Chapter 4

Kagome awoke to the sun shining into her bedroom. She was thankful that she had returned on the weekend- she'd have time to get ready for school, and to think over all that had transpired. She sat up and stretched her arms above her head, yawned, and then stood up. After dressing, she made her way downstairs for breakfast.

"Morning, Kagome!" her mother said in a bright, cheerful voice as she set down Kagome's breakfast on the table.

"Thanks, mom." Kagome replied as she began to eat her eggs.

"SIS! You're home! Yes!" Kagome smiled as her little brother Souta came barrelling down the stairs to eat. "SIS! Sis! When's Inuyasha coming back next? My birthday's coming up soon you know! I want him there! Sis. Sis? SIS? Heeeeeey, what's wrong? What, did you get in another fight with him? Who cares, you two'll make up later!" Souta rambled as he began stuffing his face with eggs. Kagome just sat there. What could she tell him? Tears welled up behind her eyes at the mentioning of Inuyasha's name.

"May I be excused?" she said in a shaky voice. It was then that Jii-Chan entered the kitchen to say hello to his beloved granddaughter.

"Eh! Kagome! You're home! Just in time! Look at my new sutras! Look at the scroll work! Ahhhhhh MAGNIFICENT!" he shrieked in kiddish delight. Kagome's mother looked at her crying daughter.

"Yes, honey. Maybe you could go see your friends- they might help cheer you up." her mother suggested. Kagome nodded and took her plate to the sink. "Oh, pish posh! Leave those for me!" her mother chimed. Kagome nodded again, and left the shrine.

"Moooooomm, what's wrong with Kagome?" Souta asked in his nagging voice. "She's always so grouchy when they have a fight." he mumbled as he picked at his eggs.

"Souta. Inuyasha can't come for your birthday." she sighed. He wouldn't take this well.

"What? Why?" Souta panicked. He needed Inuyasha there! Inuyasha was his role-model! His hero!

"Inuyasha and Kagome had a really big fight, Souta. It was so big... that Kagome has vowed not to go back again... and she can't. She doesn't have any shards- she gave them to another person. Inuyasha can't come here either. Kagome took off that necklace he always wore- it was what let him visit us. I'm so sorry, Souta." she frowned as she saw hurt in her son's eyes.

"Why? I don't understand! What could they fight about that was SO big and SO terrible that would make her act so crazy!" Souta cried. Jii-Chan interrupted.

"Good riddance! That demon was nothing but trouble!"

"Dad, you think everything is nothing but trouble." Kagome's mother said dryly. She turned to her son. "Souta, you remember your first love, Hitomi?" Souta smiled dreamily at the fond memory.

"Yeah! Inuyasha helped me get her! So did Kagome."

"Well, you see Souta, the way you felt about Hitomi is the way Kagome feels about Inuyasha."

"I KNEW IT! I SOOOOOOO KNEW THAT! I even asked Inuyasha before about it. He said there was nothing, they were friends. Boy did he lie!"

"No, Souta, he didn't. Inuyasha had no idea how Kagome felt. You see, Souta, Inuyasha is already in love with someone from his own time. With her there, Kagome never got to say how she felt. When she finally got up the courage, she found Inuyasha holding his love, telling her he loved her. That hurt Kagome more than any demon could." Souta couldn't believe it.

"I don't get it. Inuyasha already has a girlfriend? I thought he and Kagome were together... I guess not... but still... Inuyasha has to love Kagome! There can't be any other explanation!"

"Explanation for what, Souta?" his mother questioned.

"Well, I mean... you remember how silly and stupid I acted around Hitomi because I loved her?"

"Yes... I remember." his mother giggled at the memories of her son acting strange and worked up everytime Hitomi was mentioned.

"Stop mom, that's not funny! Anyways, what i'm saying is, I SWEAR that's how Inuyasha is around Kagome, or every time he talks about her. When I asked him if he had said 'I love you' yet to her, he spazzed out. He blushed, started to sweat, and just freaked out! What else could it be?" His mother sat there looking blank. He was right. Everytime Inuyasha visited he tried not to show that he was excited to see Kagome, but always failed.

"Who knows, Souta? Maybe you're right."

"I AM right, mom." Souta said harshly as he downed his orange juice.

I hope he is... I don't know if Kagome will survive this.

