Ok... I do hope all you peoples like the story... I know a *few* of you do... But as for the rest... Well? Do you? Or do you not? R&R si vous plait.
Time to clear somethings up for Gotlet2b...
The **'s are italics... I sorta got scared of trying the bolds and stuff after none of it worked on my first fic... heh, heh... Anyways... "Hanyou" means "half demon"... When you asked I spazed for a second thinking I made an idiot out of myself by spelling it wrong... Luckily, I didn't.... But I am happy to educate you!... Oh, and only Kagome can see through Inuyasha's appearance charm... Not her family... Just so ya know... But hey, Inuyasha didn't or rather, doesn't, know either... But soon, you both will. (I say "soon you both will" because, while *you* learn this *now*, he'll learn it later...oops... hope I'm not giving too much away...) And last, but most definatly not least... Thanks Oh so much for reviewing! I REALLY REALLY REALLY appericiate it!!!
And now I shall respond to the rest of my (4) reviewers for chappie 3 and new reviewer from chapter 1:
Gothic Youkai666:
Hey! No reason to be sorry about the chapter mix up! I am sure it happens to the best of us! I am just glad you that the problem is now fixed! So... How do you like my fics? If you have read them, I mean... Heh, heh... Well, update your fic soon! I will leave a nice review!
sakurapetalsntears:
Thanks so much for reviewing! I am really happy you like my fic (duh)... I shall have to check out this song..."Another perfect day" is it? Well, once again, thank you for the uber cool review!
fluffyluver07:
I think I will take your advice... But it may take a little while to make it like that, you know, writing it in third person. I am glad you like the fic! And don't worry! We just gotta have the fluffy! Unfortunatly, I am not sure when it'll be exactly... Hell, it might even be this chapter.
Dunbarbalooie2:
Haha... Funny review! Glad you liked the window bit! Thanks for always reading and reviewing! Its uber cool!
hoshi-ko88:
Heh, heh... Hope you like this chapter too! Thanks for always reviewing! I appericiate it!!!
~~~Starry-Sky26~~~
Disclaimer: *Sigh* I don't own Inuyasha... But if only I did...*looks blissful*... If only I did...
__________________________________________________________________
Title: Dark Chocolate
Chapter 4: 6am on a Sunday
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N I am going to try something new... Starting out again in MY POV...Again... Making it not so new... oh well.)
Reluctantly, Kagome began to eat the food that was oh so graciously delivered by Inuyasha. Her mother had, after all, gone through the trouble of making her favorite special for her; Oden.
A knock came at her door.
"Hey sis!" Sota yelled through the wooden door. "Ya eaten? Mom wanted me to see if you liked the food!"
Sota had little hope that his sister would respond, she rarely did.
"Yeah, I did, tell her thanks, and that it was good," Kagome responded, a little unsure, without opening the door.
"Kay,"Sota said as he turned and left, she didn't talk much, but it's not like it was earth shattering when she did.
Kagome slumped down on her bed as she pulled out her diary and began to write:
Saturday, 2:45 pm
Well, today was... Interesting, to say the least. I mean, so far, I have been insulted, threated, had my privacey invaded through my window, made a complete fool of myself by crying in front of Inuyasha, and on top of all that, Inuyasha almost found out that I'm... That I'm a miko, I guess I should be lucky that he didn't figure it out... But what if he did, and just didn't say anything? Well, sooner or later it'll hit him, and then things will just get worse. Miko's and Hanyou's are equally looked down upon in this world, people are just afraid of them, thats all, they like everything simple and simular, just like in The Giver... Gotta love that book. Fat chance of him being "understanding" of my situation, though, seeing as we have the whole discrimination thing in common. Not that I want sympathy.
I acctually yelled at the guy, haven't done that in a while... But he did cross the line in a major way. He deserved it. I wonder if he really does like my writing... Doesn't matter. I didn't write it for him. Buyo was fantastic today, honestly, I have never been more fond of that cat then the moment he attacked Inuyasha... Any normal guy would have been pretty hurt. Haha. Go Buyo. Sota on the other hand seems to be quite fond of Inuyasha. They both have that "bad-boy-wanna-be" quoef... Yeah...
This day has been confusing... My guess; tomorrow wont be any different.
~~~ With Inuyasha~~~
"Mom! I'm home!" Inuyasha announced as he walked through his front door.
"Your mother isn't here," Sesshomaru informed him glancing up for a second from the news paper he was reading.
"What else is new," Inuyasha mumbled before he said,"Where's she now?"
"Out," he replied monotonessly, eyes now back on the paper, bearly regarding Inuyasha's presance.
"Oh gee, thanks for being so much help," Inuyasha said sarcastically.
"Anytime," Sesshomaru replied, eyes still glued to the paper.
Inuyasha truged his way up to his room and plopped down on her bed. He lied there for a minute just staring at his celine.
The phone rang, Inuyasha answered it, expecting it to be Miroku, or maybe even Kikyo. It wasn't.
"Hello?" Inuyasha asked the person on the other line.
"This Inuyasha?" a gruff sounding, older voice rang out.
"Depends, who's asking?" He replied smartly.
"Don't sass me you little vandal! Don't think you can get off so easy, ya hear!?" Inuyasha groned inwardly as he suddenly realized to whom he was speaking. 'Just great,' he thought to himself,' I finally get away from him and he calls me up, just great.'
"Ya, ya, what is it you want?" Inuyasha asked, trying to speed the 'pleasant' little conversation along.
