A/N: Dearest Readers: I want to thank all of you for your unwavering support of my work. I'm really sorry I can't update as much or as fast as I would like. College is very stressful, and my personal life is not much better. Please understand that if it were in my power, I would update these works much more often. Sometimes, writing for these stories is the only good thing that goes on in my day. I hope that you all will continue to be patient, and will not hold my shortcomings against the story. You guys are the best fans any author could ever have, and I wouldn't trade any of you for the world. Hugs and kisses to all of you. With love -- Jazz the Wolf Demon. ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or anything that it would entail. I own next to nothing, really, except the love in my heart for this idea and the inspiration that drives it on. Oh, I also own a copy of Howl's Moving Castle which is my new favorite movie. Christian Bale's sexy voice is totally worth 20 bucks.
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Chapter 4
Kagome, the fairest of maids, had many secrets,
There was much that was dark and bitter in her heart,
She did not believe in love or that it could save her,
She did not believe that there was a man she could love...
Kagome held her breath, closed her eyes, and jumped.
She loved the thrill of free falling through the air, the rush of speed as everything went whirring past so fast that she could only make out fuzzy shapes in the corner of her eyes. She laughed so loud it was as if she were screaming, even she couldn't tell which. The cold air made her eyes water, but she didn't care. All that mattered right now was the ride.
There was a sudden bump, a sudden fall, and then she laid on her back, sprawled in the snow. There was the sound of muffled footsteps and voices calling her name, but she didn't move. She just closed her eyes to savor the lingering feelings and the final bursts of adrenaline.
"Kagome, are you ok?" Sango asked, her face suddenly appearing as she bent over the prostrate form of her friend. "That looked like a nasty fall."
"That was the best ride of the day," Kagome told her with a smile.
"I've got the sled," Kohaku announced, digging it out from the bank Kagome had collided with during her ride.
The four Higurashi children and Sango had decided to spend their free afternoon riding the hills in the local park. A couple kids had the same idea, but this particular hill, the largest in the park, was dominated by the five. They had only one sled between them, but they took turns at running the slope. In the meantime, Shippou and Souta were building a snowman and pelting their school friends with snowballs. Sango and Kohaku were having a playful race to see who could get the farthest on each sled run. Sango always won.
Kagome had only taken one trip down the slope, and she had trumped both of them. When she was younger, her mother had taught her the secrets of the perfect sled ride. In a kind of secret between them and she had never shared this secret with anyone, not even her brothers.
"You want me to help you up?" Sango asked with a grin. Her face was red from the cold and her long hair was tucked inside of a stocking cap that hung halfway down her back. Kagome thought that she looked like a snow faerie.
"I just want to lay here for a few more minutes."
"Okay," Sango laughed. "Come back up when you want to race again." Kagome waved a mittened hand as Sango and Kohaku raced up the hill, tripping one another to be the first at the top. A small part of Kagome wished that it could be her to race with her brother to the hill, laughing and shoving. Instead, if she were to attempt it, he would smile and help her up the hill, and probably offer her the first ride. To Kohaku, Kagome was already an adult, and he just couldn't fool around with her like they had years ago. Sometimes she left like a stranger to them.
It took her a few minutes to get up and brush the snow out of her hair, but eventually she did and then trotted over to check on Souta and Shippou. Shippou was finishing up their snowman, who leaned to the right side and had a chunk missing from his head where a snowball had pelted him, while Souta declared war on three other children who were ducking behind a snow fort, which was only a two-foot wall of snow that they had to repair every time a snowball hit it.
"How's it going over here, Ship?"
"Good!" he declared, giving her a toothy grin. The scarf she had made for him snugly encircled his throat and chin, and it was already coated in white. As was the rest of him. "I am trying to decide on a name for him."
"Oh, really?" she asked, smiling. Even as she spoke with Shippou, she kept Souta in the corner of her eye and grabbed him by the back of his shirt as he darted past, arms laden with snowballs.
"Ah, come on, Kagome!" he pleaded, squirming.
"Hold it," she commended, turning him to face her. She deftly zipping up his coat, tightened his scarf, and pulled his snowy hat back over his head after a quick dusting of the snow from his short black hair. Then she turned him away and pushed him. "Go."
"Thanks, Kagome!" he called over his shoulder as he raced off again.
Souta had the habit of taking off his coat in the middle of snow because running around made him hot, but if he took it off, he always got sick. Kagome didn't particularly wish to take a day off from work to take care of him during mid-terms week. He was old enough now to know better, but there were times when he was caught in the heat of the moment.
She sighed a bit, tugging on the end of her scarf. Kagome knew every little habit each of her brother's had. From Souta's coat, to Shippou's fear of heights, and Kohaku's grinding of his teeth at night. It was something that annoyed her even as she prided herself in it. It was a rare thing to find a sister who knew more about her brothers.
"Kagome," Shippou called, tugging on her sleeve. "Will you help me put in Dr. Cornwallace's arms?"
"Dr. Cornwallace?" Kagome raised her eyebrows at him.
