Story: Makoto: The Project
Disclaimer.
TOTALLY SKIPPABLE AUTHORS NOTE BELOW:
A/N: Hello! Welcome to my story! It's been...uhm seven years since this was published. That's saying something. I'm not the most...active of authors. But, I'm not the most popular nor articulate either so I doubt that really matters. However, I was rewatching Inu-Yasha the other day and couldn't help but get sucked back into the fandom a little. I respect if most fan hype and the following has died off as the anime went off air about 5 years ago. Yet, I couldn't help but cringe at this one-shot. I know the story is there. I know what I want to portray. So, I'm hoping some reworking will create a better story for any readers out there.
Also, quick shout out to TouchofPixieDust who is probably never going to read this story. Reading your series of Kagome's Baby really inspired me to fix this story because of the similar concept. This story because it is an AU is not meant to touch upon any similarities to your beautiful story. If you, dear reader, haven't read this story yet (but I mean it's been 12 years, how have you not) please do so! It is very touching.
So, here's an updated version of the story previously known as We Have a Baby as of 2017. Thanks for choosing to read it.
Their teacher was to blame.
High school started as easily as high school could start. Students crowded around the doors, looking to see what class they were placed in. Some wailed that they were sick during the entrance exam, that it just wasn't fair, others tsked and bragged about their scores and majority were content enough to be placed in classes with familiar faces. After learning their assignments the teens were hurdled to the entrance ceremony where the student with the highest grades would give a speech.
"He's so cool, and handsome," one girl whispered to her peer.
"Yeah, and those eyes! So kind." The girl pretended to fan herself.
This doesn't concern the stars of this story, though. What happened after the ceremony is what started it all.
Kagome Higurashi was a thin girl of average height, but her legs seemed to go on for miles, especially in the issued green and white sailor uniform. She had blue eyes, a somewhat uncommon color for Japanese humans, which she received a handful of compliments on. She would always smile bashfully to the compliments and try not to make too much of a scene when she was questioned of any demon ancestry.
Despite being seemingly shy, it was not unusual for Kagome to make a scene.
A hand tried to stifle a yawn, 'That guy sure seemed to talk forever' Kagome thought as they were told to rise and leave the auditorium. Wiping the sleep from her eyes, Kagome followed the row of people out of the auditorium, not watching where she went.
That could explain her stepping (rather harshly) on someone's foot.
"OI! Watch where you're going!" The guy shook his foot out, trying to alleviate the pain.
"Oh!" She blinked, "Sorry 'bout that, I wasn't watching where I was going." She laughed lightly.
"Yeah, I said to not do that, stupid bitch."
"Excuse me? What did you call me?"
"I called you a stupid bitch. Don't tell me your deaf on top of blind."
"Why you- I apologized! You don't have to be such a jerk about it! You could've just forgiven me and kept walking like any normal person would do!"
His nostrils seemed to flare at that and he got closer to her face, "Wanna repeat that?"
"Oh I'd love to," she challenged him, getting closer to his face as well. They were practically touching foreheads.
"Is there a problem here?" A new voice rang out.
The fighting duo broke eye contact to stare at what could only presume to be a teacher..
"N-no sir I-" Kagome was cut off by the boy speaking up.
"This bitch stepped on me and then said I wasn't normal! That's some racist bull that I'm not paying this school for!"
'Racist?! Why would he even-' she looked over at him in fury before taking in his facial features that were blurred out by her fury. He had long silver hair and honey-golden eyes (and people thought hers were uncommon) that looked at her in disgust. What was the most distinctive feature about him though was the two triangle shaped ear that stood on top of his head. 'A demon.'
She made to apologize, but the teacher demanded that the duo follow her to her office.
"Names."
With an eyeroll the silver-haired boy spit out his name, "Inuyasha Takahashi."
Kagome gave hers as well.
After some chastising, the teacher elected to give them both a warning, since it was the first day of school. She told them to run along and that'd she would see them shortly. Turns out, she was one of the two Life Science teachers in this school.
Kagome, slightly flushed, tried to grab the attention of the boy, but he brushed her off with a 'keh'.
"Look I'm trying to apologize here, I never had the attention to come off as racist-"
"To come off as racist," he imitated her, "I know your whole type. Why don't you leave me alone and live off in your 'high-demanding' world where everything is lollipops and rainbows, eh?"
"Would you listen to me? I'm trying to apologize!"
"Like I want a damn apology from an ugly girl with a screeching voice."
She stopped short in chasing him, "Why you…" she started off angrily and he stared just as frustrated back at her with an eyebrow raised. They were both ready to start another screaming match when the door they were located in front of slid open.
"You two, where are you supposed to be?"
Hesitantly, Kagome told the teacher that she was in class 1-C. Inuyasha recited the same classroom with another one of his seemingly signature eyerolls.
"What a coincidence. Get in here kids, I'm your homeroom teacher."
The school year continued as such, with furious glances, 'not-on-purpose' tripping, faces being made, bumping into each other and the list goes on. The newly required friends of the pair tried to keep the two apart, but there was only so little people could do when the couple were in the same class and constantly bumping into each other. Whether or not this was on purpose to get the other mad was anyone's guess.
