I don't own these characters. I just like to play with them.
Come What May
Chapter One: Birthday Bash
By: Shin Shin-chan
Hee hee hee. I forgot to add in the first chapter what everyone's jobs were. Kagome stays home to help her mother hold down the fort. Inuyasha has a part time job as a Martial Arts instructor, which Sango helps with. Inuyasha also writes books about their adventures in the Feudal Era; of course the people that read them think that it's all fictional. Miroku works at an orphanage, but he and Sango already agreed that they would not be adopting a child. Oh, and the twins received Danger as a gift when they had turned fourteen. You'll see what I'm talking about.
Also, Inasho and Rayne can talk to each other through their thoughts. I thought this would be a kool idea, and I think it works out too, considering who their parents are. You know. a half demon and a miko. well; I thought I would be neat lol.
*
"Anybody want another piece of cake?" Kagome called to the room while she held a paper plate with a slab of cake on it above her head. Inuyasha thrust his hand in the air. His mouth was too full of his third helping of the cake to answer. Rayne laughed, "I guess my cake is a big success, huh?"
"Almost too much of one. Dad won't stop eating it!" Inasho said loudly, eyeing his father.
Inuyasha threw his son a half hearted glare over his shoulder as Kagome placed the plate in front of him, sighing. "Alright, presents!" Sango called. "But I'm not done with my food!" Inuyasha mumbled around a mouthful of cake. "It's not Rayne's fault her cake is so good," Miroku said with a wink in Rayne's direction. Kagome sighed. "Come on dear. I'll let you eat in the living room. This once," she said. She and Sango ushered everyone into the living room, Inuyasha holding his cake out of Danger's way. Danger barked happily and flounced into the room after him.
"I don't know why I ever agreed to let them have a dog," Inuyasha muttered as he sat down in a chair. "Oh, but honey! He reminded me so much of you!" Kagome said tugging on one of his ears. Inuyasha growled softly and tugged her down into his lap. "Ugh, get a room you two!" Rayne called from across the room, winking. "Ok, here you go you two," Miroku said as he placed a present in front of each child. "By the way, why did you name that crazy dog 'Danger' anyway?" Rayne, Inasho, and Miro, who had just walked in from the kitchen, shared a look then burst out laughing. "That's why," said Miro between laughter, pointing at the dog. Miroku looked at Danger, who was just about to snag the cake off of Inuyasha's plate.
"Danger! Lay off!" Inasho said.
The pup sat down on his haunches and let his tongue loll out of his mouth. "What kind of dog is that anyway?" Sango asked. "It looks like a mix." "He is," said Rayne matter-of-factly. "He's a Husky/wolf mix." Sango made a silent 'oh.' "Can I open my presents now?" Inasho said, irritated that he was being ignored. Everyone in the room laughed. Inasho just crossed his arms and 'keh'ed. Kagome and Inuyasha shared a fond look. "Knock your self out," Inuyasha said to his son.
*
"Alright kids, what do you say?" Kagome said as she picked up stray pieces of wrapping paper off the floor and shoved them into a trash bag. "Thank you everybody," Rayne and Inasho chorused. Inasho looked around the room for a minute. "Hey Ray-Ray. Where'd Pop go?" Rayne glanced around the room. "I dunno. Hey Mom! Where's Daddy?" "I think he's checking on something," Kagome said with a glint in her eyes. Just then Inuyasha waltzed back into the room hold two long boxes. Inasho gave his father a quizzical look, and turned to his mother, who promptly looked up at the ceiling. Inuyasha handed one box to each of his children. "They used to be your mother's and mine," he said as a way of explanation. The twins looked at each other, then at the boxes.
"Well, go on. Open them," Kagome urged. 'Oh boy,' Inasho thought at his sister. 'You can say that again. Don't adults only say that when it turns out to be something awful?' she thought back. Inasho chuckled softly. Rayne wrinkled her nose slightly. It feels kind of weird to have someone laugh in your head. Miro nudged her suddenly. "Hey Ray, your parents want you to open them at the same time." Rayne smiled sheepishly at him; Miro winked and stepped away. 'Ready?' Rayne thought at her brother. 'Yup,' he thought. 'Ok. One, two, three!' Off came the lids to the boxes. "Whoa," Inasho said. "Double whoa," Rayne breathed. "What is it?" asked Miro, who was bobbing up and down around their shoulders. "This," said Inasho, producing a sword in its scabbard from his box. "And this," said Rayne taking a long bow and a single arrow.