Shippou laughed. "Like it?"
"Love it," she assured him, and helped fix the man of snow into something over than a lump with arms.
After a while, Sango wandered over, out of breath and triumphant. If it was possible, her face was even redder, and her eyes held a glint of battle triumph. "I totally beat him down," she announced, falling backwards into the snow nearby and making an angel.
"Congrats on beating a twelve-year-old," Kagome commented, adjusting the branch that had become the right arm of Dr. Cornwallace. As they had built him, Shippou and Kagome had come up with the veritable life story of one Dr. Snowy Cornwallace. He had been born in Alaska, migrated over much of the continent, and settled in their park for a brief holiday. Shippou had also deduced that their snowman was a doctor of Snowology.
"Oh, don't sour my victory, Kags," Sango whined, but she was still smiling. "You two having fun over here?"
"Yes," Shippou replied. "Dr. Cornwallace looks a lot better now that Kagome is helping me. Souta can't make a good snowman."
"That's true," Sango agreed. "He's too busy being a hooligan." The two of them laughed as they looked over to see Souta being pelted by his friends. Kagome was looking in the other direction, shading her eyes from the glare of the snow.
"Where's Kohaku?" she asked, looking toward the hill.
Sango lifted her head from the snow. "He's still sledding, why?"
"I don't see him." Sango turned to look at the hill with Kagome, and both saw it vacant of riders. Panic grabbed Kagome as she lurched forward a few steps and looked around the general park area. No bright green hat, no second-hand neon blue coat. No Kohaku. "Sango," she called over her shoulder, her voice an octave too high. "Watch the others."
"Kagome--"
"Please!" Sango held her tongue and nodded shortly. Then, Kagome turned and took off across the snowy park.
"Kohaku!" she called, running to the top of the hill to look down at the surrounding area. Her heart was beating too fast and her breath was short. She didn't see him or the sled. Kagome became frantic then, a lump rising in her throat. Evil scenarios began running through her head, making her shiver to her very core. What if something had happened to him? What if he had fallen and gotten hurt? Could someone had taken him when no one was looking? He knew better than to wander off without saying anything. Oh, God, she screamed in her head. Please let him be alright.
There was a group of children playing near the bottom of the hill opposite the side where she had been with Shippou so she ran up to them and asked if they'd seen Kohaku.
"The boy who was sledding?" a little girl asked, her twin braids frozen at the tips. "I saw him head toward the pond."
Kagome took off toward the pond that was nearly hidden between a group of small hills behind the sledding hill. Her chest was burning from the cold. "Kohaku! Kohaku!"
"What?" he called back.
She rounded the corner of a hill and saw him standing in a patch of reeds, the sled resting on a snowbank. Kohaku was throwing rocks at the ice, attempting to break it. He looked annoyed that she was there, and the expression made his freckles stand out. The sight of him sent a start of emotions through Kagome. Anger, relief, joy, worry...all boiling down into a hysterical fear that if she had lost him, she would have died.
"Kohaku Higurashi," she yelled, her eyes welling against her will. "I'm going to kill you!"
"What?" he asked, eyes widening.
"How dare you not tell anyone that you're going to wander off! Do you have any idea how worried I was!" As she ranted, she moved forward and grabbed his shoulders.
"I'm not a little kid, Kagome," was his contrary reply. "I can look after myself."
"You're still my responsibility," she countered. "You can't disappear without telling me where you're going! Would you do that to Mom?"
"You're not Mom!"
"I know that!" she snapped, shaking him a little.
"I'm not going anywhere," Kohaku yelled, pushing her hands away from him. "I'm not like Dad. I come back."
Kagome froze at his words, the blood draining from her face as she stared at him. Seeing her expression, Kohaku felt guilt immediately. "Kagome? Kagome, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it." She nodded stiffly, but the horrified expression never left her face. "I promise I won't do it again," he offered in a small voice. "Kagome, do you forgive me?"
She closed her eyes for a long moment, gathering herself. "Of course," she rasped. "Always."
He hugged her then, harder than normal. Kohaku had always been the best at reading her and even when they fought and were mad at each other, it was Kohaku who tried the hardest to protect her.
But his words had hit her like a sucker punch. She had never realized that Kohaku might understand the truth about their father, might hold the kind of bitterness that she held in her own heart. Kohaku had always adored their father, and was the one who had always said that one day he would come back. Kagome never realized that his feelings might have changed. It had never occurred to her that her little brother was really growing up. Soon he would no longer need her. Soon none of the boys would need her.
That thought made her quiver deep inside her heart, made her feel sick to her stomach, because if her brothers no longer needed her, if she had a free and easy life, what would she do? If they no longer needed her, who would?
"Inuyasha, are you going out?" Paloma asked as Inuyasha walked past the kitchen, pulling his coat on.
He stopped, turned, and fixed her with a neutral expression. "Yeah, I'm going to swing by Miroku's and we're going to get some errands done."
"Do you think you could do me a favor, Sport?" She tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and looked at him with that asking-you-but-you-really-have-no-choice face that only a mother could pull off.
