Disclaimer- Alright. This is my last disclaimer because I'm sick and tired of putting these things up, and don't think it's necessary seeing as how all eight of the previous chapters have disclaimers, so there.

Chapter Nine- Problems, Heartache, and One Depressing Rainy Day

Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She just sat in a state of shock, silent tears beginning to roll down her cheeks. The well had still refused her passage. She was trapped here, unable to return to the Feudal Era. It was a nightmare in the waking world. Then suddenly, her silent world of drowning sorrow was shattered.

"Kagome? Kagome where are you?" It was Senshozsu, back from the toiletries. She couldn't face him like this; no she was a total wreck.

Kagome wiped the tears off her face and stood, brushing away the excess dirt on her jeans. She waited a moment to answer, drawing in a few deep breaths and regaining her composure. Or rather, what was left of it. If Senshozsu asked her about coming back for a lost boyfriend, she would go to pieces.

"I….I'm down here!" Kagome looked up the well and watched as a face popped over the side, a startled expression clearly visible on its face.

"Kagome! What are you doing down there? Are you okay?" Senshozsu's voice echoed down, and only a deaf man wouldn't be able to hear the worry laced in it.

"I'm fine! I just……came to get something!" Kagome turned and dropped to her knees, snatching a jewel shard from her purse and rubbing it in the dirt.

Senshozsu helped Kagome out of the well and glanced at her hand balled up around something. "So, what was so important that you needed to bury in the bottom of that well?" His eyes were lit with curiosity.

"Just this." Her voice was emotionless as she restrained herself from weeping. 'The Feudal Era…..that's what was so important. And now………and now I am not able to return.'

Senshozsu eyed the little jewel shard, a puzzled look crossing his face. "What's that?"

"It's a jewel shard. It's the only thing that links me to my old friends now….." Kagome replied, not realizing quite fully what she had said.

"What? Your old friends? I thought they lived here." Senshozsu gave her a puzzled look.

"Huh? Oh yeah…..right. Never mind…." Kagome turned and walked out of the well house, leading the way down to Senshozsu's car.

"Are you sure you're okay Kagome?" A voice called from behind.

"I'm fine!" she feigned a cheerful smile, "so let's go visit my other friends, okay?"

"Yeah, sure….." Senshozsu replied slowly, not quite certain what to make of Kagome's sudden mood change. And he saw right through that fake smile, it wasn't very convincing.

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Inuyasha sat grumpy as ever in the boughs of the Goshinboku. Shippo had pissed him off yet again, and he had come here to blow off steam. Again. Now, ever since his little 'revelation' Inuyasha had slowly been returning to himself. He didn't look like the walking dead anymore, but his eyes were still pretty much lifeless. They didn't even hold that stubborn fire in them like before. His eyes had become like solid, unfeeling orbs of gold. Gold that had no light to make it shine.

Yes, when people say that yours eyes are the key to your heart, they really mean it. His heart was emotionless, hard once more, and it bore no fire or determination. He had nothing to fight for, so there was no point in his life. Inuyasha was just a wandering soul, battered and beaten, sad and lonely without a purpose. But there was no way that's how he was going to be on the outside!

He had to stay alive, he had to be as normal as possible for his friends' sake……and his. If he kept on going like the walking dead, he would soon be one. Without any ability to walk. And if Kagome were to ever return, he wouldn't be there to see her again, and his other friends would have to tell her that he had died of heartbreak….because of her. No, he was going to live as long as he possibly could and await the return of his Kagome. And yes, he had accepted the fact that whenever he said 'his Kagome', he really meant it and didn't argue with himself about it.

Inuyasha dropped out of the tree and wandered aimlessly……until he realized that is aimless wandering had brought him to the Bone Eaters well. Big mistake. A sharp pain wracked his body and he dropped to his knees, gripping his torso. It was just too much….he had to get away from here before he went insane from the shock. He never expected it to hurt this much when he thought about that night…..the night when Kagome left him. Inuyasha leapt to his feet and ran as fast as he could away from the well. His mind reeled and his vision swam, but he kept on running. Unbeknownst to him tears were streaming down his emotionless face.

