A/N: this is last night's chapter, I might update again soon. Hopefully I'll get some actual study done as well, -_-' ...
Chapter 54: One piece or two?
Ten minutes later the mood inside the room still hadn't lightened. So Inuyasha stood to stretch his legs, careful not to make any sudden movements. He sincerely wished for the child to get as much rest as he needed. He walked around the room till he stopped and looked at a slightly hidden wall. Lots of pictures covered it but some stood out. If he didn't recognize the woman in the pictures he'd laugh at the comicality of the situations. To be short, that young woman was Kagome... and under each picture was a small title. They all read troubling similar. 'She refused again.' he counted about seven of them. His concentration shifted to Sesshomaru when he stood.
"Where are you going, Sesshomaru?" he complained. His marching stilled at the drained look he received.
"Out." he said and then just left the room. Inuyasha walked a table at the back where the seats were cushioned and sat down. Perhaps today was just one of those crappy days for Sesshomaru.
Minutes later Kagome and the owner returned to the room. The two were talking about the same pictures he had viewed earlier.
"So there goes another proof to my son's uselessness." the man sighed looking at the picture frame he held in his hands. Kagome smiled apologetically.
"I do feel bad for needing to refuse but I don't want to marry your son. His life is here... and frankly it wouldn't do either of us any good." the man finally nodded in agreement.
"I suppose it is so. I'll see that he stops proposing."
"Thank you." she whispered but it could be heard even across the room as to how quiet it had gotten.
"Hypothetically speaking, if it were that young man asking would you agree?" Inuyasha strained his ears at the subject. Kagome's eyes went to the floor and a blush spread over her cheeks. He held his breath anticipating a more concrete answer. She drew a breath and then let it out. Her features straightened and her mouth answered without any unnecessary words. Her lips pressed one against the other to form a thin line. Then she shook her head. The man sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Eyes scanned the room and settled on Inuyasha. He stood and walked towards the two. Kagome turned and met him halfway. She confidently took the child from Inuyasha's arms and smiled.
"You'll make a great father someday, Inuyasha." she complimented him for his care and left the room to reunite the babe and its mother. The man neared him and patted his back lightly.
"Sorry youngster, I did try." Inuyasha just stared after her, lost at words.
The ride back home was quiet. Two of the occupants snoring away their afternoon nap and the other, each thinking in their own little world. Since riding the AC car was so delightful, they decided to take a small detour so that the kids could rest some more. Inuyasha turned his head and looked back at the alluring picture. Kagome was humming softly from her spot on the center seat. She drummed the fingers of her left hand on Shippo's shoulder while the other slowly combed Rin's hair. Feeling someone's eyes on her Kagome looked up and met Inuyasha's gaze. Her head tilted in question at his long stare. His eyes narrowed as he half turned in his seat for more comfort.
"I don't get it." eyebrow rouse as he pondered out loud. "Why would that old man say that? I mean it's not like I'm going to fall in love and ask you to marry me." the tires screeched and the belts stretched to keep all occupants of the car safe as it came to an abrupt stop.
"Everyone alright?" Sesshomaru asked concerned. Kagome checked the still sleeping kids and breathed in relief.
"We're okay back here." she answered meeting his eyes in the rear-view mirror as the car moved once more.
"Well, I'm not. What the heck happened anyway?" Inuyasha growled peeling the seat belt from his red skin.
"I probably killed a stray." he blinked, shifted in his seat and kept quiet. He had felt no bump.
After the stunt with the car they went straight home since Kagome had to get to work in half an hour's time. All in all it had been a hot and full day. Sesshomaru couldn't wait to get in the shower to freshen up. He was quick to get out of the car and inside his house, to grab a change of clothes and jump into the shower. He needed a cool environment to think. He had planned to spent fifteen minutes with just his thoughts. But his time was cut short when someone knocked on the door and then even insisted. He grabbed a towel, rounded it around his waist and opened the door.
Kagome shifted nervously outside the door. She battered herself for not coming up with the idea earlier. Then she wouldn't have to disturb him, probably unnecessarily. Even so the door opened and she was torn between running away blushing like a school girl, covering her face with her hands but still peaking through the fingers and remaining upright, because getting weak in the knees was an understatement. She couldn't even feel them anymore.
"What is it Kagome?" When he spoke, she had her answer. She leaned against the wall for support, clasped her hands behind her back and held his gaze.
"I'm sorry to disturb you but I'll be leaving for work in twenty minutes."
"I see." she cleared her throat so he'd let her finish.
"I have swimming classes at the sports club pool. Would you guys like to come?"
"Rin doesn't know how to swim." he said leaning in. She swallowed.
"Then she can learn how. I have an advanced and a new group. It will be fun." she encouraged. He gave it a thought for enough time in which Kagome could admire the wet silver shreds dripping on either side of his neck.
"She is allowed to go." he agreed walking toward his room. Kagome followed silently when he looked over the shoulder expectantly. He took some money from his wallet and handed it to her. Kagome took it and studied his tense back as he looked inside the closet.
"It'd be good if you'd come too." he turned and she continued her train of thought. "You seem tense today. Some stretching can do wonders." he rouse an eyebrow at her conviction. "I'm willing to bet on it." he chuckled and neared her.
