On Being a Pumpkin
Disclaimer – Not owning Inuyasha is the suck.
Warning – #1.Uh, stepped a bit from the ordinary here, don't hate me!!! #2. Had a remark about the review responses… I'll still respond this chapter, but if you want me to stop, let me know and I will. #3. 'Bout damn time for this freaking ball. ()
Chapter 10 – Put on Your Red Shoes and Dance the Blues
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Determination is a beautiful thing. It really is. I don't think I've ever experienced such a thing in my life – never have I been this driven to do any one thing in my life. I felt – dare I say it…? Brave? It was like being a totally new Kagome.
So there I was, rattling through the suburbs on my way to Sesshoumaru's, courtesy of the Pumpkin Bomber, of course. I knew that what I was doing was a bout thirty-five different types of stupid, and foolish in at least five different ways, but I (for once) ignored the niggling little voice in the back of my mind… choosing to instead think of anything else… like what the hell I was going to say to Sesshoumaru when I got there – or how I was going to get in a ball wearing a worn pair of jeans, a David Bowie concert shirt, and red Chucks. DETAILS!!! (Maybe not that new of a Kagome.)
Ok, so maybe I was a bit nervous – but wasn't somebody smart that said, "Courage isn't the lack of fear, but acting despite it?" I had fear – trust me, I had lots, but I wasn't gonna let it keep me from finding out exactly what it was that I 'had' with Sesshoumaru. If that meant scaling the wall of his palatial home just to sneak in a window… I'm game. 'Course then again, I failed the rock climb in gym... damn, this is harder than I thought.
The closer I got to his home, the sweatier my palms got. About the time I reached his driveway, my knees were wobbling, and you don't want to hear about the feats of gymnastics my stomach was pulling when I reached the door. That didn't stop me from ringing the bell – I was going to find him, even if it was just to pass out in front of him again (gotta test out that whole catching thing.)
A short, balding man who looked less than pleased to see me answered the door, "And you are…?"
"Kagome Higurashi, I was invited." Please, please, please let me in!
"Of that I highly doubt." Dick. Or prick, I guess… too soon to tell.
"I assure you that the invitation was delivered to my house weeks ago – the home of Koto and Kikyo Higurashi?"
"That's wonderful, really, but I'm afraid I can't let you in."
"If this about some stupid dress code, I'll have you know I'm getting into that party whether you let me or not!"
"Regardless of your," he gave me the up down up – oh you know that look, they start at your toes, then race their eyes up and down your frame while grimacing – makes anyone feel like less than an amoeba –yeah, that one, "state of dress, I still cannot allow you in. And the party is being held at the Hyatt downtown."
You know that feeling you get when something really bad happens? The one that looks like an old fashioned TV powering down, where everything in the peripheral dims into a bright point of light in front of you? I did that. Right when he said that too.
I think I mumbled something about being sorry for disturbing him, wishing him a good night, that kind of rot, but I can't really be sure. I was numb all over, bleakly aware that I had missed my chance. The ball had started at seven, but at eight I was sitting in my room with pins in my mouth desperately trying to get my dress back together, wishing for all I was worth for little mice to come out of the walls and sew my dress back together – all while singing some sickeningly annoying song. By nine I'd given up and was staring blankly at the wall… but at ten I snapped myself out of it. I jumped in the shower and pulled on the nearest clothes I could find. The point was that I was there, not what I was wearing. It's not like if he sees me in a dress one night, he'll forget all the times that I ran around dressed like a bum before. It doesn't matter – I just had to be there.
I grabbed the keys to the Pumpkin Bomber (my carriage for the evening) and peeled out of the driveway. It takes only 15 minutes to drive to his house from mine, but it took twenty for me to get back – coupled with another twenty minute drive and I'd never make it in time – only an hour left in the ball. That is, if they let me in looking like a scrub. For all I knew, he could have picked a bride already. It was over – whatever we had was officially over.
I threw the keys at the front door and collapsed onto the front step. It was official – regardless of what Kaede may have said about being summed up by one word. I was special. I was that girl, I will always be that girl – I mean look, I was in what was potentially a win-win situation, and I fucked it up by dragging my feet and not paying attention to WHERE THE GOD DAMNED PARTY WAS!!!! I am a complete and utter gomer. Happiness would just be wasted on me.