"You had better be at the shrine at 6am tomorrow! I was going to make you stay an hour later today, but instead you sneaked off when I was taking a nap! Oh, you will be staying an hour late too, you best do your school work and get some rest now," with that, the phone clicked. The old man had hung up. Leaving Inuyasha cursing inwardly at his rotten luck;
He was tired as hell, and he had to be at the Higurashi shrine at 6am tomorrow to make up for the hour he had missed today. 6am on a Sunday.
He, once again, plopped down on his bed to study the celine, wondering where the hell his mom had gone, praying it was just shopping, or something like that. He cringed at the thought of the other possiblities.
~~~Back with Kagome and the Higurashi shrine~~~
The shrine was quite most days, with only a few visitors here and there. Those that came were mostly older couples, to whom this shrine was something special. Of course the shrine had its regulars, a wise old woman by the name of Kaede, whom visited everyother day at 3 'oclock sharp. You could set your watch by her.
Kagome wandered out to the God Tree once again, her grandfather still hadn't gotten around to telling her its story, but no matter, she liked it's tranquility. She sat herself down on one of the large roots, protruding outward from the ground, she pulled out the novel she had been reading, "Five Quarters of the Orange", and began to read.
"Good book your reading, young one," a kindly old voice broke the surrounding silence, Kagome hadn't even noticed anyone approach her.
"Huh?" she said jerking her head upward.
"Its a nice change to see young people around these parts," the old woman confided. "I didn't think youth cared about such things..."
"Oh, well, you see, I live at this shrine and-" Kagome was cut short in her explanation.
"Oh! I see!" the old woman interupted, "I didn't know old Higurashi's family had come to live here! I would have introduced myself to you all properly! Which reminds me, I'm Kaede. And you are?"
"Kagome."
"Well, Kagome, it seems you are the new shrine maiden," Kaede said with a chuckle,"Course' I don't suppose you deal with the shrine and its workings?"
"No," Kagome admited,"I'm just buisy with school and stuff."
"I see," Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment."Well, at least you know the joys of good old fashion 'peace and quiet'! Most young folk these days are only concerend with computers and noisy little games!"
"Honestly," Kagome confided,"I bearly know how to work a computer, besides what they make us do in school, I'm not too fond of all that."
"Yes, and you also have a good eye for books! I read that very novel not too long ago, it was quite beautifully written, if you ask me. How are you liking it?" she asked with a smile.
"Its very good, it was a little hard to get into at first, but once the story came out, well, I really began to like it!" Kagome liked the old woman, she had a peaceful air to her.
"A literate child too, my word." the old woman said affectionatly. Then she looked critically into the eyes of the young girl before her. Kagome looked to the ground.
Kaede looked up and smiled,"You wouldn't happen to know the history of this tree, would you?" she asked.
"No, gramp-father," she stoped herself from saying "gramps" in the nick of time," was going to tell me, but he never got around to it."
"Oh well, no matter, shouldn't be taking his stories seriously anyhow," the woman said in a huff, she leaned down and whispered,"Between you and me, I think your grandfather is full of hot air when it comes to his so-called "legends"."
"Between you and me," Kagome mimicked,"I think you're right."
Kaede laughed,"Yes, yes. But he is still a good soul," she looked Kagome in the eye,"Thats the important thing."
"Yeah," Kagome agreed.
"Anyways," she began," this tree has a legend behind it, as you knew. It is a horribly sad story about love, and betrayal. A miko and hanyou had fallen deeply in love. The miko was the gardien of the Sheikon no tama, and the hanyou was a fiercely proud and strong warrior, even a few full blooded youkai feared him, anyways, there was a human, an evil, evil man, he had been under the young miko's care, for he had severe burns to his body. He was so taken by her beauty and compasion towards him, but he could not move, he would be imobiol for the rest of his days, that is, until a horrible idea crept into his head, he had his body devored by demons, this act turned him into a hanyou, a hanyou of a darker sort, not at all like the young miko's love. Anyways, he was powerful, and deceatful. He knew of the miko's love for that hanyou, he knew he must end it. He obsereved them when they met and discovered their secrets. The hanyou had a dream of becoming a full youkai, with the use of the Sheikon no tama, though, for his love, he was even willing to become human, just as she wished. They miko, he discovered, though she loved the hanyou, she didn't completely trust him, though she may have thought she did. It was dangerous in those times for a miko to love. Anyways, soon, the evil hanyou discovered that their love was shallow, though to them, it was as deep as the ocean. He plotted away to tear them appart, he tricked the hanyou into thinking that the miko had betrayed him by dissguising himself as her and pointing an arrow at him. In his rage the hanyou stole the jewl, leaving the real miko with only one opption; to kill him.
So, now thinking she was betrayed, she went after him. During the battle, however, she got severely injured. She pinned the hanyou with an arrow to this very tree, soon after that, she died from her own injuries. Foiling the evil hanyous plans. The Sheikon no tama was burned with the miko, and the young hanyou stayed in an eternal sleep, pinned to this tree. It is said by many that the tree grew around him, absorbing him into its self, leaving a scar where the arrow peirced his heart and sank into the tree. And there are some who even think that the boy was reincarnated, as well as the miko. Awh well, I do love that story." She looked down to Kagome, whom had been listening intently, to her, it was as if the old woman had described everything like she had seen it first hand.
"Ms. Kaede?" Kagome asked," You told the story with such detail it was like you lived it or something..." she stoped herself, realizing how stupid she sounded, that story must have taken place at least 500 years ago.
Kaede chuckled,"Feel free to call me Kaede, no need for the "Ms.", and anyways, child," she added," My family has been the keeper of the story for generations, I am directly related to the younger sister of the miko in the story, I'll have you know!"
