You guys are all so terribly sweet! However fanfiction is giving me the notifications for my reviews very late so if I don't reply as fast, it's because of that :L And if I haven't replied yet, it's because some reviews are very short and sweet so I figured you probably wouldn't want to get the same reply from me every single time XD

On the other hand… I've been stressing a lot lately so I've gotten a cold sore and it hurts like hell…

And my prize winner, I WANT NACHOS has replied and requested on-going Inu/Kag for the next couple chapters… I cannot guarantee it'll be fluff, but as you wish, the pairing will be in the spotlight. What my lovely reader wants, she gets! ;D The fluff isn't very apparent in this one, though… But there's a reason.

Bitter or Sweet?

Disclaimer: unless my mirror proves me otherwise, I'm not Takahashi

Chapter 16: Bastard

There is no hope for you and me
Cause this long drive might be (the last time I take the wheel)
You're not sure how you feel.

I take the spot light
Always gives you stage fright
Wish this song would end right
Wish that you would stop
Making my head spin over and over it's over but what if we...
If we just pretend

This isn't right you said
It takes some time you know
But try again tonight
This fight is getting old

~School Boy Humor: Camera Shy

KAGOME'S POV

"That's demented, Kagome."

"I know, Sango!"

"Kagome, maybe he likes you."

"Ayame, shut up."

We all sigh at the same time. We've been at this for the last thirty minutes.

After Inuyasha very chivalrously threw me out after kissing me till I was dizzy, I bewilderedly made my way down to the lobby before somehow managing to pull myself back to my house, a question mark probably imprinted onto my forehead. I took a shower, made myself some stir fry, and jumped into bed after eating.

My mom eventually came home, and found me lying under the covers.

Saturday came fast enough. When Ayame called me, I broke down (not with tears), telling her everything that happened. We soon included Sango in our chat too.

"He's such an idiot," I grumble. "He just had to take advantage of the moment. What kind of friend makes out with his friend?"

"That's what I'm trying to tell you. Maybe he likes you more than just as a friend."

"Highly unlikely."

Ayame snorts. "And why is that?"

"Because kissing someone doesn't imply any romantic feelings."

Pause.

"Um… Kagome, of course a kiss implies special feelings," Sango says. "That's why it's called a kiss. That's why couples do it. The last time I checked, a kiss symbolizes love. Romance. All that gushy, sappy, sugary stuff."

"Or lust," Ayame mutters under her breath. "I hate to say it, but maybe he's just physically attracted to you. He is male, you know? And even though you're my friend, I can honestly say that I think you're a very beautiful girl."

I roll my eyes, not in the mood for flattery. "Ayame, I'm sorry but I can't take your word on it. You've been complimenting me on everything you possibly can ever since we met."

"Only 'cause they're true."

Sango clears her throat. "Let's put Kagome's good features aside for now. So what are you going to do?"

I blink owlishly. "What do you mean?"

"What, so you're just going to pretend nothing happened between you two?" Sango asks incredulously.

"Obviously."

Sango growls and hangs up.

Ayame laughs awkwardly. "Kagome… do you like him?"

The question startles me. I mean, despite the irritation I feel from being around Inuyasha at times, I've always found that he can be reliable and loyal at the worst of times, so the safety that comes along with his presence has simply made me comfortable with him. But until yesterday, I'd never asked myself if I liked him in more than one way. Okay, so he's very good looking (and even smart), but… just because I acknowledge his admirable qualities doesn't mean I am obliged to be interested in him. "No. I don't. As a friend, yes, but as a boy, no."

She takes this in. Finally she says, "Will that change? Answer honestly."

I treasure Inuyasha as a male friend too much to ever look at him as a guy. "No."

"Are you sure, Kagome? Maybe, if you end up liking him, you'll only end up getting hurt if you don't seize the opportunity now."

"I understand what you're saying, Ayame, but…"

"I'm not trying to pressure you into making a decision. I just want to let you know that chances only come once, and then they're gone. If you don't grab him… someone else will."