"The bow was mine," said Kagome, "and the sword was your father's. It's called the Tetsuiga." "It's very special," Sango from somewhere behind them. Inasho glanced at her quickly over his shoulder. "Hmm." he mumbled as he slowly pulled the sword from its sheath. His eyes widened when he saw it. It was skinny and rusty and had little knicks all over it. "Yeah, it's special all right," he grumbled. "Oh get over it." said Rayne. "Mom, I absolutely love it! I'm going to put it on the wall above my bed!" 'You better say something like that, too." She thought at her brother. Inasho wrinkled his nose at her. "Yeah, me too." He said. Their mother smiled and made shooing motions at them. Inasho trumped up the stairs while Rayne snagged Miro and followed him. A minute later the twins were back down the stairs again to gather their weapons.
*
"There. That should do it." Miro said as he tilted the bow so it was straight. "Hey, thanks a lot Miro!" Rayne said happily as she gazed at her bow and arrow. She had positioned them so they made the letter 'X'. Just then there was a loud thump from Inasho's room, and the sound of him cursing. 'Oh boy.' She thought. "Better go help Inasho." She said with a sigh as she headed for the door. "What? I don't get a hug?" said Miro from behind her. Rayne rolled her eyes and turned around, walking quickly to Miro and gave him a one-armed hug. Suddenly, she felt a hand extremely close to her rear. She pulled away quickly. "You pervert times two." She muttered as she yanked the small ponytail at the nape of his neck, satisfied when she heard him yelp. "Let's go see what Inasho is breaking now." She said. Miro chuckled good naturedly and followed her out of the room.
"Inasho! What in the seven hells are you doing?!"
"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm hanging up my sword!"
"Oh, really."
"Aw, shut up Rayne."
"It looks to me like you're having a little fun with your mattress."
"Fuck you." He said grinning.
"Sorry. I'm not into incest." She said breezily. Striding up to Inasho she poked him hard in the forehead. "How'd you manage all this?" She said trying hard not to laugh and failing miserably. Her brother was half on, half off of his bed. His head was resting uncomfortably on the floor, and his legs were impossibly tangled in the sheets. The Tetsuiga was hanging precariously on his wall.
"It's not funny." Inasho said with a scowl.
"I didn't say it was funny. Miro, do you see anything funny here?" She asked innocently as she gestured grandly at the tangled mess that was her twin.
"Not a thing." Miro said as he leaned against the doorframe. "Nothing at all." He said again even as his lips twitched up into a smirk. Rayne grinned widely at her brother and flashed him a mental image of her sprouting devil horns and a tail and holding a pitch fork.
"What happened? You have those looks on your faces again. Tell me, I wanna know." Miro asked as he walked toward them. Inasho frowned but relayed the image to him anyway. Miro's eyes crossed slightly as he interpreted the pictures that flashed inside his head, then he laughed loudly. "That is so you, Rayne!"
"Damn straight." She said with a smirk.
"Bitch." Inasho muttered. Rayne turned to glare evilly at him. Miro kicked him in the ribs. "Ouch! Damn. That hurt!" Inasho grunted. "Opps." Miro said and gave a toothy grin to show he was kidding. Rayne pointed at him and snorted.
"Excuse me! Have you forgotten, or do I not exist anymore?!" Inasho said angrily as he kicked his feet in a feeble attempt to free them from his blankets. "Sure." Rayne said with a shrug. She motioned for Miro to come grab some of the sheets. On the count of three they gave them a hearty tug. They came unraveled surprisingly easy. Inasho was flipped off of the bed and landed hard on the floor on his back.
"I hate you." He said to them.
*
In the living room the adults were having a conversation.
"We know his birthday isn't for another month-and-a-half, but we thought it would really make him happy, I mean, he loves Danger so much." Sango said looking intently at Kagome.
"I understand completely. He's mature enough, too." She said.
"I just don't want my house to turn into a three-ring circus." Inuyasha grumped at them.
"Actually, this is my house. You're just a guest." Kagome said teasingly. Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at her. "If you want that tongue you best keep it in your mouth."
"Actually Kagome, dear," said Ms. Higurashi as she walked in from the kitchen, "this is my house. You just live here."
"Right. What did I say?"
Her mother just sighed and sat down in one of the three chairs. Really there were four, but that was Grandpa Higurashi's recliner and it smelled distinctly of an older person and dust. Miroku just watched the whole scene with interest.
"So, um, anyway Kagome. What do you think?" Sango asked haltingly.
"Fine with me. Do you have to go out and get it still?"
"Well, no. We already have it. Miroku brought it home today." Sango said. Miroku nodded quickly beside her.
"Inuyasha? Is it okay with you?" Kagome asked her husband. Inuyasha looked at her, then at Sango and Miroku, Kagome's mother, who simply nodded at him and smiled, her eyes wrinkling at the edges, and back to Kagome. "Alright," he said. "Just, you know, make sure it behaves and stuff." Sango launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much Inuyasha!" she said happily. "Yeah, yeah." Inuyasha said softly as he tenderly placed his arms loosely around her waist. Miroku raised an eyebrow at him from his place in the chair.
