Disclaimer: Inuyasha own I not, Inuyasha I've not got.
A/N: Yay, writer reviews! Before I start, I want you all to know that I have written an Inuyasha Christmas AU called 'All I Want for Christmas is You' and I should get it out sometime this week, probably after Thanksgiving. It's another romantic one, but more dramatic and else action-y. Curse of the Gypsy is currently on hold until further notice, but I will pick it up once A Fighter's Story is complete. Okay, reviewers!
Michelle the Miko: Ah, you figured out the secrets of Hojo beforehand, yay! I'm glad you like my stuff. I always try to write descriptively so that you can see it in your head, it makes everything so much easier. Here's the update you asked for. Thanks for reading and the review!
KireiHanyou Ko: I'm happy you like my chapters so much. My bro was all like, 'No problem dude' and he called everyone dude so don't mind him. And I love the song and I try to spread the love! So I should be thanking you. Hehe, I want to make their eventual relationship to be 'aww' worthy, lol. Thanks for reading and the Review!
LilNezumi LilInu: Don't feel too bad, she'll get happy again. Kagome's like rubber, always bouncing back. Here's the chapter you wanted, enjoy. Thanks for the review and for reading.
IridescentEverdream: Cool, a rabid fan! Yay! I'm glad you like my story, I write it for the fans. Thanks for the review and for reading, cha!
Wyldwolfrose: Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you like it. Here's the update, enjoy. Thanks for the review!
Leomae: Hi there! Normal people scare me too, that's why I'm proudly a freak, lol. Yes, that was what I was going for, sad and sweet. It does get fluffier, I swear, but you must give me time! I'll give you a huge warning when we get to the fluffy chapter, ok? Thanks for the review!
silent slayer: I'm sorry you cried, but I'm glad you liked it that much! Thanks for reading and the review.
Blah-girl-bored2death: I know! I take several martial arts classes including tai-chi and kendo, and the drop-kicking hurts like a bitch! No one ever believes you when you say that. I just go, yeah well, I'll kick you and you can see for yourself. But they end up chickening out, go figure? Thanks for reading and the review!
Josie: Yes, sad but it needed to be done. I'm happy that you like my story so much! You are all so great to me! I love my reviewers to death! Thanks a lot for the review and thanks again for reading my stuff.
…: Love the name, lol. Actually, this story has about 3 or 4 more chapters, so it'll end before Christmas. I'm happy that you like it though! Thanks for reading, and the review!
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 7
It would be a cold day in hell before Kagome Higurashi would beg for mercy. But right now, she was begging on bended knee to all the Gods above. Satan must have been freezin' his frankincense....
It all began on the second of July. Kagome had gotten up and went about her normal business. Inuyasha had stayed late the night before. The majority on their time had been spent watching late-night TV and falling in and out of consciousness on the futon. Then, he had stretched, bid her a good night, and left to return home. Kagome has missed him once he was gone. The man was not the best conversationalist, but he was warm, and he made her feel safe and protected. That was a feeling Kagome liked to relax in, because it didn't come around very often.
But the next day, Monday as it was, Kagome received a surprise. If it was a pleasant one was yet to be seen. You see, she had gotten up, showered, dressed, made herself a breakfast of Ramen and coke--though it was really past lunchtime, and then laid around most of the day. She had no where to go, and nothing to really due until Inuyasha came to pick her up for their workout that afternoon.
"I could go food shopping," Kagome said to herself, flicking past Jerry Springer and Maury on the television. "Or I could go to Borders and find a new book." She paused a moment on a shop opera, but switched the channel once Rosa faked her death and Francisco was mourning her on the bridge where she supposedly jumped off to save him from the shady mafia men gunning for his life. Kagome was not yet so board as to watch that.
Twenty Minutes Later.....
"Fernando, how could you!?!" Kagome cried, hurling a box of tissues at the television in her frustration. "She loved you and you go sleep with her sister?!? God, I HATE MEN!" Kagome, giving up on the dramatic lives of fictional characters, clicked off the TV and throw the remote at it. "I have to stop talking to myself..."
A knock at the door brought her back to reality. Kagome hopped over the arm rest of her couch and went to the door. If it was Inuyasha, he was an hour early, but she noticed that the silver-haired hunk never kept to a schedule. She couldn't even remember a time when she had seen him wearing a watch. What knocked her to the floor was that it was not Inuyasha at her door. Not Sango or Miroku or the kids, not even Souta--who had been the second choice in her mind. Standing in her doorway, suitcase in hand, was Toutousai Higurashi.
"Daddy?" Kagome asked in disbelief. When had her father planned this trip? Had he told her he was coming to visit and she forgot?