Just as I arrive at the gates of Shikon, I spot Inuyasha coming from the opposite direction. I raise a hand and wave tentatively, but even though I'm certain he saw my greeting, he doesn't even spare a second glance as he continues walking.

Why am I not surprised? Isn't that his technique? To just hide and run away whenever he feels uncomfortable or scared or whatever negative emotion that he gets? Some man he is. Despite how macho he acts, he tends to always not show himself whenever he wants to avoid me. Way to be obvious, Inuyasha!

The thing is, though… in school, he's not tentative or hesitant by any degree.

When I glance at him in classes every so often, he's just smiling and laughing and kidding with his friends as merrily and happily as can be.

Ayame insists that it's just a font, that it's the typical 'I'm trying too hard to act natural' mask, so leaning towards that perspective, I bite the bait and call out to him during free period (some teachers are just that lazy, you know?). "Inuyasha, hey, do you have a pen I can borrow? Dang, I left all mine at home!" I just made that sound a lot cornier than it needed to be…

His head turns around from where he was chatting leisurely with his buddies. "You, the perfect-straight-A-preppy-lunatic, have forgotten her study supplies? Isn't this a sight to behold." The last part is said as more of a statement than a question; sarcasm alert.

Preppy? Lunatic? Figures that's what he would call me. "Oh, shut up, Inuyasha," I counter, not putting my heart into the threat. For some reason, I feel my stomach drop to my feet as his care-free attitude, and the way he responded to me as he usually would. And then, I feel like crying, which is beyond me. What's there to cry about?

I realize that I've been worrying and thinking and crazing about that kiss this entire weekend, while he probably hasn't even given it a second though.

To him, it was 'just a kiss' and here I was, all Drama Queen as I phone my BFFs, asking for advice, and even testing out a plan in order to find out if he's as nervous as I was about seeing him.

God, I must be close to menstruating again. To hell with PMS and the stupid, stupid effects that come with it. We girls have it so hard…

Inuyasha must've noticed the heat flaming in my cheeks like a wildfire, and he tilts his head to the side. "Kagome?"

Just as I lose confidence in my ability to hold back the river that's threatening to spill out, I turn away, but not before that split second when our eyes clash and he clearly sees the upsetedness- which is not even a word- beating me in the inside. But because I tear my eyes away as quickly as it came, he might not have seen it.

I thank the heavens that this was a free period, and I quickly run outside to the hall.

And although it sounds ridiculous and naïve, for a moment, I hope that Inuyasha will come chasing after me.

But he doesn't.

In fact, I can hear him back in the classroom, resuming his conversation- voice completely regular- with his friends as if our little exchange didn't even happen.

Because this isn't a fairytale. And I don't get the prince.

Not that I think Inuyasha is a prince; princes don't kiss girls for the heck of it- they do it to wake up their true love or something romantic like that. Inuyasha's the opposite of romantic. Not that I would really know, but... I read enough novels to be able to guess.

By the time school's over, I really don't feel like seeing Inuyasha again. But if he's able to smile and laugh normally in front of me, I want to be able to do that as well. So I wait.

But after forty-five minutes, I grit my teeth. He's not coming. Which is fine, sure, but letting me know would've been nice.

Then, it dawns on me that we don't walk together anymore.

He moved. I come and go to school on my own.

Stupid, I tell myself, fisting a hand and bringing it up to my temple. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl. In books, when the female role is so hung up on her boy, it didn't seem too bad to me, except for a little frustration I felt. But I always figured I would never be that girl. And here I am, waiting for someone who knew he wouldn't forget that he wasn't coming. Get a grip on yourself. You're not an air-headed love-struck teenager whose world revolves around one person!

I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, and nausea blurs my vision.

A sharp pain in my lower stomach follows.

The legs holding me up tremble a little before loosening and resolutely bringing me down. The pavement scrapes my cheek as it slides across the ground, and although I try so hard to push myself up, my limbs refuse to listen, remaining dormant. With the still-chilly breezy of dying down winter biting at my skin, I get the urge to just crawl up and sleep like some hibernating bear. But I can't even do that.

