A/N: eek… Sorry for the late update. After all that fuss in the last chapter too It was hard to write this chapter… Major writer's block… Finished it around 2 weeks ago but when I re-read it, I started re-writing it… -.-;; And ff.net is being weird too… It's WAY longer than usual, but. So hope that'll make up for it.
Anyways, so sorry for the long wait (if anyone's actually waiting, that is) and yea… hope this chapter isn't too weird… I don't like capsicums very much…*cringe*
Reason
By dEeYaN
Chapter Eleven – Cursed Capsicums
It was a hot day. Correction, an extremely hot day. Even her mini skirt and short sleeved uniform couldn't save Kagome from getting boiled alive. What she'd give to be at home in familiar surroundings of her air conditioned room… She felt that she at last understood perfectly how it would feel like having your home stripped away from you.
Instead she was stuck in this stuffy weather, trying to survive the long and agonizing journey to get some capsicum for her mother. Her darling mother (and no, she isn't being sarcastic or anything. Her mother could be a darling at times) hadn't been feeling too well today due to the heat. But of course Kagome would feel perfectly fine being exposed to the so-called wise sun unarmed, because Kagome was young and healthy and wasn't her grandfather (who for some unknown reason started to have complaints about his non-existent low blood pressure). Oh, and don't forget that she's also got major exams coming up…
Cursing capsicums for the sole reason of existing made Kagome felt a bit better. Seriously, what's so good about them anyway? She made up her mind that she hates them from now on. Hang on, her mum had insisted that stew could never be cooked without capsicum which might be why she was off getting it, therefore capsicum is one of the ingredients for their stew dinner tonight… Maybe she can start hating it tomorrow night.
Searching her mind for fragments of exam material to distract herself from the heat, a cry made its way to her ears. Searching down the road she spotted a red haired boy, who looked no older than 5, crying in the middle of the street. It was obvious that he was lost and yet all he got were sympathical glances from the passersbys after which they went on with their lives, none had time to spare for the lost boy. The police will help him eventually anyway. Of course the police would, it was their duty after all. Problem is, how would they know that a child was lost in the middle of a busy street. Hmm… That could be Kagome's question of the day. NOT!
Sending out personal glares to each and every one of those cold hearted, ignorant people who could bear leaving a young and innocent (not to mention cute) child get kidnapped, Kagome kneeled down in front of the boy, pretending not to notice that she was blocking people's way. Evil conspiracy between capsicum and the heat forgotten, she gave him the kindest smile she could give.
"Hello…" Kagome always thought that asking 'are you alright?' or 'are you lost' to someone who was obviously lost was extremely cheesy and offending, so she racked her brain for something that might soothe him, "What's wrong?"
The boy managed to look at her suspiciously through his tears. If not for her own childhood spent in being drilled by 'don't talk to strangers', Kagome would've wondered why the boy wasn't so innocent. She still had paranoids about strangers even now…
"My name's Kagome Higurashi. I'll try and help you if you don't mind…" Kagome wondered for awhile if the boy even understood her. He did looked a bit foreign…
"I can't find Granny," the boy sniffed at last, deciding to trust her for the moment.
"You can't find her?" Kagome asked soothingly, "Well, then, I'll help you look. Two is better than one, right?"
"My name's Shippou," the boy tried hard to stop crying, this Kagome seems trustable enough and if she turns out to be evil, he isn't about to show that he was scared. Not that he was or anything, "I live with Granny in a white house."
"Can you remember the address?" Kagome asked patiently, determined to get Shippou home whatever it takes.
"No…" Shippou felt tears starting to smart his eyes once again. Kagome looked too trustable indeed that he sort of felt bad for disappointing her.
"Shh… Don't cry. We'll find her somehow. Come, we'll just walk around for a bit and you can tell me if you recognize something or someone," Kagome gave Shippou another encouraging smile.
"Thank you, Kagome!" Shippou smiled back at her. Somehow, in his 5 years old mind, the form of Kagome being evil was changed and there was no doubt now that Kagome was his guardian angel coming to help him in the form of a junior high school girl.
Kagome cocked up an eyebrow at his way of addressing her, but took Shippou's hand nevertheless. She smiled at the determined look Shippou had as they walked down the street, both craning out their necks for 'Granny'.
