Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Inuyasha character, the band The Elected or their song Greetings in Braille.

A/N: IMPORTANT: I will be leaving for Europe on Monday and won't be back until July 12th, so until then, you're just going to have to use your imaginations about what will happen next.

Now that I have that done with, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to use song lyrics anymore, because I heard that you're no longer allowed to do that, but I'm going to do it anyway right now. I'm sorry it took me so long to update, school ended yesterday, so I worked hard to finish one more chapter for you guys before I leave. I've been having one hell of a time trying to finish these things up. I'm sure it will get easier as the summer comes into play. So no worries, I'll do my best to finish this up. I've also started on another story, but I don't know if I should tell you about it now. Maybe when I get back.

TO INAHOSETAI: That's ok if you can't get the pictures, but maybe when you get a chance you can put them on photobucket or something, whenever you get the time. I hope you have a wonderful time in California. :D

Cigarettes and Lavender

Chapter 7-The Scent of Home

Bi Polar

He was running out of cigarettes. That's the only thing he didn't like about this place, no one smoked, no one to get his free fags from. It was the morning after he had helped Kagome with her homework. He was still sleeping when she left for school, which was a first. Mrs. Higurashi had left to pick up some food for Kagome's grandfather's favorite dinner. He was coming home for the weekend tonight. That's what was making Inuyasha so tense, he needed a smoke.

Kagome's grandfather had been staying with an old friend and fellow priest and planned to go back. His friend, Shoshio, was ill and in need of someone to help him run his shrine. Kagome said that her Grandpa had trusted her mother and her to take are of their shrine while he was away.

"Inuyasha!" Mrs. Higurashi's voice rang through the house and Inuyasha's heart twisted in panic. He heard her footsteps walking through the living room and making their way to the kitchen where he stood with a fag in his mouth, still lit. "I'm home! Where are you?"

Inuyasha thought quickly; spat out his cigarette stomped and buried it. He frantically searched his pockets for anything to kill the scent that was clinging to his clothes and breathe. Nothing; running into the kitchen grabbed the Cheez-its that sat on the dining table and stuffed a handful in his mouth, threw off his jacket and flung it out the door.

"Oh hello Inuyasha, I was wondering where you were." She walked through the door just as he closed the backdoor. His heart was pounding, his brow was sweaty, and he felt like he was going to throw up. He nodded turning away to wipe his face clean of sweat. "What are you doing?"

He chewed his food and in a quiet sloppy voice he said "Eating…"

Mrs. Higurashi turned to look at him with a skeptical eye before smiling and saying "Just make sure you don't eat the whole box, you'll ruin your appetite."

Inuyasha breathed deep and put the box back before heading out back to get his coat. That was too close.

Miroku and Sango sat in his used…very used…car. The soft melodious music of The Elected floated through the interior; but neither of them noticed.

If my senses fail, stay with me 'til they go
'cause I don't want to be alone.
Greetings in Braille, they'll describe everything,
colors aren't everything.

After the visit with Inuyasha's mother, they had decided that something was wrong and went out that weekend to search for their missing friend.

And if you see me down at the liquor store,
please don't tell my dad.
And if you see my dad, down at the liquor store,
don't tell me anything at all.

"Where should we start first?" Miroku looked away from the road to ask Sango, she was staring out the passenger's window searching for the silver headed youth.

"Anywhere…anywhere away from his house." Her somber response only added to the atmosphere of the crowded car. Miroku nodded in understanding

And you were cold, tired and old as you'd ever looked that night.
And we were warned, yeah.
We were warned not to stay out too late.
But some things were worth getting in trouble for.

It was quiet again and the two of them kept their hopes to themselves. Miroku watched the road and occasionally glanced out the window wishing to see a flash of silver or Inuyasha standing on the side of the road in one of his usual hands-in-the-pcckets-dowcast-face poses. God how he wished to see that. His calm exterior didn't make up for his frantic anxious insides. He had seen the news, about all those kids that are kidnapped and killed, he had seen the news and it killed him inside to know. Sango stared intently out her window, the same things running through her head.

So now that you finally failed
just like you said you would, down to the last detail.
Well, if living's such hell, here's to your dying days.
You won't have to be afraid.

But our bodies were pulled away and swept out to the sea
and I'd call and say hi if I thought you'd remember me.
cause some things are worth leaving old memories for.
If my senses fail, stay with me 'til they go
'cause I don't want to be alone.
Greetings in Braille, should describe everything
'cause you can't see anything from here.
From here, you can't see nothing at all.

The song ended and the DJ came on talking about concerts and new artists, things that wouldn't interest the two concerned teenagers.

Kagome's grandfather would be arriving any moment now, and Inuyasha was becoming more and more jumpy. He didn't know why. It wasn't like he would be staying. He didn't dare smoke while they were all home. He was sitting in Kagome's room on the floor while she studied her English book. He was leaning against her bed rubbing his hands together and messing with the hems of his pants.

"Are you nervous?" Kagome looked down at Inuyasha from spot on the bed. He only nodded not looking up from the ground. "Don't be. Grandpa is a nice guy. Seriously he probably won't even realize that a guest is here. He's like that." Inuyasha nodded again, her words didn't bring much comfort. "If you're really that nervous you're free to do anything that can calm you down."