Managing to stuff my hand to the pocket of my skirt where my phone is, I randomly push buttons- my goal to call Sango, Ayame or my mom. I don't know if I succeeded or not because a passing-by car's headlights flash across my awkwardly sprawled body, I think, Ah, who cares? and close my eyes.

"Oh, wow, Kagome," Sota sighs, shaking his head like he's and adult scolding me- the child. "If I hadn't been walking home from soccer practice, what would've happened to you? I bet strangers would've stepped right on you and leave footprints on your forehead."

"Sorry, Sota," I apologize sheepishly, rubbing the back of my hand over my eyes. "I'm glad you found me though." Currently in my bed situated in my cozy room, I stretch out my arms. "I'm feeling better now that I'm in the house again. Can you ask Mom if there are any oranges in the kitchen?"

He tilts his head slightly, raising a brow. "Mom's not home. She's helping Gramps clean out the shrine."

Oh. "Well, then, okay, who brought me here? It clearly couldn't have been you- no matter how many sports you're doing- since you almost broke your back the last time you tried to give me a piggy back ride. Who was it? I hope you didn't hitch-hike with some weirdo." I slap a look of horror onto my face, and my younger brother sticks out a tongue at me.

"Of course not. I pulled out your phone- which was on gaming mode, for some odd reason- and scrolled through your contacts. I tried calling Sango first, because let's face it, she's more logical than any of your other friends, but when she picked up, she told me she couldn't help because she was on her way to airport for some reason. Said she was picking up a relative. She suggested I call Ayame, which I did next, but… She, uh, she was out with some guy. She said she could leave right away, but that it would take her at least half an hour. I told her that would be too long, but thanks for the thought."

Ayame was on a… date? With who?

Sota clears his throat and continues. "I was just about to hang up and call one of my friends in case their mom might be able to help, but Ayame said I should give Inuyasha a ring. She sounded kind of unsure, though, like it would make you feel bad or something. But then I was like, why didn't I think of that earlier? Inuyasha's so cool- of course he'll rescue my poor, dead, older sis. You were in a very odd position, by the way. It looked like you tried a belly-flop onto the cement and failed." He looks thoughtful. "I was worried, though, so I didn't really have the chance to laugh until I realized you were okay."

A failed belly-flop? That sounds pleasant. "So you called him?"

He detects the alarm in my voice. "Yeah. Wasn't it a relief that he was coincidentally free?"

"Right…" Why is it that I'm constantly relying on him? "Where's he now?"

"I think he's watching television downstairs. He said he'd leave when Mom came home, whenever that is. Isn't Inuyasha so awesome?" he grins. "I wish I had a brother like him. I'll go tell him you're awake-"

I put my hands up in protest. "N-no, that's okay!" I insist.

"Why?" He looks puzzled.

"It's unnecessary!"

The door is pushed open, and Inuyasha slips his head in. "If you don't want me to know, did you think that, maybe, it'd be a good idea to not yell so loudly?"

Seeing his face makes me wrinkle my nose involuntarily and I feel vomit and bile rising in my throat. Eyes panicked, I clasp my hands over my mouth. No, no, no, Kagome—keep it in!

Inuyasha moves closer. "Why do you look like you're going to throw up?" he says cautiously, warily.

Then I do. On his shirt.

Sota's eyes widen, mouth forming into an O.

"You just had to do it on me, didn't you?" he demands angrily. "Aw, gross! Why do you always hurl on me, dammit! It's like fucking déjà vu!"

Soon after that, Mom arrives, and she calls a doctor when seen my condition. He tells us that I contracted appendicitis. So I was prescribed medicine, and forced to lie in bed. You need rest, he said. Don't they always?

Body churning with a fever and sweat collecting on my hairline, I distortedly hum an old lullaby Dad used to sing to me. I don't remember his voice, but Mama taught me the song so I know it by heart.

Finally at peace, sleep heavies my eyelids. And then the door is thrown open and Sango enters like a hysterical madman.