"Wow, you are able to trace your family's history back *that* far?" Kagome asked in wonder.
"Well, it was just the tradition of telling the story, is all, the original Kaede, the miko's little sister, she told the story to her daughter and grandchildren, who told it to their children, and so on and so fourth." she smiled at Kagome.
"Why wouldn't my grandfather tell me that story?" Kagome suddenly asked.
"Why, what do you mean?" the kindly old women inquitred.
"Well, before you went on as if you and he were good friends, wouldn't you have shared that story with him if he owned this property, you know, so he knows what he has?"
"Well," Kaede thought about this for a second," I did tell him, but he brushed it off for nothing but rubish and began to tell me what the real, or at least what he considered the real story to me, and *that* was rubish."
Kagome let out a small chuckle, that was her gramps all right."Yeah, that sounds like gramdfather all right."
"Hmm yes," Kaeda said.
"So, do you come here often?" Kagome asked.
"Oh yes. Everyother day, infact." she said brightly."At 3pm on the dot."
"You come to see the tree everyother day?" Kagome asked.
"Oh no, I walk around the shrine area, it is quite beautiful here, you know, not much open space like this, this day in age," she explained,"And besides that, I'm old, it sort of feels like walking around here keeps me young!" she put her fist to her chest in a pround gesture.
"I see," Kagome said.
"Well, Kagome, I must be going now, I hope we speak again." Kaede now wore a wringley old smile.
"Yes, so do I," Kagome told her, returning a her smile, though hers was much smaller.
~~~That Night at Inuyasha's house~~~
"Inuyasha?" a woman's voice called out, "Inuyasha! You home?!"
"Yeah, whada you want?" Inuyasha answered gruffly.
"I just wanted to make sure you were here is all," she told him.
"Oh, well I'll just go and get you your mother of the year award," he told her sarcastically.
"Why do you have to be that way Inuyasha?" she asked him with a hurt look.
"Feh," Inuyasha growled,"Because you give me a reason to."
"Look, I'm sorry! Is that what you want? Do you want me to apologise?" she looked at her son critically.
"Apologising wont do anygood, but I think a *real* job might help our situation, you know how *sick* I am of having to rely on Sesshomaru for everything?" Inuyasha spat,"Drop your hopes of finding a new rich husband, its not going to happen."
"Look, Inuyasha, I am *trying* to do what I think's best for us!" she told him sternly.
"Yeah, well your perspectives a little off," Inuyasha smirked, "You have a family, not that that has ever mattered to you." He turned to walk back to his room.
"Where are you going?" Ms. Shitonki asked. (a/n Inu shares his last name with his dad... his mom goes by her maiden name)
"My room, I have to get up early tomorrow, unlike some people I have some sense of responsability," he smirked before he added,"Musta got it from dad." He walked away, leaving his mother to watch him with a blank expresion on her face.
~~~That night with Kagome~~~
Kagome sat in her room, starring at the sky from her bedroom window, the sky at the shrine was so much clearer than from her own home. It was really beautiful. She opened her window a crack to lent in a cool breaze, for late fall, it was uncharacteristicaly hot. She layed out on her back across her bed and started to read her novel again. It was getting to a really good part... Soon she became tired, so she pulled on her pj's, the standard flannel pants and tank top, and covered herself up in bed, where she picked up her book again, she fell asleep, book in hands and light on.
Later that night, Ms. Higurashi came to check on Kagome, she smiled at the site of her daughter, she looked so peaceful when she was asleep, not so sad and angry as she looked when she was awake. She went to her daughter's side and attempted to pull the book from her hands, but was suprised to see she had a death grip on the book, so instead, she settled for kissing her daughter on the forehead and turning of the lights for her.
~~~6am, Sunday morning at the Higurashi Shrine~~~
Kagome slept peacefully, unaware that Inuyasha was showing up an hour early today. She still clutched the book tightly in her hand, and Buyo was snuggled by her side, purring contently.
Neither of them heard the door bell ring...
"So, happy to see you showed up on *time* today," The short, wringly old man spat.
"Yeah well, my half brother didn't turn off my alarm clock this morning," Inuyasha snorted,"Makes getting up a little easier."
"Ok, well, just pick up from where you left off yesterday," the old man told him.
"Non-sense," came the kind voice of Ms. Higurashi from behind him.
"What in the 7 Hells do you mean? Non-sense?" He asked.
"I am not going to let that boy go to work without knowing he has a full stomach, what do you say, Inuyasha? Do you want some breakfast first?" the kind hearted Ms. Higurashi asked.
Inuyasha threw a nervous glance at Mr. Higurashi.
"Oh, don't worry about him! You wont have to make up any extra time for eating!" she said with a smile.
"Uh sure, then breakfast sounds great," Inuyasha replied.
Mr.Higurashi looked like a tomato that was about to explode into a red mushy mess,"How do you go about underminding me?" He yelled, clearly outraged,"*I* own this shrine! Its *me* who puts food on the table! And you go around making desisions that *I* have every right to make!"
"Oh tosh!" Ms. Higurashi said half heartedly, waving off the old man's words,"You shrine hardly recieves any visitors what so ever! It's *me* who puts the food on the table! Not you! Now be quiet before you wake up the children!" With that, Ms. Higurashi lead Inuyasha into the kitchen, leave old Mr. Higurashi to stew in his anger.
(a/n I have heard the phrase "oh tosh" before, where and when, I do not know... But it seemed to fit, so in it went.)
"So, no one's up?" Inuyasha asked nonchalantly.
"Oh no, they don't usually get up until around 8am, yesterday was, I'm thinking, just a procautionary thing," she told him. "Sorry I don't have the same spread as yesterday, but how about some eggs and toast?"
