OH man... How long has it been? WAY TOO LONG!!! I'm so sorry it took so
long to update, my computer CRASHED, and so I've been trying to get it back
up to par. It still isn't. I'm hoping to fix that tomorrow. Wish me
luck.
If this chapter is kind of short, don't hate me, it's just that I'm really tired, okay?? And I'll make up for it later...
~~~~~~~~~
Ch. 9 Kouga a boss and Hojou's secret
I watched as the wolf my half-brother used to constantly fight with stepped closer to the miko, his hands outstretched and his eyes wide in disbelief. I fought the urge to break each clawed finger as he touched Kagome's face lightly. She didn't move, almost seeming to know that he needed to feel her to prove to himself that she was there.
The leader of the wolf-demon tribe in this area usually reeked of humans, but that was because of his line of business. Now, I realized that Kagome's scent had begun to stick to his hands, which were currently cupping her cheeks and turning her head this way and that as the youkai searched for any signs of trickery. But when he found none, I began to fear the wolf would cry as he wrapped her up in what could only be a bone- crushing hug. I swore I heard some of her bones pop, and the look on the kitsune's face said he had heard the same thing.
Kouga lifted his hand in the air to motion for a waiter, not taking his eyes off of Kagome. The more he stared at her, the more she blushed and became obviously uncomfortable. The more she became uncomfortable, the more I wanted to rip out the pup's throat for making her nervous. And the more I wanted to rip out our Maitre D's vocal cords, the harder Shippou had to work to restrain me.
It felt like the Feudal Era all over again.
When one of the waiters came over to show Kagome to her table, I watched as the boy's eyes rounded to the size of the plates they used here at Kouga's elaborate restaurant. The feeling of innocence coming from this one reminded me vaguely of a lovesick puppy mooning over a goddess. He might as well have been, for I could see the shock and nervousness in Kagome's face as she looked over at the newcomer.
"Hojou?!"
Blushing, the boy bowed and gave a stammered greeting. And then, in a way not unlike my brother, the boy began to discuss anything and everything about the priestess's personal life, not noticing how others glanced his way as he spoke of her many 'illnesses.' Kouga's own face contorted in amazement as he turned to look at the woman I knew had traveled through time to collect jewel shards with my half-brother.
"You mean THIS is the girl you always talked about being sick?" When the 'Hojou' boy agreed, the wolf's blue eyes looked over the miko in a way that made me want to drip the poison from my claws into them, although I wasn't really sure WHY it bothered me so much.
Then Kouga moved next to her and slid his arm around her waist.
At that moment, I could practically FEEL the blood and adrenaline pulsing through my veins in order to help activate the glands in my palms that made the poison flow from the tips of my claws. Again, I questioned myself as to WHY it bothered me so much to see another male looking at her, touching her, making her noticeably uncomfortable. I guessed it was the same protectiveness I had once felt with Rin, and almost smiled at the memory of when she had finally reached the age to mate, and how I had wanted to kill any man who stared at my surrogate daughter in a way I did not approve of.
I knew the wolf had always thought of Kagome as 'His Woman', as I had heard him once, and seen how he acted around her. But she had been able to take care of herself then, and I'm certain she could take care of herself now around him, but I did not know who this 'Hojou' was, and I was certain that Kagome was hungry, as I could hear the faint rumblings of her stomach as she blushed and tried to assure both the wolf and the ningen (human) that she was well, and that she had not been sick recently.
Finally, I grew annoyed with the other two males' questions, and decided to ask one of my own.
"So, are we going to be allowed to eat, or must I first take Kagome to the nearest physician for a full check-up, because I assure you that she is not ill in any way, merely hungry." Then I decided to add under my breath, so that only the kitsune and the wolf would hear, "Getting in a fight and healing yourself tends to wear on a person's energy supply, Kouga, and if we are not seated within the next two minutes, your restaurant shall need a new manager."
It was no surprise to me as the said youkai's eyes widened slightly before he instructed Hojou to lead us to our table while he went to inform someone of our arrival. I was slightly curious as to who he intended to tell, but I brushed it off and followed the nervous human to a secluded table near the back corner, Shippou sitting to her right as I sat down directly across from her. The boy, who was really the age to be called a young man, handed us our menus and nervously wrote down our choices for a drink before fleeing. The moment he was out of sight, Kagome released a sigh that made both the fox and I look over at her, wondering what was wrong.
