Disclaimers: …I think you guys have figured out I am not Rumiko Takahashi…~___~;
City of Tomorrow's Memories—Chapter 14
Kagome slammed the door and stalked into her dorm room. Sango, who was figuring out a math problem, looked up, startled.
"What's wrong?" She questioned. She had never seen Kagome this mad before. It was sort of frightening.
"Inu Yasha!" Kagome yelled—to one in particular, almost half ignoring Sango—as she got herself a cup of cold water and guzzled it down.
"Why?? He seemed so worried about you!" Sango said, acting an overdramatic Inu Yasha on the couch.
"What? He was worried about me?" Kagome asked sarcastically, "More like he is a nosy little bastard."
"He just did not want to see you taken away." Sango commented, nodding wisely.
"Where would I go?" Kagome grumbled, glaring out the window into the rain.
"Supposedly, to his brother." Sango explained, now back with her math problem.
"Sesshoumaru!?" Kagome groaned, "Where the heck does he get these ideas?!"
Sango said uninterested, "He's jealous."
Kagome glared at Sango, "Of what?"
Sango looked up at her, blankly, as if this was completely obvious, "He wants you."
Kagome suddenly turned the color of a rose in full bloom.
"You can't be serious."
Sango grinned, "Oh, can't I?"
Kagome ran her hand through her hair, "That ISN'T possible, Sango. We practically kill each other every time we meet. Its only my people skills that don't cause us to splatter blood."
Sango smirked, "Well, opposites DO attract Kagome."
Kagome sunk down on the couch, "But Sango, Inu Yasha is the COMPLETE opposite of my ideal man!"
Sango, who had now given up on math homework, stretched out on her bed, questioning, "Well, what is your ideal man?"
Kagome had this response ready, "Someone who is kind, not violent, gentle, handsome, brave, smart, witty, sexy—"
Sango interrupted, "You know, Kagome, you are describing someone out of a romance novel."
(AN: Actually, she is not. I think Sesshoumaru has allllll those lovely qualities. :::sigh:::. But, hey, Kagome does not know this)
Kagome frowned.
"Inu Yasha can't want me, he wants Kikyou."
Sango laughed, "I hate to break it to you, but guys sometimes bite a bit more than they can chew."
Kagome fell onto the couch, and covered a pillow over her still flushed face.
"I don't need boy problems. Right now, school work is all that matters."
Sango grinned, silently thinking to herself—you think that, Kagome…but somehow I think that is not the case…
~
Inu Yasha quickly ran down the flight of stairs, and out into the pouring
rain. It did not seem to matter that he was getting soaked, or that
he would probably get sick, all that seemed to matter was Sesshoumaru.
Inu Yasha was so mad that he couldn't even see straight, and it was a miracle that he actually remembered the way to Sesshoumaru's apartment.
What right did Sesshoumaru have to go around saying so such things?!
Especially, to Kagome!
But she had asked, and he had answered…
He shook his head, determined to make Sesshoumaru pay for his high crime. Kikyou was never to be mentioned until she awoke.
If she awoke…
Somehow, Inu Yasha was beginning to fear that Kikyou would not wake up—this frightened him, but also it seemed to him that without Kikyou he could start his life again with…
With who?
He stopped himself—he would be with no one.
Angrily, he rang the doorbell to Sesshoumaru's apartment. He heard movement from within, and the door quickly opened.
Sesshoumaru looked slightly surprised to see his despised brother standing in front of his door—but then, he had been expecting the visit.
He smirked, and said quietly, "I do not suggest you hit me, Inu Yasha."
Inu Yasha glared at his brother—why did his brother always know what was going to happen?
"Why the hell not! You told Kagome about Kikyou!!" Inu Yasha roared.
Sesshoumaru gazed at his brother, almost kindly, "She would have found out sooner or later."
It was true—but still, his anger would not diminish so quickly.
"You don't love her…do you?" Sesshoumaru asked mockingly. (AN: he is talking about Kagome here)
"I don't!" Inu Yash growled, still pissed off, and yet, like a balloon deflating he was getting beaten by the words of his brother.
