Disclaimer: I do not and probably will not own Inuyasha.

A/N: Firstly, thank you to all of you who reviewed. Okay, well, this chapter was difficult. I had a hell of a time getting started but this is it, and I hope you all like it. I wasn't sure on Kagome's mom's name, so I just copied what a lot of other fanfic authors put.

This story only has a few more chapters to go…maybe 3 or so. I'm going to take a little break afterwards, I need it, hehe. But I'm also working on my other story. I'm not going to post until after this one. It's called The Barrow Boy. Maybe I'll give the summery in the next chapter.

I think some of you were confused about Inuyasha. You see, Inuyasha isn't a half demon in this story; he has strange attributes but there's no special powers (I think I told you guys this in the 4th chapter or something). I'm sorry if you guys got confused. I just wanted to make it a little more realistic, you know.

Cigarettes and Lavender

Chapter 18-Hope

Bi Polar

Mrs. Higurashi sat in her bedroom. Just sitting there. Thinking every now and then but mostly just sitting. She wondered every now and then where Kagome was and what she was doing, but her motherly instinct told her that she was just fine.

Souta had left for school without saying a word about the silver haired boy that had shared a room with him. He didn't question where his sister was, the truth was, he didn't care right now. The young boy was too caught up in what he thought was going to last forever and really had only lasted little more than a week and a half. He pretended not to notice.

The phone had been ringing continuously and for awhile there she had been able to ignore it completely; but lately she couldn't help but get aggravated by the constant noise. Mrs. Higurashi clenched and unclenched her hands, and grinded her teeth together.

And then, suddenly, the woman stood from the bed and marched towards the telephone, picking up the receiver and proclaiming a loud irritated 'Hello.'

"Kasumi?" An elderly voice on the other end questioned.

"Dad?" Mrs. Higurashi sounded slightly ashamed for her former behavior.

"Did they catch him?" The older man sounded eager, almost excited.

"What?"

"Did they catch him? Oh, I knew something was wrong with him, from the minute I saw him; I could sense it. So as soon as I saw the news I called the police right up."

"You did what?"

"Called the police about that Inuyasha boy." He replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Mrs. Higurashi was silent, her heart pounding in disbelief.

"Kasumi? You there?"

"I can't believe you…" She said quietly into the phone.

"I know. I was quite proud when I called them up, like a good citizen." She could hear him smiling on the other end.

"No. No!" She became more and more angry as the news sunk in.

"What do you mean, dear? Are you okay?" He sounded somewhat concerned, but more so discouraged that she had interrupted him from his brilliant tale of bravery and heroism from the evil teenager they knew as Inuyasha.

"He didn't deserve to go back home, dad!"

"What are you talking about, Kasumi. You must be delusional, didn't you see the news?"

"Yes I saw the news! But you had no right to do that!" She was getting more upset by the minute that her adoptive son was taken from her.

"What do you mean I had no right to do it? You, and Kagome, and Souta are my family and I am looking out for you! I had every right to call the police on that punk!"

Mrs. Higurashi seethed with irritation. "Firstly, he is not a punk." She spoke with a deadly calm voice. "Second of all, you are not the only person in this family and I can't believe you decided that without consulting the rest of us. You disgust me."

Her father faltered on the other line. "I…uh…"

"That's what I thought." Mrs. Higurashi spoke matter of factly before hanging up the phone. She took a deep breath and smiled proudly.

The dibucaine was wearing off and his arm was beginning to throb. He could feel the layers of pain pulsating, up and down, up and down. His mouth was dry, his eyes were burning, and his body was aching. Inuyasha sat in his cold room listening to faint noises of the television set downstairs.

Three AM…three AM. He was so excited but at the same time, nervous and unsure. He didn't know what to do anymore; he didn't dare leave home forever again. He had laid there for 9 hours now, only sleeping for short intervals. Thinking most of the time, thinking about what he should do, about what he shouldn't do…about Kagome.

He still held his leather bag close to him, never letting it out of arms reach. Her scent still clung to it; he buried his face in his backpack breathing steady. Only one hour to go and he be off to the park to see his Kagome. He smiled but stopped when his face began to hurt.

Inuyasha didn't know what occupied his thoughts for that hour he had laid there. It was a variety of things, strange dreams and even more bizarre memories; ones that no one expects to recall.

He remembered the time he and Sesshomaru went to the grocery store and stole some canned beans and that fleeting second when he left the store feeling guilt racking every inch of his body. And how Sesshomaru kept telling him that the sick feeling would be gone by tomorrow. Young Inuyasha was worried when the feeling lasted a week; he remembered crying because he couldn't be like his brother, because he couldn't forget.

