Learning the Truth

Stretching out on her bed staring at the glow in the dark stars on her ceiling, Kagome smiled at how good her life has been since falling into the well and meeting Inuyasha.

Her make-up assignments and exams for school were almost completed, thanks to her mom and friends bringing home the schoolwork for her.

Still, her professors threaten to fail her on attendance alone if she didn't start making an effort to come to class. I guess they stopped believing grandpa's excuses that I am sick all the time, Kagome thought as she giggled to herself. I would too. I mean what seventeen years old suffers from osteoporosis.

One professor suggested she take a G.E.D course so she can finish high school early and not have to struggle to pass one last year. But that is not how she wanted to finish high school, she wanted to walk across stage and make her family… her father proud of her for not take the easy way out.

Letting out a small sigh, Kagome thought about how understanding and supportive her mom has been since finding out she travels back in time through the well. She buys the gang and me supplies and listen to me grumble about Inuyasha and she never complains. She has been my best friend and role model since dad died. Mom is amazing and I owe her more then she can ever imagine.

Then there is Inuyasha. It has been almost three years since they first met and it never ceases to amazes her how pigheaded and rude he could be sometimes. But then he has these days were he is the most understanding hanyou and puts everyone's needs before his own.

God, he is a walking ball of confusion and she was completely head over heals in love with him. To bad the feelings were only one sided. How could she possibly fill the shoes of his precious Kikyo? Who ever thought I would be competing with a dead women over a half demon. Kagome thought as she laughed at her predicament.

She should be heading back to the Feudal Era already. Lord knows if she wasn't back before sundown, not only would Inuyasha hunt her down and drag her back, but he would never let her return back to her home when she wanted too.

Hearing a tapping at her door, Kagome slightly lifted her head to see her brother standing nervously at her door. He looks more and more like father as he gets older.

"Hey Souta, what's up?" Kagome said cheerfully, as she pushed aside memories of her father too sit up with her back against her pillows and her legs stretched out on her bed.

"Kagome, can I… um…speak with you for a minute," Souta said, looking tired and sad. As if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Yeah, Souta come in. What's wrong?" Kagome asked, seeing her little brother's nervousness.

Closing the door behind him, Souta slowly made his way to Kagome's bed and sat down. Looking around his sister's room he noticed that her yellow backpack was slightly open near her window, already packed with supplies and extra clothes.

"Are you going back to the Feudal Era today?" Souta asked, a little sad his sister was leaving so soon.

"Later on tonight. Why?"

"Nothing…um…Kagome…uh… momneedsyourhelp." Souta said so fast that Kagome almost didn't understand him.

"What? What kind of help? Is she sick?" Kagome questioned him, a little confused about what her brother was trying to tell her.

"No. It's the Shrine; mom is going to lose the Shrine if she doesn't pay some guy money."

"What are you talking about Souta, we own the Shrine. Momma doesn't have to pay anyone money," Kagome stated. Not liking what she was hearing, she quickly jumped out of bed to pace back in forth in front of her younger sibling.

"I don't know sis, I over heard grandpa and mom talking to this guy. They told mom if she didn't pay the money soon, they were going to take the shrine.

"Souta, you know you are not supposed to listen to other people's conversation. You probably misunderstood what was being said," Kagome screamed, as she stopped in front of her little brother to poke him in his nose. He had her worrying over nothing. He probably caught a piece of a conversation and made up the rest.

"I wasn't ease dropping, promise! I was coming down for dinner when I heard them talking in the kitchen," Souta said in a panic rush. He didn't want to be in trouble with his mom or his sis.

"When did you hear this?" Kagome asked, unconvinced with her brother protested.

"Several days ago, just before you came back home."

"But why would mom need to pay? It doesn't make any sense. I'm sure you must have misunderstood." Kagome said more to herself then to Souta. And why didn't she come and tell me.

Souta couldn't answer he just stared at his sister with unshed tears in his eyes. Seeing his face cloud over with worry, Kagome kneeled downed to look into her brother's big chocolate eyes.

"Look Souta, I don't know what is going on around here but I promise to find out and make it right. You have nothing to worry about," Kagome said in her most gentle and motherly voice. "Now, go play".

Nodding his head slowly, Souta jumped in her arms and gave her a quick hug and left. He knew his sister would be able to help.