"Kagome, are you going to invite me in or am I going to have to wait all day?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Kagomne moved aside enough for her father to enter. "Daddy, what a pleasant surprise....it is a surprise, right?"
"Oh it's a surprise," Toutousai replied, setting his bag down on the futon and removing his hat.
"I don't want to be rude but...why are you here? Without calling me or anything..."
Toutousai sighed and turned around and sighed. "I missed you."
Kagome scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "How cute, you missed me." She grinned and hugged him tightly. "I'm glad you're here Dad."
Toutousai hugged his daughter and sighed. The truth was that he worried for her safety. It was only three weeks until the Kiyomatsu Tournament began and he knew that Kagome would be less-than-happy about it. He worried that if it came down to it, Kagome might try to hurt herself again. Although she had never done anything as dramatic as slashing her wrists or overdosing on crack, she had descended into a work of alcohol after Hojo died. The tour had given her a reason to stay sober, to live a life again. But with that gone...a desperate girl might to desperate things. Kagome was a strong girl in the ring, but outside of it, she was only human. So much loss in one life can hurt a woman to know end, especially when her life falls apart for the third time running.
Kagome made tea and they sat in her kitchen talking about idle things for a few hours. A half an hour later, the doorbell rang again. Kagome looked at her watch, then to the door and abruptly got to her feet. Toutousai made to follow.
"No, that's okay Daddy, I can get it. It's probably the pizza I ordered, that's all. Be right back." Then she bolted from the room and to the door. Behind it stood Inuyasha, lounging on the banister, looking like he was rehearsing a monologue of some sort.
"Hey Kagome, listen, I wanted to talk about something with you--" he began, but Kagome cut him off.
"Run, run for your life," Kagome said, looking behind her and then to the doorway again. Toutousai had left the kitchen and was coming to the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked quickly, worried something could be going on.
"My father came to visit, unexpectedly. If he sees you, the third degree will be mine. So I shall repeat, run for your life!" But then it was too late. Toutousai had reached the doorway and took the knob from his daughter's hand. He opened the door all the way to expose a very perplexed Inuyasha Dai.
"And I take it this is the pizza boy?" Toutousai said to his daughter with a raised eyebrow, eyeing Inuyasha with distaste.
"Actually, he is," Kagome said with an uncomfortable smile. Inuyasha suddenly felt the urge to play knight in shinning armor, so he came to her rescue.
"Hi, I'm Inuyasha. You must be Mr. Higurashi." Toutousai turned to look at the man on his daughter's porch. There was a tense moment, during which Toutousai sniffled loudly and shifted his feet. His scrutinizing gaze seemed to take in every inch of the man he no doubt thought to be his daughter's boyfriend.
"Toutousai Higurashi," he said at last, offering the younger man a hand to shake. Inuyasha promptly took it. Then they engaged in a classic game of strength, during which Kagome sighed and left to ready a third cup of tea. When she came back, and they were still at it, she pulled Inuyasha inside and closed her door.
"Come on, stop acting like little boys," she scolded.
"Sorry Kagome," Inuyasha said with a smirk. Kagome glared, then turned to her father.
"Come on Dad, I've poured you a new cup of tea."
"Thank you Kagome dear." The three sat in her kitchen and began lite conversation. Toutousai mainly asked questions and the other two answered to the best of their abilities.
"How long have you two known each other?" was his last question.
"About three months I guess," Inuyasha answered, sipping his tea and looking to Kagome. "I take it we're ditching out workout for the day?"
Toutousai snorted into his tea. "What kind of workout?" he asked with wide eyes.
"Not like that, you perverted old man!" Kagome said, blushing hotly. "We actually work out at the gym together. Inuyasha is a retired fighter from the tour. We just hang out Dad, I told you that."
"And I'm Santa Claus," he muttered to himself, now very distrustful of both his daughter and her male friend.
"Dad, this is Inuyasha Dai," Kagome said, emphasizing his name. For a moment, it didn't work, then his eyes widened and he looked at their companion at the table.
"THE Inuayasha Dai?"
"The one and only," Inuyasha said, making a mock toast with his tea.
"Well, that changes....NOTHING!" Toutousai yelled, leaping to his feet. For someone his age, he was surprisingly agile. "Kagome Higurashi, I will not permit you to go all willy-nilly with any bum from the street just because your going through a rough patch. If I find out you're back on the bottle--"
"DAD!" Kagome yelled back, leaping to her feet as well. "You can not come into MY house and interrogate MY friend like he was some kind of lab animal, then accuse us of going willy-nilly!" Inuyasha, meanwhile, was sitting there quietly, sipping his tea and watching the exchange.
