Chapter 32

I don't own Inuyasha

'Things are back to normal' Kagome told herself, walking along side of Inuyasha. It was Sunday, and she had hardly begun to study for her test that she had. They had run into some demons that were fleeing from Naraku's presence, but they hadn't run into Naraku yet. Nonetheless, they had still done more in two days then without Kagome for a few weeks. Things were becoming normal very fast again, but Inuyasha could notice something not right with Kagome, deep inside, something was very wrong with her.

"It sure is nice to have you back!" Shippo said with happiness. "Inuyasha may have a super powered nose, but he didn't have a clue what was going on without you Kagome. You should have seen him, and he looked at the well every five minutes. It was pathetic!"

Inuyasha bopped Shippo on his head and Shippo began to cry. That followed with Kagome yelling at Inuyasha and a sit, but nothing happened. Kagome looked saddened when she remembered. "Oh yeah, I keep forgetting about what happened to Ikuto and how your rosary broke."

"I guess I do owe that kid one thing" Inuyasha said out loud. He smiled, knowing that never again was Kagome going to yell the words he hated to hear. In a strange way, he almost missed it, but then he remembered the pain and shuttered at the thought of it coming back to hurt him.

"How is he doing?" asked Sango. "He was badly injured the last time I saw him. Is he doing any better?"

"I haven't seen the runt either" Inuyasha admitted. "He hadn't awoken from the accident last time I saw him. He was still really beaten up."

"Yeah, things were looking really bad for him. The doctors told his brother that he wasn't going to ever walk again." It pained Kagome to remember how Ikuto looked. He was so helpless before.

"That's terrible" Miroku said.

"Yeah," but Kagome was able to find a smile "but the strange thing about it is that he recovered. It wasn't long until he was able to walk on crutches and soon afterwards, he woke up one day with the full use of his legs and arm. I really couldn't understand it. He was so amazing. I couldn't believe he was able to pull off such a thing. It wasn't easy, but it was still incredibly fast."

"Interesting" Miroku said. "He recovered so soon? His injuries were so serious." 'This boy still isn't normal. I wish I could have figured out why. It's still a great mystery to me.'

Shippo was glad that Ikuto was feeling well, but now he wanted to see him. He did prefer Ikuto over Inuyasha. Ikuto never hit him like Inuyasha did. "So, when is Ikuto coming back to this era?"

"He's not" Inuyasha practically barked. "Look how bad he got hurt before. No way can he come back here. He'll get himself killed, and maybe us. Naraku is interested in him, and that could only mean another trap that's not going to end well. Last time, was enough. I would hate to think what other scheme Naraku might have planned for Ikuto."

"I agree" Sango said. "He's a nice boy, but this is not a safe place for him to be. Our time is too violent."

"Yeah" said Kagome sadly.

Inuyasha knew the subject of Ikuto wasn't a nice one to bring up, so he tried to change it before she got too depressed. "Let's stop talking about him, and concentrate on what we've got to do."

No one said another word of Ikuto, but that didn't mean that Kagome stopped thinking about him. She wondered how he was doing, and wondered if he was still angry with her. She couldn't blame him if he was. She really blew it for her first French kiss. 'I'm such an idiot. He probably won't even want my birthday present.'

They continued on traveling for the rest of the day, but they couldn't really do much, since Kagome wanted to go home the next day. Later on in the day, it started raining, and the gang was forced to seek shelter. Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara pretended to sleep, while watching Kagome and Inuyasha, who just watched the rain fall, not being able to sleep. "Inu…Inuyasha?" Kagome began to ask. She felt so horrible.

"Kagome" he interrupted. "You still miss him, don't you?" he sounded a little angry, a little disgusted, and a little disappointed. "You still miss Ikuto, don't you?"

"Inuyasha…it's his birthday tomorrow. I did something really bad to him, and his birthday was so soon."