"What do you need, Momma?"
"Could you fill a prescription for me?" she asked, holding out an empty bottle. "You father was supposed to do it last week, but he forgot again."
"Not surprising," her youngest son commented, taking the pill bottle that was outstretched toward him. "Do you want me to get more drugs for Rin, too?"
"Could you?" she asked sweetly.
"Slip me a twenty?"
His mother laughed a little. "Sure, sure. But if you're going to get everyone's medicine, make sure you refill yours too." Inuyasha groaned, rolling his eyes. "Now, Inuyasha, you only have enough for a few more days and you know what happens if you--"
"I know, I know," he defended, throwing up his hands. "I become a raving monster and a danger to society. Don't worry, Momma. I'll make the drug-run."
Paloma sent him a level glance, then softened a bit. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I know I lecture you about this and you hate it."
"Don't worry yourself," he told her with a shrug. "I'll get everything filled. Be back in a bit."
"Drive carefully," she called. "It's still icy out."
"I will."
Inuyasha closed the front door, tucking the empty bottle into his coat pocket and headed toward his car. In all truth, he was going to refill his medication today anyway; the pharmacy was on his list of places to go today. This just gave him an excuse to slip his own order in there without bringing too much attention to himself. So, indirectly, it was a good thing that his father always forgot to go to the pharmacy.
There were still two days left of mid-terms, but his studying quota was done for the week. Plus, he had only bird classes the next day, and there were things he had to get done. Sango was still bogged down with studies and from what the brunette had told him via instant messenger earlier that day, she was spending her evening with her books. That left only his usual partner in crime to accompany him this afternoon. It had been a while since the two of them did an errand run together.
Inuyasha started the car and let it warm for a minute as he reached into the inside pocket of his trench coat and pulled out a small shopping list and a pen. He scribbled down the prescriptions he had to fill, adding them to the random shopping list he had already accumulated, and tucked the list away again. Then, he fished out his wallet and checked his funds to make sure there would be enough for the added necessities. There was, and he smirked at his wallet as he closed it again.
What made him more content than the fact that there was money in his wallet was the fact that it was money he had earned. During the summer, he had worked at a car wash in the next town over. It was easy to work and act freely when you were in another town, where no one knew who your were. In the end, he had earned a good amount of money, and it gave him a rush of pride knowing that no one could accuse him of living off of his old man.
Inuyasha pulled out of the driveway and slowly made his way across town to where Miroku lived. The roads were paved, but the snow was piled high and it made it difficult to see cars turning in from the side streets. Also, there were hundreds of kids darting in and out of hills and from behind cars, playing in the snow. When he reached the homestead of his friend, Miroku was already waiting outside, swinging his key ring around his index finger and looking decidedly bored.
"Hey, Grimm," he greeted as he pulled open the side door and plopped down inside.
"Hiya, Demon," the other grinned. "Ready for a fun-filled afternoon?"
"Oh boy, howdy!" Miroku leaned down and fiddled with the radio as Inuyasha began driving again. The station he settled on was playing classical music.
"Since when do you listen to this crap?" the driver asked.
"I figured I should start listening to it, you know? Sango invited to go to this recital she's having in a couple weeks and it's all going to be snooze music."
"How cute," Inuyasha taunted. "Tormenting yourself to get the girl."
"It's not all that bad," Miroku grumbled. "Kagome's going too, so we'll be in the back heckling."
"And I was not invited, I take it?"
"I'm sure Sango would love it if you came," the other offered with a smile. Then he sighed. "Where we off to first, chief?"
"Supermarket," Inuyasha said with a curt nod. "I've got to drop off a couple prescriptions and pick up some food. Then to the library," he waved a hand toward the backseat. "I've got to return the pile back there and do a little research."
Miroku turned and studied the stack of books littering the small backseat of the Mazda. "Where do you find the time to read all of that?" he asked.
"You know I don't sleep much," Inuyasha said with a shrug.
"Anywhere after the library?"
"Food?"
"You paying?"
Inuyasha sighed. "If I have enough money."
"Oh, you're so good to me, Grimm."
"I know. I'm a sucker." They pulled into the supermarket parking lot and found a space before piling out and racing for the front doors. Once inside, they began their usual food shopping behaviors.
The two boys had managed to find a dry cart inside the store, and Miroku had proceeded to situate himself inside of the basket with his legs hanging over the front. Inuyasha pushed, looking like any other shopper, even as others stared at them. "First stop?" Miroku asked, leaning his head back against the handle to look up at Inuyasha.
"Pharmacy."
"Right-o."
Inuyasha parked Miroku near a rack of magazines and walked toward the pharmacy window. A young girl in a white apron gave him a huge smile. Her name tag read "Eri" and she looked vaguely familiar. Odds are, they went to school together, and he sighed a little. "Good afternoon," she greeted.
"Hello," he responded. "I need to get two prescriptions filled." He reached into his pockets and pulled out his mother's pill bottle, and his own.
Eri took both of them and hit a few keys on the computer next to her, checking if they were refills or not. She placed one bottle aside and furrowed her brow at the other. "This Depakote is a refill, right?"