"You don't have to jump in about me," he said suddenly.
"SHUT UP!" both of them yelled in his direction before squabbling once more. Inuyasha blinked, nearly falling over from his chair. It did calm down after a while, but when those two got going, they'd dig up the worst of each other. And saying things like that was enough to scar Inuyasha enough to give him nightmares for weeks.
"Dad, just drop it," Kagome said at last, collapsing into her chair. "I have a headache." Toutousai grudgingly did the same. Inuyasha guessed it wa now safe for him to speak.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," he apologized.
"It's not your fault 'Yash," Kagome said with a tired smile. "Dad's only here because he doesn't trust me to take care of myself until after the tournament's over."
"Bah, it's a crime now to worry over one's only daughter?" Toutousai huffed. Kagome chuckled.
"Not at all Daddy. But you are a very active worrier." That he agreed with. "The afternoon is young, you two wanna grab some food with me?" she asked, turning from Toutousai to Inuyasha and back again.
"If you're paying," Inuyasha said. Kagome scowled, only causing him to smirk back at her.
"You suck," she whined, then turned to her father. "What about you Dad?"
"I could use some food."
"Good, we'll take my car."
The three piled into Kagome's Civic and she drove to the nearest nice quality restaurant called the Sayreville Bar. They got a nice table in the bar for three, then ordered and had polite conversation. Kagome excused herself for a minute to use the restroom before the food came, leaving Inuyasha and Toutousai alone.
Inuyasha gulped, vowing to get revenge on Kagome the second he had her alone, and turned to his companion. Toutousai was watching him with narrowed eyes. "Heh heh," Inuyasha coughed and shifted in his seat.
"I must say," Toutousai began, sipping his water. "Of all the people I thought that Kagome would surround herself with after this, you were not on that list."
"Well, we really haven't been friends all that long, only a few months," Inuyasha stummbling explained. And yet, that felt wrong to say. Sometimes, he swore it felt like Kagome and he had been together for years. He knew virtually everything there was to know about her, personality wise that is. Everyone has a few secrets. He was also sure that she knew the same about him. Kagome Higurashi was his best friend in the world. Then again, that didn't feel right either. It was a confusing position.
"Maybe not, but even if you had, I would have thought it would be too awkward for her."
"Why?" Inuyasha asked, suddenly interested.
"Well, because of her adoration of you, of course. Don't tell me she never mentioned all the years she spent following your career?" Inuyasha shook his head. Kagome had said she was a fan of his, but never went into much detail. Toutousai laughed at him. "She was the biggest fan you have ever seen, which surprised me a great deal. As I'm sure you know, Kagome is not one of those women who...how can I put this...My daughter lacks the finesse needed to fit to society's conformity. Kagome is a rebel, I guess you could say. She was never one to fawn over a musician or actor, not like most girls her age. Growing up, she was content to watch Bruce Lee movies and practice her techniques. But I must say, she worshiped you."
"Me?" Inuyasha said with a hint of awe in his voice. "Why would be so hung up on me?"
"I never really knew myself," Toutousai commented, more to himself then the other man. "I asked her once, she was probably around eighteen at the time. All she did was smile at me and say that sometimes a girl just knows things." He shook his head whimsically. "I'm an old man, but I know my daughter. She may seem all sarcasm and fists, but she is a very open person. There is no halfway with Kagome. When she trusts, when she loves, she does it completely. And that is what makes her very easy to betray, and easily hurt." Toutousai met Inuyasha's eyes before he spoke again. "If you hurt her, I will personally hunt you down and gut you like a fish."
Inuyasha's eyebrows shot up and he gulped, but really he was deep in thought. When Kagome returned, she played a game of wits with her father, slinging words back and forth with each other and occasionally at him. Inuyasha did his best to play along, but more often then not, he'd trail off and simply observe them. Could the old man have been right? He had always thought Kagome to be this strong person. Yes, she'd lost things in her life, who hasn't? He knew she was only human, but was even though he knew the worst of her, he sometimes forgot the fact that she was fragile. When they got back to her apartment, and Inuyasha took his car home, he completely forgot to tell her about what he had been rehearsing all morning.
"There's always tomorrow," he said with a sigh. But in the end, he forgot then too.
Truth was, he didn't want to bring it up while her father was there. So he waited out the rest of the week, until Toutousai decreed that he had mooched off of his daughter long enough and that he was due back in Grand Lake. Kagome was sad to see him go, even though she looked forward to a good night's sleep. Sango, Miroku and the kids had come over three times that week, having dinner or spending the day with them. Inuyasha had avoided her much of the week, leaving her to wonder what exactly her father had told him, but she didn't ask either of them.
