Hello guys, this is Simply Hopeless here thanking everyone who patiently waited for a new chapter and actually reviewed. Your reviews are like little drops of love and I instantly smile at the thought of getting actual feedback on my story that doesn't just contain 'I like' I love' 'great' 'more' and 'update'. It's not that I don't like the adjectives, but hearing the same thing every single chapter gets old fast, especially if it's from the same people for different chapters. So I worked really hard on this chapter just so I can hear from you guys in new and different ways. I honestly hope you enjoy and I'll be patiently waiting for you and hopefully you'll continue to wait patiently for me.
Must Love Dogs
Chapter Six
"Really sis, what was all that back there?" Souta demanded as he leaned forward in his seat in the back in order to look at his sister, who sat up in the front seat.
In case his big sister wanted to feign ignorance, he casually gestured his hand towards Kagome's new husband. The same husband who had spent the last ten to fifteen minutes stomping up the stairs, cursing under his breath, and trying his best not to stumble as he search the bushes on the slightly steep hill.
The younger male's eyes rolled involuntarily and he snorted when the man, named 'Shigure', let out an excited whoop and lifted his recently tossed cell phone in victory. Souta then made a point to avoid the all too eager eyes that looked down at the two Higurashi siblings for approval at his find. It reminded the male teen too much of a little child seeking their parents' approval after what they believed was a spectacular stunt. Honestly, Shigure seemed more kid than adult from what Souta could see so far.
But his sister and his new brother-in-law had had a moment up there on the stairs. It was a moment that had obviously left his sister overly sensitive and quick to snap, despite the blush that seemed to reappear any time she glanced up at the antics of her new husband. Souta would have been both blind and dumb not to see how those two complete strangers were already relying on each other despite their explosive chemistry. His sister hadn't been this violent and affected by a guy since she was into Inuyasha and, for a short stint, Kouga. Not even her first crush, Hojo, had made Kagome as flustered as those two canine demons had; well that was until this newcomer stumbled along.
Whether that was a good thing or not was yet to be seen. But it had been over two years since Kagome reluctantly said goodbye to her feudal friends and their adventures together. There was no point of her staying once the Shikon no Tama was repaired for fear of her somehow damaging history further than she might have already done.
The only reminders that her adventures had not been a hoax were the candid pictures she had taken during their last years together and what Kagome believed were the reincarnations of her two exes in dog form. In Souta's opinion that was ridiculous; but if it gave his sister comfort to believe that her two exes' souls could not rest until they were reunited with her again in this lifetime, then so be it.
"Well, your sister, my wife, felt like tossing my phone after realizing that we wouldn't be using the same cell phone carrier. It's too bad since she won't be able to join the family data plan as neatly as she wanted to," Shigure said, distractedly. It was obvious that the tall man had overhead Souta's question as he carefully trotted down the last few steps, shoving his phone in his pocket as he went.
"Ignore the idiot, Souta. He refuses to think before he speaks," Kagome said, tightly between clenched teeth. She had already decided, before Shigure's feet had hit the bottom step, to get out of the front passenger seat, stalk over to the driver's seat and climb in. She felt it was her Kami-given right to drive instead of her incompetent husband.
"Hey there, my Honey Bunches of Oates. I'm supposed to be driving. It is my rental car after all and you don't know the way to my house." Shigure insisted, as he tried to round the other side of the car. But just as he got to driver's door, the car revved up before jerking ahead a bit making the man's hand miss the driver's door handle by a few inches.
Souta snorted at his sister's childish antics even as Shigure narrowed his eyes pensively, probably trying to figure out a way to best her. It was obvious that he had to handle this with some measure of discretion because every time he tried to take a few purposeful steps forward, Kagome would rev up the car. And when he got close enough to the car to reach for the door handle, she would pull the car forward and once more out of his reach.
