Chapter 4:
Tick-tock… tick-tock… tick-tock…
Glancing up at the clock, amber eyes furrowed in irritation. Move faster, damn it! Just 5 more minutes until I'm free!
"…And so it was the American President, Dwight D. Eisenhower who really put the Manhattan Project into effect, although the plans were still being made under Woodrow Wilson. Of course, as you all know, the Project was the two atomic bombs dropped on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki that led to the end of World War II. Now, some critics suggest that the Americans only bombed us to show the Soviets, who were still under Stalin's dictatorship, that they were still almighty and could easily disintegrate any threat…"
He rolled his eyes. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah! Looking around the room, his eyes fell on Kagome, who was, naturally, scribbling things down. While everyone else in class had already cleared their desks and were periodically watching the clock, and tapping their feet in anticipation, she still had her notebook out and was writing down everything that came from Abiko-sensei's mouth.
Feh! Could she be more of a loser?
Luckily, the teacher did stop talking two minutes before the bell, reminding them that their proposals for their Cold War projects were due the following week.
Alright, in five...she's packing up her books… four… she's zipping her bag… three… she's picking it up… two she's standing up… one!
The bell rang signaling the end of the day.
AND SHE IS OUT OF HERE!
True to form, Kagome had immediately darted out of the classroom and into the corridor before anyone else and Inuyasha had no intention of following her this time. He casually strolled to the front of the room, threw out a few scraps of paper and turned to the door when –
"Tetsuya-san, matte".
"Nani desu ka?
His history teacher immediately frowned at him. "Tetsuya-san, I've seen your work and I know you're a good student."
"Feh."
"Demo," she gritted her teeth, "your attitude still needs lots of work. You don't pay attention in class, you never participate, and you don't take notes!"
"Feh. What does it matter? I still do my homework, and I pass all my tests."
"That's not enough. Why can't you be more attentive? More interested? More-"
"Like Higurashi Kagome?" The stunned silence that followed was so intense that Inuyasha wondered if he had somehow stopped time with his comment.
"Don't you ever-"
He cut her off again. "Because the last time I checked, she doesn't participate either and sometimes she daydreams too, so why aren't you talking to her about her behavior?"
Abiko-sensei's reply cut him to the quick. "I'll only tell you this once, so listen up Inuyasha. Higurashi-san has more strength than you could ever hope to. That girl is dealing with things you couldn't even begin to understand, and taking it so much better than anyone I know could have ever hoped. So, stop talking about things of which you have no idea and be sure to behave accordingly." Shooting him one last scathing glare, she dismissed him.
Scowling, Inuyasha left the room. Feh! What does that dumb konoama know anyway?! Slowly, his scowl turned to a smirk. So she's got things going on? That probably means that there's something up with her family. Thank you sensei, for the point in the right direction.
Next we have… Achebe, Chinua… very good author too…
Pushing her cart slowly down the aisle, Kagome meticulously scanned the author's names before shoving the books here and there. She was working in the library that day because the café had been overstaffed. Truthfully, she preferred the piercing silence of her current location, as opposed to the bustling murmurs of the café because she had less of a chance of being seen as she darted between stacks of books.
Looking down at the last book she had to replace, Kagome turned right heading to one of the best kept areas in the reference section.
A History of Japan… 1920 -1945… That's gotta be the Archives.
She quickly found the right shelf, and turned around only to be met with vibrant violet eyes.
"Konnichiwa, Kagome."
Her breath caught. Before her stood the woman she had not seen or heard from since the "fiasco" at the café nearly two weeks prior. December was already well under-way and winter vacation would be starting in less than a month.
Quickly coming back to herself, Kagome bowed to her elder. "Konnichiwa, Izayoi-san."
Izayoi wasted no time. Making sure to keep eye-contact with the teenager, she moved as close as the cart between them would allow.
"I wish to extend to you my sincerest apologies for forcing you to discuss things which are and should by all means be kept private. If I have offended you in any other way, I ask that you forgive that as well, and that you consider taking me back into your companionship. Again, gomen nasai."
Kagome felt her eyes tear a little, and at that moment she was sure that she'd never felt more shame or guilt. Oh kami-sama! Onegai, have mercy on me!
"There's nothing to forgive, Izayoi-san. In fact, I apologize for not seeking you out sooner and making that clear as well as for the most disgraceful way I left you at the table alone." Swallowing, Kagome looked around the narrow space as if to make sure no one else was near before turning back to the woman before her.
