Black Ice: Alright, alright...we've been getting complaints about the whole psychologist thing, about how Kagome's been telling her all that stuff and nothing's been done.
Blood Rain: You forget—this is only the beginning of the story. Everything hasn't been explained.
Black Ice: Just give us time, people—it'll all make sense sooner or later.
Kamikaze didn't forfeit his search until sometime around midnight. Kagome had to admit, he was annoyingly persistent. Kouga had buried his cold nose in her hands after she'd gone to sleep, to signal that it was time to move the rock. When she did, she was shocked to see that it was dark outside. She crawled out of the hole, brushing herself off, and took a deep breath. He was gone. But where was he? And in the meantime, what was Kagome going to do? She couldn't live in Kouga's den forever—besides, he would eventually grow up and move on, and what would she do then? Follow him?
It was impossible. This existence could not persist—something had to be done. She sat on the ground, her back leaning against a tree, and Kouga came into her lap, laying down. Absently, she stroked his head.
Kouga, I have to do something. About him. I can't just let you keep putting yourself in grave danger like this—if he'd found us, he'd kill you. And I just can't live with that on my conscience, no matter how much of a bitch I may be.
Kouga was still with thought for some time, then reached down to the ground and wrote "NEED HELP". Kagome nodded, in full agreement.
You're right...we're in some pretty deep shit here, buddy. We could use a little help. But our closest neighbors are a mile away, and in the city, so who would even take us seriously? (scowls) Those city bastards think we're just a bunch of hicks, Kouga. Just because we live in the boonies. Well, screw them anyway!
As she ranted, she didn't notice Kouga clawing the word "LOOK" into the dirt, until he nudged her with his paw, and she looked up. Her eyes widened at the sight of a nearly naked man, dripping with water, walking up the creek, from the farther depths of the forest.
(whispers nervously) I didn't know the creek extended past this spot! Who is that?!
Kouga emphatically tapped the previously written word "HELP" and Kagome's jaw dropped. She got up and scampered behind a tree, watching as Inuyasha stepped out of the water and onto dry land, shaking himself off. Kouga trotted out of the darkness up to him, reaching up and tugging on his trunks to get his attention.
Oh, Kouga, it's you. What's up?
Kagome stared in astonishment as Kouga barked a string of canine words, and Inuyasha nodded, apparently understanding.
(mumbles under breath) Asshole.
She nestled further into the darkness when he looked in her direction. He shrugged, then turned back to Kouga, and Kagome peered around the tree, continuing to listen in on the conversation.
Yeah, well, sorry, dude, but I can't help your friend. I got enough problems of my own, as you may be able to tell.
He gestured to more scars along his arms, new scars that had definitely not been there when Kagome last saw him. Kouga cocked his head with a curious whimper.
I'm homeless, Kouga. Sesshoumaru kicked me out—apparently, I'm too old to be being "mollycoddled" like a child.
Kouga gave an outraged bark, and Inuyasha chuckled bitterly.
Heh...yeah, I know. (gestures to his scars) If he considers this mollycoddling, I'd hate to see his punishments...but it can't be helped. I guess it's for the best, anyway—I don't have to put up with his shit anymore. I'm free, right?
Kouga shook his head, looking at Inuyasha with pitying eyes. Inuyasha scowled.
Don't do that, dude. Don't fucking pity me—you know I hate that. I am free. I can do whatever I want now.
Kouga snarled, startling Kagome, but it sounded as though he was admonishing Inuyasha.
Kouga, so what?! I don't need money! And besides, I can ask one of my friends if I can stay with them.
His reply was a sarcastic growl, and Inuyasha narrowed his eyes.
They are so my friends. Look, I'm not arguing with you. I've got somewhere to go.
He began walking out of the forest, and Kouga followed him, barking a demanding question.
He took all my so-called possessions. Like I give—I'll just steal some clothes from some house.
Kouga just kept barking, sounding angrier and angrier by the second, and Kagome moved from behind the tree when Inuyasha was completely out of sight. Grumbling in frustration, Kouga trotted back over to Kagome's feet, glaring behind him. Miffed, Kagome grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and boring her eyes into his baffled ones.
What the hell was that?
(blinks) Aroo?
I hate that guy. He gets on my nerves. So why would you ask him to help me? I don't want his crappy help. Isn't he homeless or something?
Kouga lashed out at her as well in chastisement, and Kagome pursed his lips, dropping him. He landed awkwardly on the ground, then got to his feet, indignantly sticking out his chest. He glared at her, and even she understood that that meant "Aren't you?".
Okay, bad example. I'm not homeless—I just don't necessarily reside anywhere...permanently.
For some reason, Inuyasha's cave popped up into her mind, but she quickly shook it away. She looked down at Kouga, busily scribbling "GO" in huge kanji.
Go where?! I'm not following him!
Growling, Kouga turned and dashed off, and without thinking, Kagome ran after him, stupidly yelling his name. She was forced to skid to a screeching halt when Kouga skittered between a pair of legs and kept going, while she knocked straight into her stepfather. She fell backwards to the ground, and, driven by adrenaline and instinct, rolled out of his range when he reached down to grab her.
(shaking with fear) Leave me alone!
Kagome scrambled to her feet, shrieking when he lifted her off the ground by the front of her shirt, baring his teeth.
Where the fuck were you, you little whore?! And who's Kouga?! Is that the mutt that jumped from under your bed?!
Usually, struggle was all but futile, but this time, Kagome squirmed relentlessly in his grasp. She had to go after Kouga before something bad happened.
Let me go!
(eyes flash in outrage) What?! Bitch, are you protesting?!
Let me—go! (kicks hard)
Kagome ended up dropping to the ground sans shirt, and Kamikaze looked befuddled, holding her shirt in his hands instead of her. She quickly got up and ran off as quick as she could, praying she could find Kouga.
