Disclaimer : Well, Inuyasha is never mine. :-
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Chapter 11 : Soften
The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about at all…
Silence filled the room…
Knowing that serious look on their sister's face, even the most noisiest Shouta and Shippo kept their mouths close. The two boys silently chewed their food, exchanging their gazes.
Meanwhile, Rin – the little girl, who was always the subject of Sesshomaru and Kagome's conversation - was opening her mouth in surprise. Her eyes was sticking to Kagome dazedly.
The oldest one, that meant Jaken, slightly shivered. He swallowed silently. His mind was busy thinking a way to help the situation, while observing his master carefully.
The silence was more and more awkward each moment passed by…
Sesshomaru leaned against his chair. Long fingers lingered on the table, while slowly running his hand through his silver hair.
That look in her eyes… was so.. determined…
An almost unnoticeable sigh escaped from his lips…
She drew in one last long breath, titled her head a little, before blurting out…
Anyway, she was always the type of doing whatever she thought was right…
"Rin can be illiterate" – she started with dry voice – "She can know nothing about Math or Physics, or Literature and all…"
She paused for a while, her gaze turned to the little girl, and her face soften a little…
Sesshomaru studied her, said nothing.
"But…" – she continued slowly – "she can not be lonely… It's the worst feeling on Earth"
Golden orbs fluttered…
"The worst…" – she emphasized the word while nodding her head – " you know, the worst… being all alone…"
Rin looked at Shouta and Shippo. They gave her their reassuring smiles. She bit her lips… Being all alone, eh ?
Kagome, whose eyes never left Sesshomaru, still continuing the topic.
"The only thing worse thing than being talked about isn't being talked about at all…"
Jaken swallowed hard. He sensed something different. That look on his master's face was totally different, hard to define. And even with those long years being Sesshomaru's loyal assistant, Jaken couldn't guess what would happen next. He held his breath, waiting…
"You know that feeling too well, right ?" – Kagome finished by a question, rather a wonder, because she knew he would never answer.
Still wearing that emotionless mask, Sesshomaru showed no reaction. He was just all eyes at Kagome. That cold golden orbs was like seeing through her yet she calmly accepted, and stared directly into his eyes.
Ah, silence, again…
She waited, and waited, and waited…
Just that one reason, please…
"What do you want ?" – his monotone voice spoke up, almost startled every one in the room.
Finally…
Kagome's eyes lit up.
"Rin ?" – he slowly turned to the little girl.
Rin squirmed, swallowing hard. She looked at her brother, then Kagome, then her new friends.
"I… don't… know…"
"Come on, Rin" – Shippo patted on Rin's back – "It will be fun. So much fun. Going to school, talking with friends, playing in breaks, and so on…"
"Though doing homework is quite troublesome…" – Shouta smiled at her. Her heart suddenly felt lighter.
Rin turned to look at Kagome. The older girl nodded her head, and gave her an encouraging smile. A smile that she learned to trust whole-heartedly.
Being all alone… no one to talk to… no one to share… no one…
With one last inhale, she nodded at her brother.
"I want to go to school."
Kagome's face brightened, she gave out a relaxing sigh.
Shippo yelled happily, he blinked his eye at Rin, ensured her, again, that it would be so much fun.
Shouta, on the other hand, looked at Sesshomaru. He said with his serious yet childish tone of voice :
"Don't worry. We'll take care of Rin at school"
Sesshomaru smirked because of that innocent sentence.
Kagome laughed lightly, she wrapped her arms around Rin, whispered :
"That's good, Rin, really good."
Her smile was bright. Her eyes sparkled. Rin cuddled into her arms happily. A so much peaceful sight that could even soften Sesshomaru's heart.
And for a moment, a soft, so soft smile, which was noticed by no one, appeared on his lips…
:::Chapter 11: Soften:::
Kagome stuck her head out of the window, enjoyed the cool breeze that was lingering on her face, gently blowing her raven hair. Her mouth mumbled a cheerful melody.
"You look happy" – a familiar voice spoke up behind her. She turned her head around to see a silver-haired man with a huge smile on his face.
