Hi everyone! Here's the second chapter… I blame homework for the shortness of it. Sorry about that, but school's really pushing it on this year! Anyway, enjoy!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha is sadly, so very sadly, not mine… BUT MARI IS! -hugs-
Chapter 2: Reunion
I rushed around, collecting all the books and charts Hojo would need to take care of Papa. He would be here any moment, and I was as prepared as I was to left two nights ago, when Papa told me I could go live alone for half a year. There was a faint knock on the door, and with a final tug on my shirt and smoothing of my disastrous hair, I swung it open. A boy, not much taller than me, wearing a black school uniform and holding a basket, stepped in. "Hey Kagome," he greeted warmly, holding out the basket.
I took it, and saw it revealed some horrid smelling white planet that was supposedly good for the skin. I didn't bother asking more, and thanked him. "Now, I have everything laid out, if you'll just-" I started explaining, but Hojo held up his hand sternly.
"Everything will be fine here. Your father tells me you're going off to a real school. I wish knowledge upon you," he said with such jealousy I laughed.
"Thanks," I repeated, winking over at Papa. We both knew Hojo wouldn't accept this job if it helped me get married.
This was it. I took the first step out of the little tent, holding some food, water, and a basket chalk full of onions. I had no idea where I was going. Mari had run way too fast for me to catch any landmarks, so I headed off to my raspberry bush. It was the closest place I could think of where I saw Sesshormaru. Maybe I'll see him again!
I started off briskly, reaching the bush by sunset. Perfect. I turned once, scanning the trees, and called out in the dark in a carrying voice, "HELLO?"
My pathetic echo faded softly, and the only thing my yell accomplished was scare all mammals without a ten-yard radius. I walked a little farther into the forest and stopped. It was dark out now, the sun blocked out by the towering peaks. I sucked in some air and cried out, "Sesshormaru?"
There was no response for a moment before a low, rumbling growl sounded from my right. I raced toward it, heart thumping. It could be a vampire! I rounded a corner to a clearing, where a gigantic grizzly bear was emitting a threatening rumble. Oh dear. I froze, locking eyes with the beast. It's black pupils narrowed at me and it took a step forward. I tried moving my legs, but nothing happened. My throat was dry, and all I had was my onions to protect me. I clutched at the basket and took a slow, deep breath. Then I opened my mouth… and screamed.
It was unlike anything I'd ever heard. I would have dismissed it as a mating call for birds if it hadn't been so high pitched and desperate. I turned my head, my ears quivering as they picked up the shrill vibrations in the air. Was that a person screaming?
I stood up from the meal I had been sharing with Bankotsu, and whispered, "Did you hear that? Sounded like a cry for help."
Bankotsu nodded, but didn't take a step with me. "I'm full, I don't feel like feeding anymore. Meet you back at the house."
I glared at him. Since when did Ban pass up some helpless blood? Oh yeah, since that girl left. Honestly, there's nothing special about her. Why is everyone so hooked up around her? "You better get back, too. I sensed Kouga racing back to her room. I think he's going to try to mark his territory again."
I stiffened. Just because Kouga and I were fighting about her room didn't mean I missed her. I wanted to burn it, so she would get out of my head. It was like her scent is feeding off my consciousness, never letting me rest. I shook my head and smelled… garlic. My nose wrinkled at the same time as Bankotsu's. "I'm going. Don't tear up the forest looking for this human," he ordered, turning and running off.
I rolled my eyes and followed the overwhelming scent of garlic closer and closer to the village until finally I caught sounds of a fight. I broke into a trot, and was upon the scene in seconds. A bear, about a quarter the size of Sesshormaru's real form, was sniffing a tree with annoyance. I followed its gaze and saw her. Was in the world was she doing up there? I blinked and sighed, "What the hell?"
I could hear her intake of breath, and before I knew what was happening the bear stood on it's hide legs and started scratching it's way up the tree. She didn't even scream, her fear paralyzing her limps to the tree. I shot up and unhooked her, muttering, "Idiot."
Once we were far away from the bear I set her down and gave her my worst look. "What the hell did you think you were doing? Huh? You could have killed me back there, with all that garlic. Is that your master plan? Killing off the vampires?"
