A/N I Looooooooove rain. Love love love it. (unless it's storming.) So I
called this story 'rain.' It's OAS
(Only a Song) and every chapter title involves rain in some way, shape, or
form. Except for the last one,
which is a surprise. Here's the hitch. I need songs with the lyric 'rain'
in them. Ex: Rain drops keep
fallin' on my head. Bring on the rain.. Etc. I have some, so if you gimme
one I already have, I'll tell
you in your ty. K? K! include them in your review. Please? Pretty please?
(This means YOU, Kaze-chan,
you've gotta know at least some.) Yeah. If I like'm, I'll use them, and
obviously, give the suggestor
credit. K? k! And if I don't use them in this fic, I'll probably use them
in another, so. ^_^.
By the way, I forgot to say in the prologue: this is the SEQUAL to Someday
We'll Know. If you haven't
read it, BAKA! YOU FAIL!. Actually, no, you just won't understand most of
this one. SO, you can either
backtrack to my author listings; give up and go find a less difficult fic
to read, OR, go to
http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=667634. Bai-Bai!!!
Disclaimer: Kagome is not mine. Inu-Yasha is not mine. Sango is not mine. Miroku is not mine. You get the idea.
Bring on the Rain is not mine. It belongs to Messina Jo Dee.
Siri and Aiko ARE mine. But I might put Aiko up for auction. I dunno. Hmmmm.
A/N2: On a side note. from here on in, this is classic format. Phrase listed below the title. Full song at end of chapter. K? K.
Rain
Chapter One
But tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain.
Kagome sighed in frustration, banging her head against her knees. "All right. Everyone has their bags." Nod. "Which are packed." Nod. "And in the car?" One last nod. "Miroku, you have your journal?" The monk coloured pink and nodded. "Siri, you've got your writing books? All fifteen? And your laptop? Sango, you've got your sketch pad and the newest shojo?" Both girls nodded. "Inu-Yasha, you've got your-"
"Yeah, I've got it!" He interrupted hurriedly, growling as the three girls giggled. "It's not that funny."
"Inu-Yasha, it's a doll." Miroku grinned, patting him on the back. The youkai growled.
"It is not! It's a..."
"Teddy bear?"
"My mom gave it to me before she died, ok? It's important to me!"
"What I want to know is, how'd he keep it hidden from us all school year?" Siri asked, pulling out a spiral and pencil.
"Youkai secret." Kagome intoned seriously, causing all four to crack up again. Inu-Yasha sank lower in his bucket seat. She hugged Sota goodbye and clambered up into the passenger seat. She buckled in with a grin and leaned into the middle row to give Inu-Yasha a brief hug. Sango snuggled against Miroku and sketched absently, and those not otherwise occupied pulled out books.
"Everyone ready?" Kagome's mother asked, turning the minivan on. ("It's a new car, Kagome. I categorically refuse to let you drive it, especially with that crew in back.") When everyone voiced some kind of affirmative, she turned the ignition and started them on their 3 hour journey to the college campus.
§
"Where are they?" Aiko grumbled, pressing her nose to the cool pane of glass in front of it. "They've got to be here somewhere... somewhere... YES!" she shrieked, hightailing it out of the dorm room and to the elevator. She punched the down button six or seven times, waiting for
the elevator to come. It didn't. "Screw it..." she muttered, shoving the door to the stairway open and barreling down all the first flight of stairs at top speed. Behind her, the elevator doors glided open.
§
"AIKO!" Siri saw her first and charged the girl, meeting her halfway to the van. Determined to be as annoying as possible, Aiko promptly scooped the shorter girl up, twirling her, and dipping her backwards before giving her a proper hug. Siri growled and jumped up to whack her friend on the back of the head. "No fair! You grew! I thought we were supposed to STOP GROWING at some point?!" Aiko looked smug.
"I had a growth spurt over the summer. Completely unexpected, but I grew three inches. I'm now 5'4"." Her 4'11" companion crossed her eyes at the girl and hissed like a cat. By the time she'd returned her face to normal, she realized Aiko was the victim of a pile on as the other four all tried to hug her at once. Three-Inu-Yasha had managed to restrain himself and keep some of his dignity and was standing back near Siri.
She giggled, watching Aiko squirm under the two over-rambunctious hugging girls. Followed by three twin squeals of outrage.
"Ten says Miroku just."
"No bet." Inu Yasha growled back. "If he so much as touched Kagome, I'll-"
"Hit him with your teddy bear?"
Aiko looked up, squealing. "Inu-Yasha has a teddy bear?"
Spotting the blooming grin on Miroku's face-and the blush on Inu-Yasha's- Kagome stepped in hurriedly. "I'm hungry. Siri, aren't you hungry?"
Siri contemplated. "Nope." The smaller girl chirped, grinning wickedly. "It's fuzzy, Aiko. And it's missing an ear, and it has tooth marks on it from when he turns into a Youkai! And you can see where he ripped it and tried to mend it. We didn't find out until he needed me to restuff and sew it up for him."
