Chapter Eleven- On The Way
"You said you loved me, and I said I loved you.
You lied first."
- S. Jax, Casting Doubts
Kagome looked at the many satin, beribboned, lacey, frilly, see-through, barely- there, and very girly panties laying out so innocently on the table and instantly felt the dark blush take over her face. She now knew why Inuyasha hadn't been allowed to come with them to buy her under things. She had never gone to a store that was entirely dedicated to a woman's under clothes. She had only ever bought her panties and bras in stores where they were displayed next to five dollar shoes and three dollar purses.
"Their pretty aren't they?" Rin came up next to her and picked up a particularly daring one, that was a bright red and was cut high to show the most possible leg, and had a string that would disappear all together as soon as anyone put it one. It was sexy, daring, and looked very, very uncomfortable. Rin saw the way she had been eyeing the piece, with awe, disgust, curiosity, and not a little bit of anxiety. "Okay, maybe a little too soon?" She laughed softly at the relief that spread across her face, and she placed back the g-string neatly with it's sisters. "I wasn't too thrilled about them at first either, but one day I said 'why not?' and bought one. I ended up liking it, and now I have a panty collection that would make my father die of embarrassment." Rin's eyes became sad, but she smiled and Kagome simply thought that she must have imagined it.
Kagome smiled and reached out to touch a deep dark purple satin pair, that looked very elegant and brought the word 'Seduction' immediately to mind, only to withdraw her hand before she touched it. "They are pretty. But their very expensive. I don't have very much money, and spending the little I do on one pair of panties makes me cringe. What's this place called again?" Kagome scanned the richly furnished store, that had expensive plush love seats were husbands and boyfriends could sit while their girls shopped the store. It was so elegant and lavish that Kagome couldn't believe that it was part of the mall. She had never really explored the mall, so she didn't know what she expected but she knew that it hadn't of been this.
"It's just like Victoria's Secret, but a little more. . .rich. And sexy. Ever since I started to date Sesso, or as he would say "courting," he's taken me here. At first he would just sit on the couch and let me roam, but as we became closer he would help me pick them out." She smiled at the fond memory, and it lit her dark eyes to a warm honey. "It's called 'Athena's Treasure'. It started in Greece and just spread. It's what Sesso would call high class." Rin picked up the skimpy little pair, of barely-there panties and laughed again. "Or at least high priced."
Kagome laughed with Rin, surprised that she felt so at ease. Sango came up next to them and smiled. "Have you seen the new stock? This season's theme is underwater seduction. You know, mermaids swimming while wearing the new bras? There actually very nice. I'm buying three pairs of matching bra and underwear." Then she held up her picks, which shimmered like water and had the subtle colors of water in the tropics. They were much less daring than the one Rin had held up, but even more beautiful.
"What have you picked out, Kagome? This may sound a little weird, but I love seeing what kind of underwear women pick out." At Kagome's startled look Sango laughed, a deep full laugh that displayed her love of life. "I do! You can find out so much by what a woman wears under the clothes that everyone can see. Take for instance Rin." Sango held out her hand for Rin's selections, which she handed over with a bemused smile. "On the outside people see a polite, soft spoken, happy young girl." Rin frowned when Sango said 'girl' and looked like she was about to object to such a title, but Sango waved her hand to quiet her. "I'm sorry, but they do. You look very young is all, and when you get older you'll be thanking every god you know for that. Now," Sango cleared her throat and held up the bright blue lacey thong that Rin had handed her. "What does her underwear tell us? The bold cut and color tells us she is decisive, and though may be shy on the outside, she really isn't. The lace shows her femininity, and her fragility. And no, the two are not the same." She glared at Kagome as if to dare to defy her. When it became obvious that Kagome wasn't going to disagree, she nodded her head and turned back to the object under discussion. "Again, the color is bold, a color that you cannot hide easily. But blue is a royal color, that leans toward integrity, and loyalty. But it also has a sensuous side to it, and the material, silk, also displays that. So in short, Rin is a honorable person, who is trustworthy, and her personality is bold, though you may not see it right away, because like her beautiful underwear, she hides that, too." Sango did a little bow and handed Rin back her underwear.
Kagome laughed but felt slightly uncomfortable that something as simple as a pair of panties could reveal so much about her. She now eyed the assortment of pieces around her with further anxiety than what simply the price conjured. Briefly she wondered what it meant if you were going comando, for that was how she was at the moment.
"Oh, don't mind Sango. She took a few psychology courses last summer for fun and now she thinks she can tell the character of anyone that she meets by simply their panties. Though why their panties I have no idea." Rin rolled her eyes at the absurdity of it as she took back her panties.
