A/N: GAH! omg, soooo sorry for not uploading for so long. If you don't know already, the hiatus is over. heh heh. I just needed a few days away from home I guess. Everything's not fine, but it's as good as it's going to get and I can live with that... I just have to get used to the changes. Anyways, here's the next installment of Eliminated. I hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha; duh. XD
Rated: Mature For mainly crude language, sexual references, and mature situations.

CHAPTER 8

Sango had been in the shower for a long time.

I was worried about her. She had looked extremely disoriented when she walked up the steps and into the apartment- I didn't want her to slip or anything. I strained my ears to hear past the door and the raining sound of the shower. I couldn't hear anything so I fell back onto her bed with a sigh. My mind was suddenly entertained by my countless thoughts.

God, why did InuYasha kiss her? If it were nothing and they were just friends, why did she look so flustered? Why was Sango lying to me? I couldn't recall a moment Sango had ever lied to me? Sango would've told me the truth, even if it was hurtful. She always had.

And what was worse than InuYasha kissing her was me making jealous. What for? What did I have to be jealous about? Why did he kissing her make my heart beat angrily? It was just a simple touching of lips; what should it have mattered to me? Why did I care so much that she kissed back? Why did tears leak from my eyes at the simple thought?

"She kissed him back," I mumbled, wiping the tears out of my eyes. They wouldn't stop falling, however, and I was frustrated with myself. I mean; ok, so what? My best friend found a guy she liked- no big deal right? I was just worried about her, right? She had looked so confused. Her eyes looked so pained. That was all… right?

I rolled onto the side just as Sango exited the shower. I hadn't even realized she had turned the water off. She left the door open behind her and the steam billowed out of the open door. My eyes greedily raked over her form. Her brown hair looked so dark when wet. It fell around her head in thick ringlets. The skin I could see that wasn't covered up by the pale blue towel she had wrapped around her was evenly tanned and smooth. She had a very shapely figure that was often covered up by her baggy clothes. Her fern green eyes were staring low and ahead. Suddenly they connected with mine and she blushed. She gave me a guilty look and then looked away quickly.

"I'm… I'm going to get dressed now," she said before walking around the bed to her dresser. I could smell the fresh scent of her shower lingering on her skin. I could name her shampoo and body wash- I loved it on her. I could also smell the lotion she had used and it was simply intoxicating.

"Kagome?"

I snapped out of my thoughts after hearing her call my name.

"I asked if you'd help me with my bandages. My arms are looking a little gross," Sango said holding up the cotton gauze roll.

"Yeah, sure," I said as she looked relieved.

"Thanks; can you hold this while I clean them a little more and put the ointment on?" Sango asked, holding the gauze out. I reached forward and took it as my eyes scaled the lengths of her abused arms. The scabs were forming so slowly because of how deep the cuts had been. Had she really tired to kill herself? How did all of that happen while she was with that woman she brought home? I felt like asking her but I wasn't sure of how she'd reply. Sango had been so emotional as of late.

After Sango finished with cleaning her wounds, she offered one arm to me. I quickly and expertly warped up that arm. I taped that one quickly. Sango offered the other arm, using one hand to hold her towel closed. I was finished up with that arm when I noticed that Sango's hand was injured. It was more than injured! Sango was missing a finger!

"Oh my god," I breathed, my heart began to thunder. I felt sick.

"What?" Sango asked, giving me a strange look. Her green eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Your finger," I managed to say as my fingers went numb. Sango still looked confused until her eyebrows rose in remembrance.

"Oh," she held out before chuckling. "That shit's been gone forever."

The ring finger on her left hand was about two inches shorter than it should've been.

"What?" I stuttered, not understanding what she was talking about.

"It got severed in the accident," she said, looking relieved for conversation. "My whole arm was crushed up- It's a wonder that I can still use it. Both arms were broken in numerous places."

I was amazed. How had I not noticed she was missing a finger this whole time?

"They almost amputated my arm too," Sango said, looking lost in thought. "I was pretty fucked up. It took a lot of training to get my arm back into shape and not to mention getting used to missing a finger. I gave up on learning guitar."

