Chapter 8

Twelve years later...

With a start, Kagome sat up, choking on a cry as a zombie stumbled toward her.

The strong scent of it's rotting flesh made her gag even before she registered the undead in her room. He gnashed his bloody, broken teeth as it's dead black eyes locked on her. His neck was broken, leaving it's head at a wrong angle as it gurgled on blood and reached for her.

With a scream, Kagome scrambled to the farthest corner away from it, hyperventilating when she had no where to run.

"Kagome," Inuyasha growled as he stood in front of her, blocking her vision. "It's not real," he punched it, sending it sprawling to the floor. "How many times do I have to remind you?"

She screwed her eyes shut, sliding her hands over her ears as she chanted to herself. "Zombies aren't real. Zombies aren't real." If they were real, Inuyasha would save me. If they were real, everything would still be okay, she assured herself. Her breathing gradually calmed and when she opened her eyes, Inuyasha was scowling at her, but there was no zombie to be found. She sighed in relief.

"This is the third time I had to wake you up because of that damn movie you watched last night!" Inuyasha snapped as he glared down at her. "Your mother said 'no scary movies', dammit. See what happened?"

"Sorry," Kagome apologized half-heartedly, yawning as she moved to stand. "It's morning now," she pointed out unhelpfully.

"And I didn't get a wink of sleep," he muttered, aggravated, "I had to watch over you."

With a small smile, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thank you," she murmured gratefully, giggling when his face reddened. "You could always stay at home and take a cat nap."

"Keh!" Inuyasha turned to turn off her alarm clock, giving himself an excuse to look away. "Go get ready for school, already."

With a disheartened sigh at her comfortable-looking bed, Kagome went to her closet and gathered one of her uniform outfits, consisting of a green and white sailor top and skirt. "So, are you coming with me again?"

"...You sound like you don't want me to," Inuyasha glanced at her.

"You tripped the new guy yesterday," she frowned at him. "And you still didn't give me an answer why."

He growled. "The bastard touched you."

Kagome rolled her eyes when she managed to recall that moment of physical contact. "Putting his arm around my shoulders doesn't give you an excuse. You almost made me fall too!"

"Well if he didn't hold you that tightly, I wouldn't have!" he replied, turning to her with a scowl.

She met his golden eyes with a glare. "You're unbelievable. How long are you going to stop me from making guy friends? Are you going to stop me from having a boyfriend, too?!"

"It worked out so far, didn't it?" he leered. Kagome was angry at herself when she couldn't meet his glower any longer.

With a huff, Kagome stormed away, locking herself in the bathroom. The nerve of him! She glared at herself in the mirror. Her long raven hair was tangled with her tossing and turning and her whole face looked tired from the lack of sleep. It hadn't been easy on her, either, with the nightmares she's been having. I should be able to control them, as well. It doesn't help anyone if they want to hurt me.

She showered for twenty minutes longer than usual, reluctant to face the day after that little spat with her best friend. When she went downstairs, collecting her backpack, Inuyasha was already there, avoiding her gaze moodily.

"Have a good day at school," her mother said, coming out of the kitchen to hand her a lunch pack for the day.

"Thanks, Mama," Kagome replied as Seiko stored the box in her backpack. She saw Inuyasha's expression change to one of indifference and quickly looked away. Even after all these years, Inuyasha was still invisible to everyone. But there wasn't anything that she could do, was there?

Another question to add to the list, Kagome sighed sadly. Kikyou had long since given Kagome her personal phone number for questions but she just couldn't make herself call often. The woman meant well but Kagome felt like she was getting every problem recorded for the supernatural institute, Shikon, to take note of. Any 'mishaps' they had brought her one step closer to moving to their secluded neighborhoods of unnatural freaks.

All she wanted was a normal life; living at her grandfather's shrine, hanging out with her friends, going to school... Granted, Inuyasha was abnormal himself, but he had been a part of her for so long that it felt natural for him to be with her. So, he was the only exception to her definition of normal.

"Just great..." Inuyasha muttered. Kagome looked up and grinned.

"Kouga!" Happily, Kagome skipped down the shrine steps down to the base where the new kid at school was waiting. "How'd you know where I lived?"

Kouga Okami smirked, taking hold of her hand in his. "I was just minding my own business when I saw you and thought that a beauty like you shouldn't be walking alone." Kissing one of her digits, he added, "Though I'm glad I know where you live now."

Giggling bashfully, she took her hand away, completely unaware of Inuyasha's malevolent presence behind her. She tried to ignore him when he tried clawing Kouga's head off as he kissed the tip of her fingers- forgetting that he couldn't touch anyone in his state. It was difficult to disregard his actions and she was glad when he stopped and just simmered to himself.

"So, Kagome, may I walk with you?"