Now he was too much like his brother. He looked and acted like him. There was only one difference. Inuyasha had hope.

Inuyasha opened and rubbed his eyes sleepily. He sat up slowly looking around trying to get his mind to function properly. Turning to look at the clock he forgot why it was so significant. He stared at the numbers for a long time trying to remember their importance. 3:28…he racked his brain over and over again trying to remember. Then the trigger in his brain was pulled and his heart twisted in his chest. He sat up quickly, slipped on his shoes and a sweatshirt, and opened his bedroom window.

He slid down the gutter, like he had always done and walked briskly to the park. His body was still sore, but all he thought of was Kagome. The park was just ahead and he could barely keep in his excitement. His heart was pounding; it felt like it could pop right out.

There she was; sitting on one of the rusty swing sets. His heart jumped. He stood behind the big toy watching the raven haired girl. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that someone like her should be caught up with someone like him. She looked so delicate so fragile and yet she possessed strength well beyond his own. Inuyasha heard Kagome sigh and she began to rise from her place and leave the playground.

"Wait." Inuyasha's voice surprised him, as well as her. Both hadn't been expecting it.

Kagome turned around and saw Inuyasha's dark figure in the moonlight. Without warning she ran up and threw her arms around him. He flinched and hissed at the sudden pressure on his various cuts and bruises. Kagome pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes studied him but she couldn't see him in the darkness. She pulled at Inuyasha's arm, dragging him underneath the street light.

Kagome lost her breathe, and tears tugged at her eyes. "What…?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "What happened to you?"

He was a wreck, a walking wreck. His face was swollen up twice its regular size with bruises and cuts noticeable everywhere. She brought her soft hand up to his bruised face and bit her lip. "Your father hurt you, didn't he?" She was crying, knowing the answer already.

Inuyasha nodded and pulled the girl into a tight embrace. "Don't worry Kagome." He said reassuringly despite not believing it himself.

Kagome stained his sweatshirt with her tears and snot. She looked up wiping her nose with the backside of her hand. "You need to come home." She grabbed his hand and started to walk down the street but stopped when he didn't move along with her. "What's wrong?" She asked looking back at the amber eyed boy.

"I'm not going." He said quietly.

"What do you mean your not going?" She dropped his hand.

"I mean…I'm not going."

"I…I don't understand."

"I can't go back with you Kagome."

"Why not?" She sounded desperate.

"Because my parents won't leave me alone…they'll just keep coming after me." Inuyasha looked at her straight in the eyes.

"But…" Kagome was crying hard, tears cascading down her white cheeks.

"No Kagome. No." His voice was strong and sure.

"Inuyasha they'll kill you!"

"I've made it 12 years…I can make it a couple more months."

"A couple more months?"

"My eighteenth birthday is in December…only 7 more months and I'll be out of this place. I promise Kagome." Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hand and held it up to his lips giving it tender kisses.

"7 months! That's too long Inuyasha!" Kagome took her hand back and held the boy around the waist.

"It's the only way. Well, the only way that won't come back and bite me in the ass later."

Kagome nodded slightly into his chest crying all the same. "I don't want you to stay here any longer." He could barely understand her but nodded and rubbed her back trying to comfort her.

"It's okay Kagome. It's okay." He said calmly.

"What did he do to you?" She asked softly.

He was quiet for a short time. He didn't want to taint her with horrible tales. "What he usually does, I guess." Oh, yea like that was any better than just telling her detail by detail.

She held in a sob and held onto his waist tightly. He hissed in pain and she stepped back with tears in her sapphire eyes. "It's just some cuts and bruises that's all." Inuyasha said reassuringly.

Kagome lifted Inuyasha's shirt up and he turned red with embarrassment. His pale skin was met with the cool air of the night and Kagome's warm fingers. She traced his bandaged cuts and large bruises and wiped her eyes with her other hand. "Oh Inuyasha, how could I have let this happen to you?" She whispered more to herself than to him.

Inuyasha pulled his shirt down and held her hand. "It's nothing Kagome."

She shook her head again. "What else did he do to you?"

"It's not that bad." He said avoiding her stare.

"Show me."

"Kagome…"

"Show me."

"Where are Miroku and Sango?" He 'discretely' tried to change the subject.

"They decided it would best if you and I were left alone. Show me Inuyasha!" She said again.

"Kagome…really…it's not that bad…"

"Now, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha glanced around the empty playground and took off his sweatshirt and T-shirt; allowing Kagome to see the stitches and bandages, that were bleeding gashes only hours before. Kagome gasped, holding a hand to her mouth. He threw his shirt and sweatshirt back on and held the grieving girl in his arms.

