Shades of Night

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha

Revised Chapter one

Knock Before Entering

Thanks to billysgotagun to pointing out (and nicely, too!) some of the mistakes I made in this chapter. Like I said, if anyone sees any name errors, tell me, because it was an original fic before I turned it over to fandom, and I do make mistakes.

Kagome sighed.

"Inu, look, if something's bothering you, just tell me already!" Inu looked over sharply at her.

"What are you talking about? Nothing's "bothering" me, as you put it."

"You're such a bad liar! You're bothered and you know it! Now tell me before I get really angry and force you to tell me!"

"You can't force me to do anything, Kag, and you know it!" And it was true. At seventeen, InuYasha had an impressive figure that was intimidating even to those that knew him. As a matter of fact, the only person that he couldn't force to do something was Kagome. She had never allowed him to get too cocky or stuck-up. And she never allowed him to walk all over her.

"Speak for yourself, Yasha! Until you're ready to hold a civilized conversation don't come near me!" Kag may have been only fifteen yet she possessed more brains and common sense than many of the kids Yasha's age. Not only that, she was the one girl who Inu wouldn't dare mess with. Even if they were just joking around, he knew that if he pushed her too far her explosive temper would get the better of him. He couldn't stand hurting her or making her feel bad, and he knew he succeeded in both this time. They were the best of friends, mismatched couple though they were, and able to tell each other everything.

"Wait, Kag!" She didn't turn around, only halted her steps. Inu closed his eyes in frustration. "Look, you were right."

"Aren't I always?" To others it may have sounded like she was still angry at him. InuYasha knew he was forgiven.

"Kag…" Kagome turned around, walked back, and grabbed his hand.

"C'mon Inu. Let's go home." InuYasha wished desperately that he could just go home and forget about everything that he was thinking, but a compulsion in him had to know. She tried walking away but the force of his hand held her back. Finally Kag turned around, her blue-gray eyes staring into his intently.

"Kag…does it…Does it bother you when I go visit my dad? I mean, I know you only want me to do what makes me happy and you want me to go visit him, but does it ever bother you, since you don't have a dad?" She didn't say anything for a moment. Kagome looked back at him, regret tingeing the rims of her eyes.

"It used to," she said softly. Startled, InuYasha could only stare at her in disbelief. "I used to envy you for having a dad when I didn't. Over the years I learned that I don't need one. I have my mom, your mom, and you. That's all I'll ever need, Inu. That's all I'll ever need…" He didn't know what to do. He pulled back on her hand, and she was so spaced out that she tumbled towards him.

"Oh, Kag…I never knew…I never knew…"

"You couldn't have…"

"I should have! I should have seen it every time I left! It was so obvious, yet I completely missed it! I'm such an idiot!"

"Hey… Inu, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that you come back every time. You come back for us every time." InuYasha pulled her into his embrace and Kagome put her head on his chest. It was unusual for him to show this much public affection with her. The streets were deserted as they walked home from school while a cool breeze kicked up in the autumn weather. Leaves gently rustled across the street, scattering from trees, and Kagome finally felt completely and totally safe and loved.

"I'll always come back for you…" She didn't miss the importance of that phrase, or how he unconsciously changed her words.

"I know…" They stayed like that for a minute, until finally they realized they had to get home sometime. InuYasha shifted her so that instead of embracing her, his arm was around Kag's shoulders. The teens began walking towards their homes, located next door to each other.

"So…" he tried to break the awkward silence. "What are you doing this weekend while I'm gone?"

"Oh, I dunno. I was thinking about maybe inviting Kouga Ookami over." A look of horror spread across InuYasha's face.

"What? But…but…" he sputtered, unable to form his thoughts into words.

"If you're talking about his "reputation" with the girls, I know that already." She smiled smugly. "But he told me that he liked me, so I decided I would try to get to know him a little better."

"Of course he likes you, Kag, everyone does." She rolled her eyes.

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it!" Concerned for her yet not willing to show it, InuYasha felt a steel fist clamp around his heart, then brushed aside the odd sensation. It seemed that recently he couldn't seem to get his best friend off his mind. In previous years the same was true, but this year his thoughts tended to venture more towards the personal side. Thrown off by her teasing manner and concern, he shot back with the only way that he knew how.