"I can NOT believe this." I raised my eyebrow as I thought, 'Can't believe what, I wonder?' But she answered me before I opened my mouth when she continued her statement. "I can NOT believe I'm in a restaurant that Kouga owns and that Hojou works at. Why? Why me?! Why did they have to work together on the same day I came? Oh, man..."
Now I was twice as curious. What was making her so upset over meeting people she hadn't expected to see? Then Shippou grinned and whispered softly to me, "I think I remember her mentioning Hojou to Sango once. He always asked her out on dates, and she never really saw him as a prospective mate, but still felt bad when she missed their dates to help us out back in the past. Her grandpa always told him and anyone who asked that she was horribly ill, and that THAT was why she wasn't to be seen."
I watched as Kagome brought her now-reddened face up from where she had hidden it in her hands and glared at the kitsune in a way that I think my half-brother would have cringed under.
"Shippou..." That voice was deadly calm, and amazingly like my own when I warned Jaken, or when I had spoken to Kouga or Inuyasha in the past. The miko looked at her adopted son and smirked slightly. "You DO realize I can hear you, right?" By the look on the kit's face, I'm guessing he hadn't known. But then Kagome seemed to relax and she reached out to tug on a lock of his hair gently. "I don't know how ANYONE could believe my grandpa, either," she told us, "I mean, he said I had rheumatism!! And then there was a few others that I'd rather NOT say... like shingles..."
I had to actually laugh at that idea, though it seemed to surprise both Kagome and the kitsune, although I know Shippou heard me laugh more than once when he was telling me about his life with the former shard-hunters, especially anytime he mentioned the demon exterminator slapping the monk, or when Kagome would use the subduing spell on my half-wit brother. In fact, I remember laughing almost immediately after he began his tale, when he told of how he used a kitsune trick to pin Inuyasha to the side of the road.
The surprise seemed to wear off of them, though, and Kagome smiled at me while Shippou continued to snicker next to me. And when Hojou reappeared a second later with our drinks, and ready to take our order, I could see the glances he would give the young priestess, and the jealous looks he would direct towards Shippou and myself. At least now I knew why. After all, who wouldn't be jealous if the woman that missed your dates multiple times ended up going out with two men who both seemed to be about five years older than her?
I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face as I watched him walk away. 'If only you knew how old we really were, pup. If only you knew...'
~~*~~
I couldn't freaking believe it. First, I find out that Sesshoumaru was alive, and had changed in the past 500 years to become less cold and unemotional. Then Shippou attacks him in my home, resulting in a puncture wound through my stomach, which healed in a matter of hours, followed by dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants around, where Inuyasha's OTHER arch-rival worked. And if finding the youkai who used to ALWAYS call me 'His Woman' wasn't odd enough, HOJOU had to work there, too!!!
But, why WAS Hojou working there? I'd have figured he'd be working at his family's shop. I decided to ask him later, and thought back on Sesshoumaru's laugh. It was more of a soft chuckle, really, but it was still there. I know I had to have been smiling at him like an idiot afterwards, but oh well.
When Hojou came back to take our order, I noticed that Sesshoumaru seemed to be watching him, and a smirk crept across his face. I knew that smirk. I had seen that smirk before. That was the 'I know something you don't know, and I think it's pretty damn funny that you have no clue' smirk he had given to Inuyasha a time or two. As Hojou walked off to get our food, I heard a trip and a muttered apology that sounded, amazingly, like our waiter. I fought hard not to laugh, and wondered what he tripped over. But, I couldn't look, because then he'd feel bad, thinking I was laughing at him.
And so, I merely turned to where my son was trying hard not to bust out giggling, which made me grin even more. I reached out and poked his arm. When he turned to look at me, I asked him how his family was. Immediately, he launched into a story about what one of the younger kits did that weekend, and how the sight of a fox-youkai screaming and covering his eyes on a roller coaster while his sister laughed next to him was one that they had caught on film for me to see later. I have to admit, that mental picture alone was enough to make me start laughing, since the thought of ANY demon acting like that on a roller coaster was incredulous.
It was in the middle of our laughing session, though, that Hojou returned with our food. I was surprised at the speed of the order, but then remembered Kouga was in charge, and his love for speed, for one thing, and the fact that he probably put the fear of wolf-demons in the mind of the chef. I snapped from my thoughts when I saw Hojou start to move away.