"You can tell by the underwear because that's what people don't show the whole damn public. It's strictly for them, it's their secret and they get to choose to share." But Sango seemed to see that the subject made Kagome uncomfortable and she dropped it. "Where are the boys again?"
Before Rin or Kagome could answer Izayoi came up behind Sango and answered her. "They went to the outdoor store on the other side of the mall, so that we can have some privacy." But it was only so Kagome could have privacy, but no one seemed to mind. "So, Kagome, what have you picked out? Maybe something from 'Underwater Seduction', or maybe the 'Delectable Desire' line. Rin favors that. Personally, I love 'Loving Embrace'." She smiled kindly, but her neatly trimmed eyebrows rose when she saw that Kagome didn't have anything in her hands.
Kagome fidgeted and looked back at the deep dark purple panties. "Everything is beautiful here, but I can't afford this."
All three of the women standing next to her made noises of disgust and started to talk all at once.
"Who says you are going to pay!"
"My husband owns this-"
"Inuyasha would never!"
Kagome half listened to what they were saying, but most of her attention had been captured by the four figures that had entered the shop. Or, more accurately, by one in particular. Rin, Sango, and Izayoi were still talking when Inutashio came up behind them and spoke. "Well? Are you four done? I want to get on the road as soon as possible. And I want to make a quick stop before we leave the city."
Rin smiled politely at Inutashio and discreetly hid her panties behind her back, as did Sango. Izayoi just smiled at her husband and shook her head. "It seems that Kagome believes that she has to pay for her clothes that she gets."
All four of the men scowled down at Kagome, and strangely, all four looked exactly alike in that second. Oh, Inuyasha, Inutashio, and Sessomaru looking alike wasn't a surprise with their strong family resemblances, but Miroku, dark haired, dark eyed, pervert Miroku, looked like them. That was what she thought was weird. With his dark hair and dark violet eyes he should of looked the exact opposite of them. But he didn't. He looked as if he had been born into their family, though Kagome couldn't explain why she thought this.
So intent she was on studying their faces that she didn't hear what Inutashio had been saying. "What?" She asked oh so eloquently.
Inutashio's frown increased and he stared hard at her. "You're part of my pack, Kagome, you have been since you were a little girl chasing after my youngest son. The males take care of the females, Kagome, that's how it's been for thousands of years and that's how it's going to stay. And very soon you will become an official member of this pack, through the eyes of all demons and through the law." Kagome looked at him in surprise and Izayoi stepped beside her husband, wrapping an arm around his waist.
She smiled kindly at Kagome, then looked up at the surrounding party and, taking the hint, they all moved away, giving them privacy. When they were gone she looked back at Kagome and a sad smile had claimed her features. "Your mother and I were very good friends. Ever since You and Inuyasha met in school, we had to get to know each other and we became very good friends. When she had rescued Inuyasha from that mob of protesters, I owed her more than I could ever repay. And I told her so." Kagome saw Inuyasha turn just so, as if to get a better hearing, and she knew that even though he was on the opposite side of the store, he could hear as well as if he was standing right next to her. "She said that there was something that I could do, though we both hoped that I would never have to do any such thing. She asked me if Inutashio and I would be willing to take you and your brother in if anything happened to her or your father. Both Inutashio and I were honored by her request and we accepted. But the years slipped away from us a little too fast, and before I knew it, it had been almost a year since I talked to Minori. And then the accident. . ." Izayoi's eyes misted over and she looked at Kagome without really seeing her.
Inutashio looked sad but he was holding himself together a little better. "We heard that your grandpa took you to America, but we didn't hear anything about Souta. Some believed that Souta died with your parents because no one saw a baby with you when you left. We were forced to believe that, too. We couldn't find you, even though I hired very good detectives. It seemed that your grandpa didn't want you to be found. I've kept ears out for you, but I hadn't heard that you had come back." A frown crossed his ageless face, as if he didn't know how that was possible. "But now that you are we are going to honor your mothers wishes. If you accept the terms of what that will mean." Inutashio looked around the store and seemed to remember where they were. "We will continue this conversation once we get where we're going." He nodded his head as if he needed to confirm what he just said. Then he glared down at Kagome as if Izayoi and he hadn't just sprung a boat load of surprise confetti down on her and said, "You are getting four hundred dollars worth of merchandise from this store. And then my girls here will take you to another store were you can buy new clothes. Inuyasha told me about how many clothes you have, Kagome, and I refuse to let it continue, or for you to pay for it." Then he walked away, and his three girls, as he liked to call them, appeared at her side and helped her pick out that four hundred dollars of merchandise.
