Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, but if I did, I'd make him wear a French Maid's outfit and serve me lemonade as I watched football on TV.
A/N: Like before, I'm going to do my reviewer messages up here instead of at the end of the chapter. So here we go!
Setsuna-3000: Hehe, you were up late reading my work, since I didn't post it until around midnight, lol. Thanks for being such a devoted reader!
Chitiko: Sorry for the short chapters, I just write what I feel necessary for the plot. The last two have been longer, and now that I'm getting to the juicer parts of the story, things will happen faster. Thanks for reading!
Leomae: Here you are more fluff/sexual tension for ya! Um…I don't think I'll have Inuyasha jump her, it'll probably be the other way around when (actually if) I decide to write a 'consummation' chapter. What do you think? Oh, and yes, he is only a sexy freak with weird hair, lol. I thought it would be less confusing if I just kept everyone human in this fic. Thanks for reading.
Josie: More encounters for you! Yes, I get a lot of my 'guy thinking' from my brothers. (I have two, a twin and an older brother. They give me a lot of incite.) Ah, you inquire of Hojo. Well, the entire Hojo story will be explained in Chapter 6, so you won't have to wait much longer. Thanks for the review!
KireiHanyou Ko: Thanks! You've very sweet for saying so. Kagome's ex-husband is actually Hojo, more of which to be heard about in the next chapter. Kouga is in this fic, but he won't be here for a little while yet. Thanks for reviewing!
Hyperchica11: Thanks for liking my work, and thanks a lot for the review!
LilNezumi LilInu: Nope, not an error, it's true. Once upon a time, she was married to Hojo! Why isn't she still married, you ask? Read chapter 6 for all the juicy detail! Muhaha! Thanks for the review.
Silentslayer: Sorry for keeping you in suspense this much, lol. I'm trying to get the chapters out at least every three days. Thanks for reading and reviewing, you're a great audience.
Kali the Goth Goddess: I am typing as we speak, fear not. Thanks so much for reading. I'm really happy so many people like this story! Thanks for the review too!
Alright now, on with the story!
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 5
"Today's the day?" he asked, looking down at her.
"Today's the day," she agreed, looking up with a smile, wishing that her hands were free to wipe the sweat that was perspiring along her skin. But her hands were busy elsewhere. Kagome was laying flat on her back, attempting to keep her body relaxed, but the tension was building and she couldn't help but shake a little from the strain. Her muscles screamed for release, one that she would not give up for another few agonizing seconds.
"Come on, I know you can do better then this!" Inuyasha baited her, panting a little himself. He braced himself firmly on either side of her body so that he was looking down into her face, taunting her, but truly being more awed then annoyed. "Just a little longer then you can let go," he pleaded with a teasing smirk, the kind that always made Kagome strive harder to beat it back in his face.
"I hate you," she said through gritted teeth, trying hard not to arch her back and release some of the agony building inside her. She wouldn't give him that pleasure.
"No you don't," he said in a sultry voice.
"Yes, yes I do," she said again, biting into her lip from the effort. She wanted to cry, but she was stronger than that. She'd hold on until he told her to let go. That was how it went. And she would never admit a weakness to such a man as Inuyasha Dai.
"Okay, times up!" Inuyasha said triumphantly, taking hold of the barbell she had been using to bench press and easing it down on to the rack. (A/N: 0_o what did you think they were doing?) Kagome sat up, her arms shaking slightly from the effort, but a blissful smile was on her face. She beat her record today. Now able, she arched her back and stood up when she heard the satisfying crack. "You're disgusting," Inuyasha laughed, throwing her a towel and shaking his head.
"Me?" Kagome asked with wide, unbelieving eyes. "Excuse me, but aren't you the man who said that Ramen is the breakfast of champions?"
"Food of the Gods," Inuyasha maintained, stretching out himself. "So, you're hear back about that job interview from last week?"
"Yeah," Kagome confirmed. "Sango is a god-sent to have set that up for me."
"And?" he prompted.
"And, you are looking at the new assistant Art History teacher at Denverside community college," she said with a shy smile. "Not very prestige, but I don't have to start work until September and it's money."
"Plus, you don't have to smell like fried food at the end of the day," Inuyasha added cheerful.
"I don't get it man, if you hate the job so much, quit!"
"I still need the income," he reminded her.
"So find something else that doesn't involve the hat and the grease. You've got other skills, and a basic knowledge of things." Inuyasha shrugged, but they had been through this line of dialogue before. In the past six weeks, he and Kagome had become close friends, while managing to stay platonic. Sure, there were those tense moments when he thought he was going to snap, but they always managed to find a way out of them with their clothes still on and their blood pressure under control. In many ways, they were both grateful that they hadn't done anything that they would regret later on. For now, it was nice to simply remain in one another's company, to swap insults, and to eat snack food at a designated apartment on Friday and Saturday nights, so as not to feel like the only dateless people in all the city. Kagome called it the buddy-system for the dating impaired.
It was Friday morning, bordering on afternoon, and it looked to be a beautiful day. The perfect kind of day for Kagome to spend with her godchildren. Yes, it was the first day of June. Yes, Miroku and Sango were getting their anniversary present this very night. Yes, tomorrow morning Kagome would be whisking away Rin and Shippou to spend one fun-filled week in Che Higurashi, the eight-year-old's choice vacation spot.