"Hojou!" He turned and looked at me, and I couldn't help but be nervous as he just stared at me, with this really hopeful look on his face. Talk about guilt trip for me... "Um, I was just wondering... When did you start working here??" At that, his face seemed to falter, and he began to blush.
"Well, I needed some extra money, and I already spent a lot of time at the shop, plus I heard this restaurant paid well, so I came to work here." He moved to leave again, but I was curious. Thank the gods I'm not a cat, ne?
"But Hojou, what did you need money for?? I thought your family was doing good with the shop." Now he REALLY began to blush. I mean, ripe-tomato red. He mumbled an apology, saying he had to see his other tables, and practically ran as I thought over what had just happened. Then it hit me. 'All those gifts from him...' The guilt trip was back in full force, making me groan softly. When Sesshoumaru and Shippou both looked at me curiously over their food, I explained it to them.
"Hojou used to always buy me gifts when I was 'sick', and say that he had found this at the shop, or not tell me at all where he bought it. I thought it was weird that his mom let him have all that stuff, since it would mean less profits for them to rely on. Now that I know he's working here, I know that he actually PAID for everything he gave me... Oh, man..." I stared down at my own food, the guilt trip making it difficult for me to think about eating.
"Hey mom, I think you should be worrying about something else." I looked over at him, both surprised at his calling me "Mom" in public, since that was usually only when it was him and I and sometimes his family; and wondering what else I should be worrying over.
"Yes. The fact that Kouga and Hojou work together and have obviously spoken of you may not be such a good thing. The wolf never mated, as he was too wild to be tied down to one woman, although he once mentioned he would have not minded being mated to you. And now, you are back, and he will no doubt want to try for your hand again." Oh great!! 'Please don't let Sesshoumaru mean what I think he means...'
"That's right. So don't be surprised if Kouga starts bringing you gifts and such, while Hojou will probably start calling you 'His Girl' anytime he sees you in public." I groaned at Shippou's teasing, and poked his shoulder again.
"Thanks, I'll be sure to hide behind you or Sesshoumaru anytime I see one of them heading my way." I smiled for a moment to let him know I wasn't mad or anything and begun to eat my food, marveling in how wonderful it tasted. We continued to talk over our food, each of us telling about things that had been going on in our lives recently, even Sesshoumaru, who I was surprised to find out worked with humans without too much hatred.
Our meal was perfect. We spoke of the past, the present, and the future. I told them how I intended to attend college soon, and how Souta was taking martial arts classes, since he still wanted to be like Inuyasha was when he had rescued us both from the Noh mask that first time. Shippou spoke about his mate's new book she was writing about myths and legends (perfect for her, ne?), while Shippou himself was considering becoming a professor of history at a university. I grinned, knowing he had probably said that because he knew I would most likely end up being one of his students. And Sesshoumaru quietly told us of how he had had no real plans for the future before he knew we were alive, but was now considering to write a book of his own, only to have it be his life story. We laughed over this, even Sesshoumaru himself as we discussed how people would respond to the novel.
After we finished eating and were moving to leave, still talking about book ideas, and things to add into it, Kouga approached me again. He smiled at me and bowed, shocking me. When he straightened, he gave me his familiar smirk, and asked me to have lunch with him the next day, so that I could explain to him "how the seven hells" I was still alive. I was trying to think of how to answer, but Shippou saved me.
"It's not a long story. She just had a well on her family's shrine that let her go back and forth to the past." I turned to stare at him, surprised he could sum it all up in one sentence. I think Kouga was surprised to, but most likely not for the same reason. I could have SWORN it was a conspiracy when Sesshoumaru decided to add in his own thoughts.
"Besides, Shippou has already invited her and I to visit him tomorrow, since I have yet to meet his mate and kits that he spoke about for the past hour or so." The look he gave Kouga dared him to argue, and I watched as Kouga turned to me with a determined look in his eyes. 'Oh, Kami-sama, I'm in trouble.'
"May I at least have some way to contact you?" Smiling at him, I nodded and asked for a pen. He quickly whipped one from his pocket and handed me a slip of paper to write on. I left my phone number and address, telling him not to call too early, since I tended to sleep in, and not to call too late, since Grandpa tended to go to bed earlier these days. I would have said more, but Shippou had grabbed me by the hand and was dragging me out the door, following Sesshoumaru as he made his way back to the car.