Souta had arrived to pick Toutousai up in the morning, leaving Kagome's afternoon free. She decided to bug Inuyasha, but was more surprised when he asked if she'd come to his apartment. With no reason why not, she went over.
"'Yash, are you of the living?" she called when she opened the door to his place after knocking twice without answer. The bar was being tended by Neil, the back-up worker. So he had to be somewhere upstairs. She found him sitting cross-legged on his couch, a manila envelope sitting next to him.
"Hi," he greeted, looking unusually serious.
"Inuyasha, what happened?" she asked. There was something about the way he was sitting, the look in his gold eyes, that told her something was not right.
"Come here," he said, motioning for the seat beside him. She sat, picking up the envelope and clipping it over. There was no return address, but it was address to him in a scrawling writing that looked as if it had been written by a brush rather then a pen. "That came for me last week. I wanted to talk to you about it then, but your Dad came and I didn't want to bother you with him around."
"What is it?" she asked. Goosebumps ran up and down her arms as she looked from the paper to him and back again.
"Open it and see," was all he said.
Kagome opened the top and pulled out a folded sheet of old paper, as well as two plane tickets and a variety of other papers. She unfolded the yellow paper first. She read aloud when she looked at it. "Dear Mister Dai-- You have been cordially invited to participate in the Kiyomatsu Tournament...." Her voice trailed off as she read the line over five times before pressing on. "Our tournament is exclusive and is by invitation only. We are holding it in a secured location in Japan. If you decide to attend, one of our committee will receive you and one guest at the airport in Tokyo to bring you to our arena. The Tournament opens July 28th, at 9 am sharp. If you are not here by that time, we have no choice but to eliminate you. All fighters are eligible to win prizes, including the grand prize of the rare stone called the Shikon Jewel. We hope you will accept our offer and compete. Sincerely Yours, the Dovon of Kiyomatsu."
Inuyasha was silent as she read the letter, not knowing what her reaction would be. This very event meant so much to her, so much that it cost her a future. And here he was, the one to be invited when he hadn't set foot in a ring in over three years. Life really sucked sometimes.
"Are you going to go?" Kagome asked quietly, folding up the paper and slipping it back in the envelope. She skimmed the plane tickets, two-way trip to Tokyo, and a few other papers. There was an insurance claim, housing papers--all expenses paid by the Tournament Committee--and a few other papers concerning accident information.
"I don't know," he replied, matching her tone. "I thought a lot about it. I don't think I'm good enough to compete in something like that, especially being as rusty as I am. I wanted to talk to you about it first."
"Why ask me?" she said with a laugh. "It's your invite, your choice."
"I know," he said with a sigh. "But I also know how much this meant to you. If I had to choose between a tournament and you, I'd rather stay as a pizza boy, Kag. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with my being invited before I chucked the papers. You should hear it from me, is all."
"'Yash," she breathed, looking at the envelope again. "You've gotta go." She was shaking her head and giving him a half-smile again. "This is a once in a lifetime chance here. You can show all these people--the best in the world--just how fucking great you are!"
"You really think I should?"
"Fuck yeah!" she said, tossing the papers on to the table and facing him. "You thought I'd get all weepy because I didn't get it but you did?" He blushed a little and she laughed. "I'm not that shallow. Inuyasha, this is a great honor, and if there was anyone besides me that I'd want to go, it'd be you!"
"Kagome," he said hesitantly, looking down. "Will you come with me?"
"To Japan?" she said with wide eyes. He nodded, looking rather nervous. "I don't know. I mean, I'm happy you got in 'Yash, I am, but I don't know if it's a good idea I go with you..."
"Kagome." She met his eyes and saw that he was deadly serious now. "I really need you there."
Kagome let out a breath and smiled. "Then I'll be there." He returned her smile. Then Kagome jumped to her feet and hopped up and down like a hyper kindergartener. "Oh my God, we're going to Japan! You're going to kick so much ass! This is fucking amazing!" Inuyasha stood up and shook his head.
"And people think I'm immature because I deliver pizza."
"Shut up, brat," she laughed, kicking at his shin. He laughed. Kagome was still smiling like and idiot and out of her mind. She tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. "This is so awesome." Inuyasha was surprised, but he was happy too. With Kagome there, he'd have a chance at least. Or so he hoped.
A/N: Here we are! Chapter 7 out and about. Now we'll start getting into the action part. Kag and Yash, off to the Tournament. Just whoever will be there I wonder? Well, I know, but you don't, hehe. Thanks for reading and please remember to review! Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!