(splutters) G—get back here!
Kamikaze chased after her, his beady eyes narrowing, and Kagome tried her best not to look behind her. She was doing it. She was running away from him—for once she refused to submit to his forceful will!
But the question was, where would she run? And how long could she before things got too far out of hand?
Light had barely broken over the horizon when Kagome collapsed on sandy ground, gasping for breath in the chilly air. She hadn't stopped running even when she knew Kamikaze had stopped following her. Her pupils were unevenly sized, and her body was cold, but she had gotten away. Weakly, she lifted her head and looked around. Where was she? Everything was such a blur, especially in this half-darkness of dawn, but she thought she could make out a dark blue...or was it black? Damn her exhaustion!
She just wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep. Sleep for the first time knowing Kamikaze wouldn't be able to harm her while she slept. But every time she shut her lids, she saw this blinding light that annoyed her. What the hell was that? So she forced herself to prop her eyes open, fighting sleep and possibly death. An indistinct figure approached her line of indiscernible sight, a peculiar combination of what seemed like shiny white at the top, regular white in the middle, and blue at the bottom. What was that? Who was that? Would they try to hurt her? She prayed not. She just got away from the biggest threat of her life; she didn't need a new one barging in.
(sighs in annoyance) Damn me and my sense of obligation....
And before Kagome could rightfully protest, she was scooped up in the figure's presumably male arms and carted off to God knew where. She tried to speak, to object to this abruptness, but her throat was raw from inhaling the cold air so hard. She could barely get out a cough, and when she did cough, she felt as though her lungs would shrivel up and fall onto her stomach, or perhaps she'd hack them up like hairballs from a cat.
She wanted to chuckle in spite of herself. Even in the state that she was, she retained her sense of humor. That was good; she felt she'd need them in the days to come. Kagome redirected her attention to her carrier. He didn't seem to have malicious intent, which Kagome usually had an instinct for detecting, but to be honest, she'd been fooled before...
That thought in mind, she finally let her mind drift, unaware that she'd gone to sleep.
As soon as her mother had introduced Kagome to her new "friend", she developed an instant distrust of him. The leer with which he greeted her was enough to send her running, let alone the look in his eyes. They were a piercing gray, the same color as hers, but his held possession, whilst hers were innocent, typical of a five-year-old.
"I don't like him." Kagome had said, frowning.
"Now that's not nice, sweetheart." Her mother reprimanded softly, kneeling down and touching her shoulder with one of her kindly smiles. Kagome liked it when she smiled. It made her want to do the same. But this man—what was his name? Kaminari?--exuded such bad vibes that she could not. "Kaminari's a very good person, and he absolutely loves children." Kagome's wary eyes drifted from her mother's tender ones to Kaminari's, but she could no longer read the expression behind them. She figured, however, it had to do with the chill she got when her mother said the last part of that sentence. She felt like she needed to say something along the lines of "I bet..."
"That's right, Kagome. Your mom told me you don't have a daddy. Is that true?" Kagome neither agreed nor disagreed; she simply stared at him as if he were stupid. "Well, I'm here to be your daddy." He smiled in what was supposed to be comforting, and Kagome's mother rolled her eyes, amused.
"He means he wants to be your friend, Kagome."
"I don't wanna be his friend. Why can't he find some other friend?" Kagome protested stubbornly, and Kaminari feigned hurt.
"Aw, Kagome, you hurt my feelings." He pouted, but there was something mocking in the way he did it, as if he were talking down to Kagome. Then again, she knew that he was.
"I don't care." She turned from her mother and ran up the stairs, feeling his eyes burning into her back the entire time.
The light had been the sun. How stupid could Kagome be? She had been under the impression that she was dying, but even she knew that sinners went to hell to burn in eternal fire, or something along those lines; she wasn't getting anywhere near the pearly gates any time soon, that was for sure.
Not only that, but the blurry man had been the one she thoroughly disliked, and this was realized about four or so hours later, when she woke up. Her vision had been properly restored, but she feared to see if her voice had been. Her eyes darted around, assessing the current state of things, and she saw that she was in the cave from earlier. The one that Inuyasha freak had showed her. Kagome scowled, crossing her arms and sitting up. Nobody had asked for his help. Stupid, helpful bastard. How dare he try to help her when he had all kinds of slashes on his body? How much of an asshole do you have to be to give help when help is unneeded?
Her disgust with him becoming unbearably, she got to her feet—wobbly at first, but she soon got the hang of walking—and headed for the cave opening. She bumped right into him, hurt by a bunch of sticks he carried.
Whoa, whoa, what the hell?!
Kagome glared at him and attempted to speak.
(raspy) Fuck y--(coughs uncontrollably)
Kagome's eyes nearly crossed with the pain of trying to talk, and it was clear that her throat was still screwed up. Inuyasha shook his head.
See, this is why I would never work in a hospital or something. Sick people are such idiots.
Kagome clenched her fists angrily, frustrated beyond belief that she could not express herself verbally. Thus, she opted for the ever-ready alternative—physical expression. She shoved him out of her way, ignoring that he was shirtless—he obviously loathed shirts—and started walking out once more.
Hey, you can't leave!
Inuyasha grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her back, looking sternly at her furious facial expression.
I don't care how pissy you get—you are not leaving here. You obviously don't know that that guy reported you missing as soon as you left, and Kouga's told me how dangerous he is.
Kagome blanched, though she should've expected as much. Kamikaze was one persistent bastard. Had she said that already? Ah, well—it called for reiteration anyhow. She dared not challenge his power, so with a painful half-sigh, she sat back on the makeshift bed, feeling at the lowest point in her life.