A/N: lol surprise! It's a random short update! lol basically i had to split the next chapter up cuz it's was just gonna be WAY too much info to absorb in one. Besides, the next chapter is when stuff REALLY start happening. As always, let me know what you think! Love ya! Also, i guess i should tell you that the chapter titles pretty much from chapter 34 and beyond are the songs that set the mood and inspire the events that go on in the chapter. So if you like to listen to music while reading, have a go at the songs I use.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter thirty-seven: Chasing Cars
It was June 24th, 2011; a most momentous day. Five individuals sat at a beautifully set table, each dressed spectacularly in order to meet the restaurant's unofficial dress code. It was Saturday night, and a quaint celebration was being held for the Inu-Taisho family. Many things were being commemorated, such as Sesshoumaru's homecoming, Inuyasha's graduation, and Kagome's departure. The three were about to begin the next chapter of their life, each uniquely exciting and highly anticipated.
Sesshoumaru had completed four years of college abroad in Japan, earning a degree in international business. He was going to take further courses in New York to earn a master's degree in a related field. At the same time, he was to step into the role of a board member at Touga's company. The twenty-two-year old was being groomed to one day take over for his father, and he was living up to every expectation placed upon him. Sesshoumaru had been home for a few days now, and there were many tears shed when Kagome embraced her brother, whom she'd missed desperately. After spending a day and night with Kagura, Sesshoumaru returned to his old room as if his absence had never occurred.
Earlier that day, Inuyasha had walked across the auditorium stage, dressed in a black cap-and-gown, and had been given a sheet of paper that declared the completion of his high school career. Joined by Kikyou, Miroku, and Kouga, the four of them were glad to be done with it; though their younger friends were less enthused. This did nothing to dampen Inuyasha's fervent eagerness to make his debut in the clubs and bars throughout New York city. Years of practice and building his confidence had cumulated at the talent show, setting a fire in the graduate to make a name for himself. He wanted to be known for his music, not his father's money. However, Inuyasha would work in the mailroom of Touga's company on a part-time basis until said music could support him financially.
Kagome, who was due to begin her junior year of high school after the summer break, was scheduled to fly to Houston on the following Monday. It was a trip she'd been preparing for since her birthday, and though it disheartened her parents to be apart for six weeks, it was clear how beneficial the conference would be for her future in dance. What had begun as a hobby and tool to regain her strength, had become Kagome's dream and passion in life. She defined herself as a dancer before everything else, before being a friend and daughter, and she had aspirations of becoming the first Asian prima ballerina assoluta. This trip would expose her to new methods, techniques, and professional contacts that could only benefit the sixteen-year-old.
So, this night was one to congratulate and wish the three of them success on their future endeavors. After the first courses had been served and thoroughly enjoyed, there was a brief lapse before dessert would be brought to their table. Inu-Taisho ran his finger along the stem of his wine glass as he observed his family, who lost in their quiet conversations with one another. He couldn't help but feel the weight of his gratitude and humility. There had been so much turbulence at the beginning of his life, so much pain and grief, which only made him realize just how fortunate he was to be leading such a blessed life. Izayoi was to his right, gushing with pride over their youngest son's achievement. She was beautiful, as always, despite beginning to show signs of her accumulated years.
Then, there was Inuyasha, seated across from him, who had never looked more mature or grown as he did at this moment. It was plain to see that the once angry and insecure boy now had a sense of pride, and it even effected the way he held himself. No longer was he hunched over and masked with a disinterested expression; Inuyasha's shoulders were pulled back, jaw held high, and there was a resolve in his voice that could rival even Touga's confidence. No matter what path Inuyasha might find himself on, it was clear that he'd only achieve success so long as he kept this attitude.
Sesshoumaru, seated to Touga's left. Some might call him the carbon-copy of the great Inu-Taisho, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Despite having been given terrible circumstances to overcome, of which would have made anyone else break under the pressure, Sesshoumaru had come out not only stronger for it; but also, much more compassionate and generous. Everything he did was for the benefit of someone else, though that was often shrouded and hidden behind a cold exterior and sarcastic remarks. He strived to be the best in school so that when it came time to take over the company, Touga would not doubt his son's judgement or capability to do so. He chose to continue his education in New York so that his family wouldn't have to suffer his absence any longer, and to reunite with Kagura (who was possibly the most accommodating and patient woman he knew). And what couldn't be said about his devotion to Kagome and his mother? The man lived to make them happy.
