AN:...Not even going to come up with any reasons for my horrid skills at updating on here, but here are a few... 1. Forgot my password...again, had to import stories from a backup disc, and you know...life happened...life! So so so sorry about not updating this story sooner:(...anyway here's chapter 13! Enjoy R&R!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters...it all belongs to Rumiko Takahashi!
It was the first time in a long time that they had all eaten a hearty meal. They had arrived at a relatively small, but busy village in distress during their daily travels. She was nervous about their arrival in town, fearing that the notorious members of the band of seven would cause pandemonium, especially when they came parading in with their large weapons. Surprisingly, the village chief had mistaken them for professional demon slayers and asked for their assistance.
It turned out that the village was being pestered by a infestation of spider demons that terrorized them. Once they found the nest and killed the queen the village praised them and offered to give them anything they wanted. Before they said anything, Kagome quickly requested that all they would need was room and board for the night. It was their lucky night indeed.
After their congratulatory dinner, they returned to their single room for the night. The village chief apologized for not being able to accommodate them better, but in their case beggars shouldn't be choosers.
Kagome laid down on the futon in silence, staring at the ceiling lost in thought. The guys had gone back to the village chief's house helping themselves to the free sake he was sharing. 'The last thing they need to be doing is drinking, but I guess it's okay for them to unwind a little. We had a nice meal for once…I haven't had one of those since I've been at…home…'
She sighed heavily at the thought of her family. It had been almost five months since she had last been at home. She wondered how everyone was doing. Souta would be going to the fifth grade next year, she was so proud of him. She wondered how her mother and grandpa were faring as well. She didn't even want to think about school, every time she thought about how far behind she was it put a knot in her stomach.
The door slid open and she looked over to the side to see who was entering. To her surprise it was Suikotsu. She sat up and said, "Oh, hey, where are the others?"
Suikotsu sat down in a corner with a long yawn erupting from his mouth. His raven hair was slightly messed up and his eyes were droopy. "They're still at the village chief's house…he's quite the drunkard and big brother and Jakotsu have no problem keeping up with him." he told her.
Kagome shook her head. In her time those two weren't even old enough to drink, things really were different in the feudal era. "Hm, I hope they don't get sick…they'll probably be hung-over in the morning." She laughed.
Suikotsu chuckled. "Jakotsu, maybe, but Bankotsu always holds his liquor. They won't be sick…just very loud."
If that was the case they were in for a long night. Kagome sighed again and laid back down on the futon.
Suikotsu glanced over in her direction. She seemed down about something, he didn't really know if it was his place to ask, but he did anyway. "Is there something troubling you, Kagome?"
Kagome was slightly surprised by his question. She and Suikotsu rarely spoke one on one and it was even stranger that he was concerned about her. "Um, well it's nothing serious. I was just thinking about my family…back in my time. It seems like forever since I last saw them." she confessed.
Suikotsu closed his eyes. "Hm, you mentioned once that you use a well to get home, right? Then it should be easy…where is it exactly?" He felt bad for the girl if she missed her family, but he was surprised that she waited so long to actually say something about it.
"Inuyasha's Forest…well that's what the villager's named it. Don't worry about it…it's a long way from here." Kagome said with a small yawn. "Well good night, Suikotsu."
"Good night." he replied.
It was later into the evening when they finally arrived at the village, much later. When they inquired about a room to sleep in for the evening they were told by the village chief's wife that they had given their last room away to a group of traveling demon slayers, who earlier had extinguished the pesky spider demons in the village. All they were offered was a night in their horse stables with a meal of steamed rice and tea. It was a take it or leave it deal and of course they took it.
In the horse stables, Inuyasha seemed rather uneasy all of the sudden. Perhaps he was claustrophobic. Miroku tried to get as comfortable as possible on the hay so that he could lay back and relax. Sango did the same. He was surprised that she wasn't complaining about the situation, but at least they got a meal. Miroku looked over to Inuyasha once more in confusion. "Hey, why are you pacing about…the smell, is it bothering you?" There was a slight stench of the horses lingering in the stables, but it didn't smell bad to them, but with Inuyasha's sense of smell it could be a nuisance.
Inuyasha stood by the stable door with his amber eyes scanning the area furtively. 'The stench is especially strong in this area, those bastards are here…and Kagome. This village must be full of idiots if they thought those vicious murderers were demon slayers!' he thought.