Finally he stopped by a river running with fresh water. As soon as he reached the bank he wretched. After he wiped the bile from his mouth and drank away the foul taste in his mouth he sat and stared dumbly at the crystal clear water. He had been in so much emotional pain that it had made him sick. And he didn't even know it was coming. A shiver ran down his spine at the thought and he dunked his head in the water before him. The cold soothed him, and Inuyasha finally stopped trembling.

'Note to self: do NOT go back to the well. Ever.' Inuyasha began to walk back to the village, but he could still feel the aftershock from the pain spasm. His torso ached, and he walked slowly so that it would go away before he reached the village. 'Maybe…..yes, I will go back someday. But not soon, I don't think I can handle that a second time…' Inuyasha took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Was he really that devastated by Kagome's disappearance? So much that the emotional pain physically hurt him?

Inuyasha finally arrived at the village, and thankfully the ache had dulled to a slight twinge. It still baffled him that the sight of the Bone Eaters Well had caused such distress. It was odd to him, really. He looked to the sky, and noted the dark purple-gray clouds roiling overhead. The air was humid, warm, and still as death. This was going to be some storm indeed. Inuyasha made his way to Kaedes, avoiding all eye contact with the villagers. Ever since Kagome had left, they always acted suspicious and shifty around him. Maybe they thought that it was his fault that she was gone. Maybe it was.

"Inuyasha! Hurry up, Kaede says a storm's coming!" Shippo eyed the clouds and grinned, "And I don't doubt it!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and entered the hut. It always seemed darker without Kagome there to brighten it up. Alas, he couldn't go one day….no, one hour without thinking about Kagome! What had his life come to?! Inuyasha simply shook his head and sat down, enjoying the heated banter coming from Sango and Miroku. Ah, they truly fought like a married couple. And no doubt they'd be one once Naraku was gone. But, they couldn't get rid of him without the jewel. And Kagome had the jewel shards they had collected so far. 'Kagome….'

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Kagome had taken Senshozsu to visit her friends, and then they headed home. The drive was utterly quiet, and when Senshozsu ever attempted conversation, Kagome would just answer with 'huh' or 'yeah, sure'. So after a while sir driver the ever talkative gave up and stared blankly at the road before him. Kagome simply waved a goodbye when she exited the car and started up the porch steps.

"Hey Kagome, are you sure you're okay?" Senshozsu called from behind. Why couldn't he just leave her alone?

"I'm fine Senshozsu. Bye." Kagome slammed the door to the house and ran to her room, ignoring the tears that flooded her eyes and blurred her vision.

Kagome collapsed on her bed in a fit of sobbing. She wasn't going back. The well had blocked her out, and Inuyasha would never know how much she cared. Nor would he know why she had left, and he probably hated her. Ah, life was so good. Full of wonderful surprises, and every sort of horrible pain imaginable. Kagome rolled over so she could see the window, and she stared at the sky thick with rain laden thunderheads. There was definitely a storm brewing overhead.

Kagome wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and sniffled. She decided she wasn't just going to lay here and bawl herself to sleep, no way! She might have just had her heart and hopes ripped to shreds today, but that wasn't going to keep her in a depression! Inuyasha would move on too, so why should she sulk? No, Inuyasha had probably already moved on, and she was alone in her misery. But there was no time for that now! She had a new life, great new friends, a guy that was seriously gorgeous that other girls vied for and he had his heart set on her……

'But he's just not the same as Inuyasha…' Kagome shook her head and stared defiantly out the window. She needed to go outside. Yes, that always seemed to calm her, especially when she was at the mercy of natures' wrath. She slid off the bed and walked downstairs, pausing for a moment to observe the vacant house. Wait, vacant? Where was grandpa? Kagome squinted at the note taped to the fridge. It was written in what looked like red Sharpie, so she could easily see it from the door.

Kagome,

Grandpa took Souta to

His friends' house. I don't

Know when he'll be back.

Love mom

Kagome sighed and headed out the door. So grandpa really could drive. That was an interesting thought to mull over. Kagome walked slowly across the field between her house and the woods beyond. She wanted to see it when the rain started. She hadn't got halfway when a large, cold drop of water splashed on her nose. Kagome looked at the sky and just barely saw a flash to her left. Seconds later a roll of thunder shook the earth, bringing along with it more rain and lightning.

