Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. Unless you count the Inuyasha plushie
that found it's way into my Christmas stocking! Yes! There is a Santa
Clause!
A/N: Ok, please don't pelt me with rotten fruit or missiles of destruction! I have been getting a little paranoid, waiting for logan to jump out from someplace, Kato-like (please tell me someone has seen the Pink Panther movies), waving his shotgun and handcuffing me to my keyboard. I assure you, this hasn't been laziness on my part. If I took the time to tell you all what has delayed me, I would never get this posted. I can start by blaming finals and AOL (read reviews, if you're curious about that ~ I left myself a review explaining why I couldn't post), and then I just couldn't log in to upload. Also, I have to admit to quite a bit of "celebrating" since I got back. Happy New Year!
Ok, also, I have broken yet another promise to you all. I promised waff, and lots of it. And it is coming. I know you don't believe me, and I wouldn't either, but it really is. I have no more finals to study for, classes are starting (forcing me to spend time on the life-sucking box...er...computer), and I don't have a show for another month. But I'm taking a cue from one of my favorite stories, and am cutting the chapter short because it's a good place to break it. Honestly, the next part WILL be up in a couple of days.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So, upon arriving in the village, Inuyasha had several surprises for his friends. The first, of course, was the still unconscious girl in his arms. Shippou leapt up onto Inuyasha's shoulder, much to the hanyou's annoyance, for a closer inspection before he would believe that she was just sleeping. She did look pretty battered, after all. And Miroku, Sango, and Kaede had all been quite anxious about the pair since waking in the forest to find them all gone.
Inuyasha carefully deposited Kagome on the floor in front of Kaede, for her inspection. He then pulled the make-shift pouch from his belt, and proffered it to the priestess.
She looked at the tied-up blouse, then up to Inuyasha, and then closed her eyes and nodded. "Ah, yes, I thought I sensed...But no, perhaps you had better tell me what happened."
So, while Kaede inspected, cleansed, and bandaged Kagome's wounds, the hanyou related the events of the afternoon, ending with his part in the demise of the woman to which he had once been betrothed. When he was finished, the hut was completely silent.
Miroku broke the silence with a low whistle. Kaede finally spoke. "It's over then. As it should be. My sister can finally be at peace. We'll take her remains and bury them where they belong, where they have belonged all along, in the morning. Thank you, Inuyasha, for returning them to me. To our village."
Inuyasha cleared his throat, and looked away. "Feh! If I had done it to begin with, I could have spared everyone a lot of... I'm sorry."
Again there was silence. It took everyone, even Kaede, a few moments to recover from the fact that Inuyasha had just apologized, and had done it in front of several people. Kaede smiled gently, but didn't voice her thoughts. She knew that saying what she was thinking ~ that Inuyasha was much kinder and more sentimental than he would ever admit to anyone ~ would only make him angry.
She finally said, "Does Kagome know?"
"No. She hasn't woken long enough for me to tell her."
Sango looked up, "Has she woken at all?"
"Once. For just a minute."
Miroku raised an eyebrow. He knew his friend had left something out. "What did she say?"
"...Nothing."
"Right. She said nothing." The houshi wasn't going to let this go. It was the only real fun he'd had all day. Sango hadn't even let him "help" her by supporting her on the way back to the village. "What did she say? It might be important."
"It's not. Not to you anyway."
Kaede looked serious. "We won't know that until you tell us. What did she say, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha's face was now as red as his coat. He grunted and then muttered something almost incoherent.
Sango crossed her arms and looked at him reproachfully, "Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that."
Shippou bounced up and said helpfully, "He said she asked him to be her date to her prom." Then he ducked the hand that would have sent him flying into the wall, and darted behind Sango. "What? That's what you said!" He stuck his tongue out at the hanyou.
There was a chorus of congratulations from everyone else in the room, as Inuyasha tried to pretend he was annoyed. But he knew if he didn't get out of there soon, he was going to lose the battle with his face and they would all see the stupid grin he had been wearing most of his journey back to the village.
"Are you done with her yet, Baba? I want to take her back to sleep in her own bed. I'll be back in the morning for the burial, but after that I'm going to work the rest of the week at Kagome's home."
Kaede ignored the rude term he used for her, and nodded. "You may take her now. Sleep is what will help her the most now."