He tried to play it off and pretend he was preparing to go to the other side of the car. Shigure could feel the eyes of the two dogs and his new brother-in-law following his journey towards the back of the car while. His wife stared patronizingly ahead as if expectant for him to cave to common sense and round the other side to climb into the passenger's seat like an 'obedient little dog'. But Shigure prided himself in being stealthy and allusive as the 'ripple' he was described as being from a past girlfriend. So just as he cleared the bumper, he suddenly ducked low and quickly retraced his steps. His index finger was pressed against his lips in a silent plea to the others watching to keep his plan secret as he practically crab-walked closer to the driver' door; his back plastered to the warm contour of the vehicle.
He could taste victory, no matter how ridiculous he looked squatting so low to the ground that his knees constantly brushed his chest. He needed to keep the crown of his ebony head low enough so that Kagome wouldn't see it bobbing slowly across the bottom of the car's windows.
He slowly, ever so slowly reached out for the door handle. His back finally drew away from the comforting sturdiness of the metal vehicle in order for him to stretch his arm to its' full capacity. He rested his other hand and one knee against the dirty asphalt to keep his balance, his fingertips had barely brushed the metal handle. He was prepared to adjust his grip and yank open the door, but both of Kagome's dogs let out hearty barks of warning. One dog went as far as to scrape his forepaws enthusiastically against the window in order to get his mistress's attention to the sight outside.
He tasted betrayal as his eyes snapped up to the side mirror to see that his wife eyed him in amusement even as she purposely locked the door with the finality of one button and four simultaneous clicks. He stood up angrily hands dusting the knee of his pants all the while he turned his smoldering grey eyes to glare at the dogs that had betrayed him. Shigure could have sworn that despite their initial hostility to him, they would not betray him because of their close connection to his zodiac sign. But it was clear whose side they were on as they seemed to smile wolfishly at him, their twin breaths' fogging up the glass as they looked at him closely with doggy glee.
Shigure refused to be deterred as he purposely determined to hold onto the door's handle and silently dared his wife to drive off when it was so clear he was attached. But it was clear that he underestimated his 'blushing bride' just as he did when she had first run off with his rental car. His only warning was an unlady-like snort and a brow rose in challenge before Kagome eased the car into drive.
Shigure protested, even as he stubbornly held onto the car's handle. "This is ridiculous Kagome. Just pull over and let me drive," he insisted as he walked quickly to keep up. He refused to bulk at this slip of a girl who had just tasted the first liberties of adulthood only a mere day ago before she managed to stumble into a marriage with him. She was dealing with forces far beyond her understandings and the sooner she realized that and gave in to him, then the sooner he could return them home and try to smooth things over with Akito.
But instead of giving into his disapproving look and his idea of reasoning, Kagome sped up a little bit. A soft chuckle fell from her soft lips when the hapless dog zodiac was forced into a good little trot beside the car. It was only stubbornness that kept him holding onto the car handle at this point even as one or two people, who were out for their midday walk, paused to point and snicker at the spectacle before them.
However, even his stubbornness couldn't withstand his lack of actual exercise. He was an indoor person by nature and his job as a novelist didn't require much except for him to sit on his ass and exercise his brain as he typed out complicated plots and pigged out on the snacks given to him by his 'princess' Tohru. Hell, the last time he hit a gym was the two mandatory gym classes in college and he managed to sweet-talk his way out of half of them. So even though he looked fit, he was only able to maintain his pace for two or so more blocks until his thighs and calves began to burn and cramp with disuse. A wheezing huff from his aching lungs was his final sign to give up as he finally let stiff fingers release the handle.
Kagome, wanting to make her point that she wasn't someone to be trifled with, drove the car a little bit farther up the street before she eased it finally to a stop. She then proceeded to roll down her window in order to pop out her pretty, little head from it. It was all so she could watch the handsome twenty-something year old hobble towards the car like he was pushing eighty.
She vaguely sympathized at least with him hobbling because she knew shoes that looked that expensive weren't meant to be run in. That's why she usually wore old running shoes instead of the newer ones. It was because she didn't have time or the luxury to worry about looking cute in expensive shoes while she was running from and/or slaying demons. She hadn't even started to wear ballerina flats or heels until a month or two after she had sealed the bone eater's well for good and was trying her best to adjust to being 'normal'. However, that didn't stop her from letting a chuckle fall from her lips as she looked at how ruffled and done-in her usually nonchalant husband looked.
