Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story and all the poems in it belong to me.
Baby Funk and The Painted Lady requested something Inuyasha could be happy about, so here it is.
A Haiku
Assignment # 11:
Write three haiku poems. Generally these poems are written about nature, including the seasons. However, you may write about whatever you would like. A haiku contains seventeen syllables and three lines. Five syllables in the first and third line, and seven syllables in the second.
"A haiku."
"Bless you."
Kagome sighed heavily as she adjusted the straps on her backpack. "That joke wasn't funny the first time you said it, Miroku." She shook her head in exasperation at his playfulness, then turned her attention back to Sango. "The next kind of poem I have to write is a haiku."
"I have a haiku for you," grumbled the demon slayer as a vein throbbed in her forehead.
"Touch me once more monk
I'll cut off your stupid hand
And feed it to you."
Kagome counted the syllables as Sango's hand flew in Miroku's direction. "You're right, Sango. That WAS a haiku!"
WHACK!
"What's a haiku?" asked Shippo as he leaped from Miroku's shoulder as the body fell.
The miko opened her arms for the fox demon to jump into them. "A haiku is a kind of a poem. There are five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third line. My teacher says that they are usually about nature, but we're allowed to write about whatever we want."
"Can I write a haiku?" He began counting on his fingers and mumbling.
"Sure," Kagome smiled.
"You Inuyasha
Are a mean and stupid jerk
Dumb Inuyasha."
Bap bap bap.
"Inuyasha…"
"What? He was askin' for it!" It was difficult to argue with that.
"KAGOME!"
"Inuyasha…" Shippo's eyes got a mischievous glint in them that kept the 's' word from escaping Kagome's lips. So instead she took a deep breath and counted to ten. Three times. "Violence is not necessary, Inuyasha. If you are unhappy with Shippo, tell him, but don't hit."
Shippo frowned and leapt onto Miroku's shoulder again now that he was back on his feet and whispered to him. "I bet she learned that in that stupid anger management class they made her take."
"Quite likely."
"Think she's giving up 'sitting' Inuyasha?"
Miroku grinned. "I highly doubt that."
Inuyasha wished that people would quit forgetting about his enhanced hearing. Then again, it was more likely that they were just trying to get him so mad that he'd say something stupid and have Kagome 'sit' him. He clamped his jaw shut and tried to pretend they didn't exist.
"I have another haiku," called Shippo as he bounced back to Kagome. Sometimes the kit made it really difficult to pretend…
"Dumb Inuyasha
I hope Kagome sits you.
Stupid idiot."
"Shippo…" the miko warned the kit with the tone of her voice.
"Shut up, you moron," growled Inuyasha at the fox demon, "I'll pound you into the ground, and leave you to rot!"
For a moment it looked like Kagome was going to yell at them (though probably just him). But then she froze and her fingers began twitching. After a moment she squealed happily, "You just made up a haiku!"
The anger disappeared from his golden eyes, replaced by confusion. "What? No I didn't." But hey, she wasn't mad at him, so he wasn't about to complain.
"You did!" She laughed and stopped walking, taking his hand to stop him as well. He looked down at her hand on his and he was suddenly paralyzed. "Listen…" She recited the poem and ticked off the syllables on her fingertips.
"Shut up you moron
I'll pound you into the ground
And leave you to rot"
"A very poetic soul, indeed."
"Shut up, monk!" Inuyasha turned his face away to hide his pinkening cheeks. He snatched his hand away from Kagome's, who was practically dancing around, and he continued walking. Who knew something as stupid as seventeen syllables would make her so giddy?
"At least Inuyasha is trying to help Kagome by writing a poem for her."
"I didn't wri…
"Would you like me to write a poem for you, my lady Sango?"
"..te no poem for Kagome!" protested the ignored hanyou.
Sango blushed and looked away. "That isn't what I said, monk. We were making up poems for Kagome to help her with her homework."
"I didn't write no poem for…"
"Shut UP, Inuyasha!" Kagome took his hand again and pulled him to a stop a little ways from Sango and Miroku. "They are about to have a 'moment' here."