Picking Kagome up gently, he nodded to the group and exited the hut. When he was out of the village, and certain he wouldn't meet anyone else along the way, he finally let down his guard. He dipped his head and gently kissed the sleeping girl's forehead. The smile returned to his face as he thought to himself, 'I'm going to get to kiss her. We'll do that dance, and I'll get to kiss her. And maybe she'll like it enough to want to do it again when we're not dancing. And then maybe...,' he took a deep breath, 'maybe she won't leave me when this quest is over. Please, please, gods, please let her like it.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome's mother was more than a little alarmed when Inuyasha brought her home battered and unconscious, but Inuyasha told her that she had just had an accident and a very tiring day. Mrs. Higurashi was still skeptical, but luckily, Inuyasha had managed to keep the claw marks on her thigh covered, so she let it go at that. After all, she was alive, and Inuyasha always protected her.
Inuyasha wanted to work, but he was reluctant to leave Kagome. Mrs. Higurashi solved his dilemma by refusing to allow him to work at night. "You need your rest. I'll bring a futon in here, and you can stay close to Kagome so you won't have to worry about her."
"Keh! I don't ..." 'Oh, what the hell? What's the use?'
When Mrs. H left to fetch the promised futon, Inuyasha laid the sleeping girl gently onto the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and tucked the covers around her. He found the little plushie dog he had seen her sleep with before, and placed it gently into her arms. He couldn't help but smile when she made a small, happy mewing sound and hugged the doll tightly. He then waited while Kagome's mom spread the futon in the corner, laid out blankets and fluffed a pillow for him. He didn't bother to tell her that the blankets would be of no use to him.
As soon as she left, he dragged the whole thing over next to the bed where he could keep a close eye on the girl. He had no intention of sleeping. Sitting up, he crossed his arms on her mattress and rested his chin on his wrists to watch her sleeping face. Reaching out a tentative hand to smooth a lock of black hair off her cheek, he thought 'You are ok, aren't you Kagome?'
He yawned deeply.
The next thing he was aware of was daylight breaking on the horizon and finding it's way into the bedroom window. He blinked and realized he was staring into the very surprised eyes of Kagome.
"Inuyasha, how did I...? What are you...? Oh, wow. I must have been really out of it!"
He eyed her with concern, "How do you feel?"
Kagome stretched and considered, "I think I feel fine. My thigh is pretty sore." She inspected Kaede's work. "I'd better put a more modern bandage on this. I'll never be able to cover it with my gym clothes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So, Kagome went to school and Inuyasha went back to his own era to bury Kikyou's remains. He hadn't told Kagome what had happened during their walk back to the village, or that Kikyou was ... gone. He knew she'd insist on going back with him, and he didn't think it was a good idea. He also wasn't sure how she would react to the role he had played in her demise. He was still having a hard time believing it himself. But after all that had transpired, especially the day before, he couldn't bring himself to be unhappy about it either.
But would Kagome understand? Of course, if he hadn't done what he did, she would be dead now, so she couldn't be unhappy about that, could she? But what would she think of him? Would she think him a monster? He knew he would have to tell her, and soon, but now was not the time.
The rest of the week flew by. Kagome was busy with school and Prom Decoration Committee stuff. Inuyasha was trying to completely re-do the Higurashi grounds in record time. He didn't care what it took, he wanted to make sure he could afford to take Kagome someplace just as nice, or preferably, nicer than where she had gone with Houjo.
Not knowing anything about any restaurant, let alone ones Kagome would find appealing, he approached her mother about it. "Don't worry, dear. I've taken care of everything for you. I've made reservations at Kagome's favorite bistro for the two of you. In fact, we will be going there for lunch today, so you can learn about menus and how to pay for your meal."
"But I have to work! I have to ..."
Mrs. H smiled gently. "Believe me, dear, you have already worked hard enough to pay for dinner, flowers, and quite a bit more. You've earned this. I've laid out clothes on Souta's bed for you. Go on and change."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha changed and joined Mrs. Higurashi for lunch. There was a problem with his eyes and ears, of course. She mused, "You couldn't have been a Cocker Spaniel, could you? Your ears would have been much easier to blend into your hair!"
Before he forgot himself and how much she had helped him, and made a rude reply, she snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right! I know!"