Inuyasha was now more curious than angry with Kagome. He wanted to know what she could possibly be talking about. "Oh really, and what did you do to Ikuto?"

"I…I kissed him, but I was thinking about you. I couldn't be with him, and not think about you." They both began to blush. "You two are different, I know that, but you two are so much alike. You're even the same soul, Inuyasha. You see, you've both got your faults. I mean, Ikuto and I don't argue half as much as you and I do, and I hate to say it, but Ikuto is way more mature than you. But, Ikuto's so…so traumatized by everything that's happened in his life. You like to push things away and keep them hidden, but I don't think Ikuto can do that. I don't think he knows how to, not anymore. Besides…" Kagome frowned deeper than what she was before "Ikuto plans on leaving some day."

"Leaving?"

"Yes, to a place called the United States of America. It's far away on the other side of the world." She smiled. "But you know what Inuyasha?" He shook his head. "I decided that I don't care anymore. It's not like I'm old enough to marry someone anyway. I've still got school and so much to think about, like collecting jewel shards. It's silly to think about things like that. After all, I am only a kid still. With all the things I do in this time period, I forgot that."

"So, what exactly are you saying?"

"I'm saying that I'm not bothered by that anymore, concerning Ikuto's going away problem, but he still has a lot of other faults." She looked into Inuyasha's eyes. "Inuyasha, I wanted to see you again because I knew it would make me happy, and it did, but…" she looked away "I want to see Ikuto again though. I didn't actually want to break up with him."

Inuyasha's ears fell. 'She still does like that idiot. I…I shouldn't care though. I mean, I did say she had to leave as soon as we found the jewel shards, but…why am I so angry? I shouldn't be. I should get over it.'

Kagome noticed that Inuyasha looked as if he was about to explode. "Uh…Inuyasha, are you going to be alright?"

"Yeah" he lied. 'She's not even supposed to be here. I shouldn't be upset, even if I truly want her to stay with me.'

Kagome could tell he was upset by how he yelled his reply. "I guess I really don't know what I want, Inuyasha." 'I should stop doing this to the two of them.' "I'm sorry, Inuyasha." Kagome didn't want to say anymore, so she was going to get some sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. 'I hope he can forgive me.'

"Great" Ikuto said, holding a pair of car keys in his hand. "A new car."

"It's in the garage" Sarah said to Ikuto while they were sitting in the dinning room, eating dinner. "It's really from your brother, but you know he had to work late tonight."

"I know" Ikuto sighed. "What else is new?" Ikuto had gotten a lot of things from his brother. He got a few new weapons to collect or use. He got a new car, new clothes, an awesome sound system, books, a better and new computer, a new and better phone, a new and better palm pilot, and many other material items. He liked them all, but they were material items. He had many items anyway, and barely the time to use them all. "Thank you, for everything."

"Wait" Rina handed Ikuto a piece of paper. "I know you didn't want my daddy to give me money, so I made you something."

Ikuto wasn't very excited about getting the picture. Not a lot of people appreciate a child's drawing, but it was partly his fault. "I didn't care; I was just being a jerk." She had drawn a picture of her family. Of course everyone were smiling stick figures, expect for Suno, who instead has a straight line instead of a smile, which was quite in character. There was Rina, Sarah, Suno, Ikuto, and even Jamon was in the picture. Ikuto could understand it though. He was always around. Some days, Ikuto saw more of Jamon than Suno. "Thanks kid" he said. He did think it was sweet, and he had never really felt so good about his family before. Things were just beginning to look up. "Thank you."

After his presents, he went outside to practice with some of his archery equipment. He was a brilliant archer. He got dead center eight times in a row. He had been practicing ever since he was a little boy. It might actually be the only thing he's better than Suno at. 'Going for nine!'

"Ikuto."

When he heard the voice, it knocked his concentration, and he totally missed the center bull's eye. He missed it completely. "Man" he said angrily. "Thanks a lot." He knew who it was by the voice. If it was anyone else, then he would have gotten that perfect mark. "And what do you want, Kagome?" He sat his equipment down and turned to face her. "Is there something you want?"