I saw my face blanch in the mirror we stood before. Quickly, as to not stir anymore confusion in me, I finished applying the tape to her wrapped arm.

"Thanks," she nodded towards me before quickly pulling up the side of her towel that had slipped down a bit. A blush engulfed my cheeks as she turned away.

"Your know; that little missing bit was a bitch. I had phantom sensations in the finger that wasn't there for a whole month. And it was torture not being able to move my arm. They had to do a bunch of reconstructive surgery on my arm, shoulder, and spine."

Yikes, her spine? I hadn't known that.

Suddenly, her towel dropped and I could see the dimples in her muscles right above her butt; on her lower back. My face grew hotter as my eyes raked over her perfectly sculpted back stopping only to examine the plethora of scars that were there.

"The big jagged one on my shoulder is from the car, as is this one," she gestured, with her chin, lower on the same arm. "The smaller ones are the incisions the doctors made to save my arm or just from debris."

My eyes lingered on the ones in the center of her back and I hesitantly lifted my hand to trace the lines. She flinched the moment my cold fingers met her flesh. She tensed every time I traced a scar, lightly.

"Kagome?" she asked me gently as I continued to trace the scars.

"Were you scared?" I asked, moving to the large scar that was on her shoulder. She shuddered lightly and took a deep breath. Her eyes closed and she bit her lower lip gently.

"No," she breathed. "I wasn't concerned at all… too wrapped up in Miroku. I hadn't even felt when I had lost my finger," she grabbed my hand with her free one to stop my fingers. She let go and pulled her towel back up. She turned and my attention was drawn to her amazingly green eyes once again. Sango was so pretty and I sometimes didn't understand her facial jewelry. I mean, she was definitely attractive with it, but gorgeous without it…

Wait… Did I just say she was attractive?

She offered me her hand again, and I took it, pulling it up to eye level. She spread all of her fingers and I marveled at her stubby little finger. It was obvious it had happened long ago. She wiggled it a little, and I smiled. My thumb ran up her palm and onto the minute finger. Impulsively, I pulled her hand forward and laid a gentle kiss on the rough tip of her amputated finger.

"Kagome," she breathed lightly, with confusion settling hesitantly in her eyes.

"Sorry," my eyes widened at my action. What was wrong with me?

She pulled her hand away with a blush as the beating of my heart overtook my hearing.

"I'm going to get dressed now," she repeated and I nodded. I quickly left the room, trying to calm my thundering heart.

I headed out into the living room and flopped down onto the couch. My blush just wouldn't leave my cheeks. What was going on? Why had I done that? Why had she let me do it?

Hoping to distract myself from my thoughts, I saw that her camera lay on the center table. I lifted it and pressed the power button. I never realized how heavy cameras could be. Navigating my way though the menu, I looked at all of the pictures she had. Most of them were very lovely shots. I marveled at how she could find the most mundane point at the river and somehow capture something amazing through the lenses.

To my disappointment, there were a couple of pictures of InuYasha. They were obviously unexpected pictures because he was looking elsewhere. I hadn't realized she had been spending so much time with him. If I had been more observant, I would've realized this. I wouldn't have been so surprised by their kiss either. Suddenly, having the impulse to delete the pictures of the handsome young, model-material man, I turned the camera off and set it down. My fingers were itching to mess with something.

"Kagome… I'd rather not hang around the living room."

I jumped, startled by her voice. I hadn't heard her advance. I turned to see her standing there in the hallway with baggy shorts and a tank top on. That seemed to be her thing for relaxing. I stood, wondering if she'd rather I went home. I was just bored. I had canceled with Koga again to spend time with her. I hadn't expected to come and find myself intruding. She had always been so lonely…

She turned down the hallway and I followed her back into her room. She flopped backwards on her bed with a huge sigh.

"What a fucking day," she heaved tiredly.

I agreed as I took a seat on the edge of the bed.

"What did you do today?" she asked as I diverted my eyes from the bit of her tanned stomach that had been exposed.

"Nothing really. I was at home until I decided to come see you. My mom dropped me off here," I twiddled with my thumbs.