He cocked his head to one side quizzically. "A moment?"
"Shush!" She grabbed a lock of his hair and pulled his head towards hers. "And don't look! Well… don't look like you're looking!"
Inuyasha shushed. He was used to the spying game. Most of the time he faked disgust or apathy, but mostly he was curious. It wasn't like he was ever taught how to woo a girl. And Miroku was the perfect teacher. Mostly he taught what NOT to do.
They watched Miroku drop down to one knee and took Sango's hand between both of his. Inuyasha glanced at Kagome to make sure she was okay after he heard her sharp intake of breath. But didn't hear her exhale. Was she even breathing anymore? Not a muscle was moving, it was like she was frozen. He opened his mouth to ask what was wrong with her, but both of her hands wrapped around his hand and squeezed, and suddenly he couldn't remember how to speak.
"You, my beauty, shine
With such grace, strength, and honor
You leave me breathless."
Silence.
Inuyasha frowned at Kagome. She was gazing at the stupid monk with those soft sparkling eyes and sighing a long dreamy sigh. She let go of his hand to clasp hers right above her heart. For one moment he was afraid she was going to cry those confusing tears she sometimes shed when she was happy. He was afraid he was going to have to hurt Miroku if he got any of her happy tears. The monk lucked out and the mist in her eyes was quickly blinked away.
"Oh Miroku," breathed Sango with a dreamy look of her own. "That was…"
"…beautiful," sighed Kagome.
Sango's eyes suddenly narrowed and her lips turned downwards. "You sure thought that up quick."
"I, too, have a poetic soul."
She put her hands on her hips and glared menacingly. "Just how many women have you used that poem on?"
"Er…"
"How. Many?"
"Sango, my love…"
Kagome sighed again, but not a dreamy one. Inuyasha wondered at the disappointment on her face before shrugging it off. Ha! She was disappointed in the monk! Good. Maybe now in all the excitement she'll forget that she was getting irritated with him.
"Kagomeee…" called Shippo with a toothy grin. Then again, it looked like she was about to get a reminder.
The miko smiled, but rubbed her temples. It was a sure sign that her patience was starting to wear thin. This was not a good sign. Nope, not a good sign at all. Inuyasha was torn between shutting up the fox or arguing his side of the matter with Kagome. The dog demon bent his knees and prepared for impact.
"Whose poem are you going to use?" Shippo asked.
Crisis averted. Inuyasha straightened and began walking again. Kagome followed with Shippo now perched on her shoulder again. Sango walked beside Kirara after tossing Miroku's unconscious body across the fire cat's back.
"Er… I probably won't use any of the actually."
"You don't like my poem?" Shippo's eyes watered and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Kagome spoiled him far too much. Little brat. Always got his way in everything.
"I did!" she assured him. "But to use a poem that someone else wrote would be cheating. I couldn't do that."
"You turned in Inuyasha's poem," argued the kit.
Inuyasha cringed. He really wished that they wouldn't bring that poem up anymore. Every single time they did Kagome's eye would begin twitching and her aura would flame, regardless of how politely she smiled. She sure has funny reactions to poetry. His other one gave her a nervous tic, and the haiku he accidentally wrote sent her dancing. Strange how those seventeen syllables affected her.
"Yes…" She took a long slow breath and bared her teeth, though it was likely she was just trying to smile. "But I think it is best if I make sure to write my own assignments from now on."
"What will you write about?" asked Sango.
Kagome shrugged. "Maybe the sun or the stars or something."
"Booooring," complained Shippo. "What can you write about the stupid sun? That it's hot and yellow?"
"Feh," Inuyasha continued walking without looking back. "Don't be an idiot. The sun is more than just hot and yellow."
"Inuyasha is right," agreed Kagome. "The sun keeps us warm and it gives us light, but it also makes plants grow. When it comes up you know that you have just started a brand new day filled with a million possibilities! When it goes down it paints the sky so beautifully. It's a wonderful time to reflect on your life and the future."
"You can see your enemies better," added Inuyasha with a sharp nod.
"… yeah… that too." Kagome smiled/grimaced.