Kagome had to go home and shower to prepare for the party. Then she's have to get in her car for that wondrous four-hour drive to Grand Lake, where the party was being held. It had been a clever plot indeed, set up by the scheming Hiko and Toutousai. They had been able to convince Miroku and Sango to take two week's vacation off and to come spend it with them, never realizing that they were to be sent on a vacation of their own. Kagome was giddy with excitement as she tossed her bag into the back of Inuyasha's 1995 Mazda M3.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" she asked him for the third time that day. Kagome felt a weird urge to show him off to her family, like saying 'this is the reason I'm not drowning in Sam Adams'.
"Yeah, I've gotta work tonight. I'll see you Monday, swear it," he assured her. Inuyasha would have gone, if he didn't have to work at the bar. If it had been Myouga asking him for a night's wages, he would have told the old coot to fuck off, but the bar was his main job. And he didn't feel like screwing that up any more then he should. He actually wanted to go and hang out with Kagome's family scene. She had introduced in to Sango the week after they started training together, and the pretty business woman was certainly one to be careful around, even if she wasn't a fighter. Miroku, Inuyasha had already met previously to his meeting of Kagome. Inuyasha was no stranger to the hospital, and Miroku was usually the nice one to hang around with in the cafeteria.
"Okay, but it's your loss, my friend," she said with a grin before getting out and heading back to her apartment. She paused long enough to wave as he left, then went inside to get ready.
By one thirty, Kagome was on a road, rocking out to one radio station or another. She had an overnight bag in the trunk, knowing that she wouldn't be returning until the next day. The roads were clear, and the driving was smooth. She made it to Grand Lake in three hours. It was a trip of nostalgia, like it was every time she came home. Driving around in that small town, heading up the streets she used to walk home on as a child, and then parking in the driveway of that old house surrounded by lilac bushes, Sonya's favorite flower, and a porch with a large wicker swing on the front. Cow was alseep on the steps, just like always. Kagome smiled at the utter predictability of the situation.
"Hey Cow," she crooned, scratching his head as she walked up the steps to the screen door. "Hello!" she called inside. "Anyone home?"
"Kagome!" came the familiar voice. She turned around to see Toutousai descending the staircase with a happy grin that made him look ten years younger. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Hi Dad," she said, hugging him hard and inhaling that scent of old leather and metal polish. All she needed was the warm embrace of her father and that familiar smell and she was reduced to tears. Toutousai held her tightly as she sobbed, trying to help ease the pain in her spirit out of her. "I'm sorry," she hiccupped when she had stopped.
"No reason to apologize," he reassured her. "What are fathers for?"
"Money?" Kagome asked with a half-smile, blue eyes shinning with unshed tears. Her father chuckled.
"Come then, we should head over to Hiko's before Sango and that son of a...monk....gets here." Toutousai always tried to curb his language around his daughter. Kagome only smiled. Miroku had never won much favor with the folks of Grand Lake, but then again, hardly anyone did. All that mattered was that Sango loved him and that he wasn't a murderer, drug addict, or a republican. Perversion may not be normal--and could lead to several sexual harassment lawsuits--but it was better then a republican as far as Toutousai and Hiko were concerned.
Kagome followed her father three houses down the street until they reached their destination. When Kagome rang the doorbell, they were greeted not by Hiko, but by Kohaku. "Kohaku!" Kagome exclaimed, hugging the boy excitedly. "What are you doing home?"
Kohaku, a young man with short black hair and large brown eyes, blushed fiercely at Kagome before stuttering out a response. "My semester ended early and I'm home for the summer."
"That's great!" Kagome said, hugging him again. It was a well-known fact that Kohaku had always had a serious crush on Kagome, but now he was just a little awed of her rather than when he used to hero-worship her. Kagome had always been very aloof to this fact, to the day she didn't realize his little-boy crush. Perhaps it was better that way.
"Is that Kagome and Toutousai I hear at my door?" asked a voice from the living room. It was none-other-than Hiko himself, the tall man with a mane of neat black hair and deep eyes. He smiled as Kagome scurried over and hugged him. Hiko had always been like a second father to her, and Toutousai was to Sango and Kohaku. Their families had always been close.
"Hi Hiko, how are you?"
"I'm fine," he replied. "I heard about what happened, my dear, and I'm sorry for it." He frowned and hugged her around the shoulders.
"Thanks," Kagome smiled, then tactfully changed subjects. "So, are we almost all set up?"
"Almost," Kohaku answered, half-way done with blowing up a large red balloon. "Food and cake are already in the kitchen. We just have to put up a few more decorations and wait for the guests-of-honor."
Kagome nodded, rubbing her hands together. "Very good, very good!" That's when she took charge of the situation. "Hiko, Dad, you finish in the living room, 'Haku you blow those balloons and you blow hard young man! I'll set up the food. Everyone get it?" There was a pause long enough for the men to nod. "Good!'