"Sorry I took so long to get here, Kaggie!" she yells. "I came as fast as I could. Oh my God, are you okay? Sota told me you had cancer!" Tears collect at her eyes, and she kneels beside my bed, and grabbing my hands frantically, she rages on, ignoring my confused expression. "Don't worry- medical technology has developed so much over the years. I know they'll be able to cure your case. You'll be fine, Kags. I swear it. Have faith!"

Now I'm really lost. "Cancer?" I inquire slowly.

She smiles sadly, voice miserable. "Yeah. If it's too depressing, let's talk about something else!" Then she begins ranting, talking vigorously about random things and the only words I pick up are aloha, cannibal, and Snoopy the dog. Which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But maybe that's just me. "And then the grizzly-"

"Sango!" I exclaim, cutting her off. "I don't have cancer."

That miserable look again. "Oh, Kagome… denial is always the first stage…"

"No! Like, I honestly don't have cancer. I have appendicitis, so I'm not sure how cancer came into the picture in the first place. I'm not going to die."

Silence.

Sango appears absolutely flabbergasted and flustered. "B-but Sota told me…"

"Obviously, that little squirt lied. Or maybe he actually thought it was cancer before the doctor confirmed that I was fine. Seriously, that kid drives me insane at the worst of times. I'm sorry we worried you, Sango. I'm flattered you got here so fast, too; hopefully without killing everyone on the roads beside you on your way."

She laughs. "Yeah, my dad was going crazy. Fortunately, no one was injured. Permanently," she adds at the end jokingly. She slumps down onto the floor, letting out a breath of disbelief. "Do you know how completely devastated I was? Quite the scare you gave me, Kagome. Does Ayame know you're alright? Sota contacted her, too, right?"

"I think she's okay. But just in case, I'll call her right after. Inuyasha was the one who… you know."

Sango leans closer, eyes ablaze. "I know; I saw him in the living room. So did anything happen? Anything… romantic?"

"Well, if puking on him counts as romantic… then yes."

She makes a face. "What? Again?"

"Yup. I guess it's just an uncontrollable thing. A reflex reaction, I guess?"

"He must feel so honored," she comments dryly. "Whoo. What a rush."

I nod sympathetically. Sango is usually so cool, calm, collected and it's rare to see her so frenzied. She was obviously worried beyond belief. "I'm sorry," I apologize for the second time. "I really am. But out of curiosity, why were you at the airport?"

She beams. "I know it's a little delayed, but I was a bit sidetracked about your 'cancer' so I forgot to tell you." She turns her head around to face the door to my bedroom. "You can come in, now! She says she doesn't have cancer!"

I blink repeatedly when a beautiful, petite, youthful girl makes her entrance. Her long, creamy-blonde hair with black ends is braided into two, and full bangs gracefully frame her sharp, mahogany-colored eyes. Slender arms folded behind her back. That warm, big grin and mischievous facial expression. It takes a while to recognize her, because she's so strikingly pretty.

Shock causes my jaw to drop. "Kirara? Whoa, you grew!"

AN:I'm so sorry -_-

I know I've been MIA and that this chappie was short and filler-ish. The next one will be better, though (that's not an empty promise by the way). The chapter was originally intended to be longer, but then that would be too long so I decided to cut it down. I hope you don't mind.

School's been so busy since summer is approaching, and we just recently finished presenting this huge performance that we've been rotating around for about two months. But yay for the warmer weather ;)

Hopefully, the next chapter will be up in less than three weeks, but I can't guarantee…

I still love you guys very much (no homo), and thanks- as always- for sticking by me! It means the world. You included, Daichi.

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs,

~Nyony

(PS: Dear I WANT NACHOS: this chapter must've seemed awkward, but Kirara's appearance in the story serves a purpose for Inuyasha/Kagome pairing. You'll see ^^ Also… sea squirrels? They only exist in my imagination xD)

Daichi: Oh, I feel great now! I love getting the chapters in my mailbox to "fix" it. I say fix in air quotes because there are almost no mistakes. So everyone, review!