Aiko was positively glowing with joy, while Inu-Yasha had curled into himself and was whimpering helplessly. Kagome bit back her giggles and pulled him up. "C'mon, everyone, I really am hungry." Anxious to get the conversation off his teddy bear, Inu-Yasha nodded vigorously in agreement. The rest exchanged 'knowing' looks as they bounced off towards the cafeteria.
"How's Kagome been over the summer?" Aiko asked Siri in a hushed voice. Sango and Miroku were on Siri's left, listening inobtrusively.
"All right." Siri hissed back, glancing behind them to check if the two hanging back had heard. Kagome appeared completely unaware that they were discussing her. Inu-Yasha didn't appear to know. But Siri had no doubts whatsoever with his heightened sense of hearing, he could hear every word that passed their lips. "Quiet. Very, very quiet."
"Shyer then normal." Miroku put in. "I've seen other women in the same situation, though. She's deffinatly dealing with it better then I'd expected. Especially considering the condition she was in that night."
"Is it Inu-Yasha?" Aiko frowned.
"Shippo, actually." Sango smiled. "Remember that month of class she missed, when she went home?"
"I almost flunked Biology." Aiko responded dryly. "You had to tutor me. Hell, yes, I remember. Most hellish month of my life."
Sango chuckled. "Glad I could be of service. Anyway. While they had her drugged in the hospitol, she was fine. She actually ended up leaving because the guys around her were simply too much. Shippo stayed with her family that month. Apparently she let him touch her before she'd let anyone else. It was very weird. One weekend we were down there and she could barely be looked at by Inu-Yasha and Miroku, the next she practically flung herself at them."
"Shippo did all that?" Aiko looked impressed.
"She seems to have the most trouble with strangers about our age." Miroku added. "Male strangers, that is. Shippo was young enough she didn't see him as a threat."
Siri coughed slightly. "I also had a small talk with her." She admitted. "When you three were in the car and I ran back in to get my writing book."
Miroku yelped. "You did WHAT! Siri, you could have."
"Could have what?" Kagome called from behind them. Inu-Yasha had the slightly pained look of a dog who's just been found at the site of the mess the new puppy made. Sango almost wished she could see him in Youkai form, she was sure his ears would be plastered to his head. Undoubtably, Kagome had hit on the idea of making Inu-Yasha transcript the conversation ahead of them for her. "Well?" Kagome prompted as the other group stopped to let her and Inu-Yasha catch up. "What did Siri botch this time?"
The statement was seconded as Siri and Aiko tumbled to the ground with a third, longhaired brunette. "Ooooooow."
"Jesus!" The brunette hissed, pushing herself to her feet and running her hands through her waist-length tresses to free it of imaginary debris. "Good god, no wonder. 'S you, Sierra. Shoulda known. Haven't you ever heard of watching where you're going?"
Siri glared at her. "Haven't YOU ever heard of-"
"Siri, don't finish that thought." Aiko murmmered in her ear, hand clasped over her mouth. Siri waited for the girl to remove herself from hearing distance before chomping down, hard.
"Who was that?" Sango spat, staring after the girl with distaste while Aiko nursed her injured hand. "Kagome? KAGOME? Who was that?" Kagome snapped her mouth shut and shook her head, averting her eyes from the form vanishing in the other direction.
"That was-"
"A major bitch." Siri optioned, pulling back her hair into a poofy bun-like thing high on the back of her head. "A major bitch. One we will not begin discussing." Her shoulders set rigidly, Siri marched off towards the cafeteria without even waiting to see if the others were following her.
§
Dinner was tense. Everyone knew better then to poke at Siri when she was in a tissy-she exploded like a jostled bottle of carbonated soda. Of course, if they left her to brood and got into a conversation themselves, then Siri would pout for excluding her. The only two pairs of people who could safely converse were Sango and Miroku and Kagome and Inu-Yasha, mainly because Siri didn't really WANT to be a part of their private conversations-and in most cases doubted she could without wretching. Aiko was relieved when everyone finished up and they group-migrated back to their dorms. Siri, also, had gotten over herself and was loosening up a bit, at least managing civil discussion with Kagome and Aiko. (Sango was otherwise occupied).
Sending a disgusted glance at the two, Inu-Yasha coughed. "C'mon, Kagome, I can walk you back to your dorm."
Kagome's eyes flashed. "I can do it myself." She pointed out. "Sango, Aiko, and Siri-Aiko and Siri are with me." She corrected herself. Aiko and Siri, hearing their names, looked up from mocking Sango and Miroku. Inu-Yasha looked about to have dryheaves.
"Kagome."
"No!"
"I was going to say, don't make me go back to my dorm with those two."
Sango and Miroku broke apart long enough to give him a glare.