About an hour later, the minivan pulled into the driveway, and the Houshi family came up the porch. Kagome answered the door with a charming smile and a bow. "Kagome?" Sango asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping with the party," Kagome said with a grin, hugging Rin and Shippou and then setting them loose on 'Uncle Kohaku' with the fury that only small children can inflict.
"Party?" Miroku asked with a raised eyebrow. And what a party it was! Food, cake, balloons, and the whole nine yards. Toutousai and Hiko did a marvelous job with the décor, and the food was fabulous after Kagome tweaked with it a little. (A/N: Cheese and hot sauce can do wonders to any meal. o_-) And once the cake was cut and eaten, and the two kids began to crash on the couch, coffee was served by Kohaku and Kagome, and the present was given.
"Ten days in Las Vegas?" Sango asked, eyes wide. Her gaze shot up to her father, then Toutousai, then Kagome. "This is too much!"
"Nonsense!" Hiko said, but smiled at his daughter's distress. "You deserve it."
"But Father-"
"But Father nothing," Toutousai intervened. "We pooled our money, you father and brother, Kagome and myself, to buy you this present and you are going to go on it and you are going to like it!"
Kagome snorted into her coffee. Higurashi's always had a way with words. Sango made to protest again, but Miroku took the envelope from her hands. "Vegas, awesome!" he said with a huge grin. "I can finally hit the poker tables." No one was ever sure which person hit him in the back of the head first, Sango, or Toutousai, but Kagome and Kohaku were nearly out of their chairs from laughing so hard. Miroku rubbed the back of his head furiously. "Ow! What'd I do? What I do?" he cowered. His wife snorted and turned back to her drink. Toutousai gave him the evil eye, along with Hiko.
"Sango," Kagome said with a charming smile. "You need a vacation, love. You've been working so hard, and Miroku has too. I'm going to be watching the kids. It'll be fine, I swear!"
Sango wasn't happy at first, but she consented. And as the night wore on, she began to get giddier about the morning's flight that would whisk her away to Nevada. Miroku was on his best behavior that night. There were far too many people who would willingly abuse him if they had the chance. Kohaku helped Kagome put the two kids down before heading in himself, tired from the day's events. Kagome also headed home early. It was like it had been since the council meeting, she would go to sleep early and wake up late the next morning. Sleeping was taking up a lot of her time now.
She didn't sleep too late the next morning, however, because she was awakened by two rambunctious children, begging for her to drive them home. After seeing Miroku and Sango off--they were being driven to the airport by Kohaku and Hiko--Kagome and the kids hung around Toutousai until late in the afternoon, when Kagome knew that she'd have to make her way back to the city or risk falling asleep at the wheel. She hugged her father tightly before getting into her car.
"I'm going to start my spring cleaning soon," he told her.
"Always late, aren't you Daddy," she laughed.
"Better late then never, my Kagome." She smiled and he continued. "I have a few things that I'll have to send to you when I find them."
"What could you have to give me?" she asked.
"You'll see when I send them."
Kagome laughed and hugged him again. "Alright you cryptic old coot." He snorted and returned the embrace. Then Kagome was off, waving as she pulled out of the driveway, and took the children back to the city. When they got there, Kagome put Rin and Shippou in her bed, and she retired to the futon in her living room.
Sunday was a day devoted to the children. They spent the day at the zoo, an outing Kagome had promised since the mall fiasco with their parents. Kagome made sure that she did everything in her power to keep the kids laughing and smiling and having fun. As long as she did that, she could keep her head above water for sure.
Monday was raining so they couldn't go out. The kids parked themselves in front of Kagome's TV, flipping through channels or watching movies on VHS. She made them food and joined them. She was half asleep when the doorbell rang and she yawned when opening the door, only to reveal a rather wet-looking Inuyasha.
"Hey," he said, shaking off his coat and stepping inside. "It's torrential out there!"
"Hi, I forgot you were coming," Kagome said with a half-smile. "I was kinda zoned out while watching Disney movies."
"Disney movies?" Kagome shrugged and pointed. Inuyasha followed her hand and saw two children spread out on her floor eating popcorn and watching something animated. One was a small girl in a red dress with short black hair, the other was a small boy in a green vest with a head of red-brown hair.
"Rin, Shippou," Kagome called. The kids looked up at her and scurried over, looking at Inuyasha with critical eyes. "This is Rin and Shippou," she introduced, placing a hand on each child's head for reference. Then she addressed the kids. "This is my friend Inuyasha. Be nice and say hello?"
"Hello," Shippou said quietly, half-hiding behind Kagome. Rin was the brave one, she offered him a wave and a smile.
"Hello there," he responded, his usual smirk was a kinder smile.
"Well then, now that we're introduced, let's get back to the movie!" Kagome prompted and both kids fell back to their places, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha a place to sprawl on the couch.
"I forgot you had the kids this week. I wouldn't have bothered you if I remembered," Inuyasha told her in a hushed voice, so as not to distract from the excitement of the animated feature.
"Then I'm glad you have the memory of a goldfish," she said with a smile, leaning back in the couch close enough so that their arms were touching. Inuyasha snorted and relaxed as well.