Embarrassed, he pushed Sango gently away from him and cleared his throat. "Yeah, well, go call Miro and the twins." He said. Sango flashed him a bright smile and rushed out of the room.
*
"There, and it damn well better stay up there." Said Inasho as he re-positioned his new sword on the wall. "Oh, come off it." Miro and Rayne chanted together. They shared a look with one another, then burst out laughing. "Simpletons." Inasho grumbled. "Don't be mad just 'cause I like Miro better then you." Rayne said between laughter. "Not possible," said her brother shortly. "I'm your twin, plus we have a telepathic connection."
"So true." Rayne said.
Just then Sango called up the stairs. "Miro?"
"Yeah mom?"
"Could you come down here please? And bring the twins with you!"
"Sure thing!"
Inasho hopped down off his bed. "Wonder what she wants." He said.
"Man, I got no clue." Miro told him.
Rayne was still sitting on the floor Indian style. She turned to her brother and reached out to him with her arms. "Up." She said to him. Inasho sighed and pulled her to her feet. "You're so dependent." He told her. "Yup!" she said happily as she flounced out of the room. Inasho turned to the boy beside him and mouthed something. Miro laughed loudly and followed him out of the room and down the stairs.
As they reached the living room, they knew immediately that something was wrong. All of the adults were standing close together, smiling at the children as they entered the room. Their steps faltered until it was only Miro who was taking jerky steps forward. Finally he stopped, and scratched his head. "Mom.dad.what's goin' on?" Sango and Miroku looked at each other, then back at Miro.
"Well," said Sango drawing out the word, "we know it's still over a month till your birthday, but we decided to give you one of your presents early this year."
"O.kay." Miro said uneasily. 'They've never done anything like this before.' He thought at Rayne and Inasho. He didn't necessarily know if they could hear him or not, but he needed some reassurance right then. Rayne stepped up beside him suddenly and whispered, "Don't worry about it." Miro looked up at her, surprised, and she winked at him. "We heard. It was just really fuzzy." She mumbled. The younger boy nodded slightly. "Well, uh, wha- what is it?" he asked.
The adults all smiled widely as Sango and Miroku stepped to the side. Sitting on the floor behind them was a Boxer puppy. It was brindle in color and had white toes on each foot and a big white splash on its chest and big, soulful chocolate brown eyes. There was a big red bow tied around its neck. "Whoa!" Miro yelled. The puppy jumped at the sound of his voice and started yapping loudly. Miro started babbling about how great a gift the puppy was. Danger ran into the room attracted by the Boxers barks and started running around in circles excitedly. Rayne and Inasho started yelling for Danger to calm down and leave the puppy alone. The puppy ran in circles around the couch, jumping in the airs and whining loudly.
"So what are you going to name her?" Kagome yelled at Miro over all of the noise.
"Her?!" All three children yelled at the same time.
"Yes, it's a her." Inuyasha said with an amused smile.
Inasho looked around the room. "It's utter chaos in here!"
"That's it! That's what I'll name her!" Miro said pointing at the puppy that was now jumping up and down in front of Danger.
"What?" Rayne asked.
"Chaos." Miro said with a grin.
*
"Alright kids. Bed." Said Inuyasha later on that night. They had been up for over an hour playing with Chaos, and it was now almost eleven o' clock.
On a school night.
"Aw, but daddy!" Rayne whined. Her father frowned. "No whining. Bed." He said pointing to the stairs. She pouted but reached out to pet Chaos one last time and walked up the stairs anyway. She knew it was no use arguing with her father. Even if she did win arguments with her friends, she didn't have a chance when it came to her daddy. 'If have to go to bed then you do, too.' She thought sourly at her brother. 'Go away.' Inasho said stiffly. Rayne flashed him a picture of him smoking a cigarette, and her telling their father. Inasho cursed a blue streak inside her head and reluctantly stood. He muttered a disgruntled good night to the other occupants of the room, and headed up the stairs. "I can't believe you'd fuckin' blackmail me!" he whispered angrily. "I would when you're being an ass." Rayne told him easily as she walked up the stairs ahead of him.
"What was that about?" asked Miro as he walked to the steps holding a squirming Chaos in his arms. "Who knows? It is Rayne after all." Inasho sighed. "Yeah, I guess." Said the younger boy as they reached the top of the stairs. "Hold." He said as he shoved Chaos into Inasho's arms so he could open his bedroom door. "See ya tomorrow." He said when he took the puppy back. "Yeah.later." Inasho said. "'Night guys!" came Rayne's muffled voice through her bedroom door. As usual she received no answer.
