Convivial
By: The Hatter Theory
Son Daughter Day
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha
AN: This was supposed to be posted on the 11th, but I've been whomped from IRL stuff. Forgive the delay.
Souta was still plucking at his guitar, showing her the parts of a song he was trying to write. His lyrics left something to be desired, but the music was nothing like what she had thought he was interested in. It wasn't thrashy or angry. If anything it was almost mellow, although gritty, which she found strange, given that his voice was still trying to settle on something deeper than his pubescent vocals could currently belt out.
Kagome sighed, leaning back into the couch.
"You look rough," Souta commented quietly.
"Hectic week," Kagome answered automatically.
"How's Sesshoumaru?"
She hesitated, and apparently her brother had either turned into the sensitive musician type, or her expression was that obvious before she schooled it into something less pained.
"Did you two fight?"
"It's nothing, just a disagreement."
"That's the word adults use when they're having a blowout and don't want anyone else to know."
When had he gotten so smart?
"It's nothing."
"Is it because you're moving?"
"No," She answered honestly.
"Then you're moving because of it."
"I'm not. The program-"
"You cried because he was going to miss Christmas, and now you're going to move out for a few months. If it's not because of the move, the move is because of it," He told her, voice screaming pragmatism despite it's quiet. And she hated being so transparent. Souta had their mother's gift of seeing straight through to things, and while she might have been able to handle her mother saying something about it, she didn't like the idea of her brother, her younger brother no less, making such blunt observations. Even (especially) when they were more than a little true.
"We both needed space."
"Didn't know you were dating," He said, looking back down at his guitar.
"I'm not. He is," She admitted, biting the inside of her cheek when she realized what it had sounded like. "It's complicated," She added lamely, hating that she felt the need to defend herself to her brother, to anyone.
"Doesn't seem that complicated," He observed, still not looking up from the strings he picked at. "Sometimes things don't work. I'm sorry though, you two seemed really close."
"When did you get so mature?" Kagome asked as he sat the guitar down and scooted closer to her.
"It'll pass, enjoy it while you can."
"Twerp," She said, allowing him to throw an arm over her shoulder. He was taller than she was, another growth spurt hitting him with the force of a train.
"Things work themselves out. Maybe the move will help you meet someone new."
"I'm not interested in dating," She muttered. "I'm going to go get my head on straight."
"How is it I'm related to such a practical human being?" Souta snorted.
"Someone had to be."
"You know, sometimes it's good to be impractical," He argued quietly. "You read enough poetry. I doubt many of the writers were practical."
"But I'm not them."
"You could always try."
"Oh yes, hearts rent beneath the wheel of fate's inauspicious-"
She stopped, Souta's laughter making her smile. There had been something altogether too disturbing about her brother acting wise, and giving her advice on her love life was beyond disturbing, it was borderline demented. When he finally stopped, they were both grinning and relaxed, waiting patiently for their mother to get home.
"You think it'll be alright when you get back?"
"I hope so," She sighed. "I don't have a lot of choice in the matter."
She refused to think that there were choices beyond that.
"Well, if you need someone to talk to outside of the pack, you can shoot me a buzz. I don't mind listening to my older sister getting all weepy."
"I'm not being weepy," She huffed indignantly.
"You might though. And I could always use new writing material."
She grabbed the pillow next to her and hit him square in the face, ignoring the outraged noise that erupted behind it and laughing, really laughing, for the first time since her world had turned upside down.
