha had abandoned and folded it up, placing it gently on the bed. She scooped up the pillow and fluffed it before placing it alongside the others at the head of her bed. 'It still smells like him,' she thought to herself, inhaling the scent; a mix of grass and sweat that translated in her mind to feelings of protection and friendship. She was awed by his immense power, and yet, like the previous night when he asked, so gently, if she really cared about them, she was always taken aback by his rare episodes of extreme gentleness.

Absentmindedly, Kagome made her way down to the kitchen and plopped herself down in a chair, the legs squeaking against the tile floor. Her mother turned around, startled.

"Oh, Kagome," she gasped, "When did you get home?"

Kagome sighed miserably, "Oh mom, I've been home since last night."

Sensing that her daughter was upset, Mrs.Higurashi slid into a chair, offering Kagome a mug of hot tea.

"Tell me what happened" she said.

Kagome sighed and began relaying the whole series of events to her mother: Kikyo's demise at Inu-yasha's hand, his demand that she stay in her own time, even most of the previous night's conversation. She choose, only, to withdraw the fact that Inu-yasha had spent the night in her room. Although she knew that her mother was flexible about her being alone in the feudal age, she wasn't sure how her mother would react to the hanyou spending the night in her daughter's room.

When she finally finished telling the story, she sat, waiting for a reply. Instead, she found herself looking into her mother's face, a look of surprise betraying her normally bright features.

"What, Mom, " Kagome said, startled, "What are you thinking?"

"Oh, Kagome… It's so obvious: Inu-yasha's in love with you" she blurted gloomily.

"Mom!" Kagome shouted, slamming her hands down against the table, her body slightly rising from the chair. She felt an instant flush shoot up her neck and face. She stared at her mother who was now looking pale and faint. After waiting for so long to know what Inu-yasha was feeling, Kagome did not consider thisis revelation as bad a thing as her mother apparently did.

Mrs.Higurasi stood up and began fretting with the remaining breakfast dishes, her hands trembling as she talked.

"Oh Kagome… don't you see? He's already had so much heartbreak because of Kikyo.. And now he's in love with you…Can you imagine? Once the shards are collected and you're done with your quests, you're coming home for good. That's the most logical reason as to why he's pushing you away. He's going to lose you, no matter what happens and he's going to make it happen under his own terms. Don't you see that?" She plunked herself breathlessly into a chair next to Kagome, dishes abandoned on the counter, as she gazed into Kagome's troubled face.

"What's wrong, Kagome, didn't you realize this?"

Kagome looked up at her mother awkwardly, "oh mom, I never thought those things, any of them.. How can it be that I won't see him anymore? I assumed he'd always be able to jump through the well to see me…"

The older woman's eyes grew wider as realization finally set in.

"Kagome, are you in love with Inu-yasha?"

"Mom!", Kagome yelled again, more embarrassed than she'd been all morning. She looked up, refusing to answer, but knowing that her silence was response enough.

Kagome's silence was enough to send her mother back up on her feet, pacing the width of the kitchen with a frenzied look on her face, "You can't think… Don't even consider staying… You can't leave us… I've let you go because jii-chan has stressed how important you are in the history of this shrine, but I don't care… you can't…" she looked up, tearfully.

Kagome shot up to her feet and wrapped her arms around her mother, pulling her into a silent hug. In her heart, Kagome wished that she could promise her mother anything, but she was so confused about the recent events and revelations that she wouldn't even know what to say. Silence was the best choice this moment.

When her mom finally released her, Kagome watched as she picked up a tea towel and wiped the tears out of her eyes.

"Okay," said Mrs.Higurashi, "No matter what Inu-yasha says, you have to go back. Go, finish what you've started, but know that you are eventually coming home."

Kagome could do nothing but nod dejectedly. As she packed up a bag of treats for her friends, she cried softly to herself. No matter what happened, someone was going to have a broken heart.