Chapter Ten
Surprise?
Patting down a few flyaway hairs, Kagome checked her appearance once more before mentally shrugging and walking through the doors that stood in front of her. Despite her uncertainties about going to lunch with Ayame, Kagome was convinced after he gave her his pleading, puppy eyes. She could not believe that he still resorted to such a tactic. And she was even more appalled that she fell for it. How could she possibly say no?
After what transpired in his shop, Kagome conceded to go in order to make up for the way they reacted to his inquiry. They couldn't help it, though. The idea was absolutely comical. Thinking back on the event that just occurred a few days ago, Kagome couldn't help but smile.
Kagome blinked surprised blue eyes at the cursed male before her. Turning toward her brother, she watched as his green eyes widened before he met her gaze evenly. It took only another second before the two of them began laughing uncontrollably and had to clutch each other to stand upright. A few tears leaked slowly from her tightly closed eyelids as Kagome tried to get herself under control. Truly, the idea wasn't that amusing. And yet, at the same time, it was.
Taking deep breaths, Kagome regained her composure before promptly losing it upon seeing the look on Ayame's face. His confused and clueless assistant holding an equally entertaining expression. She was finally able to get herself under control when she saw Ayame beginning to tear up. He could be rather sensitive when he wanted. However, knowing that it was probably an act did not make her any less sympathetic to his pitiable self. Kagome thought him more of an overgrown child than a man. Something she only shared with Hatori.
Taking pity on his confused and affronted appearance, Kagome glanced once more at Souta before staring at Ayame with a half-smirk. "Sorry Ayame, he isn't my boyfriend. I thought the resemblance was obvious. This is my younger brother, Souta."
Comprehension dawned on his face before it split into a wide smile and his eyes brightened. Whereas before he looked to Souta with contempt, now there was only respect and happiness in his gaze. "Ah, it is wonderful to meet you," he exclaimed as he trounced forward to shake Souta's unresponsive hand. Despite his obvious refusal of Ayame's greeting, Souta did not remove his hand nor did he say anything. He may have thought it funny that anyone would think him his sister's boyfriend, but his humor left him when he remembered who this male was.
He was one of the Sohmas that ruined his sister's life.
As much as Kagome denied the thought, and firmly stated that they had no choice in the matter, Souta could not let them go without making them feel the way he felt after having to practically give up his sister for her own safety. He was ten when she was thrown into the world of the past and he rarely got to see her. When she came back it took her a few months before she was over her grief enough to go with school. He should have known that starting at a new high school would only mean trouble for her. He had been right, but he didn't know it.
Souta had been ten when his sister traveled through time; he had been thirteen when she was forced to move away. He had known that there was something off about the Sohma family. But he never pushed it and never asked Kagome about it. It wasn't until later when he wished he had. His sister had been so hurt and devastated right after Hatori's family called off the wedding; she remained home for nearly a week in grief. Souta was sure that the two of them had been fighting or something for the few months before they broke off the engagement. She had not talked about or to Hatori for a while before her inevitable break down. At the time, Souta found her behavior odd. At times, she had acted as though she didn't know who Hatori was. It made him even more suspicious of them, and to this day he did not like them or what they represented.
They were the ones that pulled apart his family. They were the ones that ruined the happiness Kagome could have had with Hatori all those years ago. As much as Souta disliked them, he knew that Kagome dearly loved Hatori and did not blame him for what happened. Souta was not so generous. And until he saw his sister safe and happy, he would stick to his decision to despise any and all Sohma family members. At least the ones she went to school with, as well as their so-called clan head.
"Fine! I will meet you for lunch. Just stop making that ridiculous face!" Souta was yanked out of his thoughts by his sister's exclamation. It would seem that he had zoned out more than he thought. It appeared that their conversation was nearly over and she was about to leave. He almost wished he was paying attention. Souta didn't even know what they had been talking about. But judging from Ayame's expression, Souta was sure that she agreed to do something with him. As much as Souta disliked the idea of her being anywhere alone with any of the Sohmas, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep her from going either. She was a grown woman and could make her own decisions. No matter how much he wished she didn't have to.
"All right, so Saturday around noon? Where are we going to go?"