*
Monday mornings at Yunari Middle School always seemed to drag on forever. Luckily for the students, Mondays are also casual dress days. So when Rayne, Inasho, and Miro all came downstairs on Monday morning, they were not in their uniforms, of course. "You wearing that to school?" asked Sota, giving the trio a pointed look as he and Shippo walked into the kitchen. Rayne squealed happily and launched herself at Sota and latched herself onto his neck. Sota laugh and wrapped his arms around her waist to support her. "When did you two get back from the States?!" she asked excitedly. "At about three in the morning." Shippo answered for him. "What's wrong with my clothes?" asked Inasho with a frown. He looked down at his baggy skater shorts and Independent T-shirt. "Nothing." Said Sota as he untangled himself from Rayne. "The real disasters are Rayne's and Miro's outfits."
Rayne stopped strangling Shippo and gazed critically at her own clothes. She was wearing forest green baggy pants that settled gracefully at her hips and a three-quarter length, tight-fitting black shirt that came to a little ways above her belly button. Thin chain earrings that dangled down two inches adorned her ears. Rayne shrugged. "Oh well. I like it." Miro too was glancing at his outfit. He plucked at his purple T-shirt and baggy black pants and shrugged. Sota laughed loudly. "Don't worry guys, I was joking anyway." Rayne stuck her tongue out at him. "Meanie teaser." She said. Her uncle winked.
"Well, I hate to break up this lovely family reunion, but if we don't leave right now, we're gunna be late for school." Miro said as he grabbed his books off the table. "Oh yeah." Inasho said snapping his fingers. "I forgot."
"Idiot." Rayne teased as she shoved his books into his hands.
"You guys want a ride?" Sota asked.
"No we're alright; we'll just get going now." Miro said. "Oh, and watch out for Chaos, she likes to chew shoelaces."
"Who's Chaos?" Shippo asked raising his eyebrows.
"My puppy." Miro said grinning widely before Rayne pushed him out the door.
"Hey Rayne! I brought you something." Shippo called to her.
"OH! What is it?!" she said excitedly.
"When you get home." He said with a grin.
"Meanie teaser." Rayne said again as she did the cha-cha out of the door.
*
"Hey! Hey Rayne!" Lixiue called to her as she raced across the school grounds waiving her arms to get her attention. Lixiue tackled Rayne and they both toppled to the ground. "Ugh, hey Lixi." She said as she picked herself up off the grass. "What's up?"
"Um, well, you see, uh." Lixi stuttered.
"Spit it out Lixi." Rayne said smiling easily.
"He's looking for you again." Lixiue whispered peering all around them.
Rayne paled instantly. "Oh shit." she muttered. Her throat was closing up on her. She couldn't breath. Her eyes stared to sting with tears and her vision blurred. "Rayne. Rayne! Pull yourself together, girl!" Lixiue said shaking her by the shoulders. Rayne whimpered slightly. 'Oh, I'm in deep shit.' She thought. 'What do you mean, you're in deep shit?' Inasho asked her from across the school yard. Rayne ignored him. 'Deep shit. Deep shit. Deep shit.' she chanted in her mind. She was snapped out of her reverie when Lixi slapped her lightly across the face.
"Ray! Damnit, snap out of it!" Lixiue said with a worried look in her eyes. Rayne shook her head. Now she was feeling dizzy, and it wasn't from what Lixi had told her. Her mind felt smoky. Narrowing her eyes she looked around the school yard for her brother. "Ah." she said when she spotted him. He was standing with his friends, smoking a cigarette. 'Put that out right now or I'll end up fainting again. And I'll leave it to you to explain to mom and dad how it happened.' She told him fiercely. Inasho sighed loudly and stomped it out just as the bell rang. His friends gaped unbelievingly at him as he ambled towards the school.
*
"You sure you're gunna be okay Rayne?" Lixiue asked her for the millionth time. "Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine." Rayne told her as she walked out of the lunch room and towards her locker. "Well. alright. See ya later Ray." Lixi said as she walked towards her own locker down the hall. Rayne put in her combination and pulled open the door and placed her text books inside. Just then someone grabbed her around the waist from behind and started to grind into her. "Hey, baby." A deep husky voice breathed in her ear. Rayne turned around and slapped the person hard across the face. "I told you Jiro. We don't go out anymore. Fuck off." She said to him angrily. Jiro grinned nastily and turned to spit some blood out onto the hallway floor. Turning his cold gaze back to Rayne, he put a hand on the lockers by the sides of her head. "Oh, but I'll get you back." He said coldly as he ran one finger down her cheek. He towered above her.
Rayne jerked her head away from him. "I'm not some dog bone." She told him bluntly. Somewhere in the distance the late bell rang. Jiro searched her eyes for a minute. "We'll see." He said in a tone that Rayne did not like at all. "We'll see."
Then he was gone.
Rayne heaved in a shaky breath, then slammed her locker door shut and ran to her next class, completely forgetting her books.
*
Wow. That was a long second chapter. Nine pages I think. Well it seems long to me. Okay, review time. Umm this won't take long considering I only got one.
The Youkai Nightmare- I'm SO glad you like it! Here's the update you wanted! I'll try to update again soon.