"Get out of my way Higurashi-baka" Inuyasha taunted her as he entered their classroom.
"Stop calling me that! My name is just Higurashi or Kagome. Ka-go-me!" She fuemed. He knew her name.
He smirked, absolutely in love with the thrill of getting her riled up and not at all for the way that her face would get all flushed.
He placed his baby picture on the teacher's desk before she could and looked down at the picture occupying her hand.
"Who's that Higurashi-baka, your brother?"
An anger pulse appeared at her temple, "Inuyasha...SIT!" She yelled at him as she kicked at the back of his knee, causing for him to collapse in on himself and plop down on the ground. She placed her baby picture on top of his before stomping to her desk.
She silently fumed as the class got fuller, their Life Science teacher collecting the baby pictures with a thank you and proceeded to go on about a project for next semester that they were supposed to do. Kagome was in her own world though, thinking of different way she could torture the boy she left on the floor who since then collected himself and plopped in his seat. It didn't look like he was paying attention to their teacher either though, considering he was fully turned around and glaring at her.
She hmphed at him and he proceeded to give her the birdie.
She stood up with a loud screech of defiance from her chair and desk, "WHY YOU-"
"For the love of Kami, Higurashi, Takahashi, outside. Water buckets. Now."
Kagome hurried out of her house, wrestling her mom off of her who was trying to force feed her some breakfast, "Mama I'm late!"
Kagome started an easy jog from her house, knowing that she had missed her regular train and would have to catch another one. She jogged faster, happy to see her classmates, but rather dreading having to go back to school.
'Life during break is so much better, since Inuyasha's not in it' Kagome thought to herself as she made her way to the school for the new semester. She didn't immediately see any cars coming and tried to make a dash for the other side of the street.
'No tripping, no disgusting faces pulled at me, no more close calls with getting gum in my hair and absolutely no getting called-'
A car screeched in front of her, narrowly missing her body.
"STUPID BITCH! GET OUTTA THE ROAD!" The driver yelled from his window.
'-that'
The driver got out of his car with a slam to the door, "Do you know how much this car costs? Probably more than your life!" Inuyasha roared before narrowing his eyes at her. "Higurashi-baka? Shit, well now I know this car is worth more than your life."
She cursed his name, "like I asked you to come and almost run me over!"
"Is that the only way you wanna be screaming my name?" He smirked knowing just what to say to get under her skin.
She screamed at him, "I just want to get to school on time, I'm already late and you've already taken up," she glanced at her watch, "Oh no!" without another word she ran towards the closest train station, hoping she'd make it in time.
He blubbered, "But our usual witty banter!"
She made some comment about penciling him in.
With a scowl he returned to his car and proceeded to follow her, "Yeah, well I scheduled it in for now!"
"You are, oh, you're insufferable!" She came to a stop, "Why can't you ever leave me alone?"
"You're the one always popping in on me!"
"I do not!"
"Do too! It's like you have some crush on me or something!"
She went silent, blushing to the routes of her hair, stuttering, "H-how could y-you even insinuate that I would ever-" It would be a lie if she continued her sentence. Perhaps, not a whole lie. Deep, past the hate she harbored for him, she acknowledged that, yes, he was an attractive guy. There were a whole lot of people that she'd rather not be with than Inuyasha, like that Manten from 1-E. But, still. Inuyasha was too much of a jerk to be considered in that light, no matter how cute she may have found his puppy dog ears.
"I-I could say the same to you, Takahashi! You always bump into me, what, got a crush?"
It was his turn to blush and stutter and okay yeah. Sue him, he found her cute, but there were way hotter girls in their school, like Kikyo, that held his attention. For the most part.
"Are you trying to set up my insults for you?" He asked her.
She groaned in frustration again, staring at him will balled fists before she noticed a clock across the street.
"EEP!" Without another word she hurried down to the train station, ignoring Inuyasha's calls of ignoring him.
When Kagome finally got to her high school. Thanks to her arguments with Inuyasha, the gates were locked. She stared blankly at the gates that blocked her from her destination. She slowly turned around and planted her butt on the floor.
'Now that that jerk ruined my plans of actually getting an education, what should I do?'
She placed her palm on her chin and her elbow on her knee. She stayed like this for what seemed to be hours, but was really only two minutes. She let a sigh escape her lips as she slowly stood up and walked a very slow pace away from all her friends, evil teachers, and the treacheries of math. Just as she was about to take another step she fell right on her butt. "Ohw…" she complained as she tried to rub the sore spot on her bottom. The person who bumped into her tripped over her as well leaving her gasping for breath. She recognized those ears.
"Takahashi!" she rasped out "Get off me! Freaking stalker! Hentai!" she said as she tied to push him off but to no avail for he was much stronger than her.
He rubbed his head as he made his way off of her, "I'm a stalker? You knew we were going to the same place!"
She humphed and closed her eyes, indifferent to the fact that he was right.
"Oh come off your high horse and give me your hand." He chastised as he yanked her hand.