He sort of had it coming to him.
"Just get in the passenger's seat and I'll drive us to your house. I'm not that eager to die just to soothe your male ego," Kagome ordered with finality. Smile in place, she popped her head back inside the car, rolled up her window, and made sure her driver's side was good and locked. Then she leaned across the car seats to pop open the passenger's door for Shigure. Settled back in her own seat she teasingly patted the passenger's seat cushion, an eyebrow raised in amusement as her husband glowered at her from the passenger's window. The fan once more made its' guest appearance as he tapped the closed fan against his chin, showing his irritation even as he leaned his hip heavily against the side of the car that he was supposed to be inside a long time ago.
"Kagome…" Shigure fairly growled out in warning. It was sweet at the time when Kagome passionately defended his honor to Akito and told 'her' off. It showed that she had the potential to truly care for him given enough time and patience, even despite how they had stumbled unwittingly into marriage. But he honestly hadn't appreciated the tossing of his phone and the impromptu training session, especially when time was crucial if they wanted to come up with a plan to pacify Akito.
"Aww, is my ittle wittle husband's feelings hurt? I wasn't really going to leave you behind my wittle Gure-pookie-bear-pie. I'll give you a kiss to make it better," she offered before mockingly blowing him a kiss. Her chocolate brown eyes lit with her glee before she suddenly looked away, smile now gone. "There. Now park it because we're wasting daylight." She insisted, now all business-like as she thumped her hand impatiently against the steering wheel.
Muttering curses under his breath, Shigure reluctantly opened the car door and slid silently into the passenger's seat. He almost expected Kagome to pull the car forward before he could get his foot inside the car. But when nothing happened and he was allowed to buckle his seatbelt and close his door, he let out a small sigh of relief as he carelessly kicked off his expensive loafers and wiggled his aching toes.
"Now was that so hard?" Kagome cooed sweetly, giving his leg a friendly pat, as if indulging him and his sulkiness.
Shigure tried his best to suppress a pout and release sharp words even as he gave her a sideways glance. It was then that he realized his new wife seemed more relaxed than when they had started out on their journey. Her lips seemed inclined to flicker into a smile before she realized what was happening and smoothed it out again. But it was clear that he had wound her up more than he had thought with his childishness. So it was also clear what he must do to amend this. "I'm sorry for teasing you earlier."
"No you are not." Kagome baldly stated as she put the car in drive. She was already riding up to the nearest intersection before she gave pause and smiled. "But it's nice that you said sorry anyway."
'Maybe this marriage thing won't be a bad thing after all for sis.' Souta thought, and then he sort of dozed off as the two up front worked together in order to drive them safely to his sis's new home.
THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES LATER
"It's Home Sweet Home, Love Monkey!" Shigure announced proudly as he stepped out of the car and popped open his fan dramatically. The sun had already started to set, but it was clear that people were home because many of the lights were on in Shigure's spacious abode. He got a little nervous by the fact that Kagome said nothing in the growing silence after his statement.
Usually whenever he called her one of his annoying pet names her face would cutely color before she explode with some sharp comeback that wet his lips in anticipation for more. But nothing… and that worried him. It was because Kagome Higurashi, now Kagome Sohma, seemed a woman of action and if she wasn't going to explode at him, then what? 'Is she going to get back in the car and drive off like last time? Or maybe even try running me over with the car this time?' he thought, his panic mounting.
Slowly, oh so slowly, he turned to face his livid wife to see her reaction. Indeed, she seemed displeased with his words, but she had yet to slide back into the rental car like he had half expected. Instead she clenched one hand against the top of the car door and gave him a withering look that riddled his arms with goose bumps.
"O… Oh my, you have such a… a lovely killing aura. I could just bask in the glow of it," Shigure barely managed to choke out. Then he let out a nervous chuckle as if that would somehow dilute the intensity of his wife's withering gaze.