"Perhaps… you will stop by the café?"
Izayoi smiled regretfully. "Not today, Kagome-chan. My youngest is picking me up so we can go to dinner and I'm afraid I won't be able to sit down and chat."
Kagome's eyes shifted to the ground. For some reason, she desperately wanted to spend time with the older woman. It was strange, and, Kagome knew, dangerous, but she found herself becoming more and more attached to the other… and she wasn't fighting it.
"Okay. What time are you leaving? I can have some brownies ready to go?"
Izayoi beamed inwardly. This girl was just too kind for her own good. "Sure. I'll pick them up at six. Thanks Kagome-chan."
"Oi! Okaa-san, let's go! I still have stuff to do!"
Izayoi sighed as all the librarians turned to glare at her hanyou son standing at the entrance. Walking over to him quickly, she grabbed him by his pointed ear and dragged him out the door.
"Ah, Inuyasha, hello to you too. My day? Thanks for asking! It was great until you embarrassed me." She winked at him, as he smiled at her sheepishly, taking all the books she'd checked out.
"Gomen, okaa-san. But I really don't like this place. The library and I don't mix."
Izayoi laughed, her eyes twinkling. "It must be the books. They're fatal."
"Feh."
She laughed again, and Inuyasha cherished the sound. It'd been a long time since he'd seen his mother so lively.
"Well, you're going to have to wait, mister because I promised to pick up a batch of brownies and they're in the café."
"Inuyasha groaned. "Nani?! Okaa-san, it's already 6:15! The Inu no Taisho's mandatory eating-of-the-food will be starting soon and you know we can't be late."
"6:15? Oh no! I said I'd be there by 6!"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he followed his mother's rushing form into the café. Scanning the room he snorted internally. Look at the dorks, just wasting their lives here with their noses stuck in a book. I bet they spend their whole life studying.
As he turned his head to find his mother, he stopped short as he watched her smile as Kagome handed her a plate of brownies. He was so shocked that it never even occurred to him that he could have heard everything being said if he really wanted to. Instead, he watched as the object of his curiosity went on to serve the other customers. However, he noted that she lacked the warmth that had seeped from her while she served his mother.
He was forced out of his ponderings as Izayoi, stepped into his line of sight. She seemed brighter too.
Suddenly it all made sense. The thing that had changed his mother so deeply a few months back… it was Kagome.
"…Inuyasha? Are you listening to me?"
"Huh?"
"I said let's go!"
"Itai! Okaa-san, let go!"
Soon, they were in his car, driving back to their estate. Inuyasha searched for a nice segue into the Kagome-topic.
"So, how do you know Kagome?" Yep. Real smooth.
Izayoi cast him a suspicious glance. "How do you know her?"
Inuyasha tried to shrug nonchalantly. "We have some classes together at school."
"Hmm… Well, I met her back in September when I started helping your father with the case against Naraku. Things have changed so much since we've been here and I couldn't find the Archives. When I asked for help, this other worker was extremely rude and Kagome-chan came to my rescue."
"So… she talked to you first?"
Izayoi laughed as she grinned. "My, my, my, aren't we digging for information?"
Again, he shrugged. "Iie. Not really. She's really quiet at school. I was just wondering."
Izayoi smiled knowingly. "If you say so dear. She stood up for me and apologized so I guess she did talk to me first, yes. Anything else you want to know about her?"
"Well…"
"INUYASHA!"
Kagome sighed as she opened her locker. Her day hadn't gone a s well as she'd hoped. She'd been unable to complete two homework assignments the night before or study for her history test. Furthermore, she'd felt Inuyasha watching her all day. It was more intense than usual, and she wondered what he wanted.
Turning around, she jumped when Kikyou materialized before her.
"Hey, Higurashi."
Kagome could only nod in response.
"How's it goin'?"
Kagome simply stared at the floor between them.
"How are the boys?" Kikyou smirked as she watched the other girl's eyes sharpen. "Soota and Shitpo, right?'
Kagome mumbled something that Kikyou didn't hear.
"Say it again, Higurashi?"
Silence.
"Good. That's what I thought. Listen, the only reason I'm wasting my time talking to you is because Godfather wanted to know if you'd thought any more about his proposal."
