A/N: First of all, thank you all for your continuing support. All of your comments and people who follow and favorite this story make me so happy! It gets me into the writing rush every single time!

The new chapter. I'm sorry this is late. Except from being sick (the flue, it was horrible), I had problems with logging in onto Fanfiction, not entirely sure why though, but it's here. The chapters have been a bit short, but if I include the next part of the story this chapter would be much too long (I don't think people would mind so much).

Anyway enjoy!

Please leave a review!

o.O.o

Chapter Twenty-Seven, Feelings

Black clouds sprawled across the sky, billowing in from the North and bringing the brassy glare of drains. Whimpering pitifully through clattering teeth, the small group of shards hunters moved quickly through the stinging rain. Everyone was soaked and even Kagome's umbrella had been little help. It had taken one good gust of wind for it to be rendered completely useless and Kagome's face had turned thunderous. Although, Chiharu certainly didn't like the way her hair plastered to her face or how her feet slugged away in the mud, yet, she enjoyed the heavy, dark and heady scent of the rain.

A low crackle of thunder, rolling across the tall copse of trees and for a moment Chiharu froze, staring at the sky. She counts the seconds it takes before another flash is visible and then counts the seconds for the crackle of thunder again.

"Guys," she started quickening her pace and stepping up next to Inuyasha. "We have to find shelter. Running around in a forest will only stack the odds at getting hit by lightning."

The pale-haired Hanyō glared frostily at her and Chiharu sighed. She answered his glare with a cold, annoyed look and Inuyasha averted his gaze after a few seconds. As if Kami himself agreed with her, a loud boom rolled across the valley and the earth shook. The bought of trees swayed in the wind the downpour of rain intensified. Rain lashed against them like bullets, stinging her bare skin and running across her cheeks in down her throat. It made the mark on the side of her neck sting in an irritated way.

"Inuyasha?"

"Yes, all right, lets find shelter." He snapped. "I get it. There is a village nearby."

He turned to Mirōku, who was fully engrossed at staring at Sango's behind and had absolutely not been listening to the conversation. "Oi Bozu, there is a village less than a mile away. You think you can do your trick."

At the prospect of shelter (and possible women), Mirōku's sour face lightened up and he nodded. "Why of course, Inuyasha. I'm after all a simple Monk and—"

"Yeah, whatever Mirōku." Inuyasha interrupted and he steered them down a small muddy path towards a clearing. As they crested the hill before them, they watched out over a valley. Starting down the valley, ignoring the growling thunder, they passed the large grid of rice paddies. Chiharu heard Kagome take in a sharp breath when the huts and the larger houses, clustered together, came into view.

"Thank Kami," Sango whispered and Chiharu smiled up at her, "Good job, Chiharu-chan."

"Thank you," she answered happily, swatting at a long lock of hair plastering against her cheek. The village huts grew larger and larger and Chiharu grinned in earnest now, sharing Sango's excitement. The trees began to thin and the light was changing, yet the gloominess of the rain remained. They quickened their pace, trees behind had already turned into vague dark smudges in the haze.

"I'm so glad to sleep with an actual roof over our heads." Sango whispered and Chiharu nodded. She felt exhausted and although that had little to do with physical exhaustion and more to do with emotional exhaustion, she felt like a good night's sleep might do wonders.

She carefully peeked at Kagome's face. It had been almost two weeks since Chiharu's older sister found out about the kiss and things between them had been strained. Kagome watched every interaction between her and Inuyasha like a hawk and wouldn't listen to any of their explanations that it had meant nothing. Of course, Inuyasha's explanations hadn't been all that helpful explaining in his usual gruff manner that Chiharu wasn't Kikyō, so Kagome had nothing to worry about (that sentence got him sat multiple times). Either way, the act had put a strain on their usually so carefree relationship and Inuyasha — who had been essentially at fault — had started to close himself off. Apparently, sitting him for everything didn't earn Kagome points and she felt bad that she might have been the catalyst that destroyed their relationship.