"What do you know about liking someone, Miss-I've-never-liked-anyone-in-my-entire-life? You're still too young. You don't even know what you're feeling." Kag knew then with a sinking feeling that he didn't understand her at all, much as he was inside her mind.

"That's not true…" she whispered feebly. Alarm bells rang off inside Inu's head. For some reason, he turned jealous when he heard her say that, which was exactly Kag's intent when she brought up Kouga in the beginning. Shocked beyond belief, InuYasha dropped his hand from around her shoulders, and Kagome, mistaking the gesture for rejection, ran as fast as she could towards her house. Realizing it too late, he tried to run after her.

"Wait, Kag, come back. Please, come back!" This time, though, her progress didn't slow down as her front door slammed behind her.

"Damn it!" Sometimes, his own stupidity amazed him. The one person who wasn't related to him that he could truly say he loved was Kag, and Sakura of course. Kag also seemed to be the only person he was completely capable of making feel bad. Upset, jealous, and confused, Inu went home with a troubled mind and a nagging feeling, wondering just who was wonderful enough to catch the great Kagome's attention…

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"I'm home," Kagome called out to an empty house. Her mother was working as usual. In order to keep up with the bills and living expenses Sakura had to work full-time. Kag walked into the kitchen to look for dinner and found a note lying on the counter.

Dear Kag,

I won't be home at all this weekend, there's an emergency at work that I can't get out of. I'm sorry about this, because I know that Inu is leaving for his dad's and we usually spend the weekend together. Can you go over to Izayoi's and spend the night? I know she'll let you, and she'll want company since she's got the weekend to herself. Again, I'm sorry. If you wanna make any plans for the weekend, feel free. I'll approve automatically, so long as you follow the normal rules. I left money on the counter in case you wanted to do something, so treat yourself sweetheart!

With all my love,

Mom

Leaving the money where it was, Kag trudged up the stairs and into her bedroom.

"Why doesn't he get it?" she muttered to herself. Dumping her backpack on the floor, she sat down on the bed and clutched a pillow to her chest. Kagome couldn't remember a time when she wasn't in love with InuYasha Mori. She couldn't even remember a time when he hadn't been involved in her life! A sigh escaped her lips and she felt numb. She had the most childish urge to cry.

"Stop it, Kag girl, you're just making it harder on yourself. You knew from the beginning what it was like, and there's no reason why suddenly it should have changed. Besides…you learned a long time ago that crying doesn't solve anything." Even talking to herself didn't help lighten the heaviness in her chest. Kagome decided that she wanted to go take a shower. She took off her socks and threw them wildly across the floor, unhooked her bra and tossed it on the bed, and took off her shirt. As she was pulling the shirt free from her tangled mane of deep raven hair, the door opened, leaving Kagome wide-eyed and half-naked.

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When InuYasha came into the house, the cheery atmosphere suddenly became polluted with a dark cloud.

"Yeesh," Izayoi commented. "What happened to you?"

"Nice to see you too, Ma."

"Well, I never said it wasn't nice to see you, because it always is, but it's so obvious that something went wrong. Did ya get into another fight with Kag?"

"…That psychic kick of yours really freaks me out sometimes." Izayoi laughed and looked at her son pityingly.

"That wasn't psychic. That's logic. The only person who can get you in that kinda mood is Kag. Why don'tcha just go apologize?" Yasha looked at his mother with a cold gaze.

"Why are you automatically assuming that it's my fault…?" She clucked her tongue at him.

"Because it usually is. Besides, you're male. It's in your nature." Amazed at his mother's views on the world and how she could easily handle a situation, he went around the back gate and crossed into Sakura's yard. The back door to the house was open, so he let himself in. When Inu got into the house it was dark. He remembered that Sakura worked and was happy that his own mother got off at an earlier time than he got home from school. He felt a pang of guilt as he realized this was because his mother got child support from his father.

"Kag?" he cried softly, trying not to startle her. Realizing that the one place she would want to be was her room, he headed upstairs. Used to the standard protocol of barging in whenever he wished to, Yasha didn't knock, and therefore got more than he bargained for.

Review Responses:

Lov ya 4 eva: Thank you! I tried, but this chapter was a little slow in coming, and sadly, future chapters may be even slower, since summer's nearing an end...

Kagome M.K.: Alrighty, thanks for reviewing!

coldflamez: Hehe, little kids are cute. They're more grown up now! Thank you, I tried to update soon.

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Kaa-san