AN: now the place the beaver lodge camp ground? ya i dont think it really exists so well dont drive all the way down to New Jersey to stay there. im basing it on this really cool camp ground my rents dragged me to when I was little. it was pretty awesome. By the way. Gentler is a word.
CHAPTER FOUR: Charades
"Inuyasha. We're lost. I'm going to say this one more time. Ask. For. Directions." I leaned on my elbow and looked out the window. The blond worker drone in the toll booth told us to follow the main road and take a left, that was where the tents were to be set up. We were lot 1BA. Don't ask me how many lots there are, I was too busy mentally making fun of her uniform to pay any attention.
She did prove useful though, she gave both Inuyasha and I a map of the entire camp ground.
"See! Look. I think we're somewhere around here. We're supposed to be over here!" I shoved the color coded piece of paper in his face and he swatted it away.
"Ya well, unlike you I have something called instincts that can guide me" He tapped his nose and I sighed.
"You're gonna get us even more lost than we already are you retard."
"Retard is now politically incorrect. It's mentally delayed." He pointed out sticking his head out the window.
"Well guess what. You're extremely mentally delayed than."
"You missy are not very nice."
"I don't care. Look there's a couple up ahead that look like they know their way around. Ask for directions." I pointed ahead of us to a couple hiking through the bush and coming out at the road. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and slowed the car down to their pace. I stuck my head out the window.
"Excuse me. Hi. Um. My friend here got us lost. We're looking for the campground where you set up the tents and RV's?" They both stopped and Inuyasha slammed on the brakes causing me to hit my head.
"Nice job dick cheese." I nearly yelled rubbing my head. The middle aged couple stared at me as if I just grew a second head. I covered my mouth with both hands.
"Oh well than deary, ya need ta' turn that there truck 'round and head that 'aways." The woman pointed in the opposite direction that we were going in.
"Arigato. Sorry for interrupting your hike" I gave as much of a bow as I could while leaning half way out of a truck window.
"No problem deary. If ya need anymore help just try and find us. We'd be more than happy t' help. Wouldn't we Mort?" She looked to her male companion who stared at me blankly.
"Isn't that right Mort?" She asked again elbowing him in the ribs. He gave a quick nod.
"Oh where are my manners. This here is Mort my husband and I'm Beatrice." She stuck out her hand and shook mine gingerly.
"I'm Kagome and this is Inuyasha." I gestured over to the hanyou driving who gave a quick salute.
"Oh. Wow. Kagome and Inuyasha ya say. Very nice names. Do you live in the US?" How was I just expecting a question like that?
"Yes."
"Oh. Well than. If you need anything just find us or go up to the front desk. Have yourselves a nice trip! Ba bye now!" I rolled up my window and Inuyasha turned the truck around.
"They were rather creepy." I said as soon as we were heading in the right direction.
"That Mort guy was really creepy. He kept on looking at you with a funny look in his eye." We sped down the road at a quick pace and soon found the right turn off.
"Look. There's the sign for the camp ground. Now all we have to do is find 1BA." The forest that surrounded us soon turned into a flat clear cut area filled with tents and small smoldering fires with entire families gathered around them. Little picket signs were posted at the edge of the grassline, where the dirt met the lush green grass.
The road continued down until the asphalt disappeared into sand and a beach where mothers and fathers and little children played and splashed in the water. Inuyasha continued down the road until we were right next to the beach.
"Here we are. 1BA" He backed the truck into the square of land and turned the ignition off.
"Do you wanna go for a swim while Sango and Miroku sleep?" Inuyasha asked sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. I haven't been swimming in forever and nodded quickly.
"Last one there's a rotten egg" I shouted girlishly and raced out of the car.
"What about bathing suits!" I could hear Inuyasha yell. I looked down at my blue board shorts, black Jimmy Eat World T-shirt and flip flopped feet and continued to run.
"Screw bathing suits!" I ran until I was up to my waist in the cold crisp water. Some of the mothers looked at me like I was crazy, I just stared back at them and was actually tempted to flip them off. But didn't. There were children around. I turned to see where Inuyasha had gotten to and was met by him tackling me into the waves.