Kagome shook her head.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Kagome, you really shouldn't try so hard. A bit of advice: Give up, your family's dead and they're never coming back. Give up the brats to adoption or something, and leave this school." Kikyo leaned away from the lockers. "Oh, and Higurashi… stay away from Inuyasha. He's mine."
Then she was gone. Kagome walked quickly down the hall and turned into another alcove beneath the stairs. Sitting down, she pulled her knees up to her chest, removed her glasses, and buried her face between them – taking deep breaths to calm her racing pulse.
Okay… Okay… Breathe. Deep, even breaths. They've done this before and you've outsmarted them. That proposal doesn't mean anything… when he made it, I was only ten! He's asks periodically and the answer's always no. This time is no different. So, I'll just have to wait until Kikyo comes back for an answer and I'll shoot her down. Then, we'll all go through the motions: he'll send another one of his lackeys and the answer won't change. Finally, he'll leave me alone for the next year or two… Kami-sama, I hate this game.
Standing, Kagome sighed as she collected her belongings, her thoughts shifting to how fortunate it was that Kenchi was getting Souta and Shippo for her that day and she didn't have to worry about them. It was rare that she'd let someone else get her boys – it raised suspicion. But, she'd been completely overwhelmed as of late, and they'd been begging her for a play date. So, Kagome had acquiesced, figuring that she could give them that one thing after denying so many others. After all-
"Hey."
Jumping, Kagome quickly turned, preparing to flee. Her eyes widened as she took in Inuyasha's form. His eyes were neutral, but his hands were up in a gesture of innocence.
I guess he expected me to run away… typical.
Nevertheless, Kagome backed further into the alcove.
"Woah. I'm not gonna hurt you or anything. I just wanted to talk."
The hanyou took in a deep breath and sat down on the bench, his eyes narrowing as she began edging away from him.
"Would ya just sit your ass down?!"
She jumped again, this time fear and apprehension seeping into her scent as she scurried to obey his command.
Oh, Kami-sama… help me!
Her eyes clenched shut as she began to pant.
The hanyou ran a frustrated hand through his silver mane. Obviously, anger and aggression were not the way to win her over. Looking at her profile, he noticed that she was clutching her possessions as if he were going to attack her. He was suddenly aware that she was an asthmatic when he noted her labored breathing.
"Hey, you alright?" She nodded. "Look, I know you've been talking to my mother and I was just wondering why no one bothered to tell me you know her."
Kagome's eyes snapped open in confusion. His mother? I don't know her! Oh no, he's got me confused with someone else!
Inuyasha watched her reaction questioning why she seemed so surprised that he knew.
"What? Did you want it to be a secret?" Bitterness crept into his tone, as his anger began to build. "What, were you tryin' to find out what makes me tick? How to freak me out? Tryin' to learn my weaknesses?! If that's all you're after then I'll tell you right now to leave her the hell out of it! You-"
His ears twitched, and he had to pause, uncertain if he'd heard correctly.
"Nani?"
Kagome stared at the floor, repeating her statement in a near-silent voice. "I said I don't even know who you're talking about."
It was the hanyou's turn to be puzzled. Her scent held no trace of dishonesty.
"Kagome," Her head shot up at the use of her first name, "I saw you talking to her." When she stared at him without understanding, he elaborated. "You know, at the café? Izayoi?"
Comprehension dawned on Kagome, closely followed by horror. Izayoi is his mother? I guess that explains why he's a hanyou. But the Tetsuya's are huge in the business industry… In fact they're the only ones to beat out Kikyou's… family. Oh, no…
Kagome didn't realize that she'd said the last bit out loud, but Inuyasha heard her clearly.
"What's wrong?"
Looking into his golden eyes, Kagome felt her resolve crumble and forced herself to stay silent as she quickly stood up and bowed to him. Before she could get away, he grabbed her arm.
"What's going on?"
She couldn't look him in the eye. "I have to go."
Inuyasha sighed. He couldn't believe he was about to ask but… "Do you wanna hang out sometime? I could swing by the café or-?"
"I can't."
Once again, Inuyasha watched as she ran away from him. Now he was more interested than ever.
"Konnichiwa, Izayoi-san… Tetsuya-san."
Izayoi smiled warmly. "Konnichiwa, Kagome-chan. We'd like the usual please. Will you be joining us today?"
Kagome shook her head mutely and turned away from the pair, wanting desperately to tear her hair out. Ever since that fateful day in the alcove, almost a week ago, Inuyasha had been following her around and showing up when least expected.