When they arrived at the restaurant, she requested a table outside. Inuyasha wore a hat and blue tinted glasses, and Mrs. H explained that he was "albino; very sensitive to the sun," so he wouldn't be considered rude for wearing a hat and dark glasses at the table.
As they ate their meal, Inuyasha was mainly quiet. He didn't mean to be impolite, but he had never been to a place like this, and it was pretty overwhelming. And he was carefully studying everything Mrs. Higurashi and the other patrons were doing so he wouldn't embarrass Kagome when they came by not knowing what to do.
Mrs. Higurashi smiled at him, "The house looks wonderful, Inuyasha. You have done a great job. I'd like to keep you around."
He looked up at her, trying to decide if she meant it or if she was just being kind. "Even though I'm a hanyou? I mean, would you hate it if Kagome and I..." He suddenly realized what he was saying. He snapped his mouth shut and dropped his gaze to the table.
"Ended up together? Married?" Mrs. H finished for him. He nodded. "Whom my daughter chooses to spend her life with is her decision. Not mine. But if you really want to know my feelings about it...?
Not raising his chin, he looked up through his bangs expectantly, more than a little nervous about her answer.
"You've always taken care of her, Inuyasha. I know what you two do is dangerous, and I know she doesn't tell me most of it because she knows I would worry. But I never fret too much because I know you protect her with your life. So, no, Inuyasha, I would not "hate it" if you two...ended up together. I can't think of anyone I would rather see with my daughter."
Inuyasha concentrated on his plate to keep from showing his extreme relief.
"Besides," she quipped, "I was thinking of having a new pond dug for the shrine."
He looked up sharply to see her grinning mischievously at him. 'Hmmmmm...Like mother, like daughter!'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The big night finally came. Inuyasha had been bathed, combed, and blow dried, and he now squirmed anxiously while he let Mrs. Higurashi and Souta help him dress in this complicated outfit they called a "tux." Mrs. H had done a good job altering the suit so that it fit him perfectly, and Mr. Higurashi's shoes were a pretty good fit too. But for someone who had spent his life bare-foot, they felt very confining. Over the last few years, he had learned about buttons and zippers, but these "cuff-links" and "bow-ties" were completely foreign to him. The collar felt constricting around his neck, and he was beginning to think he wouldn't be able to handle wearing it.
And then he saw Kagome.
Suddenly, the shoes were fine. The collar was fine. He would endure anything to be with the angel that was descending the staircase. He had always thought, in spite of what he had said, that Kagome was beautiful. But now, she was ... he didn't even know the word for what she was now. She turned her smile on him and took his breath away.
Completely unaware of Mrs. Higurashi pulling his white hair back into a loose ponytail behind him, or of Souta struggling with the cuff link on his left wrist, he was completely lost in the vision that was coming toward him. His eyes took in her raven hair pulled up off her neck and curling softly around her radiant face, her sparkling eyes, and the soft fabric of her gown that seemed to flow like water over the curves of her shapely body.
Noticing his "deer in the headlights" expression, she frowned, "Is there something wrong? Do I look alright?"
He started and tore his gaze away from her. "You look fine, wen...." The voice in his head admonished, "Oh, great answer, loverboy! You'll really impress her with that. Do you want her to kiss you or not?"
He looked down at the shiny shoes on his feet. "I mean, yes. You look...stunning."
She smiled shyly. "You look nice, too, Inuyasha. Really...handsome." 'Actually, you look really hot,' is what she was thinking, but wasn't about to say it. Especially in front of her brother and mom. "Are you sure you're ok with this? Is your collar too tight? Your shoes?" She walked up to him and started to reach for his collar.
He caught her hand in his, and smiled down at her gently. "I'm ok. It's worth it"
She had no time to process that startling statement, though, because her mom took that moment to push two clear boxes into their hands. "Here's the corsage for Kagome, Inuyasha." She handed Kagome the smaller box. "And here's the boutonniere you got for Inuyasha, Kagome."
As soon as they finished with the flowers, Mrs. Higurashi took several photos, and then shooed them into the well house. In an uncharacteristically sentimental moment, probably helped by the burial of Kikyo's remains, Inuyasha had promised everyone that he and Kagome would come visit them before the Prom so they could see them all dressed up.