I heard the door open and close behind me and I knew who it was without looking. I already told you we had no servants and Koto and Kikyo were busy social climbing. "I know you meant well with all your advice and everything, Kaede, but honestly, I'm too much of a thatgirl. I mean, he's got a ball full of graceful eloquent girls at his beck and call. What would he want with a go-tard like myself?"
"Perhaps you should have asked him before making his mind for him." Ok… (re-reads story.) Yup, just as I thought. Kaede is my step-sister. So, can anyone out there tell me why she has the voice of a man? Anyone?
I turned and all my questions were answered.
Sesshoumaru ---- And like that, I could not talk.
"Nice night." He greeted quietly, sitting next to me on the stairs. What the hell is he doing here? Ball! You're supposed to be at a ball!
I nodded briefly, wondering where the hell he was going with that comment, but I was content to let it play out – content is one way to put it, shocked into silence is closer to the truth.
"Rather peaceful."
Alright… some semblance of normalcy on a night that is as un-normal as you can get is just plain freaky. It had to end and it had to end now, "It's quiet, but not peaceful."
I nearly missed the quirky smirk that flashed on his lips – nearly, but not quite, "I gathered."
"Oh?"
"It's not every night that Kaede's car goes screeching off into the night."
Car? What? Kagome no understand. "Huh?"
"I saw you pull out – was there an emergency?"
Ah, my flight to his house – I get it. "I guess you could say that – but I was ineffectual as usual."
"And this is usually the case? You couldn't help?"
I sighed, and laid back onto the front porch, "I don't really know what I was racing off to do, but once more, Higurashi strikes again."
He lay back next to me, and I couldn't help the blush that rose to my cheeks. "What is it with you and names anyway?"
"Names?"
"You're afraid of me because I'm Sesshoumaru Tashio – you say your own last name as if it's a curse… what's with that?"
And yet another sigh escaped me, confession time, "I'm cursed… I'm doomed to be clumsy and un-liked for the rest of my life. I'm irritating and annoying, and my mouth always gets me in trouble. I. am. That. Girl."
"Maybe – maybe not. I mean, have you ever stopped to think that other people might feel that way too?"
"Of course other people get embarrassed, but I live with embarrassment. I'm a poster child for being a high school reject."
"And what am I?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"Just tell me."
"Well – you're the poster child for high school success! I mean, you have the grades, the money, the clothes – everything!"
"The grades? Do you remember German class at all? And the other things – do they really matter?"
"Do they matter? To me no – any fool could have any one of those things. But to the sheep at school, they're everything."
"So what is important to you?"
I grimaced, "Making it through the day without making a moron out of myself. It never works."
I felt him roll over on his side so that he could face me, but I kept looking straight up. Our position was very, very embarrassing. To keep my mind off of how he lay so close to me, I turned the tables on him, "What's important to you?"
Suddenly his voice was filled with venom and he said coldly, "Everything that I'm not supposed to care about."
I was scared, but damned if I'd show it, "Oh?" Damn it, that came out shakier than I'd hoped – hope he didn't hear it.
"My father wants me to be just like him – a rich businessman. I'm supposed to live the trophy life with a trophy wife. Doing nothing but earning money that will most likely never be used."
"You don't want that?"
"Who would?"
"Well then, what do you want?"
"I want my own life. My way."
Consumed by the conversation, I rolled to face him. "And that means?"
"That means…" And then, dear God, he kissed me.
You read a lot about kisses in books – what they feel like and how they affect you, but I always thought it was pure rubbish. It's two flaps of skin meeting two other flaps of skin in a sloppy ungraceful way… or so I thought – right up until the moment his lips touched mine. It was warm frosting on a brownie, it was a box of Lucky Charms with nothing but marshmallows. It was like turning on the TV to find that all commercials have been outlawed. Most importantly though, it was the kiss I'd wished for all through high school, and it exceeded all my dreams. For the first time in my life, I turned into Kagome goo without embarrassment.
