Title: Chronic Condition
Author: bBlack Dahlia (Vonnie)
Rating: PG-13 (T) – for supposed premarital relations, false (?) teen pregnancy, and lots of other unforseen events in future chapters.
Summary: As Kagome's absences from school grow longer and more frequent, her twentieth-century friends begin to suspect that her grandfather's excuses are merely cover for a single chronic condition. With no more diseases springing to mind, the eldest Higurashi proclaims his granddaughter PREGNANT! With Miroku (in)conveniently around, the situation becomes more complicated . . .

Chapter 8: Echoing Guilt

"What?" the three shocked girls asked all at once, and the hanyou let go of Miroku's body.

Kagome's eyes began to fill with tears. I'm...not...pregnant," she said softly, giving the information time to really sink in. "It was grandpa who came up with the lie to give me a reason for my absences. I'm sorry."

Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi let go of Kagome. She flew toward Inuyasha and he thought she was running to him, but felt like he had been slapped when she passed by and went to the monk's unconscious form on the ground behind him. He watched as she gently brushed his hair away from his forehead and began to wipe the blood from his face with the sleeve of her shirt.

No longer able to take the sight in front of him he fled the station, not quite sure where he would go. He just wanted to be away. 'You...don't deserve...her.' The monk's broken words kept repeating in his head, over and over. It made him wonder if his words were true.

Brushing the thought away he knew it wasn't true. Kagome was his girl, no one else's, and Miroku was an idiot if he thought he would ruin his second chance. He failed with Kikyo. Kagome carried Kikyo's soul. He would right his wrong.

When he finally stopped running he surveyed his surroundings. The shrine.

Miroku's words came crashing back to him. 'You...don't deserve...her.'

"Aahhh! Shut up!" he screamed, crouching low and holding his head. A few visitors looked at him like he had lost his mind. He stood and eyed the people, his eyes flickering red, before leaping into the Goshinboku.

He had completely lost track of time, lost in his own thoughts of Kikyo, Kagome, and the echoing words that wouldn't leave him alone.

From his high perch he watched Kagome and those three horrible girls half carry half drag Miroku into the house. "Do I deserve her? Was he right all along?" Giving up on thought, he settled for what he did best: pouting.

— — —

Megami Notes: Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter. I've been alternately busy and lazy, soo...yeah. The interest for this story has kind of wound down, so I'll write a quick ending and post it soon. Expect to see it sometime over the Thanksgiving break.

Megami