Once in the wellhouse, though, Inuyasha took Kagome by the shoulders. "Wait."
She turned to face him. "Nani?"
He turned red. He hadn't thought this through very well, but it was something he had to do. He could tell that his demon senses were fading, and soon, they would be those of an ordinary human. "Uh, you have some of that red stuff on your face. Where your mom kissed you."
She frowned. 'Strange. She usually doesn't wear much lipstick." But she let Inuyasha gently rub her cheek anyway. All the while, he just breathed in her scent. It was her scent, the scent that calmed him, but at the same time nearly drove him insane with desire. Tonight it was mixed with something flowery and spicy. He was sure this is what heaven must smell like.
When he had rubbed the nonexistent spot on her cheek for as long as he thought he could get away with, he stepped back. "Ok, let's go." He took her hand in his and they jumped through the portal.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everyone was waiting for them by the well; even Kaede. They all smiled and complimented the pair on how wonderful they looked, even though the clothes were very strange to them. Miroku even managed to tell Kagome how beautiful she looked without encountering bodily injury from anyone.
Shippou fidgeted like crazy, but for once, he didn't propel himself into Kagome's arms. She looked so lovely and fragile that he was afraid he might break her. So he just sat and wiggled, gazing fixedly at the couple in front of him, hoping fervently (along with everyone else there) that Inuyasha could manage to get through the evening without saying or doing something stupid. He didn't want Kagome to leave when the quest was over, either.
They didn't stay long ~ they couldn't, because they had dinner reservations. Kagome gave Sango a hug and a promise to bring pictures and tell her everything in a couple of days. Then she picked up the squirming kitsune, hugged him tightly, and promised a present when she returned. Finally, she allowed Inuyasha to grab her hand and together they re-entered her world.
***********
Luckily, the sun set before their car arrived to take them to dinner. Kagome was grateful that her mother had considered the time, too, when making reservations for them. She could imagine what the driver would think if a white haired guy got into the car and a black haired one got out. On the way to the restaurant, Kagome had a few things she felt she needed to say to her date. "Ok, first of all: NO maiming anyone! I don't care what they say or how they look at me, you cannot kill or injure them! Ok?"
"Keh!"
"Inuyasha!"
"Oh, ok!" He scowled.
"Next, I will probably have to dance a dance with Houjo. He's a good friend, and I did wait an awfully long time to tell him I had another date. Even though I told him from the beginning to ask someone else. Still, it's the polite thing to do, and you cannot hurt him for dancing with me."
He was VERY unhappy at this announcement. "NO!" But he didn't want her to be angry. She wouldn't kiss him if she were angry. And this "kissing dance" had become an obsession with him. In fact, it was pretty much all he had been able to think of ever since the night she asked him to be her date.
Kagome shot him a look, "Inu..."
He would have crossed his arms to show his control of the situation, but she was holding his hand and he wasn't willing to let go. So he cut her off. "Ok, but just one dance. And not one of those kissing dances!"
She frowned in confusion. "Huh? What kissing..."
Ooops! Said too much! He recovered. "I mean one of those hugging dances that you showed Sango and the hentai monk."
"Oh. OK."
She went over a few more things that he shouldn't do or talk about, but he waved her aside and said, "Your mom covered all that. She wanted to make sure I didn't embarrass you, too."
She saw the hurt expression in his eyes. "Oh, Inuyasha. You don't embarrass me. It's just that if people knew the real story about how we know each other, 400 years out of time, they would think we're both crazy. I can hardly believe it myself, and I've been doing this for almost three years!" She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "But I'm very glad you're the one I'm spending this evening with. We're going to have a very good time! I love dancing!"
Inuyasha looked away towards the window and let a small smile cross his face. Ever since Kagome's mom had taught him, he loved dancing too. Not that he would never let anyone at home see him doing it... "Oi, Kagome, by the way; what's a Y-M-C-A?"
Kagome grimaced and growled under her breath, "MOTHER!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok, as I said, the waff is coming. I love waff! Especially Kagome/Inuyasha waff. Although I'm pretty fond of Heero/Relena fluff, too. Why is the most unlikely waff always the most satisfying? Anyway, I know you don't believe me, but the rest is coming, and in the next couple of days. I'm just having a little trouble with one bit, and I'm minus a beta reader for a couple of weeks, so I'm on my own.