Ayame looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, "I don't know. I will call you with the details later. All right?" That way I can call Shigure to see what he suggests. This is after all mostly his plan. Ayame did not allow any of his thoughts to penetrate his joyous mask. It would do no good to have her catch on before they had the chance to even put their plan into action.
"Okay, here's my number," she said as she handed him a torn piece of paper with a quickly scrawled phone number. "If you can't get a hold of me, try calling the school and leaving a message. Those usually get to me before my day ends. All right?"
He nodded enthusiastically before moving forward and dramatically pulling her into a hug. "I will see you in three days. Until then, fare well Little Damsel," he ended with a flourish. Kagome only chuckled while following her brother out the door. Ayame was such an odd character. But she loved him just the same.
And that was the reason she stood in the entryway to the semi-formal eatery. A nervous fluttering in her stomach, made Kagome place a hand to her midsection. She couldn't explain where the feeling came from. It was just lunch with Ayame; there was nothing to be nervous about. As much as she told herself that, the feeling never went away. It was with nervous anticipation that she walked further into the establishment.
Her blue gaze briefly took in her surroundings before glancing toward the front desk. Approaching it, she was about to announce her presence when she heard the enthusiastic voice of her lunch partner. Rolling her eyes at his exuberant tone, Kagome decided to find him quickly to save whomever he was bothering. Most likely some poor, unaware waitress. He truly did love looking at the different kinds of uniforms around, always looking for new ideas and such.
Deciding that she should interrupt them before Ayame either gets himself slapped or thrown out of the restaurant, Kagome swiftly made her way to where she heard his voice.
"Ayame, are you bothering this lovely, young girl and keeping her from doing her job?" Kagome asked sweetly, but not without warning, as she approached his side. She could tell by the twitching of her eye and the clenching of her fist that the waitress was about through with his behavior. Kagome came just in time.
Ayame turned toward her and tried not to cringe. She had that look in her eyes. The one he remembered as saying: "Whatever you are doing, you'd better stop before I pummel you." He knew that the look wasn't just a threat. Shigure proved that very well. Many times over.
Shrugging off the shiver at the memory, Ayame quickly stepped close to her and greeted her enthusiastically.
"Kagome! I am so glad you made it. I am sure you will love our seats. I specifically asked for ones outside overlooking the fountain. I knew you would love it. Come on, I'll show you!" Ayame exclaimed as he grabbed her hand and practically dragged her the few feet to the door and outside to the small courtyard that was surrounded by tables and chairs filled with people enjoying their lunch while also basking in the lovely scenery. The large fountain in the center of the courtyard, along with their wonderful food and service, made the restaurant one of the best in the area. Though not the only piece of history located in the area, it was definitely one of the favorites. It consisted of a large, stone dragon perched atop stone tree. The water flowed out of its large, gapping mouth as its head was reared toward the sky. Water dribbled down its talons and flowed smoothly down the stone trunk to the basin. Though rather simple in its design, the details and size made up for it. The many trees and beautiful shrubs surrounding the fountain only added to the effect.
It had always been a favorite of hers. And having not seen it for many years, made Kagome remember why she loved it so much. It was simply breathtaking with the sun shining through the water and reflecting in its onyx eyes. It was also one of main places her father took her when she was younger.
Kagome sighed at the memories while carefully sitting down on one of the cast iron chairs. She watched Ayame do the same from the other side of the table, while he, too, took in the gorgeous scene. The, now, calm waitress handed them their menus before asking for their beverage of choice. Once she received them, the waitress left as quickly as possible. Kagome didn't blame her.
While they waited for their drinks, the two of them began scanning the menu for choices. Absently, Kagome's gaze continued to drift toward the dragon statue. For some reason she thought there was something she should be remembering about it. But for the life of her couldn't think about what that could be. Shrugging it off without a thought, Kagome turned back to the menu to find something to eat before the waitress returned.
It wasn't long before their meals were selected and their orders given. While they waited, the two of them began to strike up a conversation. It wasn't until Ayame got to a particular subject, that Kagome started regretting the idea for lunch.
In a moment of seriousness, Ayame looked into Kagome's eyes and asked, "Why did you leave all those years ago?" He disliked bringing up the subject, but he wanted to know. And if their plan was going to work, they needed all the information they could get. Besides, he really wanted to know.
