Chapter 21-Decision
If I owned Inuyasha...meh. I don't, so speculation is futile.
Kagome dozed off. Again she dreamed of him. Dreamed of Inuyasha as they'd begun to make love that first time, that wonderful, desiring gaze...
She sat up with a gasp when she was poked in the back with a pen.
A soft chiming, darn it! She was in class, and Yuka was frowning at her. A smile as they rose, bowed to the teacher, and collected their things, everyone filing out quickly. Sleeping in class was just a sign of her friend getting sick again, and Yuka worried. She hadn't had a lot of free time lately with getting back on track at school, but this good spell was being wasted as far as her friends were concerned. Eri grinned and grabbed Ayumi, dragging her out to the hall.
"Kagome? Come on, that was the last class of the day. Let's get something to eat! We haven't all been together in ages!"
"Alright," she agreed, and smiled.
Then Kagome spotted Eri and Ayumi all but dragging a hopeful boy with a package into the classroom.
"Ahhh. Here he comes. You really need to pay attention to the important things, Kagome," Yuka nudged her forward. She and the girls were just trying to help her be happy with a nice guy, and Kagome knew it. Appreciated it. But her hand went to her necklace where it rested beneath her shirt.
She found she no longer gave a damn about fitting into the preconceptions of her innocent friends...or cared to keep toying with a nice guy's heart because she was afraid to tell someone no. Kagome was spoken for.
'If you take the necklace, we'll stay together always. Just you and me and no one else. I can't make you my wife, but this is like that, a promise just between us.' Yep. Time to set them straight.
"You're right, Yuka. I do need to settle things." The necklace was pulled free and settled on the outside of her uniform. Houjo hurried over with that same charming, shy smile.
"Higurashi, I'm glad you've been feeling better! I brought you a new herbal tea, it's supposed to be wonderful for gout."
"Thank you, Houjo. You really are very kind. But I can't accept it as a token of affection. It would be wrong and dishonor us both if I did," she explained. He blinked at the formality, and it took a moment for what she said to sink in.
"What...?" Houjo looked puzzled. For a moment, she looked...older. Sterner.
"I'm promised to a man, and belong to him. I can't allow you to think anything other than friendship is possible. It's that simple."
"No way is it simple," Houjo said flatly, and the girls stared at each other in shock. "You owe me an explanation, I think. When did-do you three mind?" he said suddenly, that last to the girls.
"What guy? That two timer?" Yuka asked sourly.
"Kagome...that sounds serious," Ayumi managed as Eri looked horrified.
No. They weren't going anywhere.
"It is, Ayumi. It wasn't official for a long time, but it is now. You met him at the festival, Houjo. The play three years ago, remember? The guy on stage with us? His name is Inuyasha, and we're together. We've been together for a long time," Kagome told him quietly.
"S-sure. I don't understand. Higurashi, if you've been seeing him for that long, why didn't you tell me? Why didn't-did you three know too? Was it...funny to you or something? I'd have backed off if I knew!" And found another girl. She saw that was lurking in his eyes, and nodded.
Couldn't blame him a bit.
"Houjo, he's no good for her. We thought it'd be better if you two were together," Eri began, and Kagome glared at her. To everyone's surprise, so did...Houjo?
"Some friends you've got here, Higurashi. So you let them push you into this game? You couldn't find a way to say 'I've got a boyfriend' in all this time? I thought better of you-and them," he said.
"That's not fair! We were trying to help you both!" Yuka snapped.
"Help? It sounds like you three bitches were playing judge, jury, and matchmaker and kept trying to break up someone you call a friend's relationship. Some help. Some friends."
Gasps.
"Don't blame them. They may have pushed, but I let them. They got the wrong impression of him and he's not what they think he is. I can only say I am very sorry and I have no excuse. I should have told you, but I was afraid to hurt you and disappoint them. I kept telling myself to say something, and I never let myself do the right thing. But now I have to," Kagome answered.
He was quiet for a moment.
"I would have appreciated honesty a whole lot more than not wanting to hurt me. I'd have been happy to just be your friend if you'd told me, Higurashi. I know sick people can let themselves get pushed around, especially if they feel obligated or afraid...but you ought to have told me."
"I can't let you make an excuse for me. I'd rather you didn't. Be mad at me, please. You didn't deserve this."
He actually smiled. A wry little quirk of his mouth she didn't know he had in him. Simple and open...didn't mean shallow or dumb. Not with this guy.
"That's the Higurashi Kagome I admire talking. So take my advice. Next time, go with your instincts, not what someone else says. Dump them, finish growing up, and be better to him than you were to me. Telling me the truth now was a good start. For what it's worth, I really do wish you luck with this Inuyasha guy. He didn't deserve you pulling this either, you know."
