Identity
Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha!
Chapter 4: Decisions, Decisions
"Hey Kita." Kagome said into the phone when she answered it.
"Hey." she replied. "I'm going to be blunt. Did InuYasha talk to you about anything? Something insane, and unimaginable?"
"If you're talking about Muso, then yes." Kagome replied. "Just now, actually."
"What are you going to do?" she asked with a heavy sigh.
Kagome shook her head to herself as she peeked into Maiko's room to see if she was there, but she wasn't.
"I'm not sure myself. InuYasha was pretty adamant about not telling Masato, but we can't keep this from him for long. If we don't tell him, someone will. A complete stranger, and I don't want that." she explained as she headed to the living room.
Maiko was sitting on the floor in front of the television, a crocheted doll held tightly in her arms. She looked over at Kagome when she heard her approach.
"Ready for some breakfast, Mai?" Kagome asked with a smile, extending an arm to her.
Maiko got up, and took her mother's hand, "Can I have wuffles today, Mommy?"
"Sure." Kagome said with a smile, leading her into the kitchen.
"Is that my little Koko I hear?" Kita said into the phone happily. "Tell her I said good morning, and that I love her!"
Kagome laughed, knowing how excited she got whenever Maiko was around, "Mai, Aunt Kita said good morning and that she loves you."
Maiko looked up at her, and called, "I love you too!"
"Gah! She even sounds adorable! You have to take a picture for me when you can!"
Kagome laughed, "I'm sure you have more pictures of Mai than I do at this point, Kita. You probably have more pictures of her than your own kids."
"Nah. It's still pretty equal. It's hard to get pictures of them, but I get them." Kita said.
Kagome didn't need to see it to know she was grinning. She laughed, and shook her head. Kagome got Maiko her booster seat and put it in one of the seats, and then helped Maiko into it.
"Alright, let me fix your waffles for you." Kagome said.
She grabbed the carton of orange juice Kazuya had drank, and made a face when she found it completely empty. Kagome looked at the glasses near the sink, and it was obvious they hadn't been used.
"No matter how hard I try, Kazuya and Masato turned out to be slobs when it comes to food just like InuYasha." Kagome said with a sigh.
"What can ya do? There were days it was just him and the boys, Kagome. It only takes an hour for InuYasha to corrupt a kid." Kita teased. "Sesshomaru could lecture and scold Yukio all he wanted, but even he turned out to eat similarly to InuYasha."
Kagome laughed, "Uh...sorry?"
She got the box of waffles from the freezer, and then started to prepare it for Maiko. After a short silence, Kita started talking again,
"Back to what we were talking about before. You said you were worried that Masato would be told by a stranger. Well, you have every right to be worried..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Kagome asked, putting the plate of waffles in the microwave, and then turning it on.
Kita replied, "Apparently, Bankotsu is making some other kid the captain of HADIT this year. His name is Hakudoshi Onigumo."
For the second time this morning, Kagome felt her blood run cold. She leaned back against the counter,
"This can't be happening. What if he tells him something?"
"I think he has plans to somehow manipulate that information, but not just yet. Muso is his guardian after all, and it's become clear to Sesshomaru, InuTaisho, and InuYasha he's going to try and mess with the company in some way. When? That's a good question. Until then, I don't believe you have to worry. Still. I'm assuming this Hakudoshi found a way to conceal his scent, because I'm sure he smells similarly to Masato. The both of them being related, and whatnot." Kita replied. "Anyway, if you two plan to tell him...maybe you shouldn't wait too long."
"Yeah." Kagome ran her fingers through her hair, trying to calm down, but her heart only seemed to pound harder against her chest. "Thanks for the info."
"No problem. I'm here if either of you need anything."
"Thanks." Kagome replied as InuYasha walked into the kitchen, drying his hair with a towel. "I'm going to feed Maiko now, so I'll talk to later, okay?"
"Okay. Talk to you later, Kagome."
