Yea! Updates are fun. Finally I'm satisfied enough with the next chapter to post it. I'm sorry I edit so much, but I'm a horrible perfectionist, so everything has to be right before I feel like I can post things. And of course, the old work and school keeps me away from the computer, and I'm really sorry about that. I do have more of this story written, and I'm still continuing it. Life's kind of jumbled at the moment, but I'll keep plugging away at it.
Review Responses:
Inu Chick 06 - Thank you for emailing me to review my story when fanfic's review service wasn't working for you. I'm glad you're still with me! As for all of your questions, they will be answered all in good time...
Eleature - Always nice to see new reviewers. I'm glad you liked it, and I hope you come back for more!
jaryjosephwantsapplejuicenow - Wow. That's one helluva penname there! Actually, poor Kagome, if Inuyasha only remembered Kikyo. I wouldn't do that to her, I'm not that mean!
Demonchild39 - Yeah, Naraku really is a low-life scumbag. He really likes screwing up people's lives. With my superpowers of an author, I'll see what I can do to make him suffer.
Tobias - Thanks. I'm glad you're liking it so far, and I hope you like this chapter as well.
Kagome lover 2009 - I'm glad you liked the chapter, and I really hope you like this one too. You hope Inuyasha doesn't hurt them, eh? looks guilty
disclaimer: Still don't own Inuyasha and crew.
Kagome gasped. Though it was cloudy out, Inuyasha's hair was still sheen and his amber eyes seemed to glow. His wild hair blew about his face in the wind, and he grinned evilly, with his white fangs bared. He cracked his knuckles and curved his long sharp claws.
"Inuyasha!"
Sango and Miroku watched as their friend looked around him with a cocky grin, watching the crowds dissipate in fear. Kagome was about to run forward when Naraku jumped in front of Inuyasha.
She stopped dead in her tracks and a cold shiver traveled down her spine at the sight of him. She fell back next to Miroku and Sango when Naraku chuckled.
"So, Kagome. It seems you have found each of your friends and have reversed the curse."
Kagome's breathing became shallow. Sango glanced at her friend, who's eyes were wide with fear.
"Kagome, what's wrong?"
"Yes Kagome, what is wrong? You aren't scared of me, are you? Ah… I see. You didn't tell your friends about the time you spent with me, did you?" Naraku said.
Kagome gasped a little and almost fell. Sango and Miroku reached out to support her.
"Kagome, what's he talking about?" Sango asked, not taking her eyes off Naraku.
She blinked a few times, and then cried out as she slumped to the ground, grabbing her hair.
"What is wrong with her?" Miroku exclaimed.
"Since Kagome declined to tell you about her little visit with me, I'll tell you myself. It's simple really. I put a curse on all of you, and then took Kagome as my prisoner. She was with me for quite awhile, weren't you Kagome?" he said, watching the girl huddle on the ground. Memories came flooding back, horrible and torturous. All the while Naraku spoke light-heartedly, as though he was talking about nothing serious at all. His placid manner and almost joking tone while Kagome cried in pain on the ground almost sent Sango over the edge.
"What did you do to her?" she asked with rage, kneeling next to Kagome with her arms around the hysterical girl.
"I tried to get her to join me. No matter what I did to her that girl would not consent. You have a strong friend there, Sango. She decided that she would rather die than live under my command."
"Kagome," she said, looking at the poor girl's face still contorted in agony. "Kagome, snap out of it!" Sango shook her a little, and then stood Kagome up. Kagome seemed to come out of her fit, and gasped at Sango, her tears still running down her cheeks and dripping off her chin.
Kagome wiped them away with her sleeve and seemed to gain control over herself. She hung her head low with her bangs covering her eyes. She stood there for a moment, then raised her head up defiantly to face Naraku. "I don't care what happened. You give me Inuyasha back right now," she pointed. Sango and Miroku looked completely bewildered at the sudden change.
"I'll give Inuyasha back, if you join me, Kagome," he said, still the amused tone accenting his words.
"I will never join you, Naraku. I'll fight you and win Inuyasha back myself," she said valiantly.
