Disclaimer: Here is breaking news for you all - I DON'T OWN INUYASHA.
Yvonne: [sweatdrops] No surprises there, I suppose!
Authors Note:
Yvonne: HOORAY! Bakhu finally got to review! [hugs Bakhu] And guys, I'm SO INCREDIBLY SORRY for taking SOOOOOOOOO long to update! FF.net is being evil and taking forever to load my chapters. . .
Bakhu: Heh heh heh. . . I was sneaking on to review, though!
Yvonne: -_- Bakhu you could have been grounded LONGER for that! You are so evil!
Bakhu: 8) I am such a daredevil.
Yvonne: You said it! And a big THANK YOU to all who reviewed, even if I'm not getting many! And - Oh yeah - If you are a Yu Yu Hakusho fan, then check out Bakhu's fic! I forgot the title, so I'll post it up later. . .
Bakhu: Ready, set-
Yvonne: Go!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It always helped Kagome to put up copies of riddles wherever she went, so she could think about it when she was on the go. She made huge, poster-sized ones to tack up in her room, regular-sized ones to keep in her binder, and little credit-card-sized ones to slip into her wallet and keep in her purse.
The rising staircase was with her wherever she was. She thought about it when she showered, when she ate, and before she went to bed. Plus her dreams were filled with it. The puzzle was starting to become part of her life, in a way she didn't like. It disturbed her, and it made Mrs. Higurashi paranoid.
"Kagome dear, you don't look too well. . . How are you feeling?" she asked one blustery afternoon. Kag was sitting at the kitchen table and, even though she was in a thick pink sweater, she was shivering so hard that her teeth were chattering.
"Momma. . . I don't feel so good. . . "
Her face was pale and her eyes were half-lidded with dark purply-black circles beneath them. Her hair was wild and unkept, her cheeks bony and hollow.
Mrs. Higurashi felt her forehead.
"Darling, you're burning up! Here, take my hand. . . We've got to call a doctor. . . "
Mrs. Higurashi dropped her broom and took Kagome's trembling arm. She lead her up to her room and laid her down onto her bead. Covering her with a quilt, she whispered, "Don't worry dear, I've got you. . . Just hang on, you'll be okay."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kagome woke to the sound of quiet talking.
She was lying in her bead, Momma's heavy, handmade quilt thrust over her. She forced her eyelids open a tiny crack, and saw a potbellied man with gray hair growing on the sides of his head and out of his - Ick - Ears. He head nerdy glasses on and a HUGE nose!
Her eyes went as round as scrambled eggs.
"Hello, dear," the man said kindly. "I'm glad to see you awake. Ah. . . There have been a few people waiting for you to return to conciousness." He motioned toward the hall, saying "She's awake now, come in, come in. . . " And eight people entered the room.
Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Momma, Souta, Grampa, Shippou (one of Souta's friends), and-
"Naraku. . .?"
"Kagome," Naraku said, his eyes shining with the deepest and utmost sincerity, "when I heard that you were sick, I immediatly rushed over. I'm so glad to see you awake. Now, if I may. . . I have to be on my way now."
Naraku bowed and left the room.
Inuyasha then quickly ducked down next to Kag's bed. "Kagome, are you alright? When I heard you were sick. . . " His voice trailed off, but he didn't need to say any more.
"I'm fine now. . . Thanks for worrying about me. . . Inuyasha. . . You're the best. . . "
Inuyasha nodded.
"Now. . . " Kag began.
". . .About Narkau. . . "
". . .What was he doing. . . "
". . .Here. . . ?"
Sango bent down to her. "Kagome-chan, I don't know. He seemed pretty worried about you. Frankly, I think he really was." Inuyasha's eyebrows went up at this.
"And your proof for that is. . . ?" he said triumphantly.
"I don't have proof, and I don't need it to believe that Naraku was truly worried," she snapped back irritably.
Nearby Miroku was listening to this conversation with ease. "Well, miss. . . " he said, approaching Mrs. Higurashi, "you look pretty starked. Would you like to bear my child?"
Mrs. Higurashi looked pretty aghast.