Come What May
Chapter One: Birthday Bash
By: Shin Shin-chan
Hee hee hee. I forgot to add in the first chapter what everyone's jobs were. Kagome stays home to help her mother hold down the fort. Inuyasha has a part time job as a Martial Arts instructor, which Sango helps with. Inuyasha also writes books about their adventures in the Feudal Era; of course the people that read them think that it's all fictional. Miroku works at an orphanage, but he and Sango already agreed that they would not be adopting a child. Oh, and the twins received Danger as a gift when they had turned fourteen. You'll see what I'm talking about.
Also, Inasho and Rayne can talk to each other through their thoughts. I thought this would be a kool idea, and I think it works out too, considering who their parents are. You know. a half demon and a miko. well; I thought I would be neat lol.
*
"Anybody want another piece of cake?" Kagome called to the room while she held a paper plate with a slab of cake on it above her head. Inuyasha thrust his hand in the air. His mouth was too full of his third helping of the cake to answer. Rayne laughed, "I guess my cake is a big success, huh?"
"Almost too much of one. Dad won't stop eating it!" Inasho said loudly, eyeing his father.
Inuyasha threw his son a half hearted glare over his shoulder as Kagome placed the plate in front of him, sighing. "Alright, presents!" Sango called. "But I'm not done with my food!" Inuyasha mumbled around a mouthful of cake. "It's not Rayne's fault her cake is so good," Miroku said with a wink in Rayne's direction. Kagome sighed. "Come on dear. I'll let you eat in the living room. This once," she said. She and Sango ushered everyone into the living room, Inuyasha holding his cake out of Danger's way. Danger barked happily and flounced into the room after him.
"I don't know why I ever agreed to let them have a dog," Inuyasha muttered as he sat down in a chair. "Oh, but honey! He reminded me so much of you!" Kagome said tugging on one of his ears. Inuyasha growled softly and tugged her down into his lap. "Ugh, get a room you two!" Rayne called from across the room, winking. "Ok, here you go you two," Miroku said as he placed a present in front of each child. "By the way, why did you name that crazy dog 'Danger' anyway?" Rayne, Inasho, and Miro, who had just walked in from the kitchen, shared a look then burst out laughing. "That's why," said Miro between laughter, pointing at the dog. Miroku looked at Danger, who was just about to snag the cake off of Inuyasha's plate.
"Danger! Lay off!" Inasho said.
The pup sat down on his haunches and let his tongue loll out of his mouth. "What kind of dog is that anyway?" Sango asked. "It looks like a mix." "He is," said Rayne matter-of-factly. "He's a Husky/wolf mix." Sango made a silent 'oh.' "Can I open my presents now?" Inasho said, irritated that he was being ignored. Everyone in the room laughed. Inasho just crossed his arms and 'keh'ed. Kagome and Inuyasha shared a fond look. "Knock your self out," Inuyasha said to his son.
*
"Alright kids, what do you say?" Kagome said as she picked up stray pieces of wrapping paper off the floor and shoved them into a trash bag. "Thank you everybody," Rayne and Inasho chorused. Inasho looked around the room for a minute. "Hey Ray-Ray. Where'd Pop go?" Rayne glanced around the room. "I dunno. Hey Mom! Where's Daddy?" "I think he's checking on something," Kagome said with a glint in her eyes. Just then Inuyasha waltzed back into the room hold two long boxes. Inasho gave his father a quizzical look, and turned to his mother, who promptly looked up at the ceiling. Inuyasha handed one box to each of his children. "They used to be your mother's and mine," he said as a way of explanation. The twins looked at each other, then at the boxes.
"Well, go on. Open them," Kagome urged. 'Oh boy,' Inasho thought at his sister. 'You can say that again. Don't adults only say that when it turns out to be something awful?' she thought back. Inasho chuckled softly. Rayne wrinkled her nose slightly. It feels kind of weird to have someone laugh in your head. Miro nudged her suddenly. "Hey Ray, your parents want you to open them at the same time." Rayne smiled sheepishly at him; Miro winked and stepped away. 'Ready?' Rayne thought at her brother. 'Yup,' he thought. 'Ok. One, two, three!' Off came the lids to the boxes. "Whoa," Inasho said. "Double whoa," Rayne breathed. "What is it?" asked Miro, who was bobbing up and down around their shoulders. "This," said Inasho, producing a sword in its scabbard from his box. "And this," said Rayne taking a long bow and a single arrow.
