[Disclaimer; Imagine if Rumiko Takahashi was writing fanfictions for her own work?]
Thank you to Jess-Chan for the kind review!
[A/N] I'm incredibly sorry for the long wait. School has been stressful and I've been struggling to balance sports, social life, family, school, and writing. I'll try to update more often, but I'm back with yet another chapter! Anyways, again, there are no demons in this fanfiction. Kouga, Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, etc. are all humans. Important: I'm sorry for several spelling errors last chapter, I didn't revise it and rushed to upload it before the end of the day. It won't happen again, don't worry!
Without further interruptions, let's dive into the next chapter, where the fun begins!
~O~
Chapter 4: Splashing About
"Earth to Kagome!" a faint, distant voice seemed to call to her.
The girl simply tuned it out, burrowing deeper into the warm darkness.
"Kagome, are you there?" another voice joined in, slightly louder and more irritated than the first.
She felt a pitiful whine build in the back of her throat as she struggled to block out the invasive voices.
Why couldn't they simply leave her alone? She only wished to return to the comforting darkness that she attained earlier.
"That's the last straw. I'll take it from here, girls." a final voice interrupted, before the noise ceased. Aside from minor shuffling and grunting, Kagome was finally at ease with the silence. She felt a sigh escape her lips as she buried her face into warm, comforting fabric, seeking the darkness that-
Splash!
Her senses returned abnormally quick after an icy wave of liquid crashed over her head.
Jolting up in bed, her face contorted with rage and shock, Kagome turned to glare at three heads peering over the edge of her bunk.
Sango held a half empty water bottle, and wore a malevolent smirk.
"See? I told you I'd get you back for taking the top bunk." the brunette pointed out matter-of-factly. The raven haired girl lashed out at her, but Sango easily avoided her hand with grace.
Kagome growled mercilessly, yet her eyes danced with amusement.
She ran her fingers through her damp, matted hair, sending rivulets of icy water running down her neck. She suddenly glared at the other two girls, who gazed innocently back at her.
"I'm so gonna get all of you for conspiring against me," Kagome threatened playfully.
Ayame and Rin shared a bored glance before shrugging their shoulders in unison.
"It's not our fault you refused to get up; we had to resort to drastic measures, or you wouldn't make it to breakfast on time," Ayame noted, a hint of amusement in her voice. Kagome hesitated.
"Wait, when is breakfast anyways?" she inquired, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Rin laughed, an evil glint in her eye.
"Oh, we're leaving in five minutes; that's why we're all ready."
Kagome shrieked, hastily shoving the blankets off of her body and struggling to clamber down from the top bunk.
"Five minutes? You should have woken me sooner!" she screeched in agony, scooping up her toiletries and sprinting out the door toward the Shower Deck.
The three remaining girls exchanged amused glances before Sango spoke up.
"Well, shall we get the boys? I'm sure Kagome will find us sooner or later."
~O~
After the girls had retrieved the boys and made their way to the Shower Deck, the Senior Campers traveled down to Cedar Lodge.
Breakfast was generally uneventful, with eggs, bacon, and toast as the meal, and lighthearted chatter taking place every so often. The girls discussed Kagome's rude awakening, while the boys burst out in laughter. They proceeded to tell their own story of waking up Sesshomaru, who glared daggers at all of the boys before tossing his head in contempt.
When the campers were finished eating, they moved down to Stump, which was a large, rectangular field outlined by towering trees and filled with lush green grass.
Everyone began to sit in clusters around a large tree stump that stood several feet off of the ground. They watched as Kaede, an older woman in her fifties, clambered atop the trunk and waited for silence.
Kagome could barely contain her excitement.
"Ooh, is she going to announce the activities? I wonder what they'll be? What are you guys planning on doing?" she fired out questions swiftly, her eyes gleaming with childish anticipation.
Ayame nudged her, a smirk growing on her face.
"Quiet, Kagome! Kaede won't start until everyone is silent. If you want to get to the activities, then shut up," she advised, a giggle escaping her lips.
Kagome shrugged her off casually.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever."
After several moments of silence from the campers, the woman known as Kaede cleared her throat, her eyes scanning the clearing hastily.
"Good morning, Camp Shikon! What a lovely day to start off the week, hm?"
Several noises of agreement rose from the clusters of campers.
"Good to hear! Well, as you already know, we have six main activities available here. I will be telling you the activity options you have for first period."
"For starters, we have the Waterfront. At Waterfront, we have a free swim!"
The counsellors who ran Waterfront waved their hands in acknowledgement.
"Next, at the Wharf, we have paddle boarding!"
The Wharf counsellors did the same.