"Well then…what is the problem? You love Kikyou, and what does she (Kagome) have to do with the situation at all?" Sesshoumaru leaned against the wall, a look of pity on his face.
"Damn you, Sesshoumaru." Inu Yasha snorted, now very frustrated.
Inu Yasha, forgetting about how Sesshoumaru was right---or maybe it was the fact that Sesshoumaru WAS right, swung angrily at his face.
Sesshoumaru stumbled back, hitting the wall. Slowly he touched his face. His lip was bleeding a bit. Slowly, he whipped the blood off his mouth---savoring the moment.
Inu Yasha grinned broadly, "Well?" He questioned mockingly.
Sesshoumaru smirked, "You have much to learn."
With those final words, Sesshoumaru stepped forward towards Inu Yasha thrust his fist into his face. Drops of blood scattered against the wall, staining the perfect white.
Inu Yasha glared at him defiantly. "I won't be taken out in one swing."
Sesshoumaru twitched his lips, "Impressive. Last year I could knock you out with just a blow to the neck."
Inu Yasha swung angrily at Sesshoumaru, however due to the weight of his wet clothes, his affect was not as he wished, instead he stumbled into his apartment door. Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, had had time to come home, shower, and change into clean, dry clothes.
Sesshoumaru sighed. Really, this was too embarrassing. Quickly, he jammed his hand in Inu Yasha's stomach, and lifted up harshly and threw him against the wall, where he fell, a crumpled heap.
Sesshoumaru watched him, cautiously, prepared for another attack. And yet, surprisingly, he had knocked the little runt out. He had figured Inu Yasha had more than that in him. Sesshoumaru concluded that there must be other 'reasons' for his weak state.
He shook his head, and picked up his suitcase that had been near the door. Lazily, he took out an intricately embroidered handkerchief, and carefully dabbed his mouth clean.
Closing the door gently, and making sure to lock it, he made his way to the elevator, where he proceeded to exit the building—and hailed a cab.
~
the next day…
Kagome leaned against her door, sighing as she looked up at the ceiling.
She hadn't seen Inu Yasha or Sesshoumaru today—which she found strange, considering she had to practice with Sesshoumaru, and Inu Yasha some how always seemed to be underfoot.
Somehow, today just did not seem normal.
Almost half aware, she looked down at a pile of letters in her hand. Surprisingly, she had actually gotten mail, although she had not yet looked at it.
Now, dropping her book bag, she lazily glanced through the letters. One caught her attention in particular. It was a large cream envelope with bits of mulberry in the paper. A seal of some intricate kanji was placed on red wax. Carefully, she opened it, and peered inside for the letter.
Slowly, she opened the paper, admiring its fine, soft texture.
Inside, a long, almost calligraphic type of script met her face.
In perfect beauty, the strokes almost too refined, the words met her eye…
I have been called away due to various family matters. I will
return in time for the festival. Continue practicing.
That was all it said. Kagome read it over one more time. Just like Sesshoumaru—the fewer words, the better.
He had not even signed his name.
She furrowed her eyebrows together. Inu Yasha had been mad at him—maybe Inu Yasha had hurt him, and he was just too proud to admit it.
Kagome shrugged her shoulders. Anything was possible, after all, who knew how much strength the two had?
And yet, something was still not right. It was the fact that she had not seen Inu Yasha that disturbed her. Kagome figured that Sesshoumaru had probably beat up Inu Yasha—after all it was not a one sided fight, she was sure of this.
Kagome sat down, suddenly, the conversation with Sango springing up. How did she feel about Inu Yasha? Or even Sesshoumaru? Could it actually be possible that Inu Yasha was jealous of Sesshoumaru spending time with her?
She felt her cheek—this was all incredibly unnerving. Kagome shook her head—those two brothers will bring the death of me, she thought to herself.
Sesshoumaru was alone, and Inu Yasha had Kikyou.
This was the way it was. And nothing would change.