A/N: Ok, please don't pelt me with rotten fruit or missiles of destruction! I have been getting a little paranoid, waiting for logan to jump out from someplace, Kato-like (please tell me someone has seen the Pink Panther movies), waving his shotgun and handcuffing me to my keyboard. I assure you, this hasn't been laziness on my part. If I took the time to tell you all what has delayed me, I would never get this posted. I can start by blaming finals and AOL (read reviews, if you're curious about that ~ I left myself a review explaining why I couldn't post), and then I just couldn't log in to upload. Also, I have to admit to quite a bit of "celebrating" since I got back. Happy New Year!
Ok, also, I have broken yet another promise to you all. I promised waff, and lots of it. And it is coming. I know you don't believe me, and I wouldn't either, but it really is. I have no more finals to study for, classes are starting (forcing me to spend time on the life-sucking box...er...computer), and I don't have a show for another month. But I'm taking a cue from one of my favorite stories, and am cutting the chapter short because it's a good place to break it. Honestly, the next part WILL be up in a couple of days.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
So, upon arriving in the village, Inuyasha had several surprises for his friends. The first, of course, was the still unconscious girl in his arms. Shippou leapt up onto Inuyasha's shoulder, much to the hanyou's annoyance, for a closer inspection before he would believe that she was just sleeping. She did look pretty battered, after all. And Miroku, Sango, and Kaede had all been quite anxious about the pair since waking in the forest to find them all gone.
Inuyasha carefully deposited Kagome on the floor in front of Kaede, for her inspection. He then pulled the make-shift pouch from his belt, and proffered it to the priestess.
She looked at the tied-up blouse, then up to Inuyasha, and then closed her eyes and nodded. "Ah, yes, I thought I sensed...But no, perhaps you had better tell me what happened."
So, while Kaede inspected, cleansed, and bandaged Kagome's wounds, the hanyou related the events of the afternoon, ending with his part in the demise of the woman to which he had once been betrothed. When he was finished, the hut was completely silent.
Miroku broke the silence with a low whistle. Kaede finally spoke. "It's over then. As it should be. My sister can finally be at peace. We'll take her remains and bury them where they belong, where they have belonged all along, in the morning. Thank you, Inuyasha, for returning them to me. To our village."
Inuyasha cleared his throat, and looked away. "Feh! If I had done it to begin with, I could have spared everyone a lot of... I'm sorry."
Again there was silence. It took everyone, even Kaede, a few moments to recover from the fact that Inuyasha had just apologized, and had done it in front of several people. Kaede smiled gently, but didn't voice her thoughts. She knew that saying what she was thinking ~ that Inuyasha was much kinder and more sentimental than he would ever admit to anyone ~ would only make him angry.
She finally said, "Does Kagome know?"
"No. She hasn't woken long enough for me to tell her."
Sango looked up, "Has she woken at all?"
"Once. For just a minute."
Miroku raised an eyebrow. He knew his friend had left something out. "What did she say?"
"...Nothing."
"Right. She said nothing." The houshi wasn't going to let this go. It was the only real fun he'd had all day. Sango hadn't even let him "help" her by supporting her on the way back to the village. "What did she say? It might be important."
"It's not. Not to you anyway."
Kaede looked serious. "We won't know that until you tell us. What did she say, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha's face was now as red as his coat. He grunted and then muttered something almost incoherent.
Sango crossed her arms and looked at him reproachfully, "Excuse me? I didn't quite catch that."
Shippou bounced up and said helpfully, "He said she asked him to be her date to her prom." Then he ducked the hand that would have sent him flying into the wall, and darted behind Sango. "What? That's what you said!" He stuck his tongue out at the hanyou.
There was a chorus of congratulations from everyone else in the room, as Inuyasha tried to pretend he was annoyed. But he knew if he didn't get out of there soon, he was going to lose the battle with his face and they would all see the stupid grin he had been wearing most of his journey back to the village.
"Are you done with her yet, Baba? I want to take her back to sleep in her own bed. I'll be back in the morning for the burial, but after that I'm going to work the rest of the week at Kagome's home."
Kaede ignored the rude term he used for her, and nodded. "You may take her now. Sleep is what will help her the most now."
