This is a sequel to the drabble collection Wrong Number Text, which I decided not to add onto because WNT had concluded its texting story line. If you haven't read that, you might want to check it out; trust me, it shouldn't take you long to catch up. ;]
Life Goes On takes place a few months down the road from the epilogue of WNT. The girls have graduated high school. Most of the background and setup for LGO will be in this chapter. Don't expect major drama or a serious plot; this is for fun. So sit back and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Life Goes On
Part 1
"Are you nervous, honey?" Mrs. Higurashi asked as she set a plate of food down on the table in front of her daughter. She stood back and brushed her hands anxiously on her apron, peering down at the crown of Kagome's head of dark hair.
"Mom," the girl responded around a mouthful of food, her voice muffled but still plainly annoyed, "It's my first day of college, not elementary school!"
"Well, yes, but I can still worry. You're my little girl, dear," the mother said, smoothing down Kagome's unruly hair with a gentle hand. After a second of hovering, she perched on the edge of the other chair.
"Says the woman who didn't bat an eye at my going off into the woods with my new boyfriend and two other teenaged friends."
"You had Sango with you," Mrs. Higurashi clarified, not looking the least bit ashamed of herself. "I trust Sango implicitly. Plus, Inuyasha is such a nice young man. I had the feeling he'd fight a bear for you if it came to that."
Kagome hid a smile by sipping from her juice glass. Even four months down the line, she still felt a flurry of giddiness in her belly every time her boyfriend's name was mentioned. Sure, sometimes he made her mad, like when he was overprotective, possessive, jealous, or crude, but she was lucky to be outspoken enough to take him down a peg or two whenever this happened. They'd already worked out a system where he overreacted, she scolded him before heading home, and he would, some point between one and three days, arrive on her doorstep looking petulant but apologetic. If he had dog ears (for whatever reason), they would probably be drooping.
"It is really weird going to school without Sango," Kagome said, slyly leading the subject away from Inuyasha. Both her mother and brother treated the boy like family, which often caused embarrassment on the couple's part. ("Why Inuyasha," Mrs. Higurashi said once, shortly into the relationship. "It's so late! Why don't you stay the night tonight? I'm sure a mat on Kagome's floor would be plenty comfortable!" Kagome hadn't decided yet if her mother was very trusting or downright oblivious. Everyone else decided this proved that Kagome's denseness was from her mother's side of the family.)
"Sango always did get better grades that you," Kagome's mom pointed out helpfully, a carefree smile on her face. "It was no surprise when she did so wonderfully on her final exams! Her father must be so proud."
"Thanks, mom," Kagome muttered.
"Oh, Kagome, you got into a great school. And that sweet Miroku boy will be going with you!"
It was true; Miroku, deciding that working in an antiques shop would get him nowhere in life money-wise, had applied to colleges around the same time as the girls. Despite having been an outstanding student, he managed to get accepted into the same school as Kagome (a good school) but not Sango's (a better school).
"Speaking of Miroku," Kagome said between scarfing down the last of her breakfast after a frantic look at the clock, "I better hurry if I want to meet him at the train station."
"Bye, dear." Mrs. Higurashi dropped a kiss on her daughter's cheek and handed over Kagome's large, yellow backpack. "Have a good day."
"Baimomf," Kagome mumbled, a piece of toast wedged between her lips. She shrugged on her backpack and took off for the front door, tugging on her brown loafers as she went. It was weird, she thought vaguely as she passed the mirror hanging in the entryway, to go to school not in uniform.
In took less than a minute to race across the shrine courtyard and down the stairs. Quickly, she polished off her last slice of toast and ran a hand gracelessly across her mouth, skipping down the steps two at a time. Nearly at the bottom, she noticed with surprise that someone was waiting for her.
"Hey," Inuyasha greeted nonchalantly, his hands up in a lazy wave. "Thought I could walk you to the train station."
On cue, Kagome's stomach erupted into butterflies. "You're either being extraordinarily thoughtful," she teased, hopping down to the sidewalk, "or you have an ulterior motive."
He grunted but turned his eyes quickly away, confirming her suspicions.
"So," she prodded, nudging his side with her elbow as they turned in the direction of the trains. "What's wrong?"
For several seconds the boy remained quiet, seeming to struggle with something as the words built under the surface. Finally, he burst out, "I don't want to go to work!"
"Poor baby." Kagome rolled her eyes, a smile playing at her mouth. "Are you really that upset that Sesshoumaru's expecting more from you at the company?"
"I haven't been up this early since... since… I don't even know!"
Kagome sent an exasperated look his way and glanced at her watch. "It's almost nine thirty, Inuyasha."
"Exactly," he agreed vehemently, fisting his hands at his side as if, Kagome was sure, he was picturing strangling his older half-brother for forcing him out of bed before ten in the morning.
After a few seconds of silence as Kagome looked around at the people they passed (noticing, pleased, when girls did double-takes at the surly boy walking at her side) and Inuyasha fuming, something finally dawned on Kagome. "What I don't understand," she said slowly, her eyebrows knit, "is why you met me at the shrine all the way across town, when you actually live in the company building on the top floor. Somehow, I feel like you wasted some time."
"I wanted to see you?" Inuyasha suggested innocently.
"Or…" Kagome dragged the word out dryly with a condescending look.
"Or I'm trying to purposely show up late when that should be impossible."
She couldn't help herself. Kagome started laughing. "You're awful! I hope Sesshoumaru mocks you in front of the entire board of directors or whoever the meeting's with."
"Hey!"
Kagome skipped ahead and then turned on her heel to walk backwards, giving her boyfriend a playful look. "What?"
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"
"Only when I want to be," Kagome informed him with a wag of her finger. "And don't you forget it."