Now Kagome really didn't want to be out in the middle of the field where she was the tallest thing, because it would seem with all her bad luck lightning might just be attracted to her instead of the scrawny tree at the opposite end of the field. Once she had entered her safe haven of trees she loosened up. Even if she did get a rush from being out with the elements, loitering in that field would be cutting it just a little too close.

She wandered for a long time, and then she noticed a large rock that marked a few feet from where she had last ended her expedition. This was the perfect time to finish her exploration of these vast old woods! Even if it was storming like no tomorrow and she was utterly drenched. Lightning flashed and the rain was driving like icy needles into Kagome's flesh, but it was absolutely exhilarating. For once she had forgotten her grief at the loss of the Feudal Era and she was enjoying herself.

Kagome walked further, and then out of nowhere the little dog she had seen before in these woods sprang off an outcropping and landed on her back. To say she was frightened would be an understatement, and terrified was only a hairsbreadth closer.

"Ahhhh!! What the heck?!!?!" Kagome twisted around so fast the pup that landed on her back only seconds before went flying off and lucky for both of them it landed on a conveniently placed patch of moss.

"Wha…? Oh! It's you again! Don't scare me like that; I think I just lost ten years!" Kagome smiled with relief and placed her hand on her chest to calm herself.

The bright eyed little dog simply shook itself off and wagged its tail. Apparently no harm was done, and the dog was just happy to see Kagome. She stared down at it curiously, and then she knelt down and tried calling it over. The puppy barked excitedly, but it didn't come any closer. Kagome inched forward to pet it but every time she moved the puppy did too.

"Huh. Fine then, if you're not going to let me come any closer, I'll be going. I've got a long way to go yet, and your games are holding me up!" Kagome smiled and shrugged carelessly as she rose to her feet and continued walking.

The dog followed her at a good distance, and all the while its tail wagged in a carefree fashion.

"Hmmm…you need a name. I can't just say 'here puppy puppy' every time! How about….James?" The little dog stopped wagging its tail and his head drooped. That was a no.

"Casey? Lou?...Winchester?" Kagome rattled off names but to no avail. The little pup just wouldn't have any of them.

Kagome sat where she was and stared thoughtfully at the little pup. Then suddenly, the dog wandered over and lied down on its back, revealing its pink underside. Kagome noticed there was something tattooed on it.

"Hmmm….it says….Nicky. Oh! Your name is Nicky, isn't it?" Kagome smiled down at the puppy, who in turn began to wag his tail and bark in excitement.

Kagome laughed and tickled Nicky's stomach before she rose to her feet. She decided now that she had a name for the dog, and her mood had lightened because of Nicky's enthusiasm, she would continue her walk. Nicky pranced at her side, his tongue lolling out the side of his mouth. It wasn't long before Kagome came across a large, dark cave. Her eyes widened in interest, but Nicky jumped in front of her and began to growl.

"Calm down, Nicky! We'll only go in a little ways, and besides, by the looks of the mound this cave has created, it doesn't go in very far. But, Kagome hadn't thought it over, and if she had, she wouldn't have decided on going in. Caves can go underground you know, far, far underground……….

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Inuyasha was fed up with sitting in the hut with nothing to do. In fact, he was eager to get outside and enjoy the storm. Just as long as it didn't blow over any of the trees in his woods, he'd be fine. So without a word to the rest of the group he stood and headed out the door. That is, until Shippo grabbed him by the leg and tried to pull him back inside.

"You can't go outside Inuyasha! It's storming!"

"Feh, like I care! I'm tired of sitting around doing nothing. So get off of me!" With that he shook his leg and sent Shippo tumbling back into the hut.

He didn't look back again as he exited the hut. There was no one in there to look at. No one to reassure that he would be fine. Well, at least not the one that he wished was there. 'Kagome…..where'd you go?' Inuyasha raced off in no particular direction, but he made sure he wasn't anywhere near the well. He wasn't going through an episode like that again. Just thinking about it made his torso ache with remembrance. And the taste of his own vomit wasn't so great either…..