His jeans were weighing him down as he tried to chase after me into deeper water.
"No fair! You're in shorts!" He yelled trying to catch up with me.
"Come on! It's my turn to cheat a little." I laughed and fell back into the water.
"Oh ya." He dove and grabbed my foot pulling me over to him. I could see some of the mothers sigh at our childish behavior and some of the fathers laugh as Inuyasha pulled me under. I gasped and broke free, jumping on his back.
"Hay! Cheater!" He yelled giving me a piggy back anyways. It was just like old times. Before all the tragedies and deaths. Like before high school.
Back in Japan when we were kids, Inuyasha and I were inseparable. He wouldn't go anywhere without me and I wouldn't go anywhere without him. From first grade to sixth we were together forever, through thick and thin. A couple of earthquakes and a hurricane too.
In junior high I went to a school on the edge of town while Inuyasha went to one closer to the core of the city. We tried to spend every minute we could together when we had free time. He started to play guitar and I got into some sports like archery and volleyball.
Than everything changed. His mom, nearly his only family left after his dad was killed in a car accident, got sick. There were good days and bad days, most of them were bad. On the rare good days I'd go over and bring some Ramen or home made oden soup from home EC. Than one day when I took the bus to Inuyasha's house, he was gone. Like that, my best friend was gone. My only friend actually.
There was nothing but a note on the door that read
Called ambulance. Don't know what's wrong. I'll phone you from there.
I knew it was meant for me. I had seen him walking to school while I was riding the bus. He looked really worried and I was terrified the entire day. When he finally phoned my cell he sounded depressed. This was the one and only time Inuyasha was scared. Usually I'm the one who's scared, Inuyasha was always telling me to suck it up.
His mom was gone. She had passed away in the ambulance, with him by her side. He was phoning to ask if he could crash at my house until he could save up enough money to fly to the US to live with his half brother. I knew it killed him to move away from everything he knew and loved.
He lived with us for three months, on a cot in my room. Inuyasha went to school during the day and worked until midnight at night. I'd stay up until he came home quietly making sure he never noticed, but he always did. My mom drove him to the airport herself, with me in the backseat. I walked him in and hugged him goodbye.
Inuyasha was twelve when he moved to the US. He'd send letters every once and a while. To update me on his life and to tell me he was now living with a foster family because of course, his half brother gave him up to move back to Japan.
A couple of months after he moved we moved as well. My mom wanted better for us she said, so we packed up and headed across the ocean.
On my first day of high school I was so scared. I was on a whole different continent, not just a new school. I was searching for my locker while struggling with my books when out of nowhere someone came up and hugged me from behind. I turned slowly and let out a yell. It was Inuyasha. I was so happy. Soon he introduced me to Miroku and I met up with Sango.
We've known each other ever since.
Inuyasha ran out of the white surf and onto the beach dropping me so I landed on my backside.
"You could have been gentler" I complained looking up at him and dusting off my shorts quickly.
"Gentler? Is that even a word?" He tapped his foot and pretended to think.
"As a matter of fact it is a word Mr. Dictionary!" I folded my arms over my chest and turned away a little.
"I think you made that up…" The beach was nearly clear of all people, except for us and a couple of odd couples holding hands and walking along the beach. We were the ones near the red pick up truck trying to knock said couples out by throwing pebbles at them.
"I think you hit the girl" I whispered as we both ducked behind the white picket fence sectioning off the beach from the camp sites.
"I think you actually angered the one with the tattoos" Inuyasha whispered back and I surpresed a laugh.
"You pervert! What the hell do you think you're doing!?"
"I think Sango's up." Inuyasha rolled his eyes as an extremely familiar sound filled the air.
"But Sango!"
"Ya Sango's up" We both said in unison.
"I'm hungry. Let's find a pay phone and order a pizza." I stood and stretched. I was still damp and my hair was starting to curl slightly from air drying.
"Can you do that?"
"I dunno. Let's try anyways." I retorted with a shrug.
