Life As It Is

Chapter 10: Rin's Party Invitation

Kagome's POV

"Mommy!"

I whirled around and picked up my daughter as she hugged me tightly which caused me to giggle a bit. I had to pick up the kids early because neither me or Inuyasha will be home when the bus comes in the afternoon. He had a meeting and I just wouldn't be able to make it there...district won't let me get out early anymore. Stupid right?

When she let go of me, she was smiling. "What's got you so happy?" I asked raising an eyebrow. She's usually gloomy when she comes out of school. Then she gave me that mysterious look. Uh-oh. She wants something.

"Mommy..." She said, smiling at me and fluttering her eyelids cutely. "It's Mizumi's birthday tomorrow. I was wondering if we could go and buy her something?"

I smiled. I thought it was something else. Like buying ice cream or something. "Of course sweetie." I said putting her down.

But just when I set her down, my other two beautiful children ran into my arms and I laughed as I hugged them back. "Hey there kiddos. I'm gonna drop you two off with your dad at work, kay?"

"Why? It's sooo boring there!" Shippo whined. Such a whiner, but hey he's my kid. But he surely did not get the whining from me, definetly from Inuyasha.

"I'm sorry but would you rather go with your dad or go shopping with me and Rin?" I asked raising a brow. He grew quiet. He hates going shopping. Even for food.

"You're going to your dad's, whether you like it or not." I said as I stood up.

"Now come on, let's go." I said as I started to walk back to my car. As I got in the car, I pulled out my cell phone and called his work phone. He never picks up his cell when he's at work, so what's the point calling him there?

I started up the engine as it started ringing. When the ringing stopped, I heard my sister's oh-so-chipper voice. Why is she always so happy? Beats me.

"Hello, Inuyasha Takahashi's office. Kikyo Higurashi speaking. How may I help you?" I don't even know how she can stand being so happy just sitting at a desk all day answering phone calls.

"Hey. It's Kagome. Can you put Inuyasha on?"

"Oh, hi Kagome! How are you?" Would she stop being so chippy and just put him on, damn it. It gets me annoyed sometimes.

"Fine. Can you put him on, please?" Man, my voice came out a little rude there. Hope she lets it go and just put him on.

"Liar."

I rolled my eyes, irritated. "Would you just put him on Kikyo?"

"Fine. But you're telling me what's wrong later."

I rolled my eyes and then I heard a click and in a few seconds I hear the grumpy voice of my husband. "Hey Kagome."

"You sound worn out. Did Sesshomaru dump more paper work on you?" I asked giggling. I just find it so funny that Sesshomaru just gives him paper work without warning.

"The bastard sure did." I heard him sigh. "Anyways, what's up?"

"Uh, I'm dropping off Shiori and Shippo with you for a bit. Rin wants to go shopping for Mizumi's present."

It took him a while to respond. I thought he dozed off on me. I was about to yell at him but...

"...Alright..." He finally said. What took him so long to answer?

"I'm right here. So I'll see you later, kay?"

"Alright." He said with a sigh and he hung up.

I parked and I looked at my phone in disbelief. He hung up...without saying 'I love you' or 'Bye'. I felt my stomach turn and I grew worried. What was wrong with Inuyasha?

I quickly got out of the car and got my kids out of the car and walked in the building and to the elevator. When we got to the sixteenth floor, like normal everyone greeted me and I greeted them back kindly.

When I got to Inuyasha's office, Kikyo was at her desk and when she saw me, of course, she smiled. Always so happy...well at least when I see her. "Kids go in there and say hi to your dad, alright? I wanna talk to Auntie Kikyo for a bit."

They nodded and went inside like I said.

I turned to Kikyo. She raised an eyebrow at me. "Something wrong?" She asked. The concern was visible in her voice to me.

"Do you know what's wrong with Inuyasha?" I blurted out.