After a good time of searching, Shippou felt his risen hopes fell once again. What if Granny just hated him after all and left him on purpose? He was only being a nuisance to Kagome and she'll eventually get bored and hate him too. Just when he thought if he blinked just once more, his tears would start falling again, he saw at last a vaguely familiar sight. The sight came in a form of a guy in a messy high school uniform and a red cap covering his white long hair walking aimlessly down the street.
He was sure he'd seen that guy some where… He tugged on Kagome's hand and pointed a finger at him.
"Is that… Granny…?" Kagome asked uncertainly. 'Granny' certainly what she'd expected.
"No, of course not! Granny is so much cooler than him!" Kagome just had to smile at the angry look Shippou gave her.
"Sorry, I didn't he'd be Granny either. Do you know him?"
"Not really… But I've seen him somewhere… I think he knows Granny," Shippou's nose cringed up in concentration.
"Well, then. Let's go ask him for help," Kagome steeled herself, hoping the punk looking guy wouldn't try and mess up with her. She was quite unarmed and tired plus the heat was giving her a bit of a headache. Still, that wasn't an excuse to abandon Shippou, there's no way she's giving up before Shippou was safe and sound. And so forward she marched.
"Erm… Excuse me, Shippou here is lost and we were just wandering if-," Kagome was cut short as the guy gave one startled look at him.
"Ki-kikyou?! What the hell are you doing here???!!" without any warning, he started shaking Kagome's shoulders roughly.
"Wha-," Stomach churning… Kagome was so startled and scared that for the first few seconds she let him shake her and then the pain started registering and she was forced back down to earth, "Stop that!" to her relief, he actually did.
"What was that for?" she spat out after her stomach calmed down.
"You're not Kikyou…" the guy looked at her as if he'd just seen her for the first time, which she doubted very much since he still had his hands on her shoulders, ready to shake her up if need comes to it.
"No, I am quite sure I wasn't given that name," Kagome was sure it was her witty comment that guided realization into his expression. Somehow she was struck by a vague memory of him as if she'd seen him before like a déjà vu but then again rude guys are spread all across the nation.
"Feh, I should've known. Damn, wench!" the guy let go of Kagome's shoulders as if she'd just stung him.
"Hey! Stop right there!!" if Kagome wasn't offended, then nothing could make her, imagine being shaking to death and accused of having a name other than your own and then being blamed for not having that name and then the guy who did that all just left her without so much of an apology. He even dared to make it seem as if it was her fault!
Kagome actually heard veins popping in her head as she watched the silver haired punk who dared walked on as if he hadn't heard her at all. Fuming, she ran after him, forgetting Shippou who was toddling after her, and barred his way.
"Get out of the way, wench!" he made as if to shove her out of the way but didn't. He had at least some manners after all.
Not until you apologize," Kagome answered stubbornly.
"Keh!" was the answer she got as Inuyasha tried to circle around her, but she barred his way once again, oblivious that they were starting to pick audience.
"What the hell do you want?" Inuyasha asked exasperated at her stubbornness and choosing to ignore his own.
"I just told you," Kagome glared back.
"It was a mistake, ok? Now get out of the way before I have to force you," he growled.
"No."
"You- you- bitch!!!"
"What did you just call me?? How dare you!"
And the fight went on and on and on. And on. It was obvious that Kagome had forgotten all about Shippou by now. And Shippou didn't like that at all. Whoever this white haired guy was, he was certainly bothering Kagome and taking away her attention from the poor abandoned kid. So Shippou did the only thing his five-year-old mind knew well enough to do in confusing circumstances. He started crying. Loudly.
And just as he hoped, it caught Kagome's attention. She started cooing and shushing him, apologizing not only for herself but also for the mean ugly person who was certainly and most undoubtly the source of his unhappiness. The crowd thought she kind of put too much emphasize on the mean ugly part and so did Inuyasha.
Luckyly, Shippou's little bout didn't only catch Kagome's attention, "Shippou!! There you are!!! I've been looking all over for you," an elderly lady came out of the crowd.
