Disclaimer: Nope. Not mine.

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Chapter Thirteen: Rage

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Kagome stormed into her kitchen, throwing her keys to a random spot on the counter and struggling violently to take her jacket off. When it finally came off, Kagome threw it somewhere down the hall and walked away, needing to cool off. When Kagome realized that pacing through her house wasn't good, she decided to take a walk outside.

Maybe the night air would do her good.

Hopefully but if Inuyasha showed his face she was sure to break more than his nose this time.

Putting on her runners, Kagome grabbed her keys and jogged out of the house. The minute the brisk night air caught up with her, she felt refreshed. Continuing to run, Kagome jogged down the streets, following the roads that if you followed them long enough, would head into town. She didn't plan on running for a long time but before she knew it she was only twenty minutes away from town (by jogging) and around thirty-five minutes until she was at the shrine.

Shrugging and realizing Miroku would have to come down this road to get to their place, she forced herself on. The road wasn't paved but the gravel was easy enough to run on, until it started getting hilly.

Realizing her breaths were becoming shorter, she decided to think about different things. Inuyasha would probably be a good topic to keep her going…

'How did this happen?' Kagome asked within her mind. 'Why him of all the people, why must he be the one that can influence my mind? He… He can make me hear them, he can make me go in too deep, he can force me to go places within there that I don't want to.'

He can make the voices go away.

Kagome sighed. Her imaginary friend was back.

'I don't care. I just want him out of my life.'

You can't change fate.

"Don't I know it," Kagome muttered and shook her head. She just realized that never before would she have thought this way. Kagome had never been a fatalist and had always believed that she controlled her own fate.

She could choose.

And now…she wasn't so sure.

He needs to read them.

Kagome's breathing became laboured and her thinking was frantic. 'Read them? No way. No freaking way.'

It will help.

"No it won't," Kagome hissed out loud. "I can't show him… How will I explain it? I don't have a solid alibi and he was already suspicious before."

What about now?

"He…he trusts me," Kagome murmured. "It's just the connection though. That's all. He can trust me because he knows my mind; he can smell that I'm not lying. But when he reads them…when he finds out that I wrote the deaths as it happened…he won't believe me. He won't believe anything."

How do you know?

"Will you stop with the questions?" Kagome shouted and stopped running, trying to catch her breath. Her panting was shallow and rapid and it was only now did she realize that her chest was in pain, several stitches at the side of her stomach complaining in protest. Her legs and muscles tensed excruciatingly from stopping and Kagome could do little more than walk in circles to relax.

When she felt better she turned to her left, looking down the rolling road to find that she was only ten minutes away from town. The air around her blew noisily and the sun started to set, leaving her with little light. She wondered how long it was going to take her to find Miroku. Even if she kept walking she would be at the station for a while since her house and the station we close to being on opposite sides.

Just then, as if on cue, she saw headlights coming towards her and she smiled, waving for Miroku to pick her up.

It was then though that she noticed it was a black Tahoe coming towards her.

'Shit,' Kagome thought. 'It's Inuyasha…'

The truck pulled to a stop beside her and Kagome crossed her arms, waiting for an argument. But he did nothing more than look at her so Kagome shrugged and got in his truck, avoiding his gaze.

"What are you doing here?" Kagome mumbled, looking out the front of the truck.

"Out looking for you because we desperately need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about," Kagome said offhandedly.

Inuyasha growled and turned the Tahoe off, taking the keys out and putting them on the dashboard in front of him. "Are you sure?"

Kagome finally looked at him and caught his gaze. She wasn't sure what she saw there and something deep inside told her that she didn't want to find out.

"It was a fifty-fifty trade off, Kagome," Inuyasha said slowly. "You're not the only one with issues. So what did you see of my past because I sure as hell am not going to let you storm away thinking this is my entire Goddamned fault when we both are responsible."

"You are responsible!" Kagome said through gritted teeth. "You grabbed my hand. You wanted to go where I didn't want to go and you were the one that almost walked through that door that held what I don't want anyone to know about. I didn't go through your door. I saw it alright, just as I saw pretty much every single memory of yours. I didn't want to but I couldn't stop it."

"And I could," Inuyasha said bitterly. "It's not like I wanted that to happen. If I knew… Hell Kagome, I didn't even know that by touching you that…thing that we did could happen. Will that ensue every time we make contact?"

Kagome shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it will and maybe it won't. But, remember when we went out to dinner that one night? We…touched even after the connection and nothing happened, so I guess not."

That left the two in uncomfortable silence, both remembering the small but burning memory of the night.

Kagome shook her head. "Never mind, just put the keys back in and drive me home. Where's Miroku?"

Inuyasha growled. "With Sango, it's a dessert date."

"Oh really?" Kagome asked, overly light. "Hmm…that's interesting. I thought he liked her."

"Kagome, stop trying to change the subject, will you?" Inuyasha all but shouted. "Sitting around and pretending nothing happened isn't going to solve a Goddamned thing. Right now, I should be in my office, trying to find out more clues on how to solve this murder but no. Right now, I'm sitting in the middle of the road with you, trying to solve this."

