"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family.
Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."
-John Howard, "Families
Sessomaru actually winced at the endearment, and his cheeks colored just slightly. Kagome had never felt so proud of herself.
"Fluffy, huh?" Rin looked up at the man at her side and smiled, her eyes full of tenderness.
Sessomaru cleared his throat and refused to look at her. "So I take it you are Kagome then?" His eyes were cold, as they always are, but Kagome didn't take it personally.
"Do you really need to ask?" Kagome looked at Inuyasha, looked into his eyes, and she put as much indifference she could into her eyes. "Hello, Inuyasha. You've been well, I hope?" Kagome mentally padded herself on her back at the cool tone of her voice.
Inuyasha stared at her, his gold eyes captivating and suddenly very warm. "How hurt are you? I didn't know . . . I didn't. . . mean. . ." His voice faded away, but he refused to look away from her silver orbs. In the silence that followed he traced her face, noticing the changes that marked her features. Her mouth was a little fuller, her nose more defined, her cheekbones more pronounced, but that might be from the fact that she was obviously underfed. Her eyes were the one feature that had changed the most. They were still beautiful silver, but instead of being warm they had turned to cold steel. There was just enough that was the same to see the girl she had once been.
"I'm fine."
"Bullshit." He fiercely said, his voice deep. "You couldn't even walk when you tried. Fuck, your still holding your side. You're anything but 'fine.'" He couldn't explain the protectiveness that overcame him, how it charged through his blood at the sight of Kagome hurt, even after all these years apart it seems that his attachment to her hasn't diminished.
"If you know my body so much better than me, why did you even ask?" Snapped Kagome, her eyes showing a fierce fire.
"I didn't expect you to lie, that's why bitch!" Inuyasha knew, he just knew he should keep his mouth firmly shut, but that was wishful thinking- he never could stay quiet, not even when it was in his best interest.
"Okay, that's it. Inuyasha shut the hell up, before I lose my temper." Sango glared at Inuyasha and when he opened his mouth to yell at her she put up her hand and refused to acknowledge him. "Sorry about Inuyasha, he's a little hotheaded. But you know each other, so you know that." Sango looked around at the two brothers who were still staring at the girl before her, "Okay. I'm going to go ahead and make this awkward moment a little more awkward. How do you guys know each other?"
Inuyasha looked at the ground and Sessomaru looked at Inuyasha. Kagome leaned against the wall, "I know them from school when we were young." The answer was deliberately vague; it had become a habit of hers to give answers that didn't really mean much of any thing.
"I see." Miroku stood by Sango and it was plain that he didn't see any thing. "I met Inuyasha in seventh grade; I don't remember seeing you." He clearly meant for her to talk, to add something onto his comment.
Kagome was uncomfortable with where this was going and again took a step back, "I really think that I should be going now."
Inuyasha jumped forward to stop her but Rin opened her mouth first, "What? You can't leave. Inuyasha just threw you into a BRICK WALL." Inuyasha winced and had to force down the instinct to release a pathetic whine. "You're hurt. We should take you to a hospital."
"No!" Kagome shouted and then winced. After taking a deep breath she calmly said, "I'm not that hurt. This is nothing." Then she dropped her arm from where it was cradling her side to show her how well she was. But she couldn't stop her hands from shaking or her side from hurting. Hell, she couldn't stop her body from swaying.
"But he did hurt you," Rin persisted. "The least we could do is drive you home. Where do you live?" Ah, you had to love Rin. She could get information from people without them even knowing it.
But instead of the detailed address to her home that everyone was expecting, Kagome seemed to go in a kind of daze and she stared at them all but without really seeing them. "Home?" She shook her head a little bit, as if shaking away bad memories, "That's about four years gone." She said this more to herself than anyone.
Everyone stared at her trying to figure out the fortune cookie riddle that she just gave. Inuyasha frowned and repeated her words to himself. It made no sense to him, but he got an unpleasant feeling and he suddenly felt like stealing Kagome away and wrapping her in bubble wrap and never letting her leave his sight.
"What does that mean, Kagome?" Miroku finally asked the question they all were thinking.
" It means that I can get there on my own, but thank you for your kind offer." She bowed her head a little, and slowly started to back out of the alley with her making sure to keep them all in her sights as if they would attack her at any moment. Inuyasha guessed that his brother's promise couldn't keep her totally placated and yet again he felt ashamed for hurting her.
" Miko," Sessomaru's voice stopped her retreat. " You were hurt while assisting me. I am bound to care for you, by my honor and by the promise I gave to you. I will not let anything harm and that means by inaction, too." When Kagome would of protest, Sessomaru simply shook his head to silence her. " Since you refused the use of a hospital you will come to my house to recuperate." Sessomaru nodded as is his word made it a fact and Kagome would go with them.