When one movie ended, they switched it to another one. And so on, and so on, long into the afternoon and evening. Kagome went to the kitchen for a while to make dinner. Inuyasha followed her and they spent a good portion of the time just tossing witticisms to one another. Then, Kagome put the children to bed.
Inuyasha decided to stay for a little while longer, seeing as how he didn't have to work until tomorrow night. Kagome dragged over a fold-out table and they spent a good deal of time playing semi-strip poker--just in case one of the kids came out of the room to get water from the kitchen.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha complained, throwing down his hand and removing his shirt for the fourth time. "That's the thirteenth hand you've won, straight!"
Kagome leaned back. The only thing missing from her outfit was shoes, but those she had take off willingly. "Miroku taught me to play poker when I was in the hospital, having my appendix out a couple years ago. After he taught me the rules, he could never beat me either." Inuyasha glared at her and Kagome only gave him a lazy smile.
"You're cheating," he said in a low growl, leaning forward across the table.
"Am not," she argued, leaning forward as well. They were so close, their noses almost touched. For a heated moment, they simply glared at one another, then they seemed to realize what it was they were doing, and where they were. Inuyasha hesitated. Kagome swallowed, her breath thin, but she had enough nerve to ask her question. "When are you going to kiss me?"
"What?" Inuyasha asked, voice rasping as bad as hers had.
"You heard me," she shot back. Even at such a moment, they had to keep up the last-word game. But neither would have it any other way. Inuyasha still balked. Kagome didn't.
She leaned forward that last little inch, pressing her lips to his, eyelids lightly closed. Inuyasha froze at first, not knowing really if he should be doing this, but he body soon overrode his thoughts and he fell into her kiss. Leaning forward more, he pressed for entrance to her mouth. Kagome granted it. But just before he was able to proceed forward, there came a cry from the next room. Kagome jerked back from him as if burned, then got to her feet and raced into the bedroom. Inuyasha was left dazed and confused.
Kagome entered her room, face on fire, and hardly breathing. Right now, she reasoned with herself, her wanton behavior was not to be thought off. Rin sat up in the bed, silent sobbing choking from her normally silent voice. Kagome was at her side in a moment, easing the girl into her arms. Rin clung to Kagome, wrapping herself around her aunt, and sobbing into the crook of her neck. Kagome carried her out of the room so they wouldn't wake Shippou, rubbing Rin's back, and whispering encouraging words. They passed Inuyasha on the way to the kitchen and Kagome gave him an apologetic look. Once they were in the kitchen, Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha follow.
She sat at the table in the kitchen, easing Rin back from her now, and drying her tears with a tissue. Then she gave the little girl a glass of water. "Did you have another nightmare, baby?" Kagome asked her. Rin nodded. "Would you like me to sing you a song to get you back to sleep?" she then asked. Rin always fell asleep with a song.
Since the car accident that had taken Rin's family when she was barely more than three, Rin had woken in the night from dreams routinely. Now that years had passed they were less frequent, but it was more common for them to happen when Sango or Miroku were not around. Whenever Kagome had the kids overnight, she discovered that singing to Rin relaxed her enough to return to be.
"What song do you want to hear? The same as always?" Rin nodded. Kagome smiled, smoothing back the little girl's hair from her forehead. "Okay." Then Kagome took Rin in her arms again, moving slowly to gain the internal melody of the song. It was Rin's favorite, and it was Kagome's as well which was why she sang it to her goddaughter so often. Kagome hummed the melody then started to sing in a soft voice, rocking Rin gently.
"Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before."
She ended the song in a whisper, Rin already fast asleep in her arms. Inuyasha retreated to the couch before she saw him. Kagome carried the small girl back to the bedroom and laid her down, tucking her in gently and kissing her temple. "Sleep well," she whispered before returning to the living room. "I'm sorry about that. Rin has nightmares sometimes and I have to calm her down to get back to sleep."
"It's no problem," Inuyasha replied, grabbing his coat. "Listen, we'll put off training until next week so you can spend some time with the kids." Kagome was aware that he couldn't meet her eyes.
"'Yash-"
"I've got to go, work tomorrow. I'll see you around Kagome." And with that, he was out the door. Kagome felt very alone in that moment, when he ran away from her. She had never felt so small in all her life. Kagome felt like crying herself then, but she didn't. She locked the door and changed her clothes and she crawled into bed between the two children, drawing comfort from their warmth. Kagome Higurashi had never been more tired in all of her life. And it was not the first moment that she wished not to wake up, and it wouldn't be the last, because she would get up. She'd cook breakfast and she's smile and she'd laugh, just like she did when all the other bad things in her life happened.
A/N: Hehe, you hate me now, don't you? Aw, but you can't hate me because if you did then you'd never find out what happens. You'll never know the truth! (Note: The Truth will be revealed partially in the next chapter *cough*) I want to thank my brother--Jay--for his help in the location of the song lyrics. This will be the only time they appear in the story, but this entire fic had been written under the influence of the song 'Dare you to Move' by Switchfoot. Anywho, thank you for reading and please remember to review.
A/N: Like before, I'm going to do my reviewer messages up here instead of at the end of the chapter. So here we go!