"At least it's not your first unsolved case chief," Kagome said bitterly. "Maybe that way you can get over it faster."

"What the hell? How did you…?"

Kagome bent down and pulled out the black notebook that she had searched through before, with all the cases that Inuyasha had ever gone on.

Inuyasha glared. "And you accuse me of going through your personal life?"

"Then I suggest," Kagome spat, "that you learn to find a better hiding place then under the passenger seat."

"I didn't think anyone would take the time to search my car to find it."

"Well, then you shouldn't have left me in this truck with absolutely nothing to do for an entire day while you barked your head off ordering people around at the warehouse!"

"If you had been more cooperative and didn't faint every five seconds than maybe you wouldn't be there in the first place!" Inuyasha retorted.

"Excuse me for helping you find the only lead you had on Yuri's murder," Kagome bit back.

"I wouldn't call it a lead wench."

"It's better than the imaginary leads you thought up jerk."

"Are you suggesting I made up clues for people to look into so it looked like I was doing something?"

"Me? Accuse you?" Kagome feigned shock. "Now why would I do that?"

"I don't know Kagome. You of all people should have an answer considering the number of times you punched me," Inuyasha said slowly, each word filled with venom.

Kagome pretended to think, which angered Inuyasha even more. "Hmm…oh, I know! Maybe it's because you're an egotistical bastard? Mm, yes I think that's about right."

"What the hell is with you? Do you just have triple the normal hormones or are you always this moody? One minute you're fine with me and the next you're screaming at me for another one of my so-called faults. What is with you and why are you pushing me away?"

Kagome glared daggers at him and then suddenly leaped forward to take his car keys, turned around, opened the door and jumped out, heading down the road towards her house.

Inuyasha tapped his foot in silent contemplation of what to do and then abruptly got out of the car himself. He chased after her, his large steps easily catching up with her own. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Are we in grade two where if we're angry we become a bully and take things from others? Or do you think you could grow up and be a little more mature?"

"Look who's talking! You blame everything on others and if you don't get your way you become in a pissed off mood just to get your point clear that you don't want to talk. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black."

Inuyasha instinctively grabbed her wrist and forced open Kagome hands, trying to get a hold on his keys. Kagome was just as fast though and tightened her grip, twisting her body so that her back was to him and it was more difficult for him to get them.

"Why do you have to make everything so hard?" Inuyasha growled and Kagome mimicked the action.

"Why do you always have to push people over the edge?"

"Just give me the keys!" Inuyasha yelled.

"Make me jerk," Kagome shouted just as loud.

Inuyasha snarled and with a jerk of his hands, spun Kagome around harshly. She crashed into his chest and she looked up quickly only to see Inuyasha glowering over her. She felt his hands grab her wrists tightly and after trying to pull away and realizing it was no use, she shrieked in frustration.

"Let me go!"

"Why are you pushing me away?"

"Just let me go now or-"

"Or what princess?" Inuyasha disputed. "Are you going to hit me and run off? That's not going to solve anything. Kagome, I need your help. Trite needs your help and I know for a fact that we need you to solve this. We can't do this without you."

"Right," Kagome hissed. "But no pressure."

"Hell, are you going to make me say it Kagome? Fine, if that's what it's going to take to get it through your head. We can't do this without you and I can't do this without you. I can't."

Kagome stopped struggling and took a deep breath, feeling Inuyasha's hands relax around her wrists.

"But," Inuyasha continued, "We need to stop fighting. And we need to stop now."

Kagome looked up and saw the sheer determination in his eyes. He really wanted to help the people of Trite but was that all she was useful for? The town couldn't survive without her and Inuyasha couldn't survive without her skills.

So she was a tool. A Goddamned tool.

"Is that all I am?" Kagome whispered. "Am I just a tool?"

"How did you come up with that?" Inuyasha asked in the same voice.

"It makes a lot more sense," Kagome muttered, her voice barely audible and the sounds of her breathing loud as the night around them seemed to swallow them whole.

Inuyasha leaned down, his eyes still on hers, the intensity so strong that it was almost tangible. His lips were so near her own and Kagome felt her breath hitch in her throat.

Before she could even think about it, his lips pressed against her own and she found herself instantly responding, her wrists finding the new will to be free and wrapping around his neck, tangling within his silver hair.

None of them even noticed the keys falling to the gravel road.

They didn't break apart and the kiss itself wasn't pressured but light. It felt like he was teasing her, his lips playing against her own in a manner that would seem like nothing except the fact that she could feel the intensity and want behind it. She felt his hands wrap around her lower back and bring her closer, the kiss deepening, the want nothing more than a natural need.

When their lungs demanded air, they broke apart, their lips brushing and toying.

"Does the idea of you being nothing more than a tool still make more sense?" Inuyasha murmured breathlessly against her lips.

"I don't know," Kagome whispered. "I think I still need some convincing."

Before Inuyasha even had a chance to respond, Kagome crushed her lips onto his and the passion grew. Kagome felt nothing more than a blinding dizziness, her mind on nothing more then being with him. Her hands toyed with his long hair, wrapping and losing themselves within the locks as Inuyasha held on had at her neck and the other at her back.