"I already HAVE a child, thank you very much," she said icily. "In fact, my child is KAGOME!"
The perverted one cocked an eyebrow. Sango twitched.
*SLLLLLLLAP!* went two hands at once.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In a few weeks time, Kag was up and fit again.
"Higurashi!" Hojo said cheerfully one day during lunch. "How are you?"
"Feeling great, thanks!" she replied briskly, sitting down to have sushi with Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha. Inuyasha had pulled out a tiny bottle of clear liquid. "Sake, anyone?" he said mischeiviously. (AN: For those to don't know, sake is a Japanese rice wine, but it's not very alcoholic.)
"Oooooooh, me!" everyone cried, scrabbling to get the rare wine.
"Nuh-uh! None for you, all for me!" Inu said playfully, tucking the bottle into his pocket. "I think I'll make one of my teachers drunk. . . Maybe have them tap-dance for me!"
Hojo gasped. "You wouldn't dare!" he said, truly frightened. 'Gods,' Kag thought to herself, 'he can be SO naiive at times, it's almost amusing!'
"I'm just joking, Hojo-kun," Inuyasha said innocently. "Ever heard of a joke?"
"Hmmmmm. . . I think so, when I was little."
This remark caused everyone at the table to burst out laughing.
"So then, Higurashi. . . " Hojo ventured, "would you like a date with me at the movies this Saturday?"
Kagome was about to object, "No, I would not like a date with you," but she decided to manipulate his naiiveness to her advantage.
"Uhhhh. . . I've got to go to the Galleria on Saturday. With Sango." She threw her friend a secretive wink. Sango winked back. "I'm sorry, Hojo. Perhaps some other time?"
Hojo thought it over, taking his time to digest this information. "Perhaps some other time. . . Very well Higurashi. Next Saturday, perhaps?"
"W-w-what?" Kag stuttered. "N-next Saturd-day?" 'C'mon Kag, think!' "U-u-ummmm. . . I'll have to see about that!"
"Oh," Hojo said, looking crestfallen. "Very well. We'll see."
Through it all, Inuyasha had sat, seething, grinding his teeth, his veins popping with jealousy and rage.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Say, isn't Hojo a cabdriver?" Sango said.
"His dad is. Hojo was named after his dad. He's really Hojo Jr." Kagome answered. Inuyasha was still steaming. Sometimes he could be so stubborn.
"That's the way men are," Sango had said commented when Kagome told her about Inuyasha's moody attitude that afternoon. Sango leaned back in her chair, tilting it so that her boot-clad feet were resting comfortably on the table - A normal thing to Kagome, though she didn't like the nauseous smell of sweaty feet. Sango laced her fingers behing her head and said, "So, how's that mystery going? Got anything from that picture?"
Kagomed sighed, a picture of defeat. "No," she said solemnly. "I've gotten NOWHERE!" She laughed. "Can you believe it? I can! After all, it's only been - Like - Three days!" She grinned, flashing very white and even teeth.
Sango sipped her slushie quietly. She was deep in thought, and had not replied to any of Kagome's questions.
"Uhhhhh. . . Sango? You still in there?"
Kag waved a hand in front of her friend's eyes.
"Huh-? What? Oh, sorry. Um. . . I think I need to go to the bathroom. . . Is Inuyasha upstairs?"
Kag frowned, then burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha-! Oh, Sango. . . Fine fine, go to the bathroom if you wish. . . Hahahaha-! Inu's upstairs. . . Hehehehehe. . . "
Sango scowled. "I wasn't being THAT funny! Egads. . . " She turned and went upstairs, leaving Kagome to shake with tears of laughter pouring from her eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inuyasha was up in Kag's room. He left alot of his things there, so it didn't surprise Kagome much when she opened her closet and found Inu's leather jacket among all her colorful miniskirts.
And Inuyasha did open her closet. And he did find his leather jacket, all neat and hung up. And it was among all her colorful miniskirts, not to mention sweaters and T-Shirts and tank tops and about a dozen school uniforms, each exactly the same as the next.