Standing up slowly, Kagome still felt confused about what Souta just told her. There had to be a reasonable explanation for what Souta heard and she was going to find out as soon as her mother came home. Deciding that the Feudal Era can wait, Kagome grabbed her yellow backpack and headed downstairs to wait for her mother to return home.

Sitting by the fire in Kaede's small wooden hut, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kaede ignored Inuyasha as he paced back in forth out side, ranting and raving as to why Kagome was not back yet.

"Would you like some more rice Miroku?" Sango asked as she passed Shippo another bowl of food.

"Why yes Lady Sango. Thank you", Miroku said as he inched his way closer to Sango, trying to give her his sexiest smile.

"How long do you think Inuyasha is going to stay out there pacing?" Shippo asked, wondering why Inuyasha won't just come inside the hut and wait like the rest of them.

"Until Kagome comes back or he decides to get her, which ever comes first," Miroku stated casually as he stretched his arms over his head and slowly lowered them behind Sango.

"Well, if liking a girl makes a guy that grouchy then I am never going to like girls or have a mate!" Shippo said as he continued to eat his food. I do wish mommy Kagome hurry's back soon too though. The small fox demon silently thought.

"Oh, young Shippo, you'll understand when you get older. Love can make people do crazy things. Miroku said closing his eyes and smiling as he slowly rubbed Sango's rear end.

He never saw Sango raise her hand to strike his face but he felt tiny explosions as her hand made contact with his right cheek. "You perverted monk keep your damn hands to yourself!" Sango screamed, as she rose from her seat by the fire toward Kaede, who was busy making creams and antidotes for their next journey.

"Well, I can tell that my presence is not wanted here so I will just keep Inuyasha company," Miroku said as he slowly stood up from his spot by the fire to see if Inuyasha would like some of the food that Sango prepared. He was also trying to give Sango some room before she decided to hit him again for just being in the hut.

Going through the bamboo mat that Kaede uses for a door, Miroku stepped outside and allowed the cool air to sooth his swollen cheek. Looking around he notice that the aggravated hanyou was no were insight. I guess he decided to drag Kagome back instead. Miroku thought as he walked to the stream instead of going back inside the hut too endure Sango's death glare.

Running through the forest with his long white hair whipping behind him, Inuyasha headed straight for the rotten well. He was determined to drag Kagome back whether she is ready to go or not. She was supposed to be back before sundown and she still hasn't return. That damn wench knows I hate to be kept waiting, we have sacred jewel shards to look for and we can't find them unless she is here with us. Reaching the well, Inuyasha jumped into the well and let the flow of time take him to Kagome.

Leaping out of the well, Inuyasha jumped the stairs that led to the Shrine doors and stopped. He didn't need to smell Kagome to know she was home, he could hear her yelling for where he stood. The rising sound of her voice and the hurt that came from it was enough to subdue his anger.

Slowly sliding the shrine doors open, Inuyasha walked toward the already open kitchen door were the sound of two voices arguing became louder. Peering in through the doorway Inuyasha saw Kagome. Her face was downcast and her hands were gripping the kitchen counters so hard that her knuckles were almost white.

"How could you not tell me? I am still part of this family," Kagome screamed as she whipped around to face her mother. "I have a right to know"! Just then Inuyasha entered and said her name so softy that Kagome stopped mid rant.

Kagome tore her eyes from her mother's distraught face to look towards the floor. A part of her felt ashamed that Inuyasha caught her yelling at her mother but this conversation was past its pleasantries when her mother admitted to keeping this information from her on purpose.

"Leave Inuyasha," Kagome said dangerously low, as she lowered her hands to her sides to ball them into a tight fist.

"Not until you come back with me," Inuyasha said with his usual cocky attitude. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest but his face was filled with concern.

"I am not going back right now. If you haven't notice I am busy," Kagome stated trying to get her anger under control.

"Kagome… I told you everything. So how about you leave with Inuyasha tonight. It will give us a chance to calm down and… we can think of a solution together when you come back. Ok?" Mrs. Higurashi stammered as she walked towards to her daughter.

Without saying a word, Kagome turned around and walked out the kitchen door and straight pass Inuyasha. Her faced showed no emotion, which worried Inuyasha. Usually, she would be crying but her eyes didn't even show a hint of tears.

Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's backpack, which was sitting by the door. He looked up at Mrs. Higurashi but she was looking straight passed him to the door where her daughter just existed. Tears streamed down her face yet she didn't make a sound. It wasn't until Inuyasha was half way to the shrine when he heard her let out a cry that would of broke his heart…if he cared.