Setsuna-3000: Hehe, you were up late reading my work, since I didn't post it until around midnight, lol. Thanks for being such a devoted reader!
Chitiko: Sorry for the short chapters, I just write what I feel necessary for the plot. The last two have been longer, and now that I'm getting to the juicer parts of the story, things will happen faster. Thanks for reading!
Leomae: Here you are more fluff/sexual tension for ya! Um…I don't think I'll have Inuyasha jump her, it'll probably be the other way around when (actually if) I decide to write a 'consummation' chapter. What do you think? Oh, and yes, he is only a sexy freak with weird hair, lol. I thought it would be less confusing if I just kept everyone human in this fic. Thanks for reading.
Josie: More encounters for you! Yes, I get a lot of my 'guy thinking' from my brothers. (I have two, a twin and an older brother. They give me a lot of incite.) Ah, you inquire of Hojo. Well, the entire Hojo story will be explained in Chapter 6, so you won't have to wait much longer. Thanks for the review!
KireiHanyou Ko: Thanks! You've very sweet for saying so. Kagome's ex-husband is actually Hojo, more of which to be heard about in the next chapter. Kouga is in this fic, but he won't be here for a little while yet. Thanks for reviewing!
Hyperchica11: Thanks for liking my work, and thanks a lot for the review!
LilNezumi LilInu: Nope, not an error, it's true. Once upon a time, she was married to Hojo! Why isn't she still married, you ask? Read chapter 6 for all the juicy detail! Muhaha! Thanks for the review.
Silentslayer: Sorry for keeping you in suspense this much, lol. I'm trying to get the chapters out at least every three days. Thanks for reading and reviewing, you're a great audience.
Kali the Goth Goddess: I am typing as we speak, fear not. Thanks so much for reading. I'm really happy so many people like this story! Thanks for the review too!
Alright now, on with the story!
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 5
"Today's the day?" he asked, looking down at her.
"Today's the day," she agreed, looking up with a smile, wishing that her hands were free to wipe the sweat that was perspiring along her skin. But her hands were busy elsewhere. Kagome was laying flat on her back, attempting to keep her body relaxed, but the tension was building and she couldn't help but shake a little from the strain. Her muscles screamed for release, one that she would not give up for another few agonizing seconds.
"Come on, I know you can do better then this!" Inuyasha baited her, panting a little himself. He braced himself firmly on either side of her body so that he was looking down into her face, taunting her, but truly being more awed then annoyed. "Just a little longer then you can let go," he pleaded with a teasing smirk, the kind that always made Kagome strive harder to beat it back in his face.
"I hate you," she said through gritted teeth, trying hard not to arch her back and release some of the agony building inside her. She wouldn't give him that pleasure.
"No you don't," he said in a sultry voice.
"Yes, yes I do," she said again, biting into her lip from the effort. She wanted to cry, but she was stronger than that. She'd hold on until he told her to let go. That was how it went. And she would never admit a weakness to such a man as Inuyasha Dai.
"Okay, times up!" Inuyasha said triumphantly, taking hold of the barbell she had been using to bench press and easing it down on to the rack. (A/N: 0_o what did you think they were doing?) Kagome sat up, her arms shaking slightly from the effort, but a blissful smile was on her face. She beat her record today. Now able, she arched her back and stood up when she heard the satisfying crack. "You're disgusting," Inuyasha laughed, throwing her a towel and shaking his head.
"Me?" Kagome asked with wide, unbelieving eyes. "Excuse me, but aren't you the man who said that Ramen is the breakfast of champions?"
"Food of the Gods," Inuyasha maintained, stretching out himself. "So, you're hear back about that job interview from last week?"
"Yeah," Kagome confirmed. "Sango is a god-sent to have set that up for me."
"And?" he prompted.
"And, you are looking at the new assistant Art History teacher at Denverside community college," she said with a shy smile. "Not very prestige, but I don't have to start work until September and it's money."
"Plus, you don't have to smell like fried food at the end of the day," Inuyasha added cheerful.
"I don't get it man, if you hate the job so much, quit!"
"I still need the income," he reminded her.
"So find something else that doesn't involve the hat and the grease. You've got other skills, and a basic knowledge of things." Inuyasha shrugged, but they had been through this line of dialogue before. In the past six weeks, he and Kagome had become close friends, while managing to stay platonic. Sure, there were those tense moments when he thought he was going to snap, but they always managed to find a way out of them with their clothes still on and their blood pressure under control. In many ways, they were both grateful that they hadn't done anything that they would regret later on. For now, it was nice to simply remain in one another's company, to swap insults, and to eat snack food at a designated apartment on Friday and Saturday nights, so as not to feel like the only dateless people in all the city. Kagome called it the buddy-system for the dating impaired.
It was Friday morning, bordering on afternoon, and it looked to be a beautiful day. The perfect kind of day for Kagome to spend with her godchildren. Yes, it was the first day of June. Yes, Miroku and Sango were getting their anniversary present this very night. Yes, tomorrow morning Kagome would be whisking away Rin and Shippou to spend one fun-filled week in Che Higurashi, the eight-year-old's choice vacation spot.