"Hay Sango! Miroku! We're going to order a pizza. Don't kill each other while we're gone!" with that we were off, on an adventure, no a quest. A very important quest, a matter of going hungry and staying alive. A quest to find a pay phone. So what if I'm being a little over dramatic.
"Oh! Look Mort! There's that nice couple who asked us fer directions earlier today!" We were on our way back to the truck when Mort and Beatrice, the couple we asked for directions, started to shout for us to wait up. For a couple of middle aged people they could run pretty fast.
"Oh! Hi" I said trying to be nice. Inuyasha shot me a look and I glared back at him.
"Well hello there you two! Have you had a nice time so far? I see you've gone swimming" She gestured to our still drying clothes and my sand filled hair. Inuyasha didn't look much better with his bandana falling off and his sunglasses nowhere to be found.
"Oh ya." I gave a quick laugh as Inuyasha stayed silent. Beatrice motioned for us to walk with them. It felt like one of those awkward moments when you're on a date but your parents just "happen" to be there and "insist" on walking with you. Inuyasha shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Where's your lot?" She asked. Beatrice was really starting to tick me off. If you've ever watched an episode of friends when Chandler's ex girlfriend Janice comes on you'd understand how annoying her voice can get.
"Oh... We're uh... Lot 1BA." I started to get uncomfortable. I could feel Mort's eyes on me.
"We're lot 1BB. Right beside you!" She let out a laugh and I could tell Inuyasha was being polite and using all his will power to not cover his ears. Oh moy gawd... It's Janice...
"What a coincidence..." I looked over to Inuyasha for some support and he gave me a pleading look back. Well he's not going to be any help...
"Why don't you come and have some supper with us?"
"Oh we uh... Already have plans..."
"Going out to a romantic restaurant?" She nudged my arm and gave Inuyasha a wink. I could feel my cheeks grow hot as I rubbed the spot she elbowed.
"No... We ordered pizza..." I looked at my chipped toenail polish as Inuyasha answered her question.
"Well than why don't you bring it over? We have a picnic table on our lot."
"We couldn't possibly..."
"Pish posh! Come on. We can play charades afterwards! Mort and I were class champions back in college"
"We uh. Came up with some friends actually and I wouldn't want to intrude..."
"The more the merrier!" The truck was mere feet away when I heard Sango yell.
"If that hand comes near me one more time you're not going to see it again!" I covered my face with my hand.
"I-I really don't think you'd like our friends" I muttered shaking my head.
"Come on over now if you'd like." Beatrice motioned towards their RV. Wow. I can't believe I missed that on the way in...
"O-O.K." I muttered.
"Why don't you go get your friends than come on over" She gave a smile showing off white venires. We went back to the truck.
"How do we ditch them?" I whispered.
"I dunno. I really don't want to play charades. I mean come on. They're like my rents age." He whispered back. He never called his foster parents "parents". His philosophy was they were "rents" with "pa" at the beginning.
"Since we're bringing Sango and Miroku over maybe they'll be really obnoxious and get us kicked off they're lot?"
"Let's hope so."
"Hay Sango, Miroku. We're going over to the RV next to us. You comin'?" Inuyasha yelled through the open window.
"One condition. How come we're not out of New Jersey yet?" Miroku stepped out of the car.
"Cause I'm tired and I thought it'd be fun" Inuyasha answered. Sango nearly fell out of the truck.
"Pizza's gonna be here soon and we get to play charades afterwards" I said motioning over to Beatrice and Mort.
"Oh joy" Sango answered sarcastically.
"And that's how Mort and I met! Isn't that funny?" Beatrice was sitting across from the four of us with Mort to her right. Everyone was helping themselves to the pizza as Mort and Beatrice nibbled on their own food.
"Yes... very funny" Sango answered in a monotone voice. We were dying of boredom and I think they caught on after awhile.
"Why don't we start the charades game now huh? Doesn't that sound like fun?" She stood and clapped her hands together.
"Sounds like oodles of fun..." Inuyasha muttered leaning on his elbow.