Inuyasha slowed to a walk and just watched the rain fall as it soaked his face and hair. It's a good thing his fire rat robe was water resistant… the lightning flashed above his head, but he paid no heed. He was out to clear his thoughts and ponder………things. He sighed. 'I miss you Kagome….more than you'll ever know. Please, oh Kami please bring her back to me.' Inuyasha stopped and stared out over a village from the hill he was on.

It looked desolate, empty. Just like his heart. Wait, there was one house that was lit. Way, way off at the edge of the village. Inuyasha puzzled at this and jumped from the hill. He walked through the empty road, peeking in windows to see if anyone was home. There was no one. Finally he came to the house that appeared to have signs of life, and without thinking he knocked on the door. 'Idiot! They're going to scream and run from you! You're a demon! Well, at least halfway. Either that they'll get their weapons and attack you! Wait, I can outrun them. I really hope no one answers the door!'

Inuyasha mentally kicked himself for knocking when the door opened. Hopefully they wouldn't be able to tell he was a hanyou in the darkness of the storm.

"Hello?" A little boy answered the door, his eyes wide with curiosity.

"Who is it Kota?" A woman called from somewhere in the hut.

"It's a man, mama! He's…..he's got a sword!" When the little boy, Inuyasha assumed his name was Kota, had said that the woman who had spoken before appeared.

"Oh, hello. What brings you to our door in such--" the woman stopped and gasped, and then subconsciously finished her sentence. "Weather……..Kota, go to your room, now!"

Her words were harsh and the boy immediately obeyed without asking questions. The woman stared at Inuyasha with a hateful glare, her mouth set in a hard line.

"What do you want, demon?" She spat the last word with poison in her voice.

Inuyasha fought down a growl and paused before answering to control his temper. 'Think of Kagome….what would she say?'

"I was just passing by and I wondered why your village was empty, that's all." Really Inuyasha felt absurd standing at the door of a lady's house, whom he didn't even know, in the middle of a storm, just because he was a bit curious as to why the village was vacant. It really wasn't any of his concern, but he needed something to do so he didn't have to go back to Kaedes hut.

"Oh….." The woman got a sad look in her eyes just then, and it almost seemed that she was a bit ashamed of herself for being so spiteful before. "My son and I were out bathing at the river when a demon attacked our village a few days ago. When we came back, everyone was dead. We….we had to bury them all, including my husband!" The woman began to sob, and for a moment Inuyasha felt horrible.

He was upset with the fact that Kagome had left, but he knew she was still alive. He had only thought of himself and his loss since she had gone, and he never gave a thought to the others and how they were handling it. And here was this woman, left alone with no one but her son to keep her sane after she found her husband and the rest of her village killed by a demon.

"Oh." Inuyasha hung his head so the woman wouldn't see the sorrow in his eyes. He had to go. "Well, if you're going to leave this place, Kaede would gladly take you in at our village.

He woman looked at him with astonishment.

"You…you live in a village? With humans?"

"Yeah, I do! Is that a problem?!" Inuyasha was beginning to lose control of his temper.

"No, I've just never heard of such a thing before." Her eyes clouded over like she was deep in thought and Inuyasha cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Well then, I'll come and get you two tomorrow. There is only two of you, right?" Inuyasha peered past her into the hut.

"Yes. Wait, you mean you'll come and take us to your village?" The woman looked at him with astonishment once more. Apparently she wasn't used to demons being considerate.

"Yeah." Inuyasha was done talking and he left. It was about time he got back to Kaedes….he just couldn't stand being here. It was awful, and if he really tried he could smell the faint scent of blood. Not that he wanted to smell it, but he was glad it was raining so it would be washed away. Anywhere was better than this place…..especially Kaedes.

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And that was chapter nine everybody! I hope you enjoyed it!! If you have any questions or ideas, feel free to tell me if…cough er, when you review!! Thanks a bunch to all my reviewers for the support!! For those of you who have reviewed, thanks! I don't feel like making a list now, but I will next chappie!!! And for those of you who don't review, maybe you should follow these good readers example! Aw, I'm still glad you're reading even if you don't review, so yay for you people too!!

Mistoffelees Shadow