She shrieked, "Wa-what are you doing?"
Deciding to just show her with his actions instead he jumped gracefully over the 15ft steel fence and they were now just right outside the doors to the school.
She broke away from him and brushed off some imaginary lint. Reluctantly she thanked him before they made their way to classroom 1-C.
Inuyasha glanced over at Kagome, noticing her rumpled clothes and hair and slight flushed face from running all the way here.
'We're already late, might as well make an entrance with style'
Inuyasha grasped the handle to the door just as Kagome was doing it, "I could've done that myself," she responded gruffly as he opened the door.
"But, what fun would that be sweet Higurashi-baka. Yo! Sorry to be late teach, me and Higurashi just really had to go at it outside.
She fumed, understanding his purposeful diction. "N-not like that! Never in a million years like that!"
"What? You wound me, wench. We went at it like twice."
"Stop!" she whined, closing her eyes.
Their teacher cleared their throat, grabbing their attention.
"It's always you two…"
Their sensei was sick of their shenanigans and she frankly had a wager on them of which she could not lose. Hopefully, this project would put a little perspective on things.
"You two were the only ones left. Ironic that you happen to be partners as well for this project."
"Project?" They echoed in unison, "What project?"
"The one we ended the last semester with," their Life Science teacher told them gruffly. She made her way over to a bin and pulled out the last remaining doll box labeled "Takahashi-Higurashi" and handed it over to them.
Inside the box laid a baby. A remarkable looking baby. A chubby infant lied with its eyes closed, two black, fluffy triangular dog ears rested on the top of its head. And it's face completely resembled that of Inuyasha when he was a pup.
"What is this trickery?" Inuyasha trailed off as he tore the box open. The baby activated and its eyes opened, showing an uncommon blue tone.
"Really, do you two not pay attention at all? Someone, someone please explain this to them. I don't have the energy." The teacher sighed dramatically before plopping in their seat.
"Certainly sensei," called out a student named Hojo, "Last semester, our school was elected to try a new program for the common baby simulator project. Studies show that further attachment to a child would lead to better results and thus lead to a decline in teen pregnancy once people know the hardships of being young parents. So, with the baby pictures we provided, a skin mold was created for existing dolls to take on the appearance of the students who have to take care of it for these enhanced results. We will have to take care of the baby as if it were our own, feed it, nurture it, change it and never leave it alone if it is to teach us responsibility. There is a camera and recording system that lets the teacher know of our involvement with the child so we can't slack off if we want a good grade. Our class was the only class that had all the parents sign a consent waiver allowing us to do this program, so we are doing it as a test-run for big corporation companies. I believe Takahashi Industries may even be involved Takahashi-san." Hojo finished with a bow before taking his seat again.
Kagome and Inuyasha's eyebrows just twitched in response.
Since this was a test of sorts for companies to see if the program should continue, all of the bare necessities were given to the students to make matters a bit easier. They were given a baby bag equipped with diapers, special baby food for the electronic baby (including smashed and bottle formula), a manual guide to take care of the baby, a sling to carry the child around in, as well as two onesies, socks, a jacket and a hat. It looked to be enough for the two-week long project.
"I don't even remember giving my mom the permission slip," muttered Kagome as she looked at the baby she had in her arms.
"Keh, well I bet you my dad already had one signed for me before the school even printed any," complained Inuyasha as he trailed behind her carrying the issued baby-bag.
Kagome couldn't help a giggle as she looked at the comical sight of Inuyasha looking even remotely fatherly.
He growled at her, "Watch it."
Looking down, they saw their unusually quiet baby nestled between Kagome's bosom.
"The runt looks too damn real," he muttered. It was a perfect mix of the two of them: his features and her coloring scheme.
She ignored the runt comment and focused on agreeing with him instead, "I know, I don't know if I should be freaked out or awed by it." She touched the doll's ears, "Well, if there's one thing that's super cute is that she's got your ears."
He blushed. Wait. "M-my ears? I thought- Hey, wait, who says it's a girl?"
"I do! Just look at her!"
"Keh, he looks just like I did as a pup! Just with you colors?"
"Me colors? Is that how articulate you are? Really?"
He was getting ready to make a comeback at her when he realized that the doll was trembling.
"Oh shit. Oh no. I think we're yelling too loud and it's gonna-"
Too late. Loud wails echoed around them as the fake baby cried and cried in its frustration over the noise.
Kagome gasped in shock, bouncing the baby perhaps too roughly until the cries died down.
"Oh no...I better get home, maybe Mama can help with all this," she whispered, as if almost too afraid to speak around the baby. She turned to walk away, but Inuyasha held the back of her collar.
"Wouldn't it just be easier if I drove us there?"
"Huh? Us? What are you-"
"Wow, you really don't pay attention. Didn't you hear Hobo? They monitor us. They literally spy on us to make sure we're around to take care of the runt. I don't know about you, but I can't afford to get a bad grade so like it or not I'm gonna be around. If that means at your place, then it means at your place."