Kagome had to go home and shower to prepare for the party. Then she's have to get in her car for that wondrous four-hour drive to Grand Lake, where the party was being held. It had been a clever plot indeed, set up by the scheming Hiko and Toutousai. They had been able to convince Miroku and Sango to take two week's vacation off and to come spend it with them, never realizing that they were to be sent on a vacation of their own. Kagome was giddy with excitement as she tossed her bag into the back of Inuyasha's 1995 Mazda M3.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?" she asked him for the third time that day. Kagome felt a weird urge to show him off to her family, like saying 'this is the reason I'm not drowning in Sam Adams'.
"Yeah, I've gotta work tonight. I'll see you Monday, swear it," he assured her. Inuyasha would have gone, if he didn't have to work at the bar. If it had been Myouga asking him for a night's wages, he would have told the old coot to fuck off, but the bar was his main job. And he didn't feel like screwing that up any more then he should. He actually wanted to go and hang out with Kagome's family scene. She had introduced in to Sango the week after they started training together, and the pretty business woman was certainly one to be careful around, even if she wasn't a fighter. Miroku, Inuyasha had already met previously to his meeting of Kagome. Inuyasha was no stranger to the hospital, and Miroku was usually the nice one to hang around with in the cafeteria.
"Okay, but it's your loss, my friend," she said with a grin before getting out and heading back to her apartment. She paused long enough to wave as he left, then went inside to get ready.
By one thirty, Kagome was on a road, rocking out to one radio station or another. She had an overnight bag in the trunk, knowing that she wouldn't be returning until the next day. The roads were clear, and the driving was smooth. She made it to Grand Lake in three hours. It was a trip of nostalgia, like it was every time she came home. Driving around in that small town, heading up the streets she used to walk home on as a child, and then parking in the driveway of that old house surrounded by lilac bushes, Sonya's favorite flower, and a porch with a large wicker swing on the front. Cow was alseep on the steps, just like always. Kagome smiled at the utter predictability of the situation.
"Hey Cow," she crooned, scratching his head as she walked up the steps to the screen door. "Hello!" she called inside. "Anyone home?"
"Kagome!" came the familiar voice. She turned around to see Toutousai descending the staircase with a happy grin that made him look ten years younger. "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Hi Dad," she said, hugging him hard and inhaling that scent of old leather and metal polish. All she needed was the warm embrace of her father and that familiar smell and she was reduced to tears. Toutousai held her tightly as she sobbed, trying to help ease the pain in her spirit out of her. "I'm sorry," she hiccupped when she had stopped.
"No reason to apologize," he reassured her. "What are fathers for?"
"Money?" Kagome asked with a half-smile, blue eyes shinning with unshed tears. Her father chuckled.
"Come then, we should head over to Hiko's before Sango and that son of a...monk....gets here." Toutousai always tried to curb his language around his daughter. Kagome only smiled. Miroku had never won much favor with the folks of Grand Lake, but then again, hardly anyone did. All that mattered was that Sango loved him and that he wasn't a murderer, drug addict, or a republican. Perversion may not be normal--and could lead to several sexual harassment lawsuits--but it was better then a republican as far as Toutousai and Hiko were concerned.
Kagome followed her father three houses down the street until they reached their destination. When Kagome rang the doorbell, they were greeted not by Hiko, but by Kohaku. "Kohaku!" Kagome exclaimed, hugging the boy excitedly. "What are you doing home?"
Kohaku, a young man with short black hair and large brown eyes, blushed fiercely at Kagome before stuttering out a response. "My semester ended early and I'm home for the summer."
"That's great!" Kagome said, hugging him again. It was a well-known fact that Kohaku had always had a serious crush on Kagome, but now he was just a little awed of her rather than when he used to hero-worship her. Kagome had always been very aloof to this fact, to the day she didn't realize his little-boy crush. Perhaps it was better that way.
"Is that Kagome and Toutousai I hear at my door?" asked a voice from the living room. It was none-other-than Hiko himself, the tall man with a mane of neat black hair and deep eyes. He smiled as Kagome scurried over and hugged him. Hiko had always been like a second father to her, and Toutousai was to Sango and Kohaku. Their families had always been close.
"Hi Hiko, how are you?"
"I'm fine," he replied. "I heard about what happened, my dear, and I'm sorry for it." He frowned and hugged her around the shoulders.
"Thanks," Kagome smiled, then tactfully changed subjects. "So, are we almost all set up?"
"Almost," Kohaku answered, half-way done with blowing up a large red balloon. "Food and cake are already in the kitchen. We just have to put up a few more decorations and wait for the guests-of-honor."
Kagome nodded, rubbing her hands together. "Very good, very good!" That's when she took charge of the situation. "Hiko, Dad, you finish in the living room, 'Haku you blow those balloons and you blow hard young man! I'll set up the food. Everyone get it?" There was a pause long enough for the men to nod. "Good!'
About an hour later, the minivan pulled into the driveway, and the Houshi family came up the porch. Kagome answered the door with a charming smile and a bow. "Kagome?" Sango asked, confused. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping with the party," Kagome said with a grin, hugging Rin and Shippou and then setting them loose on 'Uncle Kohaku' with the fury that only small children can inflict.