Kagome paused while taking a sip of her drink to decide how to answer that. Of course, she wasn't about to tell him the real reason. But what else could she say? It didn't take long for an answer to come to mind, and it took even less for her to verbalize it.
"After I got my memories back, I couldn't stay around knowing that I knew who you guys were and that we couldn't be friends anymore. It hurt too much, and I couldn't stand it." That was partially the truth, but not the main reason for her departure.
Ayame tried to gauge the truth of her words, but she wouldn't look him in the eye. That was how he knew that there was more to her story. There was something she wasn't telling them. Something important.
"Hmm, that may be true," he said in his calming tone, "but there is more to it than that. Something else happened, but what, I don't know. Maybe someday you will be able to tell us?" He wanted to know, yes, but he would not push her. She was finally back in their lives and he didn't want to risk losing her again. They would not lose her again.
Kagome looked at him from the corner of her eye as she contemplated his words. Yes, one day they would find out. She just didn't know when that day was. Deciding that a change in subject was in order, Kagome inquired about his business and how it came about. Ayame eagerly began to explain, in detail, his endeavor to bring joy and happiness to those that couldn't find it elsewhere. She didn't comment on his choice of words, but instead smiled softly at the glow in his eyes. He truly did love his work.
Their conversation continued for quite a while before Kagome excused herself to use the restroom. Ayame only smiled and watched her go before frantically looking around him. Where is he? He was supposed to be here already. How are they supposed to get together and get married if they don't see each other first? Ayame heaved a dramatic sigh while running a hand through his long locks. Honestly, must I do everything myself?
No sooner did that thought cross his mind, did he see the two people he had been waiting for. Well, it's about time. Shigure must have had quite the trouble convincing Hatori if it took this long for them to arrive. Now we just need to get them together, Ayame thought enthusiastically. His thoughts centered on the dress he would make for her wedding. No doubt it would be the most beautiful ceremony in the history of ceremonies.
Kagome sighed once she was done washing her hands. She was almost hesitant to return to Ayame. Not because she was having a horrible time, no. In fact, she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard. But the feeling in her gut had only intensified since she left his side and she still didn't know what the cause was. It made her nervous and just a little apprehensive. What was causing her stomach to churn so?
Shaking her head, Kagome ran a hand through her bangs before looking at herself through the mirror. All right Kagome, you can do this. The feeling is probably something you ate. No big deal. Nothing is going to happen.
Nodding to herself, Kagome straightened up before leaving the restroom. The feeling in her gut still present, but she did her best to ignore it.
Walking back outside to their table, Kagome absently searched her purse for her cell phone. She wanted to see if Ryuu had called at all. He was on a fieldtrip with his class and she told him to call her when he was on his way home. Ayumi happily agreed to bring him home, and no matter how much Kagome protested, she would hear none of it. Kagome finally relented and told her to have Ryuu call her when they were on their way back. She wanted to make sure she was home for him after all.
Sighing when no messages were present, Kagome pulled her purse closer as she placed her phone back inside. With her eyes on her purse and not on the path, Kagome missed when someone stood from their chair and turned right in front of her. Her eyes widened when she realized what was happening. Faster than any of them could react, she was falling. Her back hit the hard ground with a painful thump, while the other person was pulled on top of her. With eyes closed, Kagome took stock of all her injuries before remembering that she wasn't the only one to fall. Opening her mouth to apologize, she stopped short when her gaze locked with beautifully familiar grey eyes.
Hatori could not believe the idiot that Shigure was. Did he not understand that he wanted to be alone? Why else would he be avoiding any and all contact with him? Shigure had lied to him, and he had no desire to hear any more of it.
However, after nearly two weeks of ignoring his family and locking himself in his home, Shigure took the initiative and forced him out to have lunch with him. A ridiculous idea, but he would not give up on it. Hatori was positive that Shigure was up to something. He was far too insistent for the outing to not be up to something. Hatori had yet to figure out what.
It was with great reluctance that he allowed Shigure to pull him along to have lunch with him. The idea in and of itself was a rather odd request. Since when did they go out for lunch? It only made his suspicions grow.