"Grandma…" Shippou ran over to the lady, "Kagome helped me, but that white haired guy is bothering her… Can you please help her?" he pleaded innocently.
"Why, Inuyasha, fancy seeing you here…" turned not to Kagome but to the white haired guy.
"Hmph. And who the hell are you, old hag?" Inuyasha snapped, needing a place to vent his anger.
"You-," Kagome was ready to give him a lifelong lecture on respecting elders but the 'Granny' held her arm out, indicating her to leave it be.
"Have you forgotten already? Young people these days… And they call us old. It has only been three years, Inuyasha… I'm Kaede from the Kakkera household," Kaede gave Inuyasha a scrutinizing look as if to challenge him to react.
"K-Kaede…?" Kagome thought that Inuyasha paled, but he recovered soon enough.
"So you're still alive, are you? Still sucking up for the master?" Inuyasha spat out.
"Inuyasha! How dare you! Have your mother ever thought you any manners?" Kagome couldn't believe what was happening. Never before had she encountered someone as rude and selfish as he was.
"Feh," Inuyasha answered.
"Never mind that. You are very kind hearted, young lady. And you helped Shi-," Kaede's sentence got cut off as she took a good look at Kagome for the first time.
"Huh? Is there something wrong?" Kagome asked concerned as Kaede was gawping at her and looked as if she was getting the biggest shock of her life. Shocks were never good for old people and Kaede even looked almost… scared…
"No, it's nothing… You just look like someone I know," Kaede glanced at Inuyasha sharply.
"Oh…" Kagome didn't know what to say to that. Who is this girl who supposedly looks so much like her anyway? What kind of person was she that could make Kaede scared and Inuyasha so worried?
"Keh! She doesn't look one bit like Kikyou!!" Inuyasha spat out, his earlier accusations forgotten already.
"Wha?? Excuse me, you were the one accusing me of having that name and now you say that I don't look like her? Are you blind or just plain dumb?" Kagome answered back.
"What I mean was that Kikyou was WAY prettier and she certainly didn't snap at people. She was WAY nicer," Inuyasha was bringing the crowd back again.
"You-,"
"Hang on there, you two. Let's all go over to my place where we can speak this over a cup of tea. I'm sure we can find a solution if we work together," Kaede pulled both Inuyasha and Kagome away from the crowd, little Shippou tottering behind.
They soon arrived at what Kagome assumed was Kaede's place. She was surprised to find that it was quite huge.
"Feh! All those sucking up weren't for nothing after all, eh?" Inuyasha snorted.
"Inuyasha!!" Kagome was ready to launch another patented 'respect your elders' speech but Kaede just brushed it away, not particularly agreeing or disagreeing.
"Now the keys," she said, taking a ring full of keys and started the task of trying them one by one.
"Some people just are too lazy to even mark their keys," Inuyasha stated simply and took his leave.
"You might like to stay, young man," Kaede said without even glancing at him.
"Oh, really?" Inuyasha asked sarcastically, "And why is that, may I ask?"
"Because," Kaede said simply, knowing that it'll hold Inuyasha's curiosity.
"Yes?" Inuyasha asked impatiently.
"Ahah!" Kaede found the right key at last and opened the door triumphantly, "come in, everyone."
With some hesitation as if he was scared that Kaede's house will swallow him and a final 'feh' Inuyasha followed Kagome inside.
Kagome herself wondered how she managed to get here, she was sure she didn't originally step out of her comfy house to have a social gathering with an elderly, a punk and a five year old who won't stop clinging to her. She slurped her tea absently before she caught Inuyasha glaring daggers at his cup of tea as if it was all the tea's (or the cup's) fault that he was stranded here instead of walking aimlessly down a random street, which Kagome was sure is what he does all the time.
"So…" Kaede broke the silence.
"Out with it, old hag. I know there's something going in that shriveled mind of yours!" Inuyasha barked with impatience.
"Kagome, what do you think about a part time job?" Kaede's unexpected question was all that kept Kagome from barking at Inuyasha.
"Eh? Part time job? Yeah, I suppose I do need one… Why?" Kagome gave Kaede a confused look.
"Would you like to baby sit Shippou? I can promise you good working hours and a worthwhile wage," Kaede offered.