A/N: Yay, writer reviews! Before I start, I want you all to know that I have written an Inuyasha Christmas AU called 'All I Want for Christmas is You' and I should get it out sometime this week, probably after Thanksgiving. It's another romantic one, but more dramatic and else action-y. Curse of the Gypsy is currently on hold until further notice, but I will pick it up once A Fighter's Story is complete. Okay, reviewers!
Michelle the Miko: Ah, you figured out the secrets of Hojo beforehand, yay! I'm glad you like my stuff. I always try to write descriptively so that you can see it in your head, it makes everything so much easier. Here's the update you asked for. Thanks for reading and the review!
KireiHanyou Ko: I'm happy you like my chapters so much. My bro was all like, 'No problem dude' and he called everyone dude so don't mind him. And I love the song and I try to spread the love! So I should be thanking you. Hehe, I want to make their eventual relationship to be 'aww' worthy, lol. Thanks for reading and the Review!
LilNezumi LilInu: Don't feel too bad, she'll get happy again. Kagome's like rubber, always bouncing back. Here's the chapter you wanted, enjoy. Thanks for the review and for reading.
IridescentEverdream: Cool, a rabid fan! Yay! I'm glad you like my story, I write it for the fans. Thanks for the review and for reading, cha!
Wyldwolfrose: Thanks for reading! I'm so glad you like it. Here's the update, enjoy. Thanks for the review!
Leomae: Hi there! Normal people scare me too, that's why I'm proudly a freak, lol. Yes, that was what I was going for, sad and sweet. It does get fluffier, I swear, but you must give me time! I'll give you a huge warning when we get to the fluffy chapter, ok? Thanks for the review!
silent slayer: I'm sorry you cried, but I'm glad you liked it that much! Thanks for reading and the review.
Blah-girl-bored2death: I know! I take several martial arts classes including tai-chi and kendo, and the drop-kicking hurts like a bitch! No one ever believes you when you say that. I just go, yeah well, I'll kick you and you can see for yourself. But they end up chickening out, go figure? Thanks for reading and the review!
Josie: Yes, sad but it needed to be done. I'm happy that you like my story so much! You are all so great to me! I love my reviewers to death! Thanks a lot for the review and thanks again for reading my stuff.
…: Love the name, lol. Actually, this story has about 3 or 4 more chapters, so it'll end before Christmas. I'm happy that you like it though! Thanks for reading, and the review!
A Fighter's Story
Chapter 7
It would be a cold day in hell before Kagome Higurashi would beg for mercy. But right now, she was begging on bended knee to all the Gods above. Satan must have been freezin' his frankincense....
It all began on the second of July. Kagome had gotten up and went about her normal business. Inuyasha had stayed late the night before. The majority on their time had been spent watching late-night TV and falling in and out of consciousness on the futon. Then, he had stretched, bid her a good night, and left to return home. Kagome has missed him once he was gone. The man was not the best conversationalist, but he was warm, and he made her feel safe and protected. That was a feeling Kagome liked to relax in, because it didn't come around very often.
But the next day, Monday as it was, Kagome received a surprise. If it was a pleasant one was yet to be seen. You see, she had gotten up, showered, dressed, made herself a breakfast of Ramen and coke--though it was really past lunchtime, and then laid around most of the day. She had no where to go, and nothing to really due until Inuyasha came to pick her up for their workout that afternoon.
"I could go food shopping," Kagome said to herself, flicking past Jerry Springer and Maury on the television. "Or I could go to Borders and find a new book." She paused a moment on a shop opera, but switched the channel once Rosa faked her death and Francisco was mourning her on the bridge where she supposedly jumped off to save him from the shady mafia men gunning for his life. Kagome was not yet so board as to watch that.
Twenty Minutes Later.....
"Fernando, how could you!?!" Kagome cried, hurling a box of tissues at the television in her frustration. "She loved you and you go sleep with her sister?!? God, I HATE MEN!" Kagome, giving up on the dramatic lives of fictional characters, clicked off the TV and throw the remote at it. "I have to stop talking to myself..."
A knock at the door brought her back to reality. Kagome hopped over the arm rest of her couch and went to the door. If it was Inuyasha, he was an hour early, but she noticed that the silver-haired hunk never kept to a schedule. She couldn't even remember a time when she had seen him wearing a watch. What knocked her to the floor was that it was not Inuyasha at her door. Not Sango or Miroku or the kids, not even Souta--who had been the second choice in her mind. Standing in her doorway, suitcase in hand, was Toutousai Higurashi.
"Daddy?" Kagome asked in disbelief. When had her father planned this trip? Had he told her he was coming to visit and she forgot?