"Oh? That seems kind of boring," she said as she shut her eyes. "Aren't you usually with Koga on the weekends or something?"

"Yeah but… I decided to come see you. I wasn't expecting to find nobody home," I felt kind of stupid. Coming unannounced and what not.

"You should've called me. I wouldn't have spent so much time lollygagging around with 'hot stuff' earlier." She had called him "hot stuff"… Was that an endearing nickname?

"I thought of that… but…"

"Ok, whatever. It's fine really. No problems," she opened her eyes tiredly.

She gazed at me with a curious expression before shutting her eyes once more.

"Sango," I said before pausing. She looked up at me and I blushed.

"You have very lovely skin," I complemented. She blushed and turned away.

"Thanks," she said- but it sounded like more of a question.

"Really… I can't imagine how you stay so tanned," I continued glancing at her neck she exposed to me when she turned her face away. Everything was so evenly tanned. It was absolutely amazing.

"Well, I don't really tan. I mean, I'm outside a lot… I guess that's what it is. My skin is just that color," she lifted her hands and looked at the back of them probably looking at her skin tone. My eyes were immediately glued to her midget finger. It was like once I noticed it; I couldn't stop looking at it. I felt kind of bad for that.

"What sports do you play?" I asked curiously.

"You ask a lot of questions now that you know I won't cuss you out," she said suddenly. She chuckled and I laughed, enjoying the comfort I felt from being around her.

"I don't play sports," she said dropping her arms back down. This time she draped them over her stomach. "I rollerblade from time to time, though. I used to ice skate when I was little. Ice skate, figure skate; whatever you want to call it."

Now that was interesting! I couldn't imagine Sango ice skating at all- even a younger version of her. I could imagine her rollerblading. I figure she was very good at it too- she was built for it; her legs were amazing.

"I was really good too," she continued, looking pensive. "I quit when my mom died."

"You ever go back to skate?" I asked, wondering if she'd gotten over that tragedy of her life yet.

She didn't answer me and I wondered if I had gone too far. Her green eyes glanced up at me and a blush grew on my cheeks, matching the one growing on hers. When had it become so awkward between us? She licked her lips a bit, and then sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time since I had been with her.

"No."

I didn't say anything and let my eyes run over the bland room of hers.

"I want to though. Would you come with me if I did?"

I was absolutely flattered that she had invited me to that. She really was opening up more and more. Maybe the therapy wasn't such a smart idea because it looked like she was faring well on her own. I looked over to see her deep green eyes filled with apprehension.

"Of course I would, Sango. I'd love to go," I smiled brightly.

"You have one of the most fucking amazing smiles I have ever seen in my life."

Whoa; what was that? I couldn't keep my face from being engulfed in a blush. That compliment was simply surprising. I hadn't been expecting it at all; especially not from her.

"Thanks Sango," I couldn't stop smiling and she chuckled.

"Now can we have sex?"

"Way to kill the atmosphere," I mumbled and she laughed before shrugging with a devious smirk. "Isn't that twice now?" I continued, playing along.

"I'd stop asking if you'd just submit," Sango waggled her eyebrows and I laughed, not used to her behaving the way she was. She was being an absolute flirt. "Usually when I compliment a woman, she jumps into my bed."

I laughed and then flopped backwards onto the bed beside her. She smirked at me and I continued to laugh.

"There we go. That's one foot forward."

I made a face and she laughed at me. As our laughed died out, I saw how tired she was. She looked absolutely exhausted and her green eyes were losing focus by the second.

"You look tired," I whispered as her eyes fell shut.

She hummed her response and I smiled. I sat up, preparing to leave when her hand caught mine loosely.

"Take a nap with me?" she mumbled, dropping my hand.

"Sango… I…"

"Please," she mumbled, cracking her eyes open at me. I sighed and then lay down next to her.

"Thanks Kagome," she smiled and I just shrugged realizing I could use a nap myself. Being near Sango made it that much more comfortable. The bed smelled like her and I felt absolutely content at that moment. One of her arms snaked over my waist but I let her- I let her hold me. What harm could come from that? I didn't say anything or move. I didn't protest at all and Sango smiled a content smile. I smiled back at her lazy smile, knowing that I had made her happy in that one moment. How many more moments would I have with her to make her happy? I wasn't going to let this one go.