Finally, Touga settled his warm, amber gaze upon his adopted daughter. She was seated between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru, though her attention was on the older brother at the moment. It was possible that without her having entered their lives, the Inu-Taisho family would not have found such happiness and fulfillment. As if designed by fate, it was unimaginable to consider what life might be like without her bright smile and generous soul. There had been so much adversity in her early life, but it seemed as if her spirit was indomitable. There was a sadness in him due to Rin's early demise, but it was a fact of life that loved ones were sometimes taken away without reason or warning. She would always have her place in the family's heart, but it did no good to dwell on that sadness.
"Excuse me," Touga's deep baritone was partnered with the gentle clinking of his knife and wine glass, signaling all others to momentarily cease their discussions. "I just have a few words I'd like to say before dessert is served and the appropriate timing evades us. Firstly, I'd like to officially welcome Sesshoumaru home. Son, it was an unpleasant adjustment we had to make while you were gone. Now that you're home, I feel as if this family are complete again. I could not be more proud of your amazing achievements, and I know that you will do wonders." The words caused Sesshoumaru to smile and nod his head in respect to his father.
"Thank you, father." He responded reverently. Inu-Taisho then looked to Kagome and smiled when she perked up and leaned in curiously.
"Kagome, my second daughter and source of joy, I can confidently say that we will all miss you while you're away this Summer. It's as if I can't keep all three of you under my roof for more than a few days at a time." There was a break as they shared a good-natured laugh at the observation. "You're discipline and passion is astounding, and I know that one day I'll be watching you dance professionally. And on that day, your mother and I will still be your biggest fans. I am not a religious man, but I will pray every day for your safety and happiness while you're away from us." As expected, Kagome's tender heart caused her to shed a few tears at his sentimental words.
"I love you, Mom and Dad." She said, pushing past the painful pressure in her throat to speak clearly. "I'm going to work extra hard to make you proud." Izayoi shared a meaningful look with Kagome, then looked to her husband as he finally addressed Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha, I have to admit to my failure as a father. I know that when you were younger, I did not allow you the same opportunities as I did for Sesshoumaru. You have always been your own person, unique from anyone else in this world, and I distanced myself because I did not know how to raise you. I know it caused a great deal of pain, and I am sorry for being the cause of it. However, you've shown great character this past year and proven that there isn't anything that will keep you from what you want; including myself. My father was a great many things, but supportive was not one of them. I will not allow what happened between myself and my father to be repeated between us. There is, however, something of his that I do want to pass down to you."
Inu-Taisho paused for a moment as he pulled open the front of his jacket, reaching into the hidden pocket to retrieve a flat, black container. The three children were at a loss for ideas as to what it could be, but they saw Izayoi's silently shocked expression and knew it was something important. Inuyasha looked up from the box into his father's eyes, his own uncertain and eager.
"For me?" He questioned softly, reaching out for the item once Touga nodded. Everyone was quiet as the eighteen-year-old held the box up and pulled the lid off, revealing a string of small purple beads, segmented by the white fangs of some unknown animal. It was a beautiful piece, and obviously held great significance.
"That necklace has been in our family for many generations, and has been passed down from father to son on the day he is considered a man. I was initially going to give it to Sesshoumaru, but opted to save this piece for you. When you wear it, let it remind you to remain the man I see today. And when your son grows up, you'll give it to him." Everyone watched as Inuyasha carefully pulled the necklace over his head, then let it settle around his neck as if was both the heaviest and lightest object in the world. They were attractive on him, and it made Touga's chest swell with unprecedented pride.
"Dad, thank you so much." Inuyasha was clearly astonished and at a loss for words, but he did his best to find the right ones. "I'll wear it every day." He promised, feeling a sudden weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders.
"Everyone, raise a glass," Touga said warmly, leading the gesture by holding out his own towards the middle of the table. Everyone did the same, waiting for his final words. "This toast is to the bright futures each of you have in store; may they all be blessed and highly favored." It was completed when everyone allowed their glasses to meet in a cacophony of clinks. The mood seemed to lighten after this, and dessert was finally brought out for them to enjoy.
The following evening was a strange, bittersweet one; it was Kagome's final night in the house before she left for Houston. Everyone was settling into their own nightly routines, needing some private time to themselves. Inu-Taisho was in his study, preparing for his upcoming work week, while Izayoi was soaking in her tub with a tablet in hand and her favorite TV drama streaming. Inuyasha could be heard plucking away at his guitar in his room, and Sesshoumaru had stepped out to go for a run around their gated community. Kagome was going through her luggage one final time, making sure that nothing had been forgotten. Music played softly in the background, and Buyo was sleeping on top of her pillow like the lazy animal he was.