Kagome sighed, stepping foreward to hug him. "All right. I guess I can take pity on you." She teased, resting her head against his shoulder.
Inu-Yasha was clearly uncomfortable with the display of affection but hugged her anyway, automatically stroking her hair. "Feh."
"Aiko, we'll never escape. We'll be stuck somewhere between those two making out and those two cuddling for the rest of our lives."
"Well, at least they're not likely to eat us." Aiko offered hopefully.
"Don't bet on it." Inu-Yasha growled as Kagome dragged him towards the dorm. Snickering, the peanut gallery followed. Miroku and Sango didn't budge.
§
Kagome sighed, glancing out the window when she heard the bell chime. "You'd better get back before they check your dorm." she murmmered, brushing a strand of hair back from Inu-Yasha's forehead. The youkai sighed, lifting his head from her lap and scooting into a sitting position. "We're upperclassmen, shouldn't they be leaving us alone?" He pouted, raising an eyebrow. She chuckled.
"Not for at least a week until after classes start, love." She leaned foreword to kiss him lightly on the cheek. "Go, will you? I'll
see you in the morning. Send Sango back when you get to her dorm- assuming she's clothed, that is." Inu-Yasha snorted and nodded, hugging her tightly before jumping down lightly from Kagome's bed.
"Night Aiko, night Siri."
"Goodnight, Inu-Yasha!" they chorused in high, girly voices, giggling madly.
"Feh."
He trudged his way back to his own dorm, eyes flickering to every shadow in an attempt to locate any demons (or demon incarnates) lurking around campus. Surprisingly enough, he didn't find any. With a sigh, he pushed open the door to his dorm building (after swiping his pass key at the security desk in the lobby) and headed up to his room. He paused at the front door, almost afraid to knock. When he did, there was no answer. Hardly surprised, he pushed open the door, eyes averted from whatever might be there to see.
"Wha time is it?" a sleepy Sango asked, sitting and doing up the last few buttons on one of Miroku's oversized shirts. Inu-Yasha thanked every deity he could name that the comforter was still puddled around her waist.
"Almost curfew. You should head back to your dorm."
"Tha's nice." She muttered, slinking back into the blankets.
"SANGO!" he yelped when it appeared she had every intention of going back to sleep. "Put your clothing on and leave before we all get screwed here." He gave her a pitiful look. "Puh-leaaaase?"
"Dun wanna. Jus' spend the night here."
"It's too early in the semester. You'll get caught."
"Won'."
"She won'. Let 'er stay, Inu-Yasha." Miroku agreed. Inu-Yasha didn't want to think about how long he'd been awake. Sango cuddled down against his chest, giving Inu-Yasha a very pointed "see?" look. He wailed, flopping into his own bed. When Sango started making little yelps and whimpers (which he really didn't want to think to about,) he grabbed his headphones and slid them over his ears, silently thanking Kagome for introducing him to this modern day invention. All three started at the heavy pounding on the door. Sango sat bolt upright (Inu- Yasha scooted his head further under the pillows) and began swearing.
"Toldja so." Came from the next bed over.
"Sango!! Are you in there?" called a familiar voice. Sango and Miroku relaxed slightly.
"Yeah, Siri, I'm on my way out." She called back.
"Hurry your ass up. 'Ruka came to check and found you misisng, gave us 15 minutes to find you and get you back. And they haven't even preformed inspections in this dorm yet, I assume."
"Nah, not yet, I'm hurrying, shut up."
"Not this day or any other." Siri called cheerfully, tapping her foot and humming the Jeopardy song under her breath. Even though the refference was lost on the three in the room, some girls passing by in the hallway cracked up, at least. When Sango finally emerged (close enough to clothed to be decent) they had only two of their precious minutes left to make the run across campus back to their dorm. They arrived, panting, just in time to see Haruka emerge from the last room in the hall and start back towards their dorm. Yelping, they started from their end of the hallway and ran, tripping over each other in their haste to beat her to the dorm. Haruka raised an amused eyebrow at them, brushing back a long strand of loose blonde hair and taking a drag on her cigarette.
"Inside, you two. Now, and I'll forget I saw you."
Siri grinned and launched herself to hug the taller blonde around the waist, then pushed a protesting Sango into the room. "I don't really care what you forgot in that dorm, love, you can get it in the morning." Grumbling, Sango crawled into her bed and curled up in her blankets.
"Why's it so cold in here?" She muttered. Siri shrugged, fetching her own blanket. Kagome and Aiko were already wrapped up to their noses.
"I'll check with Haruka about it. Maybe our radiator's broken, it's not even that cold outside."
§
The next day dawned clear and chilly. Wishing to be early for their first day and worm their way into the teachers' good sides early, the girls were up earlier then normal and dressed in their regulation uniforms a good hour earlier then they needed to eat breakfast. Which turned out to be lucky, since it took the four of their combined efforts to wake up Inu-Yasha and Miroku.