He pulled his jacket out and swung it over himself. He felt it's familiar warmth and weight, and the scent of his lemon detergent, mixed with the scent of Kagome's Lily-Of-The-Valley perfume. His right hand automatically went into the right pocket of his coat and began searching for a little silk pouch. . .
He felt it and pulled it up. It was very small and could have fit into his mouth. The bag was laced with golden thread and decorated with silk roses on a forest green background. Inuyasha held it up, letting it's glossy surface catch and reflect the late afternoon sunlight that was streaming though Kag's window at the moment. He admired it for a fleeting moment, then reached inside and pulled out what looked like a very small glass bead.
He held it up the the light. It caught the gleaming rays of the sun and sparkled like a diamond - Which it was.
This little diamond held so many precious memories. . . It could never afford to loose it. It was probably very valuable as well. He had never let anyone else touch it, much less see it. It was his own private diamond, and its origins were traced back to a time, seven years ago. . .
BAM!
"Hey Inuyasha, watcha up to?"
Inu jumped a foot into the air, quickly stuffing the diamond into the pretty little pouch and hiding it in his jacket pocket. "Wha-wha-what?" he said, flustered.
The door had just been thrown open, and Sango was standing there, chewing a large wad of gum.
"Hey, it's just me, Sango. Errr. . . Are you okay?"
Inuyasha was breathing heavily. He was gasping in short breaths. "Whoah, (huff huff) Sango! Don't ever (puff puff) do that (huff huff) again! (puff)"
Sango stared. "Wha? What did I do? Did I scare you?"
Inu growled. "What does it look like? Listen, Sango," he said, making a move to leave, "I've gotta go now. Tell Kagome that I'm leaving, okay?"
"Fine, whatever. But are you sure that you're okay? You look like you've just ran a marathon. Is something on your mind?"
"NO!" Inuyasha roared viciously. This time, it was Sango's turn to jump. "Hey, buddy, chill out, okay! Don't scare me like that! I was just concerned, you know! No need to get defensive. . . !" she said shrilly with a voice that had its pride unmistakably bent.
Inuyasha said nothing and sauntered away, muttering under his breath angrily.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Grrrrrr! Just two more dammed problems and I'll be DONE!"
Kagome was almost done with her extremly evil triginometry homework when the phone rang loudly. Startled, she dropped her pen but left it to get the the receiver.
"Hello? Higurashi residence, Kagome speaking."
The voice on the other end of the line said, "Kagome? Oh, good. I thought it might be your mom or something. This is Kouga. I need you to report back to headquarters tomorrow afternoon, 5:30 sharp. Apparently, we have been invited to Tokyo Inn. . . Well, I'll explain when you get here. Can you come?"
"Erm," Kag said. "I think I can."
"Great!" Kouga's voice was a bit cracked and disorted beacuse of the phone, but his relief could be heard clearly. "Bring that picture with you, okay? It might be important. And your other friends if you want. They've made reservations."
"Okay, sir. I'll be there."
Kagome hung up with a feeling of resentment. Deep down in the bowels of her stomach, something sensed that this wasn't right. Why, Tokyo Inn was one the grandest hotels in the city, and it cost a fortune just the watch flower-arranging there! So what was up with Kouga inviting a bunch of people there where it could cost him loads of pocket money?
She turned around, sat down, and continued with her two "dammed" remaining triginometry problems, the uncertain feeling never leaving the pit of her stomach.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yvonne: There! A chapter that was an extra TWO KB for you all! But I'll try to make them longer. . . .
Bakhu: Keh! What do you know about KBs?
Yvonne: ^^;;; Nothing whatsoever.
Bakhu: I thought as much -_-''''''
Yvonne: Well peoples, what do you do after reading an exceptionally good chapter?
Bakhu: That's easy! You review!
Yvonne: :( You bastard! That was for all my readers to answer! [tackles Bakhu] Oh yeah, and expect the next chapter to be late. Once again, I'm sorry for making you guys wait! :'( Semester exams coming up and my teachers are piling homeowork like crazy x_X And sorry if I'm taking Shippou out of the fic too much, but I just can't find a good place fore him. . . Sorry, Shippou-chan fans!