After our goodbyes, and promises to see each other tomorrow and meet Shippou's family as the Taiyoukai had said, I made my way back to the shrine while Shippou went back to his own home, almost bursting with the new things he wanted to tell his family.
The moment I entered my house, though, I was bombarded with questions from my younger brother, who wanted to know EVERYTHING about our 'Date', as he called it. I pointed out that Shippou was there, but Souta merely said that he didn't count, since he was like my son, and asked even more questions. I promised to tell him and mom everything, since she had come up behind him and was listening curiously, and begged to be allowed to bathe and change clothes before I told them the story.
They practically shoved me up the stairs with the order to hurry up, and Grandpa even came to my room and asked if I needed to keep any of his ofudas with me when I was with the demon that looked a little like Inuyasha. He knew Shippou, and didn't worry about him anymore, but he had yet to learn about Sesshoumaru. I swore I'd be safe, and moved past him to take a bath, my pajamas in hand.
I didn't get to really enjoy it, though, since only 10 minutes later Souta stood outside the door, telling me to hurry and get out of the tub. When I refused, he began to sing some of the most annoying songs I had ever heard, and after the third round of "The Song That Never Ends", I ran out of the bathroom in my towel and clamped my hand over his mouth, telling him to let me dress, and then I'd be downstairs. My voice matched Sesshoumaru's, actually, and I watched as my younger brother ran down the stairs to grab a drink and a snack so that he could focus on my story when I came down.
Rolling my eyes, I went back into the bathroom and pulled on my pajamas. 'I wonder why I have to have such an odd family. But then, I suppose having a kitsune for a son, a dog-demon for a friend, and a wolf for an admirer is pretty, odd, too.' With a sigh that had become normal when I spent time around Inuyasha and my family, I opened the door and made my way downstairs to talk to my waiting family.
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, I'm SOOOOOOOOO sorry this took so long to get out!! But hey, I DID make this almost a page longer than all my other chapters, right???? I wanted to put it up last night, but I ended up almost falling asleep on my computer after I wrote Sesshoumaru's part, so I decided it was time to go to sleep. I guess staying up till 1-2 every morning and getting up at 6-8 every morning is starting to get to me. Oh well. Hope you liked it, and I'll try not to take so long to update next time!!! Thanks!!!! And Sorry again!!!
If this chapter is kind of short, don't hate me, it's just that I'm really tired, okay?? And I'll make up for it later...
~~~~~~~~~
Ch. 9 Kouga a boss and Hojou's secret
I watched as the wolf my half-brother used to constantly fight with stepped closer to the miko, his hands outstretched and his eyes wide in disbelief. I fought the urge to break each clawed finger as he touched Kagome's face lightly. She didn't move, almost seeming to know that he needed to feel her to prove to himself that she was there.
The leader of the wolf-demon tribe in this area usually reeked of humans, but that was because of his line of business. Now, I realized that Kagome's scent had begun to stick to his hands, which were currently cupping her cheeks and turning her head this way and that as the youkai searched for any signs of trickery. But when he found none, I began to fear the wolf would cry as he wrapped her up in what could only be a bone- crushing hug. I swore I heard some of her bones pop, and the look on the kitsune's face said he had heard the same thing.
Kouga lifted his hand in the air to motion for a waiter, not taking his eyes off of Kagome. The more he stared at her, the more she blushed and became obviously uncomfortable. The more she became uncomfortable, the more I wanted to rip out the pup's throat for making her nervous. And the more I wanted to rip out our Maitre D's vocal cords, the harder Shippou had to work to restrain me.
It felt like the Feudal Era all over again.
When one of the waiters came over to show Kagome to her table, I watched as the boy's eyes rounded to the size of the plates they used here at Kouga's elaborate restaurant. The feeling of innocence coming from this one reminded me vaguely of a lovesick puppy mooning over a goddess. He might as well have been, for I could see the shock and nervousness in Kagome's face as she looked over at the newcomer.
"Hojou?!"
Blushing, the boy bowed and gave a stammered greeting. And then, in a way not unlike my brother, the boy began to discuss anything and everything about the priestess's personal life, not noticing how others glanced his way as he spoke of her many 'illnesses.' Kouga's own face contorted in amazement as he turned to look at the woman I knew had traveled through time to collect jewel shards with my half-brother.