"Thats fine, thanks," Inuyasha said polietly, Ms. Higurashi was being nice to him, it was the least he could do.
"Ok," she said brightly, popping the bread in the toaster. (a/n Haha... I almost had it as "popping the "toast" in the toaster..." haha... you don't put toast in the toaster! You put bread in and get toast out!)
~~~6:25 am~~~
Inuyasha, having finished the breakfast Ms.Higurashi kindly gave him, was back to work. The ladder was up, and he was back to scrubbing, he figured that, since Kagome was asleep, this would be a good time to finish the work around her window, you know, as little contact as possible.
When he reached her window, he found it, once again, opened. Grumbling to himself he started to close it, that was when he saw her laying there, book tightly clutched in hand, and, to his dismay, Buyo, the cat from hell, snuggled up against her. He glanced around her room, he didn't really pay much attention to it yesterday, it looked so... so normal. He had expected it to be all tormented looking... you know, all dark and drab, not that he had given it much thought, it was just a natural assumption. The room, he noticed, also wasn't so pink and flowery, she had a couple band posters up, nothing he'd ever listen to, but still, it sort of made it seem like the room was ment for her eyes only, like everything else in her life appearently was. Not at all like the show off room that belonged to his beloved Kikyo.
Before he realized it, he was inside her room, just looking around. Once he realized where he was, he froze and looked at her to make sure that she, and the gods damned cat of hers, were still asleep. Thankfully, they were. He glanced at the alarm clock that resided on her bed stand, it read 6:33 am.
'Great,' he thought to himself,'Only 9 and a half more hours to go...'
He walked over to her well organised desk, where, once again, he found her writing book.
'When will she learn she has to *hide* this thing?' he mused to himself as he reached to pick it up.
~Slow Mo~
(thats slow *motion* for all you delightfully dim folk out there, lol)
*RRRIIING*
The alarm clock went off, the time read "6:35".
'Oh shit!' Inuyasha thought to himself as he grabed the alarm clock in attepmt to silence it, he took it, jumped out the window and ran, that boy ran as fast as he could, until he came to a suitible hiding place; a little well shaft.
The last thing he wanted was to be caught wandering around her room while she was asleep. It wasn't until he stoped that he noticed the scratch on his leg, it was then he remembered that Buyo had a go at him as he jumped through the window.
"Stupid cat," he mumbled.
~~This all happened in about a one minute time intervole.~~
Kagome opened her eyes, hadn't she heard her alarm clock go off? And what was that strange little gust of wind? Wait a minute... Where the hell *was* her alarm clock? And why was Buyo so worked up? She noticed her window had been opened a little further than she remembered, but she just desided that she must have done it last night. She desided to get up, and get back at Sota for stealing her alarm clock. Silently and unnoticed, of course.
She crept silently into his room and hid his favorite CD rom. He would go crazy looking for it... Little would he know, all he really had to do was open up the cleaning supply closet.
'Haha, fat chance of *that* happening,' Kagome thought to herself as she walked down stairs to get breakfast and see what time it was. Hopefully, it wasn't yet 7am.
Kagome glanced at the clock as she walked into the kitchen, it read "6:40am" she relished her luck; Inuyasha wasn't due to show up for another 20 minutes.
"Good morning sweet heart!" Ms. Higurashi smiled up from her cup of coffee as her daughter walked into the kitchen."Did you sleep well?"
Kagome looked at her mother, she had to admit, this move had been REALLY good for her, she didn't stutter so much and seemed a lot more bright and cheery. She hated that they had to move to get her like that. "Fine, thanks," she murmered as she poured herself a bowl of cereal.
"Where's gramps?" Kagome asked. She figured he would be ancey with anticipation as he awaited the arival of his newest slave, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"I think he left to run some errends," Ms. Higurashi informed her.
"What? I thought he would want to be here when Inuyasha shows up," she said quietly.
"Oh, he was!" Ms.Higurashi smiled.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, her face slightly pailing...
"Well, Grampa asked him to come an hour early today..." she told Kagome," he's been here almost 45 minutes already."
"Ok," Kagome said, trying desparatly to keep her cool... Why hadn't anybody bothered to inform her that he was coming early???
She eat her cereal in record time as she raced up to her room to change, making sure, of course, to securely shut her blinds... All the time thinking... "6am on a Sunday? How the hell did Gramps get him here so early? This had better not be perminant"... When she was dressed, she opened up her blinds, it was then she noticed the bit of black fabric that was stuck to the window sill... "How the hell did that get there?"
Mean while... Inuyasha was on the other side of the house, finishing up where he had left off the other day... He didn't want to face Kagome, on the chance she had figured out he was in her room... Surely she would notice a missing alarm clock, the alarm clock which had been abandoned by him in that well thing he had gone to hide in. Now that he looked back on his actions... He found them rather odd, he wasn't one to go looking around girl's rooms while they were sleeping... Or was he? He wasn't quite sure.
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I do hope you like this chapter! And I shall now take this time to remind you of the following things:
#1. Check out "Law Student Likes to Argue" (my other fic)
#2. Review (if ya want... no pressure... but I'd like to hear from you! ^_- )
#3. Uhh... I forgot what #3. was supposed to be.... Um... Please review! ^_^
Wow... This is the longest chapter I have ever written... Took me a few days too, I just had to make it extra special perfect for all my lovely readers! Hope you like it! (you know, since I put in all that extra work just for you!)
Heh, heh... Hey, peoples out there! If you have a fic ya want me to read, let me know! I'd be happy to check it out! I could always use a good fic to read!