But Kagome didn't think the same. " I can heal this in a few hours," Kagome waved a hand over her side like it was nothing, which with her history it was. " I just need to rest for a bit and I can do that by myself." She stared at the group standing before her and was a little quizzical. Did they care for her?
Both demons could clearly see that the woman before them was trying to find a reason to their desire to help her; as if they had to have a motive to care. Which really pissed them off. "Then you can rest at my home." Sessomaru snapped at her, which he seemed more surprised over than anyone else.
Kagome shook her head, " I need to get back to my cat. I haven't fed him today."
Sango shook her and smiled slightly when she heard Inuyasha and Sessomaru growl after hearing about a cat, "Cats are notoriously self – sufficient creatures. I think your cat will be fine for the few hours you say that you need to heal yourself. You can go and rest at Inuyaha's and when you wake up you can go and feed your cat."
"I can't." Kagome didn't want to go with them. Some might think her insane for refusing such an offer, but she couldn't afford for that hope that had died so long ago to come back to life. As it was she could already feel a small amount of that terrible emotion coming back, and she was terrified that she wouldn't survive this time around if it were to die all over again. She wouldn't have Sota this time to live for.
"Kagome I really think that you should come with us." Rin stepped forward a little but she refused to let go of Sessomaru, holding tightly to his blood soaked shirt. "It would make all of us feel better if you come. Other wise I'm going to be worrying over you for the rest of my life, wondering if I left you to wonder the streets with a concussion, and you drop dead in the sewers because you didn't come with us, and I'm going to feel guilty because I'm living my life with the man that you saved but you eventually died because of saving and I'm never going to be able to forget or forgive myself for being a selfish child when I should of dragged you by your hair to Sessomaru's house and forced you to rest by tying you to the bed." Rin was almost in tears at the end of her rant, and she kept tightening her hand on Sessomaru's shirt. Sessomaru pulled her against him and stroked her hair, mumbling words of comfort to Rin that only she could hear.
"But-"
"No, no more excuses." Inuyasha interrupted her, glancing at Rin then at Kagome. "You're coming with us, wench, so stop trying to get out of it." Inuyasha couldn't stand women crying and he was getting really antsy with Rin over there softly crying into Sessomaru.
"I need to-"
"What you need to do, human, is be quiet." Sessomaru glared at Kagome, two different emotions were warring inside him. He felt the need to get rid of what ever was causing Rin to cry, but also the need to protect Kagome, which unfortunately was the thing causing Rin to cry.
Kagome felt herself to be on dangerous ground and kept quiet. But she was far from silent in her head. She was thinking of ways to leave once she was at their house, because unfortunately she doubted she could leave now. Sessomaru was too attached to Rin, and would do anything to please her; even Kagome could see this after only a few minutes of seeing them together.
Sessomaru nodded in approval when Kagome didn't raise any more objections, "Now, I'm uncomfortable standing here covered in my own blood, as might Kagome." Sessomaru stepped forward and included Kagome when he talked to the group. "Not to mention that who ever did this to me could come back. So, Inuyasha, did you drive here?"
Inuyasha shook his head and tapped his nose, "Had to tract you're stench dear brother. Couldn't do that from a car." Inuyasha insulted his brother out of habit but he never took his eyes off of Kagome. He felt as if fire was running through his veins and a jittery sensation seemed to be consuming his body. All he could do was take her in with his sight and hearing but his other senses longed for her too. He wished he could smell her, taste her, and feel her.
Sessomaru sighed, "Then we walk, unless you, Miko, have a car with you?" His cold eyes came back to rest on Kagome.
Kagome snorted. She hasn't been able to buy a new shirt in two years, not even one from the cheapest second hand store in town; the thought of her owning a car was preposterous.
Sessomaru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose; "I take that as a 'no'."
Inuyasha looked around and counted the group, "Six people is a bit big, but it'll have to do." Inuyasha pulled his phone from his pocket and started dialing.
"Who are you calling?" Asked Sessomaru.
Inuyasha closed his eyes and his whole body seemed to slump, "Mom."
8769 New Scene 8769
Kagome felt very much out of place. Ten minutes after hearing that her sons needed her, Izayoi was there crying over Sessoamru's bloody shirt and repeatedly asking if everyone was all right. She hadn't noticed Kagome, but that was understandable.
So as everyone tried to calm Izayoi down, and that yes they were all perfectly fine, Kagome watched from the shadows. It briefly crossed her mind that it would be the perfect time to leave, and indeed she was about to slip even farther into the shadows and simply walk out of the alley, when Izayoi turned to her. Kagome was caught completely off guard as she hugged her, saying 'thank you' over and over again.