"You mean THIS is the girl you always talked about being sick?" When the 'Hojou' boy agreed, the wolf's blue eyes looked over the miko in a way that made me want to drip the poison from my claws into them, although I wasn't really sure WHY it bothered me so much.
Then Kouga moved next to her and slid his arm around her waist.
At that moment, I could practically FEEL the blood and adrenaline pulsing through my veins in order to help activate the glands in my palms that made the poison flow from the tips of my claws. Again, I questioned myself as to WHY it bothered me so much to see another male looking at her, touching her, making her noticeably uncomfortable. I guessed it was the same protectiveness I had once felt with Rin, and almost smiled at the memory of when she had finally reached the age to mate, and how I had wanted to kill any man who stared at my surrogate daughter in a way I did not approve of.
I knew the wolf had always thought of Kagome as 'His Woman', as I had heard him once, and seen how he acted around her. But she had been able to take care of herself then, and I'm certain she could take care of herself now around him, but I did not know who this 'Hojou' was, and I was certain that Kagome was hungry, as I could hear the faint rumblings of her stomach as she blushed and tried to assure both the wolf and the ningen (human) that she was well, and that she had not been sick recently.
Finally, I grew annoyed with the other two males' questions, and decided to ask one of my own.
"So, are we going to be allowed to eat, or must I first take Kagome to the nearest physician for a full check-up, because I assure you that she is not ill in any way, merely hungry." Then I decided to add under my breath, so that only the kitsune and the wolf would hear, "Getting in a fight and healing yourself tends to wear on a person's energy supply, Kouga, and if we are not seated within the next two minutes, your restaurant shall need a new manager."
It was no surprise to me as the said youkai's eyes widened slightly before he instructed Hojou to lead us to our table while he went to inform someone of our arrival. I was slightly curious as to who he intended to tell, but I brushed it off and followed the nervous human to a secluded table near the back corner, Shippou sitting to her right as I sat down directly across from her. The boy, who was really the age to be called a young man, handed us our menus and nervously wrote down our choices for a drink before fleeing. The moment he was out of sight, Kagome released a sigh that made both the fox and I look over at her, wondering what was wrong.
"I can NOT believe this." I raised my eyebrow as I thought, 'Can't believe what, I wonder?' But she answered me before I opened my mouth when she continued her statement. "I can NOT believe I'm in a restaurant that Kouga owns and that Hojou works at. Why? Why me?! Why did they have to work together on the same day I came? Oh, man..."
Now I was twice as curious. What was making her so upset over meeting people she hadn't expected to see? Then Shippou grinned and whispered softly to me, "I think I remember her mentioning Hojou to Sango once. He always asked her out on dates, and she never really saw him as a prospective mate, but still felt bad when she missed their dates to help us out back in the past. Her grandpa always told him and anyone who asked that she was horribly ill, and that THAT was why she wasn't to be seen."
I watched as Kagome brought her now-reddened face up from where she had hidden it in her hands and glared at the kitsune in a way that I think my half-brother would have cringed under.
"Shippou..." That voice was deadly calm, and amazingly like my own when I warned Jaken, or when I had spoken to Kouga or Inuyasha in the past. The miko looked at her adopted son and smirked slightly. "You DO realize I can hear you, right?" By the look on the kit's face, I'm guessing he hadn't known. But then Kagome seemed to relax and she reached out to tug on a lock of his hair gently. "I don't know how ANYONE could believe my grandpa, either," she told us, "I mean, he said I had rheumatism!! And then there was a few others that I'd rather NOT say... like shingles..."
I had to actually laugh at that idea, though it seemed to surprise both Kagome and the kitsune, although I know Shippou heard me laugh more than once when he was telling me about his life with the former shard-hunters, especially anytime he mentioned the demon exterminator slapping the monk, or when Kagome would use the subduing spell on my half-wit brother. In fact, I remember laughing almost immediately after he began his tale, when he told of how he used a kitsune trick to pin Inuyasha to the side of the road.
The surprise seemed to wear off of them, though, and Kagome smiled at me while Shippou continued to snicker next to me. And when Hojou reappeared a second later with our drinks, and ready to take our order, I could see the glances he would give the young priestess, and the jealous looks he would direct towards Shippou and myself. At least now I knew why. After all, who wouldn't be jealous if the woman that missed your dates multiple times ended up going out with two men who both seemed to be about five years older than her?
I couldn't help the smirk that crossed my face as I watched him walk away. 'If only you knew how old we really were, pup. If only you knew...'