At school, he tried to speak to her before homeroom, between classes and sometimes during. All the while, Kikyo and her cronies had begun to retaliate in the form of daily attacks. Then, he'd even had the nerve to show up at the café everyday at six to "snack with his Okaa-san."
Although he annoyed her to no end, he frightened her even more with his amazing ability to disrupt her life. People were beginning to talk and notice her more. She no longer felt comfortable with the idea of spending time with Izayoi now that she knew how entwined she was with her life. So, even if Inuyasha weren't there, she was sure that their "chats" would be a thing of the past.
Worst of all, however, was that Kagome lived in constant fear of being discovered now that he was drawing so much attention to her. She'd been forced to ask Gaishi to make sure the boys got home safely everyday because she feared picking them up herself when Inuyasha was following her constantly.
She needed to put an end to it before things got out of hand.
Okay, so things were definitely out of hand.
She hadn't gone to school for the past two days because Souta had suddenly fallen ill. She hoped it wasn't anything too serious because she couldn't afford to take him to the hospital. Thus, she figured she might as well keep Shippo there too. In fact, she'd only gone to school because she had three tests and Gaishi's wife, Sachiko, had agreed to watch them.
That Friday had been an absolute horror. She'd run out of medication in the nurses office and hadn't been able to pick up her renewed prescriptions. People had been whispering about her or hazing her all day. She'd gotten tripped five times in the hallway, shoved an innumerable number of times, and called too many names. She'd been forced to eat lunch in the library because the students kept throwing things at her.
Then, she had work in the afternoon. After missing two days she was in desperate need of overtime. And even with all the money I picked up from Midterms… Christmas is coming up and I'm sure the boys'll want something-.
A heavy clawed hand slammed into the locker centimeters from her nose and directly in her line of sight. Quickly veering towards the right, she jumped when her path was yet again blocked by another hand.
Closing her eyes, she concentrated on slowing her racing pulse. Her breaths were coming faster and shallower. Trapped. It wasn't a foreign feeling, but Kagome never responded well.
Inuyasha leaned into her, temporarily forgetting that she was asthmatic and that her labored breathing wasn't a good thing. He relished in the smell of fear that came from her. It made him feel powerful and heady to know that he could get a reaction out of the school's untouchable… but at the same time, he couldn't explain why it bothered him so much.
He lowered his nose a bit and inhaled, catching her scent.
Kagome didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She could feel him.
"Stop."
Inuyasha frowned. "What?"
Kagome's whispers became quieter. "Stop. Please, you're making things harder."
She closed her eyes and let loose a breath when she felt air on her back, never aware of the dark, angry brown eyes that watched her.
Shit, it's late! Okaa-san's gonna throw a fit!
Inuyasha hunched his shoulders as he rushed down the street. It was past midnight and he'd left his car at home when he'd gone to Miroku's. Unfortunately, he lived on the other side of town.
Great! Now I'll never hear the end of this. "Inuyasha! It's your responsibility to leave on time to make your curfew, regardless of what Miroku's doing!" FEH! What do they know?
Passing by the library, Inuyasha was surprised to see that the lights of the café were still on.
I didn't know they were open this late.
Just as he thought that, the lights went out and the door opened, then closed.
Kagome rushed around, putting away all the materials she'd been using. Oh! It's already 12:15! I'll never make it at this rate.
Turning off the lights, she hurried outside, muttering under her breath when she couldn't find the key right away.
"Need help?"
Looking up quickly, she was surprised to see Inuyasha standing before her.
Meanwhile, the hanyou was struck dumb because of other reasons. The flush on her otherwise pale skin made her look irresistibly cute in the moonlight and Inuyasha felt his heart speed up.
When she answered, her voice was airy and light. "Inu- Inuyasha?"
He chuckled lightly. "Yeah, it's me. What are you doing here so late?"
Kagome found the key, locked up, and began walking away.
He was overcome with panic at the prospect of her leaving him, in the middle of the night no less when weirdoes and all sorts of dangerous people were about.
"NO… I mean iie. Why don't I walk you home? It's not safe to be alone."
She shook her head, moving faster.
"No, I insist."
Sighing softly, she prayed fervently to whatever kami was listening that he'd stop following her.
Inuyasha looked at the moon, noting that it was just past new.
"So… you get sick a lot?"
"I'd assume so; I mean you do have a lot of medication."