"Yes," Inuyasha said, feeling himself growing smaller.
"This dosage seems off. I'll have to check with my supervisor." She reached for the PA microphone, a second away from announcing his shame to the entire store.
"Look," Inuyasha snapped. "The dosage is right. It was changed recently. Call the doctor if you don't believe me."
"I'm sorry, sir," she said, her eyes widening. "I-it was just d-different on the computer." She cleared her throat and gave him a polite, shaky smile. "We'll have them filled in half an hour."
Inuyasha nodded and went back to his cart. "They give you crap for the pills?" Miroku asked once Inuyasha began pushing him toward the produce department.
"I'd rather we not talk about it, Demon," he grunted. "I've got shit to buy."
Miroku knew better then to push him on this particular subject, so he decided to leave it where it lay. "Then push away!"
The pair wandered through produce, stopping now and then for Inuyasha to rummage through the vegetables and toss some in the basket. Then they swung by the bakery and meat department. Miroku nodded politely as other shoppers wheeled their carts past them. Inuyasha ignored them utterly, going about his business.
"What are you going to do with all this stuff?"
"Chicken soup. Rin's still got the flu, and I figured it would cheer her and mom up. You know how much women fawn over a man who can cook."
"It all depends on whether that man cooks well," Miroku pointed out, examining the chicken Inuyasha had dumped on to his chest. "But then again, you're pretty handy in the kitchen."
"I've never heard you complain," Inuyasha shot back, wheeling the cart toward a rack of spices.
"Well, you are my good little housewife."
Inuyasha accidentally rammed the cart into a freezer case, making Miroku whack his head against the handlebar. "Whoops, silly me," he drawled.
"You're cold, Grimm. Very cold."
"Did you need anything?" Inuyasha offered, ignoring his pervious statement.
"Naw. The Old Man went out the other day, so we're stocked for the week."
"Fine, but you can help me pick out some snack food." Miroku never asked for a hand-out. He and his father both worked hard for their money, Mr. Yuki at his local office job and Miroku at the local gas station. He often felt guilty excepting left over food from the Reaper household, even when it was offered to him, but Inuyasha knew his best friend like the back of his hand, and was well versed in the ways of helping him without seeming like he was giving charity. Both knew the right ways to dance around the other; Inuyasha never mentioning that Miroku was poor and Miroku never mentioning that Inuyasha was sick.
When they reached the register, Inuyasha bagged the food and paid while Miroku hung out of the cart, attempting to flirt with the cashier. The petite blonde looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a world-weary attitude. "I have glass cleaner under here and I'm not afraid to use it," she said with a sugar-sweet smile while handing Inuyasha his check.
"I'm sorry about him," Inuyasha apologized, wheeling the cart back toward the pharmacy. "Kids these days."
"Hmph," was all she said before going back to work.
"She was cute," Miroku said in his own defense while hugging the grocery bags to his chest. "I have a disease!"
"I don't think lechery is approved by the FDA," Inuyasha drawled.
"You hurt me to my heart, you know that?" For someone who was hurt, Miroku smiled quite a bit. Inuyasha only shook his head and went to pick up his drugs. Five minutes later he came back, red-faced from having to listen to a pharmacist lecture him about how mood stabilizers were not a toy, and rather touchy. Miroku quickly jumped into best friend action, or would have jumped if he could get out of the cart.
Inuyasha cracked a smile as his friend whined for help and eventually pulled him out of his predicament. "You really are useless, you know that?"
"I'm adorable," the other shot back. He stroked his red hair as he pouted. "Some nice, rich girl will take pity on me one day and marry me."
"Keep telling yourself that, pal."
Radio blaring, groceries secured in the trunk, the two deviants went about their way across town. At red lights, Miroku would roll down his window and hit on women in the cars beside them while Inuyasha waited for him to lean out just far enough to close the window on his head. All usual fun and games for them.
Once they made it to the library, it was a task trying to fish out all the books in the backseat of the Mazda. One had slipped under the passenger side seat, one under the driver's chair, and one even managed to get caught behind the cushion. Inuyasha dug them out and handed the stack one by one to Miroku, who simply whistled with each new edition. "You read too much, man. I can't believe you need a tutor when you're so disgustingly smart."
"Eh," was the only response he got. "Come on." Once the car was locked up, and after a quick transference of books from one to the other, they made a mad dash for the doors to the library. Miroku won, but Inuyasha claimed it was because he was weighed down. "I'm just going to take these to the back."
"No problem, Grimm," Miroku said with a flick of his wrist, attention already rapt on a pretty young girl with a book return cart making rounds in the stacks. "Take your time."
"Just don't get me kicked out for sexual harassment with you," the teen commented to his bi-colored companion.
"No worries."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and made his way to the sci-fi section. As expected, Hannah sat in her office, boots propped up on her desk and her nose between the pages of some Arthurian Romance novel. He knocked on her door with a smirk. She looked up, then went back to reading. "Hello, Grimm. Do you have my books?"