With that, Kagome hung up, and then sat her cell phone on the counter. The microwave went off and Kagome opened it, taking out the plate. She got a fork out, and then began to tear the waffle apart into small pieces. InuYasha asked,
"Who was that?"
Kagome grabbed the syrup, and began to pour it onto the bits of waffles, "Kita."
"Oh, don't tell me you went, and told her everything." he said.
She got a spoon for Maiko, and then brought her plate over to her, "She called me, for your information, and she already knew. She had more to tell me, actually."
"Like what?" he asked.
Maiko clapped her hands happily as Kagome set the plate before her, "Tank you, Mommy!"
"You're welcome." she replied with a smile, pulling her hair back from her face so she didn't get any syrup on it.
Kagome knew that was impossible, but she could hope.
"Kagome?" InuYasha asked.
She turned toward him. Kagome walked over, and took his hand,
"Let's talk in the living room."
"What for? Mai isn't going to understand a thing we're saying, and it's not like she won't hear us from there." he grumbled.
Kagome shook her head, "Like you, she isn't paying attention to anything but her waffles. She won't focus on listening to anything that isn't around her. You know how she likes repeating things she hears, right? You've taught her a few bad words already."
He grinned, "Oops?"
Kagome shook her head, and then sat down on the couch, "Kita told me that Yukio isn't going to be the captain of HADIT this year. Bankotsu chose someone else. Hakudoshi Onigumo."
InuYasha's grin fell into a frown.
"Well damn it all." he said. "Of course there'd be someone around to try, and get close to Masato. Maybe we should call him out today."
"Kita doesn't suspect they plan on involving him yet." she replied. "I don't think we have that long, though."
InuYasha sighed, sitting beside her, and then slumping back against the couch, "I guess we don't have a choice at this point. Whether we tell him or not, he'll find out from one of those sneaky bastards."
Kagome was silent for a minute, thinking to herself.
"I have an idea." she said. "You'd agree that everyone...well, excluding your brother, supports Masato, and loves him, right?"
InuYasha looked at her, thought about it, and then shrugged, "They've all held something against him at one point, but now I guess so. Kita, even though she's still refusing to be his psychologist, has helped all she can. What are you getting at?"
"I think if he knows that this doesn't change anything, then maybe he won't be as upset. Especially with his brother, cousins, and friends there." Kagome replied, but sighing when he still looked at her weird. "A dinner, or something. Some sort of get-together."
"You really think Masato is going to want to hear this around all of them, Kagome?" he asked. "He doesn't even like talking to them about his schizophrenia."
She sighed, thinking about it, "Yeah. You have a point. What if...what if we just have a dinner before we sit down, and tell him? Our family dinner's are usually chaotic, but fun for everyone, right? I...just don't want this to be as hard of a slap in the face as it's going to be. I want him to know we've only done what we thought was best for him, and that we still love him."
InuYasha could see Kagome was worried. Of course she was. She was going to tell Masato, who she'd raised as her son for seventeen years, that she wasn't his mother. At least InuYasha could tell him he was definitely a part of him, but Kagome wasn't. The thought of how he'd react was probably terrifying. InuYasha sighed,
"Alright, I guess we could do that. I don't know if it'll help, but I don't see why not. He's usually happy when they all go out, so this shouldn't be any different."
Kagome smiled, "I'll call Kita back, and then Sango. I'll let you know."
He grinned and nodded, "Alright. Don't let this get to you, Kags. I'm positive Masato won't view you any differently."
"I hope so." she said, but smiling nonetheless.
InuYasha leaned forward, and then kissed her on the lips. Kagome kissed him, but soon pulled away to rest her forehead against his. She looked up into his eyes,
"And InuYasha...I know you stayed home because you're worried, but you don't have to be. I'm not that same defenseless human, you know. I have control of my miko powers, and I can protect Maiko and myself."
"You're a miko, sure, but you're still clumsy as hell." he replied.
Kagome frowned up at him, "And with this clumsiness, I survived quite well."
He laughed, "Barely."
Before she could argue with him, InuYasha kissed her again. Kagome forgot almost immediately what she was going to say, and kissed him back.