"You will fight me, Kagome?" Naraku half laughed.
'That's right. I hit you last time and I'll hit you again!" she said, drawing an arrow and stringing it on her bow. She was about to let it soar through the air to hit Naraku when he raised his hand and Inuyasha sailed over and landed halfway between them. Kagome snarled and lowered her weapon.
"You see, Kagome, I've erased Inuyasha's mind. I've found him to be a very useful 'lap dog,' if you will. He's been leveling a few villages for me. We've been looking for the sacred jewel shards."
"No!" Kagome cried.
"You- you mean Inuyasha's been the one destroying all those villages?" Sango asked incredulously.
"You thought it was Kohaku, didn't you Sango?" Naraku smirked.
"Inuyasha's been the one taking all those lives?" Kagome said weakly. The same warning premonition befell her and Kagome stared at Inuyasha's still grinning face. He had killed and ruined so many lives…
"That's it Naraku. You will die here and now!"
"Inuyasha. Attack these people. They want to take the jewel away from us."
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles again. "They want the jewel, eh? Well, that's not going to happen. With that jewel, I will be even stronger than I already am. Then I can do whatever the hell I want and no one can stop me!"
"Still the same ego," Miroku dryly remarked. He readied his staff and Sango gripped her boomerang.
"Bring it on," Inuyasha said as he charged forward. Kagome shrieked a little and jumped out of the way. Inuyasha rushed and swiped at Sango, who blocked his claws with her mighty weapon. Miroku came in and swung his staff, narrowly missing Inuyasha's side when he sidestepped away.
"Kill them all, Inuyasha. They are your enemies," Naraku said calmly.
"Stop it!" Kagome yelled at him. Naraku merely smirked at her. She cried out and knelt on the ground, fighting the horrible images that came rushing back again and spun around her head.
Inuyasha was currently making quick work of attacking both Sango and Miroku. Each blocked Inuyasha's assaults but couldn't seem to attack him back. Inuyasha fought with complete abandon, putting a murderous intention in every blow.
Inuyasha caught Sango's arm and hurled her into the side of a building. She smacked the wall and fell to the ground with a cry. Miroku stepped up and engaged Inuyasha in close combat. Inuyasha swiped for Miroku's face and the monk raised his staff and twisted it so Inuyasha's hand was thrown back. Then Miroku managed to slice Inuyasha's shoulder with the sharp end of his staff. Inuyasha jumped back slightly and grabbed the wound, sending blades of blood at Miroku. He quickly twirled his staff and blocked them all. He was about to attack Inuyasha again when a whipping noise was heard and Sango's boomerang whizzed directly over Inuyasha's head as he ducked. Sango grabbed the mighty weapon on its return and rushed at the half demon.
"You think you can fight me? No human can defeat me," he taunted.
"We'll see about that Inuyasha," Sango said, drawing her katana with one hand and using the boomerang as a shield. Miroku stepped back and watched Sango wail Inuyasha in the side with a swipe of the boomerang and then slash a large cut on his leg. This seemed to make Inuyasha even madder and he attacked Sango with viciousness. He knocked the boomerang out of her hand and dodged her sword. He swiped and landed a blow in her middle, sending her sprawling across the ground. Miroku stepped back up and was equally disarmed of his staff.
"You've got nothing left, monk." He advanced slowly as Miroku backed away.
"Inuyasha, here. Take this," Naraku said, holding up the almost completed shard of the jewel. He tossed it at Inuyasha's feet. The half demon picked it up and smiled.
"When this is complete, no one can challenge me."
Kagome stood up, finally getting a grip over her senses. She gritted her teeth and held out her hands towards Inuyasha and repeated the chant the priestess had given her.
All of them were so preoccupied with Inuyasha that they did not notice Naraku slipping away.
'I must find a way to bring him back,' she thought. 'This can't go on for any longer.'
Sango groaned and tried to get up amidst the red stickiness that was pouring out of a wound to her stomach. Shippo and Hachi ran over to assist her. Miroku eyed his staff which had been flung to his right. He wondered if there were any possible way to get it before Inuyasha sprang for him. Inuyasha clenched the jewel in his hand, and slowly advanced upon Miroku again, smiling with his fangs the entire time.