"Yeah," he replied, placing the stack on her desk. "The new opener looks promising, but some of the storyline is predictable. The third installment of the warfare series is getting boring. She keeps reusing her heroines."
"Was she useless or manly?"
"Useless. They wouldn't be half as annoying if they just...did something. But nope, they have to wait for the guy to rescue them. And they aren't even likeable. There's no pluck there."
"And I know how much you like pluck," Hannah nodded, closing her novel. "I'm looking forward to reading your novel. I have high expectations for it, you know."
Inuyasha scratched the back fo his head. "Don't get them too high. It's just a starter and it's basically an overgrown faerie tale."
"Who doesn't love a good faerie tale?" Hannah patted the stack of books with a smile. "Thanks for your valuable opinions."
"Anytime."
"I only have one new book in, if you're interested."
"I'm always interested, you know that."
Hannah smiled and slapped a crisp novel into his awaiting hands. "'For those seeking a happily ever after'."
"You read it?"
"The author is a friend of mine," she grinned. "You're next, Grimm."
"Maybe," he replied, tucking the book under his arm. "Goodnight, Hannah." She waved and went back to her book. Inuyasha only grinned and shook his head. Hannah was a girl that would never change for anyone in the world, and he truly admired her. Maybe it was just that he admired strong women in general, and he knew a good share of them.
As Inuyasha made his way toward front desk, he saw a familiar brunette groping for a book on the top shelf of nearby book stack. The free-falling black hair, the long legs, there was no way she could be mistaken. For a reason he couldn't fathom, he was actually happy to see Kagome. Of course, it was probably because he wanted to torment her and everything. During Midterms week, they didn't have any tutoring sessions because she had her own studies to look after, and it was assumed that he would look to his own as well. Sauntering up behind her, Inuyasha reached over her head and plucked the book that had sat just out of her reach.
"Oh, thank you," she said, turning with a smile. "I just couldn't--" She fell silent when she saw him behind her, grinning like the devil himself. "Oh, it's you."
"Hello, Miss Higurashi," he greeted. "And how are you today?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Mr. Reaper," she replied in kind, trying to take her book from Inuyasha as he dangled it over her head. "It's rare to see you without your second head."
"If you're referring to Demon, he was stalking the returns girl last I saw of him."
Kagome crossed her arms over her chest then, refusing to give in and jump for the book in his hands. Her lips compressed into a thin line, but he wasn't fooled. He could see the challenging spark in her blue eyes. "I don't understand why he does those things. I thought he liked Sango."
"Oh, he does," Inuyasha nodded, still holding the book over her head, but making it look like he was stretching. "He's just too chicken shit to do anything about it."
"That makes no sense," she declared. "If he likes her and she likes him, they should just cut the drama and be together."
"Love's a crazy thing," he told her. "Kind of like how you shouldn't be with a person you don't love." In actuality, he said that to test her, to see how far he could get away with. As expected, she went stiff with anger.
"That's none of your business," she hissed, narrowing her eyes.
"Of course not," he replied with another smile. He lowered the book a little. "But I know what it is you're thinking."
"Oh really?"
"You're thinking you've got me figured out, that you have my number."
Kagome reached up and grabbed her book from his hand, then turned on her heel. "You're wrong, Inuyasha." She tossed him a condescending smile over her shoulder. "I haven't given you a second thought." Inuyasha watched her go, shaking his head. He had to give it to her, the girl had spunk.
As she stormed away from Inuyasha, Kagome felt her heart beat much faster than it should if she were only angry. Adrenaline and excitement kicked through her veins. It frustrated her that a simple dialogue exchange with that...infuriating boy could get her more worked up than an hour in the backseat of Hojo's car. As always, denial came to her rescue and she was able to push such thoughts from her head. The cold air outside of the library did wonders to clear her cloudy brain.
Another big help was a familiar face skulking around the front step, looking rather chilled.
"Miroku," she called with a tired smile, "why are you standing out here in the cold?"
Looking up, the disgruntled youth grinned. "I got kicked out."
"What on earth did you do?"
He shrugged. "I was harassing the returns girl too much. Eh, but I'm sure Grimm will be out in a minute or two, after he scours the cooking section."
"Cooking?" she asked, arranging her books in her arms more comfortably so she could get into a conversation. "That boy is allowed near an open flame?"
"You'd be surprised," Miroku nodded. "He's a good cook."
"Well color me shocked," she replied. "What about you?"
He snorted. "Me? Cook? That's an invitation for disaster. I'll be lucky if I can make noodles." She giggled a little and nodded in a humoring way. "Where are you off to now, Kags?"
"Sango wanted me to help quiz her for a test tomorrow. What about you?"
"I am off to assist Chef Grimm create a culinary masterpiece in honor of young Miss Rin." Kagome crinkled her brow at him and he only grinned brighter. "Rin's been sick since last week, so Grimm's going to make her some chicken soup. We just raided the grocery store for provisions."
"Oh," was her only response. She couldn't picture arrogant Inuyasha Reaper making chicken soup.