Picking Kagome up gently, he nodded to the group and exited the hut. When he was out of the village, and certain he wouldn't meet anyone else along the way, he finally let down his guard. He dipped his head and gently kissed the sleeping girl's forehead. The smile returned to his face as he thought to himself, 'I'm going to get to kiss her. We'll do that dance, and I'll get to kiss her. And maybe she'll like it enough to want to do it again when we're not dancing. And then maybe...,' he took a deep breath, 'maybe she won't leave me when this quest is over. Please, please, gods, please let her like it.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kagome's mother was more than a little alarmed when Inuyasha brought her home battered and unconscious, but Inuyasha told her that she had just had an accident and a very tiring day. Mrs. Higurashi was still skeptical, but luckily, Inuyasha had managed to keep the claw marks on her thigh covered, so she let it go at that. After all, she was alive, and Inuyasha always protected her.
Inuyasha wanted to work, but he was reluctant to leave Kagome. Mrs. Higurashi solved his dilemma by refusing to allow him to work at night. "You need your rest. I'll bring a futon in here, and you can stay close to Kagome so you won't have to worry about her."
"Keh! I don't ..." 'Oh, what the hell? What's the use?'
When Mrs. H left to fetch the promised futon, Inuyasha laid the sleeping girl gently onto the bed, removed her shoes and socks, and tucked the covers around her. He found the little plushie dog he had seen her sleep with before, and placed it gently into her arms. He couldn't help but smile when she made a small, happy mewing sound and hugged the doll tightly. He then waited while Kagome's mom spread the futon in the corner, laid out blankets and fluffed a pillow for him. He didn't bother to tell her that the blankets would be of no use to him.
As soon as she left, he dragged the whole thing over next to the bed where he could keep a close eye on the girl. He had no intention of sleeping. Sitting up, he crossed his arms on her mattress and rested his chin on his wrists to watch her sleeping face. Reaching out a tentative hand to smooth a lock of black hair off her cheek, he thought 'You are ok, aren't you Kagome?'
He yawned deeply.
The next thing he was aware of was daylight breaking on the horizon and finding it's way into the bedroom window. He blinked and realized he was staring into the very surprised eyes of Kagome.
"Inuyasha, how did I...? What are you...? Oh, wow. I must have been really out of it!"
He eyed her with concern, "How do you feel?"
Kagome stretched and considered, "I think I feel fine. My thigh is pretty sore." She inspected Kaede's work. "I'd better put a more modern bandage on this. I'll never be able to cover it with my gym clothes."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So, Kagome went to school and Inuyasha went back to his own era to bury Kikyou's remains. He hadn't told Kagome what had happened during their walk back to the village, or that Kikyou was ... gone. He knew she'd insist on going back with him, and he didn't think it was a good idea. He also wasn't sure how she would react to the role he had played in her demise. He was still having a hard time believing it himself. But after all that had transpired, especially the day before, he couldn't bring himself to be unhappy about it either.
But would Kagome understand? Of course, if he hadn't done what he did, she would be dead now, so she couldn't be unhappy about that, could she? But what would she think of him? Would she think him a monster? He knew he would have to tell her, and soon, but now was not the time.
The rest of the week flew by. Kagome was busy with school and Prom Decoration Committee stuff. Inuyasha was trying to completely re-do the Higurashi grounds in record time. He didn't care what it took, he wanted to make sure he could afford to take Kagome someplace just as nice, or preferably, nicer than where she had gone with Houjo.
Not knowing anything about any restaurant, let alone ones Kagome would find appealing, he approached her mother about it. "Don't worry, dear. I've taken care of everything for you. I've made reservations at Kagome's favorite bistro for the two of you. In fact, we will be going there for lunch today, so you can learn about menus and how to pay for your meal."
"But I have to work! I have to ..."
Mrs. H smiled gently. "Believe me, dear, you have already worked hard enough to pay for dinner, flowers, and quite a bit more. You've earned this. I've laid out clothes on Souta's bed for you. Go on and change."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Inuyasha changed and joined Mrs. Higurashi for lunch. There was a problem with his eyes and ears, of course. She mused, "You couldn't have been a Cocker Spaniel, could you? Your ears would have been much easier to blend into your hair!"
Before he forgot himself and how much she had helped him, and made a rude reply, she snapped her fingers. "Oh, that's right! I know!"