"Kagome, are you going to invite me in or am I going to have to wait all day?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Kagomne moved aside enough for her father to enter. "Daddy, what a pleasant surprise....it is a surprise, right?"
"Oh it's a surprise," Toutousai replied, setting his bag down on the futon and removing his hat.
"I don't want to be rude but...why are you here? Without calling me or anything..."
Toutousai sighed and turned around and sighed. "I missed you."
Kagome scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "How cute, you missed me." She grinned and hugged him tightly. "I'm glad you're here Dad."
Toutousai hugged his daughter and sighed. The truth was that he worried for her safety. It was only three weeks until the Kiyomatsu Tournament began and he knew that Kagome would be less-than-happy about it. He worried that if it came down to it, Kagome might try to hurt herself again. Although she had never done anything as dramatic as slashing her wrists or overdosing on crack, she had descended into a work of alcohol after Hojo died. The tour had given her a reason to stay sober, to live a life again. But with that gone...a desperate girl might to desperate things. Kagome was a strong girl in the ring, but outside of it, she was only human. So much loss in one life can hurt a woman to know end, especially when her life falls apart for the third time running.
Kagome made tea and they sat in her kitchen talking about idle things for a few hours. A half an hour later, the doorbell rang again. Kagome looked at her watch, then to the door and abruptly got to her feet. Toutousai made to follow.
"No, that's okay Daddy, I can get it. It's probably the pizza I ordered, that's all. Be right back." Then she bolted from the room and to the door. Behind it stood Inuyasha, lounging on the banister, looking like he was rehearsing a monologue of some sort.
"Hey Kagome, listen, I wanted to talk about something with you--" he began, but Kagome cut him off.
"Run, run for your life," Kagome said, looking behind her and then to the doorway again. Toutousai had left the kitchen and was coming to the doorway.
"What's wrong?" Inuyasha asked quickly, worried something could be going on.
"My father came to visit, unexpectedly. If he sees you, the third degree will be mine. So I shall repeat, run for your life!" But then it was too late. Toutousai had reached the doorway and took the knob from his daughter's hand. He opened the door all the way to expose a very perplexed Inuyasha Dai.
"And I take it this is the pizza boy?" Toutousai said to his daughter with a raised eyebrow, eyeing Inuyasha with distaste.
"Actually, he is," Kagome said with an uncomfortable smile. Inuyasha suddenly felt the urge to play knight in shinning armor, so he came to her rescue.
"Hi, I'm Inuyasha. You must be Mr. Higurashi." Toutousai turned to look at the man on his daughter's porch. There was a tense moment, during which Toutousai sniffled loudly and shifted his feet. His scrutinizing gaze seemed to take in every inch of the man he no doubt thought to be his daughter's boyfriend.
"Toutousai Higurashi," he said at last, offering the younger man a hand to shake. Inuyasha promptly took it. Then they engaged in a classic game of strength, during which Kagome sighed and left to ready a third cup of tea. When she came back, and they were still at it, she pulled Inuyasha inside and closed her door.
"Come on, stop acting like little boys," she scolded.
"Sorry Kagome," Inuyasha said with a smirk. Kagome glared, then turned to her father.
"Come on Dad, I've poured you a new cup of tea."
"Thank you Kagome dear." The three sat in her kitchen and began lite conversation. Toutousai mainly asked questions and the other two answered to the best of their abilities.
"How long have you two known each other?" was his last question.
"About three months I guess," Inuyasha answered, sipping his tea and looking to Kagome. "I take it we're ditching out workout for the day?"
Toutousai snorted into his tea. "What kind of workout?" he asked with wide eyes.
"Not like that, you perverted old man!" Kagome said, blushing hotly. "We actually work out at the gym together. Inuyasha is a retired fighter from the tour. We just hang out Dad, I told you that."
"And I'm Santa Claus," he muttered to himself, now very distrustful of both his daughter and her male friend.
"Dad, this is Inuyasha Dai," Kagome said, emphasizing his name. For a moment, it didn't work, then his eyes widened and he looked at their companion at the table.
"THE Inuayasha Dai?"
"The one and only," Inuyasha said, making a mock toast with his tea.
"Well, that changes....NOTHING!" Toutousai yelled, leaping to his feet. For someone his age, he was surprisingly agile. "Kagome Higurashi, I will not permit you to go all willy-nilly with any bum from the street just because your going through a rough patch. If I find out you're back on the bottle--"
"DAD!" Kagome yelled back, leaping to her feet as well. "You can not come into MY house and interrogate MY friend like he was some kind of lab animal, then accuse us of going willy-nilly!" Inuyasha, meanwhile, was sitting there quietly, sipping his tea and watching the exchange.
