New Enemies and New Friends: Chapter 12

Don't own Inuyasha ect. ect. ect.

I want to regress a bit to the whoopin' Karma and Sango got because the point of it won't be explained at anytime during the story, unlike most things I write about. I need to give a little background on myself first though, because it's based on a personal goof-up. I have never in my life, and most likely never will have any sence of time. It just doesn't matter much to me in the major scheme of things. When I was 19 or 20 my husband (boyfriend then) moved in with me. I didn't like cellphones then because if I wanted to talk to someone I figured I could find them or call 'em at home, so of course I didn't own one. I went on a shopping spree with my best friend and when we were done, we sat around her house talking till almost 4 in the morning. I didn't even think to call my old man from her house because I was used to living alone. I didn't know it at the time but there was a major accident involving a truck that looked identical to mine, broadcast all over the news. The second I walked in the door I got the first and only spanking since I was like 10 years old. He was so freaked by thinking it was my truck in the wreck that he said it was either that or kill my ass, later after I wasn't going to kill him anymore. The point of it being when something like that happens to you, you will NEVER make the same mistake again because getting a spanking when your an adult is not something you want to have happen twice. Just incase anyone is wondering, I bought a damn cellphone the next week and now I can't live without the thing LOL. Ok I'm done with the explanation now so on with the good story :)

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That night, after having to spend the remaining day continually reassuring her friends she was fine, Karma was kept awake by guilt and shame over her failure to resist Sesshoumaru and from her inability to kill him. Maybe I should talk to Sango about this she might be able to help me find a way out of this mess. No, she’ll tell me to talk to Inuyasha and I can’t let him know. I’d have to admit I wanted Sesshoumaru despite him being an asshole. They would all hate me for betraying them and I couldn’t live with their hatred. Why the hell couldn’t I kill him? He’s a fucking demon, it’s not like I’ve never killed one before. I’ve seen better-looking men as well. There’s…um… well… shit! I know there are some, why can’t I think of them? She knocked her head back lightly into the wall she was leaning against. Fuck. Why does everything have to get complicated now? I was happy just being here with these guys. Did I screw up in some past life to deserve punishment in this one? The self-blaming thoughts kept rolling into her mind throughout the night. It never entered her head that she wasn’t to blame for the strife between Inuyasha and his brother or that her family would never hate her no matter what her personal business with the demon was.

During the following week, Karma instigated many forms of strenuous activities during the day for them all to do in an effort to keep disturbing thoughts from entering her mind. She never saw the worried looks cast her way by Miroku, Sango, and Shippo. When one of them would ask if she was alright, she would tell them she was just fine. Instead of the long relaxing soaks she had previously enjoyed in the hot spring, bathing became a rushed event. Nights were long and restless because the little sleep she did manage to get was quickly disrupted by dreams of Sesshoumaru’s touch and nightmare’s of the demon killing her family. The day of Inuyasha’s expected return found the group picnicking by the well. Miroku and Sango refused to do anything Karma tried to suggest after eating saying that they all really needed to relax. The pair actually only refused because they were certain if they forced her to sit still she would finally get some much needed rest. Shippo was happily playing alone with his toys so Karma didn’t want to bother the child. Showing her own form of concern Kirara transformed into her large size and curled around Karma mewing until the woman relented and laid against her. As soon as Karma drifted off into a peaceful sleep Miroku, Sango, and Shippo went far enough away not to disturb her and they goofed off until Inuyasha emerged from the well.

"What the hell is this?" Inuyasha demanded as he saw Karma sleeping nearby. "I leave for a few weeks and you suddenly decide to get lazy."

"Be quiet." Miroku warned belatedly as Sango and Shippo nodded in agreement, "She hasn’t been sleeping at night for the last week."

"I’m fine." Karma said with a surprised look at her friends since she didn’t realize they knew of her sleeping troubles, "I just have a slight case of insomnia it’ll pass."

"It had better." Inuyasha said with mock severity, "I’ve had enough of sick people and if you go and get sick from lack of sleep we’re ditching you were you fall."

"I wouldn’t blame you." Karma muttered forgetting how well Inuyasha heard.

"What’s your problem?" He asked confused by her statement.