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"Oi, Kikyo. You can make some dinner- I have to scan the area for any dangers. Make this- I think you'll like it." Inuyasha smirked as he tossed the last of the ramn Kagome bought him to Kikyo.

"Inuyasha, why don't you do it? I'm tired, and i'm not hungry." Kikyo said.

"Your souls?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yes. The souls sometimes leave... I need more if I am to stay alive. I will be back soon." Kikyo replied as she headed north in search of lost souls to gather. Inuyasha sighed. She sure wasn't very cheery to travel with. Not like Kagome.

"Why am I thinking of her?" Inuyasha shook his head. He brought some water to a boil, and attempted to make some ramen. "Mkay. So I just tear off the lid... hmm... okay, that's done. Now what does Kagome do? Oh yeah, she puts it in the water."

After a good 5 minutes, Inuyasha had finished cooking his ramen- only to find it didn't taste very good. "Blech! What is with this? I made it the same way Kagome makes it..." he sighed. Kagome. If you were here, I wouldn't have made bad ramen. Keh, I can't even make food properly.

"What is that awful stench?" remarked Kikyo as she returned to the camp. Inuyasha sighed.

"I tried to make some ramen for you... seems i'm not that good of a cook." Inuyasha replied. Kikyo just sighed heavily.

"Honestly, Inuyasha. I said I wasn't hungry. What is ramen anyhow?" Kikyo asked. Inuyasha's eyes lit up.

"It's these noodles in a weird cup-thing that come in different flavours like beef or chicken from Kagome's time. I loved it, so she buys it for everyone to eat whenever she comes back." Inuyasha's ears drooped. She won't be coming back this time though... and I still don't understand why.

"'Kagome', eh? Well, it can't be good for you anyhow by the looks of it. I don't trust her era." Kikyo spat.

"It's actually really dangerous there too, but fun at the same time. Like Kagome has this boring thing called 'school' that she has to go to so she can learn a bunch of useless stuff to get a 'job' thing where she gets paid. Though they have amazing food! And the people can be so mean, but a lot of them are nice. Of course, I have to wear a hat when I go so my ears don't stick out because they don't have demons there. Kagome said i'd be locked away if they saw my ears! Kagome's mom and brother are really nice, but her grandfather isn't! He tries to kill me with sutras every time i'm there, shouting 'Demon!' all the time. And there's also this-"

"That is enough, Inuyasha. Stop speaking of this 'Kagome' girl- she's not worth your time, Inuyasha. You would have only left her anyways. Besides- her purification powers are not all they were cracked up to be." Kikyo retorted as she sat against the back of a tree. Inuyasha's ears drooped again, and his shoulders sank. How could she be so bitter? Kagome was amazing! She accepted him for who he was right away! Sure, they'd fight, but she was never afraid of him like most people. Even when he turned full youkai. He knew that Kikyo wouldn't like that form very much- she'd probably kill him to rid the world of his kind- but still... somehow she loved him and he loved her. Inuyasha crawled over and sat beside Kikyo, embracing her in a hug- something he'd do to comfort Kagome when she was in a bad mood. Though Kikyo was cold; dead- she wasn't warm and responsive like Kagome. Kikyo simply shoved Inuyasha away.

"Ki- Kikyo?" Inuyasha asked, looking into her soulless eyes.

"Honestly Inuyasha. You would think that a half-demon such as yourself would already get enough attention." Kikyo spat coldly. Inuyasha's face filled with sadness as he strode over to a nearby tree and climbed up in it to rest. Why did she turn me away? He asked himself so many questions. He thought she loved him. Maybe... maybe she was just in too bad a mood for a hug...

"Oi, Kikyo." Inuyasha called down.

"What is it, Inuyasha?" Kikyo said, not even bothering to look up.

"... i'm sorry about what happened between you and me. I swear i'll get Naraku for hurting us- especially for huritng you. If only... if only I had have been there to protect you... i'm sorry." Inuyasha replied.

"Protect me? Inuyasha, i'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Kikyo muttered. Inuyasha shrank against the bark. He had to admit, it was certainly less work with Kikyo- she could easily fend for herself- but somehow, she was so hard to talk to. She was always so bitter and distant- not like Kagome. Inuyasha always secretly liked having someone to protect, and he liked how she could talk about almost anything. Inuyasha shook his head. Why am I thinking about her? I have my love... Kikyo, here with me. That's all I need...

Isn't it?