Her flight was at ten in the morning, meaning she had to be out the door around seven to account for traffic and a hectic airport. She'd have to say goodbye to her family at the passenger drop-off area, and from there Kagome would be on her own; figuratively speaking. Of course, she'd have Houjo and the other two students from their dance academy, as well as his mother; but it was a sad comparison to being with her actual family.
"I think that's everything," she muttered to herself and began zipping up her large suitcase. "Will you miss me, Buyo?" Kagome asked the slumbering feline, laughing to herself as she stood up from the carpeted floor. Worried that she'd get bored, Kagome looked around her room for items that could provide entertainment on the long flight. Her Nintendo had already been packed in her carry-on bag, along with various games. Going over to the book shelf against the far-right wall, Kagome perused the titles until one might stand out. But as she scanned the second row, something poking out between two books caught her attention. It was a piece of paper, but for what reason was it there? Careful not to rip it, she pulled the sheet from between the two books and held it up to the light.
"No way!" A smile broke out across Kagome's face as memories came flooding back. It was a child's drawing, one of her early pieces, that had been intended as a gift for Inuyasha on his birthday. Forgetting why she'd never given it to him, Kagome couldn't stop herself from rushing across the hallway towards Inuyasha's door. The drawing was held delicately to her chest as she rasped her knuckles against the wooden surface. "Inuyasha, I gotta show you something!" She said loudly, having to speak over the noise of his guitar. She heard an abrupt halt of music and a bit of shuffling before the door suddenly swung open. Inuyasha was dressed in a white under-shirt and a pair of jeans, looking comfortable and casual. His hair hung loosely around his shoulders, framing his face that held a bored expression. Kagome noticed he was wearing the string of beads given to him the night before.
"What?" He asked bluntly, leaning against the door frame lazily. He did his best to ignore how cute Kagome appeared in her usual attire of baggy shorts and an over-sized shirt, her hair pulled back in a messy bun. She was smiling and holding a sheet of paper.
"I found this drawing that I made for you like ten years ago. It was supposed to be a birthday present but I guess I never gave it to you. So, it's now a belated graduation present! Ta-da!" Holding it out to him, Kagome grinned proudly as the older boy gently took the drawing from her. It was clearly the scribble-scratch of a child's handiwork, but he was still able to see the image of himself and his mother standing on a hill, surrounded by flowers, clouds, and a bright sun.
"Wow…you couldn't draw for shit." He laughed as Kagome began swatting at his arm in mock-anger.
"Screw you! I was six!" She bit back, unable to hold her laughter in. It was a good thing that Kagome didn't remember her actions the night of prom, because if she had there wouldn't be such easy interaction between the two. In the same way that she held the secret of Inuyasha's drunken night, he did the same for hers; neither wanting to admit the truth of those nights to each other.
"So, you're leaving tomorrow, huh?" It was a rhetorical question, one that didn't warrant an answer from Kagome. She simply nodded and shifted her weight onto one hip. "You know, if you end up liking it, you're free to just stay in Houston. No need to come back at all." His teasing was all in good fun, and it rarely did anything to upset Kagome anymore. In fact, she often returned it to him tenfold.
"Nah, you'd miss me too much." She replied breezily and moved past him to enter his messy bedroom. "Besides, I have to come back and see you perform for real. You'll need a shoulder to cry on when you choke on stage." Kagome looked back in time to see Inuyasha making a lewd hand-gesture at her. Simply responding by sticking her tongue out at him, she fell back into his desk chair and picked up his guitar.
"Ay! Don't touch it!" He snapped and moved to take his precious guitar back. But Kagome pulled her foot up and pressed it to his stomach, preventing him from coming closer. She put her hands in position and began plucking the strings in a discordant fashion. The sound grated on Inuyasha's ears.
"Look at me, look at me; I'm Inuyasha and I want to be a rock star. I'm gonna make so much money playing at bars and kids birthday parties." Her voice dropped a few octaves and took on a dopey mannerism, as if to mock Inuyasha and ridicule his dreams. This was their game though. Inuyasha stepped back and lifted onto the ball of his left foot, pulling the right leg back and trying to attempt a ballet pose.