"Kagome, if you don't push him away right now..." Inuyasha warned, but it was an empty threat.

"Sure," Kagome agreed, not arguing when Kouga took her hand once more, linking their fingers together as they began walking. From the corner of her eye, she looked him over. Unlike most boys, he grew his dark hair out long, tying it up in a high ponytail. Strangely, the look worked for him, at least with her. His tanned muscles were easily viewable under his white-button up shirt and it made Kagome giddy to just look at him. He was sexy, easily popular with his award-winning personality, and, to put it simply, she liked him.

Biting her lip, she looked away when his stunning blue eyes glanced at her. A blush rose to her face when she imagined him checking her out just as she did. Lamentably, her mind was only able to create living creatures. When she was fifteen, she experimented with her ability and learned so. Needless to say, Inuyasha was pissed when he discovered that she created various human-like, flirtatious beings and almost started an orgy in her room.

When she glanced back, she was momentarily stunned when she met his gaze. He smiled in that cute, boyish way, making her blush darken.

Inuyasha finally had enough. His hand went down between them, going through Kouga's, but knocking against Kagome's wrist, breaking their hold. "Knock this shit off, Kagome!"

She gasped and shot a deadly look at her creation, who returned it equally.

Thankfully, they were near the school and a couple of Kouga's friends were calling him over. He waved back, easily shaking off his initial surprise. "I'll see you later, Kagome," he promised, already forgetting that she accidentally jerked her hand away from his.

Kagome shakily nodded. "U-Uh-huh. See you." When he was out of ear-shot, Kagome whirled on Inuyasha and grabbed his arm and pulled him in between two small business buildings. "What was that for?"

He growled, towering over her. "What do you think? You're acting all stupid. I don't like him."

Kagome crossed her arms. "So? You don't like anyone."

"He looked at you like he wanted to eat you!" When Kagome blushed and glanced away, he scowled. "I can't believe you like that sort of thing."

"I like him," Kagome admitted, tucking her hair behind her ear. "...Was he really checking me out?"

"Kagome!"

"What?" Her eyes flicked up to his before sighing. "I want a relationship. See that couple out there?" She pointed to a boy and a girl walking together, holding hands in the same fashion she and Kouga had. "They're in love. I want to be in love too..."

"So you're desperate enough to go out with trash like him?" Inuyasha muttered, crossing his arms as he stared at the couple.

"He isn't trash," Kagome argued, "And I don't want you eying us like a hawk next time."

"Keh! I'm looking out for you, dammit!" he snapped. "It's part of the reason I've been created, isn't it? To be your protector?"

"There's nothing to protect me from!" Quickly losing her anger, she placed a gentle hand against his arm. "Please, Inuyasha. I don't want you to mess this up. I really like him..."

Inuyasha finally looked down at her. His fists balled tighter. "You just met him yesterday."

"We'll grow into something more, I'm sure of it." Determined, she gripped his haori sleeve. "I just want you to stay out of my relationship. Just once, I want to live like a normal teenager."

He tore away from her. "Whatever." He snorted softly before turning away and leaving.

Kagome sighed sadly, heading to the school gates by herself.

A/N: Ouch, Inuyasha and Kagome are already at each other's throats... Next chapter, we will be sitting on Inuyasha's shoulder and listening to his own thoughts.

Dwarg91: Like what? If it was explained in the last chapters too poorly, I can clarify them for you. Just not the questions that would get answered in the future.

xXxAddicted2ChocolatexXx: I was very tempted to make her crazy, like real Schizo-crazy. But my InuKag senses demanded that Inu should get a chance to get physical... *winkwink *

SilverMoonLite & TiffyTaffy0409 & futureauthor & Xanna: Thank you! (Yay! I'm not boring readers!)

Warm-Amber92 & Guest: *helps pick up pieces* I didn't mean to blow brains up! xD

HopelessRomantic183: Agreed completely. I was a bit wary about how this idea would get accepted and I'm glad people like it. (Though I'm still trying to figure out how Inuyasha thinks Kagome is his mate, what with being her creation and all ^_^;)

vampireinu95: Well, technically, Kikyou only mentioned that Kagome's father donated Kagome. So he might have been the only one.

emeraldsol: It's alright. I'm not holding anything against anyone (especially not this story because I kinda have to update everyday), but going from eight reviews a day to two really scared me into thinking I lost everyone's interest. And now I can answer questions thanks to that big explanation last chapter (as long as the answer has sort of been covered (yet unclear) before)

Sahora: Unicorns are evil creatures plotting a war against the fairies to get their spotlight, I don't trust them . And like I said with others, I can clear up anything as long as I don't plan on explaining in the future.

This chapter ran a bit fast, so I hope you guys were comfortable with the change :/

FxA