~~*~~
I couldn't freaking believe it. First, I find out that Sesshoumaru was alive, and had changed in the past 500 years to become less cold and unemotional. Then Shippou attacks him in my home, resulting in a puncture wound through my stomach, which healed in a matter of hours, followed by dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants around, where Inuyasha's OTHER arch-rival worked. And if finding the youkai who used to ALWAYS call me 'His Woman' wasn't odd enough, HOJOU had to work there, too!!!
But, why WAS Hojou working there? I'd have figured he'd be working at his family's shop. I decided to ask him later, and thought back on Sesshoumaru's laugh. It was more of a soft chuckle, really, but it was still there. I know I had to have been smiling at him like an idiot afterwards, but oh well.
When Hojou came back to take our order, I noticed that Sesshoumaru seemed to be watching him, and a smirk crept across his face. I knew that smirk. I had seen that smirk before. That was the 'I know something you don't know, and I think it's pretty damn funny that you have no clue' smirk he had given to Inuyasha a time or two. As Hojou walked off to get our food, I heard a trip and a muttered apology that sounded, amazingly, like our waiter. I fought hard not to laugh, and wondered what he tripped over. But, I couldn't look, because then he'd feel bad, thinking I was laughing at him.
And so, I merely turned to where my son was trying hard not to bust out giggling, which made me grin even more. I reached out and poked his arm. When he turned to look at me, I asked him how his family was. Immediately, he launched into a story about what one of the younger kits did that weekend, and how the sight of a fox-youkai screaming and covering his eyes on a roller coaster while his sister laughed next to him was one that they had caught on film for me to see later. I have to admit, that mental picture alone was enough to make me start laughing, since the thought of ANY demon acting like that on a roller coaster was incredulous.
It was in the middle of our laughing session, though, that Hojou returned with our food. I was surprised at the speed of the order, but then remembered Kouga was in charge, and his love for speed, for one thing, and the fact that he probably put the fear of wolf-demons in the mind of the chef. I snapped from my thoughts when I saw Hojou start to move away.
"Hojou!" He turned and looked at me, and I couldn't help but be nervous as he just stared at me, with this really hopeful look on his face. Talk about guilt trip for me... "Um, I was just wondering... When did you start working here??" At that, his face seemed to falter, and he began to blush.
"Well, I needed some extra money, and I already spent a lot of time at the shop, plus I heard this restaurant paid well, so I came to work here." He moved to leave again, but I was curious. Thank the gods I'm not a cat, ne?
"But Hojou, what did you need money for?? I thought your family was doing good with the shop." Now he REALLY began to blush. I mean, ripe-tomato red. He mumbled an apology, saying he had to see his other tables, and practically ran as I thought over what had just happened. Then it hit me. 'All those gifts from him...' The guilt trip was back in full force, making me groan softly. When Sesshoumaru and Shippou both looked at me curiously over their food, I explained it to them.
"Hojou used to always buy me gifts when I was 'sick', and say that he had found this at the shop, or not tell me at all where he bought it. I thought it was weird that his mom let him have all that stuff, since it would mean less profits for them to rely on. Now that I know he's working here, I know that he actually PAID for everything he gave me... Oh, man..." I stared down at my own food, the guilt trip making it difficult for me to think about eating.
"Hey mom, I think you should be worrying about something else." I looked over at him, both surprised at his calling me "Mom" in public, since that was usually only when it was him and I and sometimes his family; and wondering what else I should be worrying over.
"Yes. The fact that Kouga and Hojou work together and have obviously spoken of you may not be such a good thing. The wolf never mated, as he was too wild to be tied down to one woman, although he once mentioned he would have not minded being mated to you. And now, you are back, and he will no doubt want to try for your hand again." Oh great!! 'Please don't let Sesshoumaru mean what I think he means...'
"That's right. So don't be surprised if Kouga starts bringing you gifts and such, while Hojou will probably start calling you 'His Girl' anytime he sees you in public." I groaned at Shippou's teasing, and poked his shoulder again.
"Thanks, I'll be sure to hide behind you or Sesshoumaru anytime I see one of them heading my way." I smiled for a moment to let him know I wasn't mad or anything and begun to eat my food, marveling in how wonderful it tasted. We continued to talk over our food, each of us telling about things that had been going on in our lives recently, even Sesshoumaru, who I was surprised to find out worked with humans without too much hatred.