Yvonne: [sweatdrops] No surprises there, I suppose!
Authors Note:
Yvonne: HOORAY! Bakhu finally got to review! [hugs Bakhu] And guys, I'm SO INCREDIBLY SORRY for taking SOOOOOOOOO long to update! FF.net is being evil and taking forever to load my chapters. . .
Bakhu: Heh heh heh. . . I was sneaking on to review, though!
Yvonne: -_- Bakhu you could have been grounded LONGER for that! You are so evil!
Bakhu: 8) I am such a daredevil.
Yvonne: You said it! And a big THANK YOU to all who reviewed, even if I'm not getting many! And - Oh yeah - If you are a Yu Yu Hakusho fan, then check out Bakhu's fic! I forgot the title, so I'll post it up later. . .
Bakhu: Ready, set-
Yvonne: Go!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It always helped Kagome to put up copies of riddles wherever she went, so she could think about it when she was on the go. She made huge, poster-sized ones to tack up in her room, regular-sized ones to keep in her binder, and little credit-card-sized ones to slip into her wallet and keep in her purse.
The rising staircase was with her wherever she was. She thought about it when she showered, when she ate, and before she went to bed. Plus her dreams were filled with it. The puzzle was starting to become part of her life, in a way she didn't like. It disturbed her, and it made Mrs. Higurashi paranoid.
"Kagome dear, you don't look too well. . . How are you feeling?" she asked one blustery afternoon. Kag was sitting at the kitchen table and, even though she was in a thick pink sweater, she was shivering so hard that her teeth were chattering.
"Momma. . . I don't feel so good. . . "
Her face was pale and her eyes were half-lidded with dark purply-black circles beneath them. Her hair was wild and unkept, her cheeks bony and hollow.
Mrs. Higurashi felt her forehead.
"Darling, you're burning up! Here, take my hand. . . We've got to call a doctor. . . "
Mrs. Higurashi dropped her broom and took Kagome's trembling arm. She lead her up to her room and laid her down onto her bead. Covering her with a quilt, she whispered, "Don't worry dear, I've got you. . . Just hang on, you'll be okay."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Kagome woke to the sound of quiet talking.
She was lying in her bead, Momma's heavy, handmade quilt thrust over her. She forced her eyelids open a tiny crack, and saw a potbellied man with gray hair growing on the sides of his head and out of his - Ick - Ears. He head nerdy glasses on and a HUGE nose!
Her eyes went as round as scrambled eggs.
"Hello, dear," the man said kindly. "I'm glad to see you awake. Ah. . . There have been a few people waiting for you to return to conciousness." He motioned toward the hall, saying "She's awake now, come in, come in. . . " And eight people entered the room.
Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Momma, Souta, Grampa, Shippou (one of Souta's friends), and-
"Naraku. . .?"
"Kagome," Naraku said, his eyes shining with the deepest and utmost sincerity, "when I heard that you were sick, I immediatly rushed over. I'm so glad to see you awake. Now, if I may. . . I have to be on my way now."
Naraku bowed and left the room.
Inuyasha then quickly ducked down next to Kag's bed. "Kagome, are you alright? When I heard you were sick. . . " His voice trailed off, but he didn't need to say any more.
"I'm fine now. . . Thanks for worrying about me. . . Inuyasha. . . You're the best. . . "
Inuyasha nodded.
"Now. . . " Kag began.
". . .About Narkau. . . "
". . .What was he doing. . . "
". . .Here. . . ?"
Sango bent down to her. "Kagome-chan, I don't know. He seemed pretty worried about you. Frankly, I think he really was." Inuyasha's eyebrows went up at this.
"And your proof for that is. . . ?" he said triumphantly.
"I don't have proof, and I don't need it to believe that Naraku was truly worried," she snapped back irritably.
Nearby Miroku was listening to this conversation with ease. "Well, miss. . . " he said, approaching Mrs. Higurashi, "you look pretty starked. Would you like to bear my child?"
Mrs. Higurashi looked pretty aghast.
"I already HAVE a child, thank you very much," she said icily. "In fact, my child is KAGOME!"