"At Land Sports, we have Ultimate Frisbee. At Arts and Crafts, we have watercolour painting. At Aerial Park, we have rock climbing. And finally, at Outdoor Pursuits, we have fire building. Please go to the corresponding counsellors for the activity you wish to participate in; give them your name so you are accounted for."
After she had given the command, the clusters of campers rose from the ground and rushed over to different activities. The group of eight slowly rose from the ground. Kagome brushed grass off of her denim shorts before turning to face the others.
"So, what are you all doing? Are we sticking together or going to separate activities?" she questioned in curiosity. Kouga scratched his head, trying to decide which activity he preferred most.
"Well, we usually split off into groups of two, three, or four. It really depends," he answered helpfully. Kagome's eyes brightened.
"Well, in that case, I'm going to try paddle boarding; I've always wanted to see what it's like," she responded enthusiastically.
"Anyone else up for paddle boarding with me?"
Sango turned her head, the corners of her lips twitching upwards into a smile.
"I'm up for some exercise in the water; sounds fun to me," she added with excitement, walking over to stand beside her raven haired friend.
Ayame shrugged casually.
"Guess I'm coming with you guys, too."
Noticing that all of the girls were going to be clad in swimsuits, Miroku's eyes lit up and he dragged Inuyasha towards the cluster of girls.
"Well, we'd love to come with you girls, wouldn't we, Inuyasha?" he exclaimed merrily, his lips curving into a suggestive smile. Everyone rolled their eyes in exasperation. Inuyasha grunted as he tore away from Miroku's grip.
"I'll come, but only to monitor Miroku's behaviour; you never know when he'll do something perverted," he explained, narrowing his eyes at Miroku. The black haired boy only smiled innocently back.
Kouga rolled his eyes in boredom and walked over to where the group was standing.
"I've got nothing else to do, and it seems like we're all going paddle boarding," he pointed out casually. Ayame's eyes seemed to light up as Kouga joined the group.
Rin was about to pipe up when Sesshomaru strode in the opposite direction of where the group stood.
"I, however, am not going to get myself soaked first thing in the morning. I'll be rock climbing while you fools do whatever you're doing," he grunted coolly, whipping his head around.
Rin's gaze followed the stoic man in amazement. Instead of joining the group, she pranced off behind Sesshomaru, her eyes twinkling.
"I agree; I'm not in the mood to get wet right now. See you guys later! Have fun!" she called out, before whirling around and walking up beside Sesshomaru. The older boy looked at her in disbelief before shrugging and allowing her to walk next to him.
Inuyasha folded his arms and wolf-whistled after the pair.
"Damn, when will they hook up? I've never seen Sesshomaru treat a girl so kindly," he chuckled lightly. Sango stared at him in amazement.
"What do you mean, so kindly? He only let her walk with him, what's the big deal?"
Miroku snorted in amusement.
"Sango, dear, Sesshomaru isn't exactly a 'ladies man', as some would call it. Actually, he isn't even good with guys; he's flat out cruel to everyone. The only person he's ever been semi-nice to is Rin!" he exclaimed.
Sango and Kagome's gazes followed Sesshomaru and Rin, silently cheering on their friend.
~O~
After they had given their names to the head counsellor of the Wharf, the group of six trekked up the hill towards Senior Camp to get changed. The boys and girls broke off to their separate cabins, and agreed to meet at the Shower Deck once they were ready.
As soon as the three girls reached their cabin, Sango shut the door in frustration and slumped down onto her bed.
Kagome glanced at her in confusion.
"Sango, what's up?" she questioned, as the brunette heaved a furious sigh. Sango whirled around to look at the girl, her eyes hardening.
"It's just that I want to have a good time swimming, but now I have to worry about that pervert staring at me in a swimsuit!" she ranted. Ayame was sent into fits of giggles.
"Sango, we've been swimming with him for years; I'm sure he won't try anything in the water. Besides, if he stares at you, we can whack him with a paddle," she added darkly, a smile gracing her features.
Sango, visibly more relieved, began laughing along with the redhead.
"I like the way you think, Ayame! Man, this will be fun," she noted as she slipped into her swimsuit; a black, sporty one piece with pink adorning the sides.
Kagome chuckled at her two friends' antics as she pulled on her own swimsuit; a two piece consisting of tight black Nike shorts and a matching black sports bra.
Ayame nodded her head approvingly at the two girls.
"Nice swimsuits, you guys!" she grinned at the two. Ayame was wearing a one piece herself; A black, spaghetti-strapped one with a red neckline.