She wanted to protest, dreading the thought of having him around, but she knew it wouldn't be fair of her to exclude him and brand him with a bad grade for not being around.
"You can earn a bad grade just by being around, ya know."
"Oh, shut up and get in my car."
"The death trap that almost killed me this morning?"
"Oi! It's not my fault you ran into the damn road during a green light."
"I was late. Besides, you don't even have a baby-seat or anything. What if she gets hurt?"
"It's not a real baby! Keh, if it bothers you that much than just walk the whole way there."
Looking down at the baby, Kagome realized it would be equally horrible to ride around in a crowded train with the fake baby in her hands. "On second thought, I'll just sit in the back with her. Win-win!"
He rolled his eyes as he slammed the door shut behind her. "I ain't complaining."
"Next time," Inuyasha heaved, "why don't you warn a guy that you have a million stairs in front of your doorstep."
"Oh stop complaining, I'm the one holding a baby in my hands while doing it. Besides, aren't you a demon?"
"Half-demon," he rolled his eyes, "and I'm carrying the damn bag, don't knock that out of the picture."
"Yeah, yeah." Kagome fumbled with her keys. It was a bit harder when she had a baby in her hands and the curiosity of half demon ancestry on her mind.
Then the door was wide open and Inuyasha took a peek inside. It was…cozy.
The wood of the furniture was a nice deep brown and the cushion in the living room was a beige color. Picture frames adorned the walls in a seemingly chaotic manner that somehow fit the atmosphere. Kagome started walking ahead so he followed behind her cautiously. It was quiet at the Higurashi household.
'Where is the wench's family?'
"YYYYYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS! FIIINNNNAAALLLLYYYYYY!" and then a huge crash was heard.
His ears pressed against his scalp as went to go see what all the commotion was about.
There he found an older looking Kagome with very short, boy-styled hair, sprawled on the floor pumping her hands in the air in victory. She had the brightest smile on her face and her eyes were tightly closed.
He raised an eyebrow in question.
"IM FINALLY HAVING GRANBABIES!"
Then after that shout there was a dead silence.
You could hear the crickets chirp.
You could hear the owls hoot.
Then you could hear a 'WWWWHHHHAAAATTTTT?"
"Mom! Me and him- him and me- we- NO!- eew! Don't you think you would've known if I were pregnant? I mean my stomach would show! Kami! Just-ugh!"
"Kagome, I signed off the project! Of course I know you're not really a mother," Mrs. Higurashi lectured lightly, "Jeez, can't a lady get excited anymore?"
"Yeah, that was just...too excited mama…"
As if finally noticing Inuyasha, Mama Higurashi made her way over to him, "Hello son-in-law, nice to finally meet you!"
"Uhm…"
"Tell me, did you guys choose partners? If so, nice pick Kagome, I love his wittle ears. Oh! Tell me! Does the baby? Oh I'll check for myself. EEP! They do! Oh, isn't that the most precious thing you've ever seen?" Mrs. Higurashi exclaimed, a whirlwind of a woman that left the two teenagers in her wreck.
"I...I see the apple doesn't fall far from the-"
"Shut up."
"Alright, well if you two need anything, I'll be helping Grandpa out in the shrine. Play nice you two."
"Thanks mama…" Kagome rang out, scared of her mother's eccentric attitude when it came to children. Sighing, she went to the living room and sat on her couch, absentmindedly playing the child's tufts of hair.
"I guess we should name her, yeah?
"For the last time, that ain't a she."
"Is too!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Shut up, we're gonna make the thing cry again!"
"You're just making excuses because you know I'm right, Takahashi."
"Oh for the love of," with that Inuyasha stood up, plucked the baby from Kagome as gently and quickly as he could and flashed the teenager with the artificial genitalia that lied under the baby's diaper.
"Ugh!" She recoiled, "it's an artificial doll, did they really have to make it that realistic?"
Inuyasha shrugged, "Miroku got a kick out of it when he was changing his kid during school."
She groaned, "Okay. So it's a boy. Name suggestions?"
"Yeah, I say we name 'im Inuyasha Jr."
"We are NOT naming our child 'Inuyasha Jr.' nope nuh-uh"
"Oh come on why not? It's an amazing name! Why the hell don't you like it?"
"No language like that in front of our son! And may I remind you of your name. Dog. Friendly Forest Spirit. Junior. No."
"Then what do you think we should name him?"
"Makoto"
"Makoto?"
"What's wrong with the name I want?"
"Isn't that a girl's name?"
"It happens to be unisex and used majority wise by guys!"
"Fine, just stop yelling! If the pup's anything like me that he can hear you extra well! So just stop your yammering."
She pursed her liped before looking down at the doll, "Child of mine, you are officially named Makoto."
All was well until about 45 minutes after Makoto was named.
"He won't stop crying! I-I don't know what to do!"
"Yelling ain't helping!"
"It's not about the noise!"
"How do you know?"
"Because, we weren't making any before!"
"Just give the runt to me damn it!"
"Not with that attitude I won't!"
"Kami will you just," he sniffed the air, "on second thought. Keep 'im. You should know though, he needs a changing."