Kagome looked around, desperately wondering what she could do as she picked up her bow and quiver. Then she recalled Ame's words:
"Dear, one more thing: It may not be easy to get your friends back. You may have to dig up the past, and it may hurt. Be careful child."
'Oh no…' Kagome thought. With her bow in hand, she suddenly knew what needed to be done.
"Inuyasha, please don't do this anymore," Miroku pleaded. "We're your friends."
"That's pretty pitiful begging, monk. I kill for fun. And stupid humans like you sure as hell ain't my friends," he snarled.
"But we are, Inuyasha. You just don't remember," Miroku tried to reason with him, buying time.
"You're crazy monk. That's why I think I'm going to kill you first. Then those two girls and that stupid little fox demon can go next," he laughed.
Kagome pulled her hair back into a low pony tail with a few strands dangling out.
Inuyasha walked over to Miroku's staff, picked it up and threw it farther away. Miroku frowned. Then Inuyasha casually stretched and walked to a nearby tree, leaning against it, holding up the glittering jewel.
Miroku stayed in his fighting position, waiting to see what Inuyasha would do.
Sango sat on the ground, holding her stomach while blood continued to seep through her fingers as Hachi tried to find bandages in Kagome's bag.
Kagome slowly drew out an arrow, trying not to cry.
"The funny thing about this, you know, is that even without this jewel I can still beat you all. You humans are so weak it's pathetic." He lazily spun the jewel on its chain around his finger. "I killed a lot of people to find some of these shards, you know," he smirked.
"That's not the real jewel, Inuyasha."
They all turned at the sudden statement to find that Kagome had walked to the middle of the square and was holding her bow ready with an arrow on the string.
"What do you mean, wench? Of course it's the real jewel," he said, still twirling it around his index finger.
"No, Inuyasha, it's not. It is a fake. I would know. Don't you remember me?" she said coldly.
"You just look like some crazy bitch to me."
"Well, I am not. I'm someone that meant a lot to you," she said softly.
"Kagome," Sango said faintly, as Hachi wrapped the bandages around her stomach.
"I am a priestess that tamed you. I am a priestess that betrayed you."
Inuyasha's smirk fell from his face and he gave the girl a scrutinizing look. Then he relaxed and scoffed. "Whatever. I don't need this." He was about to move when-
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted.
An arrow imbedded in the tree directly eye level next to his face. Inuyasha drew in a sharp breath.
"Mother? What's a… half breed? Why are you crying?"
"You can become human, Inuyasha. I can live as a normal woman, and the jewel of four souls will no longer exist and then we can live together."
"Feast on me demons! Devour me! And in return, restore my mobility and strength."
"Die, Inuyasha."
"Fool. You didn't really think I wanted to become human, did you? But I'll take the jewel nonetheless. Thanks."
"Inuyasha!"
"Kikyo… I thought… we…"
"What is that?"
"Um… I think it's a shard of the shikon jewel…"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
"Give me the Tetsusaiga, you worthless half breed."
"Maybe I'm not so worthless after all, huh Sesshomaru?!"
"Kagome… you smell nice…"
"You say this demon Naraku slew the priestess who kept the jewel? Where is he now? What does he look like now?"
"He's been tricking you Sango. We're not your enemies, he is."
You mean… there's someone else I need to protect? But who?"
"Kouga's hurt! This is no time for a fight!"
"I realized, Inuyasha, that I couldn't stay here anymore after you made your decision. But I also realized that I want to be with you, even though I know your heart will always belong to Kikyo. Will you let me stay?"
"I made a promise. Kikyo died because of me. I have to repay Kikyo with my own life."
"I will never abandon you…"
Inuyasha's eyes half opened, and blurred before him stood an image of Kikyo. Her hair blew in the breeze, her face was set with determination and blood dripped from her shoulder down her clothes and trailed off behind her. Her hand gripped her wooden bow still outstretched in front of her and her other hand was back by her face, still in position from letting the arrow go, the one that pierced Inuyasha's heart and sent him into a fifty year slumber. As Inuyasha's eyes opened further, it was not Kikyo that stood before him, but Kagome, with the same look of determination and bow outstretched.
