This cross-country road trip is exactly what I needed to get my head cleared. I still haven't found out why InuYasha needs to get to New York so fast. I heard him mention his parents, but is that who he's really running from? Just one mystery after another.
The sunrise in the desert is just as beautiful as the sunset. By 6 in the morning, pastel colours filled the sky, from one hue to another hue. After realizing the sun was in her face, even through closed eyelids, Kagome wanted to roll over so her back faced it. She began to move, but she felt muscular arms stop her, drawing her closer to a very toned chest. Her eyes immediately flew open, only to see bare skin that most definitely did not belong to her. She followed her eyes upward, passing the toned chest and finally resting on a sleeping hanyou.
He looks so vulnerable...and beautiful against the sunrise. Wait. What the hell am I thinking?! He has a wife!
Struggling to break free, she tried to push him away from her, but this caused the man to furrow his brows and hold her closer to him.
"Kikyo..."
Kagome heard him mumble.
See. What did I tell you? He's IN LOVE. Hold on! I'm not in love with him! I just met him yesterday! There is no way-
She watched his ears twitch and heard his breathing pick up a little, before her chocolate orbs met his golden ones.
Kagome was taken aback by his beauty, even though he just woke up. Sure, his long, luscious hair was strewn all over his head and some drool was dried on the corner of his mouth and the look he was giving her made her feel...protected.
No one wakes up this good-looking.
What's a beautiful, successful man? Who cares if his hair is everywhere and it still looks pretty darn sexy? Who cares that-that-that he looks so, excuse my language, fucking kissable...
Without even realizing it, InuYasha had drawn her face closer to his, nose a few inches away from nose.
"Well I don't mean to breakup the love fest, but I'm sure you want to hit the road."
The voice startled the couple so much, Kagome accidentally headbutted InuYasha. Both fell back and rubbed their foreheads.
"Damn it Miroku!" InuYasha shot up and glared at the man whose voice ruined the mood, hands balled into fists. It was then he noticed that the gang was surrounding them, each of them about to burst from laughter.
Kagome looked up and saw that they had an audience. Feeling entirely embarrassed and trying hide her face, she slowly got up and, with her head down, quickly moved past the people towards InuYasha's motorcycle.
Sango and Ayame smacked Miroku across the back of his head and stormed off in Kagome's direction.
"What did I do?" Miroku innocently asked no one in particular, knowing darn well what he did was on purpose.
The rest of the guys sighed; InuYasha just continued to glare at him.
"So, how did you and Kagome get together last night?" Kouga asked.
InuYasha went cold. Oh. we basically slept together. Shit.
"It got cold and she was wearing what she was wearing. I'm not going to let her get a cold and get blamed." He huffed.
"Awww. How sweet." Kouga puckered his lips. InuYasha was about to punch him square in the jaw, but Kouga caught his hand and chuckled.
"Keh." InuYasha turned away from the 3 knuckleheads and bent down to fold the blankets.
"Do you like her?" Shippou bluntly asked.
InuYasha stopped his folding.
Do I? Nah. I just met her yesterday. But I feel this sudden impulse to grab her and take her away. Yeah, she looks like Kikyo but her personality is polar opposite. It felt so...right last night.
The men watched InuYasha ponder Shippou's question, a blush spread across his face in an instant. Feeling he was being watched, he cleared his throat and finished folding the blankets, completely ignoring Shippou's question.
Ayame and Sango were keeping watch the whole time, making sure Kagome could finally change her clothes in peace. Luckily the road was less traveled by, especially this early in the morning.
"Ready guys." Kagome softly told them, still embarrassed about everyone finding out InuYasha and her shared a bed.
The girls turned around at the same time and smiled big. The outfit was perfect! It took some time at the shopping center yesterday for them to agree on Kagome's "biker look", but the outcome surprised them a bit.
They agreed on the jean shorty shorts and red undershirt, but Sango picked out the sheer black tank top and Ayame found the cutest leather studded ankle combat boots.
"Now you look like you belong in the gang." Sango chuckled.
"Darling, if I was a guy, I'd have to ask for your number!" Ayame reached out and placed some of Kagome's hair over her shoulder, completing the look.