Anyways...
See you later!
Time to clear somethings up for Gotlet2b...
The **'s are italics... I sorta got scared of trying the bolds and stuff after none of it worked on my first fic... heh, heh... Anyways... "Hanyou" means "half demon"... When you asked I spazed for a second thinking I made an idiot out of myself by spelling it wrong... Luckily, I didn't.... But I am happy to educate you!... Oh, and only Kagome can see through Inuyasha's appearance charm... Not her family... Just so ya know... But hey, Inuyasha didn't or rather, doesn't, know either... But soon, you both will. (I say "soon you both will" because, while *you* learn this *now*, he'll learn it later...oops... hope I'm not giving too much away...) And last, but most definatly not least... Thanks Oh so much for reviewing! I REALLY REALLY REALLY appericiate it!!!
And now I shall respond to the rest of my (4) reviewers for chappie 3 and new reviewer from chapter 1:
Gothic Youkai666:
Hey! No reason to be sorry about the chapter mix up! I am sure it happens to the best of us! I am just glad you that the problem is now fixed! So... How do you like my fics? If you have read them, I mean... Heh, heh... Well, update your fic soon! I will leave a nice review!
sakurapetalsntears:
Thanks so much for reviewing! I am really happy you like my fic (duh)... I shall have to check out this song..."Another perfect day" is it? Well, once again, thank you for the uber cool review!
fluffyluver07:
I think I will take your advice... But it may take a little while to make it like that, you know, writing it in third person. I am glad you like the fic! And don't worry! We just gotta have the fluffy! Unfortunatly, I am not sure when it'll be exactly... Hell, it might even be this chapter.
Dunbarbalooie2:
Haha... Funny review! Glad you liked the window bit! Thanks for always reading and reviewing! Its uber cool!
hoshi-ko88:
Heh, heh... Hope you like this chapter too! Thanks for always reviewing! I appericiate it!!!
~~~Starry-Sky26~~~
Disclaimer: *Sigh* I don't own Inuyasha... But if only I did...*looks blissful*... If only I did...
__________________________________________________________________
Title: Dark Chocolate
Chapter 4: 6am on a Sunday
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N I am going to try something new... Starting out again in MY POV...Again... Making it not so new... oh well.)
Reluctantly, Kagome began to eat the food that was oh so graciously delivered by Inuyasha. Her mother had, after all, gone through the trouble of making her favorite special for her; Oden.
A knock came at her door.
"Hey sis!" Sota yelled through the wooden door. "Ya eaten? Mom wanted me to see if you liked the food!"
Sota had little hope that his sister would respond, she rarely did.
"Yeah, I did, tell her thanks, and that it was good," Kagome responded, a little unsure, without opening the door.
"Kay,"Sota said as he turned and left, she didn't talk much, but it's not like it was earth shattering when she did.
Kagome slumped down on her bed as she pulled out her diary and began to write:
Saturday, 2:45 pm
Well, today was... Interesting, to say the least. I mean, so far, I have been insulted, threated, had my privacey invaded through my window, made a complete fool of myself by crying in front of Inuyasha, and on top of all that, Inuyasha almost found out that I'm... That I'm a miko, I guess I should be lucky that he didn't figure it out... But what if he did, and just didn't say anything? Well, sooner or later it'll hit him, and then things will just get worse. Miko's and Hanyou's are equally looked down upon in this world, people are just afraid of them, thats all, they like everything simple and simular, just like in The Giver... Gotta love that book. Fat chance of him being "understanding" of my situation, though, seeing as we have the whole discrimination thing in common. Not that I want sympathy.
I acctually yelled at the guy, haven't done that in a while... But he did cross the line in a major way. He deserved it. I wonder if he really does like my writing... Doesn't matter. I didn't write it for him. Buyo was fantastic today, honestly, I have never been more fond of that cat then the moment he attacked Inuyasha... Any normal guy would have been pretty hurt. Haha. Go Buyo. Sota on the other hand seems to be quite fond of Inuyasha. They both have that "bad-boy-wanna-be" quoef... Yeah...
This day has been confusing... My guess; tomorrow wont be any different.
~~~ With Inuyasha~~~
"Mom! I'm home!" Inuyasha announced as he walked through his front door.
"Your mother isn't here," Sesshomaru informed him glancing up for a second from the news paper he was reading.
"What else is new," Inuyasha mumbled before he said,"Where's she now?"
"Out," he replied monotonessly, eyes now back on the paper, bearly regarding Inuyasha's presance.
"Oh gee, thanks for being so much help," Inuyasha said sarcastically.
"Anytime," Sesshomaru replied, eyes still glued to the paper.
Inuyasha truged his way up to his room and plopped down on her bed. He lied there for a minute just staring at his celine.
The phone rang, Inuyasha answered it, expecting it to be Miroku, or maybe even Kikyo. It wasn't.
"Hello?" Inuyasha asked the person on the other line.
"This Inuyasha?" a gruff sounding, older voice rang out.
"Depends, who's asking?" He replied smartly.
"Don't sass me you little vandal! Don't think you can get off so easy, ya hear!?" Inuyasha groned inwardly as he suddenly realized to whom he was speaking. 'Just great,' he thought to himself,' I finally get away from him and he calls me up, just great.'
"Ya, ya, what is it you want?" Inuyasha asked, trying to speed the 'pleasant' little conversation along.