Shikon High: Lunch
Everyone decided to have lunch off-campus at a nearby pond. Masato and Kazuya were still going on about the fight that'd be happening in less than an hour.
"Would you two shut up about it?" Iva asked. "You're not helping."
Yukio snorted, "Let them talk about it all they want. I'm winning, and it'll happen under ten minutes."
"So you need ten minutes to defeat him?" Masato joked with a grin on his face.
Yukio glared, but it fell a moment later, "Say whatever you want, Masato. I'm taking ten minutes on this guy, because obviously he's going to be a good opponent. Versus my fights with you that are at least five minutes, or less."
Everyone laughed. Masato retorted,
"When hell freezes over! There's never been one fight where you've beaten me in five minutes. You must be talking about when you fight your sister, because I believe she's kicked your ass in less than two."
"Ooh!" Kazuya said loudly.
Yukio went to say something, but Iva interrupted, "I'd choose your next course of words wisely."
He started talking despite her words of warning, "Kiyomi has only beaten me a couple times, and it's always because I underestimate her. If I actually take her seriously, she's not that hard to beat."
"I have a lot of stories, big brother." Kiyomi said slowly as she played with a leaf from her spot under a tree. "If you like, I could also include the many more where Father beats you in less than a picosecond. Whichever you prefer."
Yukio glared at her, and then looked around when everyone was staring at him curiously. He laughed,
"She's exaggerating."
"You're right. I am exaggerating." Kiyomi said, now tearing the leaf in half. "It was an attosecond, or higher. Perhaps faster than light itself? It wasn't pretty to say the least."
Masato laughed, slapping the wooden table the rest of them were sitting at, "See, this is why I love you Kiyomi. You're a lot like your asshole of a father, but you at least have a sense of humor."
"Sense of humor?" Yukio repeated with a snort. "That was pure maliciousness. There's no such thing as humor to her and my father."
"Like you, and Aunt Kita are any better." Kazuya said with a grin. "Neither of you can tell a joke to save your life."
Iva ran a hand over her face, Renata laughing it up beside her.
"Do you guys just enjoy messing with each other?" Iva asked, looking at the three boys.
"Yes." they said in unison.
She shook her head. Nori asked, glancing at her brother who was preoccupied with his phone at the moment,
"Why don't you ever join in on the usual arguments, Natsu?"
He looked up, and smiled at her, "I don't see the point."
Masato scoffed, "Oh, please. If the girls weren't here, you'd be going on and on about some new fantasy you have."
"Fantasy?" Iva repeated, narrowing her eyes.
Natsu retorted, "I don't know what he's talking about. I don't have fantasies."
"Oh, that's right. You live them whenever you grope some girls butt." Kazuya said, laughing.
Iva sighed, "I think I liked the conversation better when we were talking about the fight."
"Me too." Renata and Nori agreed.
"Okay, fine. Let's get back to the fight then." Masato said with a growing grin on his face. "I say we all lay down some money."
Kazuya questioned, "You mean...real money?"
Masato cut his eyes at his brother, "No, Kazuya, fake money, because we can buy just about anything with it. I'm sure no one will notice."
"Well I'm broke, so don't look at me."
"Broke? Broke how? You don't do anything!" he retorted.
Kazuya eyed his brother, and then huffed, rustling his bangs in his face, "Fine. I'm only betting ten bucks. On Yukio, of course."
"Fine, bet whatever and on whomever you want." he replied. "Me, however...I'm betting Hakudoshi."
Yukio looked at his cousin, but only grinned in response to this, "You're a cocky bastard, Mas. You honestly think I'm going to lose to this guy? You don't even know him."
"Hey. Things could turn in my favor, and besides. Don't you need a reason to fight hard?" He asked.
"Fine. Go ahead everyone. Be honest. Who do you think will win?" Yukio asked.
Renata smiled, "I'm betting on you Yukio. Ten bucks."
"I'm in! Ten on Yukio!" Nori said.