"You guys think so?" Kagome chirped up. Deep in her heart and unknown to her, she really wanted InuYasha to like it.
As if right on cue, the hanyou in question walked through the girls, blankets and lamp in hand, but stopped when he noticed Kagome.
Damn. The girls fixed her up.
He felt a pulse shimmy down his spine and land in his pants.
Shit.
He blushed brightly, not knowing the girls had seen everything, and quickly turned around to put the blankets away.
"Isn't Kagome gang material now?" Sango teased.
"Keh." InuYasha could feel his ears getting hot. By now, everyone had gathered near the bikes.
"Tha-Thank you for everything." Kagome fidgeted with her fingers while staring at the ground.
Ayame was the first to speak," Oh sweetie! We couldn't have been happier!" She grabbed the girl and gave her a tight hug.
"Same here! I'm happy to have another girl in the group!" Sango followed Ayame and hugged her too.
"Us too!" The men, other than InuYasha, said in unison. Miroku was eyeing Kagome for a hug but Sango saw the intention and pulled him to her.
"Oh no you don't." She held his hand.
"My dear Sango! You wouldn't think-"
"Oh yes she would." Shippou interrupted. Everyone laughed, including Kagome.
InuYasha broke up the conversation," Well, we have about 10 hours of daylight. Let's fill up and leave."
The laughter died down and everyone went to their respective bikes to check on the fuel.
InuYasha opened the gas can and started to pour in the gas when he heard Kagome's quiet voice. HIs heart skipped a beat. He was embarrassed too, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
"Thank you for keeping me warm InuYasha." He glanced over at her and saw her cheeks tinted the same colour pink that was in the sky. He too felt hot on the cheeks.
"Whatever." He roughly responded.
After a few more minutes, the guys signaled InuYasha they were ready to ride. He nodded and hopped on his bike. Kagome reached out for her helmet and fastened it on.
"Wear your helmet InuYasha." She basically commanded him.
"You don't tell me what to do." He muttered. Reluctantly, after seeing her concerned face, he rolled his eyes and strapped on his helmet too.
"I'm hoping to make it to Nebraska by late afternoon." He told her.
"I hope you accomplish that." She replied with a smile.
He started his bike, the others following suit, and looked left before taking a right down Route 66.
We're almost to New York. I'll be free in a couple more days.
The plane touched down in one of the busiest airports in the world 6 hours later. Kikyo unbuckled her belt and followed her mother- and father-in-law down the aisle of the plane and out of the terminal to get their luggage that came spinning around the pick-up.
"When I get my hands on him, I'm going to-" Kikyo angrily began to mumble to herself but was interrupted by a familiar sweet voice. She plastered an empty smile on her face and turned to see Izayoi coming towards her.
"Kikyo dear! Inuno just called Sesshomaru. We're meeting him for lunch at his place with some old friends." Izayoi, as always, was all smiles.
"Okay mother. Shall we freshen up at the house first?" Kikyo basically said through her teeth.
"We should have enough time..." To verify, she waved Inuno over.
"Yes darling?" He also brightly smiled. Izayoi slightly giggled like a little school girl when Inuno bent down to her height and kissed her on the earlobe.
"Do we have time to better ourselves before lunch?" She quickly composed herself, pink still visible on her cheeks.
"I'm sure Sesshomaru wouldn't mind if we stayed at his place for the night. If I remember correctly, we're getting that beach house remodeled." He turned at the call of his name and saw Ryura with all of their belongings. He turned back to the ladies.
"Ryura has our things. Let us hurry to Sesshomaru's place to freshen up and eat, so we can discuss the matter of our runaway son." Inuno grabbed Izayoi by the waist and led her beside him, while Kikyo walked behind them, contemplating on how she was going to give InuYasha a piece of her mind.
After what seemed like a long ride, the Taishou family was pulled up to the grand entrance of Sesshomaru's mansion in Beverly Hills. Yes, he lived among celebrities of all sorts. His neighbor to the left was the most famous swordsmith in California, Totosai; to his right was Hollywood's greatest Lab Technician and the Taishou family's oldest family friend, Myoga.