"The bow was mine," said Kagome, "and the sword was your father's. It's called the Tetsuiga." "It's very special," Sango from somewhere behind them. Inasho glanced at her quickly over his shoulder. "Hmm." he mumbled as he slowly pulled the sword from its sheath. His eyes widened when he saw it. It was skinny and rusty and had little knicks all over it. "Yeah, it's special all right," he grumbled. "Oh get over it." said Rayne. "Mom, I absolutely love it! I'm going to put it on the wall above my bed!" 'You better say something like that, too." She thought at her brother. Inasho wrinkled his nose at her. "Yeah, me too." He said. Their mother smiled and made shooing motions at them. Inasho trumped up the stairs while Rayne snagged Miro and followed him. A minute later the twins were back down the stairs again to gather their weapons.
*
"There. That should do it." Miro said as he tilted the bow so it was straight. "Hey, thanks a lot Miro!" Rayne said happily as she gazed at her bow and arrow. She had positioned them so they made the letter 'X'. Just then there was a loud thump from Inasho's room, and the sound of him cursing. 'Oh boy.' She thought. "Better go help Inasho." She said with a sigh as she headed for the door. "What? I don't get a hug?" said Miro from behind her. Rayne rolled her eyes and turned around, walking quickly to Miro and gave him a one-armed hug. Suddenly, she felt a hand extremely close to her rear. She pulled away quickly. "You pervert times two." She muttered as she yanked the small ponytail at the nape of his neck, satisfied when she heard him yelp. "Let's go see what Inasho is breaking now." She said. Miro chuckled good naturedly and followed her out of the room.
"Inasho! What in the seven hells are you doing?!"
"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm hanging up my sword!"
"Oh, really."
"Aw, shut up Rayne."
"It looks to me like you're having a little fun with your mattress."
"Fuck you." He said grinning.
"Sorry. I'm not into incest." She said breezily. Striding up to Inasho she poked him hard in the forehead. "How'd you manage all this?" She said trying hard not to laugh and failing miserably. Her brother was half on, half off of his bed. His head was resting uncomfortably on the floor, and his legs were impossibly tangled in the sheets. The Tetsuiga was hanging precariously on his wall.
"It's not funny." Inasho said with a scowl.
"I didn't say it was funny. Miro, do you see anything funny here?" She asked innocently as she gestured grandly at the tangled mess that was her twin.
"Not a thing." Miro said as he leaned against the doorframe. "Nothing at all." He said again even as his lips twitched up into a smirk. Rayne grinned widely at her brother and flashed him a mental image of her sprouting devil horns and a tail and holding a pitch fork.
"What happened? You have those looks on your faces again. Tell me, I wanna know." Miro asked as he walked toward them. Inasho frowned but relayed the image to him anyway. Miro's eyes crossed slightly as he interpreted the pictures that flashed inside his head, then he laughed loudly. "That is so you, Rayne!"
"Damn straight." She said with a smirk.
"Bitch." Inasho muttered. Rayne turned to glare evilly at him. Miro kicked him in the ribs. "Ouch! Damn. That hurt!" Inasho grunted. "Opps." Miro said and gave a toothy grin to show he was kidding. Rayne pointed at him and snorted.
"Excuse me! Have you forgotten, or do I not exist anymore?!" Inasho said angrily as he kicked his feet in a feeble attempt to free them from his blankets. "Sure." Rayne said with a shrug. She motioned for Miro to come grab some of the sheets. On the count of three they gave them a hearty tug. They came unraveled surprisingly easy. Inasho was flipped off of the bed and landed hard on the floor on his back.
"I hate you." He said to them.
*
In the living room the adults were having a conversation.
"We know his birthday isn't for another month-and-a-half, but we thought it would really make him happy, I mean, he loves Danger so much." Sango said looking intently at Kagome.
"I understand completely. He's mature enough, too." She said.
"I just don't want my house to turn into a three-ring circus." Inuyasha grumped at them.
"Actually, this is my house. You're just a guest." Kagome said teasingly. Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at her. "If you want that tongue you best keep it in your mouth."
"Actually Kagome, dear," said Ms. Higurashi as she walked in from the kitchen, "this is my house. You just live here."
"Right. What did I say?"
Her mother just sighed and sat down in one of the three chairs. Really there were four, but that was Grandpa Higurashi's recliner and it smelled distinctly of an older person and dust. Miroku just watched the whole scene with interest.
"So, um, anyway Kagome. What do you think?" Sango asked haltingly.
"Fine with me. Do you have to go out and get it still?"
"Well, no. We already have it. Miroku brought it home today." Sango said. Miroku nodded quickly beside her.
"Inuyasha? Is it okay with you?" Kagome asked her husband. Inuyasha looked at her, then at Sango and Miroku, Kagome's mother, who simply nodded at him and smiled, her eyes wrinkling at the edges, and back to Kagome. "Alright," he said. "Just, you know, make sure it behaves and stuff." Sango launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you so much Inuyasha!" she said happily. "Yeah, yeah." Inuyasha said softly as he tenderly placed his arms loosely around her waist. Miroku raised an eyebrow at him from his place in the chair.