Tears were forming in her eyes, and I thought I'd been too hard on her. After all, she was just about eaten alive. But no, she leapt up and crashed into my chest with such force even I staggered a little. Her breath was hot against my chest as she cried out with joy. Such dramatics. I took her arms and yanked them off me, causing her to gasp in pain. Good, she understands I didn't want to touch her. I let her go and demanded, "How the hell did you get out here?"
Her eyes were drying up as her face fell. "I was looking for you," she admitted.
For me? Why? I gnashed my teeth at her and asked, "Why would you want me?"
She looked seriously put out. Was she expecting me to welcome her with open arms? Jeez. I let out a breath and repeated, "What are you doing here?"
I was impressed she didn't burst into tears. It sure looked like she was giving her all not to. Her face was bright red and her fists were balled. "I… Papa let me go. I wanted to come back, but only if you want me. A-and I guess that's not the case," she explained with watery eyes.
Come back? I was suddenly almost knocked off my feet by a force only one thing could cause. Mari. I fell against a tree, grunting with the impact. Her voice ran out in my head, commanding with a hint of hysteria, "IS IT KAGOME? I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! SHE'D BE BACK I KNEW IT! DIDN'T I, INUYASHA? DIDN'T I?"
I squinted against the thunder in my head and agreed, "Yeah, you knew all right, Mari. Now shut up."
Kagome looked at me and frowned. Oh, this must look awkward. But I didn't have time to explain or even get up. Mari's voice was bombarding me with questions. "IS SHE OKAY? YOU DIDN'T KILL HER DID YOU? BRING HER BACK RIGHT NOW! DO YOU HEAR ME? RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANCE!"
I shook my head and said, "Mari. Hush."
She silenced, and I turned to Kagome, who was staring at me with something like fear and amazement. "Where you talking to Mari just then?" she asked, her eyes wide.
No, I was talking to my imaginary friend named Mari. She hates you. I rolled my eyes and stood up with a groan. "Yeah, she wants you to come back ASAP. Hop on."
I bent over for her to ride piggyback, but she didn't move. I turned back around, and saw her looking at me blankly. "Hop on my back, unless you want me to drop you in the middle of nowhere."
She seemed motivated by that to jump on and hold tight. Good girl. Right before I was about to take off I smelled it. The garlic on her had worn off and her natural scent was wafting to me. In this close contact it practically assaulted my nose, filling it with the dull scent I'd been trying to pick up since she left. It was bright, the very texture of her skin matching the smell. It smelled beautiful and warm, like a spring day, with splashes of blossoms. It was enough to make me halt my forward progress to breath in.
I could tell she was about to ask why we hadn't started running, so I started full sprint. Immediately her hands attacked my neck, and her legs intertwined with my pelvic bones. It would have been painfully unbearable to any human, but I ran with ease as she clinged desperately for her life. How amusing humans are. Her smell was whipped away in the breeze blowing through our hair, so my mind cleared enough to remember where the house was. We were there in seconds, and before she knew it I was letting her down on solid ground. Her scent was overpowering here, without the wind to break it up or the forest to mingle other smells around. She shook out her hair, grinning, and the scent blinded me. It was so beautiful!
A shriek from the door announced Mari. She galloped to Kagome, both girls crying out and hugging fiercely. I slithered by them, purposely brushing by Kagome's arm, and retreated to my room. Her smell was all over me, resting peacefully on my clothes and my scenes. Kouga appeared at my door shortly, having congratulated Kagome on joining us again. He was covered with her smell too. We stared at each other for a moment before sighing. We couldn't fight this one out with fists
Mari appeared at the door, her brilliant blue hair flying every which way as she streaked toward me in a whirlwind of tears and cries. I joined her, our voices reaching breaking point as we hugged tightly. Well, I hugged tightly and she patted my back, not wanting to snap me in half.
It was so good to be back with her my legs wouldn't hold me up, and I couldn't make it inside without her help. Inside, a frantic Sango, who was poking and hugging me to make sure I was still human, trampled me. Miroku, who groped me with such pleaser it was like he felt deprived of my body, greeted me as well. Sango personally slapped him silly after that. How could I have left these guys?
I looked around, but couldn't find Inuyasha anywhere. He must have snuck off somewhere, not wanting to join in the celebrations. After all, it was only Mari's power over him that he brought me at all. I remembered back to the forest, when I was sitting awkwardly on his back. He wouldn't move an inch, and I was sure it was because he was thinking about just dumping me there.