"Pair off you four. Mort and I'll be together. Kagome why don't you and Inuyasha be together. You seem really smitten with each other." I could feel Inuyasha tense beside me as I flushed.
"O-O.K..." I answered.
"We'll go first." Beatrice stood and thought for a moment.
"Oh. I have a good one." She stood in front of all of us, placed her hands on her hips like a bird and started to hop around flapping her makeshift wings.
"I think you're a... bird?" Miroku tried. Beatrice shook her head.
"Are you a bee?" I tried.
"Mosquito" Mort said from the other side of the table.
"Yay! We get a point! I never did catch your name?" She gestured over to Sango. We had introduced them when we brought the pizza over half an hour ago. I can't believe she forgot already.
"I'm Sango. This is Miroku..."
"Why don't you two go next?" Sango shot me a look. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to be here anymore than she did, so I gave a little bit of a nod.
She got on all fours and started to crawl around like some sort of wild animal.
"You're a cat." Miroku answered immediately.
"Oh! You two are good! You get a point! Kagome? Why don't you go next than all the men can go after?" Before I knew it I was standing in front of a picnic table full of people. Well not exactly full, more like crowded on one end. I was directly in front of Inuyasha, who sat with one leg on either side of the bench staring right at me, waiting for me to do something.
I put my hands on my head and stuck out my index fingers, than put my head down and started to paw the ground with my foot.
"She's a moose" Miroku said boredly.
"No way she's a deer." Sango tilted her head a little. I could tell Beatrice was deep in thought, trying to decipher what on Earth I could be pretending to be.
"Oh this is bull-"
"You got it! I'm a bull!" I yelled cutting Inuyasha off.
"Thanks for all your hospitality. But I think we should get back. We have to leave tomorrow..." I tugged on Inuyasha's arm.
"Oh ya. We have to be in Delaware by tomorrow night..." Miroku stood as well.
"Oh well if ya change yer mind don't hesitate to come back over. Don't worry a thing." Beatrice watched as we skirted away like frightened dogs. Thank god our lot was a little ways from there's so you couldn't see it very well.
"Well... That was... for lack of better word... Interesting" I pointed out leaning into the large bathroom mirror more. Sango stood beside me removing her makeup as I washed my face.
"Those two are kinda creepy don't you think?" She asked sparing me a quick glance. We were in the public washroom/shower area of the camp ground. It was kind of like the locker room at the YMCA, with white tiles across the floors ceilings and walls, pink stalls lining one wall, showers lining the other and a large counter top with sinks.
"That Mort guy freaked me out"
"Me too, he kept looking at me funny."
"Inuyasha said he kept looking at me when we asked for directions." I shuddered at the though and packed up my makeup case. Sango finished up as well and we walked back to the truck, clothes tucked under our arms along with enormous over night toiletry bags. Sango wore the silk pajamas I bought her and I wore the same happy bunny ones with "I'm worse than you" written all over them.
"You guys take forever. Did you know that?" Miroku pointed out leaning on the truck.
"Well so-rry" I threw my stuff into the back and started to get in.
"What do you guys wanna do now?" Inuyasha asked leaning on the side of the truck.
"We can tell ghost stories!" Sango exclaimed sitting on the damp grass and crossing her legs. The sun had gone down and the only light came from select areas with lit fires and some streetlights lining the road.
"What time is it?" I asked sitting next to Sango. Inuyasha sat next to me and Miroku sat next to Sango.
"Ten. Why?" Inuyasha asked taking a quick look at his watch.
"Do you think we could go for a swim?"
"Ya. Me and Sango never got to go swimming because some people forgot to wake us." Miroku emphasized "some people" and shot us both a death glare.
"Well you two looked so comfortable on top of each other I just couldn't stand to wake you" Inuyasha said smoothly.
"Are you still mad at me because I took your pants!?"
"Yes."
"I said I'm sorry! You know didn't you hear me yell 'I'm sorry Inuyasha. I shall never borrow your clothes without asking again'?"
"Since when did you say that?" I corked and eyebrow and looked over.
"Since just now." He crossed his arms and Sango shook her head.