"Look at me, look at me; I'm Kagome and I think ballet is an actual career. But I'm just gonna end up as some flat-chested psycho like the chick in 'Black Swan'." Raising the pitch of his voice as high as possible, Inuyasha snickered at Kagome's heated glare and fell back into a natural stance after his calf muscle began to cramp up. "Keep em' coming, Kagome. I can go all night." He sneered, challenging the head-strong girl. Kagome rose to the occasion and stood up after placing his guitar in its stand.
"Look at me, look at me; I'm Inuyasha and I barely graduated high school! Now I'm gonna work in the mailroom cuz I can't handle anything harder!" Kagome folded her arms stubbornly, not backing down even as Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her threateningly. Oh, it was so on. If she was going to play dirty, so was he.
"Look at me, look at me: I'm Kagome and I'm a fucking tease! I like giving my stupid boyfriend blue balls and I don't think I'll ever give it up!" Despite her vague memory of the night, Kagome had talked with Houjo at length and still felt a pang of guilt for ruining his night like that. She visibly bristled at the cruel words and huffed angrily. If this last one didn't get Inuyasha, she didn't know what would.
"Look at me, look at me; I'm Inuyasha and I'm dating the biggest slut in New York! I don't care if she's crawling with STDs or that she's the spawn of Satan! She's got tits and ass and that's all I care about!" Kagome was suddenly shoved back by an infuriated Inuyasha, but she didn't buckle.
"Take it back!" He demanded madly, irate that Kagome had such a low opinion of Kikyou. Too many of her words hit home for him, striking a sensitive chord that he refused to acknowledge. "You don't know shit, Ka-go-away! So get the Hell out of my room." Taking her by the arm, Inuyasha forced Kagome towards the door and pushed her out into the hallway. Stumbling slightly, she turned quickly enough to shoot him another dark look.
"You're just mad cuz you know it's true. I win, Inu-Yuppie." She snapped back. Inuyasha merely rolled his eyes and put a hand on the edge of his door.
"Fuck you, I can't wait for you to be gone. These next six weeks will be the best of my life." And with that, Inuyasha slammed his door shut. A few seconds later, angry music could be heard coming from inside his room. Kagome loathed it when he got the last words in an argument and she threw her arms into the air before stomping back to her own room. Any thoughts that she might actually miss him were dashed. Morning couldn't come soon enough.
"Mom….Mom they're waiting for me. I gotta go now." Kagome mumbled into the fabric of her Izayoi's shirt. She was currently in the tightest, and longest, hug of her life as Izayoi seemed reluctant to let go. The family was standing by the parked Mercedes. Having already put her luggage on a trolley, these were in the final moments of saying goodbye. Houjo and the others were already inside, waiting for Kagome at the ticket station. Inu-Taisho put his hands on Izayoi's shoulders and gently pulled her back.
"We already said our goodbyes, Iz. It's only six weeks." He reassured his wife, who finally relinquished Kagome. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha stood to the side, watching the scene with mixed feelings.
"Goodbye, again. I promise to call and text as often as I can. I'll be back before you know it! I love you guys." Offering one final wave, Kagome smiled at her family, despite her watery eyes. She shifted the backpack hanging on her shoulder and knocked the toe of her fashionable cowgirl boot against the concrete ground; this was harder than she expected. One hand grasped the metal trolley, which held her large suitcase and carry-on bag, and the other tucked some hair behind her ear. It was time for her to go, but Kagome's feet seemed rooted to the ground at the busy drop-off area. So many others were in a similar situation, saying goodbye to their loved ones, but all that noise fell into the background as Kagome took one final look at the faces of her family. When she caught Inuyasha's gaze, her breath hitched inside her throat and she wanted to apologize for starting their most recent fight. But he looked away angrily, hurting her feelings and making her swallow the words.
Turning around, she grunted at the initial strength required to get the heavy trolley moving, then slowly made her way towards the airport's entrance. By now the tears were rolling down her cheeks and she had to clench her jaw to stop a loud sob from attracting unwanted attention. Kagome refused to look back and allow her family to see just how upset and nervous she was; she couldn't bear to see that look on Inuyasha's face either. It was going to be difficult being away from her friends and family, especially considering this trip would take up the entirely of her summer vacation. She managed to calm herself down before meeting up with Houjo and the other dancers, and their excitement quickly infected her as well. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and Kagome refused to allow any moment of it to be diminished.
She told herself that there would be other summers to enjoy with her friends; how could she know how sadly incorrect that thought was? Had she known what was to come, Kagome would have remained at home to enjoy the time with her family while it was still available to her.
DUN DUN DUN!