"Eh?" Kagome asked dumbly, "That would be nice, I suppose, but why?"
"Shippou is a very shy little guy, he's only talked to me and some few others. It was all right until he had to go to school and there's just no one to take care of him at times since I have things to do. He had talked to you with ease, it can only be you, Kagome," Kaede either didn't hear or pretended not to hear the snort Inuyasha gave at her lame conclusion.
"In that case, I'll do it gladly except I'd have to ask mum first," Kagome smiled, happy that she could help those in need. Shippou is such a darling too.
"You dragged me all the way just to show off your dumb kid?" Inuyasha snorted.
"No, of course not. You came on your own freewill," Kaede looked amusedly at Kagome's defiant expression.
"Would you like to have dinner with us?" Kaede asked Kagome and the still spluttering Inuyasha.
"Dinner?" Kagome echoed dumbly. She suddenly felt like she wasn't supposed to be here at all.
"Yeah, Kagome, I helped choose the groceries!" Shippou piped in cheerfully from her lap.
"Groceries? Eek!! I really have to go now, I'm late!" Kagome slapped her forehead.
"Oh, well. Here's my number, ring me when you've decided," Kaede walked Kagome to the door.
"Thanks for everything," Kagome managed to call out between running off and mumbling something about capsicums and the sun.
"A very nice girl, don't you think, Inuyasha?" Kaede looked on fondly.
"Or NOT! Now she's gone, are you gonna tell me why you dragged me here and hired her?" Inuyasha scowled at Kaede's grandma look.
"She looks very much like Kikyou," Kaede went on without showing evidence that she heard him.
"Does not! What do YOU know about Kikyou anyway?" Inuyasha asked accusingly.
"You should probably asked that question to yourself! You were the one who hated her!" Kaede dropped her calm mask at his remark.
"Feh! Whatever… I just don't think I'd want to know what's going on in your head. Your kid isn't mute or anything. Don't you dare hurt her, old hag, like you did Kikyou or you'll regret it. As that girl said, I don't hold that much respect for twisted old hags such as yourself, so I won't hesitate," Inuyasha eyed Kaede suspiciously before walking out.
"She'll most likely come in weekends!" Kaede called out to him before smiling to herself, satisfied that everything had gone as she meant it to. Now all she had to do was wait…
A/N: I've just realized recently how I've never had Shippou in any of my fics… I figure he should be in it sometime… So here we have him. Kaede and Shippou are OOC, but I hope I kept Inuyasha and Kagome in character… eep… I'm all rusty… Drawing is funner than writing… plotting is fun though… . .
I really just think that I'm better at one-shots… *sigh* I wrote a one-shot before writing this story. I wanted to post it for the Chinese New Year, but didn't get to finish it, then I thought to myself, 'maybe I should post it on my bday'. I didn't get to do that in the end. Someone did post a fic for me on my bday though! Arigato, Pinboo!!!
Review Responses:
Hououza – *tears* You are the best reviewer ever! Thank you so much for your support!! I probably would've abandon this fic if not for you… It's a Kagome/Inuyasha chapter^^ Not much in it, but yes… Hope you like it!!!
DemonSlayerGirl – ooh… Thank you! I'm glad you didn't think it was too slow! I hope you like this chapter!!
SM together - …okay… but, thank you!
Ryoko876 – this chapter was even longer!!^^ I might rewrite it someday but while still continuing the original one. Thanks for your support!
Aamalie – thanks!! I suppose her fate has been decided. Thinking about fate makes my head ache so much… I think Kikyou should be happy…
Queenizay – oh, thank you so much!!! I was going to revise it… but maybe not soon…
Sevn – yo… thanks for reviewing!! I know it's still like a prologue… but I can't help it T-T Hopefully this chapter was better… It's longer^^ Miss you, Cil!
Sachie Jaganashi - …okay?
Hopefully, I'd be able to update sooner. Grade 11 is WAY harder than I thought… *failing physics and chemistry*. Maths C is fun though!! I've been very lazy… I'm trying to make a Winamp skin and trying to design our club website… No one else would do it and it is at times more intriguing than writing… Wish me luck, peoples! I shall do my best to update ASAP! *goes off to find food*