"What if I gave you some equally ridiculous and embarrassing name like Sweet Cheeks, Hot Stuff or even ShiShi-baby? How would that make you feel?" Kagome ground out, between clenched teeth. She had honestly thought that they had somehow come to an understanding back there in the car after she pretended to leave him behind and threw some equally sickening nickname his way earlier. But it was obvious that to leave an impact on Shigure you had to take a telephone book to the back of his head.
"Quite happy that at least someone noticed I have one of the world's best asses. You see the trick is to do butt clenches at the desk so it doesn't go all flabby from sitting in a chair, typing up stories all day." He instructed nonchalantly, pleased that she was at least talking to him again even if she was once more angry at his antics. It honestly wasn't worth it to truly take him seriously if one wanted to avoid a headache; that's why his best friends stayed his best friends by ignoring his silliness most of the time.
"Why did I think I could have a rational conversation with you?" Kagome sighed out in defeat. She'd probably have to curse him or something if she wanted to get him to stop. But for right now she wanted to check out her new home and the so-called children she now had. "Souta, Shigure-san come and help me with the luggage. I need my arms free for when I meet Shigure-san's demon spawn." Kagome announced, only muttering the last part under her breath as she opened the back seat so her dogs could hop out the car.
"Demon spawn? They aren't that bad," Shigure said dismissively as he shouldered one of her bags before rolling the other one to the front door.
"Anything that comes from you is guilty until proven innocent," retorted Kagome waspishly before she marched determinedly to the door
"Your words, they stab like knives to the heart. Oh, the agony!" Shigure cried out dramatically even as he fished out his keys and opened up the door. Then stepping inside he called out, "Children, daddy's home and he's brought home a little surprise!"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting about this time Shigure?" The male voice sounded annoyed before a silver haired teen with striking violet eyes made his presence known at the entrance's hallway, "Is she the surprise you're talking about? I've barely met her and I already feel so sorry for her for knowing you," the teen sighed out. Then completely ignoring Shigure, he focused his attention on the young lady behind his older cousin and gave her a kind smile. "Hello, my name is Yuki Sohma. I'm sorry if Shigure caused you any trouble."
"Why thank you," Kagome said amiably. Her frown had smoothed out into an instant smile. It was nice to know at least someone in this household had some manners and acted their age and not their shoe size. It also didn't hurt that the teenage boy was drop dead-gorgeous. It almost made her blush to think that there could be someone so androgynous that if he chose to he'd look good in both boys' and girls' clothes.
"Whom may I ask, are you?" Yuki asked curiously, ignoring the cry of indignation from Shigure for being accused of doing anything wrong.
"Who is she? Why this is your new mother Yuki-kun. Isn't she lovely? Daddy chose wisely, ne?" Shigure declared, putting a stop to being ignored by dropping the bag he was holding and wrap his arm around Kagome's shoulder.
"Shigure what kind of foolishness is—" Yuki began, perplexed, when a red-haired teen came into the entryway, shouting.
"Where have you been?" The loud teen called out making his presence known. He glared at Shigure for not being in the house like he should have been.
'Useless Shigure, you'd think a dog like him would know how to 'stay'. But noooo...' The cat zodiac grumbled inside his head even as he leaned his slim hip against the nearby wall, waiting expectantly for an answer.
"Kyo, I told you last weekend that I had a writer's retreat to attend this week. I left a sticky note on the back of the front door just in case you forgot. See, here it is!" Shigure explained simply, pulling the door slightly closed as he stepped further inside to point at a yellow post-it note. "Honestly, do you never use the front door? I was sure, since you barely listen to me, that you could at least notice and read this," sighed out Shigure, saddened.
'I've walked…. I've walked into a mad house…' Kagome trailed off in thought. Her younger brother squeezed passed her in the entranceway since she refused to step any further for fear of acknowledging that this madness now belonged to her. She was already about to turn around and run like hell. She'd of course grab her little brother by the collar and drag him and her luggage out with her. Of course her two dogs, that were familiarizing themselves with their new territory now, would pick up on their mistress's anxiety and quickly follow. She hoped. But just as she reached forward to yank Souta's collar and put her plan into the works, she was stilled by the sound of another voice.