"This was so much easier when we had Shippo to jump on their stomachs." Sango muttered. Kagome was shaking Inu-Yasha gently, trying to get him to wake up and getting swatted at for her trouble. Fed up, Sango shook her head. "Stand back you three." She warned. Kagome shook her head. "No, Sango don't." Sango shook her head, pulling out the Hiraikotsu and whacking her sleeping boyfriend on the head. He was awake in moments, gibbering incoherently.
25 minutes, an ice pack, four sets of clothing and a stolen teddybear later, both males of their party were reasonably awake and fully clothed, and the six of them made their way to breakfast, everyone except Siri and, surprisingly, Miroku grumbling about the hour.
"Well, it's only this one day." Siri pointed out brightly, checking her schedule. "Tomorrow, we don't have class at all, Wednesday, not until 10, Thursday at noon and again at two, and Friday at 10 and two."
Miroku blinked, studying his own schedule. "What are you talking about? Tomorrow we've got a 10 am class and then one at 3, then noon classes Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with more 8 ams on Wednesday and Friday. Confused, Siri grabbed his schedule, scanning it. "Kagome, can I see yours?"
They plopped down at a table, having made their way through the cafeteria line. Each schedule was handed to Siri in turn as she compared them. "I don't believe this. after having almost every class together last year, we have. like, none, this year."
Aiko grabbed the schedules.
"Lemme see those. Who the hell signed all of us up for 8 AM calc? Ok. Kagome, you have extra math classes with your major." Kagome muttered something that sounded like, 'oh, joy' around a mouthful of rice. "Sango, you and I are sharing some late night art courses. Miroku. I dunno how the hell you're going to manage all of this. Inu- Yasha, you have some law courses none of the rest of us our in, and Siri's managed to jam every last writing course offered onto the schedule, of which the rest of us are sharing one, for credit. Must be the majors, glad I don't have one." Aiko smirked, passing back schedules.
"Yeah, but class of the useless this year is scheduled at 8 AM and you have it twice a week since you're a junior."
Wailing, Aiko's head connected with the table.
"Honestly, Aiko." Kagome was commenting as they lounged by the fountain after lunch. "Just declare yourself Independent to get out of the class. Graduate as an international woman of mystery." Aiko gave her a dry look as Siri, Miroku, and Inu-Yasha cracked up. Sango came trotting up to join them.
"Look what I found!" She cheered, handing the cluster a piece of paper.
"Journey to America!
Join your classmates on a tour of the United States, from Sea to Shining Sea.
Visit New York! Orlando! Chicago! Minneapolis! All the way across the country to San Francisco and Los Angeles!"
Siri shrieked. "We should go!" Kagome, however, was focused on something else.
"That's. that's. a LOT of money!"
Siri shrugged. "I can handle it."
Sango thought. "I have enough left over from royalties for my manga."
"I should have enough from tarot readings and exorcisms over the summer." Miroku added at the same time as Aiko said, "Mom and dad have been doting on me since last fall and don't forget, Kagome, they're still paying you compensation payments."
Kagome glanced at Inu-Yasha. "What about you?"
The youkai shook his head. "I don't think I have enough." He admitted, reading the paper. "Asking people, 'Would you like fries with that?' doesn't pay as hot as preforming exorcisms."
She shrugged. "I think my family has enough. and I can stretch my compensation to cover..."
"Absolutely not." He stated firmly.
She raised an eyebrow, taking one of his hands and dragging him away from the group. "Listen to me. I. Want. To. Go. To. America. And I am not leaving you here for three months. Now, which is better? Borrowing some leftover money from the rest of us and damaging your pride, or the eternal pain and torment I -promise- to put you through if you do not come along on this trip?"
He opened his mouth and began, "Borrowing-"
"Sit." She stated calmly.
"Would be ok." He croaked from the ground. Whooping, she leaned down and kissed him thouroughly before leaping over his prone body and shouting. "Hey guys! We're going to America!!"
Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away
somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anway
So bring on the rain
Its almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
And I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing -
but I'm not dead (no)
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
No I'm not gonna let it get me down,
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain
Tomorrows another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
(Bring on, Bring on the rain)
No I'm not gonna let it get me down
No I'm not gonna cry
So bring on the rain....
A/N: GOMEN THIS IS SO LATE! GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!!!!! I LOVE YOU! I'LL BE BETTER, I PROMISE
Emmi-chan- Teehee, thanks, though at the rate I put out chapters, not much to look foreward to.
Jezunya- I know, I know, you said quickly. I'm soooooooooooo sorry
Katie- *blush* thank you. I try, at least
KurroNeko-Yasha-Thankees, babe. Long enough for ya? ^_~.
Lli- Teehee, thank you.
