28 - Calm before the Storm
My head was still buzzing from last night when I stepped out onto the front porch that morning. The sun was unbelievably bright, it made me remember my lack of sleep. Thanks to a certain someone, I had been too distracted to get much rest.
A fresh spring breeze wrapped itself around me. It felt good as it ruffled the light shirt I was wearing and blew across my bare legs. I had slipped off my pants at the last minute before bed, for comfort purposes of course. Inuyasha had gotten a real kick out of my embarrassment.
Though, I had to give him credit, Inuyasha is an amazing kisser. And I can't explain how thankful I was we hadn't gone any further than that. He's not the kind of guy to force me into anything like that. I should've known better; I guess now I do.
My cheeks burned a little thinking of his peaceful sleeping face. Before I came outside, I tried to get him to wake up with me. I kissed his nose lightly. When he kept sleeping, I poked his face and whispered to him; still nothing. I even managed to wiggle out from under his arm without waking him. Somehow he managed to wipe himself out.
Just as I was thinking of him, Inuyasha stepped out onto the porch behind me. I felt his strong arms wrap around me and his chin rest on my shoulder.
"Hello sleepyhead," I greeted. "Did you pass out or something? You slept like a rock."
"Mmm, I dunno. I heard a floorboard squeak so I followed you out here," He murmured sleepily into my hair. "Thanks for the kiss by the way." He brushed against my face lightly.
I blushed, realizing he had been awake the whole time.
"You're welcome," I smiled widely.
"What are you so smiley about?" He asked.
"Oh, stuff." I said, not being able to collect my thoughts enough to come up with anything else.
"Stuff huh? You're kidding." He said dryly. We stood there for a while, rocking softly from side to side as if blowing in the breeze. I rubbed his arm gently, listening to the way he drew in a deep breath each time I lightly raked my finger tips across his skin.
"We could just stay in bed all day," he murmured. "There's nothing else to do anyway."
I sighed happily. I suppose it wouldn't hurt. There wasn't much to do in bed either unless you counted- well… But lazing around all day did sound relaxing, so why not. Suddenly, my brain woke up, made a few lightening-speed synapses, and I remembered where I was supposed to be right now.
"Oh- shhoot! Kaede!" I shouted.
"Wha?" Inuyasha said, the romantic mood dissipating instantly.
"I forgot! I was supposed to meet Kaede this morning!" I lifted his arms away and hurried back into the house.
Inuyasha stepped into the doorway and folded his arms. "What does Kaede want this time?" He groaned.
"I don't know. She wanted me to meet her at her house. She said it was important!" I hopped around the room while I pulled on my socks.
He sighed angrily. "She always says it's important. Can't you take a day off from-people?"
"I know, I know. But not today." I said. I tied the sash on my pants and headed for the door, which Inuyasha was blocking completely. I smiled up at him. "Feel like giving me a ride?" I asked hopefully. After a pause, he rolled his eyes and walked back out onto the porch.
"Fine, but then you need to tell Kaede you have a life so you're not running around all the time okay?"
"Fine. Let's go!" I ran at him and jumped at his back, clinging to his neck and wrapping my legs around him.
"Oof! Geez, a little warning please?" He scolded.
"Warning." I said.
He boosted me up so I wasn't strangling him, grumbled something inaudible, and then we were off, sprinting full speed back towards the village.
He hadn't put on his robe of the fire rat and I could feel the warmth radiating through his thin shirt. It wouldn't have been a big deal if he had taken off his shirt last night, that I wouldn't mind. I thought. I suddenly couldn't get my mind off his muscular chest. Think of something else like…Inuyasha's eyes-no-hands? No those are attractive too. Inuyasha's…toes. Yeah Inuyasha's toes….
We arrived at Kaede's as I guess what I would call fashionably late. Kaede didn't see it that way. I kissed Inuyasha quickly and told him I'd meet up with him later. He didn't seem satisfied. When I turned around on the porch to blow him a kiss, he was already gone. I then went to join Kaede in the kitchen.
"We still need Kudzu and ginseng, but I have the rest of the ingredients here." She explained.
"So what exactly are we making?" I said in a tone that I'll admit lacked enthusiasm. I leaned closely to the pot over the fire and blinked down at the green- brown liquid, I almost gagged.
"It is a calming broth known as Sentä, it centers the spirit and helps with common physical ailments." She stated proudly.
"Mm, I see." I nodded.
Kaede had me add several ingredients she had collected. I did, paying as close attention as possible so a second lesson wouldn't be necessary. She then had me stir the pot slowly for a good ten minutes before she finally said anything.
"That should be good." She sighed.
"Great! Are we done?" I asked, more than a little anxious to meet up with Inuyasha again.
"Done? No. It's just break time!" She said.
My shoulders slumped. "But you said we were just going to make the spirit juice thing." I whined.
Kaede laughed. "I did, but I didn't say we were done making it."
"Could you clean this up for me dear, I'll make us some tea." She indicated the scraps of ingredients littered all over the counter.
I'm never gonna get outa here. I thought sadly.
After I was done cleaning, we sat on the front steps and sipped tea. It was an old lady routine, but I didn't mind. Sipping tea beat mud fights any day. But then again, Inuyasha kisses beat tea and mud fights.
As we sat quietly, a man I'd never seen before strode up to us on a snobby looking horse and demanded he speak with Kaede immediately. He looked like some sort of superior errand boy with a sparkly crafted sword and a flowy cape. Kaede nodded as if she knew exactly what it was about. I was curious, but Kaede told me to stay outside as they walked back into Kaede's hut. I pouted a little, mostly because I was left out of the important conversation. Something about it was off. I wondered if it had anything to do with the encounter with Kerberos or the messenger she sent to the neighboring village, which made me all the more curious.
As I sat by myself, it didn't take very long for the twins to find me, so I thought I'd go pick the remaining herbs without Kaede as long as she was busy. I took the twins and some other children from the village with me.
Of course, I come all the way here and then some random guy shows up and needs to have an important meeting with Kaede. I didn't see Inuyasha anywhere, so I would just have to deal with it for a while. I escorted the kids along with me and tried my hardest to pretend my thoughts weren't drifting far, far away.