"Co… Congratulations on your nuptials s…sensei," hiccupped a lone female voice.
Everyone turned as one to pinpoint who this miserable sounding person could be. And as everyone turned, the short-haired brunette slinked away from the shadows of the hallway she had been standing in all along, then offered a watery smile to the novelist, Shigure.
"Ah Mitsuru, at least you are happy for me getting married." Shigure said, as he ushered his fragile editor and the rest of the welcome party, further into the house and out of the too crowded entryway.
"O… of course, I've always lo… loved weddings. They are such happy occasions. B..but now if you'll excuse m… me I'll be performing ceremonial seppaku on myself." Mitsuru declared this tearfully, as she produced a box cutter and held it up to her throat with trembling fingers.
"Wait, WHAT!" Kagome cried out, rushing to step further inside to prevent the odd woman from harming herself even as Shigure swiftly took action.
"No need to worry. Mitchan is just joking around. She's always such a kidder," Shigure laughed off playfully. He tossed the box cutter far away into a corner and was already ready to capture Mitsuru as her legs buckled in anguish and she sobbed openly at Shigure being such a sadist.
"Why do you always do this to me Shigure-sa… san!" she wailed as she pounded her tiny fists feebly against his chest. "I… I had to find that you r… ran off and got ma… married via text message. TEXT MESSAGE! Can you believe th… that?! Yo… you knew I s… said you c... couldn't go to the conference u… until you finished y… your f… first draft. B… B… but no… no, you go o… off and WWAAAAHHH!" She sobbed, unaffected by Shigure awkwardly petting her head and trying to desperately hold her snot nose, mascara-running face away from his clothes.
"Who is that poor thing?" Kagome whispered in a hushed tone. She didn't know why she lowered her voice, but it seemed almost appropriate considering she was afraid she might fray the poor dear's nerves by raising her voice louder than the woman's sobbing rants. It was all but clear that Shigure, her childish husband, had been playing with more hearts and not caring who he hurt. It didn't matter if he was helping the hiccupping woman to a chair; it was obvious he was the source of the brunette's distress if anyone cared to hear.
"I am the un… unfortunate wo… woman who must have d… done something really awful in her p… past life to be cursed with a… a m… mean e… employee like Shigure-sa… san," she hiccupped, her sobs slowly dying. She silently thanked Yuki when he handed her a box of tissues so that she could meekly dab at the running mascara that made her look like a drowned raccoon.
"She's my editor and I'm pretty sure I told you I was a novelist." Shigure supplied simply since it was hard to decipher his hysterical editor between her hiccupping sobs. He honestly thought he was being nice by sending her a text message. It seemed better than him leaving a post it on his door saying that he had run away again. It was honestly real growth on his part and it was a shame no one seemed to notice that.
"I almost forgot you were a novelist. So do you do this often? Run away from your editor and leave her a wreck?" Kagome asked accusingly even as she knelt down beside the older lady. She gave her knee a comforting pat before helping her dab at her face.
"I choose to think of it as spreading my wings. Sometimes you just have to get away from it all in order to overcome writer's block. And it's not really running away if I tell her I'm going to be away beforehand and eventually returning. I sometimes find really creative ways of letting her know I'll be gone for a while. Like on her birthday when I had an airplane sky write 'Happy Birthday Mit-chan, I'm running away. Love always, Shigure,' right outside her bedroom window. That's being thoughtful," he said, crossing his arms defensively against his chest.
"Doing something at the last minute is not being thoughtful you jackass! She's been here since Thursday. At first she just sat outside the front door, angsting it up. But then we had to invite her in when it started raining and we realized she doesn't have a car. She has been busing it up here each visit," Kyo said grumpily. The disgruntled teen hated to see any woman cry and the fact that he had to deal with a hysterical woman for three damn days had left him in a very foul mood.
"Yes, it's taken her three buses and a long walk just to get here each trip, we've learn these past three days," Yuki said tersely, displeased by his older cousin's carelessness. Shigure was clearly supposed to be the adult in the house and he acted younger than them half of the time.
"Blink twice if my cousin is holding you against your will," muttered Kyo as discreetly as he could under his breath.