"Well, you know what they say about assuming." She mumbled.
Inuyasha stared at her, surprised, not expecting such a comment. Chuckling, he kept walking.
Soon enough, the silence became awkward and Inuyasha cast about for a way to rekindle the conversation. However, the deep sigh she let out before turning away was enough to catch his attention.
They'd stopped at a Pharmacy. It was open until 12:30, but it was already 12:45. Turning, he watched Kagome walk away with her shoulders hunched. Silently, he followed a few steps behind.
She probably needs to refill her prescription…. Oh make that plural.
Sighing inwardly, he caught up.
"So, how did you meet my mother?"
Nothing.
"Yeah, I guess that's a stupid question."
Nothing.
"Were you trying to get more meds back there?"
Silence.
"Okay then. You don't mind if I whistle do you? Guess not." Inuyasha pursed his lips together and broke out into a high-pitched version of "London Bridge is Falling Down."
They continued that way: the hanyou blowing out various children's songs, as the teenage girl did her best to ignore him.
Looking around, Inuyasha took in his surroundings: noting the peaceful quality of the night, the beauty of the moonlight sparking on shiny surfaces, coating the world in a blanket of shadowed luminescence.
It was this preoccupation that caused him to be so surprised when he ran straight into Kagome's back.
"What is it?"
Even as he asked, his nose twitched and the scent of smoke and burning wood assaulted his senses. Kagome's expression and mumbles only confirmed his suspicions.
"Kami-sama… it's on fire."
Kagome's building stood enshrouded in a mixture of orange, red and yellow flames, surrounded by firefighters, police, and families who'd come out of their homes in their sleep-wear so as to view the incident. Although at least fire hydrants were being put to use, the fire was not diminishing. Rather it grew larger and Kagome got the distinct impression that it wasn't natural.
Her face contorted as realization dawned on her. Then she was gone.
Kagome looked wildly about the crowd, trying to find the soft faces of her charges. Finally, she gave into what she already knew to be true. They were still inside.
It took Inuyasha a moment to put two and two together. The object of his obsession was running towards a burning building - a very dangerous, very fatal fiery building. He bounded after her, grabbing her shoulder and spinning her around to face him.
"DON'T BE STUPID! IT'S ON FIRE!"
Her fear for the safety of her brother and son overpowered any reservations she'd had about talking to him.
"I have to! They're still in there!"
As she spoke, Inuyasha's ears swiveled back, listening to the firemen report to their chief.
"Yeah, yeah, almost everyone's out. There might be about three people left inside… somewhere on the fourth floor. I don't know if we'll be able to get to them in time though. It's gonna be hard –"
Sighing, Inuyasha looked at the hysterical girl in his arms, guiding her to the other by-standers; with a firm "stay put" before he ran headlong into the building, shout s of "Stop! STOP!" ringing behind him.
It was hotter than hell, of that he was sure.
Fourth floor, that's what he said… Good the stairs aren't too bad. Just smoky.
He didn't bother to run up the stairs, looking up he jumped onto the railing then straight up to the fourth landing, flinging the door open only to be assaulted by another wave of heat and smoke.
Pulling his shirt up to his nose, he tried not to breathe too deeply. Most of the doors to the apartments were open, allowing him to quickly glance in and move on. There were only five that weren't.
Kicking down the first closed door he came to, Inuyasha looked in.
"HELLO? IS ANYONE IN HERE?"
Waiting for a moment to be sure there wasn't any response, he moved on to the next few doors. Soon enough, there was only one left.
Kagome wrung her hands nervously. Looking around, she quickly returned her gaze to her lap. She shivered in the cool night air.
"Kagome? Kagome… I'm Doctor Metsuyo, and we'll be spending lots of time together."
She cursed herself for being so weak earlier. She could have done so much more than just stand around like some… some coward. And for her mistake, Inuyasha paid the price.
"It's okay sweetie, don't worry. We'll get through this. We love you so much."
Even now, she needed someone to hold her hand. Even now, when she was supposed to be the protector, she was still at a loss. She still needed someone to save her.
"Miss Higurashi? Kami, I'm so sorry…"
Although she'd developed her powers, regardless of the fact that she'd done everything she could to make things better, she was still the scared little girl she'd always been.
"Focus! Kagome focus! Breathe with me and don't stop! Damn it, Kagome, BREATHE!"
"Miss Higurashi? Are you alright?"