Marts- Indeed, you are the Marty I so charmingly reffer to. I wuv you! And call me, I wanna discuss a co- authored Harry Potter thingeemabobber. *offers bribes of Remmie/Siri slash*
Naoko Cat Girl- Teehee, it's allright. I'm hurrying. I'll try to be quicker in the future, gomen for the wait.
UsagiPegasus- Wheeeee, you're back!!! Hiii! *glomps and giggles* thankee
Disclaimer: Kagome is not mine. Inu-Yasha is not mine. Sango is not mine. Miroku is not mine. You get the idea.
Bring on the Rain is not mine. It belongs to Messina Jo Dee.
Siri and Aiko ARE mine. But I might put Aiko up for auction. I dunno. Hmmmm.
A/N2: On a side note. from here on in, this is classic format. Phrase listed below the title. Full song at end of chapter. K? K.
Rain
Chapter One
But tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain.
Kagome sighed in frustration, banging her head against her knees. "All right. Everyone has their bags." Nod. "Which are packed." Nod. "And in the car?" One last nod. "Miroku, you have your journal?" The monk coloured pink and nodded. "Siri, you've got your writing books? All fifteen? And your laptop? Sango, you've got your sketch pad and the newest shojo?" Both girls nodded. "Inu-Yasha, you've got your-"
"Yeah, I've got it!" He interrupted hurriedly, growling as the three girls giggled. "It's not that funny."
"Inu-Yasha, it's a doll." Miroku grinned, patting him on the back. The youkai growled.
"It is not! It's a..."
"Teddy bear?"
"My mom gave it to me before she died, ok? It's important to me!"
"What I want to know is, how'd he keep it hidden from us all school year?" Siri asked, pulling out a spiral and pencil.
"Youkai secret." Kagome intoned seriously, causing all four to crack up again. Inu-Yasha sank lower in his bucket seat. She hugged Sota goodbye and clambered up into the passenger seat. She buckled in with a grin and leaned into the middle row to give Inu-Yasha a brief hug. Sango snuggled against Miroku and sketched absently, and those not otherwise occupied pulled out books.
"Everyone ready?" Kagome's mother asked, turning the minivan on. ("It's a new car, Kagome. I categorically refuse to let you drive it, especially with that crew in back.") When everyone voiced some kind of affirmative, she turned the ignition and started them on their 3 hour journey to the college campus.
§
"Where are they?" Aiko grumbled, pressing her nose to the cool pane of glass in front of it. "They've got to be here somewhere... somewhere... YES!" she shrieked, hightailing it out of the dorm room and to the elevator. She punched the down button six or seven times, waiting for
the elevator to come. It didn't. "Screw it..." she muttered, shoving the door to the stairway open and barreling down all the first flight of stairs at top speed. Behind her, the elevator doors glided open.
§
"AIKO!" Siri saw her first and charged the girl, meeting her halfway to the van. Determined to be as annoying as possible, Aiko promptly scooped the shorter girl up, twirling her, and dipping her backwards before giving her a proper hug. Siri growled and jumped up to whack her friend on the back of the head. "No fair! You grew! I thought we were supposed to STOP GROWING at some point?!" Aiko looked smug.
"I had a growth spurt over the summer. Completely unexpected, but I grew three inches. I'm now 5'4"." Her 4'11" companion crossed her eyes at the girl and hissed like a cat. By the time she'd returned her face to normal, she realized Aiko was the victim of a pile on as the other four all tried to hug her at once. Three-Inu-Yasha had managed to restrain himself and keep some of his dignity and was standing back near Siri.
She giggled, watching Aiko squirm under the two over-rambunctious hugging girls. Followed by three twin squeals of outrage.
"Ten says Miroku just."
"No bet." Inu Yasha growled back. "If he so much as touched Kagome, I'll-"
"Hit him with your teddy bear?"
Aiko looked up, squealing. "Inu-Yasha has a teddy bear?"
Spotting the blooming grin on Miroku's face-and the blush on Inu-Yasha's- Kagome stepped in hurriedly. "I'm hungry. Siri, aren't you hungry?"
Siri contemplated. "Nope." The smaller girl chirped, grinning wickedly. "It's fuzzy, Aiko. And it's missing an ear, and it has tooth marks on it from when he turns into a Youkai! And you can see where he ripped it and tried to mend it. We didn't find out until he needed me to restuff and sew it up for him."
Aiko was positively glowing with joy, while Inu-Yasha had curled into himself and was whimpering helplessly. Kagome bit back her giggles and pulled him up. "C'mon, everyone, I really am hungry." Anxious to get the conversation off his teddy bear, Inu-Yasha nodded vigorously in agreement. The rest exchanged 'knowing' looks as they bounced off towards the cafeteria.
"How's Kagome been over the summer?" Aiko asked Siri in a hushed voice. Sango and Miroku were on Siri's left, listening inobtrusively.