Our meal was perfect. We spoke of the past, the present, and the future. I told them how I intended to attend college soon, and how Souta was taking martial arts classes, since he still wanted to be like Inuyasha was when he had rescued us both from the Noh mask that first time. Shippou spoke about his mate's new book she was writing about myths and legends (perfect for her, ne?), while Shippou himself was considering becoming a professor of history at a university. I grinned, knowing he had probably said that because he knew I would most likely end up being one of his students. And Sesshoumaru quietly told us of how he had had no real plans for the future before he knew we were alive, but was now considering to write a book of his own, only to have it be his life story. We laughed over this, even Sesshoumaru himself as we discussed how people would respond to the novel.
After we finished eating and were moving to leave, still talking about book ideas, and things to add into it, Kouga approached me again. He smiled at me and bowed, shocking me. When he straightened, he gave me his familiar smirk, and asked me to have lunch with him the next day, so that I could explain to him "how the seven hells" I was still alive. I was trying to think of how to answer, but Shippou saved me.
"It's not a long story. She just had a well on her family's shrine that let her go back and forth to the past." I turned to stare at him, surprised he could sum it all up in one sentence. I think Kouga was surprised to, but most likely not for the same reason. I could have SWORN it was a conspiracy when Sesshoumaru decided to add in his own thoughts.
"Besides, Shippou has already invited her and I to visit him tomorrow, since I have yet to meet his mate and kits that he spoke about for the past hour or so." The look he gave Kouga dared him to argue, and I watched as Kouga turned to me with a determined look in his eyes. 'Oh, Kami-sama, I'm in trouble.'
"May I at least have some way to contact you?" Smiling at him, I nodded and asked for a pen. He quickly whipped one from his pocket and handed me a slip of paper to write on. I left my phone number and address, telling him not to call too early, since I tended to sleep in, and not to call too late, since Grandpa tended to go to bed earlier these days. I would have said more, but Shippou had grabbed me by the hand and was dragging me out the door, following Sesshoumaru as he made his way back to the car.
After our goodbyes, and promises to see each other tomorrow and meet Shippou's family as the Taiyoukai had said, I made my way back to the shrine while Shippou went back to his own home, almost bursting with the new things he wanted to tell his family.
The moment I entered my house, though, I was bombarded with questions from my younger brother, who wanted to know EVERYTHING about our 'Date', as he called it. I pointed out that Shippou was there, but Souta merely said that he didn't count, since he was like my son, and asked even more questions. I promised to tell him and mom everything, since she had come up behind him and was listening curiously, and begged to be allowed to bathe and change clothes before I told them the story.
They practically shoved me up the stairs with the order to hurry up, and Grandpa even came to my room and asked if I needed to keep any of his ofudas with me when I was with the demon that looked a little like Inuyasha. He knew Shippou, and didn't worry about him anymore, but he had yet to learn about Sesshoumaru. I swore I'd be safe, and moved past him to take a bath, my pajamas in hand.
I didn't get to really enjoy it, though, since only 10 minutes later Souta stood outside the door, telling me to hurry and get out of the tub. When I refused, he began to sing some of the most annoying songs I had ever heard, and after the third round of "The Song That Never Ends", I ran out of the bathroom in my towel and clamped my hand over his mouth, telling him to let me dress, and then I'd be downstairs. My voice matched Sesshoumaru's, actually, and I watched as my younger brother ran down the stairs to grab a drink and a snack so that he could focus on my story when I came down.
Rolling my eyes, I went back into the bathroom and pulled on my pajamas. 'I wonder why I have to have such an odd family. But then, I suppose having a kitsune for a son, a dog-demon for a friend, and a wolf for an admirer is pretty, odd, too.' With a sigh that had become normal when I spent time around Inuyasha and my family, I opened the door and made my way downstairs to talk to my waiting family.
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Okay, I'm SOOOOOOOOO sorry this took so long to get out!! But hey, I DID make this almost a page longer than all my other chapters, right???? I wanted to put it up last night, but I ended up almost falling asleep on my computer after I wrote Sesshoumaru's part, so I decided it was time to go to sleep. I guess staying up till 1-2 every morning and getting up at 6-8 every morning is starting to get to me. Oh well. Hope you liked it, and I'll try not to take so long to update next time!!! Thanks!!!! And Sorry again!!!