"What horrible aim" she teased. Kagome was clutching a wrapped up box in her hand, with a blue ribbon. It wasn't very large at all, but she knew that he would love it with all his heart. "I uh…I wanted to give you this for a birthday present, Ikuto." She placed it in his hands.

He looked as if he didn't know what to do with it, or her. He glanced at it, and then back at her, trying to reach a decision. He finally said "Look Kagome, you must have put a lot of work into this, but the truth is that there's probably nothing that you could give me. I'm sorry that I overreacted with you before, but don't try to give me a present."

"You didn't overreact Ikuto, because if someone did that to me, then I'd sit them so many times that they'd reach the other side of the world." Of course by 'someone' she meant Inuyasha. "Look, I'm not trying to make you forgive me; because I've had this thought up for a long time and I had a hard time getting it. I had to order it, so I've had it for a week or so. I wanted to give it to you, because you're a good person, a good friend, and a great guy. You deserve to be happy."

"I've already got enough stuff Kagome. I got cars and so many other things. What else is there to offer me?"

"Open it and find out." She was determined that he would see the gift she got him. It was of no use to her, only him. "Listen Ikuto, it's not like I have the money to give you the world. I can't possibly give you cars and fancy products, but I can make you happy, and if I can see you smile for but a moment, then I know that I've done something great, and everything we've been through...everything I've been through before I even met you, was worth it."

Ikuto gazed at his gift and pouted. 'What could it possibly be?' He sighed and began to pull off the wrapping paper. He looked up at Kagome and she was about to burst with excitement. It only made him more curious. 'What is it?' Instead of opening it so slowly like before, he ripped off as much as he possibly could and when he opened the bottom half, his body froze as he stared at what appeared to be a picture of a gray duck. "No way" he said under his breath. He hesitated to do anything. Kagome was waiting for a reaction. They both seemed to be holding their breath. He finally but slowly removed the rest of the wrapping paper and was amazed at what he saw. His lips mumbled the title, but no sound came out. He traced the title with his index finger and mumbled it again; unable to comprehend how much joy he had begun to feel. Then he finally said the title aloud. "The Ugly Duckling..."

He began to remember a time when he was just a boy, a small boy in elementary. Usually kids were friendly in elementary and if a tough time was going to occur, it would occur in middle school, but everything was horrible for him, even in elementary. He was so popularly named 'The Demon Child.' All of the children repeated what their parents believed about Ikuto and his mother and it had gotten to the point where he couldn't take it anymore. He was so sick of being treated like crap that he decided to hide in his closet, as soon as he got home from school.

His mother began looking for him when she had completed dinner. She knew he had a rough day, and she decided to make a dinner for him, instead of making the chef do it. Ikuto preferred his mother's cooking anyway. "Ikuto? Ikuto where are you?" It was such a big house, but one of the first places she looked was his room, but he was nowhere in sight. "Ikuto?" When she stopped calling his name, she could hear him sobbing in the closet. "Ikuto?" she asked. She opened the closet and there her son with a blanket over his head. "Ikuto, you stop that right now, it's time for dinner." She heard him crying and her anger melted away and was replaced with fear and concern. "I…Ikuto? Tell me what's wrong!" He began to cry harder. "Baby, tell mommy what's the matter." She pulled away the blanket, and was horrified at the sight of her son. He had cuts and bruises all over and his face was stained with tears. The only mark on his face though was three scratch marks, and she could tell that a small child did it. "Ikuto!" She picked up her son and placed him on his bed. "Those kids at school right? I swear I'll do something about it. I'll go up to the school with you tomorrow, or better yet, I and your father will go. They'll listen if it's the both of us and…" she trailed off, noticing the little bit of blood on his nails.

Ikuto noticed that she noticed and hid his hand.