"All right." Siri hissed back, glancing behind them to check if the two hanging back had heard. Kagome appeared completely unaware that they were discussing her. Inu-Yasha didn't appear to know. But Siri had no doubts whatsoever with his heightened sense of hearing, he could hear every word that passed their lips. "Quiet. Very, very quiet."
"Shyer then normal." Miroku put in. "I've seen other women in the same situation, though. She's deffinatly dealing with it better then I'd expected. Especially considering the condition she was in that night."
"Is it Inu-Yasha?" Aiko frowned.
"Shippo, actually." Sango smiled. "Remember that month of class she missed, when she went home?"
"I almost flunked Biology." Aiko responded dryly. "You had to tutor me. Hell, yes, I remember. Most hellish month of my life."
Sango chuckled. "Glad I could be of service. Anyway. While they had her drugged in the hospitol, she was fine. She actually ended up leaving because the guys around her were simply too much. Shippo stayed with her family that month. Apparently she let him touch her before she'd let anyone else. It was very weird. One weekend we were down there and she could barely be looked at by Inu-Yasha and Miroku, the next she practically flung herself at them."
"Shippo did all that?" Aiko looked impressed.
"She seems to have the most trouble with strangers about our age." Miroku added. "Male strangers, that is. Shippo was young enough she didn't see him as a threat."
Siri coughed slightly. "I also had a small talk with her." She admitted. "When you three were in the car and I ran back in to get my writing book."
Miroku yelped. "You did WHAT! Siri, you could have."
"Could have what?" Kagome called from behind them. Inu-Yasha had the slightly pained look of a dog who's just been found at the site of the mess the new puppy made. Sango almost wished she could see him in Youkai form, she was sure his ears would be plastered to his head. Undoubtably, Kagome had hit on the idea of making Inu-Yasha transcript the conversation ahead of them for her. "Well?" Kagome prompted as the other group stopped to let her and Inu-Yasha catch up. "What did Siri botch this time?"
The statement was seconded as Siri and Aiko tumbled to the ground with a third, longhaired brunette. "Ooooooow."
"Jesus!" The brunette hissed, pushing herself to her feet and running her hands through her waist-length tresses to free it of imaginary debris. "Good god, no wonder. 'S you, Sierra. Shoulda known. Haven't you ever heard of watching where you're going?"
Siri glared at her. "Haven't YOU ever heard of-"
"Siri, don't finish that thought." Aiko murmmered in her ear, hand clasped over her mouth. Siri waited for the girl to remove herself from hearing distance before chomping down, hard.
"Who was that?" Sango spat, staring after the girl with distaste while Aiko nursed her injured hand. "Kagome? KAGOME? Who was that?" Kagome snapped her mouth shut and shook her head, averting her eyes from the form vanishing in the other direction.
"That was-"
"A major bitch." Siri optioned, pulling back her hair into a poofy bun-like thing high on the back of her head. "A major bitch. One we will not begin discussing." Her shoulders set rigidly, Siri marched off towards the cafeteria without even waiting to see if the others were following her.
§
Dinner was tense. Everyone knew better then to poke at Siri when she was in a tissy-she exploded like a jostled bottle of carbonated soda. Of course, if they left her to brood and got into a conversation themselves, then Siri would pout for excluding her. The only two pairs of people who could safely converse were Sango and Miroku and Kagome and Inu-Yasha, mainly because Siri didn't really WANT to be a part of their private conversations-and in most cases doubted she could without wretching. Aiko was relieved when everyone finished up and they group-migrated back to their dorms. Siri, also, had gotten over herself and was loosening up a bit, at least managing civil discussion with Kagome and Aiko. (Sango was otherwise occupied).
Sending a disgusted glance at the two, Inu-Yasha coughed. "C'mon, Kagome, I can walk you back to your dorm."
Kagome's eyes flashed. "I can do it myself." She pointed out. "Sango, Aiko, and Siri-Aiko and Siri are with me." She corrected herself. Aiko and Siri, hearing their names, looked up from mocking Sango and Miroku. Inu-Yasha looked about to have dryheaves.
"Kagome."
"No!"
"I was going to say, don't make me go back to my dorm with those two."
Sango and Miroku broke apart long enough to give him a glare.
Kagome sighed, stepping foreward to hug him. "All right. I guess I can take pity on you." She teased, resting her head against his shoulder.
Inu-Yasha was clearly uncomfortable with the display of affection but hugged her anyway, automatically stroking her hair. "Feh."
"Aiko, we'll never escape. We'll be stuck somewhere between those two making out and those two cuddling for the rest of our lives."
"Well, at least they're not likely to eat us." Aiko offered hopefully.
"Don't bet on it." Inu-Yasha growled as Kagome dragged him towards the dorm. Snickering, the peanut gallery followed. Miroku and Sango didn't budge.