She put on a false smile before she said, "Nothing, I just meant I wouldn’t blame you for ditching the sick person after having to deal with one for two weeks."

Sango saw past the false smile but didn’t know how to get Karma to talk about whatever was bugging her. I can’t wait for Kagome to get back. She has a gift for making people open up. Sango thought to herself. The men, not being observant enough to notice such small telling signs, accepted her statement at face value.

"Kagome wants you all to make a list of anything you can think of for her to stock. She’ll be coming back the day after her birthday and wants to get everything together before then." Inuyasha told them.

Karma pulled the notebook and pen out of her bag handing them to Sango because her own writing was still worse than a child’s when she attempted to write in Japanese. Karma also pulled out her letter and handed it to Inuyasha with instruction’s to put in in a public mailbox. When he looked at her like she was losing her mind, Karma explained the content and the mailing process she was using to ensure Kagome’s involvement was kept secret. After Miroku and Shippo were finished telling Sango what they wanted on the shopping list, Karma asked for two bottles of sleeping pills and a few personal items. Inuyasha took the completed list and went back down the well.

The next few days dragged by for the group because they were all impatient to see Kagome again. When she did finally arrive, Kagome was met with tears of joy by Sango, Karma, and Shippo. Standing by Miroku, Inuyasha was exasperated.

"Those three act like she just came back from the dead or something." He whispered to Miroku.

"It must be a woman thing and Shippo is only a child so I suppose it can be understandable for him." Miroku replied as perplexed by the women’s reaction as Inuyasha.

When the tears stopped flowing, Kagome had Inuyasha carry her backpack to Kaede’s hut. Inside she passed out a few of the items that were for immediate use and other things that each person specifically requested for their self. When that was finished, she took half of her medical supplies and gave them to Karma.

"This way we can get to them without hunting through everything else in my bag. Since yours is smaller it will be easier to find in an emergency." Kagome explained.

Kagome also gave a few rolls of band-aids to Kaede just incase she needed them once the group left the village. Kaede and Sango prepared a huge lunch in honor of Kagome’s birthday and her return. Inuyasha griped half-heartedly about more delays but after the lunch instead of insisting they leave immediately he pulled Kagome down to sit in his lap announcing they could wait till morning.

"I take it there have been new developments Inuyasha neglected to mention." Miroku teased with raised eyebrows, "Should we be expecting short tempered little ones soon?"

"Pups? Really Kagome?!" Shippo excitedly asked not noticing the blush spreading across her face, "Can I be their uncle? I know lots of stuff to teach ’em!"

"Shippo, Miroku is just being a pain in the ass." Inuyasha growled out partly because the monk was being a pervert and partly because he knew Kagome carrying his children was a dream that could never come true.

Overcoming her embarrassment Kagome smiled at Shippo saying, "We have enough to handle with the Shikon Jewel and Naraku right now, but maybe after that you’ll get to be an uncle."

It was Inuyasha’s turn to blush as he tightened his hold on Kagome and buried his face in her hair. If only that could be true. He thought sadly. They spent the rest of the day idly chatting about everything and anything. Kagome gave Sango and Karma her own lecture on their escapade with the demons and they promised her that they had no intention of doing anything to invoke another humiliating spanking ever again. Karma was the first person out for the night not long after she popped a few sleeping pills.

"I’m worried about her." Sango told Kagome as she stared at the sleeping woman. "Something has been bothering her and I haven’t been able to get Karma to talk about it. Do you think you can get her to talk?"

"What’s to worry about?" Inuyasha asked, "She said she just had insomnia."

"I’ll try to find out if she has to use those pills for too long." Kagome answered Sango, ignoring Inuyasha’s remark, "I think it just finally hit that she may never get home now that she doesn‘t have to constantly watch her own back for enemies. I’d have problems sleeping too, if I were the one stuck here."

"I guess, but it just started last week and she’s been with us for a while now." Sango pointed out.

"It’s most likely a delayed reaction." Miroku added in agreement with Kagome, "We can keep an eye on her though, just incase. Will that rest your mind, Sango?"

"I suppose it will have to." She conceded.

They soon followed Karma’s example and went to sleep.