And yet, secretly, Kagome hoped it would.
Why did it have to be, Kagome pondered, that everyone's life is so full of pain? Sesshoumaru has obviously not lived a happy life, and Inu Yasha is tortured by something, most likely Kikyou. And yet, even Sango and Miroku, when they thought no one was looking, had a sorrowful gleam to their eyes. Sango in particular…
Kagome buried her head in her hands. Was she the only one who had lived a somewhat happy life? Of course…there had been terrible days, but hadn't they been balanced out by the good days?
And yet…lately, the good days were outnumbered, and cornered into the wall. For some reason, she felt that her life was passing her by, too quickly.
Perhaps, she sighed to herself, her method of 'school work, school work, school work' was not working.
She studied her desk—the assignments for the next two weeks were all done. She had planned on doing the next four weeks assignments, but suddenly, the idea was repulsing. She grimaced—what could she do?
She sighed to herself, and walked to the window and sadly looked out at it. Bellow her were couples holding hands--- admiring the autumn leaves, smiling, laughing—and not up in their room looking down.
Two people, who had found love. She had not found what they had reached…
She did not want to see these people. She did not want to see these happy people. Instead, she looked up into the sky.
Suddenly, she smiled; perhaps a different view always inspired inspiration. Kagome quickly changed her clothes into something not so 'bookish' and more appealing to the public. Really, it was nothing much—basically a skirt, and a shirt, with boots, and a jacket. However, it had been better than her jeans and a plane white tee shirt.
She flipped through her address book, and then dashed off down the stairs.
Perhaps she would pay Inu Yasha a visit—hopefully he was not in a cast or anything.
She grinned—Inu Yasha in a cast. Suddenly she laughed out loud. For some reason, that thought was too funny for her to handle.
(AN: Okay, so what I am trying to do is not make Kagome so 'clueless'. Also, Kagome needs to have some problems, damn it, she can't be so cheerful all the time, can she? I thought not!)
~
A gentle tapping could be heard, and slowly Inu Yasha made his way
to the door. He opened it, carefully, fearing it might be Sesshoumaru.
It wasn't that he was afraid or anything—it was just that Sesshoumaru was a person who liked to seek revenge.
"Oh. Hey Kagome." Inu Yasha said, his voice relieved. He looked at her, and then remembered that he was 'supposed to be mad.' He growled at her, "What do YOU want?"
Kagome just smiled. Today, she would take his insults, but JUST for today.
"Do you have any shoes?" She questioned.
"What?" Inu Yasha asked, now confirming his thought that she MUST be crazy.
"I'm going to take you some place. It's not good to be inside your apartment all day." Kagome insisted.
"I don't want to go, especially with YOU." Inu Yasha snorted. "Anyways, I was about to eat."
"I'll buy you something to eat, come on." Kagome persisted, as she grabbed a pair of his shoes and pulled him out into the hallway.
"Have you gone mad?" Inu Yasha questioned, glaring at her, trying to get back into his apartment.
"No. It is just that we are both living our lives watching! Not doing!" Kagome yelled. Not harshly, but just so she could get her point across.
"Feh." Inu Yasha sighed in defeat. He was bored as hell anyway- why not? In any case, Kagome would probably yell at the door for while until he couldn't take it anymore—might as well save her voice.
Kagome grinned. "Okay, lets go. I don't know if it is still open."
"What?" Inu Yasha questioned. It was sort of exciting though; better than watching mid-day soaps and kids shows.
"You'll find out." Kagome said, winking as she dragged him down the stairs.
"You ARE insaine." Inu Yasha yelled at her.
"Misery enjoys company." Kagome laughed.
~~
Kagome pondered, as she rode the subway with Inu Yasha, why exactly had she done this? Why had she invited Inu Yasha? Why not Sango? Or Miroku? And even, if Sesshoumaru had been there, him?
Inu Yasha, although not the most agreeable, seemed to be what she considered a friend. But it was something more than that…something about his personality that required the endurance to see it through. Inu Yasha, she figured, was a person suffering from everyone giving up on him.