Blinking, Kagome turned to see who had approached her.
"Oh, nurse, I'm sorry. I was just thinking."
The older woman smiled kindly. "That's understandable. You've had a rough night. Anyway, I was just coming to tell you that one of the boys is awake. Shall I take you to him?"
Kagome nodded, a small smile spreading across her face. She took a deep breath before following the nurse into the hospital. Breathing through her nose, she carefully filtered out the smell of antiseptic and detergent, trying to settle her stomach and almost running into the woman leading her when they came to a stop.
"In here?"
The nurse nodded and walked away.
Collecting herself once more, Kagome opened the door and went in. Moving past the drawn curtains, her eyes immediately filled with tears as she looked upon the two people worth more than her life.
Gently stroking Souta's hair away from his face, she scanned his face for any sign of discomfort. Finding none, she moved on to Shippo, marveling at how young he looked without the ribbon holding his hair in place.
Tears falling freely, she blindly turned toward the window, feeling her breath quicken in time with her heart. She had been so stupid, and because of it both Souta and Shippo could have died. Thanks to Inuyasha, they only suffered from smoke inhalation, Sachiko as well.
Kagome had never been as relieved as she was when Inuyasha came trudging from the building with the two boys in his arms and Sachiko on his back. Still, she cursed herself for falling apart.
She'd been overwhelmed by the fire, the memories it brought back for her. She could have stopped it; she could have saved her charges. They were her responsibility. It was all her fault.
"Kagome, you and Souta, you two… they…"
Her hands clamped over her ears.
"Gomen nasai. When you collapsed, they tried… Kami, Kagome. I'm so sorry."
"Stop. Please just stop."
"Kagome?"
And there stood her tormentor, looking none the worse, as if he hadn't just indirectly saved her life. She stared at him a moment, taking in his bandaged hand, the dark smudges all over his skin and the filthy condition of his clothes. So, he was the boy who'd woken already.
Inuyasha ignored her as she studied him, choosing instead to look at the two beds. Clearing his throat, he glanced back at her before looking back.
"Are they, I mean… they gonna be okay?"
The soft response he got from across the room almost made him jump, and when he turned to face her, Inuyasha was surprised to see such an adoring expression on the teenager's face. He felt his cheeks darken, and motioned for her to follow him out the door.
Looking back once more at her boys, Kagome left the room, only to find Inuyasha leaning casually against the wall. Although his posture seemed calm and collected, inside he was anything but.
Both stood awkwardly facing each other, looking in separate directions as the minutes ticked away.
"How's your hand?"
"Huh? Oh… uh… it's okay."
"Good." Sighing, her gaze wandered, until his voice brought her attention back to him.
"Listen, I'm just gonna cut to the chase. My mother was hoping that you'd agree to come stay with us until she gets back and all of you have some place to stay."
Staring at him, Kagome could only mutter a breathless, "What?" His announcement caught her completely off guard.
Glaring at the ground, he opened his mouth to reiterate when his ears caught a sound from within the room. "Hey, your brothers are awake."
Before he'd finished speaking, Kagome had already swept past him into the room. She smiled softly when she saw vibrant green and tired brown eyes watching her. Moving back to the chair she'd drawn up between the two beds, she smiled softly.
"Hey, guys."
"Kagome!"
Inuyasha's eyes widened as the fur ball leapt from the bed onto her chest, wrapping two clawed hands around her neck before attempting to lose itself in her chest.
Kagome, in turn, wrapped her arms around it, stroking the fur softly and mumbling into its ear.
"Shh. Shippo, I'm here now, and I promise I'll never let you get hurt again. Calm down, Ship-kun."
The tears stopped immediately. She only used that nickname when she wanted him to be a big boy. Wiping his eyes, he peered at her, large green orbs sparkling with innocence, before planting a wet kiss on her cheek and settling on her lap.
"How are you, Souta?"
Said boy watched the worry lines on his sister's face intently. She looked so much older than she was. "I'm fine, Onee-chan. How 'bout you?"
She gave him a half-hearted smile. "I'm okay as long as you two are."
Inuyasha's fidgeting drew Shippo's attention. "Onee-chan, who's that?"
"Who's who, Shippo?"
"Him, the demon in the corner!"
Turning, Kagome cast a glance at Inuyasha who looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Sighing, she patted the little fox demon in her lap.