"That means getting the girl of my dreams, even if she is that girl."
"Is that why you're here? Why I find you on my porch when you're supposed to be at the ball picking a bride?"
"I'm nineteen years old – I don't need a bride. But I find myself needing you. When you weren't at the ball, I left. I couldn't stand the idea of facing those girls just trying to auction themselves off for my father's money. I just wanted to see you… even if you are mad at me for being such a dick."
Haunting, isn't it. I've called him that so many times, but now, sitting on the porch with him, staring at the street that is positively drenched in moonlight, it's the furthest thing from my mind. And I tell him so, "I wasn't mad at you – not really. I was mad at myself. And though I may have called you a dick before, it means nothing now. I was wrong and I'm sorry."
"You called me a dick?"
I mumbled, my blush back in full force, "Uh, maybe?"
He laughed at loud. "It really is the quiet ones."
"Hey, not funny – You deserved it."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, for the pen thing, and the staring and the pointing and the whispering."
"Oh god, the pen – do you have any idea how cute that was?"
Does not compute. "Excuse me?"
He laughed again, obviously pleased by the memory that haunts my nightmares, "Your blush, the way you missed your mouth, it was all so – Kagome…that was the day I fell for you."
Buh, buh, buh, buh, buh.
"I love you, Kagome – and while I'm not ready for a wife, I don't want to be parted from you. Not now, not ever. Could you ever love a dick like me?"
Could I ever? Could I ever!
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Review Responses
Chujitsu – Glad you like it!
Samanda Hime-sama – No worries – check! And double check to Miroku… yum.
Moonlightassasin – hope you don't mind that I nixed the ball…
Bittersweet-Memory – how could I not smile with wonderful reviewers like you… thank you so much for your support.
Hyper Person – Yeah, Kagome kinda forgot about him, didn't she? Oh well, I'll teach her. PS, don't drown in all the rain.
Moonlightprincess – hope you like the new update.
Silver Queen – Thank you so much for your high praise. I'm honored.
SarcasmGirl8 – uh.. indefinitely? I hope this is ok.
UltaAnimeGurl2004 – After the dream last night, I decided to update (j/k) anyway, glad you like it, and I promise not to spam your reviews.
Sora the Taske – Ah yes, I am fully aware. In fact, every chapter in this story, as well as Shippo's Plans, is taken from a line in a song or a title. I am a HUGE Gundam Wing fan, and I was listening to that song when I started writing the chapter. I couldn't help but use it. Nice eye by the way!
Dragen Eyez – I wouldn't be that mean, although she certainly didn't get a dress or to the ball.
Lachesis – Oh, I was gonna leave that chapter at a huge cliffhanger – but I sincerely believe that they are the devil, so I was nice. Nicer.
SkyBlueSunshine – Survey says – Kaede! I couldn't resist bringing the pumpkin into things – and it was kinda a nod to Spiderman too. I'm having a lot of fun with the story of Cinderella (as you might have noticed) PS, if you want me to knock it off with the review responses, I can. On a happier note, this is my longest chapter!!!
Artemis347 – so much enthusiasm! Yay!
CelticPsychic – Your wish is my command.
Sessy-sama lover – You know, I missed him too.
nightxXxshade – oh yes, I hate Kikyo a great deal.
Shinimegami-025 – And here I was thinking that every one would think that it was too corny! Glad you liked it.
Nadrim – Oh yes, couldn't resist putting the car or Rin in here. I had a lot of requests for Rin… and the car – I mean honestly, what's Cinderella without her pumpkin carriage?
CrimsonBetrayal – Yay! You really think so? I'm glad!
Tsuki Yume – No! No death fics – I hate them. They make me cry. It just wouldn't have the humor that this one has.
Kookey – Yeah Rin and Sesshoumaru is a little creepy. She's just a kid in the show, and I know Sessy will still be young and all when she grows up, but shudder it's just not my thing. Glad you like the fic!
Sirenxsong – I feel loved and hugged. And I couldn't help but use Rin. I mean honestly, could you say no to that face? Neither could Kagome!
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Thank you for all the lovin'! You all rock so very much. wipes away tear.