She was obviously brought back by that. I nearly yelled at her. I sighed trying to calm myself down. "I'm sorry, Kikyo. It's just...when I was talking to him on the phone. He sounded...I don't know..he just didn't sound like himself. I got a bad feeling."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked up. I didn't even know that I was staring at the ground. She smiled, but it wasn't her usual happy smile. It was a sad smile. And only I knew that when Kikyo puts a sad smile something's definetly up.

"Kagome, what's the date today?" She asked me softly.

"January 15th?" I said in a question. Where was she going with this?

She raised an eyebrow at me. I stared at her confusion in my features. My eyes widened as I realized what January 15th meant. Inuyasha's mother's anniversary is today!

I slapped my hand to my forehead. How could I forget? This is a very emotional day for Inuyasha. Today...is the day of Izayoi's death. No wonder he's so gloomy. I have to cheer him up.

I walked into his office and saw Inuyasha and the kids talking. Inuyasha was smiling at them but it wasn't a real smile. He was faking it..for them. "Kids, can I talk to your father alone for a minute? You can go and bother Kikyo."

They brightened at that and ran past me and in seconds I heard Kikyo's yelling.

"Don't touch that! Hey stop it!"

It was funny but I just couldn't find my strength to smile so I just closed the door decreasing the yelling as I did so. I walked over to him and sat on his lap and hugged him.

I can tell that he was surprised because he gasped as I hugged him. I hugged him tighter as I felt the tears prick my eyes. "I'm so sorry, Yasha. I forgot today was her anniversary. I'm so sorry."

He hugged me back and I heard his soft sobs as his grip on me tightened. He's always like this when it comes to this day. I just don't know what to say or do to make him feel better...ever.

All I could was be here and give him comfort.

*The next day*

Today was Mizumi's birthday and Rin wouldn't stop bugging me about it. She wants to find the perfect outfit to wear because she told me that the guy that she like will be there and she wants to look pretty but she doesn't want me to tell Inuyasha and I didn't.

So I'm now helping her pick a good outfit that Inuyasha will approve her for wearing. Inuyasha knows that there's gonna be boys there because Rin oh-so-blurted it out accidentally. So now I have to be extra careful.

When I finished picking her outfit. She looked like a flower. I had picked out an orange summer dress and black jeans so she could wear underneath. I took her brush from her dresser and brushed it. Then I picked a flower clip and put it in her hair.

"There you go," I said turning her around so she could look at herself in the mirror. I smiled as I saw her smile at her mirror self.

"You look like a movie star." I told her smiling.

"Really?" She asked. "I always wanted to look like one." She whirled around to look at me and smiled real big. "And I always wanted to be one too! Do you think I would be able to do it mommy?"

I smiled. "Of course you can sweetie. You can do anything if you put your mind to it. And I'm sure you'll make a great actress. You're really good at pretending to cry." I said smiling.

She once pretended to cry infront of both me and Inuyasha and we fell for it. His sensitive nose picked up her tears and he started to feel bad for yelling at her and I started accusing him for doing it. Then she suddenly stopped crying and smiled at us telling us that she was just faking.

"Mommy?"

"What is it sweetie?"

"Do you think daddy will approve of me having a guy friend?" She asked me shyly.

I giggled. "If this guy friend happens to be the boy your crushing on..maybe. If he doesn't crush the poor boy's head first, that is."

Her eyes widened and I giggled again. "I'm just kidding."

She frowned. "Mommy! Don't scare me like that!"

I giggled. "I'm sorry sweetie. But I just had to lighten up the mood."

"Now come on. I'll drop you off but I won't be able to pick you up alright?"

She nodded. "What about daddy? Can't he pick me up?"

"Can't. Sorry kid."

I turned around and found my handsome, cute, hot, sexy husband leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"I won't be around. Business."

She frowned. "Ok."

"I'll see you later." I said as I kissed him and Rin hugged him and we both walked downstairs and to my car and I drove her to the party.