I sighed, but brightened when Kouga came up behind me, hugging me around the middle. He must have missed me too, for he wouldn't let go until Sango hit him over the head. Good ol' Sango. Mari was jumping around this whole time, absolutely uncontrollable. She was going to make cookies, then make a party, then build a bed for me herself, then save the world from overpopulation. Oh, she was on a roll. It wasn't until Miroku grabbed her shoulders and forced her not to jump did she regain her senses.
"So what are you doing back, not that we don't want you," amended Sango once the commotion had died down.
"Papa's letting me life alone for 6 months," I explained, following Sango toward her room with Mari skipping joyfully behind us.
Sango frowned and asked, "Why would he willingly let you life with vampires?"
I giggled and answered, "Oh, he doesn't know where I'm living. He said I had to be back on June 14th with a fiancé!"
A silence filled the room as my words sunk in. "Where are you going to find a fiancé living here?" Sango inquired, breaking the quiet.
"I'll be your fiancé!" suggested Mari cheerfully, not knowing what one was.
"Um, thanks Mari. But my fiancé is someone I'm going to marry," I smiled apologetically.
She looked confused, but then her eyes brightened and she said, "Ooooooh!"
We'd reached Sango's room, and she let us in to find Bankotsu, his coal black hair braided tightly, falling down his back. He was wearing an odd white robe with a bright purple star printed on a sleeve. He looked up when we entered, his bangs swinging to show an identical star adorning his tan forehead. "Sango," he acknowledged, tipping his head.
Sango waved and greeted, "Hey Ban. What are you doing here?"
He took his eyes off Sango and moved them to me. "I wanted to ask Kagome a question," he replied, midnight blue eyes fixed on my cinnamon brown.
"Yes?" I prompted when he didn't continue.
"Are you really staying here? With us?" he asked in a monotone voice, no hint of emotion in his voice.
"Only if it's okay with everyone," I answered in the same tone.
He nodded once, sending his braid swaying softly against his back. "You'll find a bed and supplies in your room when you return there. Nobunaga had a little too much fun with the furniture, so I apologize in advance. He was in an entertaining mood."
I nodded, smiling. "Thank you so much."
Mari's squeak of glee made us all turn. "Sorry. Just excited your back," she smiled, blushing.
Oh Mari. Sango rolled her eyes, mumbling, "Honestly you're acting like she's back from the dead…" and Bankotsu bowed his way out of the room.
"Hey Mari?" I asked as the girls headed down to check out my room.
"What's up?" she replied.
"When I saw Sesshormaru in the forest, he told me that you were sad I left…" I said slowly.
I didn't know how much she knew about that meeting, or if she knew about it at all. But she nodded her head, and allowed me to continue. "Well, what happened when I was gone? Sure I was depressed, but I still moved forward. What did you guys do?"
Sango grew quiet and Mari answered, "We did the same. Sesshormaru was the only one that didn't change after you aband- I mean left us. He kept trying to get us back to normal, but everyone had different reactions. Inuyasha and Kouga got very protective of your room, claiming your sheets and parts of the floor with your scent. Don't get me wrong, but it was creepy how much Inuyasha defended that the only reason he spent hours in your room was because he didn't want Kouga to win this beat they had."
"Yeah, and Bankotsu wouldn't talk. From the like three sentences Sesshormaru got out of him, he said he had nothing to say anymore. Depressing, huh? And Mari here was the worst by far," Sango interrupted from Mari's explanation.
"What did Mari do?" I demanded, staring from Mari to Sango with wide eyes.
"She didn't smile. It's Mari, so you know that's her like defining characteristic. When she hunted she barely ate anything and wouldn't cheer up about anything. But, that wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for her personality. She affects people around her with her chipper mood, but since you left it had deepened to a hole of sadness that was infecting the whole house. You made it bad just before she was going to do something stupid," whispered Sango sadly.
My mouth was open with shock. "Mari… I'm sorry!" I chocked out, knowing it wasn't enough.
"It's okay. You're back, and that's all that matters," she promised, smiling brightly at me.
Mari… how had I done this to her? And why was Sesshormaru the only one with a sane head on his shoulders? What's with me that made everyone react so strongly? As if Sango had read my thoughts she said, "You figured out that you really impacted us, huh?"
I nodded. "We asked Sesshormaru why that was, but he wouldn't answer. I'm sure it's important though. A gift," she went on.