Although she did not know this 'Kikyou' person, it seemed that for the time, although against her will, she too had given up on him. Inu Yasha, because of Kikyou's lose, seemed to have begun to hate the world.
What was it about him that drew her to him? It was as if he was a young child, grown callous on the outside, and yet inside…that was another matter.
She glanced at him from time to time, his face always scowling.
And yet, this only made her smile—for really, it was Inu Yasha's determination
to be so rough that made him so loveable. Surely, Kikyou must have
seen this in him.
The subway stopped, and started, and soon Inu Yasha began to wonder WHERE WERE they going?? Somehow, the ten minutes on the subway seemed to take a lifetime.
"Inu Yasha?" Kagome questioned, as the two finally exited the subway and climbed up the steps to the concrete world above.
"Yeh?" He questioned, a look of angry boredom on his face. The rhythmic movement of the subway must have made him sleepy.
The two shaded their eyes from the beautiful sunny day.
"Have you ever been here?"
Inu Yasha looked up into the cloud speckled daylight, and saw the Tokyo Tower looming up ahead. Its red archers of steel seemed almost impossible in their form, and yet…there it was.
"It's actually funny." Kagome continued, not wanting to hear Inu Yasha's reaction. She was praying would be good, "I have lived in Tokyo all my life, and have never gone."
"That's sad." Inu Yasha commented, grinning.
"Have you been here before?" Kagome questioned, the last comment having hit a nerve.
"No." Inu Yasha admitted after a while.
"See, we are equal." Kagome concluded as they walked through a tree-lined lane, next to a shrine for children. Small Buddhist statues with brightly colored lanterns and fans met them. Kagome smiled; somehow the scene seemed to brighten their moods as they walked towards the Tokyo Tower, looming overhead.
~~
"We will now be going up to the observation deck. This observation deck is…." The elevator person said, like a never-ending record.
Kagome looked outside the glass elevator. It was not that she was afraid of heights; it was just …sort of…unnerving. She looked at Inu Yasha, he apparently seemed to be having the time of his life, his hands were pressed against the glass, a half concealed smile rested on his face.
It did not seem so bad if Inu Yasha was having a good time.
The elevator doors opened, and people began to walk out.
Kagome looked around excitedly, and then ran to the window.
"We are so high up." She laughed, all of Tokyo and beyond at her finger tips.
"Yes. We are high." Inu Yasha said lazily.
"You can see all of Tokyo from up here." Kagome giggled as she studied the people far bellow, "Eh? The people look like ants."
"Uh huh." He sighed, one of his eyes opened as he glared down at the people meters beyond meters below.
Kagome whirled around behind Inu Yasha, and pushed him nearer the window.
"You aren't going to fall out. There are railings." Kagome pointed out innocently.
"Idiot! I know that!" Inu Yasha roared loudly.
Everyone looked at them. A few people muttered, 'how abusive he is to his girlfriend' 'really, young men today just are craving attention' 'how can she stand him?', ect ect.
Inu Yasha flushed, as he pointed to the crowd of people that surrounded them, "What!? WHAT are you talking about? Me?! Go out with her??"
Kagome glared at him, "The same thing can be said of you, baka."
"I should throw you out." Inu Yasha grumbled, turning his attention to the view.
"To many witnesses." Kagome pointed out wisely.
"Shut up." Inu Yasha sighed, "You talk to much."
Kagome put her elbows on the railing, and looked out the windows. It was a beautiful fall day. There would not be many of these left. Large puffy clouds skimmed across the sky, as if they would never end in their beauty. Indeed, their beauty did go beyond histories reach…
Kagome looked around, the afternoon sun streaming in through the windows.
Inu Yasha glanced at her. In a way, he admitted, she was beautiful in her own way. Nothing great, of course, but there was something strangely…warm in her smile, something that made you trust her, and believe in her.
He sort of dazed out, but finally came to his senses when Kagome asked, her eyes still strait ahead, "What do you find so interesting about my face?"
He huffed, "Nothing. Its ordinary."