§
Kagome sighed, glancing out the window when she heard the bell chime. "You'd better get back before they check your dorm." she murmmered, brushing a strand of hair back from Inu-Yasha's forehead. The youkai sighed, lifting his head from her lap and scooting into a sitting position. "We're upperclassmen, shouldn't they be leaving us alone?" He pouted, raising an eyebrow. She chuckled.
"Not for at least a week until after classes start, love." She leaned foreword to kiss him lightly on the cheek. "Go, will you? I'll
see you in the morning. Send Sango back when you get to her dorm- assuming she's clothed, that is." Inu-Yasha snorted and nodded, hugging her tightly before jumping down lightly from Kagome's bed.
"Night Aiko, night Siri."
"Goodnight, Inu-Yasha!" they chorused in high, girly voices, giggling madly.
"Feh."
He trudged his way back to his own dorm, eyes flickering to every shadow in an attempt to locate any demons (or demon incarnates) lurking around campus. Surprisingly enough, he didn't find any. With a sigh, he pushed open the door to his dorm building (after swiping his pass key at the security desk in the lobby) and headed up to his room. He paused at the front door, almost afraid to knock. When he did, there was no answer. Hardly surprised, he pushed open the door, eyes averted from whatever might be there to see.
"Wha time is it?" a sleepy Sango asked, sitting and doing up the last few buttons on one of Miroku's oversized shirts. Inu-Yasha thanked every deity he could name that the comforter was still puddled around her waist.
"Almost curfew. You should head back to your dorm."
"Tha's nice." She muttered, slinking back into the blankets.
"SANGO!" he yelped when it appeared she had every intention of going back to sleep. "Put your clothing on and leave before we all get screwed here." He gave her a pitiful look. "Puh-leaaaase?"
"Dun wanna. Jus' spend the night here."
"It's too early in the semester. You'll get caught."
"Won'."
"She won'. Let 'er stay, Inu-Yasha." Miroku agreed. Inu-Yasha didn't want to think about how long he'd been awake. Sango cuddled down against his chest, giving Inu-Yasha a very pointed "see?" look. He wailed, flopping into his own bed. When Sango started making little yelps and whimpers (which he really didn't want to think to about,) he grabbed his headphones and slid them over his ears, silently thanking Kagome for introducing him to this modern day invention. All three started at the heavy pounding on the door. Sango sat bolt upright (Inu- Yasha scooted his head further under the pillows) and began swearing.
"Toldja so." Came from the next bed over.
"Sango!! Are you in there?" called a familiar voice. Sango and Miroku relaxed slightly.
"Yeah, Siri, I'm on my way out." She called back.
"Hurry your ass up. 'Ruka came to check and found you misisng, gave us 15 minutes to find you and get you back. And they haven't even preformed inspections in this dorm yet, I assume."
"Nah, not yet, I'm hurrying, shut up."
"Not this day or any other." Siri called cheerfully, tapping her foot and humming the Jeopardy song under her breath. Even though the refference was lost on the three in the room, some girls passing by in the hallway cracked up, at least. When Sango finally emerged (close enough to clothed to be decent) they had only two of their precious minutes left to make the run across campus back to their dorm. They arrived, panting, just in time to see Haruka emerge from the last room in the hall and start back towards their dorm. Yelping, they started from their end of the hallway and ran, tripping over each other in their haste to beat her to the dorm. Haruka raised an amused eyebrow at them, brushing back a long strand of loose blonde hair and taking a drag on her cigarette.
"Inside, you two. Now, and I'll forget I saw you."
Siri grinned and launched herself to hug the taller blonde around the waist, then pushed a protesting Sango into the room. "I don't really care what you forgot in that dorm, love, you can get it in the morning." Grumbling, Sango crawled into her bed and curled up in her blankets.
"Why's it so cold in here?" She muttered. Siri shrugged, fetching her own blanket. Kagome and Aiko were already wrapped up to their noses.
"I'll check with Haruka about it. Maybe our radiator's broken, it's not even that cold outside."
§
The next day dawned clear and chilly. Wishing to be early for their first day and worm their way into the teachers' good sides early, the girls were up earlier then normal and dressed in their regulation uniforms a good hour earlier then they needed to eat breakfast. Which turned out to be lucky, since it took the four of their combined efforts to wake up Inu-Yasha and Miroku.
"This was so much easier when we had Shippo to jump on their stomachs." Sango muttered. Kagome was shaking Inu-Yasha gently, trying to get him to wake up and getting swatted at for her trouble. Fed up, Sango shook her head. "Stand back you three." She warned. Kagome shook her head. "No, Sango don't." Sango shook her head, pulling out the Hiraikotsu and whacking her sleeping boyfriend on the head. He was awake in moments, gibbering incoherently.
25 minutes, an ice pack, four sets of clothing and a stolen teddybear later, both males of their party were reasonably awake and fully clothed, and the six of them made their way to breakfast, everyone except Siri and, surprisingly, Miroku grumbling about the hour.