A gift? Me? We were at my room, and Mari jumped ahead of us to swing the door open. "Kagome! Welcome to your new room!"
I sat by my window, staring blankly out at the backyard. What was going on around here? Kouga was writing something behind me, but I didn't turn to look. What's the point? I blinked out and breathed out against the cold glass, making it fog up. The sunrise was coming in another few minutes, and I should shut the curtains. But I didn't move. Kouga stood up and walked out of my room without a word, and I said nothing to him.
This human, Kagome Higurashi, was living with us. This feeling never happened around Sango when she first came. She just beat us up and demanded respect, but Kagome was soft. So soft I was certain if I touched her she would break. Her fare skin was so smooth, like silk, not like Sango's, who had skin hard enough to hunt with. They were so different, so how could Kagome possibly life with us? She was like a piece of silk that would be torn and destroyed by a pack of animals. She wasn't like us.
I turned and saw Sesshormaru standing in my doorway. What's his problem? "What?" I demanded.
He strolled past me and jerked my curtains shut on the sun that was seconds away from rising. "Idiot," he sighed, as though I was actually going to let the sun touch me. What a jerk.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked harshly.
Sesshormaru leaned gracefully on my wall and said, "We have a problem.
"Oh… my god…" I breathed, staring around the room with awe.
Mari was playing with my curtains, which were black with shining silver stares embroidered in them and hanging carelessly down from my window. "This is… too much," I gasped.
The room had grown. I was sure of it. It was the same size of Sango's now, with just as much decoration littering the walls and floor. I had a beautiful dark rug with half moons scattering around it. I looked at my bedspread to see the same theme. It was so sparkly and beautiful; I could feel my legs shacking. All this was for me. "Thank you," I managed to squeeze out.
Mari hugged me and laughed, "What's wrong? Is it bad?"
"No! Absolutely not! Don't you change a thing! This is unreal," I cried, raising my hands to defend the artistic chest, which was shaped like a full moon.
Mari laughed, and Sango opened a new closet to reveal clothing I'd never seen before. She yanked out a brown spaghetti strap shirt and asked, "Mari, where does Nobunaga get all these? I found new clothes in my closet my second day here too."
Mari shrugged and said, "Maybe he collects them. Sesshormaru probably knows, but he'd never tell."
I walked over my silky soft carpet to my new bed and sat down on it. Not a creak emitted from the structure, and I leapt at Mari with my arms outstretched. "Oh! This is too much!"
Mari laughed and hugged me back. I was really moving in with vampires. It was almost scary how much I loved that idea. I turned and raced to Sango, who side stepped my hug but patted me on the back. She wasn't a very emotional person. It must be because she had such a hard life. I hoped I could loosen her up and awaken the girlish joy I knew was barred somewhere. "So what do you want to do now?" I asked, surveying my room again.
"Well it's sunrise, so let's get some sleep. I'll come wake you up when it's ten minutes before sunset, okay?" Mari planned.
I agreed and Sango waved good night. I climbed into bed and watched as a nearly full sun poked out from behind my majestic new curtains. "Hey there," I smiled up at it.
It shone down at me; it's light shining onto the floor like the moon my first night here. I thought about everything that had changed. I was given all this, and everyone seemed glad I was back, but were they really going to adjust to me living here?
I closed my eyes, thinking, and drifted into a dreamless state. That was the first night I fell asleep to a sunrise and woke up to it's setting. It wasn't until I woke up to Mari gently shacking me did my stomach growl hungrily at me. What was I supposed to eat in a house full of vampires?
I got up and changed into a long sleeved shirt, jeans, and a scarf I found in the closet and walked with Mari to the entrance way. There, Inuyasha, Kouga, Miroku, and Sango stood around, waiting for Sesshormaru and Bankotsu. "Morning," I greeted, before amending, "I mean… night?"
Sango laughed and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. I saw them flicker with hunger as he glanced at me. "Um… Mari?" I asked quietly.
"What's up?" she said, turning to face me.
"Er, what am I supposed to eat?" I questioned stupidly.
Mari laughed and answered, "Oh, Sango usually eats after the hunt. There's a kitchen three flights up and to the right. Inuyasha, could you quickly take her up? If we've left, come find us at the meadow."
Inuyasha looked murderous. I gulped as he walked over to me. "Come on," he grunted, not looking at me.
I followed, leaving Mari's pleasant chatter as we climbed slowly up some steps.