"Very discreet cat," snorted Yuki, displeased by the redhead's idea of discretion.
"Shut up you rat bastard. I'm trying to help her out here. Do you want two women crying on your hands, or not?" he spat out reproachfully, already revved up for a fight. "Besides knowing that sick bastard, he probably kidnapped her to dress her up in that maid's outfit he thinks we don't know he has in his closet," huff Kyo, combing his fingers through his ginger hair.
"Wait… what maid's outfit? Shigure what does he mean about some maid's outfit everyone seems to know about?" Kagome squeaked out in a panicky tone. She popped up from her kneeling position and was ready to play runaway bride again except Shigure quickly grabbed her by her waist and held her still against his chest.
"I didn't kidnap you, remember love? You came with me voluntarily even if you fought me tooth and nail the whole way. It's admirable how spirited you are, but please don't run out on me just because you're getting the worse before the better from our vows," he breathed soothingly into her ear.
His warm breath brushed teasingly against her ear and sent an electric shiver down Kagome's spine that could be felt even down to her toes. Before she even realized it, she was already stopping her struggles and finding herself nodding her head as the incorrigible man offered her a thoughtful smile and wrapped his arms more firmly around her. She felt surprisingly safe, like she could trust him. It was almost like that moment up on the stairs and even as she found herself closing her eyes and leaning back heavily against him, her euphoric bubble was brutally busted.
"Honestly guys, I didn't kidnap her. That'd be criminal. Besides, I'd prefer to see her in a high school girl's uniform rather than some silly maid's uniform," he announced, slightly hurt by their accusations. Then he nearly doubled over as Kagome elbowed him in the side.
But even though the two teens and the hiccupping editor heard the man's perverted words, Kyo and Yuki were too frozen in horror to quickly respond. Shigure had clearly hugged the strange woman and yet he was still human. She had even leaned into his embrace and yet no familiar puff of pink smoke and a scream from the women at the sight of the hapless man turned dog. It was mind-boggling since she was clearly not a female zodiac member.
"H… Hello Miss… I'm sorry, what was your name again?" Yuki began attentively, in hopes of finding out what the hell was happening. Could their curse be broken so unexpectedly without them somehow knowing it? Could he dare to hope?
"I'm Kagome Higura—" She winced when she heard the soft clucking of Shigure's tongue against the roof of his mouth, followed by his hurt look directed at her. So being the soft-hearted girl that she was, she then corrected herself with a heartfelt sigh and a slight blush. "I was Kagome Higurashi, but for now I'm Kagome Sohma." She almost pouted after saying her new surname.
"Good girl. Treat?" But even as he jokingly began to reach into the vortex of his yukata sleeve, the smoldering death glare Kagome sent quickly had him raising his hands in a placating gesture. One jab to the ribs was all he needed to know that he didn't want to get into a fight with her. "…O… Or not. Wouldn't want to spoil your appetite for our Princess Tohru's super, scrumptious dinner," he declared with a nervous chuckle.
"Princess?" Kagome asked perplexed. She didn't know they had royalty in the house. Her husband was becoming more and more mysterious by the minute.
"She's not really a princess. It's just stupid Shigure's nickname for her," grumped the red-haired teen. He was still very suspicious of the newest member of the Sohma family, especially after that intimate hug that didn't end in a disaster. He didn't feel any different than he did a moment ago that would more than likely indicate his curse had ended; but it was clear that something was up with this Kagome girl if she hadn't changed Shigure into a flea-ridden dog.
"Like she wouldn't have figured that out on her own," Yuki huffed out. He, too, was finding Kagome quite a fascinating creature. Not just for being able to hug Shigure without anything happening, but also for being bravely naïve enough to marry Shigure.
"Whatever Prince Yuki, why don't you let one of your fan girls grope you or something," hissed out Kyo. His sharp garnet eyes turned away from Kagome in order to narrow in anger at his dumb cousin. His hand was already rolling up one of his sleeves even as his other hand balled into a fist.
