TITLE: Cursed Twins

AUTHOR: InuYoukaiAki

DISCLAIMER: I do not own InuYasha and Co.

Author's Note: This is the edited chapters. Thank you to my wonderful beta who never tire of giving me advices, criticisms and encouragement. Thank you!

CHAPTER 10: Reasons

Define awkward, Kagome mused to herself as she stared at the odd group around her. She sighed for the umpteenth time as she observed her companions.

Her eyes first strayed to the twin demons situated at her right. They were standing at the opening of the cave on opposite sides. Kenji and Yoji were not speaking to each other. And she noticed that they would glare at each other from time to time. Kagome's brows drew together as she remembered that they had also been obviously avoiding her eyes. She blew at her bangs in frustration and looked at the tree to the right of the cave.

Myouga and Totousai where furiously whispering to each other. They would glance at the direction of the demons in the group or her and then nod in thought and then go back to furiously whispering to each other. It was frustrating to know that she was obviously one of the many topics of the two.

Her eyes then strayed to the hanyou beside her. He was uncharacteristically quiet as he sat very close beside her in his usual pose. He would once in a while glance at her before looking suspiciously at his half-brother or his father or his cousins. She also noticed the scowl on his face every time he caught her looking at the aforementioned demons. And yet he would not utter a single word but go back to his silent glowering.

Her eyes lifted to the group to her right. Her companions had arrived a few minutes after she got out of the cave. They had been shocked to see InuTaisho as well. When nobody seemed to move, they immediately ran to her to check if she was all right. Well, at least some do care about her. They had soon sat around her and stayed quiet as everyone seemed to have lapsed into their own thoughts. Inuyasha had then walked to her side and began his silent vigil.

Soon, her eyes strayed to the demon she had been avoiding looking at for the past hours. He had stayed on the boulder he was sitting on when she handed him the sphere. He had remained immobile and quiet, almost statue-like except for the occasional rolling of the small sphere. He had not said a word since she and InuTaisho came out of the cave. He only gave her a passing glance and looked at his father for a few seconds before looking at the sphere. He was effectively ignoring all of them, as if he was alone.

Finally, her eyes landed on the ancient demon lounging alone under the huge tree. She observed him carefully, there was an amused smirk on his face and yet she could see the sadness on the old demon's eyes. He was finally out of the cave and she imagined he had looked forward to seeing his sons. And she could understand the sadness. Neither Inuyasha nor Sesshoumaru had said a word to him. It must have been really painful to see them and not know exactly what to say. She sighed. Over the course of her meetings with him in her dreams, she had never seen this melancholy side of him. And admittedly, she had grown fond of the old demon and his fatherly attitude towards her. Kagome squared her shoulder and began to walk towards InuTaisho. She didn't like seeing him like this.

"Where are you going, wench?" Inuyasha growled at her.

Kagome whirled around in irritation. "Finally, he speaks!" she said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes. She turned back to the direction she had planned to go but was suddenly forced to stop when Inuyasha blocked her path.

"You did not answer my question, wench?" he glared at her.

Kagome's eyes sparked in irritation. "SIT!" she said simply with a raised eyebrow as she watched Inuyasha plummet to the ground. She noted with satisfaction as she walked towards InuTaisho that she had at least created a stir to the tensed atmosphere. Her eyes warmed as she looked at InuTaisho who was watching her approach. She smiled at him as she plopped down next to the great demon lord.

She was unaware of the narrowing of four pairs of eyes as they watched her fond smile at the old demon. They were quietly observing the two as InuTaisho returned the smile with his own.

"What's next?" Kagome said cheerfully as she gazed at InuTaisho's defined features. There were creases at the corner if his eyes as he returned her smile.

"You seem to be taking this rather well," he replied. "Are you ready?"

Kagome grinned widely. "Of course I am!" she said happily. "I know you'd be there for me, right?"

"Of course, little one," InuTaisho said, patting her head affectionately.

The endearment warmed Kagome's heart who had been longing to feel the love of a father. She pouted but her eyes twinkled in amusement. "I am not little," she said in a mock whine.

"Indeed you're not," InuTaisho said with a chuckle. He stood up and helped Kagome up. He watched patiently as Kagome dusted her clothes off.

"Where to, now?" Kagome asked as she rocked back and forth on her heels.

