Chapter 12: The Search Continues and Hearts Are Broken

Inuyasha slowly opened his eyes to find that Kamiko wasn't next to him. Images of the night before flashed in through his mind and he smiled. 'What a night' he thought. He heard the sound of rushing water coming from the bathroom and new where Kamiko was. Inuyasha sat up and stretched his arms over his head. Then swung his legs over the side of the bed gathering up his clothes off the floor and putting them on. Just as he pulled up his pants and tied them there was a knock at the door. Inuyasha walked over and opened the door to see Rokan standing there with more clean clothes.

"Good morning, the door was locked and no one answered when I knoked earlier so I decided to stop by later," Rokan said smiling.

Inuyasha took the clothes and smiled at him, "Thanks," he said as Rokan turned and left to check on the others. Inuyasha closed the door and walked over to the bathroom door. He heard humming coming from the other side.

He knocked, "Kamiko?"

"Yes?"

"Rokan brought us more clothes," Inuaysha said trying to open the door, it was locked. What, did she not trust him or something after last night. Kamiko opened the door a moment later, hair wet and wearing only her dirty top. "Thank you, she said taking the clothes he handed her and closed the door again and locked it.

Inuyasha smiled and laughed to himself as he undressed again and started putting on the clean clothes. As he was sliding on his top the bathroom door opened and there stood Kamiko, in a dark lavender kimono. Inuyasha tried to control himself and turned away from her as her scent flowed into the room from the bathroom. He quickly finished dressing as there was a knock at the door. Kamiko walked over and answered it. Rokan stepped in smiling, "Breakfast is ready in the hall, the rest are outside waiting for you."

"Thank you, we'll be right out," Inuyasha said tucking in his top.

Kamiko walked out following Rokan and Inuyasha soon followed. Sango, Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara were all waiting in the hallway just as Rokan said.

When they arrived into the hall, the smell of rice, mizo soup and eggs overpowered the room. It all smelled and looked delicious as they all sat down.

"And how are all of you this morning?" the Lord asked as he, Keiko and Kiramita joined them at the table.

"Just fine," Sango replied smiling. And everyone shook their head in agreement.

"Wonderful, I love to hear that from my guests. The girls here are going to be searching for the fourth element again today, traveling to the far north lands where the white panther demon tribe resides. One of our few leads, you could say," the Lord mentioned.

"Oh yeah thats right, the fourth element is a panther demon right?" Kamiko said.

"Yeah thats right, so we're gonna keep looking through every panther demon tribe we know of till we find them," Kiramita said.

"Do you guys want to join us?" Keiko asked.

"Yeah," Kamiko said immediatly.

"Sure, we'll be glad to help," Kagome said and Sango agreed. The guys sighed and shook their heads agreeing.

After breakfast, everyone went back to their rooms getting ready for the journy to the north. Sango and Kagome got their weapons and Kagome packed a few more things in her backpack silently. Sango had noticed that she had been quiet all morning and even last night.

"Whats wrong Kagome?" Sango asked, even though she figured it had something to do with Inuyasha. Sango did notice Kagome kept looking at Inuyasha all morning with this hurt look in her eyes that would hurt any friend to see her like that.

"Hm, oh nothing," Kagome said.

"Don't lie Kagome, something is wrong," Sango said not believing her friend at all.

"I'm not lieing," Kagome said in defense. 'Nothing is wrong at all. If Inuyasha wants to be with Kamiko instead of me, then let him. It doesn't bother me.' Kagome tried to convince herself.

"This has something to do with Inuyasha and Kamiko doesn't it?" Sango said.

"No..." Kagome said.

"Yes it does. You don't like it do you?" Sango said interrogatingly.

"Inuyasha can do whatever he wants," Kagome said not able to hold back a tone of hurt in her voice.

"But you still don't like it," Sango said.

"How are we doing in here ladies?" Miroku said walking in with Shippou on his shoulder. Shippou jumped off his shoulder and joined Kirara who was sitting on Sango's bed.

"We're all ready in here," Kagome said suddenly cheerful thankful for the interruption. Kagome picked up her backpack and walked outside the room into the hallway where Rokan was waiting. Miroku looked at Sango and asked, "Is Kagome ok? I saw her look at Inuyasha this morning during breakfast kind of sad looking."

"Yeah, I saw too. I know she doesn't like Inuyasha sharing a room with that demon. But she won't admit it," Sango said.

"Your probably right, well lets go outside and wait for everyone else," Miroku said as he and Sango walked out followed by Kirara and a hard thinking Shippou. 'I wonder what has upset Kagome so.' thought the little kitsune.

Inuyasha and Kamiko

Kamiko stared at herself in the mirror while washing her hands thinking. She had noticed Kagome looking at Inuyasha so hurtful. Inuyasha being "blind" as he is didn't even notice. 'I be she's in love with him. I shouldn't be doing this. I know she loves him, and I know he loves her. I can sense it. Even though they are not mates, they haven't even done anything that would consider them mates, but still, its almost like he has this claim on her, and I'm in the way of that becoming final.' Kamiko sighed as she felt some hands on her hips. She looked back up to see Inuyasha standing behind her. Kamiko lifted her still wet hands and flicked the droplets of water in his face. Inuyasha squinted as the cold water hit his face then he glared at her. She smiled and tried to move away from his touch. As she did Inuyasha strengthened his grip on her hips and pulled her closer to his body and then wrapped his arms around her waist. Kamiko used her powers to dry her hands and looked up at Inuyasha.

"Inuyahsa, this is wrong," she said. Inuyasha's arms tensed at these words. How he hated those words.

"Why is it so wrong?" he asked.

"Because your already in love with someone who loves you. Besides, I don't want to love anyone, or be with anyone for that matter, right now. Also, this situation is hurting someone else. I can't live with that," Kamiko said looking down and pushing away from Inuyasha who let her go this time.

"What do you mean?" Inuyasha said just before Kamiko walked out of the room.

Kamiko sighed, "Kagome, Inuyasha. You love Kagome and she loves you. She couldn't stop looking at you this morning, but of course you were to dense to notice. She feels betrayed by this," Kamiko said. Inuyasha gave her a confused look.

"What do you mean, betrayed?" he asked.

"Oh, come on Inuyasha, you can't be that dense," Kamiko said starting to raise her voice. "I'm an invasion on your relationship. She feels threatened by me. Whether you know it or not she is in love with you. And you love her. I can tell, I can sense it when you two are in the same room. Whether you know it or not you have this sightless claim on her, and I'm probably not the only demon or person for that matter to see it or sense it. I bet both Miroku and Sango could sense it," Kamiko said. " I think you and Kagome need to talk, and today is the perfect oppurtunity," she added.

With that Kamiko left the bedroom and joined the others in the hall followed by Inuyasha shortly after silently.