Kagome raised an eyebrow. Somehow, that had hurt her, but she would not revealed it to Inu Yasha…one day, she would really explode, and he would pay the consequences.
~
Sesshoumaru lay in bed, his eyes looking toward the window. He blinked, but it was not fast enough.
As soon as he closed his eyes—her face was there, smiling back it him.
Damn…
It was really quite annoying, for when you tried to go to sleep there she was, haunting his dreams.
He did not want to think of her. He did not want to be near her. He wanted to be far away.
He wanted to be far away from Kagome.
Perhaps, whatever had caused this change in his attitude towards her might go away. Maybe if he concentrated on his future she would disappear.
And yet, why was she there, in his future?
The thought disturbed and disgusted him. Kagome was no one he would find attractive. She was plain, simple, nothing at all.
All she was now was a diversion from class. A diversion from the idiots.
And yet…that day in the Zen garden.
Her eyes haunted him. They had been so full of fire, and strength. He had felt himself loosing control arrow after arrow.
Of course, he, Sesshoumaru was a master of deception.
He once again sighed, and closed his eyes. He had not slept at all; he would just have to deal with her, no matter how annoying she was.
She is nothing—Sesshoumaru told himself as he fell into a dream.
Kagome, was something that the world had many of; bright, young, cheerful girls. She was not something he was interested in, only Inu Yasha would find her appealing to him—only Inu Yasha would get her into bed. He, Sesshoumaru, was better than the world.
~
On the subway ride back to campus…
"Inu Yasha?" Kagome questioned.
"What do you want now?" He grumbled. She had certainly been friendly today for SOME weird reason.
"We are friends, right?"
Just…friends…?
Was that it? --- He wondered.
"Keh. YOU think that, if it makes YOU feel better." Inu Yasha grumbled pretending to fall asleep. Where the hell was she coming up with these ideas? And WHY the HELL was she being SO nice to him?
It sort of freaked him out.
Kagome just smiled. She studied Inu Yasha carefully, it was truly amazing how much Inu Yasha looked like Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru? Kagome's mind wondered.
She huffed to herself, annoyed—he means nothing to me. Nothing.
~
"Doctor?" A nurse questioned patiently.
"Yes?" He asked, turning around.
"It seems that the patient in room 302 has woke up."
He raised his eyebrows, "The girl that had been in a coma since the summer?"
"That is the one." The nurse nodded.
---- She opened her eyes to at first utter whiteness, but slowly, slowly, it all came into focus, the colors slowly revealing themselves. She lifted her hand to her face- Where am I? She questioned—
"I will be there shortly." The doctor explained, "I have to finish up with this patient. Go and watch over her."
"Of course." The old nurse said smiling softly as she scurried over to the room.
…Kikyou had awoken from her long sleep…
Kagome shivered. Suddenly, a wind from the north had blown—the sky was cloudy now, and large raindrops began to fall.
Somehow, she felt as if the world had been now cast into the winter. She glanced at Inu Yasha, apparently he too had noticed the change.
Somehow, the sadness in Inu Yasha's eyes was more evident than ever.
~~~
AN: WAA! Cliff hanger! Okay, so no worries, this is neither IY/k or
S/K. But, I DO believe next chapter is gong to be the festival! ^___~
So we shall see. What role will Kikyou play? I hate Kikyou,
so I make her sort of evil. HA HA HA. Anyways…don't worry about
anything, its all in my hands. Thanks for so much support. It really
made me actually WANT to write this fic. Anyways, enjoy! And R +R, and/or
e-mail me at furinkoto_neko@yahoo.com
OH YEAH! Well, because it was spring break I was able to write
these chapters fast, but from now on we are back on regular schedule—which
means 4-7 days per chapter. (max: a week and a half) Hope it is not
TOO much torture, however next chapter will be a great one! I think both
IY and Sesshoumaru have 'ripened' in their…feelings for Kagome. So,
one of them is gunna swoop down and deliver something 'special' to her!
:: wink wink:: Look forward to it!