They couldn't tell how long they'd been there, or how long the kissing had lasted but by the time they were done, a harsh breeze rocked the trees making Kagome shiver.

Inuyasha smiled down at her and gently traced his thumbs across her lips. Once again, Kagome shivered though this time she wasn't sure whether it was because of the wind or Inuyasha. When neither of them spoke, Kagome sighed and leaned into him, burying her face in his shirt. "Do you know how shitty this timing is?"

Inuyasha sighed himself, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead. "I know. Trust me, I know."

"And you know what's worse?"

"Other than a killer on the loose, people getting murdered or this weird connection thing we have, what's worse?"

"That we're outside in the damn cold."

Inuyasha laughed. "I guess I should drop you off then, unless…"

"Unless what?" Kagome asked; confusion in her eyes.

"You're still mad at me and want to walk?"

Kagome went up on her tip-toes to be at level with him and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "I prefer going in your truck thank you very much."

"Then can I please have the keys?" Inuyasha asked innocently.

Kagome blushed and avoided his gaze, knowing that she dropped the keys when they were kissing. She hadn't really cared about them while he was against her. When he didn't say anything, Kagome looked up to see Inuyasha smirking at her, the triumphant glint in his eyes sparkling.

She gasped and lightly shoved him, vaguely pleased when she noticed it hadn't affected him. Spotting the keys from the moon's light, Kagome dashed towards them and ran as fast as she could to the truck. When she reached the driver side door, she heard Inuyasha's growl.

"Don't worry Inuyasha; I'm just…putting the keys in the ignition for you."

Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow at the statement. "Uh-huh. And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Well, you wouldn't doubt me would you?"

Inuyasha grumbled as she sauntered towards his Tahoe. The moment he sat in the car with Kagome in the passenger seat, he muttered, "Feh."

"Come on chief of trite, take me home!"

Inuyasha opened his mouth to say 'Feh' but decided against it. It would only prove her point. Once again, Inuyasha found himself cursing the one that named this town.

He drove her home and when they reached her driveway, she smiled. "Do you want some coffee?"

Inuyasha glanced at the time, realizing that it was around midnight and that he wasn't the slightest bit tired. "Sure. I could go for that."

Already being in the house, Inuyasha made his way easily to the kitchen and watched Kagome shamelessly, noticing little things he hadn't before. It wasn't until she caught him looking though, did he realize those little things were going to bite back at him. Kagome was in front of him within a second and just as quickly her lips found his.

It went on like that for a while, the kiss getting more and more heated before Inuyasha picked her up and started making his way to the hall. They both knew where this was leading them to and neither of them stopped it.

That was of course, until Miroku and Sango barged in, completely unaware and ultimately destroying the moment, red faces on every single one of them.

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Nazuna glanced around her bedroom, sighing when se realized nothing was there. For the last couple nights, she had been imagining footsteps in her house, doors creaking, harsh breathing…

She really needed to stop watching horror TV shows.

What was with her these days?

Nazuna sighed and sat up in her bed, tossing the bed sheets off her body and standing up. The room around her was dark and seemed to taunt her. Think of them…

Yuri and Kirara suffered miserably, they're lives were spent, wasted.

And they were left in the dark.

She couldn't take the thoughts any more they were killing her. Slowly she felt like she was fading. She couldn't train herself to think straight. From being at her job now it seemed to go by so slowly that it was like she lived there. Being a small town hairstylist wasn't particularly a difficult job, especially since the hardest thing she had to do was dye the grey hair that everyone seemed to be getting these days.

Stumbling into the kitchen, Nazuna started the coffee maker and waited drowsily for it to finish. The one habit she hated herself for was that fact that once she woke up, she wouldn't go back to sleep, no matter how tired she was. She wandered around the room while waiting, playing lazily with random items that caught her eye: random papers, pens, cups that were never put away and other objects. It was then she noticed a folded up sheet on her table, which was quite out of place, but didn't think much of it since her coffee was now ready.

The harsh liquid felt smooth on her throat and Nazuna sighed with ease. "Much, much better," she whispered.

Slowly, she made her way to her kitchen table, sitting in the hard wooden chair. Only the light above the table was on, giving the rest of the house an eerie look. She would have all the lights in her house on if only Hydro wasn't so expensive these days. She was barely making ends meet as it was.

Shaking her head, she took another sip and then looked curiously at the blank folded sheet of paper. "I don't remember that," Nazuna murmured to herself, putting the coffee down and leaning over the table to grab it.

"Oh!" she gasped suddenly after reading the contents. "This is not good, I have to…" she trailed off when she realized her options were very limited. "But then…what do I do?"

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Alright, now things should make more sense. Hopefully I didn't confuse you guys too much...

Next Chapter: Hate- "Do you know the meaning of hate?" Kagome's words were clipped, an unusual detachment in her normally musical voice.

Please Review, you guys are the best!

P.S. There will probably be a maximum of thirty chapters but no more then that. So we're almost half-way there.