"Hey," Inuyasha interrupted. "Who said we're going with them?"

"And who said you're going with us?" Kenji shot back.

The cousins glowered at each other for a full minute before they both turned their gazes on Kagome who said in irritation.

"I don't care where the hell the two of you go," she said irritatedly as she tossed her hair from her face. "But I am definitely going with InuTaisho. Now, you decide where you go."

Inuyasha's face registered shock before his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What is going on between the two of you?" Inuyasha asked with a suspicious glint in his eyes.

Kagome gasped at Inuyasha's insinuation. Her eyes widened in disbelief and her face flared scarlet in embarrassment. She opened her mouth to express her indignation but she really did not know what to say. Inuyasha could really be stupid and dense at times. But to insinuate that she and InuTaisho have some kind of… Well… Man-Woman relationship was just too much. Her hands balled into fist and she looked at InuTaisho whose mouth was also set in a grim line. Her eyes went back to Inuyasha. He was still looking at them with that look in his eyes that told them clearly what he was thinking.

"Well?" he asked with a growl. He was tapping his foot impatiently, his arms hidden in his sleeves.

That was the last straw. "SIT!" Kagome screamed in anger. Inuyasha instantly plummeted to the ground, creating a huge crater. Kagome's anger made the spell stronger. "That is for your stupid accusations! SIT! And that is for having the nerve to ask that. SIT! And that one is for being so damn rude! I can't believe you even thought of that. Of all the stupid things…Argh!" Kagome screamed as she ran to the woods. She was just so angry with Inuyasha that she had lost all train of thought.

- - -

Sesshoumaru had watched the exchange between the miko and his father then between her and Inuyasha. It was really amusing.

He had exchanged smiles between the miko and his father. She was giving his father those warm smiles that she had also given him the past few days. It was evident that there was something between Kagome and InuTaisho. It was really unnerving to see the understanding and fondness between the two. And deep inside, Sesshoumaru felt something he could not describe as he watched the camaraderie of the two. It was as if there was a special bond between the two that only they know of. They were comfortable with each other and Sesshoumaru did not like it.

When Inuyasha asked the question that had been going on in his mind, he had stiffened very slightly. He was also asking himself the same thing, except that he was not thinking along the lines of Inuyasha's thoughts. He had watched the play of emotions in Kagome's face as she struggled to control her anger before losing that control completely. He had also observed his father's reaction to the question and he was quietly surprised to note that his father had been furious with the hanyou's insinuation. InuTaisho's claws had been ready to teach Inuyasha a lesson when Kagome had finally snapped.

He watched as she vented out her anger before running off into the woods. Kagome was just too impulsive. He gently shook his head and pocketed the sphere before going after Kagome. He did not know why he decided to follow her but he knew he should. He sniffed discreetly and was no longer surprised to smell the scent of salt. She was crying and he did not like it.

- - -

InuTaisho could not believe Inuyasha would think that way about him and Kagome. He had been angry and was about to give the boy his first disciplinary beating when Kagome did it for him, and quite effectively, too.

He watched as Kagome ran off to the woods. He knew there were many dangers even in the daylight and was about to follow her when he had felt Sesshoumaru go after her. He smiled secretly to himself at that. He had looked over to the twins who were also about to follow Kagome. Instantly, he gave them a warning look that had momentarily confused them. However, they had understood and were not about to disobey him.

His thoughts returned to the situation at hand. He looked at Inuyasha who was picking himself off the ground. The spell seemed to be more powerful when Kagome was angry. "You deserved that," he said casually when Inuyasha was already sitting. He was glowering at everyone who looked at him.

"Keh!" he said and sat stubbornly.

Kenji stalked over to them and punched Inuyasha. "You have no right to insult Kagome that way," he said angrily.

Inuyasha stood up angrily. "Mind your own business!" he said angrily.

"I wonder how she could stand you," Yoji said calmly.

"And what do you mean by that?" Inuyasha asked indignantly.

"You're not treating her the way she deserves to be treated," Yoji said calmly.

Inuyasha glared at them. "And what does she deserve?" he asked stubbornly.

"She deserves respect and care," Kenji interjected angrily. "Why she stays with you and endures your crap is really beyond me."