"I know he comes off like a big asshole," Miroku offered with a shrug, "but Grimm really isn't all bad. Especially when it comes to the femmes of his family. He's a sucker. Kinda like how you are with your boys."
"If you say so." Kagome wanted to change the subject now. She felt a bit guilty talking about this when Inuyasha wasn't around, like this was something she shouldn't be hearing. Then again, he knew plenty about her that he shouldn't know. Fair is fair, one might say, but Kagome prided herself on her class. "Miroku, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot, darlin'."
"Why do you flirt with all these girls when you like Sango?"
Miroku opened his mouth, then closed it, then his face turned as red as the streak in his hair. "I...I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes you do," Kagome laughed, poking him on the tip of his nose. "You just don't want to answer."
"You know, by asking me this kind of personal question, you are inviting me to do the same," he warned.
"I'm willing to risk it," she assured him.
Miroku blew out a heavy breath and shrugged his shoulders. "Why does anyone do anything? Love's a scary thing. I'm scared of a real relationship, of not being good enough for her. Sometimes I think I'm protecting myself, and other times I think I'm punishing myself."
Kagome became pensive as she listened to him, her face reflecting her own understanding. "But you don't need to punish yourself," she told him.
"Maybe, maybe not." Miroku shrugged again and smiled. "I'll work it out with Sango in due time."
"Just don't wait too long," she warned. "Sango's a smart, pretty girl, and she doesn't like waiting." He only laughed awkwardly and blushed again.
"Well aren't we all chummy out here," Inuyasha commented as he joined the pair in front of the library.
"That's my que," Kagome said, straightening. "See you later, Miroku."
"Bye, Kagome," he said with a little wave.
"What did I say?" Inuyasha asked, not bothering to suppressed the tiny smile that hung at the corner of his mouth.
Miroku rolled his eyes and slung an arm around his friend. "I do believe you are sweet on her. I haven't seen you enjoy tormenting a girl so much since the second grade."
"There is a huge difference between Kagome Higurashi and Nalia Stampa," Inuyasha grumbled.
"You've moved past the old trick of putting worms down the back of her shirt. Grimm...Grimm, I don't like the look in your eye. I just gave you an idea didn't I?" Miroku sighed and followed Inuyasha back to his car. "Sorry, Kagome."
The halls were nearly bare. The last bell of the day had rung, officially calling an end to Midterms week. For the majority of the student body, it could not have come soon enough and they piled out of the school into their cars and buses and returned home for a weekend free of studying.
Kagome, Kagura, and Sango stayed behind, lurking in the halls outside of the auditorium.
"Tell me again why I'm doing this," Sango grumbled.
"Because you've gone three years without and I refuse to let you skate out on your word," Kagome replied matter-of-factly. She shuffled through a few pages of sheet music in her hands.
"I don't understand why I am here," Kagura sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I was supposed to be working on my next article."
"In other words, you were supposed to be necking with your boyfriend," Sango translated, leaning against the wall casually. She toyed with the button snap of her leather jacket, making a popping sound every time she fiddled with it.
"Actually...surprisingly," Kagura amended when both girls gave her a look, "He had to go home early today and I was going to have the office to myself. Well, Naraku might wander in, but mostly to myself."
"How are things going between the pair of you?" Kagome asked, fixing her blue gaze upon the taller girl.
Kagura's ruby eyes were troubled for a moment or two. "It's awkward, really. He knows that I'm with Sesshomaru, but he still thinks that he can steal me away or something. I get this feeling that it's going to be a strange working environment for quite a while."
"If you need any help," Sango said, looking up with a savage smile, "you know you can call Sango."
"I don't want him to end up in a river somewhere," Kagura laughed. "But I can handle him myself."
"I'm sure you can," the other nodded. "But I would love to take a crack at him."
"Of that I'm sure."
The doors beside them opened and a mousy freshmen came out carrying a clipboard. He looked around the hallway and, seeing no one else, turned toward the three girls. "Are you the ones auditioning?"
"Oh, just them," Kagura said, pointing at Sango and Kagome. "I'm just moral support."
"Ok, come in," he replied. Kagome grinned, ruffling her sheet music again as she walked inside. Sango sighed, looked toward the heavens, and followed. Kagura brought up the rear, smiling.
Inside the auditorium hung a rather poorly made banner over a well lit stage, signaling that auditions for the school's springtime musical were in full swing. Sango, who had said she wanted to try out for the musical every year since ninth grade, was finally pulled into auditioning. The only people in the auditorium already were three teachers, the ones responsible for running the play.
"And who is auditioning first?" the drama teacher asked.
"She is," Kagome said, pushing Sango forward a step. "I'm back-up piano." She held up her sheet music for emphasis and then moved to the piano that was set up to the left of the stage. Kagura moved to the piano side with Kagome, leaving Sango to face the firing squad.
"What's you name?" the drama teacher asked Sango, smiling a little.
"Sango St. John," she replied, fidgeting.
"What part are you trying out for?"
"Um...the lead," Sango said, tugging on her long hair.