Sesshomaru's white mansion had a sort of colonial feel to it. It looked to be about 5300 square foot, obviously split between two levels, with maybe 5 bedrooms all together. Where the limo was parked on the brick paved driveway, in front of it was a 3-car garage with an apartment on top with a balcony. A tall brick fence went all the way around the property, giving the balconies at the front of the house a private feel. From what Kikyo could see, luscious green grass was beyond the fence and a tall water fountain was strategically placed in the front. All in all, it was a very elegant Sesshomaru house.
"Ah! There he is!" Inuno noticed his eldest son by the gate and opened the door of the limo before Ryura even had a chance to get out and do it for him.
There Sesshomaru stood in all his glory. He had on a white silk dress shirt that was tucked into white and black pinstripe dress pants; black dress shoes covered his feet.
He met his father halfway and shook his hand before Inuno pulled him into a manly hug. Izayoi and Kikyo had followed the 56-year-old man and each took their turn greeting the host.
"Well, I was very surprised at your call father. I hope everything is well in New York." Sesshomaru started small talk, leading the three through a gate and on a sidewalk to the front door.
The doorman opened the grand door before them and everyone stepped inside the foyer. Sesshomaru led the family to the right of the staircase into a large living room. A butler met him, telling him lunch was ready to be served on the terrace. He shooed him away led the family through the living area and dining room, finally stopping in front of a huge french door that led out to the terrace.
"As I was saying," Inuno slid the fork out of his mouth and sat it down so he could pat his lips with his napkin,"we need your help."
"And what is it you ask of me?" Sesshomaru raised his glass so one of the butlers could come over and refill it.
"It's about InuYasha." Kikyo quickly burst out. She was tired of all this time being wasted and wanted to get the show on the road.
Sesshomaru stopped drinking and narrowed his eyes at the dark-haired woman. He had only met her once, and that was at his little half-brother's wedding that he was forced to go to. Just her presence made him want to gag.
He spoke in an irritated voice," I have no desire to talk about that ungrateful little imbecile. Whatever is the problem has nothing to do with me."
Kikyo scoffed. She excused herself to the restroom. Izayoi also excused herself, knowing the men were about to get into a heated argument.
"He's missing Sesshomaru." Inuno finished chewing.
"And?" Sesshomaru raised a brow in amusement," what has that to do with me?"
Inuno slammed his fist on the table.
"He owns half the company. First off, this can't go public. Our image could possibly be ruined. Secondly, what is the Hime family going to think? They could possibly destroy us in an instant. So, yes, this does concern you, him, the entire Taishou Company!"
Unfazed by his father's sudden loss of composure, Sesshomaru placed his fork down and crossed his arms and legs in thought.
"Exactly what happened." His voice monotone with anger mixed in.
"Kikyo opened a letter this morning that InuYasha wrote to her, saying that he wanted a divorce and he was riding into a new chapter. I think he needed to clear his head, so he came here. Remember when you two were little? We always came to the West Coast. He has to be in L.A. I should have never bought him his first motorcycle..." Inuno placed his face in his hands.
"You knew when you agreed to the Hime family's request that InuYasha wasn't going to just go ahead with the whole thing. He puts his heart before his head. I'll check in with a few associates to see if he's been around here. Give me a couple of minutes." Sesshomaru scooted his chair back, leaving the poor old Taishou Co. CEO alone at the lunch table.
Just don't do anything stupid, InuYasha. I need you.
Around noon, everyone was complaining how hungry they were, especially Miroku.
"Oh damn it! Fine!" InuYasha said over the radio to Miroku.
The Shikon no Tama gang had been riding since 6 in the morning. It was now a little after 12.
InuYasha slightly turned his head to the ebony-haired woman who had been gripping his waist for over 6 hours, "There is a town not too far from the Nebraska state line that is known for its famous hamburgers."
"Okay. Sounds good." She smiled her genuine smile. InuYasha quickly turned his attention back to the road, knowing he was full on blushing.
Damn wench. Making me feel all weird inside. I kind of like it, but...nah.