"You don't have to jump in about me," he said suddenly.
"SHUT UP!" both of them yelled in his direction before squabbling once more. Inuyasha blinked, nearly falling over from his chair. It did calm down after a while, but when those two got going, they'd dig up the worst of each other. And saying things like that was enough to scar Inuyasha enough to give him nightmares for weeks.
"Dad, just drop it," Kagome said at last, collapsing into her chair. "I have a headache." Toutousai grudgingly did the same. Inuyasha guessed it wa now safe for him to speak.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble," he apologized.
"It's not your fault 'Yash," Kagome said with a tired smile. "Dad's only here because he doesn't trust me to take care of myself until after the tournament's over."
"Bah, it's a crime now to worry over one's only daughter?" Toutousai huffed. Kagome chuckled.
"Not at all Daddy. But you are a very active worrier." That he agreed with. "The afternoon is young, you two wanna grab some food with me?" she asked, turning from Toutousai to Inuyasha and back again.
"If you're paying," Inuyasha said. Kagome scowled, only causing him to smirk back at her.
"You suck," she whined, then turned to her father. "What about you Dad?"
"I could use some food."
"Good, we'll take my car."
The three piled into Kagome's Civic and she drove to the nearest nice quality restaurant called the Sayreville Bar. They got a nice table in the bar for three, then ordered and had polite conversation. Kagome excused herself for a minute to use the restroom before the food came, leaving Inuyasha and Toutousai alone.
Inuyasha gulped, vowing to get revenge on Kagome the second he had her alone, and turned to his companion. Toutousai was watching him with narrowed eyes. "Heh heh," Inuyasha coughed and shifted in his seat.
"I must say," Toutousai began, sipping his water. "Of all the people I thought that Kagome would surround herself with after this, you were not on that list."
"Well, we really haven't been friends all that long, only a few months," Inuyasha stummbling explained. And yet, that felt wrong to say. Sometimes, he swore it felt like Kagome and he had been together for years. He knew virtually everything there was to know about her, personality wise that is. Everyone has a few secrets. He was also sure that she knew the same about him. Kagome Higurashi was his best friend in the world. Then again, that didn't feel right either. It was a confusing position.
"Maybe not, but even if you had, I would have thought it would be too awkward for her."
"Why?" Inuyasha asked, suddenly interested.
"Well, because of her adoration of you, of course. Don't tell me she never mentioned all the years she spent following your career?" Inuyasha shook his head. Kagome had said she was a fan of his, but never went into much detail. Toutousai laughed at him. "She was the biggest fan you have ever seen, which surprised me a great deal. As I'm sure you know, Kagome is not one of those women who...how can I put this...My daughter lacks the finesse needed to fit to society's conformity. Kagome is a rebel, I guess you could say. She was never one to fawn over a musician or actor, not like most girls her age. Growing up, she was content to watch Bruce Lee movies and practice her techniques. But I must say, she worshiped you."
"Me?" Inuyasha said with a hint of awe in his voice. "Why would be so hung up on me?"
"I never really knew myself," Toutousai commented, more to himself then the other man. "I asked her once, she was probably around eighteen at the time. All she did was smile at me and say that sometimes a girl just knows things." He shook his head whimsically. "I'm an old man, but I know my daughter. She may seem all sarcasm and fists, but she is a very open person. There is no halfway with Kagome. When she trusts, when she loves, she does it completely. And that is what makes her very easy to betray, and easily hurt." Toutousai met Inuyasha's eyes before he spoke again. "If you hurt her, I will personally hunt you down and gut you like a fish."
Inuyasha's eyebrows shot up and he gulped, but really he was deep in thought. When Kagome returned, she played a game of wits with her father, slinging words back and forth with each other and occasionally at him. Inuyasha did his best to play along, but more often then not, he'd trail off and simply observe them. Could the old man have been right? He had always thought Kagome to be this strong person. Yes, she'd lost things in her life, who hasn't? He knew she was only human, but was even though he knew the worst of her, he sometimes forgot the fact that she was fragile. When they got back to her apartment, and Inuyasha took his car home, he completely forgot to tell her about what he had been rehearsing all morning.
"There's always tomorrow," he said with a sigh. But in the end, he forgot then too.
Truth was, he didn't want to bring it up while her father was there. So he waited out the rest of the week, until Toutousai decreed that he had mooched off of his daughter long enough and that he was due back in Grand Lake. Kagome was sad to see him go, even though she looked forward to a good night's sleep. Sango, Miroku and the kids had come over three times that week, having dinner or spending the day with them. Inuyasha had avoided her much of the week, leaving her to wonder what exactly her father had told him, but she didn't ask either of them.