After grabbing their towels and throwing loose shirts over their swimsuits, the three girls made their way out of their cabin and across the clearing to the Shower Deck. Kouga, Inuyasha, and Miroku were already propped up against the wall, all wearing bored expressions. Kouga turned his head as soon as the girls approached them.
"Man, what took you guys so long? We're already late to the Wharf!" he exclaimed, rolling his eyes. Ayame huffed in contempt and dragged Kagome and Sango along.
"Stuff it, Kouga. Come on, guys, let's head to the Wharf," she called out impatiently. The boys followed her grudgingly.
~O~
Once the six friends had reached a hill by the water's edge, they veered downwards and reached a large dock. Wooden racks of kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards lined the shore, where campers were already retrieving them and heading off of the dock. They all placed their towels on a thin rack by the dock before removing their outer clothing.
As the three girl's slowly removed their tee shirts, the boys couldn't help but stare.
Kouga was shocked as he looked at Ayame. Since when was she so… entrancing? Her slender body was perfectly accented by the V-neck swimsuit she was clad in. She appeared to have grown taller over the year without him even noticing, and the way her fiery locks caressed her skin as she removed her ponytails caused Kouga to blush slightly.
Inuyasha was in a similar state as he was faced with Kagome. The kind girl he had met only yesterday seemed to have more than just a personality; she was simply stunning. Her long legs perfectly accented her figure, and the black sport suit she wore went along perfectly with her delicate raven tresses. He couldn't help but blush, which caused him to turn his head away in embarrassment at such thoughts.
Miroku was silently thanking the heavens that he was presented with three beautiful women in swimsuits, nonetheless his lovely Sango. Her tight swimsuit hugged her curves perfectly, and her chocolate brown locks that were released from her high ponytail were simply beautiful. He was beginning to drool as a sudden slap to his cheek awoke him from his stupor.
The other two boys were brought back to their senses by the loud smack that rang across the Wharf. Everyone turned to see a furious Sango raising one hand in front of Miroku's face. A large red welt was visible on his cheek.
"That's what you get for staring at us like a kid in a candy shop!" she grumbled furiously, before turning her head in embarrassment. Ayame and Kagome nodded their heads fervently.
"We'd have thought you could control your hormones," Kagome muttered dryly, her brow creased in annoyance. Kouga and Inuyasha innocently scratched their heads as they glared at Miroku, trying to direct the girls' anger towards their perverted friend.
Breaking the tension, Ayame quickly spoke up.
"Right. Two people per paddleboard; one grabs the paddles and one retrieves the board. We can meet up once we're out on the water. Oh, and Sango and Kagome, we don't need life jackets; only Junior Campers do," she explained hastily. Kagome and Sango glanced at each other, and Inuyasha grabbed Miroku's arm.
"Okay, that leaves Kouga and Ayame; let's split up and get our things ready," Inuyasha noted mockingly before striding off toward the paddle board rack.
Kouga looked livid, while Ayame's features were scrunched into an irritated frown. Scratching his head awkwardly, Kouga sighed heavily.
"Alright; you get the paddles, redhead; I've got the board." he grumbled before trudging off after Inuyasha.
Sango and Kagome could barely contain their laughter as they split off the fetch their equipment.
~O~
The moment the pair of girls had leapt onto their paddle board, they tipped over unceremoniously and tumbled into the chilly lake water. The two girls were wheezing with uncontrollable laughter as they struggled to stand in the lake. Luckily, the ground was shallow, and they were able to regain their footing before clambering back onto their paddle board.
Kagome was giggling constantly as Sango began to paddle uncertainly.
"Gee, Sango, we really need to keep our balance," Kagome sputtered out in amusement. Sango turned her head from the front of the paddle board, her eye twitching.
"No shit, Sherlock; this is only going to get harder the further we go out into the lake," she grumbled, yet her eyes danced with amusement as well.
~O~
Their four friends were watching from the centre of the lake, gaping at the girls' mishap. They suddenly shared a mischievous glance, before paddling hastily toward the pair of girls still struggling to paddle away from the dock.
Inuyasha and Miroku sped ahead on their paddleboard, reaching the girls before Kouga and Ayame, who were constantly bickering.
~O~
Kagome noticed that their four friends were headed in their direction. Seeing as Inuyasha and Miroku were awfully close, she waved and called out to them.
"Hey, you two! Sorry we're slow; this is our first time, after all -" she broke off as the boys steered their paddle board to rest beside theirs, both with gentle smiles gracing their faces.
"Hey, Kagome…" Inuyasha spoke softly yet teasingly. Her heart fluttered as she gazed at him, ignoring the dangerous glint in his eye.
Splash!