The pain took her by surprise; Izayoi squeezed her around her middle and Kagome had to close her eyes and bite her lip to stop the scream that wanted to escape her throat. She couldn't breath and for a terrifying moment Kagome thought that she would force her rib to puncture her lung with the force of her grip. Opening her eyes, Kagome pushed back the tears and looked over to Inuyasha, and pleaded with her eyes for him to get his mother off of her. Inuyasha seemed to read the panic clouding her eyes and tactfully disengaged his mother from her.
Instant relief filled her, but not just physical, but emotional relief too. It wasn't that Kagome was unappreciated of Izayoi's thanks; it was that she hasn't had normal loving contact with another human, or demon, being for years. She had no idea how to respond to a kind gesture, or an emotional one. She was never so conscious of her failures as a human being as she was in that alley, unable to even hug a distraught mother.
Inuyasha didn't seem to take it personally, and after ten more minutes of calming Izayoi down they all piled into her Expedition, including Kagome with some help from Inuyasha. She had blushed and refused to look at him as his hands encircled her waist, gently lifting her to the seat. She swore that the heat from his hands traveled her body until she was sensitized to his mere breath against her cheek as he buckled her in. It was childish and embarrassing and she had never been so grateful for her power to hide her scent. She knew it was foolish to keep it up; she was safe for the moment and it would be wise to conserve any and all energy she had. But she already felt so vulnerable sitting next to Inuyasha and she knew from her childhood how powerful his nose was. He would be able to tell when she was embarrassed, or angry, or sad. He would know that it's been two days since she was able to take a bath. She couldn't give up that sense of security, even if it was foolish.
Everyone seemed to be fine with staying silent, but it just nerved Kagome out. Or maybe it was the sly glances that everyone gave her and didn't think she could see. Izayoi knew that Kagome had helped Sessomaru, but from the way that she kept glancing back at her it was more than apparent that she didn't remember who she was yet.
Inuyasha had made it so that he sat next to her. Kagome could feel the heat from where his thigh touched hers; it seemed like it didn't matter how far she squirmed away from him she could still feel that heat.
"Are you okay?" His breath was hot in her ear, gently bathing it in his moisture. Kagome nodded quickly, disconcerted with how he made her heart jump and her breath hitch in her throat. Images of her fantasies were playing in her head, of phantom kisses exchanged in the dead of night, and comforting words that have never been spoken. Right about now she was cursing her overly active imagination; she could practically feel the soft, hesitant touch of a first kiss and the whisper of his voice against her ear.
Inuyasha stared at her, his gold eyes hypnotizing but when she didn't speak he sighed and looked away, though his eyes didn't seem able to stay away. He was steeling the most glances out of everyone in the car.
Kagome chose to ignore as much as possible and took to looking out the window as Izayoi drove away from the dingy, depressing atmosphere of the desolate into the high class end of Japan. She tried to keep the surprise off her face as she drove up to the most beautiful house she had ever seen, it even had a gate that had a guard stationed at the entrance.
"Good evening, Lady Takahashi." The guard nodded slightly and looked past at Sessomaru. "Lord Takahashi will be arriving shortly. Makoto called him just after you left. He was not very happy that you went by yourself."
Izayoi just nodded wearily and the guard buzzed the gate to let her in. "You're father is probably going crazy right now. I'll call him and say everyone is alright as soon as we get inside." She looked once again in the rearview mirror at Kagome, "I know I have you to thank for helping my son, I was able to understand that much in my blubbering." Her voice was wry; she had no problem laughing at herself. "But I'm afraid that I don't know exactly what you did. Or your name, I didn't get your name either." She laughed a little, but it still sounded too close to a sob for Kagome's comfort.
"That's understandable." Kagome assured her quickly. "You were under duress and relieved that your son was okay. And seeing how he looks, that must have been a shock, too." Kagome spoke softly and looked out the window while talking.
Izayoi nodded and didn't say anything more. Sessomaru looked at his mother and briefly wondered if she noticed that the girl never answered her question. From the way she frowned slightly and looked again at Kagome, Sessomaru guessed she did. He smiled slightly; she always did seem to know everything he did when he was a child.
Inuyasha stole another look at Kagome; she was resolutely staring out the window and not at anyone in the car. He really couldn't blame her, she didn't want to be here and it seemed she would of rather not of seen him at all. It hurt that she was so uncomfortable around him, how she kept fidgeting and scooting farther away from him. But he couldn't help but also feel a small amount of joy that she was sitting next to him. That she talked to him was a gift.