They arrived at the Dragon's Crest in short order, and Hatori did not fail to send his cousin a baleful glare. He did not appreciate the sarcasm. However, he decided that, since they were already there and the restaurant's food was rather good, they would go ahead and have a quick lunch. After which, Hatori planned to return home and continue his previous activities. He didn't care what Shigure had to say. If he tried to tell him otherwise, Hatori was not afraid to hit him. Hard.
Heaving a tired sigh when Shigure insistently pulled on his sleeve toward their table, Hatori absentmindedly noted that they were eating outside. Not that he cared in the least, but in all the times they had eaten there, never had they once eaten outside. Hatori's suspicions grew even higher.
Watching as Shigure happily sat in one of the chairs and began to look over the menu, Hatori took his seat with a sigh while reclining back and staring at nothing in particular. He wasn't hungry and this whole outing was a waste of his time.
"Ah, Ha'ri, why don't you cheer up? You know this is for you. You have been holed up in your home for nearly two weeks now. That can't be good for you. I know you're the doctor, but do I need to send you to the hospital? You have not been acting like yourself lately. Did something happen?" Shigure was concerned with his behavior, but he wanted to know why he hadn't approached Kagome yet. How ungrateful could he be? After all, Shigure went through all that trouble to find out that Kagome remembered them, and what were the thanks he got? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Hatori didn't even so much as talk to her. So now, it was up to him and Ayame to right the wrongs done so long ago. If Hatori wasn't so lazy he could have done it himself, but no. Shigure had to recruit Ayame to pull their plan together. And so far it seemed to be working. He could clearly see Ayame making his way over from his table to talk to them. And he was sure Kagome was around somewhere. Yes, their plan was working out splendidly.
"Oh my, what a coincidence to see you two here!"
Hatori looked up with a sigh to see his other cousin. "Ayame, what are you doing here?" he asked blandly. Now he knew something was up. And if it had Ayame and Shigure mixed up in it, Hatori was positive he wanted no part in it.
"Oh is that any way to greet your cousin?" Ayame asked with an easygoing smile. There was absolutely nothing that could ruin his mood. After all, he was soon going to have a new cousin-in-law.
Hatori looked at him for a few moments before glancing toward the equally grinning Shigure. With narrowed eyes, he asked, "What are you two up to?"
Shigure fought the shiver at his words and only allowed a nervous chuckle to pass his lips, before promptly hiding his face behind his menu. Ayame's smile didn't leave even as Hatori turned his chilling gaze toward him. Nope, he was not going to say a word. Not one word. There was absolutely nothing Hatori could do to get him to spill the beans. Nope nothing at all could ruin his mood and make him give away their brilliant plan.
"Ayame."
"Ah Hatori you know when you use that tone it makes me give in. But not this time, on no," he said with his obnoxiously flamboyant laugh. "There is nothing you can say that will make me give away our brilliant plan to get you and Kagome back together. Nothing at all. You can try all you like, but there is no way I will say a thing. Not at all," he finished with a wide smile and closed eyes. Shigure resisted the urge to smack his forehead and instead turned to see Hatori's reaction.
Hatori stared at his cousins with an unreadable expression, before closing his eyes and ignoring them. He could not believe that they were so stupid as to try anything. Obviously, if he hadn't already gone to her there was a valid reason. That reason just so happened to be the fact that she was already married and had a child. Remembering the scene from the day he went to see her, only brought pain to his heart. Breathing in slowly and letting it out, Hatori opened his eyes and looked his cousins in the eyes.
"You shouldn't have bothered," he said lowly. "I do not believe that Kagome and I will ever be together again. So you should give up on this ridiculous plan and leave well enough alone." With those words, Hatori stood from his chair and turned to leave before anything else went wrong.
He did not see the person coming toward him and before he knew it they collided and were sent harshly to the ground. Hatori closed his eyes in anticipation while silently praying that it was not a woman. He could not imagine the pain it would be to have to erase the memories of all present. Not to mention, the headache it would cause.
His fears were realized when he felt the definitely feminine body beneath his own. Eyes closed in preparation for the transformation, they snapped open abruptly when nothing happened. He was stunned to see himself gazing into a pair of eyes he remembered so well from years ago. The eyes that he loved. The eyes that could rival the sea in their intensity. The eyes that belonged to his first love. The eyes that could only belong to...
"Kagome."