"Kagome…" he slurred.
"And dear, when you bring back your special friend, remember to go for it."
Kagome dropped her bow and made no attempt to stop the flow of tears that ran down her face. She ran to the tree and up to Inuyasha, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him as hard as she could.
Miroku and Sango's mouths gaped open as they watched, and Shippo muttered, "It's about time."
Kagome wasn't really aware of what she was doing. All she knew was that her world was reeling.
Inuyasha was gripping the tree, and all his senses were tuned into the girl that was aggressively claiming his lips. She smelled beautiful; her scent was mixed with the saltiness of the tears that didn't stop falling down her cheeks. Her body was warm against his, and her small hands were clasped around his strong shoulders. He couldn't make sense of anything at the moment, only that somehow, she was making his reality come crashing down.
"Wow… how long is she gonna kiss him?" Shippo asked when this had been going on for about a minute and a half.
"She really missed him, Shippo," Sango said, now looking away to give the two some privacy.
Miroku whistled. "Well, he's certainly not stopping her," he said, watching the free show so as to have something to blackmail Inuyasha with later.
"You pervert, Miroku, knock it off." Sango managed to stand. Miroku, remembering that Sango was injured, turned his back and let her climb on, looping his arms under her legs, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head in between his shoulders. "Let's go, and let them be alone for awhile. They need to sort things out," Sango sighed.
"Do they ever," he said emphatically, as they took off and left the two leaning against the tree, breathless and lost in each other.
Kagome finally decided she could let his lips go and stepped back. Inuyasha inhaled a deep breath and gazed down into her eyes.
"What was that for, Kagome?" his voice was low and thick, like he had just woken up from a deep sleep.
"I missed you, Inuyasha. And I thought… I might never see you again."
"I thought I said I'd never abandon-"
"Inuyasha, I know." She smiled. He reached up to wipe off the tears on her cheek when he noticed the blood on his hands.
"What is… no… this smells like… this is Sango's…"
He stared at his hand in disbelief.
Kagome looked worried and gently grabbed his wrist. "Inuyasha, we have a lot of explaining to do."
"What happened? And why… that kiss…"
Kagome suddenly came to full realization just what she had done and blushed a deep scarlet.
Inuyasha was too busy studying his hand and trying not to let the thick smell of Sango's blood make him dizzy.
"Let's go find the others, Inuyasha," Kagome finally said. She reached out and took hold of his hand and led him to find their friends, who were waiting in a house nearby.
"First of all, I want to know why I have the scent of Miroku's and especially Sango's blood on my hands," Inuyasha said with force.
The three looked at each other, not sure how to explain all of the events that had happened.
"Damn it, tell me right now!" Inuyasha yelled, slamming his fist on the floor. "Did I transform again? How could that even be possible? My sword is fixed. Why don't I remember injuring you?"
"Inuyasha, please don't get so upset. This isn't easy," Sango said, holding up a hand.
"I will start," Miroku offered. "Do you remember, Inuyasha, when we were on the road right after Naraku had set that trap with Kikyo and Kagome?"
Kagome winced, now recalling those particular events. A faint wave of pain washed over her heart.
Inuyasha became quiet. He remembered.
"We were going towards another village when you suddenly sensed that Naraku was near. He was the real thing, Inuyasha."
"I remember… I remember him holding out his hand. Then everything went blank."
"He put a curse on all of us, Inuyasha. We didn't remember a thing about each other or our lives, or Kagome, who he-"
"He left me alone. I was so worried about all of you," Kagome broke in. Miroku stopped and stared at Kagome. She gave him a warning glance and he nodded slightly in understanding. She didn't wish for her time in the castle to be revealed to Inuyasha.
"So none of this still explains why I have your blood on my hands," Inuyasha said, growing irritated.
"We're getting to that part, Inuyasha," Kagome said. "Kirara and I went back to Kaede's and then we set out to find a spell to reverse the curse. I found Sango, then Miroku, and then Shippo."