"Party?" Miroku asked with a raised eyebrow. And what a party it was! Food, cake, balloons, and the whole nine yards. Toutousai and Hiko did a marvelous job with the décor, and the food was fabulous after Kagome tweaked with it a little. (A/N: Cheese and hot sauce can do wonders to any meal. o_-) And once the cake was cut and eaten, and the two kids began to crash on the couch, coffee was served by Kohaku and Kagome, and the present was given.
"Ten days in Las Vegas?" Sango asked, eyes wide. Her gaze shot up to her father, then Toutousai, then Kagome. "This is too much!"
"Nonsense!" Hiko said, but smiled at his daughter's distress. "You deserve it."
"But Father-"
"But Father nothing," Toutousai intervened. "We pooled our money, you father and brother, Kagome and myself, to buy you this present and you are going to go on it and you are going to like it!"
Kagome snorted into her coffee. Higurashi's always had a way with words. Sango made to protest again, but Miroku took the envelope from her hands. "Vegas, awesome!" he said with a huge grin. "I can finally hit the poker tables." No one was ever sure which person hit him in the back of the head first, Sango, or Toutousai, but Kagome and Kohaku were nearly out of their chairs from laughing so hard. Miroku rubbed the back of his head furiously. "Ow! What'd I do? What I do?" he cowered. His wife snorted and turned back to her drink. Toutousai gave him the evil eye, along with Hiko.
"Sango," Kagome said with a charming smile. "You need a vacation, love. You've been working so hard, and Miroku has too. I'm going to be watching the kids. It'll be fine, I swear!"
Sango wasn't happy at first, but she consented. And as the night wore on, she began to get giddier about the morning's flight that would whisk her away to Nevada. Miroku was on his best behavior that night. There were far too many people who would willingly abuse him if they had the chance. Kohaku helped Kagome put the two kids down before heading in himself, tired from the day's events. Kagome also headed home early. It was like it had been since the council meeting, she would go to sleep early and wake up late the next morning. Sleeping was taking up a lot of her time now.
She didn't sleep too late the next morning, however, because she was awakened by two rambunctious children, begging for her to drive them home. After seeing Miroku and Sango off--they were being driven to the airport by Kohaku and Hiko--Kagome and the kids hung around Toutousai until late in the afternoon, when Kagome knew that she'd have to make her way back to the city or risk falling asleep at the wheel. She hugged her father tightly before getting into her car.
"I'm going to start my spring cleaning soon," he told her.
"Always late, aren't you Daddy," she laughed.
"Better late then never, my Kagome." She smiled and he continued. "I have a few things that I'll have to send to you when I find them."
"What could you have to give me?" she asked.
"You'll see when I send them."
Kagome laughed and hugged him again. "Alright you cryptic old coot." He snorted and returned the embrace. Then Kagome was off, waving as she pulled out of the driveway, and took the children back to the city. When they got there, Kagome put Rin and Shippou in her bed, and she retired to the futon in her living room.
Sunday was a day devoted to the children. They spent the day at the zoo, an outing Kagome had promised since the mall fiasco with their parents. Kagome made sure that she did everything in her power to keep the kids laughing and smiling and having fun. As long as she did that, she could keep her head above water for sure.
Monday was raining so they couldn't go out. The kids parked themselves in front of Kagome's TV, flipping through channels or watching movies on VHS. She made them food and joined them. She was half asleep when the doorbell rang and she yawned when opening the door, only to reveal a rather wet-looking Inuyasha.
"Hey," he said, shaking off his coat and stepping inside. "It's torrential out there!"
"Hi, I forgot you were coming," Kagome said with a half-smile. "I was kinda zoned out while watching Disney movies."
"Disney movies?" Kagome shrugged and pointed. Inuyasha followed her hand and saw two children spread out on her floor eating popcorn and watching something animated. One was a small girl in a red dress with short black hair, the other was a small boy in a green vest with a head of red-brown hair.
"Rin, Shippou," Kagome called. The kids looked up at her and scurried over, looking at Inuyasha with critical eyes. "This is Rin and Shippou," she introduced, placing a hand on each child's head for reference. Then she addressed the kids. "This is my friend Inuyasha. Be nice and say hello?"
"Hello," Shippou said quietly, half-hiding behind Kagome. Rin was the brave one, she offered him a wave and a smile.
"Hello there," he responded, his usual smirk was a kinder smile.
"Well then, now that we're introduced, let's get back to the movie!" Kagome prompted and both kids fell back to their places, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha a place to sprawl on the couch.
"I forgot you had the kids this week. I wouldn't have bothered you if I remembered," Inuyasha told her in a hushed voice, so as not to distract from the excitement of the animated feature.
"Then I'm glad you have the memory of a goldfish," she said with a smile, leaning back in the couch close enough so that their arms were touching. Inuyasha snorted and relaxed as well.
When one movie ended, they switched it to another one. And so on, and so on, long into the afternoon and evening. Kagome went to the kitchen for a while to make dinner. Inuyasha followed her and they spent a good portion of the time just tossing witticisms to one another. Then, Kagome put the children to bed.