The teachers looked at her skeptically. They had their favorites picked out for lead already, Sango knew this. Since she was a first-time try-out, she's be lucky if she got into the chorus, but Kagome had been trying to get her to do this for years, and she owed it to her. Plus, she felt like proving to these smug suckers that she could belt out a good number.
"You've got a prepared number?" one of the teachers asked.
"Yes, with accompaniment." She smiled and when they motioned, she climbed the stairs to the steps. Sango waited for Kagome's signal and the start of her playing. As soon as the music started, Sango smiled. How could anyone be nervous with music playing?
"Where is the moment we need at the most? You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost. Tell me your blue skies fad to grey. Tell me your passion's gone away. And I don't need no carryin' on. You stand in the line just to hit a new low. You're faking a smile with the coffee to go. You tell me your life's been way off line. You're falling to pieces every time and I don't need no carryin' on. Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around. You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie, you work at a smile and you go for a ride. You had a bad day, the camera don't lie, you're coming back down and you really don't mind. You had a bad day. You had a bad day."
Kagome had been practicing hard on this particular song for over a week now, so her fingers knew the keys long before her mind could register them. Still, it was helpful to have the music in front of her. Even when she fumbled and made a mistake, it couldn't take away from the power of Sango's talented performance.
"Well you need a blue sky holiday. The point is they laugh at what you say and I don't need no carryin' on. Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around. You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie, you work at a smile and you go for a ride. You had a bad day, the camera don't lie, you're coming back down and you really don't mind. You had a bad day."
Kagura watched the awe dawn over the judges' faces with a smug smile. She could practically see Sango's voice blowing them minds. There would definitely be some changes in the playbill now, if there was a brain between the three of them. Kagura was sure that if Sango had just had the sense and confidence to have tried out before, she would have been a shoe-in at every musical since freshman year. She really was that good.
"Sometimes the system goes on the blink, and the whole thing turns out wrong. You might not make it back and you know that you could be well, oh that strong and I'm not wrong. So where is the passion when you need it the most? Oh you and I, you kick up the leaves and the magic is lost. Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down, you sing a sad song just to turn it around. You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie, you work at a smile and you go for a ride. You had a bad day, you've seen what you like, and how does it feel for one more time. You had a bad day."
When Sango's voice died away and Kagome finished up the last of the notes of the piano, all three judges applauded. Sango bowed twice, blushing fiercely. Then Kagome and Kagura jumped on to the stage and mauled her, making her laugh out loud and forget her embarrassment.
"Our cast list will be posted on Monday, in the drama room," the drama teacher told Sango excitedly. She scribbled something on to her clipboard, then the three teachers began whispering in hushed tones. The girls took that as a signal to leave.
"Score one for the Drama Club," Kagome squealed, hugging Sango for the third or fourth time. "You blew them away."
"I messed up on the second verse," Sango sighed, shoving her hands into her pockets.
"They couldn't tell," Kagura assured her. "They were too busy eating their pride."
"Let's see them cast anyone else as lead," Kagome said confidently. "I will personally quit the costume's team if you aren't given that part."
"Don't threaten on my account," Sango giggled, still pink in the face. "I'd be flattered for a chorus solo."
"You'll get more than that," Kagura stated, "or I will personally make sure the review of that play for the paper is a flop."
"Oh, you guys," Sango laughed. "Come here, group hug time!" Before either could escape, Sango launched herself on to both Kagome and Kagura, making them lurch a few steps back. "I love you guys so much."
"Too much love," Kagura choked, wriggling out of her hold. She smiled brightly, so it lessened the sting. "I've still got time to work some on my article, so I'll see you guys later."
"Wait a second," Kagome called after her as Kagura ran for the newspaper office. She turned to Sango with a vexed expression. "How are we going to get home?"
Sango pouted for a moment, then a wicked smile spread over her face. "I know a way."
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm not going to like this..."
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course, but that doesn't mean I like everything you do."
"Come on, it's not that bad."
It was worse. Truly, horribly worse than Kagome could have imagined. Sango had coerced her into going to the auto shop under false pretenses. Now, Sango was begging a ride off of Inuyasha and Miroku, who had stayed after to work on their "secret projects". Kagome rubbed her temples and prayed for patience.
"Do you two dashing men think you could bail out two desperate women?" Sango asked, buttering them up.
"I would, San," Inuyasha told her, "but I didn't bring the Mazda to school with me today. We were going to take the bikes home."
"We wouldn't mind riding second seat," she was quick to say. Kagome saw the delighted smile that crossed her best friend's face at the thought to riding a motorcycle again. Kagome was not so eager, and was about to speak up, when Miroku beat her to it.
"Well, if you girls are in such desperate need, we can give you a ride. The bikes are ready for the road now and all."
"Really? You guys are the greatest!"
Kagome sighed to herself but forced a smile and nodded along. "Can three people fit on one motorcycle?" she asked tentatively.
"Not comfortably," Miroku laughed. "But you can ride with Grimm."
She was afraid of that.