"You had better be at the shrine at 6am tomorrow! I was going to make you stay an hour later today, but instead you sneaked off when I was taking a nap! Oh, you will be staying an hour late too, you best do your school work and get some rest now," with that, the phone clicked. The old man had hung up. Leaving Inuyasha cursing inwardly at his rotten luck;
He was tired as hell, and he had to be at the Higurashi shrine at 6am tomorrow to make up for the hour he had missed today. 6am on a Sunday.
He, once again, plopped down on his bed to study the celine, wondering where the hell his mom had gone, praying it was just shopping, or something like that. He cringed at the thought of the other possiblities.
~~~Back with Kagome and the Higurashi shrine~~~
The shrine was quite most days, with only a few visitors here and there. Those that came were mostly older couples, to whom this shrine was something special. Of course the shrine had its regulars, a wise old woman by the name of Kaede, whom visited everyother day at 3 'oclock sharp. You could set your watch by her.
Kagome wandered out to the God Tree once again, her grandfather still hadn't gotten around to telling her its story, but no matter, she liked it's tranquility. She sat herself down on one of the large roots, protruding outward from the ground, she pulled out the novel she had been reading, "Five Quarters of the Orange", and began to read.
"Good book your reading, young one," a kindly old voice broke the surrounding silence, Kagome hadn't even noticed anyone approach her.
"Huh?" she said jerking her head upward.
"Its a nice change to see young people around these parts," the old woman confided. "I didn't think youth cared about such things..."
"Oh, well, you see, I live at this shrine and-" Kagome was cut short in her explanation.
"Oh! I see!" the old woman interupted, "I didn't know old Higurashi's family had come to live here! I would have introduced myself to you all properly! Which reminds me, I'm Kaede. And you are?"
"Kagome."
"Well, Kagome, it seems you are the new shrine maiden," Kaede said with a chuckle,"Course' I don't suppose you deal with the shrine and its workings?"
"No," Kagome admited,"I'm just buisy with school and stuff."
"I see," Kaede looked thoughtful for a moment."Well, at least you know the joys of good old fashion 'peace and quiet'! Most young folk these days are only concerend with computers and noisy little games!"
"Honestly," Kagome confided,"I bearly know how to work a computer, besides what they make us do in school, I'm not too fond of all that."
"Yes, and you also have a good eye for books! I read that very novel not too long ago, it was quite beautifully written, if you ask me. How are you liking it?" she asked with a smile.
"Its very good, it was a little hard to get into at first, but once the story came out, well, I really began to like it!" Kagome liked the old woman, she had a peaceful air to her.
"A literate child too, my word." the old woman said affectionatly. Then she looked critically into the eyes of the young girl before her. Kagome looked to the ground.
Kaede looked up and smiled,"You wouldn't happen to know the history of this tree, would you?" she asked.
"No, gramp-father," she stoped herself from saying "gramps" in the nick of time," was going to tell me, but he never got around to it."
"Oh well, no matter, shouldn't be taking his stories seriously anyhow," the woman said in a huff, she leaned down and whispered,"Between you and me, I think your grandfather is full of hot air when it comes to his so-called "legends"."
"Between you and me," Kagome mimicked,"I think you're right."
Kaede laughed,"Yes, yes. But he is still a good soul," she looked Kagome in the eye,"Thats the important thing."
"Yeah," Kagome agreed.
"Anyways," she began," this tree has a legend behind it, as you knew. It is a horribly sad story about love, and betrayal. A miko and hanyou had fallen deeply in love. The miko was the gardien of the Sheikon no tama, and the hanyou was a fiercely proud and strong warrior, even a few full blooded youkai feared him, anyways, there was a human, an evil, evil man, he had been under the young miko's care, for he had severe burns to his body. He was so taken by her beauty and compasion towards him, but he could not move, he would be imobiol for the rest of his days, that is, until a horrible idea crept into his head, he had his body devored by demons, this act turned him into a hanyou, a hanyou of a darker sort, not at all like the young miko's love. Anyways, he was powerful, and deceatful. He knew of the miko's love for that hanyou, he knew he must end it. He obsereved them when they met and discovered their secrets. The hanyou had a dream of becoming a full youkai, with the use of the Sheikon no tama, though, for his love, he was even willing to become human, just as she wished. They miko, he discovered, though she loved the hanyou, she didn't completely trust him, though she may have thought she did. It was dangerous in those times for a miko to love. Anyways, soon, the evil hanyou discovered that their love was shallow, though to them, it was as deep as the ocean. He plotted away to tear them appart, he tricked the hanyou into thinking that the miko had betrayed him by dissguising himself as her and pointing an arrow at him. In his rage the hanyou stole the jewl, leaving the real miko with only one opption; to kill him.
So, now thinking she was betrayed, she went after him. During the battle, however, she got severely injured. She pinned the hanyou with an arrow to this very tree, soon after that, she died from her own injuries. Foiling the evil hanyous plans. The Sheikon no tama was burned with the miko, and the young hanyou stayed in an eternal sleep, pinned to this tree. It is said by many that the tree grew around him, absorbing him into its self, leaving a scar where the arrow peirced his heart and sank into the tree. And there are some who even think that the boy was reincarnated, as well as the miko. Awh well, I do love that story." She looked down to Kagome, whom had been listening intently, to her, it was as if the old woman had described everything like she had seen it first hand.
"Ms. Kaede?" Kagome asked," You told the story with such detail it was like you lived it or something..." she stoped herself, realizing how stupid she sounded, that story must have taken place at least 500 years ago.
Kaede chuckled,"Feel free to call me Kaede, no need for the "Ms.", and anyways, child," she added," My family has been the keeper of the story for generations, I am directly related to the younger sister of the miko in the story, I'll have you know!"
"Wow, you are able to trace your family's history back *that* far?" Kagome asked in wonder.