As they neared an elderly man, who, from the way he was dressed, appeared to be the town's head approached them warily. Chiharu felt a prickle at the edges of her senses and she felt a muscle in her cheek tense. Ever since she had told Sesshōmaru off, he had fallen back on his super-stalker mode. He was not heard (not seen either), but she sensed him either way. She didn't really think he was doing so much to keep the tendrils of his youki a secret and she shivered when it brushed against her magical essence.

"Are you all right, Chiharu-chan?" Sango asked while Mirōku started to explain why he thought it was wise to let them stay.

Chiharu smiled watery. "I'm fine."

'I'm just noticing Stalker-Sesshōmaru staring at me…'

It took Mirōku a small ten minutes convincing the town's head to let them stay as guests in exchange for ofuda's of good fortune. Chiharu had never understood how he always managed to secure the largest house for them to stay in, but after another ten minutes they were all settled on the wooden floor of one of the larger houses with a small fire crackling in the middle.

Chiharu slowly settled before the hearth and rubbed her hands over her shins. Her pale skin was almost blue from the cold and her hands twitched from the bone-chilling temperature induced by the shower of rain.

"That escalated quickly," Kagome remarked, teeth clattering. The sleeveless tank-top and the short school skirt not very adequate against the heavy rainfall. Her scarlet push-up bra Chiharu hadn't known she owned was visible through the thin, rain-soaked fabric. Mirōku's eyes kept darting to her breasts.

"Yes," Chiharu nodded, shaking her head, trying to dislodge the excess of water clinging to its ends. "Mirōku, keep your eyes to yourself."

The monk at least had the decency to look ashamed, but his eyes kept returning to Kagome's twin-peaks, until she crossed her arms over her chest. Inuyasha is too annoyed to realise their predicament and as he shrugged out of his Haori, the elderly man came to fetch Mirōku.

Chiharu tried to focus on the sound of the rain, pelting down on the roof. Shippō babbled happily about his crayons and Kagome stole a peak at Inuyasha. She seemed to think the red bra was something she had over him. He furiously ignored her.

Outside a gust of wind rustled through the towering fields of long grass and scuttled through the leaves of the trees. The rain continued to pelt down on the muddy earth and Kagome glared at her. As if his disintrest was her fault as well.

Perhaps it is.

She stared out of the small, smudged window. The dark shape of Mirōku's form was out there performing a dubious exorcism and Kagome quietly started to tend to dinner. She settled a pan with water over the fire with a harsh frown and from the looks of it she was cooking ramen. They usually ate Ramen and Chiharu internally grimaced. Even though, Chiharu had never disliked the dish, but she was getting rather sick of it. It made her stomach roll in disgust.

Dinner passed by without much talking. Chiharu shovelled her dinner down and afterwards moved to the other end of the room, starting to go through the process of polishing her katana. Tōtōsai had explained — more like demanded — that polishing his sword should be a daily routine. Unless, and his large eyes had glared at Inuyasha who seemed to have enough sense to keep his mouth shut, she wanted the sword to break down.

She rubbed the rather obnoxious smelling wax into the flat of the blade and glared when Inuyasha dumped Tetsusaiga at her lap as well. "Don't go to easy on the second layer."

She gave him a half-hearted glare but never really told him off. She didn't mind doing it and had already done it so often, it wasn't like it took long. Kagome sat near the fire, combing her fingers through Shippō's hair. The poor child didn't really understand what was going on. He had come to accept that when Kagome and Inuyasha quarrelled it was usually Inuyasha's fault — which Chiharu didn't think was all that fair — but with Chiharu thrown in the mix, he had no idea what he should do or say.

She sighed, wiped her hands off on a bluish cloth and stuffed her waxing materials away. Rain splattered off loudly against the roof and she peeked through the window. The rice paddies were barely visible and the sky had turned so black it looked like someone had opened an ink bottle and spilled it into the sky. She breathed in sharply and closed her eyes. The damp, night air was strong and the sound of the pitter-patter outside settled her nerves a bit. She listened as her companions went through the motions of getting ready to bed and watched them when they fell asleep.

All but Inuyasha.

His amber eyes glowed slightly in the darkness and he met her gaze from the other side of the room. Chiharu gave a sideway glance at the peaceful features of their companions and raised an eyebrow in silent question when Inuyasha's gaze remained fixed to her face.