"I'll do my very best. You're a great guy, Houjo. You deserve someone who'll appreciate that, so don't ever settle. I just...met you too late," Kagome sighed with a sad smile for what could have been. It was returned. He then looked at the trio like something he scraped off of his shoe.
"As for you three...I think I'm going to have to make sure that everyone knows just what kind of people you are. Everyone. Do the world a favor and get you own acts together before you poke your noses in other people's lives again," he said with a glare, set the gift down on a desk, and left without looking back.
Ayumi's head lowered in guilt as the others wailed.
"Our social lives are now over! Hojou's the most popular guy in school. By the time he's done with us, no one will even admit we're alive!" Yuka screamed as Eri glared.
"Thanks Kagome! What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what you've done to us?! My boyfriend is his best friend! Aki'll dump me when this gets out!!"
"Probably," Kagome slung on her backpack.
"You are so going down with us! Everyone in school will know you're running after some criminal-" Eri's yelling was coldly cut off.
"I wouldn't if I were you. Say one lying word about my Lord...and you will wish you were never born. I've seen more things than you can ever imagine, little girl, and I don't like being threatened. You'll regret it if you push me," Kagome said softly. The girl backed up against Yuka.
"Your Lord...? Y-you're crazy! Don't ever talk to us again! Come on!" Eri managed, but Ayumi didn't follow them as they stormed for the door.
"You're either with her or us, Ayumi!" She didn't move. They didn't hesitate to turn their backs and go.
Instead the girl slowly settled her own bag.
"Kagome?"
"You aren't running after them?"
"No. Houjo was right, maybe it's time to let them go. We aren't kids in middle school anymore. I'm not that popular here anyway, and I've already got my eye on getting into a top ranked college. Getting ready for the entrance exams takes up most of my time now. Yuka's planning on culinary school and Eri's likely going to party her way through that trust fund from her Grandpa she's always going on about. It's not like we weren't all going our separate ways eventually, I'm just sorry it ended before we graduated."
"You're a good friend."
"Not so much. I let them bully me too. I thought we should stay out of it. It's pretty clear you're set on the guy. I thought he was pretty nice the day we met him," the girl paused and adjusted her bag. "You...really love Inuyasha, don't you? Your fiance?"
"Yep," a smile that was shyly returned, "but Ayumi, I'm not his fiance. I'm his concubine. If you ever talk to them again, tell them that. But as a favor, please send me a picture of their expressions?"
The girl just stared after her as Kagome strolled out, her head held high.
It felt good to do the right thing. Now...she had to tell mom.
The well glowed late that afternoon and Kagome climbed out, setting bags down on the snow as she swung over the edge and sat shivering for a moment. She was then pounced on by a kitsune.
"Kagome!! You came back!"
"Of course. Where's everyone?" she asked as she scanned the trees.
"Miroku's all grumpy, Sango's sad, and baka Inuyasha hardly leaves the woods. What did he do, Kagome?"
"He did nothing wrong, Shippo. Don't ever call him that again. It's rude and I won't allow it anymore. Please go get Sango and Miroku," she said as she scooped him off her lap and picked up her bags.
"Wow, you're grumpy too."
"No. I just made a few decisions. Now go on, please. I'll need help getting this stuff back."
He scooted off and she sighed. Standing, she turned and removed her jacket, facing the Sacred Tree and the woods where she knew he lurked. Kagome was in a sweater and the blue pants she called jeans, but that didn't really hold his attention. What did was what was around her neck. A golden necklace. Inuyasha stared at it from behind a trunk nearby.
She...went to her knees? Oh, no. A deep bow with her hands folded gracefully in front of her in the light snow, ignoring the chill that bit into her legs and palms.
"My Lord? I have returned, and I am pleased to again be near you. Ramen and some other foods from my home will be prepared for supper, and be waiting when you choose to join us. Call for me when you require me, and I will be glad to keep you company as you desire. I shall also see to a proper situation for the night, should it please you to summon me to your bed again. You will excuse me, Lord, I have much work to do," she announced calmly, and then stood and turned away.
Kagome counted her steps. One. Two. Three. A red form was in front of her.
"Shut up."
"My Lord?" Kagome asked.
"I said shut the hell up!"
"Do I displease you?" she went to go to her knees again-and was roughly yanked up! Kagome didn't fight as he grabbed her necklace in a shaking hand. What she didn't expect was for it to be shoved under her sweater!
"Never happened. Do you understand? Never!" he hissed as he heard footsteps crunching through snow and fled. Outright fled! Fine.
"Kagome?" Sango called, and she grinned.
"Hey!" They greeted each other, and the miko passed out presents.
"Very kind of you, Kagome. Thank you," Miroku opened his soda and sipped with a sigh. Supper was mentioned, and there was a sad head shake.