"I-Ikuto? Don't tell me that you…" tears began to come to her eyes. "Don't tell me that you did this!"

He began to sob harder. "Not all of them. It was just my face…" he had never cried so hard before. Not only had he hurt himself, but he was scaring his mother. He was ashamed of himself, completely and utterly ashamed.

"Ikuto…why? Why would you do this?"

"Why?" he asked disgusted with himself. "Everyone calls me a demon child! Everyone hates me. Nobody likes me, nobody! Nobody likes me because I'm different! I don't want to be different anymore! I don't want to be this way anymore!"

She held her son close to her. "I love you just the way you are! You're not a demon child Ikuto! I love you! Your father loves you! You were made by us, me and him. We made you. If you were made by love, then how can you be a demon, Ikuto?" She held him tighter. "How?" They just cried in each other's arms for a while. She had never meant to cry in front of her son, but she had never been so scared in her life. He didn't mean to make her so sad, that is why he cried. "Oh Ikuto, I love you. I love you so much!" She let her son go and retrieved the first aid kit for her son. She patched up his cuts physically but emotionally, he still needed some help. "Ikuto" she asked him while patching up the scratches on his face "have you ever read the story of The Ugly Duckling?"

He shook his head. He had finally stopped crying, but he was still sniffling. "No mommy, I haven't."

"Well, everyone I know has heard that story." She smiled, even though she was terrified. "Hold on, and I'll go get if for you." She ran to the library and then quickly ran back, still afraid what he might do. She sat next to him on the bed and began reading the story of the ugly duckling who just wanted to be like everyone else and then one day it was beautiful, just like everyone else. It wasn't quite the message that she wanted to get out, but she wasn't sure of what other story to use. "The end." She smiled. "Now, do you like that story?"

He nodded. He certainly did like the story, especially how it ended. "He's just like me."

"For the most part." Her smile faded away "Ikuto, you're different. I don't know why it's hard for so many to accept, but it's true, and it always will be. I don't know why it's a problem. Most people in our country are short, but your father and brother are tall. One lady I saw in the grocery store isn't thin, while many people I know are as thin as rails. Some people have dark brown eyes, while other people in this country have light brown eyes. Some have long hair, some have sort hair. Why is it that you must be so different? Should it matter that your skin is a little lighter than mine, and a little darker than others? Should it matter that your hair isn't as straight as your brothers or that you'll always stand out?" She shook her head. "No Ikuto, it doesn't matter. I'm black, your father is Japanese, and we fell in love. We're different, so you being different doesn't matter to me. It shouldn't matter to anyone else, especially not to yourself." She felt the tears beginning to come back to her eyes. Ikuto had already begun crying again. "I love you just the way you are Ikuto. You're beautiful already. You're my beautiful little boy."

"Mommy…"

"The thing about the ugly duckling was that he was ugly at first and wanted to be like everyone else, and one day, he got his wish and everyone saw the beauty that was inside of him. That's the difference Ikuto. You're adorable." She smiled at her son and gently stroked his face. "You're the most adorable little boy that I've ever seen in my whole entire life, and you're going to grow up even more handsome than what you are now." She grabbed her son's arms and looked into his eyes as her smile left her face. "Ikuto, you don't have to listen to those kids at school. I love you. God knows I do! I love you so much, and your father loves you, and your brother loves you too. We'll always be there for you, Ikuto. And one day" she found her smile "one day everyone is going to be able to see all of that beauty that you have inside of you. You don't have to be afraid Ikuto!" The tears began to fall. "Their all gonna see it some day, and then they'll wonder how they ever missed it. You were born of love Ikuto, and all that matters now is that I love you, and I'll always love you. No matter what you say, what you do, or what type of man you'll become, the fact will always remain that I love you and I'm proud of you, Ikuto Kazasami, and that will always remain a fact."

"Mommy…" he was so chocked up, he couldn't really speak at all. "Mommy…I…I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!"