"Well, it was just the tradition of telling the story, is all, the original Kaede, the miko's little sister, she told the story to her daughter and grandchildren, who told it to their children, and so on and so fourth." she smiled at Kagome.
"Why wouldn't my grandfather tell me that story?" Kagome suddenly asked.
"Why, what do you mean?" the kindly old women inquitred.
"Well, before you went on as if you and he were good friends, wouldn't you have shared that story with him if he owned this property, you know, so he knows what he has?"
"Well," Kaede thought about this for a second," I did tell him, but he brushed it off for nothing but rubish and began to tell me what the real, or at least what he considered the real story to me, and *that* was rubish."
Kagome let out a small chuckle, that was her gramps all right."Yeah, that sounds like gramdfather all right."
"Hmm yes," Kaeda said.
"So, do you come here often?" Kagome asked.
"Oh yes. Everyother day, infact." she said brightly."At 3pm on the dot."
"You come to see the tree everyother day?" Kagome asked.
"Oh no, I walk around the shrine area, it is quite beautiful here, you know, not much open space like this, this day in age," she explained,"And besides that, I'm old, it sort of feels like walking around here keeps me young!" she put her fist to her chest in a pround gesture.
"I see," Kagome said.
"Well, Kagome, I must be going now, I hope we speak again." Kaede now wore a wringley old smile.
"Yes, so do I," Kagome told her, returning a her smile, though hers was much smaller.
~~~That Night at Inuyasha's house~~~
"Inuyasha?" a woman's voice called out, "Inuyasha! You home?!"
"Yeah, whada you want?" Inuyasha answered gruffly.
"I just wanted to make sure you were here is all," she told him.
"Oh, well I'll just go and get you your mother of the year award," he told her sarcastically.
"Why do you have to be that way Inuyasha?" she asked him with a hurt look.
"Feh," Inuyasha growled,"Because you give me a reason to."
"Look, I'm sorry! Is that what you want? Do you want me to apologise?" she looked at her son critically.
"Apologising wont do anygood, but I think a *real* job might help our situation, you know how *sick* I am of having to rely on Sesshomaru for everything?" Inuyasha spat,"Drop your hopes of finding a new rich husband, its not going to happen."
"Look, Inuyasha, I am *trying* to do what I think's best for us!" she told him sternly.
"Yeah, well your perspectives a little off," Inuyasha smirked, "You have a family, not that that has ever mattered to you." He turned to walk back to his room.
"Where are you going?" Ms. Shitonki asked. (a/n Inu shares his last name with his dad... his mom goes by her maiden name)
"My room, I have to get up early tomorrow, unlike some people I have some sense of responsability," he smirked before he added,"Musta got it from dad." He walked away, leaving his mother to watch him with a blank expresion on her face.
~~~That night with Kagome~~~
Kagome sat in her room, starring at the sky from her bedroom window, the sky at the shrine was so much clearer than from her own home. It was really beautiful. She opened her window a crack to lent in a cool breaze, for late fall, it was uncharacteristicaly hot. She layed out on her back across her bed and started to read her novel again. It was getting to a really good part... Soon she became tired, so she pulled on her pj's, the standard flannel pants and tank top, and covered herself up in bed, where she picked up her book again, she fell asleep, book in hands and light on.
Later that night, Ms. Higurashi came to check on Kagome, she smiled at the site of her daughter, she looked so peaceful when she was asleep, not so sad and angry as she looked when she was awake. She went to her daughter's side and attempted to pull the book from her hands, but was suprised to see she had a death grip on the book, so instead, she settled for kissing her daughter on the forehead and turning of the lights for her.
~~~6am, Sunday morning at the Higurashi Shrine~~~
Kagome slept peacefully, unaware that Inuyasha was showing up an hour early today. She still clutched the book tightly in her hand, and Buyo was snuggled by her side, purring contently.
Neither of them heard the door bell ring...
"So, happy to see you showed up on *time* today," The short, wringly old man spat.
"Yeah well, my half brother didn't turn off my alarm clock this morning," Inuyasha snorted,"Makes getting up a little easier."
"Ok, well, just pick up from where you left off yesterday," the old man told him.
"Non-sense," came the kind voice of Ms. Higurashi from behind him.
"What in the 7 Hells do you mean? Non-sense?" He asked.
"I am not going to let that boy go to work without knowing he has a full stomach, what do you say, Inuyasha? Do you want some breakfast first?" the kind hearted Ms. Higurashi asked.
Inuyasha threw a nervous glance at Mr. Higurashi.
"Oh, don't worry about him! You wont have to make up any extra time for eating!" she said with a smile.
"Uh sure, then breakfast sounds great," Inuyasha replied.
Mr.Higurashi looked like a tomato that was about to explode into a red mushy mess,"How do you go about underminding me?" He yelled, clearly outraged,"*I* own this shrine! Its *me* who puts food on the table! And you go around making desisions that *I* have every right to make!"
"Oh tosh!" Ms. Higurashi said half heartedly, waving off the old man's words,"You shrine hardly recieves any visitors what so ever! It's *me* who puts the food on the table! Not you! Now be quiet before you wake up the children!" With that, Ms. Higurashi lead Inuyasha into the kitchen, leave old Mr. Higurashi to stew in his anger.
(a/n I have heard the phrase "oh tosh" before, where and when, I do not know... But it seemed to fit, so in it went.)
"So, no one's up?" Inuyasha asked nonchalantly.
"Oh no, they don't usually get up until around 8am, yesterday was, I'm thinking, just a procautionary thing," she told him. "Sorry I don't have the same spread as yesterday, but how about some eggs and toast?"