"I brought ramen and all kinds of good stuff for dinner-but it'll have to wait until Inuyasha joins us."
"That might not be anytime soon. He hasn't been around us much since you left," Sango said with worry.
"I won't eat until he does," Kagome answered grimly, and they headed back.
Shippo was dying-no, dead. He was certain of it. This was hell, and he was in it. A pile of delicious ninja food...and he wasn't allowed so much as a taste! In fact, when he'd insulted Inuyasha and whined about waiting...Kagome informed him he could have rice and fish for supper if that was how he wanted it.
Kaede and the others noted Kagome was being rather determined. They watched with fascination as the kit wailed, cried, and complained. All things that had worked in the past. All his normal tricks. They weren't working at all on the miko. Inuyasha's fault! All of it. He said as much.
"Apologize. Or no candy, either."
"WHAT?? He treated you mean, didn't he?" Shippo was outraged.
"You heard me. He didn't do anything I didn't want him to. No more misbehaving, Shippo!" she answered, and her eyes were very hard.
"I-I will not!!"
"Things aren't like they were, Shippo. Are they, Kagome?" Miroku asked her quietly, sitting apart as was his new custom. It hurt Sango, but she allowed it, unsure of how to ask-or if she should.
"They aren't. I'm his Lady, and he is my Lord. We're together now, Shippo."
"NO! You can't mean you're letting a baka half youkai marry you, Kagome! Come on! See some sense and listen to me!!" Shippo yelled. Everyone stiffened. Both at the declaration, and at the kit's casual slam. Sango just nodded to herself. So the clothes and closeness meant what she'd thought they did. She was his concubine in the castle. And now had chosen to say so publicly and continue the relationship. Kami.
Everything would indeed change now.
"Well. That settles the candy question," Kagome said, and didn't even look at him.
"Kagome is right to demand you cease insulting her-Inuyasha, Shippo. She brings you gifts, not things you are entitled to no matter what. You are being rude," Sango said quietly after a moment. Kaede looked at the fire she tended, and frowned.
"The shed we use to contain him at times. You...may have use of it to sleep, child. The straw is thick, and it will be warm enough. Perhaps other arrangements should be made later," she said slowly, the questions obvious in the single eye that peered at her.
"Thank you, Kaede," the girl replied, and nodded.
"Are you...going to marry? Your Mother? Does she know of this, child?"
"I told her today. As far I'm concerned, we don't need to unless he wants to make me his wife officially, and there is nothing dishonorable going on." That however...was not how Grandpa had viewed it. No. Grandpa was a harder man than she'd ever imagined.
She should never have said the word 'concubine'.
He'd had several words for the situation, none of them complimentary. He could understand the situation when she explained it all to him and Mom, but said that matters as they stood were unacceptable. He'd actually been swearing and said flatly that if he didn't marry her, Inuyasha was no longer welcome at the Shrine. That it was a throwback to days best left in the past, that she risked being a discard, that she had no clue how precarious this position was. That the bastard, as he so succinctly put it, hadn't even paid them for her. Nor was the little trove she had so far enough to ensure her future security.
Kagome had swooned, protesting, and he fixed her with a stern look.
"I thought we had raised you to be more clever. If you want to claim that title, granddaughter, if you want to live by those rules...then we will use the hard words and ugly truths that go with it. In twenty years, when your looks fade and your schooling is not enough to let you live well here-will he keep you? If not, what then? Will you live there as a discard of a youkai Lord, or here on charity? If it bothers you, then demand to be a wife or to give him a son to secure your place. Either be mercenary...or be his bride and win your future that way. You made the choice. Now you must make another."
Mom was shocked at his vehemence, and Souta-he really didn't understand.
A sigh as they heard a small sound at the door.
"Come in, Inuyasha. It's rude to lurk outside an old woman's door," Kaede said flatly. He did...and stared at Kagome in shock. He'd heard her.
Why was she doing this?
"Dinner?" she asked with a cheerful smile.
"I ain't hungry. You...you ought to eat."
"Not till you do." Eyes locked.
Sango's stomach growled and she looked embarrassed. Hearing it, he sat-and supper was grimly devoured. Kagome went to the shed to sleep...and he didn't dare consider going in there. Instead he made damned sure to stay in Kaede's hut, and sat up against a wall to doze fitfully. He was too busy trying to figure out what the hell had made her do this to rest. Here he was, trying to protect her honor, and she did this! Damn it!
But Miroku nodded to himself. Clearly, matters were too far advanced to allow to continue like this. He stood, and quietly stepped over a sleeping Sango to the door. Inuyasha was instantly awake and when the monk gestured-followed.
Author's Notes-Not much left on this one. I hope you enjoyed, and Thanks for Reading as always!-Namiyo