"Inuyasha? Is there something wrong?" the monk asked.
Inuyasha was so lost in thought that he hadn't even heard Miroku the first time. He turned to the monk and gave him a smug smile. "Yeah, I'm just making sure there's no suspicious activity outside." he said to get him off of his back.
"Ah, don't worry my friend. This is a village full of fine people, rest assured." Miroku said. "You should get some rest, you look uneasy."
Inuyasha sat down by the door and propped himself against the wall. Once everyone was quiet he'd be able to hear what was going on with Bankotsu and his crew.
It was a little past midnight, Kagome and Suikotsu were sleeping soundly in the small room, dimly lit by a lone candle. Their silence was abruptly ended when the dynamic duo came stumbling in with raucous and unruly laughter.
Suikotsu woke up groggily and looked at the two with a frown. Kagome heard the ruckus as well but simply turned to face the wall. She hadn't had much experience with dealing with drunk people, well except that one time her grandpa got drunk for New Years, but he just passed out.
Jakotsu had his arm draped around Bankotsu's neck for support seeing as how he was a little more inebriated than the mercenary leader. "We're back!" he announced loudly with another laugh. "You shouldn't have left so early, Suikotsu! That old guy had barrels of sake!" he said with glee.
Suikotsu grunted in annoyance as the drunken, scantily clad assassin crawled over to him and slumped his head over into his lap. Jakotsu reeked of alcohol, his eyes were glistening red and his face was flushed. Suikotsu lifted the man from his lap and propped his back against the wall. "Big brother, you shouldn't have let him drink this much." Suikotsu stated.
Bankotsu laughed. "Oh come on! He had just about as many bowls of sake as I had." He clarified.
"And how many was that, Big Brother?" Suikotsu questioned.
Bankotsu scratched his head as if he were trying to figure out how many drinks he had. It was a no go. "Um…well I guess he just couldn't keep up with me. He's alright." he assured.
Suikotsu once again propped the giggling Jakotsu up against the wall when he slumped over onto him again. "I see you're feeling well."
He was more than a little buzzed, but he wasn't drunk. He stretched and clasped he hands behind his head. "Heh, of course! A real man always holds his liquor." he gloated. His eyes wandered over to the sleeping Kagome and he was surprised that they hadn't woken her up. "Hm, Kagome really must've been tired…I'm surprised she's able to keep up with us everyday."
Suikotsu looked over to the girl. He knew she couldn't have slept through all of that ruckus, but maybe she went the smart route and played possum to avoid the drunken stupor of their comrades. "Yes, she has a strong will indeed, but I'm sure she gets tired."
Kagome opened her eyes as he said this. She lowered them sadly and continued to listen.
"Of what?" he asked quizzically.
"Of being away from her family for such long periods of time. I know it's hard to empathize, but…" Suikotsu stopped when he noticed how somber Bankotsu had become.
Bankotsu leaned against a nearby wall and crossed his arms. 'I'm sure Kagome wants to go home, but it sounds like a faraway place like some sort of dreamland. If she does go home, will she want to come back?' he pondered.
This was the last straw, Jakotsu was becoming more of a nuisance than he could bear. Suikotsu grabbed the man by the sleeve of his kimono and forced him to stand. "Oooh, where are we going?" the inebriated Jakotsu asked as he was being manhandled by his comrade.
Suikotsu dragged the man over to the area where Kagome was sleeping and threw him down. "Stay over here and go to sleep!" he ordered.
Jakotsu's head was spinning as he closed his eyes and he unknowingly curled up next to Kagome.
Kagome felt the man's weight pressing against her back and tried to scoot over closer to the wall without making it obvious to the others that she was feigning sleep. 'Why did he throw Jakotsu over here?!' She was now stuck between a homosexual mercenary and a hard place as she tried to fall asleep.
Suikotsu resumed sitting on the floor with back resting against the wall. He looked up at their young leader, who still seemed lost in thought. "You should get some sleep. You may not feel the affects of the sake now, but you will in the morning." he advised before closing his eyes once more.
Bankotsu cradled his face in his palm as his mind felt as if it were whirling. 'Perhaps I'm a little more messed up than I thought.' he figured as he sunk down to the floor. After some sleep he would handle things in the morning. If Kagome wanted to go home then he would make it possible.
AN: Poor Kagome...she'll be alright! Inuyasha is a serious stage 5 clinger huh? Short update, but I'll do my best to update more often! R&R!