She grimaced, "Oh so now you don't want your kid?"
"My nose is more sensitive than yours!"
"Excuses, excuses," Kagome used her one free hand to grab onto one of Inuyasha's front silver locks, yanking him down a ton so he was eye level to her, so close they could taste each other's breaths.
"We. Are. In. This. Together." She told him slowly.
He had no choice, but to nod. Sheesh, motherhood made Kagome scary.
She let go of him, "Right then. Let's go figure this out together."
"Wasn't...so...hard." Inuyasha gasped out as he collapsed onto the Higurashi couch.
"Told...ya...so." Kagome answered as she mimicked his actions, somewhat more carefully as she had a nestling baby cradled to her chest.
Suddenly, the front door slammed open. Sota Higurashi arrived and was about to yell his arrival when a strange man bounced over and closed his mouth, "Can't you tell the pup's sleeping?!" came a hushed deranged voice.
Confused, Sota looked over to his sister on the couch with a sleeping baby it looked like resting on her chest.
"I'm gonna let go now...and you better not yell...Okay?"
Sota nodded. Scared.
"Okay…" Slowly, Inuyasha peeled his hand away from Sota's mouth and just as quickly Sota yelled for his mom.
"MA-" but then his mouth was covered again by the man with Kagome standing behind him and appeared to have her hair on end.
"Little brother…"
Scared, Souta looked to his sister. Kagome explained the situation to her brother.
"O-oh...well uhm, Mama has my old baby cradle in the attic if that would be useful…?" He suggested in a hushed whisper which was deemed acceptable by the makeshift parents.
"I'll get it." Inuyasha declared, hammering up to the attic locating the cradle and bringing it down with ease.
"S-so cool." Souta looked up at his with stars in his eyes, "Sis, your real baby daddy better be as cool as Inuyasha."
Kagome gaped at him as Inuyasha smirked at her.
Inuyasha found Kagome quickly after school, "Takahashi," she said in surprise, "what's up?"
"Listen not that your family hasn't been...great to be around-" Inuyasha started somewhat hesitantly.
(Flashbacks of Mrs. Higurashi eccentric ways and never-ending want to touch his ears, Souta's admiration that started cool enough but escalated in the kid following him everywhere and the Grandfather throwing fake sutras at him and trying to curse him)
"-these last seven days...but, uh, why don't we go to my place tonight? My old man wants to see the project he invested in anyways."
She would have said no. A week ago she would have said no. A week ago she would have stomped on his foot for even suggesting she go to his house.
But, things have changed since then. Inuyasha's been over often and although it seems like their constant arguments will never subside, he seems more...important somehow. Her mother dotes on him, feeding him ramen on command. Souta thinks he's a superhero. Grandpa thinks he's a demon, but he's not really wrong in that regard...
What's really changed it all is Makoto. Those studies or whatever were right.
'When I look at Makoto...I see Inuyasha. And when I see Inuyasha...I see the father of my kid'
It was a weird phenomenon, plagued with the heavy mirror in appearances. She blames the damn teacher.
'Who agrees to stuff like this? And who thinks like this? It's been a freaking week.'
Little memories plague her of Inuyasha caring for the baby. She doesn't know if it's the demon blood in him or what, but he's very territorial of the baby. More than that, he acts like Makoto is real. Her mother does too. With both of them taking the project so seriously…
"As long as your place is clean and safe enough for Makoto to be in, I'll go, Takahashi." She takes it seriously too.
He's helped her mom with the laundry, there's really not much she can deny him at this point.
He snorted, "Yeah, it'll be efficient. My folks are excited."
Unbuckling Makoto from Souta's old car-seat, Kagome took in the size of Inuyasha's house.
"It's…"
"I know."
Upon entering the french doors of the extremely large house, before Kagome could even take her shoes off, she noticed Makoto plucked from Inuyasha's arms into the arms of a beautiful black-haired woman who was squealing.
"Yash, he has your ears," she whispered. The lady looked like she was physically restraining herself from squeezing the child in joy.
"Uhm…" Kagome trailed off. Inuyasha was the protective one and yet, she felt strange seeing a stranger hold her baby/project.
"Oh! So sorry!" The lady rearranged Makoto so the baby was resting on her hip. She offered her hand, "I'm Izayoi Takahashi, Inuyasha's mother."
"Oh-OH! Nice to meet you." Kagome shook her hand although it looked like Izayoi wanted to hug her. Then the lady thought better of it, considering she was holding a baby.
"Thank you so much for joining us today, Kagome. I apologize if it was of any inconvenience, we just had to see the little bugger for ourselves!"
"We…?"
Kagome's questioned was not answered verbally, as it seemed like Izayoi was quite taken with the realistic doll in her hands.
A tall silver-haired man ascended down the stairs, "Tch, seems you've brought your fake spawn to our household, Inuyasha."
"Spawn? How dare you?" Kagome started but she was cut off when Inuyasha flung one of Makoto's (clean) diapers at him.
"Fuck off Sesshomaru, this does not concern you."