"Okay…" he said, urging her to continue.
"And then… we found you."
"And?"
"Well, you didn't know who we were, so you fought us. That's how Sango got wounded."
Inuyasha screwed up his mouth in a disgruntled frown and crossed his arms. "Why do I get the feeling you guys aren't telling me the whole story?"
Kagome looked guilty. "We are, Inuyasha."
"No you're not. I can tell by the expression on your face," he said, sending a piercing glare at Kagome.
"Well…" she said, uncertainly.
"Out with it Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted.
"There's nothing left to tell!" she shouted back.
"Yes, there is! I'm not a half wit you know, I can tell there's something you're not saying!"
"I-"
"Enough!" Sango broke in. Kagome and Inuyasha silenced.
"Inuyasha, you were with Naraku when we found you," Sango said plainly. Inuyasha's mouth dropped open and he stared at Sango in disbelief.
"No… that can't be possible," he said in denial.
"It's true, Inuyasha," Kagome said softly.
He got up and stood for a moment, then turned and roughly slid the door aside. Stomping out of the room, he left the three sitting solemnly.
"Should we tell him about all the destroyed villages?" Miroku asked.
"No," Kagome said. "He's having a hard enough time as it is."
"Maybe you should go talk to him alone, Kagome. I think he's really suffering right now," Sango suggested.
Kagome nodded and got up to go find Inuyasha.
After looking around for a little bit, she found him sitting outside in one of his favorite places to go when he was upset. A large bright moon silhouetted Inuyasha's form high up in a tree. Kagome stopped near the base and gazed up, feeling terrible, knowing what he was going through.
"Inuyasha," she called gently.
"What," he muttered.
"I want to talk to you. Can you please come down?"
He didn't reply.
"Or… bring me up I suppose?" she joked.
He looked down with amusement at her request. "You want to come up?"
He swooped down, scooped her up, and bounded back to his branch effortlessly.
Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck, holding on for dear life, a tad bit startled by how fast she had gone from the ground to the top of the tree. He smirked at her apprehension. Then she noticed that he still had his arm wrapped around her waist, and her face was awfully close to his. She blushed, remembering what she had done before, and pulled away slightly. Then, she looked down.
"Eep!" Kagome decided to deal with the awkwardness of being close to him rather than keep her distance and fall out of the tree.
"You said you wanted to talk," Inuyasha said in a low voice.
'How can I talk when he's holding me like this?!' she thought wildly. 'He acts like nothing happened.'
"Um… yeah. I did," Kagome drew out. 'My heart is beating too loud. I'm sure he can hear it.'
She stared into his eyes again with mouth hanging slightly open, and he smirked again.
"Are you nervous about something, Kagome?"
Kagome tried to grin. "I don't want to fall out of this tree," she faked.
He tightened his grip and pulled her closer.
"Would I ever let that happen?"
Kagome was now completely disoriented. She was leaning against his broad warm chest, and her hands could feel the taught muscles underneath his robes. She desperately tried to think of something, anything, to say, but nothing came to her clouded mind.
"You said you wanted to come up, didn't you? Would it be better if I took you down?"
Kagome processed what he had just said, and then vehemently responded, "No!"
She blushed. "I mean, I… like it up here. It's beautiful."
"Is this what you came out here to talk to me about?"
Kagome shook her head to clear her mind. "No. I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I just… got lost for a moment. I really came out here to see if you were okay."
"I'm fine," he said shortly.
"Are you really?" she asked gently, gazing into his golden eyes that reflected the moon light and almost seemed to glow.
He sucked in a small breath. "Yeah. I don't give a damn. It wasn't really me. I don't remember anything that I did, so why should I care?"
"You do care, Inuyasha. I know you do."
He pursed his lips and looked away.
"I just wanted to come out here and say that it's going to be okay," Kagome said, wrapping her arms tighter around his neck and giving him a hug. Inuyasha lightly pressed his hand on the small of her back.
"Thanks," he whispered close to her ear.
"No problem," she smiled.
"Hey! Inuyasha! Think you can stop fondling Kagome long enough to come down here and get some dinner?"
Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched, and he pulled away from Kagome, who was blushing furiously. He made sure he had a firm grip around her waist and jumped out of the tree. He set Kagome down, made sure she was balanced, and then like lightening ran after the foolish monk who opened his mouth.
"Well, you deserved it…" Sango said, shaking her head. Miroku was quite bruised.
"Then I guess I should also not comment on their passionate-"
Inuyasha cracked his knuckles. Miroku decided to drop the matter.
In all her embarrassment, Kagome had to smile.
Miroku cautiously kept his eyes on the half demon while he passed around the bowls of food. Sango was propped up against the wall with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
"Sango, do you want something to eat? You probably should have something; it'll help get your strength back," Miroku said.
Sango eyed the food, but it didn't look appetizing.
"I don't know if I could stomach anything, Miroku. Don't worry about me," she said.
Inuyasha looked down.
"Sango…" he said softly.
The others looked at him curiously.
"Sorry."
Sango smiled at his apology. "Inuyasha, it's okay. I know you'd never intentionally hurt me. I'll be fine in a day or two."
Inuyasha nodded, and then they proceeded to eat a quiet dinner.
That night they slept in the temple, after convincing the headman that Inuyasha was no longer dangerous. Miroku performed one of his "exorcisms" as a sign of good will and all was well.
A shaft of moon light cast over the floor as Inuyasha sat against the wall nodding off near Miroku , who slept on the other side of a screen apart from the girls. Kagome and Sango lay beneath sheets, Shippo snuggled next to Kagome and Kirara curled up beside Sango's shoulder. All slept soundly after the chaos and trauma from the day. All that is, except Kagome.
She tossed and turned, groaning and clenching the sheets in her hands. She bumped into Shippo who sleepily opened an eye and then scooted over in attempt to fall back into slumber. Instead, he was jolted awake when Kagome sat up and screamed like someone was dismantling her limb by limb.
"Kagome! What's wrong?!" he jumped up. Kagome's eyes were opened wide and she was shaking.
The others had also awoken. Sango was right at her side, Inuyasha jumped over, and Miroku peeked his head around the screen.
Kagome quickly scrambled to her feet and muttered apologies.
"Kagome, what happened?" Inuyasha asked. His face was pale. He'd never heard Kagome scream in such a way.
"Nothing… nothing… I need to be alone," she said, running out the door.
Miroku had now come around to the girls' side. "That was extremely odd," he remarked, looking worried.
"That's not the first time she's screamed like that," Sango said grimly.
"What?!" Inuyasha almost yelled.
"Before we had found even you, Miroku, Kagome screamed like that when it was the two of us. The same thing had happened… she said she had a dream about Naraku." Sango shivered herself, remembering how shocked she had been to hear Kagome's almost primal scream of absolute terror. "Something's wrong with her. I think-" Sango cut off, remembering that Inuyasha did not know about Kagome's ordeal with Naraku.
"I've got to find her. She shouldn't be out there alone," Inuyasha said hurriedly as he dashed out the door.
Miroku looked at Sango. "Naraku did something to her, and she can't let the horrible memory go. Inuyasha's going to find out sooner or later."
"I wish she'd tell us, so we could help her," Sango said sadly.
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha found Kagome leaning her hands and torso against the temple wall, gulping in breaths of air and absolutely trembling.
"Kagome, what the hell happened to you?" he said, coming closer.
She didn't answer, only continued to nearly hyperventilate.
He glanced around to make sure no one was looking, and then grabbed her arm and pulled her against him.
She seemed to calm down some.
"I'm so sorry…" she mumbled into his chest.
"Don't be. Just tell me why you screamed like that."
She looked up with the same fearful eyes, then desperately said, "I can't!"
"Why not?" he asked.
"You'd never forgive yourself," she said so quietly he almost didn't hear, even with his sensitive ears.
"What do you mean by that, Kagome? Tell me."
She tried to pull away at this and he held on tighter.
"Inuyasha, let me go!"
"No. Tell me what you meant by that."
She started to struggle, so he picked her up, looping his arm under her legs and supported her back with the other.