Souta had arrived to pick Toutousai up in the morning, leaving Kagome's afternoon free. She decided to bug Inuyasha, but was more surprised when he asked if she'd come to his apartment. With no reason why not, she went over.
"'Yash, are you of the living?" she called when she opened the door to his place after knocking twice without answer. The bar was being tended by Neil, the back-up worker. So he had to be somewhere upstairs. She found him sitting cross-legged on his couch, a manila envelope sitting next to him.
"Hi," he greeted, looking unusually serious.
"Inuyasha, what happened?" she asked. There was something about the way he was sitting, the look in his gold eyes, that told her something was not right.
"Come here," he said, motioning for the seat beside him. She sat, picking up the envelope and clipping it over. There was no return address, but it was address to him in a scrawling writing that looked as if it had been written by a brush rather then a pen. "That came for me last week. I wanted to talk to you about it then, but your Dad came and I didn't want to bother you with him around."
"What is it?" she asked. Goosebumps ran up and down her arms as she looked from the paper to him and back again.
"Open it and see," was all he said.
Kagome opened the top and pulled out a folded sheet of old paper, as well as two plane tickets and a variety of other papers. She unfolded the yellow paper first. She read aloud when she looked at it. "Dear Mister Dai-- You have been cordially invited to participate in the Kiyomatsu Tournament...." Her voice trailed off as she read the line over five times before pressing on. "Our tournament is exclusive and is by invitation only. We are holding it in a secured location in Japan. If you decide to attend, one of our committee will receive you and one guest at the airport in Tokyo to bring you to our arena. The Tournament opens July 28th, at 9 am sharp. If you are not here by that time, we have no choice but to eliminate you. All fighters are eligible to win prizes, including the grand prize of the rare stone called the Shikon Jewel. We hope you will accept our offer and compete. Sincerely Yours, the Dovon of Kiyomatsu."
Inuyasha was silent as she read the letter, not knowing what her reaction would be. This very event meant so much to her, so much that it cost her a future. And here he was, the one to be invited when he hadn't set foot in a ring in over three years. Life really sucked sometimes.
"Are you going to go?" Kagome asked quietly, folding up the paper and slipping it back in the envelope. She skimmed the plane tickets, two-way trip to Tokyo, and a few other papers. There was an insurance claim, housing papers--all expenses paid by the Tournament Committee--and a few other papers concerning accident information.
"I don't know," he replied, matching her tone. "I thought a lot about it. I don't think I'm good enough to compete in something like that, especially being as rusty as I am. I wanted to talk to you about it first."
"Why ask me?" she said with a laugh. "It's your invite, your choice."
"I know," he said with a sigh. "But I also know how much this meant to you. If I had to choose between a tournament and you, I'd rather stay as a pizza boy, Kag. I just wanted to make sure you were okay with my being invited before I chucked the papers. You should hear it from me, is all."
"'Yash," she breathed, looking at the envelope again. "You've gotta go." She was shaking her head and giving him a half-smile again. "This is a once in a lifetime chance here. You can show all these people--the best in the world--just how fucking great you are!"
"You really think I should?"
"Fuck yeah!" she said, tossing the papers on to the table and facing him. "You thought I'd get all weepy because I didn't get it but you did?" He blushed a little and she laughed. "I'm not that shallow. Inuyasha, this is a great honor, and if there was anyone besides me that I'd want to go, it'd be you!"
"Kagome," he said hesitantly, looking down. "Will you come with me?"
"To Japan?" she said with wide eyes. He nodded, looking rather nervous. "I don't know. I mean, I'm happy you got in 'Yash, I am, but I don't know if it's a good idea I go with you..."
"Kagome." She met his eyes and saw that he was deadly serious now. "I really need you there."
Kagome let out a breath and smiled. "Then I'll be there." He returned her smile. Then Kagome jumped to her feet and hopped up and down like a hyper kindergartener. "Oh my God, we're going to Japan! You're going to kick so much ass! This is fucking amazing!" Inuyasha stood up and shook his head.
"And people think I'm immature because I deliver pizza."
"Shut up, brat," she laughed, kicking at his shin. He laughed. Kagome was still smiling like and idiot and out of her mind. She tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him hard. "This is so awesome." Inuyasha was surprised, but he was happy too. With Kagome there, he'd have a chance at least. Or so he hoped.
A/N: Here we are! Chapter 7 out and about. Now we'll start getting into the action part. Kag and Yash, off to the Tournament. Just whoever will be there I wonder? Well, I know, but you don't, hehe. Thanks for reading and please remember to review! Happy Thanksgiving, one and all!