"Thats fine, thanks," Inuyasha said polietly, Ms. Higurashi was being nice to him, it was the least he could do.
"Ok," she said brightly, popping the bread in the toaster. (a/n Haha... I almost had it as "popping the "toast" in the toaster..." haha... you don't put toast in the toaster! You put bread in and get toast out!)
~~~6:25 am~~~
Inuyasha, having finished the breakfast Ms.Higurashi kindly gave him, was back to work. The ladder was up, and he was back to scrubbing, he figured that, since Kagome was asleep, this would be a good time to finish the work around her window, you know, as little contact as possible.
When he reached her window, he found it, once again, opened. Grumbling to himself he started to close it, that was when he saw her laying there, book tightly clutched in hand, and, to his dismay, Buyo, the cat from hell, snuggled up against her. He glanced around her room, he didn't really pay much attention to it yesterday, it looked so... so normal. He had expected it to be all tormented looking... you know, all dark and drab, not that he had given it much thought, it was just a natural assumption. The room, he noticed, also wasn't so pink and flowery, she had a couple band posters up, nothing he'd ever listen to, but still, it sort of made it seem like the room was ment for her eyes only, like everything else in her life appearently was. Not at all like the show off room that belonged to his beloved Kikyo.
Before he realized it, he was inside her room, just looking around. Once he realized where he was, he froze and looked at her to make sure that she, and the gods damned cat of hers, were still asleep. Thankfully, they were. He glanced at the alarm clock that resided on her bed stand, it read 6:33 am.
'Great,' he thought to himself,'Only 9 and a half more hours to go...'
He walked over to her well organised desk, where, once again, he found her writing book.
'When will she learn she has to *hide* this thing?' he mused to himself as he reached to pick it up.
~Slow Mo~
(thats slow *motion* for all you delightfully dim folk out there, lol)
*RRRIIING*
The alarm clock went off, the time read "6:35".
'Oh shit!' Inuyasha thought to himself as he grabed the alarm clock in attepmt to silence it, he took it, jumped out the window and ran, that boy ran as fast as he could, until he came to a suitible hiding place; a little well shaft.
The last thing he wanted was to be caught wandering around her room while she was asleep. It wasn't until he stoped that he noticed the scratch on his leg, it was then he remembered that Buyo had a go at him as he jumped through the window.
"Stupid cat," he mumbled.
~~This all happened in about a one minute time intervole.~~
Kagome opened her eyes, hadn't she heard her alarm clock go off? And what was that strange little gust of wind? Wait a minute... Where the hell *was* her alarm clock? And why was Buyo so worked up? She noticed her window had been opened a little further than she remembered, but she just desided that she must have done it last night. She desided to get up, and get back at Sota for stealing her alarm clock. Silently and unnoticed, of course.
She crept silently into his room and hid his favorite CD rom. He would go crazy looking for it... Little would he know, all he really had to do was open up the cleaning supply closet.
'Haha, fat chance of *that* happening,' Kagome thought to herself as she walked down stairs to get breakfast and see what time it was. Hopefully, it wasn't yet 7am.
Kagome glanced at the clock as she walked into the kitchen, it read "6:40am" she relished her luck; Inuyasha wasn't due to show up for another 20 minutes.
"Good morning sweet heart!" Ms. Higurashi smiled up from her cup of coffee as her daughter walked into the kitchen."Did you sleep well?"
Kagome looked at her mother, she had to admit, this move had been REALLY good for her, she didn't stutter so much and seemed a lot more bright and cheery. She hated that they had to move to get her like that. "Fine, thanks," she murmered as she poured herself a bowl of cereal.
"Where's gramps?" Kagome asked. She figured he would be ancey with anticipation as he awaited the arival of his newest slave, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"I think he left to run some errends," Ms. Higurashi informed her.
"What? I thought he would want to be here when Inuyasha shows up," she said quietly.
"Oh, he was!" Ms.Higurashi smiled.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, her face slightly pailing...
"Well, Grampa asked him to come an hour early today..." she told Kagome," he's been here almost 45 minutes already."
"Ok," Kagome said, trying desparatly to keep her cool... Why hadn't anybody bothered to inform her that he was coming early???
She eat her cereal in record time as she raced up to her room to change, making sure, of course, to securely shut her blinds... All the time thinking... "6am on a Sunday? How the hell did Gramps get him here so early? This had better not be perminant"... When she was dressed, she opened up her blinds, it was then she noticed the bit of black fabric that was stuck to the window sill... "How the hell did that get there?"
Mean while... Inuyasha was on the other side of the house, finishing up where he had left off the other day... He didn't want to face Kagome, on the chance she had figured out he was in her room... Surely she would notice a missing alarm clock, the alarm clock which had been abandoned by him in that well thing he had gone to hide in. Now that he looked back on his actions... He found them rather odd, he wasn't one to go looking around girl's rooms while they were sleeping... Or was he? He wasn't quite sure.
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I do hope you like this chapter! And I shall now take this time to remind you of the following things:
#1. Check out "Law Student Likes to Argue" (my other fic)
#2. Review (if ya want... no pressure... but I'd like to hear from you! ^_- )
#3. Uhh... I forgot what #3. was supposed to be.... Um... Please review! ^_^
Wow... This is the longest chapter I have ever written... Took me a few days too, I just had to make it extra special perfect for all my lovely readers! Hope you like it! (you know, since I put in all that extra work just for you!)
Heh, heh... Hey, peoples out there! If you have a fic ya want me to read, let me know! I'd be happy to check it out! I could always use a good fic to read!
Anyways...
See you later!