Some minutes passed and the gang found themselves stopped at a red light in town. InuYasha signaled for them to turn right. Before they knew it, they were in a parking lot of a small town café.
"G&H Cafe?" Kagome asked, taking her helmet off and attaching it to the back bar.
"My two cousins own it." Kouga's voice came up from behind them.
"Really? Well, they make some damn good burgers. Let's eat. We need to get back on the road." InuYasha shuffled Kagome to the front door and opened it, only to have it swing back on his face.
The gang bursted out in laughter. Kagome had to hold her stomach, afraid her guts would spill out.
InuYasha quickly recovered but was about to punch the hell out of somebody.
"Who the fuck did that?!" He demanded. He noticed Kouga pointing to a frightened man who had food all over his clothes and on the ground.
Inuyasha was about to pick the man up by one claw, but Kagome placed her hand on his arm. His features softened and he brought his arm back down to his side.
"Stop cowering Ginta. He's harmless." Kouga yanked the man off the ground and slammed him on the back.
"What's all the commotion! The customers are getting-" Another man swung the door open, this time InuYasha missed it.
"Ginta! Are you okay?" The man ran over to the shook up guy.
"I'm fine Hakkaku. I thought I was going to get beat up by this motorcycle gang leader." Ginta pointed at the silver-haired hanyou.
"Can we please go inside. We're starving." Miroku spoke up.
Hakkaku turned and noticed that a certain wolf demon was blocking his view. He glanced up and saw it was his first cousin Kouga.
"Kouga! What brings you here?" Hakkaku was always one to ask a thousand questions.
"Oh for the love of-can we eat and reunion later?" InuYasha grasped the door handle, almost yanking the door off its hinges, and went inside to find a table.
Kagome rolled her eyes, now getting used to the hanyou's temper. She opened the door and motioned for everyone to come inside before InuYasha tore the diner to pieces.
When everyone settled into a booth in the corner of the diner, they each picked up a menu Ginta brought to them and scanned over the lunch items. InuYasha pointed out a few items to Kagome that he knew he enjoyed. Miroku and Sango sat across from them and glanced up from their menus when they heard Kagome giggle at something InuYasha said.
Everyone soon ordered and chatted away about some things Kagome had never heard of. Miroku told a story of when he was walking with Sango through the mall and an ex-boyfriend of hers tried to pick a fight; Sango, of course, punched him. Everyone laughed at that. Kouga tried to top it, telling them a story that involved him helping his father uncover a smuggling ring, with the help of undercover information from Ayame.
Kagome loved listening to their stories. Everyone led such interesting and exciting lives. They were superheroes disguised as humans. She turned a little towards InuYasha and watched him eat his burger in silence.
He hasn't said a word. Surely his life is just as interesting! He's the leader of a motorcycle gang for Pete's sake! Adventure is basically his middle name!
Without realizing what she was saying, she asked," What about you?"
Everyone at the table went quiet, now looking at the stray and their leader across from them.
Still with food in his mouth, InuYasha looked up from his burger.
"What?" He asked with food in his mouth.
"What about it InuYasha? Want to share some manly stories with our damsel?" Miroku wiggled his eyebrows. InuYasha followed the lecher's gaze beside him and saw a blushing Kagome looking right at him.
He swallowed his food," What's there to say?" He felt slightly annoyed. Why should he share his personal life with a woman he met yesterday?
She already knows how rich I am. Who my parents are. Who my half-brother is. I have nothing to say to anyone.
Before he even said anything, Hakkaku came to their table with the group's ticket.
"It was nice seeing ya again cousin. Stop by sometime." He left them with a smile.
"I'll pay." Kouga grabbed the ticket off the table and looked at the prices to make sure everything was correct before he went to pay.
Kagome noticed something was printed on the back of the ticket.
"What's that?" She asked.
"Huh?" Kouga looked at her.
"On the back," she pointed at the ticket,"what does it say?"
Kouga flipped the ticket over and read aloud the advertisement:
"150th Hall County Spring Fair. May 6-9. Sundown to Midnight. Adult Admission: $8. Kid Admission: $5. Come See the Nationwide Famous and Biggest Ferris Wheel, Along With Many Games for the Whole Family."