Kagome stared in wonder at the house that was coming into view. It was gorgeous and huge. Apparently they had come a long way from the small duplex she remembered. It could most appropriately be called a mansion; it sprawled across several acres and was four stories tall in some places. The front lawn was immaculate and perfectly groomed, a far cry from the small garden that was full of weeds that Izayoi had before.
They also had a four-car garage, with a black Jaguar sitting in front. It looked like some one had gotten out of it quickly; the driver door was still open and the car making that annoying dinging sound that drove everyone crazy.
"Your father's home. He must of come from the back entrance." Izayoi parked her car next to her husband's and turned off the car. She smiled weakly and turned around in her seat to talk to them all. "Well, let's go great him and you all can tell us exactly what happened." She looked directly at Kagome, showing that she meant her too.
Everyone jumped from the car, but sudden movements were not possible for Kagome; her side would erupt into flames if she jarred it in any way. While she was just opening her door and preparing her self for the pain of hopping down, Inuyasha appeared in front of her a frown marring his face.
"What do you think you're doing? You'll just end up hurting yourself if you did that." He reprimand her softly, and before Kagome could open her mouth to yell that it was he who had hurt her first, he was tenderly picking her up and pulling her to fit against his body, making all thought fly from her mind. He carried her bridal style so she was forced to put her arms around his neck and amidst the stares of his family and friends started walking toward the front door. After a shocked second they, too, followed behind them.
Suddenly the thought of how this might look flopped into her mind and Kagome weakly started to fight against his hold, "I can walk by myself."
Inuyasha snorted and just kept on walking, "And it would hurt like a son of a bitch the whole time and take three times as long. This is easier." Inuyasha looked straight ahead and was glad that the fur on his ears covered the hot blush that he could feel on them. He could feel Kagome's stare on him and looked down at her. He was surprised when she didn't look away but instead stared right back at him. She was silently staring at him as if trying to find something that only she could see. She finally looked away when they reached the front door.
Instead of putting her down, Inuyasha kept her body close to his and opened the door with her still in his arms. Only after of crossing into the entrance hall did he gently put her down. "How are you doing?"
Kagome waved his question away; she had been far more hurt than this before, numerous times in fact. She was too busy looking in wonder at the beautiful home she had just walked into. She had briefly thought that it would be sanitized and impersonal like the front lawn, but it wasn't. She could see some photographs that she recognized from the duplex hanging on the wall and it was clean but held the warmth of a lived in home. It was perfect.
"I'm guessing that you might want to take a shower. I can't smell the blood but I can see it on you." Inuyasha gestured up the staircase, "The bathrooms are up there. I'll take you up there if you want."
Kagome was resigned and excited to the fact that she would have to be held by Inuyasha again. "Yes, tha-
A low growl vibrated the room and Kagome found herself, yet again, banged against a wall, except this time a hand was wrapped around her throat cutting off her air supply. The wall cracked from where her head hit, and her teeth clanked together. She whimpered from the impact, then flinched waiting for the blow against her face and him screaming that she can't cry, can't scream or he would do something worse to her, much worse.
Her eyes were screwed shut, and she heard people yelling, but she couldn't make out the words. All she could see were flashes of him leaning over her, choking her, his nails biting into her skin, laughing, with his spit landing against her face. Pictures of his red eyes kept running through her mind, and she could feel his hands holding her down, tying her to the whipping block.
"Oh, Kami, not again, PLEASE, not again." Kagome prayed silently. Her mind was starting to go foggy from lack of air, but she couldn't raise her hands in defense or it would only get worse. Suddenly the hand against her throat loosened and sweet air rushed back into her deprived lungs. Kagome slowly opened her eyes fully expecting to see him standing in front of her; his eyes crazed and that sadistic smile curving his lips. But what she found was a red-eyed Inutashio, a look of confusion on his face as his eyes slowly bled back to amber.
Tunnel vision plagued Kagome, and all Kagome could see was his eyes, and how right before he let her go they widened with recognition and horror. Then there was nothing but the welcoming embrace of unconsciousness.
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Okay well that's the end to that chapter.
I am so sorry for how long this took. My computer decided to come down with a bug, and crashed for a few weeks.
I learned a few valuable lessons because of this:
Don't just have a computer file for stories.
KEEP HARD COPIES
Always have copies stored on a disc or a STOR-N-Go
Anyways, this is the first I've been able to do anything on my computer. I want to thank everyone who left a review, especially Fennikusu Kasai for your detailed review. Thank You.
I plan on up-dating once a week for now on, so keep reading my story please.
Oh, and how did you like this chapter? Was it a let down after such a long wait?
Till next time,
Dream-Walker1436