"Prince Yuki?" Kagome asked, again in disbelief at all the royalty. She eyed the androgynous teen thoughtfully, wondering if she had seen him somewhere on the news or in a newspaper somewhere.
"That's the name a group of fan girls at his school nicknamed him." The nonchalant announcement was made by a male teen with black and white hair. He looked every inch the punk he was trying to be with his colored hair, pierced ears, and chunky accessories.
"Haru I didn't know you were here," Shigure exclaimed in bemusement. He had made himself a perch on the arm of the couch his editor was still sitting on. He wanted to be close enough to the entryway door that he could quickly capture his wife if she decided to bolt. But also close enough to hear the group that was spread throughout the living room.
"Remember he called three weeks ago saying he'd come," Yuki said simply. It was understandable to forget that Hatsuharu was on his way because his younger cousin was so directionally challenged that it usually took him weeks before he stumbled to his destination by accident; well, unless there wasn't someone there to properly guide him.
"Are you a guy? I mean did you have a sex change or something?" Kyo suddenly blurted out, unable to hold it in. It was the only explanation he could think of for why the 'female' Kagome was able to hug a cursed Sohma and not activate the curse.
"Hahahaha… foolish Kyo. Don't toy with your new mother's feelings like that. Of course she's a woman. Right Kagome? You have breasts and… and…" He trailed off unsure because nowadays you just don't know. Some transsexuals got their top area worked out before they started construction on the bottom. And honestly he hadn't really seen much during their honeymoon night. So it was comforting to see Kagome smile so sweetly at him.
"Of course I was born a girl, sweetie," Kagome gushed sweetly. Then before anyone could prevent it, she decked him.
"I've never been so insulted in my life. Souta, we're going home! I don't need this!" she cried. With trembling fingers she tried to take off her wedding band. But it wasn't coming off so with a curse under her breath she gave up and scowled. "I'll mail the ring back or something!" She mumbled before she stomped off, grabbing a few of her things on the way.
A/N: Hey , this is your longtime authoress Simply Hopeless here. I've been on since 2003 and I'm thinking about hanging up my keyboard for good. I've danced around the subject off and on for three or four years now, but I'm honestly thinking about doing it for real this time. Maybe I've lost my edge or something, but I don't think I love fan fiction writing as much as I did when I first started out. Back then three reviews could have spurred me to write even if it was 'I like, update, more'. Sure I wasn't the best writer then, but I know I've grown leaps and bounds, despite my grammar. I'm still growing and I'm proud to say that a lot of people have favored my stories and me as an authoress. But as my skills improved I've found that I desire reviews that will help push me to improve and/or encourage me/ stroke my ego. That, however, has sorely been lacking for a lot of my stories and the alerts/favorites frustrate me because it shows that you guys like it, but won't put in the effort to tell me why.
So long story short, for better or worse, I'll try to update 6 times in 5 months for a few of my stories from different fandoms. By the beginning of June 2014, if I feel dissatisfied, I'm going to hang up my fanfic writing hat for good guys. If I do find that I'm loved I'll start writing again in August 2014 in time for an anime convention in Baltimore. I've thoroughly enjoyed my ten and a half years of writing and growing as an author, but I don't think I can put up with the disappointment of writing and feeling like some of my readers don't care. It doesn't mean I think all my readers don't care. I know there are tons of people out there who have written well thought out reviews from one or two sentences to mouth-watering paragraphs that have made me just itch to write just to see what you might say next. But as I look back at some of my reviews for inspiration for a new chapter I've realized that some of my reviewers write the same thing over and over again and I'm beginning to question why bother agonizing day in and day out how you might react to something in the story if no one tells me.
So if you have ever liked any of my stories, please remember to review. It doesn't have to be fancy but I need to know that I shouldn't retire. If I do retire, I'll keep my stories up for the rest of the year before deleting my account on here and the other websites. This might leave a lot of stories with unresolved endings but I will not be giving any of the stories up for adoption. I've put a lot of effort into my work, they are my children and I'd feel hurt to see someone else continuing on where I left off. So if I find anyone trying to adopt and finish my stories for me I will report you. But hopefully it won't come to that. =/
Next Update: April 19, 2014