"Is something the matter?"

He snorted gruffly and she pursed her lips. "Inuyasha?"

"How long before Kagome accepts nothing really happened?" He asked, more like demanded and she ran her tongue across her teeth.

"I don't know."

"You're her sister—"

"Well, you fight far more often with her than I do."

He sneered at her and she slowly got up and tiptoed towards him. "Honestly, Inuyasha. She's upset. Just give her some space."

"I'm sick and tired of giving her space."

"What do you mean?" She asked him hurriedly.

"You told Sesshōmaru you couldn't do it anymore." He told her and she felt her mouth slack open.

"You followed me?"

He nodded sheepishly and cocked her head to the side. "Yes, of course I followed you. Usually you two fight like cat and dog. My arsehole brother isn't exactly known for his patience with humans. Either way, besides the point, you told him you couldn't do this anymore and I understood. The Bastard is unreasonable at every turn and you grew sick of it and I just— I just understood."

She was unsure when Inuyasha had grown up. He had always been so boyish. He reacted on every insult and exploded on the smallest sparks, igniting his temper. Yet, right now, he only looked very tired. "I'm not entirely sure—"

"You told him you couldn't do it anymore and you and he weren't even courting. I'll admit nor were Kagome and I, but when you said it I realised something…"

She didn't like where this was going and felt her spine stiffen. "What do you—"

"I cannot be with someone who constantly abuses a power she was given over me when I lost control." He decided coldly.

"You got this all from me telling your crazy half-brother off?" She asked him exasperated. "I mean. He's not like my sister…"

"No, of course not, you dimwit." He hissed back. "But it made me realise that what I feel and what I want to feel is not the same."

"You don't love her?"

"I do," he nodded, his cheeks reddening and he shot her a look that told her without words he would definitely harm her, if she were to tell her sister about this, "but I wouldn't have if she hadn't looked like Kikyō."

"That's a horrible—"

"Oh shut up." He snapped back. "You know I'm right. You've always known what I want and feel. That's why you are such an annoying little—"

"I'm almost jealous of Kagome's ability to sit you six feet under." She interrupted him dryly. He glared at her and Chiharu eased in a more comfortable position. Curling her arms around her knees and leaning her chin on her forearms. She watched from the window as the their footprints in the mud were washed away by the unrelenting downpour. Yet, in the distance clouds had dispersed, revealing the soft moonlight and a dark endless horizon studded with stars.

"What is it what you really want?" She finally asked when Inuyasha remained silent. "I might understand a lot, but I can't read your mind."

"I don't think I can do this anymore." He told her oddly serious and she gaped at him, not immediately understanding the meaning of his words.

"But she loves you—" Chiharu started, unsure of what she could say but Inuyasha shook his head. His amber eyes remained fixed on Kagome's sleeping form. They momentarily sat in silence and Chiharu picked at a loose thread in her hakama. Sagging against the wall, she chewed on her lower lip. It didn't take long before Inuyasha got restless again and got slowly to his feet. She stared up at him with wide eyes and he met her gaze unwavering.

"I sometimes wish that I met you first."

He left her sitting there with wide eyes and her shoulders locked together. She wasn't really sure what he meant with that. No, that was a lie. She had understood that Inuyasha, who never had many friends and people he could trust, had latched onto Kagome who was always selflessly nice to everyone. And now, that he had gotten used to all those people surrounding him, he'd grown tired of the girl. She wanted to believe that, but she knew it wasn't. Had he finally grown tired of the arguments? Finally grown tired of the sitting? She felt horrified. Was this her fault?

She didn't sleep that night.

To be continued...

A/N: Next update upcoming Thursday. Stay tuned

If you enjoy Harry Potter OC stories check out my new story Sins and Roses. I'll start uploading that story upcoming Monday. And for those who about my other stories (I've got a few questions about it):

- Crimson Peak: will be continued upcoming Wednesday
- Silver Lining will be resumed and renewed at the beginning of May
- Misplaced: I've got a writers block. I'm completely stuck how to go on T.T
- Through My father's eyes: in the process of being fixed from bugs. I expect to be able to continue at the end of April.