"A fair? That sounds fun! What is today?" Kagome was excited. Because of her strict family, she had never been to a fair or even a circus.
"It's the 6th." Kouga responded, looking at the ticket.
"We're not going," InuYasha sternly opposed,"we have to be in Nebr-"
"Hall County is in Nebraska." Miroku had already snatched the ticket from Kouga's hand and glanced it over. It did look fun.
InuYasha pondered over his thoughts. How was he going to respond now. Not really wanting to but he did anyway, he looked at the pleading girl beside him.
"Who the hell wants to go to a stupid fair? I've got somewhere to be, in case you forgot. I've got to be in New York before..." His voice trailed off.
"I-I've never been to a fair. I don't know if it's stupid or not." Kagome pouted.
"Aw! Well, hell! Let's go! I haven't been to one since I was wee little!" Ayame yelled. She looped arms with Kouga and pecked him on the cheek.
"It sounds romantic." Miroku added in. He wrapped an arm around Sango's shoulder, but his cheek was soon met with Sango's hand when she felt a hand move a little too close up her thigh.
"We'll still be in Nebraska by sundown..." Kagome quietly murmured. InuYasha's ears picked up on the sadness in her voice.
"Damn it! Fine. But right after we have to get back on the road! Only for a couple of hours!" InuYasha crossed his arms across his chest and looked away from everyone out the window.
All of a sudden he felt a warmth on his cheek and a whisper in his ear.
"Thanks InuYasha." Kagome pulled back, embarrassed from her action but not really regretting it.
InuYasha turned and smirked," Keh."
Miroku cleared his throat, "If we want to get there, we better leave now. Hall County is a good 4 hours a way."
The couple realized that everyone left them in the booth. Both scooted out of the seats and rounded their way around a corner to exit the small diner. Kouga followed after paying the bill; a little discount for knowing the owners.
"Let's go to the fair!" Ayame screamed over the start of the motorcycles. The girls giggled at her outburst. They held on to the waist of the man in front of them, their hair now flying in the wind.
My first fair! How exciting! I hope InuYasha isn't too upset...
She gripped his waist a little tighter, her head on his back. She heard the man rumble a little in his chest, causing her to smile even wider.
I wish we could stay like this...But I'm boring and he's married.
She sighed at the thought. She closed her eyes. 4 hours is a long time away.
Inuno heard Sesshomaru hang up the phone for the 5th time. A few minutes later, the tall look-a-like walked out of his office and into the living room where everyone else was.
"I do have some news. Good and bad." Sesshomaru walked over to a comfy armchair that was placed beside the unlit fireplace.
"What is the good news?" Kikyo asked before anyone else had the chance to speak.
Ignoring her, Sesshomaru looked at his father,"His whereabouts are known through several sources."
Inuno gulped," Bad?"
"I don't necessarily consider it bad because he can do whatever the hell he wants. He can cheat for all I care."
Kikyo's anger boiled inside her," Cheat? He's cheating?!"
Inuno and Izayoi glanced at each other.
Sesshomaru crossed his right leg over his left and glared at his father,"He has been spotted at each point with a woman riding on the back of his motorcycle. My sources say he was in L.A. yesterday but hours later in Vegas. Now he's heading to Nebraska. My guess is that he's riding Route 66 back to New York to give divorce papers to this woman." He nodded towards Kikyo.
"Well, we'll just greet him with open arms in Nebraska tonight." Inuno stood up from the couch he shared with his wife and straightened his jacket before excusing himself upstairs.
"I'll go discuss this with him. Excuse me." Izayoi slightly bowed and followed her husband upstairs.
Sesshomaru was just about to leave to go back to his office when Kikyo stopped him. He narrowed his eyes down at her hand that gripped his pant leg.
"And how are you handling this matter, my dear brother-in-law?" Her smile was so fake, Barbie's would have looked real.
"I'm just a messenger." He pulled her hand off his pants and walked back to his office.
Let's see how you handle this situation little brother.
His hand reached for the phone that was placed on the desk in front of him.