"Interesting. What would you bet? You still owe me a favor."
"If swimming doesn't help, I'll give you a massage." his eyes widened a bit and lips parted slightly. "But if I'm right, will you accompany me to Yuka's wedding?" her head tilted to the side. Sesshomaru checked his watch. They had some time to spare.
"They have swimsuits at the club's store, right?" Kagome nodded enthusiastically.
"Yep. And the club rents you towels and such. I'll get the others inside the car." she smiled and left the room. His eyes narrowed. She had left before he could say anything, and it was to get the others inside the car? Sesshomaru combed his wet hair with his fingers took another change of clothes and then got dressed. He'll think about today's events surrounded by solitude under the water. Literally.
She was quick to descend the stairs, not because she feared he'd change his mind but because she had yet to change. She stepped outside and had to shield her eyes from the sun's glare. Kagome looked around the yard and smiled as the Inuyasha and Rin passed her, chasing Hatsuyo. From the corner of her eye she spotted Shippo running towards her, his features distressed.
"What's wrong Shippo? Why the pale face?" she knelled on the deck coming closer to the boy's red eyes. Sesshomaru came up behind her silently. Shippo whipped away the tears from his eyes with the back of the hand.
"Hatsuyo thought Inuyasha-nii... was stealing so she... she grabbed the swimsuit..." he sniffled. She listened patiently but not quite getting the whole point.
"Which swimsuit?" she looked up from her son at hearing Inuyasha's embarrassed voice.
"I was helping Shippo get your swimsuits and the dog just bit right into it." he stretched the piece of polyester, showing the four tears in the overstretched material. A hand came up to her lips in horror.
"Not that swimsuit!" she shrieked hurrying to her feet and grabbing the piece from his hands. She looked up at the blue sky through the rips. Tears welled up in her eyes and she crushed the swimsuit to her chest like a wounded part of her body. Her eyes closed tightly and she drew a deep breath and held it. The other four looked from one to the other whit out saying anything. One narrowed his eyes, one felt for her visible pain, another sniffled and the last looked frantically between the woman and his brother. How had it all ended up his fault? The dog lazily neared the group and then sat to admire the scene. Its tail wagged and then after it was ignored for ten more seconds a bark escaped that innocent looking mouth full of pearly white fangs.
Kagome's eyes snapped open and she let out such a low and beast-like growl that had everyone jumped out of their skin.
"Hatsuyo, you get that fluffy tail of yours in the kettle before I make a dust whisk out of you!" she threatened stomping towards the mass of fur. Hatsuyo yelped, dodged her hand and sprinted away to the ordered place. "Ugh! You're just lucky I have to get to work!" she kicked the grass in front of her in frustration. A chuckle escaped someone and it made her head whip to the others. "It's not funny you guys!" Sesshomaru coughed into his fist and then checked his watch.
"We were going to the store anyway, might as well not waste anymore time." he suggested walking in the direction of the car. Kagome's shoulders slumped. It wasn't enough that she thoroughly embarrassed herself in front of him, this blasted heat was clawing out her bad habits.
The doors closed shut and Sesshomaru drove off once Kagome had explained the route to him. This time she sat in the front seat while Inuyasha kept chuckling in the back seat with Shippo and Rin. The comicality of the scene refusing to leave their mind. Sesshomaru turned the radio on so the sounds coming from behind them were muffled.
"What was so special about that swimsuit anyway?" Sesshomaru asked out of the blue, slightly startling her. She looked down at the fabric still clenched in her hands and sighed.
"It was the only pervert-proof swimsuit I could find." an eyebrow rouse and she continued. "It was picked out by Miroku, Shippo's dad just to be sure." she supplied the information. "He was a fully trained monk but a pervert to the core." she laughed lightly. "And it never failed me till today when Hatsuyo had her way with it." she pouted and frowned her displeasure, she could see the whole street through the tears. Sesshomaru glanced at the fabric as well. It was a plain color, not eye-catching at all.
"Perhaps we could find another one similar?" he saw her weight the idea and it almost slipped past his lips. She would look so much better in a dark blue two piece. Sesshomaru shook his head correcting that last thought. He shouldn't meddle to much, it might just prove harmful.
Inuyasha smiled smugly, he had guessed his brother's preference. Or rather Sesshomaru had been negligent while looking for something to his liking. And he most certainly did find that something. Inuyasha's keen eyes caught the contemplative glance he had sent her way and them back to that specific two piece. When he moved to the men's isle he had made his move. He picked up the two piece and suggested it to Kagome. She hesitated for a moment, fingers tracing the material. The clerk complimented her and supported the choice. Encouraged she smiled and agreed to purchase it.
Sesshomaru stilled his movements. He even stopped breathing when Kagome left with Rin and shippo to get changed, a piece of dark blue material peeked from within the folds of her towel. He went back to check. His hand went over his face in exasperation. Beside him Inuyasha chuckled. Sesshomaru sent him a hateful glare. The younger male leaned against the rack, one hand supporting the other. Hand which dangled from one finger a hanger draped with a dark blue knee length robe.
"You know, she probably won't be in the water most of the time..." Inuyasha trailed.
"Careful Inuyasha, you might just drown." the elder brother growled, snatched the item and marched up to the cashier.