Embarrassed, he pushed Sango gently away from him and cleared his throat. "Yeah, well, go call Miro and the twins." He said. Sango flashed him a bright smile and rushed out of the room.
*
"There, and it damn well better stay up there." Said Inasho as he re-positioned his new sword on the wall. "Oh, come off it." Miro and Rayne chanted together. They shared a look with one another, then burst out laughing. "Simpletons." Inasho grumbled. "Don't be mad just 'cause I like Miro better then you." Rayne said between laughter. "Not possible," said her brother shortly. "I'm your twin, plus we have a telepathic connection."
"So true." Rayne said.
Just then Sango called up the stairs. "Miro?"
"Yeah mom?"
"Could you come down here please? And bring the twins with you!"
"Sure thing!"
Inasho hopped down off his bed. "Wonder what she wants." He said.
"Man, I got no clue." Miro told him.
Rayne was still sitting on the floor Indian style. She turned to her brother and reached out to him with her arms. "Up." She said to him. Inasho sighed and pulled her to her feet. "You're so dependent." He told her. "Yup!" she said happily as she flounced out of the room. Inasho turned to the boy beside him and mouthed something. Miro laughed loudly and followed him out of the room and down the stairs.
As they reached the living room, they knew immediately that something was wrong. All of the adults were standing close together, smiling at the children as they entered the room. Their steps faltered until it was only Miro who was taking jerky steps forward. Finally he stopped, and scratched his head. "Mom.dad.what's goin' on?" Sango and Miroku looked at each other, then back at Miro.
"Well," said Sango drawing out the word, "we know it's still over a month till your birthday, but we decided to give you one of your presents early this year."
"O.kay." Miro said uneasily. 'They've never done anything like this before.' He thought at Rayne and Inasho. He didn't necessarily know if they could hear him or not, but he needed some reassurance right then. Rayne stepped up beside him suddenly and whispered, "Don't worry about it." Miro looked up at her, surprised, and she winked at him. "We heard. It was just really fuzzy." She mumbled. The younger boy nodded slightly. "Well, uh, wha- what is it?" he asked.
The adults all smiled widely as Sango and Miroku stepped to the side. Sitting on the floor behind them was a Boxer puppy. It was brindle in color and had white toes on each foot and a big white splash on its chest and big, soulful chocolate brown eyes. There was a big red bow tied around its neck. "Whoa!" Miro yelled. The puppy jumped at the sound of his voice and started yapping loudly. Miro started babbling about how great a gift the puppy was. Danger ran into the room attracted by the Boxers barks and started running around in circles excitedly. Rayne and Inasho started yelling for Danger to calm down and leave the puppy alone. The puppy ran in circles around the couch, jumping in the airs and whining loudly.
"So what are you going to name her?" Kagome yelled at Miro over all of the noise.
"Her?!" All three children yelled at the same time.
"Yes, it's a her." Inuyasha said with an amused smile.
Inasho looked around the room. "It's utter chaos in here!"
"That's it! That's what I'll name her!" Miro said pointing at the puppy that was now jumping up and down in front of Danger.
"What?" Rayne asked.
"Chaos." Miro said with a grin.
*
"Alright kids. Bed." Said Inuyasha later on that night. They had been up for over an hour playing with Chaos, and it was now almost eleven o' clock.
On a school night.
"Aw, but daddy!" Rayne whined. Her father frowned. "No whining. Bed." He said pointing to the stairs. She pouted but reached out to pet Chaos one last time and walked up the stairs anyway. She knew it was no use arguing with her father. Even if she did win arguments with her friends, she didn't have a chance when it came to her daddy. 'If have to go to bed then you do, too.' She thought sourly at her brother. 'Go away.' Inasho said stiffly. Rayne flashed him a picture of him smoking a cigarette, and her telling their father. Inasho cursed a blue streak inside her head and reluctantly stood. He muttered a disgruntled good night to the other occupants of the room, and headed up the stairs. "I can't believe you'd fuckin' blackmail me!" he whispered angrily. "I would when you're being an ass." Rayne told him easily as she walked up the stairs ahead of him.
"What was that about?" asked Miro as he walked to the steps holding a squirming Chaos in his arms. "Who knows? It is Rayne after all." Inasho sighed. "Yeah, I guess." Said the younger boy as they reached the top of the stairs. "Hold." He said as he shoved Chaos into Inasho's arms so he could open his bedroom door. "See ya tomorrow." He said when he took the puppy back. "Yeah.later." Inasho said. "'Night guys!" came Rayne's muffled voice through her bedroom door. As usual she received no answer.