"Inuyasha" – Kagome blurted out, her smile got even wider – "guess what… I'm successful"
"Successful ?" – Inuyasha repeated Kagome's words with a surprise tone, his eyebrows raising.
"Yes" – she claimed proudly – "Sesshomaru has allowed Rin to go to school"
Inuyasha's expression changed when that name came out from Kagome's lips. His face darkened until her sentence's meaning hit him. His eyes suddenly snapped open.
"WHAT ?" – a surprise sound was spitted out from him – "You mean… he didn't let her go to school before ?"
"You don't know ?"
Upon hearing Kagome's answer, he let out a long sigh. He scratched his messy hair, snarled to himself :
"Just like him… that arrogance…"
Inuyasha leant on the wall, his face showed a marked expression mixed with unpleasantness and sadness. Well, who wouldn't want to get along well with his own family? Sesshomaru was his brother, half-brother for exact. Although he never acted like one, but he was still his brother, anyway. His own flesh and blood. And knowing that his presence had turned the Inutaisho's family upside down made him really depressing. Why did everything have to turn out like this ?
Seeing Inuyasha was deep in thought, Kagome sighed lightly. Although her father passed away long ago, but she was proud to say that she had a happy family. So happy that she always thought of and wanted to come back. Therefore, she didn't really know how Inuyasha, and Rin, and… Sesshomaru felt. However, she was sure that it wasn't an easy feeling, and she couldn't stand seeing that. What is the point in disliking your own family anyway ?
She slowly raised her hand to touch Inuyasha's shoulder. For comfort. He tensed a little, and then turned to look at her, with his sparkling golden eyes which looked exactly the same as Sesshomaru's. They're really brothers…
She smiled while punching in the air, and said with a sure tone :
"I'll try… For you, and Rin, and even Sesshomaru… I'll try my best"
Inuyasha raised his eyebrows, stilled for a while, then uttered a laugh :
"What're you going to do ? Or rather… planning ?"
"Don't know yet" – she smiled shyly, but still with high spirit – "But… I'll try. Especially for you"
Her face showed a tint of pink after saying that. She jerked her hand back, played with her hair nervously. Inuyasha also scratched his nose perplexedly. He drew his look away from her while slowly rubbing her head, uttered :
"That's really just like you"
:::Chapter 11:::
This was really unexpected…
Really unexpected…
Sango's eyes goggled, her mouth opened wide in surprise.
Kagome was no different. Her gaze stuck to a luxurious black car that was parking in front of her school. That car was somehow… familiar…
Inuyasha's smile disappeared. He tensed a little, and then gave a stern look to the silver-haired man who was sitting behind the wheel.
The only innocent one was Miroku. He was kicking his soccer ball and whistling cheerfully, not even realizing the sudden silence.
And the emotionless one, as always, was Sesshomaru. He lowered the car window, not showing any reaction.
"What are you doing here ?" – Inuyasha was the first one who spoke. He almost gritted his teeth.
Sensing the abnormal atmosphere, Kagome tugged Inuyasha's arm, she shook her head at him, showing her unpleasantness. Then, she turned to Sesshomaru, and gave him a welcoming smile:
"What are you doing here ?"
"What's the different between our questions anyway ?" – Inuyasha winced, said grumblingly.
"The way we ask" – she pouted her lips at him, replied simply.
Sesshomaru chose that moment to speak. He jerked his head lightly at Kagome, commanded coldly :
"Get on"
"Huh ?" – Kagome made a surprise sound. She blinked, pointed to herself with an unsure expression.
Giving her a quick glance, he started the engine, said nothing.
And she guessed it was a "yes", somehow.
Well, it was just like him…
She shrugged her shoulders at her friends, smiled, and then got on the car.
It was until that then Miroku stopped paying attention into his ball. He scratched his head, and asked innocently :
"What was all that for ?"
:::Chapter 11: Soften:::
The silence started to made Kagome feel uncomfortable. She wriggled on the seat, trying to earn Sesshomaru's attention.
No use, as always…
Until she couldn't stand it any longer, and had to break the silence.
"What's wrong ?" – she started, thought for a moment, and continued – "Or should I ask "What do you need ?" ?"