InuTaisho was starting to get amused. The twins were already caught. Hook. Line. Sinker. He suppressed the grin that was starting to spread. And he surmised that even Sesshoumaru was already caught. InuTaisho wondered when his heir would realize his feelings. And what Sesshoumaru would do once he realized it. Knowing Sesshoumaru, this would not be very easy.

"Because she really cares for Inuyasha," Sango interjected. "He may show otherwise but Inuyasha really cares for Kagome. He had protected her and they had been through so much already."

"Keh," Inuyasha spat. "I don't care about that stupid girl!"

Miroku grinned. "Stubborn as always," he remarked. "Then you would not mind that Sesshoumaru had gone after her."

Inuyasha's face registered surprise. "Why the hell would he go after her?" he asked.

"Maybe because Kagome needs someone right now," InuTaisho said quietly. But everyone caught the sadness in his voice. "I had thought it would be you who would give her the support she needs. I guess I was wrong."

- - -

Kagome sat miserably by the river. She sat on a smooth rock under a tree by the river's edge. Her long black hair tumbled over her shoulders. Her head was bowed as she looked at her reflection on the surface of the water. She looked at the girl staring back at her. She looked more like Kikyou now. Her face was now narrower and her hair longer. While Kikyou's hair was straight, hers was somewhat curly. And her eyes were blue while Kikyou's were brown.

She sighed as she touched her face, as if to assure herself that she was still staring at herself. "Why me?" she whispered hoarsely. "Who am I really?"

A tear fell down from her eye. It dropped silently to the water, creating a slight ripple on the calm surface of the water.

"You are Kagome," a quiet voice answered her question.

Kagome's head snapped up to look at the owner of the voice. She had no idea she looked like a cornered water nymph. "What are you doing here?" she whispered as her blue orbs locked with Sesshoumaru's gold ones.

He strolled gracefully towards her, his silver hair swaying along with the breeze. "Following you, obviously," he drawled.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because," he replied with finality as he sat gracefully beside her.

Kagome looked away from his perfect face. She looked across the river, looking at nothing at all. "I suppose you have a lot to ask me," she said ruefully. "To be honest, I'm not sure if I could answer your questions. I'm not even sure who I am anymore."

Sesshoumaru remained quiet beside her and she was thankful for that. She did not really know what to do. And she did not know what else to say. But she was sure of one thing. His presence somehow calmed her. And she was thankful for that.

- - -

He had found her by the river, looking at herself on the surface of the water. She had looked so lost and vulnerable. They had lapsed into a comfortable silence. He waited for her to speak first. Honestly, he did not know what to say. And so he stayed silent, like he always did.

"Why didn't you speak to your father?" she whispered.

Sesshoumaru was surprised to say the least. It was unexpected. "I did not know what to say," he replied, surprising even him.

He glanced at her. A sad smile was on her face. "I imagined he was also experiencing the same thing," she said. She turned her blue eyes on him. "It had been a long time since he saw all of you. And you're not the type to talk much."

"Hn," he replied noncommittally.

Kagome giggled. "See what I mean," she said. "Anyway, I guess that is none of my business." The sadness was back in her eyes.

"What troubles you?" he asked, getting to the point.

The miko sighed deeply. "Many things," she replied. "Things that I know nothing of… Things I'm not sure I understand… Things that I'm not even sure I believe… Things that involve me…"

Sesshoumaru could see the pain she was going through. "And Inuyasha," he said.

"Not really," Kagome said with a shrug. "I'm used to him by now. It's just that sometimes, even I get fed up."

"Then why do you stay with him?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Kagome looked at him. "Because I am the only one who understands him," she said solemnly. "And despite the way he treats me, he genuinely cares for my well-being. And I also care for him. He needs me. And right now, I am the only one he has."

He was not really sure why but the miko's words caused something to stir within him. She would never leave Inuyasha. They care for each other. It was unsettling that he should feel this way towards this revelation.

"You are loyal to the hanyou," he said coldly.

"You could say that," she answered with a smile.

Sesshoumaru stood up. He did not want to hear anymore. "Come, they will be worried," he said.

Kagome stood up and dusted herself before following him towards the direction of the cave where the others await their return.

- - -

"The miko and the Taiyoukai of the West," a menacing voice whispered as he watched the two disappear back towards their companions. "Interesting…"

End Chapter