*
Monday mornings at Yunari Middle School always seemed to drag on forever. Luckily for the students, Mondays are also casual dress days. So when Rayne, Inasho, and Miro all came downstairs on Monday morning, they were not in their uniforms, of course. "You wearing that to school?" asked Sota, giving the trio a pointed look as he and Shippo walked into the kitchen. Rayne squealed happily and launched herself at Sota and latched herself onto his neck. Sota laugh and wrapped his arms around her waist to support her. "When did you two get back from the States?!" she asked excitedly. "At about three in the morning." Shippo answered for him. "What's wrong with my clothes?" asked Inasho with a frown. He looked down at his baggy skater shorts and Independent T-shirt. "Nothing." Said Sota as he untangled himself from Rayne. "The real disasters are Rayne's and Miro's outfits."
Rayne stopped strangling Shippo and gazed critically at her own clothes. She was wearing forest green baggy pants that settled gracefully at her hips and a three-quarter length, tight-fitting black shirt that came to a little ways above her belly button. Thin chain earrings that dangled down two inches adorned her ears. Rayne shrugged. "Oh well. I like it." Miro too was glancing at his outfit. He plucked at his purple T-shirt and baggy black pants and shrugged. Sota laughed loudly. "Don't worry guys, I was joking anyway." Rayne stuck her tongue out at him. "Meanie teaser." She said. Her uncle winked.
"Well, I hate to break up this lovely family reunion, but if we don't leave right now, we're gunna be late for school." Miro said as he grabbed his books off the table. "Oh yeah." Inasho said snapping his fingers. "I forgot."
"Idiot." Rayne teased as she shoved his books into his hands.
"You guys want a ride?" Sota asked.
"No we're alright; we'll just get going now." Miro said. "Oh, and watch out for Chaos, she likes to chew shoelaces."
"Who's Chaos?" Shippo asked raising his eyebrows.
"My puppy." Miro said grinning widely before Rayne pushed him out the door.
"Hey Rayne! I brought you something." Shippo called to her.
"OH! What is it?!" she said excitedly.
"When you get home." He said with a grin.
"Meanie teaser." Rayne said again as she did the cha-cha out of the door.
*
"Hey! Hey Rayne!" Lixiue called to her as she raced across the school grounds waiving her arms to get her attention. Lixiue tackled Rayne and they both toppled to the ground. "Ugh, hey Lixi." She said as she picked herself up off the grass. "What's up?"
"Um, well, you see, uh." Lixi stuttered.
"Spit it out Lixi." Rayne said smiling easily.
"He's looking for you again." Lixiue whispered peering all around them.
Rayne paled instantly. "Oh shit." she muttered. Her throat was closing up on her. She couldn't breath. Her eyes stared to sting with tears and her vision blurred. "Rayne. Rayne! Pull yourself together, girl!" Lixiue said shaking her by the shoulders. Rayne whimpered slightly. 'Oh, I'm in deep shit.' She thought. 'What do you mean, you're in deep shit?' Inasho asked her from across the school yard. Rayne ignored him. 'Deep shit. Deep shit. Deep shit.' she chanted in her mind. She was snapped out of her reverie when Lixi slapped her lightly across the face.
"Ray! Damnit, snap out of it!" Lixiue said with a worried look in her eyes. Rayne shook her head. Now she was feeling dizzy, and it wasn't from what Lixi had told her. Her mind felt smoky. Narrowing her eyes she looked around the school yard for her brother. "Ah." she said when she spotted him. He was standing with his friends, smoking a cigarette. 'Put that out right now or I'll end up fainting again. And I'll leave it to you to explain to mom and dad how it happened.' She told him fiercely. Inasho sighed loudly and stomped it out just as the bell rang. His friends gaped unbelievingly at him as he ambled towards the school.
*
"You sure you're gunna be okay Rayne?" Lixiue asked her for the millionth time. "Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine." Rayne told her as she walked out of the lunch room and towards her locker. "Well. alright. See ya later Ray." Lixi said as she walked towards her own locker down the hall. Rayne put in her combination and pulled open the door and placed her text books inside. Just then someone grabbed her around the waist from behind and started to grind into her. "Hey, baby." A deep husky voice breathed in her ear. Rayne turned around and slapped the person hard across the face. "I told you Jiro. We don't go out anymore. Fuck off." She said to him angrily. Jiro grinned nastily and turned to spit some blood out onto the hallway floor. Turning his cold gaze back to Rayne, he put a hand on the lockers by the sides of her head. "Oh, but I'll get you back." He said coldly as he ran one finger down her cheek. He towered above her.
Rayne jerked her head away from him. "I'm not some dog bone." She told him bluntly. Somewhere in the distance the late bell rang. Jiro searched her eyes for a minute. "We'll see." He said in a tone that Rayne did not like at all. "We'll see."
Then he was gone.
Rayne heaved in a shaky breath, then slammed her locker door shut and ran to her next class, completely forgetting her books.
*
Wow. That was a long second chapter. Nine pages I think. Well it seems long to me. Okay, review time. Umm this won't take long considering I only got one.
The Youkai Nightmare- I'm SO glad you like it! Here's the update you wanted! I'll try to update again soon.