Yukio grinned widely, "Hear that, Masato?"
"I do, actually, and I think it calls for us all to make this more interesting." he replied.
Yukio asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean take this further. Make it more than money." Masato said.
"Guys, you are all taking this a bit too seriously. Are we really going to gamble over this fight?" Iva asked.
"Don't be such a party pooper, Iva." Natsu said with a grin. "If we're making this more interesting...Kiyomi."
He looked over at her to find she was already looking at them all with interest. Natsu smiled,
"Who do you bet will win?"
Kiyomi narrowed her eyes at him. Barely a minute later, she replied,
"My brother will win."
"Then I bet Hakudoshi." Natsu said. "And my bargain is if Yukio loses, you become my practice partner for HADIT."
Kiyomi looked at Natsu, and exhaled heavily. She got to her feet,
"My brother has been trained by the strongest demons, my grandfather and father. He won't lose."
"See?" Kazuya said. "You guys are going to be ten dollars short."
"It's still worth a shot." Natsu said with a smile.
Kiyomi looked at him before walking down the path, heading back to the school. When she was far enough away, Nori looked at her brother,
"Was that supposed to be some sly way of asking her to be your partner?"
"Well, Kiyomi's a rather difficult person to get through to, isn't she? If I just asked, she'd just ignore me.." Natsu said.
"Why do you want to be Kiyomi's partner?" Iva asked. "She'll probably break something."
"Do you really even need to ask why?" Nori asked, smiling widely.
Iva looked at her, and sighed, "This is giving me a bad feeling."
"Hear that, Yukio? Natsu's trying to make moves on your sister." Masato said with a grin.
Natsu stood, holding his hand up, "No I'm not. I'd just like to be her partner this year is all."
"Whatever. I'm not going to lose, so you're going to have to think about someone else to partner with because she isn't going to willingly do it." Yukio said as he also stood, grabbing his bag.
"You'd be better off negotiating with Renata. She's her usual partner, and if you-"
"Don't even." Renata interrupted. "As if I could talk her into being your partner. You're on your own."
Natsu shrugged, "I'm confident I'll be just fine."
Yukio was about to turn to leave, but stopped and looked at him "Confident in what exactly?"
"Uh," he gave a laugh, "I mean I'm confident in convincing her to be my partner."
Yukio gave him a one over, "I'm watching you, Tsuyu, but you better know that my father will be watching even closer."
"No need to worry! Promise." he replied.
With that, Yukio started to head back. Everyone else followed soon after.
Gymnasium
Bankotsu had just finished setting up the gym for his next class. He'd been edgy and irritable all day. Bankotsu had made the decision the previous day to have Hakudoshi be the captain of HADIT this year, but he knew Yukio would convince him into at least letting there be a duel to determine who was stronger. No matter what he tried to say, Yukio had something else to argue, so he just caved. Regardless of the winner, Bankotsu's decision still was not going to change.
Bankotsu was brought out of his thoughts when a buzzing sound began to go off. He shoved the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, wiped the breadcrumbs from his hands onto his pants, and then grabbed his cell phone from his desk. Bankotsu pressed talk, and then pushed the phone to his ear,
"Hello?"
"Bankotsu."
He sighed, immediately knowing the voice. Bankotsu took in a breath,
"What's up, Sesshomaru? I'm going to guess right off the bat this is about Hakudoshi."
"You should have contacted me as soon as you knew." he said.
He laughed, "Was I supposed to assume you'd care? I mean, I know everyone's past with Onigumo, but the only person I thought I should contact was InuYasha. The issue with Masato, and all. What's he to you?"
"Muso Onigumo. He is a detachment of Naraku, and is plotting something against my company. I've no doubt this boy is somehow going to tie the half-breed into this. Tell me what your intentions are for him."