"That's Tetsuya Inuyasha." The aforementioned hanyou started, not realizing that she knew his full name.
Souta sat up, now looking upon the teenager with interest. "You mean, Tetsuya as in the Tetsuyas! The richest families in Japan! The richest family in Tokyo! Masters of the industrial world, with a "home base" of sorts, of a law firm! The Tetsuyas which have branched out into business, technology, politics, just about anything, Tetsuya?!"
Kagome stared at her brother in shock. "…Hai. That Tetsuya Inuyasha. But most importantly, he's the one who saved your lives."
Inuyasha swallowed as two pairs of worshipping eyes turned towards him.
"Really, Onee-chan?"
"Hai, Shippo."
Souta continued to study the boy before him. "Arigatou, Tetsuya-san. We owe you our lives."
Inuyasha regarded the serious boy for a moment before grinning. "Just stop calling me Tetsuya-san and we'll call it even.
"And just what is going on here?"
Izayoi strolled into the room, closely followed by Toga. The older demon looked at his son sharply.
"And just where have you been? We leave you in the room alone for one second and you disappear!"
"You leave my little hanyou alone, Toga. He was just doing what I asked."
"Hanyou?" Shippo questioned, drawing the family's attention to the other side of the room.
Izayoi smiled fondly at the small kitsune. "That's right. You're Shippo, aren't you? Oh, your sister here has told me all about you." Sticking out her hand, she shook his small paw.
"Sugoi. Inuyasha, are you really a hanyou? You're so strong!"
The Inu no Taisho smiled tolerantly. "A hanyou can be just as strong as any full demon out there, little fox. And in Inuyasha's case, stronger."
Izayoi laughed lightly at the enraptured expression blooming across Shippo's face. "Say, Shippo, how would you like to come live with us at the mansion until your aunt comes back from her trip?"
"You mean, you want us to come live with you, the Tetsuyas, in your mansion, for the next month or two?!"
Izayoi smiled indulgently. "That's exactly right… Souta."
Kagome cleared her throat nervously. She didn't want to have to get so close to anyone. It was one thing that she saw both Inuyasha and Izayoi on a daily basis at school and the café respectively, but now she was going to live with them?
It was a bad idea. She knew it. With all the problems she had going on, they would surely get dragged into it, or she would spill something that was better left unknown. Then, what? And what about Kikyou? Hadn't she laid claim to Inuyasha already? If she got wind of this… So many things could go wrong! It wasn't worth the risk.
"Arigatou-gozaimasu, Tetsuya-san, Izayoi-san, but I'm afraid we cannot accept your offer."
Izayoi opened her mouth to object, only to be preceded by the two boys.
"C'mon nee-chan!"
"Yeah, Kagome! Please?"
"Can't we give it a shot? Onegai?"
"I mean, how many times are we gonna have a chance to do something like this?!"
"I promise to be on my best behavior, Onee-chan!"
Kagome sighed, torn. She looked back at the Tetsuyas. Inuyasha looked amused at her predicament, and Izayoi seemed to be cheering the boys on. She turned to the patriarch, only to be met by a gentle smile.
"Tetsuya-san-"
"It is as my mate desires."
She looked at the kitsune who was now standing next to Souta, shooting her imploring looks. The latter watched his sister desperately.
"Kagome-chan… Onee-chan, please. Onegai… He saved our lives."
The conflicted teenage girl closed her eyes, raising a hand to message her temple where she was getting a mild headache. How could she deny them? They'd spent their whole lives waiting on baited breath, hoping that they might get one of the fifty things they wanted, even when it wasn't much. And now, she had a chance to not only give them something memorable but also to provide a better safe haven should anything happen to her.
"You two really want to?"
They nodded fervently.
Taking a deep breath, she smiled faintly. "Izayoi-san, Tetsuya-san, we'd be happy to take you up on your offer."
It was the first time, in a long time, that she'd have to depend (even mildly) so completely on a separate family. And she hoped it went better than the last.
"I'm so sorry Kagome. They're gone. They're all gone."
Dictionary:
Sensei - teacher
Matte - Wait
Nani desu ka? – What is it?
Demo - But
Konoama - Bitch
Gomen nasai – More so than usual, formal way of saying sorry
Kami-sama – God
Onegai - Please
Gomen – Sorry
Okaa-san - Mother
Nani – What?
Itati - Ouch
Sugoi – Wow
Arigatou gozaimasu – Thank you very much