In the meantime, Sango was already straddled on Miroku's bike, fiddling with gauges and checking fuel lines. The two of them stared talking, and talking led to deep philosophical discussion over the better brand of helmet. Kagome's headache only got worse.
"If you want a ride, you'd better hurry up," Inuyasha said to her gruffly. "I still have to finish with the paint today before I move the bike over to my place."
Kagome moved closer to inspect his motorcycle. It was smaller than the one she had ridden on before, and the half-finished skull and cross bones design on the front screamed Grimm Reaper. "It's pretty," she offered to Inuyasha.
"You hate it," he said with a smile. "Don't lie."
"I was on Sango's Dad's motorcycle a few times," she explained. "But I didn't like it a whole lot."
"I'll be gentle," he said with a condescending smile. Kagome frowned as he handed her a helmet. When he mounted the bike and put the key into the ignition, he tossed a glance back at her. "Are you scared or something?"
Kagome couldn't begin to tell what was worse, her fear of motorcycles or Inuyasha taunting her about being a coward. So, just to prove him wrong, she shoved the helmet over her hair and straddled the motorcycle seat behind him. Inuyasha revved the handlebars and Kagome squealed. "Hold on," he called, but he didn't need to tell her. She already had her arms locked snugly around his mid-section.
Sango and Miroku laughed as the pair of them sped off from the shop room. Miroku glanced over at her with a grin. "Can't let them beat us!"
"Heavens no!" Sango agreed. She pulled his helmet over her head and let him slid into the seat in front of her. Then, with a holler from both passengers, they were off like a shot after Kagome and Inuyasha.
Kagome squealed every time they took a turn or braked too suddenly. The speed terrified her, and she clung to Inuyasha as hard as she could. He, in turn, only laughed at her fear, and sped up whenever he could in that perverse desire to scare her into clinging to him harder.
Before too long, they had reached her street and he reluctantly slowed down. One driveway past Sango's, he came to a stop. Kagome panted and still held on to him for dear life. "We're here," he said, in case she didn't realize it.
Kagome nodded and then pulled back from him. Then she hit him, hard, on the back of the head. "You're such an asshole!" she yelled, tugging the helmet off of her head. "You knew I was scared but you had to go and make it even worse!"
"It was just a ride, wench. Calm the fuck down!"
Miroku and Sango rode up just as Kagome threw the helmet in Inuyasha's face and stormed into the house. "Oh well," Sango sighed as she slid off the back of Miroku's motorcycle. "So much for the brilliant plan of having them ride together."
"Those two are like oil and water," Miroku commented with a sigh.
"I don't get it. For all the frustration they give one another, you'd think it was foreplay."
He shrugged. "Attraction is complicated." Then he pulled the helmet back over his head and waved to her. "See you, Sango."
She waved, and then to Inuyasha as he turned around and drove back to the school. "Attraction is complicated," she sighed, looking to Kagome's house and then back to the retreating motorcycles. "Tell me about it."
Kagome watched them leave from the corner window in the living room in her empty house. She felt a little bad for not waiting for Sango, but Inuyasha got to her. Again. Like he always did. She simply couldn't understand how it was possible. Then again, a lot of things didn't make sense right now. Like how she had clung to him with enough force to crack ribs and he had only laughed. And how wearing Inuyasha's helmet for that brief ride made her hair smell like him, and how that slight a thing made her want to smile even as she wanted to bash his head in.
It was funny, and almost scary, how she felt like forgiving him for every little wrong he did. All he needed to do was flash a smile and she was lost.
It was wrong to feel like that, of course. It wasn't her place to ride on his motorcycle, or know the scent of his hair, or notice how one of his eyes was a slightly darker shade of gold than the other one.
"What's wrong with me?" she said out loud, angrily shoving the curtains together. She quickly walked into the kitchen and grabbed the phone from the cradle. Kagome could dial Hojo's number with one hand, blindfolded in the dark, but she just punched it in now to hear his voice. To calm her racing heart and make her feel safe.
"Hello?"
"It's me."
"Hey, babe. Did you need something?"
"I just wanted to hear your voice," she sighed. It was weird, but even listening to Hojo didn't make the strange feeling in the pit of her stomach go away.
"What's wrong, Kagome?"
She opened her mouth to answer, but she really didn't know. What was wrong with her? Apart from feeling her heart beat too fast and smelling her hair, nothing really. But there was something wrong. Something terribly wrong that should couldn't say out loud.
I don't love you. "Nothing." I think I like another boy.
"Are you sure?"
Was she?
"Yes."
And that one little world held the power to shatter her world.
A/N: Okay, the end of chapter 4! Same goes for this chapter as it did for the last of Wish Fulfillment -- it's full of errors, but I'll replace it with the edited copy when I get it back from my fabulous Beta Reader, Cattykit (Read her stuff). Also, I would like to take this opportunity to push my new story! I have undertaken the task of co-writing a story with my good friend and fellow author, Moonlight Shadow4. Our project is entitled Codename: HANYOU, and will be premiering shortly -- so look for updates on my and her bio pages!