Inuyasha decided to stay for a little while longer, seeing as how he didn't have to work until tomorrow night. Kagome dragged over a fold-out table and they spent a good deal of time playing semi-strip poker--just in case one of the kids came out of the room to get water from the kitchen.
"Dammit!" Inuyasha complained, throwing down his hand and removing his shirt for the fourth time. "That's the thirteenth hand you've won, straight!"
Kagome leaned back. The only thing missing from her outfit was shoes, but those she had take off willingly. "Miroku taught me to play poker when I was in the hospital, having my appendix out a couple years ago. After he taught me the rules, he could never beat me either." Inuyasha glared at her and Kagome only gave him a lazy smile.
"You're cheating," he said in a low growl, leaning forward across the table.
"Am not," she argued, leaning forward as well. They were so close, their noses almost touched. For a heated moment, they simply glared at one another, then they seemed to realize what it was they were doing, and where they were. Inuyasha hesitated. Kagome swallowed, her breath thin, but she had enough nerve to ask her question. "When are you going to kiss me?"
"What?" Inuyasha asked, voice rasping as bad as hers had.
"You heard me," she shot back. Even at such a moment, they had to keep up the last-word game. But neither would have it any other way. Inuyasha still balked. Kagome didn't.
She leaned forward that last little inch, pressing her lips to his, eyelids lightly closed. Inuyasha froze at first, not knowing really if he should be doing this, but he body soon overrode his thoughts and he fell into her kiss. Leaning forward more, he pressed for entrance to her mouth. Kagome granted it. But just before he was able to proceed forward, there came a cry from the next room. Kagome jerked back from him as if burned, then got to her feet and raced into the bedroom. Inuyasha was left dazed and confused.
Kagome entered her room, face on fire, and hardly breathing. Right now, she reasoned with herself, her wanton behavior was not to be thought off. Rin sat up in the bed, silent sobbing choking from her normally silent voice. Kagome was at her side in a moment, easing the girl into her arms. Rin clung to Kagome, wrapping herself around her aunt, and sobbing into the crook of her neck. Kagome carried her out of the room so they wouldn't wake Shippou, rubbing Rin's back, and whispering encouraging words. They passed Inuyasha on the way to the kitchen and Kagome gave him an apologetic look. Once they were in the kitchen, Kagome didn't notice Inuyasha follow.
She sat at the table in the kitchen, easing Rin back from her now, and drying her tears with a tissue. Then she gave the little girl a glass of water. "Did you have another nightmare, baby?" Kagome asked her. Rin nodded. "Would you like me to sing you a song to get you back to sleep?" she then asked. Rin always fell asleep with a song.
Since the car accident that had taken Rin's family when she was barely more than three, Rin had woken in the night from dreams routinely. Now that years had passed they were less frequent, but it was more common for them to happen when Sango or Miroku were not around. Whenever Kagome had the kids overnight, she discovered that singing to Rin relaxed her enough to return to be.
"What song do you want to hear? The same as always?" Rin nodded. Kagome smiled, smoothing back the little girl's hair from her forehead. "Okay." Then Kagome took Rin in her arms again, moving slowly to gain the internal melody of the song. It was Rin's favorite, and it was Kagome's as well which was why she sang it to her goddaughter so often. Kagome hummed the melody then started to sing in a soft voice, rocking Rin gently.
"Welcome to the planet
Welcome to existence
Everyone's here
Everybody's watching you now
Everybody waits for you now
What happens next?
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before
Maybe redemption has stories to tell
Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell
Where can you run to escape from yourself?
Where you gonna go?
Where you gonna go?
Salvation is here
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened before."
She ended the song in a whisper, Rin already fast asleep in her arms. Inuyasha retreated to the couch before she saw him. Kagome carried the small girl back to the bedroom and laid her down, tucking her in gently and kissing her temple. "Sleep well," she whispered before returning to the living room. "I'm sorry about that. Rin has nightmares sometimes and I have to calm her down to get back to sleep."
"It's no problem," Inuyasha replied, grabbing his coat. "Listen, we'll put off training until next week so you can spend some time with the kids." Kagome was aware that he couldn't meet her eyes.
"'Yash-"
"I've got to go, work tomorrow. I'll see you around Kagome." And with that, he was out the door. Kagome felt very alone in that moment, when he ran away from her. She had never felt so small in all her life. Kagome felt like crying herself then, but she didn't. She locked the door and changed her clothes and she crawled into bed between the two children, drawing comfort from their warmth. Kagome Higurashi had never been more tired in all of her life. And it was not the first moment that she wished not to wake up, and it wouldn't be the last, because she would get up. She'd cook breakfast and she's smile and she'd laugh, just like she did when all the other bad things in her life happened.
A/N: Hehe, you hate me now, don't you? Aw, but you can't hate me because if you did then you'd never find out what happens. You'll never know the truth! (Note: The Truth will be revealed partially in the next chapter *cough*) I want to thank my brother--Jay--for his help in the location of the song lyrics. This will be the only time they appear in the story, but this entire fic had been written under the influence of the song 'Dare you to Move' by Switchfoot. Anywho, thank you for reading and please remember to review.