Inuyasha walked down the halls, heading towards the gym. Kagome was supposed to meet them after practice, yet she never showed up. He had left Miroku and Sango out front by his car. Ever since Kagome had that talk with Sango, those two had been flirting and having a few dates since then.
Being around them while they were laughing, flirting, and occasionally making funny faces, Inuyasha had to wonder if he and Kagome were like that.
'Nah.'
Nearing the gym, he noticed most of the girls were beginning to walk out. He saw Ayame walking out with Kouga, slinging her bag over his shoulder.
"Hey Ayame!" Ayame and Kouga turned to Inuyasha as he was jogging up to them.
"Hey Inuyasha." Kouga gave him a bored expression.
"Hey Dog-turd." Inuyasha smirked and flipped him off, turning to face Ayame.
"Hey um, is Kagome still in there?" Ayame shook her head, her pigtails swaying.
"No. She never even went to practice. But if you see her, tell her I need to talk to her, okay?" Inuyasha nodded as the couple left him.
'Where the heck is Kagome? It's not like her to skip practice. She doesn't even skip practice for me!'
He pouted as he made his way back out front, looking around the halls just in case he saw her around.
"So, what do you say?" Sango blushed lightly as she bit her lip.
"I dunno…" Miroku widened his eyes.
"You don't know?" Sango giggled as she punched his arm lightly, but Miroku grabbed her fist and brought it to his lips, kissing it ever so gently while looking at Sango, making her blush and smile.
"C'mon, you know you want to." Sango laughed as she took her hand back and brought her hands together.
"I guess I could…for a while."
Miroku's eyes widened once more as he smiled, feeling his soul sore up into the sky. He brought his hands to her waist and brought her to him, Sango's giggles making him want to die out of happiness instantly.
"Wait a minute…for a while?" Sango put her hands on his chest and smiled.
"Maybe, unless you can convince me." Miroku smirked.
"I'll do anything for you, Sango." Sango blushed and looked down, her smile brightening up her image.
Miroku placed his hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his. He slowly and carefully, kissed her lips. Sango felt like melting into his embrace, her hands slowly making their way up to wrap around his neck.
"Hey! Has Kagome come around?"
Sango immediately pushed herself from Miroku, blushing madly. "Miroku!" Before he knew it, Sango had hit him on the head.
Miroku groaned as he rubbed his head and glared at Inuyasha walking towards them.
"You my friend, have the worst timing." Inuyasha waved him off.
"Feh! Sorry to ruin your make-out but I-" A red-faced Sango cut him off, waving her hands in front of her.
"We weren't making out!" Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. Look, has Kagome come around?" Miroku and Sango glanced at each other.
"No, we haven't seen her." Sango creased her brows.
"Isn't she in practice?" Inuyasha shook his head, crossing his arms.
"No, I checked." Sango hugged her arms and looked around the nearly empty parking lot.
"Where could she have gone? She never misses practice." Miroku tapped his finger on his chin.
"Maybe she felt sick or something." Inuyasha glared at him.
"Don't you think she would've told either one of us?" Sango nodded.
"He's right. Kagome would've said something." Inuyasha sighed.
"Well, it ain't no use standing around. I'm gonna go check if she's home. You guys want a lift?" Sango shook her head, reaching in her pocket for change.
"Wait, let me call first."
The three friends walked to the payphone in front of the school office. Sango put her change in and dialed her friend's number. If her friend wasn't home, then it was a good time to be worried.
"Hello?" Sango smiled at the warm voice.
"Hi Ms. Higurashi! It's Sango."
"Hello Sango, what are you up to these days?" Sango smiled, Kagome's mother was like her very own.
"Nothing much. Um, Kagome-" Ms. Higurashi interrupted Sango quickly with motherly warmth.
"Oh, don't worry about it dear. Kagome already called and said she'd be late from practice." Sango felt an easiness in her stomach, she frowned.
"R-really? She called?"