The man named Sesshomaru only tsked in acknowledgement before noticing Kagome, "Figures you would procreate with a human. Then again, this is only a project of which father is conducting so it really does not mean much. Who's to say there will ever be a woman that can stand the sight of y-OHW"
Another silver-haired man came down the stairs. He was taller than Sesshomaru and had his hair tied up in a ponytail on the top of his head, making him seem even taller. His physique was intimidating as well as he clambered down, his footsteps creating an echo.
"Jeez, lighten up, Sesshy. Really, you gotta stop listening to your mom about all this demon versus human stuff. It's the 21st Century. Your family is part human."
Sesshomaru glared, "Father, let go of my ear."
With one final twisted yank and a yelp from Sesshomaru, the ponytailed man's face melted into a kind smile, "You must be Kagome. I'm InuTaisho, Inuyasha's father. This is Sesshomaru, my cold-hearted and snarky son."
Sesshomaru left with a word of staying the week at his mother's.
"He's almost kind of a momma's boy."
"Oh, but he isn't the only momma's boy around, is he?" Came Izayoi's soft cue at Inuyasha.
"Ack! Stop it woman!" Inuyasha blushed, looking back at Kagome and flushing harder. "We have company."
"Oh hush, she's the mother of your child," Izayoi winked, "I bet she wants her son to be a momma's boy too."
"Uhm, I…."
"Please Kagome, I know that you may want that, but please, I also want him to be a grandma's boy. May I take care of him?" Izayoi asked, but she didn't seem to wait for an answer as she plucked the bag from the floor and strode deeper into the house.
"Izayoi, the data I need is on the students, not their mothers. You're setting a bad example. Izayoi!" Inuyasha's father walked behind her to catch up, "Oh, well at least let me hold it too! The technology is so cool."
Inuyasha made to apologize for them, not really knowing where to begin before Kagome cut him off with a laugh, "Wow, guess we should have came here sooner if we had known they were gonna help so thoroughly with the project."
His ears twitched, amused, "Yeah, I guess."
"Should I be off then?"
"Wait!" He didn't know why he stopped her. "It's uhm, they might get bored eventually. Wouldn't it be better if you were here? You're the only one that can sing his favorite lullaby."
"I...suppose I can stay," she smiled at him.
They were doing their homework in the kitchen together for about an hour before they fell into their old routine.
Inuyasha got up from his seat, heading for the skin for a refill of water, "I'm telling you if Makoto grew up he would totally be a martial artist."
"And I'm telling you that totally wouldn't happen. I grew up in a shrine, we're like the perfect example of pacifists."
"You? A pacifist? Don't make me laugh."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"You're already getting huffy! Is that a real question?"
She scrunched her nose up and extended her arm out, trying to grab a chunk of his hair to yank.
"Oi! Wench no!" Instead of aiming the nozzle of the water at his cup he aimed it at the girl, dowsing her in cold water.
She screeched, "This is my summer uniform! I-It's-" She wanted to finish, but she couldn't out of embarrassment. It didn't matter though, he could already see what she meant.
It's thin.
'Very thin'
Her usually pristine white shirt was completely drenched and Inuyasha could see and appreciate something he didn't usually see.
'They're bigger than I expected. Good for feeding pups' He tried to shake that image away, cursing his father for not allocating demon territorial instincts for this project.
"Shit, sorry! Sorry!" He grabbed a napkin and tried to dab at the area, but it was much too large and frankly much too inappropriate.
"Inuyasha!" She grabbed the hand that was trying to dote on her, "Stop! You're not helping you're being creep-"
Their faces were close together, his eyes were a wild golden hue mixed with an emotion of which she had never seen before reflected on his face. Her's were bright, unblinking and unwavering.
His lips parted in surprise.
Her lips went back to a small 'oh' shape as she stopped her sentence.
They stared at each other before realizing the bigger problem at hand again. Swiftly they both turned around, Kagome hugging her chest for a sense of modesty with her arms.
"My mom has some clothes that you can uh borrow. A bathroom's right there, I'll bring you something warm to put on."
Kagome stripped her shirt off and stared at herself in the mirror, chest heaving as her heart continued to beat erratically.
'What was that. Was he about to…? It looked like….AGH! Snap out of it' Kagome lectured herself, splashing some cold water on her face before putting a fresh, dry shirt on. She tried to control her breathing, but it wasn't happening. Deciding she would take the risk, Kagome stepped out of the half bath to Inuyasha's path. His ears were already twitching. Had been twitching.
'Kami, he can hear my heartbeat' she thought as her hand came to rest on her heart.
"T-thank you. For the clothes."
"Keh. You wouldn't have needed them if I hadn't of splashed ya." His face softened as his ears directed towards her.
"Just take my thank you."
The next day at school, Inuyasha caught up to her again, "Oi uhm Higurashi, would my place be okay again?"
"No! I mean yes! I mean uhm," she shouted out with her hands lightly cupped over Makoto's sensitive ears.
"And that means?"
'It means that I'm nervous to be around you, but I also really like Makoto being babysat by your mom!' Kagome whined in her head.