Kagome was shocked and bewildered and slightly frightened. Everyone thought Souta was dead? It was on the tip of her tongue to tell them that Souta wasn't, that he was fine and healthy and doing well in school, the last she heard. That he was in America with their Aunt, living a happy, normal life where there was no one to fear and you didn't have to become accustomed to your sister's screams. But after a second the impulse passed and Kagome decided, that for now, it was better if everyone in Japan believed him dead. He would be safer that way.
As Sango, Rin and Izayoi showed her around the store, passing on hints and commenting about their favorite lines of underwear, Kagome thought that this moment was quite humorous. That one of the most important events in her life had happened in a panty store, standing next to those red g-string underwear that Rin had liked so much, while she was told that she would be joining the family of one of the most powerful demons in the world. For even in America the Takahashi's were spoke of with respect because of their long line of powerful leaders and them being lords, but also for their business sense. In little less than seven years they had become one of the richest corporations world wide.
Kagome nodded mutely at a pair of green silk thongs, without really seeing what it was that she was nodding at. She suppose that many people would be down right pissed if some one came barging into your life, that had been fairly independent before, and told you what was going to happen and when. She she suppose many would be mad, but for some strange reason, it didn't. Maybe she was just tired of everything being piled up on her shoulders. Maybe it felt good to be looked after and cared for. She really didn't know, but she was willing to find out.
Checking out was fairly quick after Rin, Sango and Izayoi helped. Kagome couldn't believe that she was carrying four hundred dollars worth of underwear in her hands. This was the most money she's held since. . . Well, ever. She kept glancing down at her hands, and then back at her companions. Inuyasha was walking beside her, and with a smile, he took the many bags from her grasp and flung them over his shoulder, as if they were nothing but a dingy old backpack. Kagome gave him a tremulous smile, and hesitantly, almost as if she was afraid, she gently touched his wrist, circling her hand around it. And when he didn't do anything but flex his wrist, she dipped her hand into his, where he clamped on it like a snake waiting for the perfect moment. Or, maybe more accurate, as a desperate lover. But that thought made her slightly uncomfortable, so she pushed it out of her mind and became contented by knowing that he wasn't going to let go any time soon.
The mall took longer than Inutashio had hoped for, as he kept repeating over and over in the car. Izayoi just smiled at her husband and held his hand as he drove.
Sango kept sneaking glances at Kagome and Inuyasha. She had never before seen her friend as happy as he was when he was next to Kagome. And that was saying something considering that he happy after being shot at, and his family being attacked. Inuyasha seemed to be considering Kagome more than just a friend and she briefly wondered if Kikyou knew about this. Sango didn't like Kikyou, but she had been forced to endure her since she had starting dating Inuyasha a little more than two years ago. But even though she didn't like Kikyou, she hoped that Inuyasha had told her that it's off before moving onto a new girl. Sango had gone through her fair share of cheating boyfriends and didn't think that anyone really deserved it.
It had damn near broke her, finding out that her last boyfriend, Hoken, had jumped in the closet with Miss Loren T. Pickle, a transfer student from Canada. She had felt mortified when she was told about how he came stumbling out the closet three minutes before he went and picked her up from her third period class so that they could go out back and make out during lunch. She know knew what those smirks and quieted laughter was about when they walked down the halls.
Miroku and Inuyasha had been the ones to tell her what was up. And only after they had beat up Hoken. Sango shook her head at the sad memory. Damn near broke her, since she had been feeling strangely attracted to him that she hadn't felt with any of her other boyfriends. An attraction that she had only felt for a friend.
Sango smiled down at the sleeping Miroku, who was currently using her shoulder as a pillow. Looking around to make sure no wandering eyes would see, she gently moved his hair out of his face, so that she could see the full beauty. She guessed that it was strange to think of him as beautiful, when he was so very masculine, but she could find no other word to describe him.
Gently, so soft that it was barely a touch, she let her fingers wander down his face and to outline his lips. He had a firm mouth, that would demand much if they were to kiss. They bowed and were lush and tinted pink. Sango saw that there was a patch of moisture on his bottom lip, as if he had swiped his tongue across it a short while ago. Looking up to make sure that no one would see, she dared to slide her finger across his lip and to slowly rub that moisture into his bottom lip.
It was a daring move, unlike anything she had done before, and certainly nothing she would do again if he was awake. She watched transfixed as her finger slid across the smooth, soft surface of his lip and reveled in the wet slide across his velvet lip. The others fell away from her world, though they were but feet from her, and all that she could see, hear, feel, or touch was him.