"Yes dear. She advised me that if she hadn't called, that you would later on. Thank you for looking out for her." Sango giggled nervously.
"Heh, sure. Um, call you later." She heard Kagome's mother laugh heartily.
"Okay dear, you be careful, bye-bye." Sango kept her frown.
"Bye."
Sango hung up the phone and glanced at Miroku and an impatient Inuyasha.
"Well, what'd she say?" Sango didn't like the urgency his voice, and spoke carefully.
"She's not home. Her mom said that she called ahead of time, saying that she'd be late from practice." Inuyasha looked like he was about to bust a nerve.
"But she didn't go to practice!" Miroku sighed.
"Calm down Inuyasha. She probably went…"
Sango and Inuyasha stared, waiting for him to finish.
"Uh…okay, I don't know. But if she called ahead, then maybe she didn't…want us to know where she went?" Sango rolled her eyes as Inuyasha growled.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Miroku glared then turned to Sango.
"Sango, you're her best-friend, shouldn't you know where she would have gone?" Sango placed her hands on her hips, frowning.
"We're not exactly joined at the hip, you know!"
Miroku and Inuyasha gave her a look saying, 'R-i-i-ght'. Sangosighed.
"I don't know where she could've gone, I'm sorry." Inuyasha sighed in agitation.
"I'm going to go find her. No use standing around." Sango turned and called.
"Wait Inuyasha." Inuyasha turned and rose a brow.
"What?"
"What if she just wants to be alone. I mean, I know Kagome enough that she's always around us, and if not us, someone else. Maybe something happened today and she's not ready to deal with anyone yet." Miroku nodded.
"That sounds reasonable. Strange, but reasonable." Inuyasha glanced away, feeling a piece of his heart break.
"Why wouldn't she say anything? It's not like her." Sango smiled gently, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I know Kagome enough that she doesn't say everything. Don't worry." Inuyasha glanced at Sango then turned away.
'Like your secret about the rape…damn.'
"Fine. Do you guys want a ride?"
Sango and Miroku agreed on the lift, all heading towards his car.
It wasn't dark, but she knew it would be soon.
Kagome was sitting on the grass, her arms around her legs as she stared at the tombstone ahead of her.
'Daddy…'
Thinking about Sango's secret had taken a toll on her. She just wanted to be alone to think, and the cemetery, sitting by her father's grave, was the best place just for that.
She leaned her head on her shoulders, her vision blurring with tears.
'Why do some guys do that, daddy? Why do they have to be so hurtful?'
She felt like a child, crying out for her daddy's protection.
'I wish you were here…'
She cried some more until she felt the crisp of the cool air sweeping by. She looked up towards the sky, noticing the sun was going to set. She sighed as she stood, walking over to stand over her father's tombstone. She leaned down to place a gentle kiss on the stone and walked off.
Inuyasha was pacing all around the house. He couldn't stand to just sit around to wait for Kagome to call or wait till tomorrow to see her.
Rin was walking around, holding a stuffed white dog when she bumped into Inuyasha.
"Hi Inuyasha! Want to play with me and fluffy?" Inuyasha peered down at his niece and smirked.
"Fluffy, huh? I thought the REAL fluffy was in the study." Rin gave him a puzzled stare.
"The study? Oh, no. I've got Fluffy right here, Lord Sesshomaru is in the study."
Inuyasha sighed as the girl refused to get the joke. He patted her on the head and walked to kitchen.
Taking out a bottle of water, he sat on the counter and thought.
'Where are you Kagome? What is it that you couldn't tell me?'
Rin came walking up to Inuyasha with a confident look on her face.
"Inuyasha? Will you take me to get some ice-cream?" Inuyasha rose his brow.
"Ice-cream? I dunno Rin, it's getting a little cold outside." Rin angrily pouted.
"I asked Lord Sesshomaru and HE said it was okay." Inuyasha grinned and stood up.
"Fine. But if you get sick, Sesshomaru better not blame this on me."
Rin jumped in excitement and ran to get her Fluffy.