"Speaking of the sun," came Miroku's ever cheerful voice, "We should make camp soon before it sets."
Inuyasha looked back to see that the monk was now sitting astride Kirara and was trying to coax Sango into riding as well. Looked like he gained consciousness. Lucky he was so resilient.
A quick sniff of the air let the dog demon know that it was safe to make camp. Kagome would be disappointed that there wasn't a hot springs nearby, though he still hadn't figured out why she kept trying to cover up her own scent with those perfumed soaps. Her own scent was so much better. Closing his eyes for a moment, he inhaled again, sifting past the other scents to get to hers.
When he opened his eyes he found Kagome staring right at him with a strange smile on her face. Did she know that he was smelling her? Panic made him open his mouth to say something mean to throw her off the trail. But then she smiled at him. It was the kind of smile that could warm you up, just like the sunshine she was so fond of. The kind that made you feel stupid. So stupid that you can't remember what it was you were going to say. Or what you were just thinking. Or what the heck your name was!
"Feh." That would have to do until he put some more distance between them and his brain was functioning again.
Things got even more confusing when her eyes widened and her lips parted. It was amazing really. They only moved a tiny fraction, yet he felt an irresistible force, stronger than anything he ever felt before. And it was drawing him towards her. Well, towards her lips at any rate.
"I've got it!" she cried happily.
Inuyasha stumbled and the force was gone. When he was back in control he backed up warily. What did she have? And what in the world almost just happen? And why did he feel so disappointed?
The disappointed still hung heavy as Kagome tore off her backpack and began tossing items out.
THE RAMEN!
Inuyasha and Shippo ran to catch each flying cup of noodles as Kagome continued to empty out her backpack. When she pulled out her notebook and pen she sat down and began writing furiously.
"Kagome!" growled Inuyasha as he shook a cup at her. "You almos…"
"Shh." Silver ears flattened against his skull. She SHUSHED HIM!
"Kagome, what ar…"
"Shh!" Inuyasha grinned. Shippo got shushed too.
"Lady Kagome, are you wo…"
Kagome snarled, looking up only long enough to silence the group with a glance that promised certain death to the next person who opened their mouth before going back to her homework.
Kagome wrote.
Then erased.
Then wrote.
The rest of the group ate their dinner and got ready for bed as Kagome continued this process. Shippo was snoring lightly by the time Kagome finished, and Miroku have a slightly swollen cheek and three new bumps on the head. Kagome stretched and yawned. But looked otherwise thrilled to be finished with the assignment.
"Here." Inuyasha shoved a cup of barely warm noodles into her hands.
"Thanks."
Out of habit she blew on the noodles before taking her first bite. This amused the dog demon. He sat beside her and watched her eat out of the corner of his eye while he pretended to look at the stars. He saw her look at him and blush, which made him blush as he thought about the reasons why she must be blushing. Then he wondered when he developed such a vivid imagination.
"When the sun comes up…" Kagome stopped speaking and cleared her throat. She peeked at him, and when she saw that he wasn't going to look directly at her, she continued speaking.
"When the sun comes up
And the stars have left the sky
You're still by my side.
Through the most fierce days
And the hardest, cruelest nights
You're still by my side
When the sun goes down
And the stars have filled the sky
You're still by my side."
Inuyasha didn't know what to say.
"My haikus."
His throat had tightened too much to respond with anything more than a grunt. Instead he leaned back on his arms, moving his right hand slightly, just enough to touch her fingers. When her hand shifted slightly, moving more fully underneath his, he braved a glance at her. She smiled at him.
"Did you give it a title?" he voice was hoarse, but he managed to get the words out.
She nodded.
"Until The End of Time."
"Forever," he whispered as he watched the stars and inhaled deeply.
ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo
Author's Note:
Thanks for your reviews and suggestions everyone! They are very inspirational. If I haven't used a suggestion yet it doesn't mean that I'm not going to. Sometimes I have to wait for the muses to get their act together. Hope you enjoyed the poems. :O)
And special thanks to Saxifrage, Nexa, and AnimeMiko15 for suggesting the haikus.