"Nothing sorry. Just...tired is all. I wish it wasn't always on my nights that Makoto seems to cry the most."
"Maybe the kid just likes my place Higurashi, more of a reason to come over to it."
"Wait...you...you said my name."
"Hm? Hasn't it always been Higurashi?"
"Well yes, but you always ended it with 'baka' and I just thought you kind of associated the two things together by now."
"I know your name, stupid."
She pursed her lips, "Well then, you know that's my last name."
"Yeah, so what of it?"
"Well I'd just… I'd prefer if you called me Kagome. Ka-go-me."
"Okay, Ka-go-me." With a smirk Inuyasha went to his cubby to change shoes, "Meet me in front of my car."
"Fine, fine, Inu-ya-sha."
Izayoi was a saint. Kagome thought her own mother was good with helping out, but because Izayoi is a stay at home mom and doesn't just simply work from home like her mother did, Izayoi had a lot of free time that was placed for Makoto.
Kagome was so caught up in the bliss that the next day she was in for a shock when Izayoi tearily told her that she couldn't babysit Makoto that afternoon.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart, but I'm going out with InuTaisho tonight. He's been planning this day for weeks, I simply can't ruin it."
"I see…" Kagome responded softly, taking Makoto back into her arms, looking down at the child. Perhaps getting a makeshift babysitter wasn't the way to go. Kagome actually missed the quality time.
"But, you're welcome to stay here today. We don't mind and Sesshomaru is still at his mother's. It'll just be the two of you though, will that be alright?"
"I'm sure me and Inuyasha can handle staying in this place alone," Kagome regarded with a warm smile, "besides, including Makoto that makes three of us. And he really is handful enough to be counted as another person entirely."
Izayoi laughed and called out to Inuyasha, reminding him of what was in the oven and to call if anything.
Kagome settled down on the couch when the left, hugging Makoto close to her as Inuyasha got closer.
"Oh!"
For some reason, Makoto was made to artificially smell like a real baby. Kagome often relished in the scent. Right now was not one of those moments. Inuyasha realized this after another step closer.
"Damn, the brat reeks! What have you been feeding him?"
"Me? I didn't feed him since the afternoon! Besides, he can only eat two things!"
"Oh, right. Well, the kid needs a bath."
"Just what I was thinking. Inuyasha, to the bath!"
"Oh no, I don't want to-"
"In this together~!" She sing-songed.
Grumpily he complied.
"And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple, but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world" The song got softer as Kagome finished the chorus, noticing Makoto's eyes had finally closed. She tucked the baby in its makeshift bassinet, happy that it was down for a nap. Kagome stretched, arms sore from carrying the baby during its lullaby. Her arms reached higher and a strip of her stomach was exposed.
"You really are the only one that can successfully sing that lullaby to him." Inuyasha spoke, softer than he would normally as he approached for the baby's sake.
She chuckled, "I'm no Elton John."
"No. You're just Kagome."
The way he said her name made her feel like 'just Kagome' was more than enough for anything. A blush rose to her cheeks.
"Oh s-shut up," she tried to play it off, stepping past him, "Let's go to the fireplace, it's oddly cool outside. We can do our homework there and use its light instead of disturbing the baby too."
He made no arguments and went off to get their book bags before settling down near the fireplace with her.
The orange sparks reflected on their skin in a cozy glow. They had to huddle a little closer together to sit near the fire to comfortably work in its light. It didn't seem like either of them particularly minded.
Kagome kept stealing glances at the boy sitting next to her. He looked almost ethereal with the fire reflecting on his silver hair. Her eyes traveled further up to his ears perched on the top of his mane.
"Inuyasha?"
He hummed in acknowledgement.
Deciding she wouldn't ask, in fear of rejection, Kagome settled her school supplies besides her lap before getting on her knees and reaching over. With one hand she gently grasped the silver triangle on top of Inuyasha's head, giving it a light stroke accompanied with a scratch behind it.
His eyes went into shock, "W-what are you doing?!"
Her hand snatched back to her side, "I'm sorry, I just, I really wanted to touch them!"
"And you didn't think to ask?"
"I'm sorry I just...I've never met anyone like you, I'm not sure how exactly I'm supposed to approach this."
His eyes showed he pitied her, "Keh, well there aren't many like me. And for the record, dog-demons, hell, any canine-demon doesn't want to be treated like a canine by strangers."
"Strangers? I thought...we…" She looked back at Makoto, "I love Makoto's ears."
His lips pursed. "I thought they fascinated you."
"Why can't I find something fascinating and love it at the same time?"
He stayed quiet a long time.
"You're a part of the alliance club at school." He finally said, not asking, but rather stating a fact.
"Yes…"
"The first day we met, why'd you say that to me if you consider yourself an ally to the Demon, Human, Ally and Inbetweeners Association (DHAIA)? What kind of shrine maiden are you?"