Gah, why is this happening to me? I couldn't sleep a wink last night because of her scent drifting up to my room. It was so faint, but still strong enough to tease at my nose. God damn her. I walked down to the entrance hall half an hour early and found Kouga sighing by the door. He couldn't sleep either, but wouldn't admit why.
I could smell her before I could see her. Walking up with Mari, her scent wafting toward me in waves. I rearranged my face from total bliss to disgust so I wouldn't look like Kouga, who was practically drooling on the floor. She asked some stupid questions and somehow I ended up showing her to the kitchen. We didn't even have a kitchen until Sango moved in.
I looked over at her, and I could see her mahogany eyes looking down at her feet as we climbed. Every breath she took made my heart race. I could hear her lungs working the air, the necessary element of life. I turned my gaze away and turned a corner to come to the kitchen. "Here," I gestured, pointing to the last door on the end.
"How do I get back to my room?" she asked shyly, fear clear on her face.
I should probably back off on the tough guy act. It's obvious she doesn't think I love her smell. I cleared my throat to rid it of the harsh tone and replied, "Just go down four stories and go to the east of the house. Your room is by the Big Oak in the backyard."
She looked up at me, seemingly surprised by my changed tone. Well, she just needs to learn I have a different side. She smiled up at me, and said, "Thank you," so quietly I wouldn't have been able to pick it up if I was normal.
"Feh," I grumbled.
I was about to rush off when a sound stopped me. A laugh. I turned to see Kagome smiling widely at me, her eyes beaming up into mine. "You aren't mad I came back, are you?" she accused.
I gulped, thinking fast. "Of course I am. Why the hell would I want more humans around? That's just… stupid."
Her smile was wiped off her face so fast even I barely caught the movement. Her eyes dulled and her face fell. "Oh. Yeah. How stupid of me," she agreed in a low voice.
Damn it. I sped off and caught up with Mari and Bankotsu quickly. "Hey, I hope you didn't leave her all alone without directions," shot Mari as I reached spitting distance.
"Thanks for the confidence," I panted.
Bankotsu turned to face me, amazingly avoiding the trees he was running at. "Why do you feel guilty?"
Whenever he does talk, which is rare, he just has to notice the important things we try to hide. Mari closed her eyes for a moment, jumping around a rock in the process, and glared at me. "What did you do? You feel like you just drowned Kagome or something."
I sighed and ran faster to past them. "I just yelled at her, so she's sad. That's all!" I cried, trying to get them off my tail as we dodged trees and bushes.
"That's all it takes to make you feel so bad?" giggled Mari from behind me.
Damn it. "That's not what I said!" I yelled back, and Bankotsu grinned.
"Let's just go hunt," he requested calmly. "Oh, and Sesshormaru was looking for you. He was talking about if you thought about what he said last night?"
My face went blank. Was he that pursistent? "Okay... thanks," I answered, rushing into the forest
Food… any kind of food you could think of. I'm surprised Sango isn't spherical with all these options! I took down a box labeled, "Green Goblins" and opened them.
I picked up a green gummy shaped like a deformed bear and popped it into my mouth. It was awful! I put the box down, searching around, and found my goal. Cereal. I walked over to it and looked at the choices. Some looked half normal, so I picked up a box and smelled it. Sugary. I ate a couple bites, decided it was delicious, and poured a bowl full.
After I was done munching on the sugar-encrusted breakfast, I moved to the corridor and Inuyasha's voice rang though my head, "Just go down four stories and go to the east of the house. Your room is by the Big Oak in the backyard."
I walked down the hallway until I found the stairs and descended four flights to a familiar landing. I skipped past some portraits of old farts and peeped out a window here and there. The backyard was enormous, twice as big as the house, and I could see a gigantic oak tree that Inuyasha had talked about. I ran forward toward it, feeling more and more confident about my steps until I sprinted smack dab into a wall. It knocked me backward.
I staggered back, my nose giving a sickening crack. I felt the warm liquid rushing down my face before I felt the pain. I clamped my hands around my face as blood rushed through my fingers and onto the ground. This was bad. More blood dripped onto the carpet as I tried to stop the flow. I looked around for a window to make sure the tree was still there, but couldn't find one. This was really bad
I'm sooooo sorry this isn't anywhere as long as the previous chappie but it's something, right? Please review if you can find it in your heart to make an author feel wanted!
Thanks for reading!