When they arrived at the restaurant, she requested a table outside. Inuyasha wore a hat and blue tinted glasses, and Mrs. H explained that he was "albino; very sensitive to the sun," so he wouldn't be considered rude for wearing a hat and dark glasses at the table.
As they ate their meal, Inuyasha was mainly quiet. He didn't mean to be impolite, but he had never been to a place like this, and it was pretty overwhelming. And he was carefully studying everything Mrs. Higurashi and the other patrons were doing so he wouldn't embarrass Kagome when they came by not knowing what to do.
Mrs. Higurashi smiled at him, "The house looks wonderful, Inuyasha. You have done a great job. I'd like to keep you around."
He looked up at her, trying to decide if she meant it or if she was just being kind. "Even though I'm a hanyou? I mean, would you hate it if Kagome and I..." He suddenly realized what he was saying. He snapped his mouth shut and dropped his gaze to the table.
"Ended up together? Married?" Mrs. H finished for him. He nodded. "Whom my daughter chooses to spend her life with is her decision. Not mine. But if you really want to know my feelings about it...?
Not raising his chin, he looked up through his bangs expectantly, more than a little nervous about her answer.
"You've always taken care of her, Inuyasha. I know what you two do is dangerous, and I know she doesn't tell me most of it because she knows I would worry. But I never fret too much because I know you protect her with your life. So, no, Inuyasha, I would not "hate it" if you two...ended up together. I can't think of anyone I would rather see with my daughter."
Inuyasha concentrated on his plate to keep from showing his extreme relief.
"Besides," she quipped, "I was thinking of having a new pond dug for the shrine."
He looked up sharply to see her grinning mischievously at him. 'Hmmmmm...Like mother, like daughter!'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The big night finally came. Inuyasha had been bathed, combed, and blow dried, and he now squirmed anxiously while he let Mrs. Higurashi and Souta help him dress in this complicated outfit they called a "tux." Mrs. H had done a good job altering the suit so that it fit him perfectly, and Mr. Higurashi's shoes were a pretty good fit too. But for someone who had spent his life bare-foot, they felt very confining. Over the last few years, he had learned about buttons and zippers, but these "cuff-links" and "bow-ties" were completely foreign to him. The collar felt constricting around his neck, and he was beginning to think he wouldn't be able to handle wearing it.
And then he saw Kagome.
Suddenly, the shoes were fine. The collar was fine. He would endure anything to be with the angel that was descending the staircase. He had always thought, in spite of what he had said, that Kagome was beautiful. But now, she was ... he didn't even know the word for what she was now. She turned her smile on him and took his breath away.
Completely unaware of Mrs. Higurashi pulling his white hair back into a loose ponytail behind him, or of Souta struggling with the cuff link on his left wrist, he was completely lost in the vision that was coming toward him. His eyes took in her raven hair pulled up off her neck and curling softly around her radiant face, her sparkling eyes, and the soft fabric of her gown that seemed to flow like water over the curves of her shapely body.
Noticing his "deer in the headlights" expression, she frowned, "Is there something wrong? Do I look alright?"
He started and tore his gaze away from her. "You look fine, wen...." The voice in his head admonished, "Oh, great answer, loverboy! You'll really impress her with that. Do you want her to kiss you or not?"
He looked down at the shiny shoes on his feet. "I mean, yes. You look...stunning."
She smiled shyly. "You look nice, too, Inuyasha. Really...handsome." 'Actually, you look really hot,' is what she was thinking, but wasn't about to say it. Especially in front of her brother and mom. "Are you sure you're ok with this? Is your collar too tight? Your shoes?" She walked up to him and started to reach for his collar.
He caught her hand in his, and smiled down at her gently. "I'm ok. It's worth it"
She had no time to process that startling statement, though, because her mom took that moment to push two clear boxes into their hands. "Here's the corsage for Kagome, Inuyasha." She handed Kagome the smaller box. "And here's the boutonniere you got for Inuyasha, Kagome."
As soon as they finished with the flowers, Mrs. Higurashi took several photos, and then shooed them into the well house. In an uncharacteristically sentimental moment, probably helped by the burial of Kikyo's remains, Inuyasha had promised everyone that he and Kagome would come visit them before the Prom so they could see them all dressed up.
Once in the wellhouse, though, Inuyasha took Kagome by the shoulders. "Wait."