The perverted one cocked an eyebrow. Sango twitched.
*SLLLLLLLAP!* went two hands at once.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In a few weeks time, Kag was up and fit again.
"Higurashi!" Hojo said cheerfully one day during lunch. "How are you?"
"Feeling great, thanks!" she replied briskly, sitting down to have sushi with Sango, Miroku, and Inuyasha. Inuyasha had pulled out a tiny bottle of clear liquid. "Sake, anyone?" he said mischeiviously. (AN: For those to don't know, sake is a Japanese rice wine, but it's not very alcoholic.)
"Oooooooh, me!" everyone cried, scrabbling to get the rare wine.
"Nuh-uh! None for you, all for me!" Inu said playfully, tucking the bottle into his pocket. "I think I'll make one of my teachers drunk. . . Maybe have them tap-dance for me!"
Hojo gasped. "You wouldn't dare!" he said, truly frightened. 'Gods,' Kag thought to herself, 'he can be SO naiive at times, it's almost amusing!'
"I'm just joking, Hojo-kun," Inuyasha said innocently. "Ever heard of a joke?"
"Hmmmmm. . . I think so, when I was little."
This remark caused everyone at the table to burst out laughing.
"So then, Higurashi. . . " Hojo ventured, "would you like a date with me at the movies this Saturday?"
Kagome was about to object, "No, I would not like a date with you," but she decided to manipulate his naiiveness to her advantage.
"Uhhhh. . . I've got to go to the Galleria on Saturday. With Sango." She threw her friend a secretive wink. Sango winked back. "I'm sorry, Hojo. Perhaps some other time?"
Hojo thought it over, taking his time to digest this information. "Perhaps some other time. . . Very well Higurashi. Next Saturday, perhaps?"
"W-w-what?" Kag stuttered. "N-next Saturd-day?" 'C'mon Kag, think!' "U-u-ummmm. . . I'll have to see about that!"
"Oh," Hojo said, looking crestfallen. "Very well. We'll see."
Through it all, Inuyasha had sat, seething, grinding his teeth, his veins popping with jealousy and rage.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Say, isn't Hojo a cabdriver?" Sango said.
"His dad is. Hojo was named after his dad. He's really Hojo Jr." Kagome answered. Inuyasha was still steaming. Sometimes he could be so stubborn.
"That's the way men are," Sango had said commented when Kagome told her about Inuyasha's moody attitude that afternoon. Sango leaned back in her chair, tilting it so that her boot-clad feet were resting comfortably on the table - A normal thing to Kagome, though she didn't like the nauseous smell of sweaty feet. Sango laced her fingers behing her head and said, "So, how's that mystery going? Got anything from that picture?"
Kagomed sighed, a picture of defeat. "No," she said solemnly. "I've gotten NOWHERE!" She laughed. "Can you believe it? I can! After all, it's only been - Like - Three days!" She grinned, flashing very white and even teeth.
Sango sipped her slushie quietly. She was deep in thought, and had not replied to any of Kagome's questions.
"Uhhhhh. . . Sango? You still in there?"
Kag waved a hand in front of her friend's eyes.
"Huh-? What? Oh, sorry. Um. . . I think I need to go to the bathroom. . . Is Inuyasha upstairs?"
Kag frowned, then burst out laughing.
"Hahahahaha-! Oh, Sango. . . Fine fine, go to the bathroom if you wish. . . Hahahaha-! Inu's upstairs. . . Hehehehehe. . . "
Sango scowled. "I wasn't being THAT funny! Egads. . . " She turned and went upstairs, leaving Kagome to shake with tears of laughter pouring from her eyes.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Inuyasha was up in Kag's room. He left alot of his things there, so it didn't surprise Kagome much when she opened her closet and found Inu's leather jacket among all her colorful miniskirts.
And Inuyasha did open her closet. And he did find his leather jacket, all neat and hung up. And it was among all her colorful miniskirts, not to mention sweaters and T-Shirts and tank tops and about a dozen school uniforms, each exactly the same as the next.