Inuyasha thought for a moment; nothing at the moment came to mind.

"Pacing can help, reading a book, writing something down, listening to music, drawing, umm, maybe going for a run or something." She suggested

He didn't move, just sat there. She sighed and came to sit of the floor with him. He was warm and comfy. "You shouldn't worry. Grandpa isn't going to interrogate you or anything."

"I know."

"Then why are you so nervous?"

"I don't know many old people."

That, for the most part, was true. He only talked to old people when it was absolutely unavoidable, that actually went for most people; but old people especially. The oldest person he knew was his history teacher, he was in his late 70s and spoke in a monotone.

"Oh I see. Well, don't worry! He's nice, and you're likable, there's no way he'd be disappointed." At this Inuyasha smiled.

They sat there enjoying the quiet and the breeze that floated through her bedroom. Her head fell against his shoulder and rested there, comfortably. It was complete bliss, a moment that could not be ruined by old memories or fear; it was home.

Then the doorbell rang and the two leaped apart like lightening had struck between them. Kagome's mother was calling them all down. Souta and Kagome raced down the stairs and Inuyasha slowed to a turtle's pace

He stood at the top of the stairs as Kagome and Souta hugged an aging man. His hair was a ripe gray color pulled back into a traditional pony tail. His beard was long and pointed and his eyes were small and beady. He wore the conventional shrine clothing and held a blue suitcase in one hand. Inuyasha smiled, despite his anxiety.

"Oh it's so good to see you again!" Mrs. Higurashi was standing near the stairs as kids hugged their Grandpa she was bubbling, everyone could tell.

"It's good to be back, even if it's only for a little while." He held his grandchildren close to him kissing the tops of their heads, well, the top of Souta's head and Kagome's cheek.

"Oh Gramps, I've missed you." Souta beamed, one would think his face might fall off with such a huge grin. But, it was only natural; growing up with such little father influence Grandpa was the only one there that was relatively like a dad.

"I've missed you too." Kagome said quietly her face buried in his shoulder, he smelt of cigars, Old Spice, and that strange elderly people smell; she loved it.

"Oh yes," Kagome's mother looked up the stair to see Inuyasha standing there a small smile a lit on his face. "We have someone very special for you to meet."

"Oh?" Grandpa raised an eyebrow.

"This is Inuyasha, our house guest." Inuyasha was walking down the stairs as she said this. She turned to him and gave him a smile before putting her arm around him in a friendly gesture.

"And where might have you come from?" Grandpa said this, meaning well of course, but looking less so.

"Umm…Kofu."

"Oh I see. And how did you get here?" The old man was raising his eyebrows gripping his grandchildren tighter.

This is where Kagome stepped in, breaking away from her grandfather to stand next to Inuyasha and her mother. "He was mugged Grandpa. We found him and he was badly hurt." She wanted to hold the boy's hand but decided against it; her Grandfather was already on edge with a stranger in his home.

"Oh…How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"That's good."

There was an awkward silence after this. No one dared to speak or move, Grandpa was staring intently at the lanky silver headed, amber eyed youth before him and Inuyasha was staring intently at his feet which were now fashioning a lovely sock with a huge hole right where the big toe should be covered.

"We asked him if he would stay and help with the shrine." Kagome's mother saved the day, once again.

"Ah! I see. Well, thank you for helping my family take care of this old place. It takes quite a bit to keep it up, you know." He smiled but his eyes still held a suspicious glare.

"I should be thanking them for saving my life." Inuyasha held his eyes down low and bowed slightly.

"So where am I going to be sleeping?" The elder man exclaimed.

"Well…your room…is being used for storage and such." Mrs. Higurashi said, a little embarrassed for using her father's bedroom as a storeroom. "And Inuyasha is sleeping in Souta's room. So…I guess…"

"I could sleep on the couch." Inuyasha offered.

"Well…if it's not too much trouble to move your things that would be very kind of you." Grandpa said, still eyeing the boy but looking upon him less harshly.

Inuyasha walked up to Souta's room, made his bed, stuffed any loose clothes he had into his small backpack, threw it over his shoulder and walked back downstairs within seconds. Grandpa gaped at the boy while he hauled his blue suitcase up the stairs.

Inuyasha sat on the couch and Kagome came to join him. "I'm proud of you." She said giving him a nudge. He grinned.

"Thanks."

Grandpa had shared every known fact about the kitchen table now, and Inuyasha was becoming drowsy. His eyes wouldn't stay open and they just wanted to shut and rest awhile. He had to stay awake, though, he had too.

"…and that was how he died." Grandpa finished up his 2 hour long tale and go up from his chair. "Well, I'm quite tired; I'll see you all in the morning. Thank you once again Mr. Takashi." Inuyasha nodded his head showing his acknowledgment.

Inuyasha got up after that and fell into his temporarily made bed on the couch that Kagome and him had made a couple hours ago. He didn't even bother changing and fell asleep to Grandpa's loud snoring and the scent of home.

A/N: So that song was by The Elected, they're pretty cool. 3 It's called Greetings in Braille. So that's it for now. Please review, because then I'll feel special.