She turned to face him. "Nani?"
He turned red. He hadn't thought this through very well, but it was something he had to do. He could tell that his demon senses were fading, and soon, they would be those of an ordinary human. "Uh, you have some of that red stuff on your face. Where your mom kissed you."
She frowned. 'Strange. She usually doesn't wear much lipstick." But she let Inuyasha gently rub her cheek anyway. All the while, he just breathed in her scent. It was her scent, the scent that calmed him, but at the same time nearly drove him insane with desire. Tonight it was mixed with something flowery and spicy. He was sure this is what heaven must smell like.
When he had rubbed the nonexistent spot on her cheek for as long as he thought he could get away with, he stepped back. "Ok, let's go." He took her hand in his and they jumped through the portal.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Everyone was waiting for them by the well; even Kaede. They all smiled and complimented the pair on how wonderful they looked, even though the clothes were very strange to them. Miroku even managed to tell Kagome how beautiful she looked without encountering bodily injury from anyone.
Shippou fidgeted like crazy, but for once, he didn't propel himself into Kagome's arms. She looked so lovely and fragile that he was afraid he might break her. So he just sat and wiggled, gazing fixedly at the couple in front of him, hoping fervently (along with everyone else there) that Inuyasha could manage to get through the evening without saying or doing something stupid. He didn't want Kagome to leave when the quest was over, either.
They didn't stay long ~ they couldn't, because they had dinner reservations. Kagome gave Sango a hug and a promise to bring pictures and tell her everything in a couple of days. Then she picked up the squirming kitsune, hugged him tightly, and promised a present when she returned. Finally, she allowed Inuyasha to grab her hand and together they re-entered her world.
***********
Luckily, the sun set before their car arrived to take them to dinner. Kagome was grateful that her mother had considered the time, too, when making reservations for them. She could imagine what the driver would think if a white haired guy got into the car and a black haired one got out. On the way to the restaurant, Kagome had a few things she felt she needed to say to her date. "Ok, first of all: NO maiming anyone! I don't care what they say or how they look at me, you cannot kill or injure them! Ok?"
"Keh!"
"Inuyasha!"
"Oh, ok!" He scowled.
"Next, I will probably have to dance a dance with Houjo. He's a good friend, and I did wait an awfully long time to tell him I had another date. Even though I told him from the beginning to ask someone else. Still, it's the polite thing to do, and you cannot hurt him for dancing with me."
He was VERY unhappy at this announcement. "NO!" But he didn't want her to be angry. She wouldn't kiss him if she were angry. And this "kissing dance" had become an obsession with him. In fact, it was pretty much all he had been able to think of ever since the night she asked him to be her date.
Kagome shot him a look, "Inu..."
He would have crossed his arms to show his control of the situation, but she was holding his hand and he wasn't willing to let go. So he cut her off. "Ok, but just one dance. And not one of those kissing dances!"
She frowned in confusion. "Huh? What kissing..."
Ooops! Said too much! He recovered. "I mean one of those hugging dances that you showed Sango and the hentai monk."
"Oh. OK."
She went over a few more things that he shouldn't do or talk about, but he waved her aside and said, "Your mom covered all that. She wanted to make sure I didn't embarrass you, too."
She saw the hurt expression in his eyes. "Oh, Inuyasha. You don't embarrass me. It's just that if people knew the real story about how we know each other, 400 years out of time, they would think we're both crazy. I can hardly believe it myself, and I've been doing this for almost three years!" She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "But I'm very glad you're the one I'm spending this evening with. We're going to have a very good time! I love dancing!"
Inuyasha looked away towards the window and let a small smile cross his face. Ever since Kagome's mom had taught him, he loved dancing too. Not that he would never let anyone at home see him doing it... "Oi, Kagome, by the way; what's a Y-M-C-A?"
Kagome grimaced and growled under her breath, "MOTHER!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ok, as I said, the waff is coming. I love waff! Especially Kagome/Inuyasha waff. Although I'm pretty fond of Heero/Relena fluff, too. Why is the most unlikely waff always the most satisfying? Anyway, I know you don't believe me, but the rest is coming, and in the next couple of days. I'm just having a little trouble with one bit, and I'm minus a beta reader for a couple of weeks, so I'm on my own.