He pulled his jacket out and swung it over himself. He felt it's familiar warmth and weight, and the scent of his lemon detergent, mixed with the scent of Kagome's Lily-Of-The-Valley perfume. His right hand automatically went into the right pocket of his coat and began searching for a little silk pouch. . .
He felt it and pulled it up. It was very small and could have fit into his mouth. The bag was laced with golden thread and decorated with silk roses on a forest green background. Inuyasha held it up, letting it's glossy surface catch and reflect the late afternoon sunlight that was streaming though Kag's window at the moment. He admired it for a fleeting moment, then reached inside and pulled out what looked like a very small glass bead.
He held it up the the light. It caught the gleaming rays of the sun and sparkled like a diamond - Which it was.
This little diamond held so many precious memories. . . It could never afford to loose it. It was probably very valuable as well. He had never let anyone else touch it, much less see it. It was his own private diamond, and its origins were traced back to a time, seven years ago. . .
BAM!
"Hey Inuyasha, watcha up to?"
Inu jumped a foot into the air, quickly stuffing the diamond into the pretty little pouch and hiding it in his jacket pocket. "Wha-wha-what?" he said, flustered.
The door had just been thrown open, and Sango was standing there, chewing a large wad of gum.
"Hey, it's just me, Sango. Errr. . . Are you okay?"
Inuyasha was breathing heavily. He was gasping in short breaths. "Whoah, (huff huff) Sango! Don't ever (puff puff) do that (huff huff) again! (puff)"
Sango stared. "Wha? What did I do? Did I scare you?"
Inu growled. "What does it look like? Listen, Sango," he said, making a move to leave, "I've gotta go now. Tell Kagome that I'm leaving, okay?"
"Fine, whatever. But are you sure that you're okay? You look like you've just ran a marathon. Is something on your mind?"
"NO!" Inuyasha roared viciously. This time, it was Sango's turn to jump. "Hey, buddy, chill out, okay! Don't scare me like that! I was just concerned, you know! No need to get defensive. . . !" she said shrilly with a voice that had its pride unmistakably bent.
Inuyasha said nothing and sauntered away, muttering under his breath angrily.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Grrrrrr! Just two more dammed problems and I'll be DONE!"
Kagome was almost done with her extremly evil triginometry homework when the phone rang loudly. Startled, she dropped her pen but left it to get the the receiver.
"Hello? Higurashi residence, Kagome speaking."
The voice on the other end of the line said, "Kagome? Oh, good. I thought it might be your mom or something. This is Kouga. I need you to report back to headquarters tomorrow afternoon, 5:30 sharp. Apparently, we have been invited to Tokyo Inn. . . Well, I'll explain when you get here. Can you come?"
"Erm," Kag said. "I think I can."
"Great!" Kouga's voice was a bit cracked and disorted beacuse of the phone, but his relief could be heard clearly. "Bring that picture with you, okay? It might be important. And your other friends if you want. They've made reservations."
"Okay, sir. I'll be there."
Kagome hung up with a feeling of resentment. Deep down in the bowels of her stomach, something sensed that this wasn't right. Why, Tokyo Inn was one the grandest hotels in the city, and it cost a fortune just the watch flower-arranging there! So what was up with Kouga inviting a bunch of people there where it could cost him loads of pocket money?
She turned around, sat down, and continued with her two "dammed" remaining triginometry problems, the uncertain feeling never leaving the pit of her stomach.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Yvonne: There! A chapter that was an extra TWO KB for you all! But I'll try to make them longer. . . .
Bakhu: Keh! What do you know about KBs?
Yvonne: ^^;;; Nothing whatsoever.
Bakhu: I thought as much -_-''''''
Yvonne: Well peoples, what do you do after reading an exceptionally good chapter?
Bakhu: That's easy! You review!
Yvonne: :( You bastard! That was for all my readers to answer! [tackles Bakhu] Oh yeah, and expect the next chapter to be late. Once again, I'm sorry for making you guys wait! :'( Semester exams coming up and my teachers are piling homeowork like crazy x_X And sorry if I'm taking Shippou out of the fic too much, but I just can't find a good place fore him. . . Sorry, Shippou-chan fans!