"How could anyone do something so horrible?" She sobbed.

Inuyasha shook his head, kissing Kagome's raven locks from time to time.

They parted early that morning. It was hard for both, but in 7 months, this would all be over; and the thought of that made Inuyasha look towards the future.

A/N: Thank you again to the reviewers, you're all brilliant. :D

AnimeAngelz: I know this is kind of a cliff hanger too; but there's not many more chapters to go. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Whitewolf33: Wow you put my thoughts into words. Hehe. Prisoner of his own home. Hmm. :D Thanks for the review.

HayLin4: Thank you so much for the concern. I'm so sorry about your car accident, it's a good thing no one was horribly hurt. That would have been awful. You're really very sweet. I was actually thinking about publishing something when I get older. My dad keeps bothering me about it. He's like "Raine! You could get a scholarship and then we could spend your college money on a vacation or something!" sigh I'm not sure yet, but thank you so much for the support.

Inuyashabooklover5188: Hehe, I hope you enjoyed Kagome and Inuyasha's meeting. :D

Kasandra: Aw, you're so sweet! Omg! I love you! Hehe. Thanks for the review.

Inashosetai: Thanks for the review. It was nice getting to talk to you again…even though it was just email. I hope to talk to you again later.

Amber: Thanks for your comment, it was really sweet. :)

Bubblez4ya: I really hope you like this! Miroku and Sango aren't so much in this one.

Amanda Trinh: Haha. :D You sound like you have fun though. That's lovely. Haha, you rain into a wall? And now you start seeing monkeys? Haha. I ran into a wall once…but it was in a haunted house, I had to go to the doctor because of a concussion. Haha. Thanks for the review.

DamselofDoom: Thank you very much for the compliment, it was very kind. I usually write AUs, of course, you'd never know that because I've only posted one. Haha. Thanks again.

Lonelylulaby: Oh thank you so much. I love you too! Hehe.

B.D. Gerretson: Thank you for the comment. There so nice to get. :D

Mikomi the youkai: Here you go, I'm sorry it's later than usual. I've been pretty busy. I hope you like it all the same.

Sanctuaryofsolitude: I love that word. "Toodles." It's a wonderful word. Thank you.

Angelic lily: :D Thank you! I want them to get arrested too. But I hardly ever know what's going to happen until I start to write the chapter. Hehe, thanks for the review.

XoKayeBabyoX: Just some random guy. Haha. There are a lot of desperate people out there. I hope to hear from you again. :)

Peoplekityo: Haha, you bet it's going to be okay:D

Blacklillygurl: Thanks for the review. They say that the hard things you go through only makes you stronger. :)

Kasatka: I'm sorry, that he can't get away. But…it only seems realistic that he would have to stay. But 7 months! I won't write about all those months though…haha…thank God, that would take forever.

TheyCallMeTaterSalad: I use to have AOL, I got rid of it. It was so crappy. I'm sorry about the lack of blood in there for you. I guess I just thought that it would get kind of redundant. But I'm sorry all the same.

Akina315: Oh you're review was so wonderful. I felt so happy that someone noticed that scene it took some research, so I had my nose in my mum's medical book all day. Haha.

Inuyasha05: The only person who can really handle this situation is himself. I hate to say that, but it's true. But no worries, he needs friends to back him up and he has some good ones. :D

Luv,angel-muzik,baby: Thanks for the concern. Thank you for the review and the pizza.

Hanako Horigome: She's a horrible mother, but that's why she's important. I'm glad your friend is doing well.

Angel61991: Thank you so much for being patient and for the reviews.

Kagome-Kill-kikyou: I'm sorry I made you cry, but it's getting better. Thanks.

Xianora: Nah, crying is good. We all need it every once in awhile. Thanks for the review.

Akarikagome: Thanks for the review. :D

Anonymoussssssss: Hehe, I'm glad you like it so much. Thanks.

DemonSaya: Hehe, that's okay. Thanks for the review. I've got like 89382043 people glomping Inuyasha, haha.

Avian Dincht: Haha, thanks for the review. It was really nice. I hope this wasn't too long of a wait.

CrazyScorpio: Aw thanks so much! You're so sweet. Hehe, I don't know about a movie deal, but that's a great idea. Haha. :D

Arbiter555: Haha, more angst? Okay. I left a review for all of you guys in my very first Author Note about Inuyasha's powers and all that jazz. So anyways, thanks for the review.

Lily: Thanks for the review, I'm happy you like it.

Review please, and thank you to all of you who did review.