I fell asleep easily.

I woke up to find it extremely dark in the room. The sun had obviously set long ago. Sango had her arm still wrapped protectively around me. She was sleeping and I was closer to her than I was when I had fallen asleep. This was the second time I woke up in her arms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. She was so warm.

I heard my cell phone beep; alerting me I had missed a call. I glanced over at the digital clock on the table next to the bed and nearly jumped out of the bed.

"Shit," I whispered to myself.

It was two in the morning! How the hell did that happen?! The sun hadn't even been setting when I had fallen asleep with Sango. It was only about five when she had come home. My mom was going to be so angry! Slipping away from Sango, I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket. My mom had called six times along with Koga. I was certainly in trouble now. I left the room quietly, as to not wake Sango.

"Wait."

I tensed, not seeing how Sango could already be awake.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked her with a whisper.

"About ten minutes and why are you whispering?" she asked me.

"I don't know?" I said, using my regular voice. "I didn't want to wake you, but you're already awake."

"Yeah," she sighed. "What's the rush?" she mumbled, obviously still groggy.

"I'm in so much trouble," I bit my lip.

"Why?"

She just didn't get it. She never would.

"My mom's not like Kagura, Sango. She's probably really angry with me right now," I breathed before shaking my head.

"I'll drive you home," she offered as she crawled off the bed. She then reached up high, stretching languidly. Walking past me she grabbed her keys off the table and headed out into the hallway. I ran into her in the darkness, not expecting her to stop at the end of the hallway. Kohaku was asleep on the couch. The TV illuminated parts of the room, along with his sleeping form, with a pale white light.

Sango made her way over to him silently after she tucked her keys into the waistband of her shorts. She reached down and pulled him close to her with ease. I watched as she walked back down the dark hallway into the room at the end. Looking into the dark, I was slightly frightened. Sango soon emerged from the darkness looking a bit accomplished.

"Why don't you have two bedrooms?" I asked as we headed outside.

"I didn't want to be too much of a hassle for Kagura," Sango said as she locked the door.

"But you didn't want to live in her house?"

"I didn't know who the hell she was, Kagome," Sango muttered, seemingly in a bad mood. "My parents die, and then a day later it's all 'Hey, come live with this chick.' I really didn't know what to expect from her. I'd never seen her in my life."

"Then how…" I let my question trail off.

"Apparently, we're not related or anything," Sango started. "She used to be really good friends with my mom. She's Kohaku's godmother or something. I don't know and I personally don't care."

"That's strange."

"Yeah, well isn't everything dealing with Kagura strange?"

She had a point.

We were at my house sooner than I would've liked. As soon as the car pulled into the driveway, my mom was coming out of the front door. The anxiety I felt wasn't a good feeling at all. I felt as if I'd vomit at any moment.

"Kagome!" my mom's voice was harsh. I cringed and Sango looked embarrassed for me. That coupled with the embarrassment I was feeling myself brought tears to my eyes.

"I'm sorry," I said quickly, hoping that it would lessen her anger.

"Inside," she pointed at the door before turning her eyes onto Sango who lifted an eyebrow. My mom's eyes flicked over Sango's face a few times, probably having a hard time identifying her. She did look terribly different without her facial jewelry.

"Sango?" I heard her question as I stepped into the doorway.

"Hey Ms. Higurashi," Sango said, still sounding very tired. "I'm sorry about this. I didn't mean to keep Kagome out for so long."

"Sango, I've tried and tried to just trust you. You've been an amazing friend to Kagome but-"

I shut the door, not wanting to hear what she was going to say. Was she going to make Sango not hang out with me? Was she really that angry with me just because I came home late? Sango shouldn't be punished for that! It was me; I was the one who lost track of time. I was the one who'd imposed. Suddenly regretful, I pushed the door open to see Sango still standing there with my mom.

Cliffy! dun dun dunnnn lol, tune in next time for what happens! Reviews will get an update up much faster! Thanks for reading.
-Enigmatic Ethereality