No answer…
"Hey,…" – she bit her lips unpleasantly – "I'm asking you."
No reaction…
That angered Kagome, of course. She was not an obedient one. She could become a devil, if she wanted to, and had to, and when she became impatient. Therefore, without thinking, she stood up, leaned over to Sesshomaru's seat, and actually yelled into his ear.
"HEYYYYYYYYYYY…"
The car immediately staggered as the result. One of his hand left the wheel to cover his ear. He winced a little, glowered at the girl who was smiling satisfyingly on the back seat.
"Stop making a fuss" – he raised his voice unpleasantly.
"Then stop ignore me." – She reared her head at him, arms crossed over her chest – "You're the one who come to get me for… whatever I don't even know yet. And where are you taking me to ?"
He knitted his eyebrows. And before he even answered, she continued while beaming brightly :
"However, you know how to raise your voice, too. I think that you just have that monotone of voice. Good, you should share your feelings more…"
He raised his eyebrows because of her words. His eyes looked up at the car-mirror to observe her. And all he saw was just she clasping her hands together, and smiled radiantly. Just like a kid who've just discovered a very interesting thing.
He brushed back his long hair, exhaled lightly. That girl… what's with her ? Saying whatever she wants, doing whatever she feels like. And most of all, showing no scare of him at all.
"You know him ?" – Sesshomaru spoke after a while.
"Who ?" – Kagome blurted out, although deep down she knew who he was talking about – "Inuyasha, eh ?"
He nodded.
"Yes, long before I know you, and Rin"
"And I know he's your brothers, too" – she added after thinking for a while.
He remained silent, not really showing any reaction.
"And… I know you two don't get along well, too"
"You seem to know too much" – he commented, using his signal tone of voice.
She nodded her head, faked a laugh, replied innocently :
"Yeah, there is just one thing I don't know…"
…
"What's the point in disliking your own family, anyway ?"
Sesshomaru stilled a little because of her sudden question. He tightened his grip on the wheel, and braked suddenly.
"Good question" – he turned to stare at her, then looked away after a short moment.
"But, what's the point in…" – he stopped in the middle, and emphasized – "betraying your own family, anyway ?"
He felt her flounder. Smirking, he started the engine again.
The car dashed off on the street…
"But…" – she protested – "… what's the word "forgive" for ? It has its reason to exist, right ?"
"Well, what does the world "unforgivable" exist for ?"
"Why keep resenting while you can forgive ?"
"Why must this Sesshomaru forgive some one who has betrayed him ?"
She was about to say more when he suddenly braked. She almost fell out of her seat. When she finally redressed her balance, she looked around to see that they were in front of her house.
"Don't tell me…" – she spoke confusingly – "… you came to take me home…"
"Are you dreaming ?" – he smirked.
She blushed lightly, and winced :
"So… why ? Why did you come to school & take me home ?"
He shrugged his shoulder, then turned his head to look at her, his hand gave out to her.
"What's this ?" – she blinked her eyes. Once. Twice. Her eyes stuck to the cell phone on his hand confusingly.
"Take this." – he demanded simply.
"Why ?" – her mouth curved into an O-shaped because of bewilderment.
"For Rin. To contact you"
"But…" – she pinched her lips, showing clearly her reluctance – "… I cant take this…"
He raised his eyebrows at her attitude.
"This is too expensive… &…" – she floundered with her words, tried to show him what she meant.
"Not for you, anyway" – he shrugged his shoulder, then flung the phone to her. Being caught off guard, she caught the phone with reflex, and winced immediately.
"Hey…" – she protested.
"Just take this" – he glared at her. That girl was really stubborn… and noisy… and all…
"See it as a present from Rin" – he said after seeing her still-stiff-face after a long while. God, was he- Sesshomaru Inutaisho- trying to cheer a girl up ?
She smiled lightly, then nodded her head.
That meant she was convinced, somehow…
And he heaved a small sigh.
_End of chapter 11_
Well, my latest chapter… ^^
Sorry 4 the long wait :D
R&R, plz.
Thanks.
Till next time.