The girls' paddle board was tipped over from beneath them as both boys heaved it out from below. Tumbling unceremoniously into the water for the second time in several minutes, the girls' faces contorted with laughter and rage as they were submerged in the cool lake water.
Within a couple of seconds, Kagome and Sango's heads popped up from below the lake's surface. Both girls rubbed their eyes furiously before blinking in disgust.
Anxiously awaiting an angry onslaught from the two girls, Inuyasha and Miroku tensed their muscles as they sat rigid on their own paddleboard.
Kagome ran a delicate hand through her dripping raven tresses. A mild expression overtook her face as she glanced at the two boys calmly.
"That was actually refreshing, thank you. Don't you agree, Sango?" she spoke in an amused tone. Sango's eyes sparkled with a strange, calm light as she nodded in agreement.
"It was indeed. That felt great," she responded sweetly. The pair of boys visibly relaxed as they noticed the girls showed no sign of anger.
Kagome seized the opportunity, a sudden wild light gleaming within her eyes.
"…Which is why you two should come join us!" she yelled mockingly. Both her and Sango grabbed the ends of either of the boys' paddles, yanking on them with a single swift motion.
Caught off guard, Miroku and Inuyasha had no time to react as they were pulled along with their paddles into the depths of the lake. A loud splash indicated that the girls had succeeded in their revenge.
Chuckling lightly, Sango and Kagome watched as two sodden heads burst out from below the water's surface. Both boys wore irritated but playful expressions as they choked on lake water.
"Did you have to be so harsh with the paddles?" Miroku asked, his lips curving into a dramatic pout. Sango simply scoffed at his remark, before tossing her head to the side.
Inuyasha sputtered with laughter at his friend's rejection. In once swift movement, he dunked Miroku's head beneath the water, before escaping to their paddleboard and clambering onto it. He nudged Kagome urgently.
"Hey, get on and start paddling; he's going to kill me!" Inuyasha laughed as he helped the raven haired girl onto the paddleboard. Sharing a quick, mischievous glance, they began paddling with strong strokes toward Ayame and Kouga, who were still bickering on their paddleboard.
Sango chuckled along with the pair before she realized what she was left with. Abruptly, she whirled around to face Miroku, who was beginning to slide onto her and Kagome's old paddleboard. Her lips curled into an irritated frown.
"Hey, you two, I'm going to get you back for leaving me with this pervert!" she hissed. She was left with only one option; to paddle with Miroku.
Miroku extended an arm generously. As Sango glared at him suspiciously, she noticed that there were no perverted indications in his gesture; only kindness.
Gratefully, she reached out and accepted his help. Pulling the brunette safely onto the paddleboard, Miroku offered a paddle to her and flashed a winning smirk.
"Now, shall we get our revenge on those two, dear Sango?"
~O~
After some time spent paddling with determination, Inuyasha and Kagome reached Ayame and Kouga. The two were caught up in some ridiculous argument, barely noticing the pairs' presence.
"Shut up, Kouga! You're only saying that because- "
"Damn, if you two weren't so caught up in your petty arguments, you may have realized that we're in a desperate situation here!" Inuyasha called out mockingly.
The bickering teenagers whirled around to face Inuyasha and Kagome, who were furiously paddling towards them. Not far behind, Sango and Miroku were approaching at a terrifying pace. Ayame and Kouga shared a look of bewilderment.
"Did you do something to upset them?" Kouga asked in a confused tone, forgetting his previous argument with his companion.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes dryly.
"No shit. Now, if you could help us out here and act as a shield or something- "
"Inuyasha, look out!" Kagome screeched, moments before their paddleboard was tipped over harshly. Miroku and Sango chuckled cruelly as their two friends tumbled into the cool lake water. When they returned to the surface, Inuyasha and Kagome decided to try something new. Instead of returning to their own paddleboard, they proceeded to hop onto Miroku and Sango's.
Sango's cruel expression changed to one of confusion.
"Hey, what're you- " she never finished her sentence as Inuyasha and Kagome placed all of their weight on one end, causing the entire board to tip over. Kouga and Ayame laughed from the sidelines as they watched their friends continuously dunk each other. Forgetting about their earlier disagreements, they shared a humorous glance before joining the fray.
~O~
The remainder of first period was lively for the six friends. They constantly swapped partners, participating in pirate wars, paddleboard races, and even paddleboard yoga. Losing their balance every few seconds, they laughed along with each other, enjoying the beginnings of their new friendships.
~O~
[A/N] Well, that was somewhat of a short chappie, but I wanted to finish today; I apologize again for the lack of updating, but I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please leave reviews! Love you all! Mwah!