Bankotsu leaned back into his chair, frowning up at the ceiling. They were plotting something against the company? He forgot about his questions for now, and replied,
"Well, I agree with you that Hakudoshi may try to tie Masato into this, so my intention is to prevent that as much as I can. As well as from telling Masato the truth. I want to prevent that until InuYasha and Kagome tell him. That's if that's the route they're taking. Hakudoshi came in yesterday, and introduced himself without any hesitation. He knew who I was, and immediately I knew something was up. I expected him to attack me, or something, but he simply told me he knows of HADIT and was going to participate in it. Taken off guard, it took me a while to really catch up with all that he was saying. I know Yukio is usually the captain, but I wanted more than anything to be able to keep an eye on him when he's around Masato. Keep him away from him if I could. I couldn't deny him the chance to get on the team, but I could put him in a position where he's mostly around me rather than any of the other members of the team. So I made him the captain. However, Yukio found out yesterday, and started demanding he duel for the position. I don't know what this kid is capable of, but I'm pretty sure Yukio will defeat him easily."
There was silence on the other end. For a minute, Bankotsu thought he'd hung up, but Sesshomaru finally replied,
"I will speak to Yukio. Keep an eye on Hakudoshi."
Bankotsu was a bit surprised, but it left as soon as it'd came, "You're only worried about the company. Do you even care if Masato finds out?"
"That is a problem for InuYasha. Not me."
The next thing Bankotsu heard with the dial tone. He hung up himself, and laid his phone on the desk.
"Well, I don't see the point in this fight today, but better at least give Yukio the satisfaction of proving he's stronger than him." he muttered.
The bell rang faintly overhead, and Bankotsu got up. He yawned,
"Alright. Lets get this over with."
A Few Minutes Later
Bankotsu stood out on the court as everyone came from the locker rooms, and to the bleachers. As usual, most of the class had chosen not to try out, and choose the study hall. Literally, the only ones there were just enough to make up a team. Despite who tried out, it was always the same group, and he knew it was partly the reason so little people even tried out.
"But hey...it makes my job easier." Bankotsu thought.
Yukio, Masato, Iva, Kazuya, Kiyomi, Natsu and Nori. They were very skilled kids. They hadn't just grown up together, but they trained together. It never surprised anyone if they were chosen over anyone else. Today, though, there was a new addition..
Once everyone was out and settled, Bankotsu began,
"Surprisingly, we have the right amount of people to make this years HADIT team. So congrats to you all. Normally, we'd get right to training, but..."
He looked at Yukio who was already getting up, and heading down to the court. Bankotsu looked at Hakudoshi who grinned, and watched as he descended the stairs.
"Before we get started, I shouldn't have to remind either of you that we're in a school. This isn't a duel to the death, so refrain from using your full forms...and play fair." Bankotsu said.
Yukio grinned, "I won't even get angry, Bankotsu. My true form wasn't an option that even crossed my mind. As for the playing fair part...well, I promise not to embarrass him too much."
Hakudoshi laughed loudly, making everyone look at him. He stood up, smirking as he walked down the bleachers,
"'Pretend inferiority, and encourage his arrogance' seems to suit the mood of this fight perfectly. I can almost see exactly how it will end."
"Fuck you." Yukio said without a moment's hesitation.
Bankotsu sighed, "Remember what I said, Yukio."
"I heard you, Bankotsu." he retorted.
He sighed again, and then walked over to the bleachers. The other six had moved down to the first bleacher to get a better look. Bankotsu sat at the end of it beside Renata. She looked up at her father,
"You sure this fight is a good idea? Yukio doesn't exactly like to follow rules..."
"Yeah, I know, but I think things will be fine." he reassured, smiling at her.
Renata nodded, and looked toward Yukio and Hakudoshi. They stood before each other. The room seemed to get colder as they both got into their fighting positions. Renata glanced at Kiyomi, who sat beside her, and saw that she looked at the two with boredom. This made her relax in a way. Kiyomi had absolute confidence in her brother. He would win. Renata smiled, and let out a sigh.
"Alright, Yukio! Let's do this!" Kazuya shouted.
Masato smirked, his red eyes constricting as he looked at the two, "This is going to be fun."
A/N: Bleh..