"Well, it's only this one day." Siri pointed out brightly, checking her schedule. "Tomorrow, we don't have class at all, Wednesday, not until 10, Thursday at noon and again at two, and Friday at 10 and two."
Miroku blinked, studying his own schedule. "What are you talking about? Tomorrow we've got a 10 am class and then one at 3, then noon classes Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with more 8 ams on Wednesday and Friday. Confused, Siri grabbed his schedule, scanning it. "Kagome, can I see yours?"
They plopped down at a table, having made their way through the cafeteria line. Each schedule was handed to Siri in turn as she compared them. "I don't believe this. after having almost every class together last year, we have. like, none, this year."
Aiko grabbed the schedules.
"Lemme see those. Who the hell signed all of us up for 8 AM calc? Ok. Kagome, you have extra math classes with your major." Kagome muttered something that sounded like, 'oh, joy' around a mouthful of rice. "Sango, you and I are sharing some late night art courses. Miroku. I dunno how the hell you're going to manage all of this. Inu- Yasha, you have some law courses none of the rest of us our in, and Siri's managed to jam every last writing course offered onto the schedule, of which the rest of us are sharing one, for credit. Must be the majors, glad I don't have one." Aiko smirked, passing back schedules.
"Yeah, but class of the useless this year is scheduled at 8 AM and you have it twice a week since you're a junior."
Wailing, Aiko's head connected with the table.
"Honestly, Aiko." Kagome was commenting as they lounged by the fountain after lunch. "Just declare yourself Independent to get out of the class. Graduate as an international woman of mystery." Aiko gave her a dry look as Siri, Miroku, and Inu-Yasha cracked up. Sango came trotting up to join them.
"Look what I found!" She cheered, handing the cluster a piece of paper.
"Journey to America!
Join your classmates on a tour of the United States, from Sea to Shining Sea.
Visit New York! Orlando! Chicago! Minneapolis! All the way across the country to San Francisco and Los Angeles!"
Siri shrieked. "We should go!" Kagome, however, was focused on something else.
"That's. that's. a LOT of money!"
Siri shrugged. "I can handle it."
Sango thought. "I have enough left over from royalties for my manga."
"I should have enough from tarot readings and exorcisms over the summer." Miroku added at the same time as Aiko said, "Mom and dad have been doting on me since last fall and don't forget, Kagome, they're still paying you compensation payments."
Kagome glanced at Inu-Yasha. "What about you?"
The youkai shook his head. "I don't think I have enough." He admitted, reading the paper. "Asking people, 'Would you like fries with that?' doesn't pay as hot as preforming exorcisms."
She shrugged. "I think my family has enough. and I can stretch my compensation to cover..."
"Absolutely not." He stated firmly.
She raised an eyebrow, taking one of his hands and dragging him away from the group. "Listen to me. I. Want. To. Go. To. America. And I am not leaving you here for three months. Now, which is better? Borrowing some leftover money from the rest of us and damaging your pride, or the eternal pain and torment I -promise- to put you through if you do not come along on this trip?"
He opened his mouth and began, "Borrowing-"
"Sit." She stated calmly.
"Would be ok." He croaked from the ground. Whooping, she leaned down and kissed him thouroughly before leaping over his prone body and shouting. "Hey guys! We're going to America!!"
Another day has almost come and gone
Can't imagine what else could go wrong
Sometimes I'd like to hide away
somewhere and lock the door
A single battle lost but not the war
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anway
So bring on the rain
Its almost like the hard times circle 'round
A couple drops and they all start coming down
Yeah, I might feel defeated,
And I might hang my head
I might be barely breathing -
but I'm not dead (no)
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
No I'm not gonna let it get me down,
I'm not gonna cry
And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight
Cause tomorrow's another day
And I am not afraid
So bring on the rain
Tomorrows another day
And I'm thirsty anyway
So bring on the rain
(Bring on, Bring on the rain)
No I'm not gonna let it get me down
No I'm not gonna cry
So bring on the rain....
A/N: GOMEN THIS IS SO LATE! GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN!!!!! I LOVE YOU! I'LL BE BETTER, I PROMISE
Emmi-chan- Teehee, thanks, though at the rate I put out chapters, not much to look foreward to.
Jezunya- I know, I know, you said quickly. I'm soooooooooooo sorry
Katie- *blush* thank you. I try, at least
KurroNeko-Yasha-Thankees, babe. Long enough for ya? ^_~.
Lli- Teehee, thank you.
Marts- Indeed, you are the Marty I so charmingly reffer to. I wuv you! And call me, I wanna discuss a co- authored Harry Potter thingeemabobber. *offers bribes of Remmie/Siri slash*
Naoko Cat Girl- Teehee, it's allright. I'm hurrying. I'll try to be quicker in the future, gomen for the wait.
UsagiPegasus- Wheeeee, you're back!!! Hiii! *glomps and giggles* thankee