"Come on let's go!" She stood and grabbed her bathing suit.
"Wait up!" I grabbed mine and we sprinted off to change. I think we broke a couple track records. We arrived back and ran to the beach. Miroku and Inuyasha were already waiting for us.
"Oh come on! You two are still faster than us!" I whined running into the familiar coolness of the ocean.
"We're guys, I mean come on, we don't have to worry about our hair" Inuyasha pretended to flip his long silver locks and I laughed.
"Piggy back war!" Sango jumped on Miroku's back immediately and charged for Inuyasha and me. Slowly we started to migrate over to deeper waters. The surf went from barely licking my ankles to coming way past my knee and almost to Inuyasha's shoulder.
Miroku attempted to grab my foot but Inuyasha swatted his hand away as I tried to attack Sango. She laughed as I whacked Inuyasha in the jaw with my foot, he on the other hand didn't think it was very funny and gave Miroku a shove in the ribs.
He tried to regain his balance but Inuyasha rammed into Miroku again and he went toppling into the waves. I laughed as Sango kept her head above water.
"Where'd Miroku go?" I asked from my perch on Inuyasha's shoulders. Something grabbed my foot and I let out a yelp, only to be pulled under. I surfaced and found Miroku laughing so hard he was nearly drowning.
"Oh come on!" I yelled dragging him under. Inuyasha finally yanked me off Miroku as I pulled him under one too many times.
"Do you guys wanna go to town?" He asked while holding me back from trying to strangle Miroku with my bare hands. I stopped.
"Town?"
"Ya. There's like this town thing on the camp grounds, right by the main entrance."
"And you know this how?"
"You guys took so damn long I thought what the hell why not look for something to do…"
"So you did look at the maps! I knew it!"
"Shut up would you?"
"Ha! My lectures have worked! I told you maps were great for finding your way around and not you "instincts" "
"How dare you dis my instincts! Come on! Last year camping we were fine..." He grumbled as we walked out of the water.
"Ya. Because me and Sango found the compass you lost!" I shouted back. Sango and Miroku let us rant at each other the entire time as we changed on either side of the truck and even a little ways in the car.
"Do you know what!? I give up! You win! O.K.? You win" I threw my hands in the air and they landed on the dashboard.
"Finally! My god! I think this was the longest fight you've ever had!" Sango yelled from her position in the back of the car.
"No no. They've fought for longer. Remember when Inuyasha had to move in with Kagome for a week because his foster parents drove him crazy during exams because he wasn't studying? They didn't speak to each other for three days after that. See! A total of ten days! Oh burn"
"What were you two fighting over that time?" Sango turned to me and I shrugged.
"I think he left his underwear on my bed room floor or something."
"We're here. Come on get out of the car already!" Inuyasha yelled opening the door.
"Where's here anyways?" I craned my neck to see the stout building in front of me with a huge red neon sign reading the beaver lodge tavern.
"I don't know exactly." Inuyasha answered confidently. He sauntered in and the rest of us followed. The place smelled like rancid beer and spilled vodka. There was a long bar across the wall to my left with booths and other tables filling the rest of the space. In the back was where pool tables and dart boards, along with dusty old televisions running the rodeo channel.
We sat at the bar and I could tell Inuyasha wanted to use the fake ID he had swiped off his brother before he left to go back to Tokyo. There was barely any resemblance between the two, only the same piercing yet soft amber eyes and striking white hair, other than that they were like opposite sides of the world.
I was roused from my gawking when a familiar voice filled my ears. I looked up to see none other than the worker bee in the bad boy scout uniform, only now she was wearing a cow boy hat with one of those red checkered shirts and a leather jacket tied around her waist to cover up the short shorts she was wearing. She tipped her cow boy hat and gave Inuyasha a wink.
I told you we'd run into her again...
AN: Sorry this chapter was so damn long. anyways i hope people like this story. I do. anyways you know the drill R&R tell me if it sucks and tell me what i have to work on
XOXO
SOC (PS thanks to Psy t r a n c e for the wicked awesome nickname. ha SOC.)