"Put me down!" she insisted.
"Kagome… tell me," he said softly this time.
She subdued her efforts to free herself and looked away.
"Please," she said after a moment of silence, "just take me back to the temple and let me sleep."
"Will you be able to after a dream like that?"
"As long as you're there to protect me," she said, looking back at him.
"I'll be right there," he promised. "Will you tell me tomorrow morning?"
Kagome thought for a second. "Maybe," she answered, knowing full well that she wouldn't.
Inuyasha looked at her intently. "That maybe better change to a yes tomorrow," he said, giving in. He set her down, and the two walked silently back to the temple.
The next day Kagome awoke and stretched. She noticed that everyone, except Miroku who was still sleeping, was up and eating breakfast. She hopped out of bed and cheerfully greeted everyone a good morning.
Sango and Inuyasha looked at her, slightly confused. Kagome was acting like her normal self again, and acting as though nothing had happened last night.
"Would you like something to eat, Kagome?" Sango asked.
"Sure!" she helped herself.
Inuyasha and Sango continued to stare at Kagome, inspecting her like she was an insect under glass. She noticed their expressions and stopped munching.
"Something the matter, guys?" she asked with a mouth full of food.
"Kagome… you… all right?" Inuyasha asked cautiously.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she swallowed. "What would be wrong?"
"Well… last night-" Sango began.
"I had a nightmare, is all," Kagome said shortly. "I'll be okay. It's over now." She returned her attention to eating.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, and exchanged a glance with Sango. Shippo shrugged and kept eating. Then they all looked up as a sleepy Miroku stumbled over rubbing his eyes.
"So, what'd I miss?"
"Damn it, Kagome you tell me right now!"
"Can it, Inuyasha! I'm not telling you anything!"
"You said you would last night!"
"I said no such thing. I said 'maybe.' That's not a yes!"
"Kagome," Inuyasha threatened.
"Inuyasha," she matched his tone.
"Don't copy me, you little wen-"
"Don't call me names, Inuyasha, that sure as heck won't get me to tell you anything!"
"Should we intervene?" Sango asked Miroku. The monk shrugged his shoulders. The group was still in the temple, as Sango was on the mend. Kagome and Inuyasha were arguing several rooms down, but were as loud and clear as if they had been right there. Sango was sure the whole town could hear their venomous bickering.
"Why won't you tell me?"
"Because!!" Kagome shouted, exasperated.
"That's not a good answer," Inuyasha retorted bitterly.
"I suppose I should have a talk with Kagome, and tell her that she may as well let Inuyasha know about what happened between her and Naraku," Miroku sighed.
"It may be for the best," Sango agreed. "He'll just keep badgering her until he finds out anyway."
"Damn it, Kagome! Tell me right now. You're not leaving this room until you do!"
"Persistent stubborn little devil, isn't he?" Miroku muttered. He heaved himself to his feet, slid back the door, marched down the hall and into the room where the fight was occurring.
"Kagome, I need to talk to you," he said firmly.
"Butt out, monk. This is between me and Kagome," Inuyasha snarled, barely glancing in Miroku's direction. The holy man was startled to see Kagome's eyes were glistening with unshed tears. Couldn't Inuyasha see he was upsetting her? Usually he wasn't that insensitive.
"No, Inuyasha. I must speak with Lady Kagome in privacy," he said unwavering.
"Miroku," Inuyasha threatened again, holding up his fist and this time sending a piercing glare.
Kagome set her lips and stood up defiantly. She blinked a few times to clear her eyes and walked over to Miroku. Inuyasha scrambled up too and rushed over.
"I will talk to Miroku and you can go wait outside, Inuyasha," she said, glaring.
"What's all this about?" he said angrily.
"If you're nice to us, maybe we'll let you know," Miroku said, placing his hands on Inuyasha's shoulders and shoving him out the door into Sango, who had come to try and help things along.
They collided with a thud, and before Inuyasha could retaliate Miroku had slid the door shut.
Tune in next time to find out what Miroku has to say to Kagome... and how Inuyasha will take the news. Meanwhile, click that review button, please!