"When we first met?" Then it hit her. She scooted closer to him, if that was even possible, "Inuyasha, when we first met, I wasn't hinting at your demon ancestry, I was talking about the fact that you were being so brash to total stranger. Now I know that, that is normal to you. It wasn't about… I know my grandfather says those things to you, but it's the 21st Century. I don't believe that all demons are bad, just like not all humans are bad. I want to be an ally for you, to be someone that demons and humans alike can come to for whatever. I love the DHAIA. It's taught me things, to be better. And...if maybe someday, if maybe Makoto was real, or if I have a kid like Makoto, because of the DHAIA, I could be a better person and mom, ya know?"
Maybe it was her speech. Maybe it was the fire reflecting on her skin and eyes. Maybe it's because she was so close and he could feel her hot breath on his face with every word she said. Maybe it was the fact that he was wrong about her thoughts on demons. It could have been all those things or none of it, but he really wanted to kiss her.
A stupid, "Oh." came out instead and she hugged him with tearful eyes in front of the fire and their kid and he never felt like he had missed such a big opportunity before in his life. He hugged her back and when they separated he offered to answer any questions she might have. She hesitantly asked a few and the conversation got easier as the night went on before Makoto's crimes interrupted them.
"I'll give him his bottle." Kagome offered and all he did was watch her retreating form go into the kitchen.
"I'm such a wuss."
"Higurashi and Takahashi." The Life Science teacher called their names off the list of pairs.
The extended block consisted of taking the individual written reports from the students, collecting the baby, ripping the recording system from it, labeling it, and then dumping the baby doll into a large cardboard box where they were taught that the mold will be ripped off and a new one will be created for the next batch of teens who were to try the project.
It was in inhumane taste for the adolescents who were made to make emotional connections with the pseudo-children.
Inuyasha and Kagome walked up their teacher, passing in their written portion of the assignment and hesitantly giving Makoto away. They tried not to flinch as he was destroyed by the hands of their teacher.
"I'm going to have PTSD from that," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha as they walked back to their seats.
He nodded in agreement, "and it's all her fault."
After some more trauma-inducing incidents with the babies, the teacher dismissed them and told them to go back to their seats for the final classes.
Inuyasha didn't exactly want to move. He had to though.
"Well, I guess things will go back to order now, huh Inuyasha?"
"Yeah."
She tried to find something to say as he walked away, but found nothing useful to say (or to make him stay). Reminding herself that with things going back to normal and their old routine, she pulled on her eye bag and stuck out her tongue in true akanbe fashion, "Beh-da!"
He smirked almost sadly as he sat in his seat.
Yeah, back to normal.
The week ended in a nostalgic blur with the duo finding out baby trinkets everywhere in the house. Mrs. Higurashi and Mrs. Takahashi seemed more reserved, but were actually sad in the lost of the newest member of their families. Although the project was aimed for the teenagers to grow more attached, it seemed to wiggle its way into their families as well.
Kagome drummed her nails along her desk as she waited for the DHAIA meeting to start. She was startled by the loud screech of the seat next to her being pulled out.
"Inuyasha," she asked, almost amazed, "You don't ever come to these meetings."
"Keh, why do you think the inbetweeners part comes last? Because we're thought of last."
"Yet, you came."
He looked at her intensely, "I realized that maybe not everyone is horrible in this club."
The President, Kouga, snapped a ruler in their direction, "Now that everyone is adjourned for," he gave Inuyasha a disgusted glance, "let's get started."
"I take it back. Everyone's a prick." He made to get up and leave.
"Sit."
He sat back down.
Friday finally came, Inuyasha crowding around Kagome at the cubbies as she switched into her street shoes, "So not everyone in the DHAIA is horrible."
She laughed, "Told you so."
"And that girl who visited today, from the middle school, Shiori, I bet she was happy to see me there."
She gave him a soft smile, "I'm sure she was." Tapping her shoes she realized she was all set to go home.
"Well, I'll be off, see you, Inuyasha."
"Kagome, wait." He grasped the fabric surrounding her elbow, "It's uhm, it's friday."
"Correct…"
"I was wondering...even though the pup's gone...and school's out, maybe if you wanted to hang out?"
She tried not to get too excited, "I thought you wanted to go back to normal?"
"This could be normal for us."
"So what, you wanna head back to my place? We can play videogames with Souta."
"I was thinking more along the lines of grabbing a bite to eat. Maybe. If you wanted to."
"Inuyasha Takahashi, are you asking me out on a date?"
"Oi you know I am, wench, will you give me an answer already."
She huffed, "The answer's yes if you ask nicer."
"Baka. Will you go out with me, pretty-please?"
"Close enough."
With a smirk he leaned in close, making her eyes go big.
Their noses touched, "C'mon, if you ask nicely this time I'll pay."
Her face got red, embarrassed by the thought that she wanted him to kiss her.
"Hey! Get back here!"
"You owe me fifty bucks."
"Psh, the only reason you're getting any money is because you forced them to due to the project together."
"Fine, put the blame on me, whatever. I get the pool money and they're happy. I say that's a win-win."
End.
A/N: There it is! Hope you enjoyed. And yes, I did take it to the "don't touch my hair/ears" thing. I thought it was something really unique to add (:
Please review and let me know your thoughts.
-BG