She embraced her son in her arms. "No baby, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that they can't see."

"Mommy!" Ikuto was still speechless with shock. To think of something like that, was unbelievable. "Ka…K…how did you ah…" It was in English, so she must have ordered it. "Oh man…this is…" He remembered another day, the day that she died when she was in the library. 'She had gotten that book for me.' Even his brother's words that he said recently came to mind. 'It still scares you. You still wish she could have read that book to you one last time.' "Ka…Kagome…"

Kagome gasped as she felt his arms wrap around her tightly. It was rare that someone just embraced her. She especially didn't expect something like that, since Ikuto was so angry with her. She blushed and hugged him back. "Ikuto, I'm glad that I could make you happy."

He held her tighter. "Kagome, no one has ever given me something like this before." He pulled her away, but still held on to her arms. "You've made me the happiest man alive, Kagome." He smiled. "I've never felt this way before…at least I can't remember the last time I felt this way."

Kagome could have sworn for a moment that Ikuto had tears in his eyes, but she told herself that she was just imagining things. "Happy birthday, Ikuto Kazasami." She smiled one final time and started to walk away.

"Wait!" he yelled. "Won't you stay with me, if but for just a moment."

Those were the words that she wanted to hear. "You know Ikuto, its funny when you think about it. I thought I wanted you, but then I thought I wanted Inuyasha. When I got him back, I wasn't happy, at least not how I thought I would be, so I came back here, only wanting to make you happy, because seeing you happy is the most important thing in the world to me, Ikuto."

"Thank you Kagome." He kissed her on her cheek, not wanting to take it any farther than that. "Don't think you're off the hook. You said I had bad aim. I want to see what you got."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, Ikuto. I was only teasing."

"I won't take no for an answer."

Kagome picked up the equipment and prepared to fire the arrow at the target. "Here I go!" When she let go, the arrow missed the center, but was close. She only began to get frustrated, which made her second shot off by a lot.

"Wait a second" said Ikuto as he came behind her. "You're doing it all wrong." He placed her hands in the proper place and she kept blushing every time his skin made contact with hers. "Kagome, when you fail at something, don't get distracted. If you get angry, then your weakness will show. Stay calm and become one with all of your surroundings." He was whispering in her ear. He wasn't aware of it, but Kagome was blushing even more. "Clear your head."

'Easy for you to say' she thought to herself.

"Stay calm, and focus everything you have into this one shot." Kagome was now ready to fire a proper arrow with Ikuto's hands on top of her hands, holding her together. "Now, fire!"

When she let go, she hit the dead center of the bull's eye. "I did it!" she yelled. "I did it!" She turned to face Ikuto's, and they stared into each other's eyes. He was still holding her gently. It wasn't long until she dropped the bow and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ikuto, I…"

"I have missed you Kagome." He wrapped his arms around her waist. "I've missed you so much." He kissed her quickly and gently on her lips. "But I don't want to rush things, nor do I want you to be in love with two different people, Kagome. I think we need to slow down and not do anything, even if I have missed you."

She nodded. "I agree with you Ikuto." She let go of him, and he let go of her. "We should take things slowly."

'Should I tell her now? No, I mustn't tell her at all. It would only make things worse.' "I love you Kagome, I still do. I'll wait until you make a choice."

"A choice?" she questioned. "You mean you or Inuyasha?"

"Well I know there are other candidates, but the only two that have a chance is I and Inuyasha." He kissed her on the forehead. "Stay safe, Kagome, and good luck with your appeals tomorrow. I hope you pass."

"How did you know about that, Ikuto?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I have my ways." He picked up his things. "Would you like to have some cake? I mean it's freakishly huge and I'll never finish it all with just my family."

She happily smiled. "Yes, that would be nice."

To be continued…

A/N: Yay, Ikuto is happy! Yay! Ikuto happy! But what doesn't he want Kagome to know? Find out next chapter because Kagome's going to make her choice, but only if you review!