And then he ruined it, but at the same time heightened the pleasure for her, by softly moaning her name. She snatched her hand away so fast that it jarred him, and slowly he woke up, blinking, and looking around as if he couldn't comprehend where he was, or maybe where the comfort and gentle touch in his dream went.
A blush tinted her cheeks, and when she stared forward and saw three pairs of golden eyes looking at her with their white eyebrows raised she ducked her head and refused to look up.
Kagome looked behind her when she felt Inuyasha tense beside her, and then immediately turned back around to stare straight ahead. Sango was looking at Miroku with such a loving look that it felt indecent to look at them, while she traced his face with loving strokes. She chanced a glance at Inuyasha and saw a small, barely visible smile curving his lips. Looking ahead she saw that Inutashio and Sessomaru knew about the small display of affection happening in the back seat. Then a fierce blush rushed up her face when she heard Miroku's moan "Sango" in his sleep. Though soft enough that Rin nor Izayoi would hear it from their seats farther up in the huge SUV, all three of the demons looked back at the couple.
Kagome felt sympathy for Sango; she had never been in love but knew that moments like what Sango just had, where it grew so large in your heart that it spreads onto your face, were rare. And so to take some of that attention off of her, she put herself up for sacrifice. She was going to start a conversation. Clearing her throat and wiping her sweating hands on her brand new jeans, she ventured to say, "Sessomaru, uh, I know you graduated, um, do, uh, go to college?" She ended her question a little faintly, but she blamed that on Sessomaru. As soon as she said his name he had turned to look at her with those cold eyes and. . . And she used to like this? She know officially hated making small talk, but it was too late now to take back her noble intentions, no matter ho much she wished she could blurt out 'Yah, so are like, Miroku and Sango a thing? Because that moan sounded pretty convincing!' and then she would sigh in peace as every eye turned toward the back seat.
But Sessomaru seemed to see how difficult this was for her, and miraculously, he smiled at her. "Yes, Miko, I go to college." When Kagome kept looking at him but he didn't say anything more she waited patiently for him to continue. He kept staring at her, does that mean she should say something? Sessomaru sighed and shook his head. "This is where you comment on your own life, Kagome. Or ask for further detail about my academic career."
"Why?" A frown crossed her face and confusion entered her eyes. "You know I want to know more, why don't you just spit it out?"
Sessomaru frowned also, at least as much of a frown he would let cross his face, and stared at the girl. "It is polite conversation. We both speak, and have the same amount of speaking time. It is simply polite." His own voice seemed to falter and he looked to his brother, "Did she always have this much trouble with talking? I don't recall that." He then looked back at Kagome as if she was an oddity he found very interesting.
Kagome reddened and looked out the window at the dark world flashing by her window. Yes, even she remembered talking as if there was no tomorrow as a child. In fact Sessomaru had once asked if she knew how to be silent. It seemed that Naraku had left more scars than she could see; she wondered what else he had stolen from her besides her ability to interact normally with other people.
Inuyasha frowned at his brother for his insensitivity; image him being mad about that, when he does it without thinking. But it seemed as if Sessomaru needed no reproof for he had seen his mistake, his eyes for once showing chagrin. "I am currently taking business. I find it to be rather enjoyable." Kagome nodded but didn't offer up anything else to say, instead just watching as the landscape past by her. "What are you planning to do after school? This is your senior year, correct?"
With a dazed expression on her face, Kagome nodded and all she could do was stare at him for a few seconds. "You know what? I never thought I'd make it to my senior year." Then she turned her head and watched out the window for the rest of the ride.But though Kagome didn't look to hard into her own statement, everyone in the car was drowning in it. For it sounded as if she hadn't expected to live, did it not? The men in the car became tensed and anger flew off them in waves. The women looked at the girl with compassion, and Sango was willing to go to battle for her. They all were. But Kagome seemed oblivious to this, and fell asleep against the window, with the cold glass pressing against her cheek. Carefully, Inuyasha pulled her away from the window and instead let her use his shoulder as a pillow. The next time Kagome would wake she would be somewhere where her life would forever be changed.
End of Chapter 11
HELP!! I'm sorry I took so long, and I'm sorry this is so short, but I need help! I don't know what should happen next!
Please read this and share your ideas with me. Other wise I might be forced to discontinue this story because I have no idea what to have happen. I'll keep trying to figure this out, but your advice, my dear readers, would sorely help. Even if you just have a comment on how I could improve a character, I'd love you for it!