I gave my dog a bath. My cat gets jealous when I brush him. She spent
several minutes walking back and forth under his belly. Then she lay down,
wrapped her paws around his leg, and chewed on him. I kept telling him
that it was all right step on her or kick her. But he puts up with it. He
probably thinks its part of the bath torture. Not really relevant, but
it's a cute story.
Here is the next chapter full of singing, movies, and fluff. Enjoy!
^**^
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any songs I may use.
^**^
Chapter 12
^**^
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shiro sprawled on the couch. Running, tickling, and laughing were hard work. Kagome didn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard or had so much fun. Inuyasha sat, feet on the coffee table, head thrown back, and arms looped across the back of the sofa. Shiro sat on her lap, playing with her hair. He wore a look of fierce concentration as he twisted strands together. Kagome was too content to care how much work de-tangling her hair was going to be.
"I should probably get going." Kagome was reluctant, but she couldn't impose on Inuyasha and his son forever.
"Can't," Inuyasha said. His eyes were closed. Kagome had thought he was almost asleep. "It's still raining. Don't you hear it?"
Rain pounded on the roof, not as hard as before, but it didn't sound like it would be stopping anytime soon. Inuyasha opened one eye to look at her. He yawned.
"I don't feel like drowning today." He put his feet on the floor and stretched his arms over his head. He rotated his head and winced as if his neck was stiff. Kagome had the urge to massage his tension away. "The rain can't last forever. You can go home later."
Kagome looked down at Shiro. He was trying to thread a ribbon he had found through her hair. "What do you want to do, munchkin?"
Shiro tapped one finger against his chin. His look of deep thought was totally adorable. Kagome wanted to hug him and never let go. She breathed in his delightful little boy scent.
"I know!" He climbed out of Kagome's lap. "We can have a sing-a- long! Daddy and I do it all the time." He looked pleased with his idea.
Kagome looked over to see Inuyasha frantically shaking his head. "I can't sing. Kagome doesn't want to hear me sing. Let's do something else."
Shiro jumped up and down with excitement. "Let's sing, Daddy! It's my idea, so I get to pick the songs." He went quiet for a moment. Then, a big grin split his face. "Duck songs, Daddy! I want songs about ducks!"
"Ducks?" Kagome turned to Inuyasha, a puzzled expression on her face. He groaned, but she had already figured out that he wouldn't deny Shiro anything. What was wrong with ducks?
Inuyasha buried his face in his hands. When he spoke, his voice was muffled. "The rule in this house is that whoever picks the game gets to choose the rules or the theme. Since singing is Shiro's idea, he gets to decide what we sing about. And he has this thing about ducks. I never should have bought him that rubber ducky."
"I don't know any songs about ducks," Kagome protested. Shiro grabbed her hand and pulled. She stood and absently helped him push the furniture to the edges of the room.
"You can make up words," Shiro told her. "It's more fun that way." He ran up the stairs and returned with a toy microphone. Inuyasha joined Kagome in the center of the room and accepted the microphone Shiro shoved at him.
Shiro grabbed Kagome's hand and dragged her back to the sofa. "Daddy's first! He gets to pick the next singer. Sit here, 'Gome." Kagome flopped onto the cushions. Shiro climbed onto the sofa and leaned against her. She put her arm around him and turned her attention to Inuyasha, standing uncomfortably before them.
Inuyasha cleared his throat. He turned the plastic microphone over a few times and cleared his throat again. This was too hilarious. What duck song would the great Inuyasha sing?
"There was a little duck and he had a webby foot
And he lived in the meadow by the willowy brook"
Kagome couldn't believe her ears. His voice was gorgeous. Even though he was singing a kid's song. He caught her eye, and grinned at the expression on her face.
"And he ruffled up his feathers And he said I'm mighty warm
Another little swim won't do me any harm
Ducky ducky duck duck"
"Quack Quack," shouted Shiro. Inuyasha finished with a flourish and bowed. Shiro laughed and applauded. Kagome joined in. Inuyasha looked up and there was a look on his face that promised retribution. He stepped forward and folded her hands in his. She blushed. When he released her, she was holding the microphone. She shook her head, panicked.
"Your turn, Kagome," he said. She wanted to smack that smug look off his face, or sink into the cushions. She couldn't decide which.
"Sing, 'Gome! Sing, 'Gome!" Shiro chanted. Kagome allowed the two of them to push her into the middle of the room. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. Her mind went blank; she didn't know any duck songs. Wait, there was something her mom used to sing when she was a little girl. Her mom liked ducks too. She cleared her throat in unconscious imitation of Inuyasha.
"Five little ducklings I once knew
Fat ones, skinny ones, short ones too"
Kagome's voice was true. She had closed her eyes to better remember the words and missed the surprised look in Inuyasha's eyes. A look that turned to pleasure.
"But the one little duck with a feather on his back
He led the others with a quack quack quack
He led the others with a quack quack quack."
Shiro stood up on the couch and clapped. Inuyasha couldn't applaud; he was laughing too hard. He never thought he would hear Kagome singing about ducks. She did have a rather fine voice. Maybe she would sing something else for him someday? He shook his head to clear it of that disturbingly pleasant image.
Kagome marched up and cuffed him lightly. "Be nice," she scolded. "I didn't laugh at you." Inuyasha caught her hand before she could hit him again.
"I'm sorry." His lips twitched with suppressed mirth. "It was a very nice song. You have a sweet voice." Kagome pulled away and turned to Shiro to hide the reddening tinge on her cheeks. He liked her singing? Flustered, she handed the microphone to Shiro.
"Your turn, munchkin." She managed to hide the slight quaver in her voice. She fiddled with the edges of her shirt, trying to calm the butterflies doing backflips in her stomach. Any compliment from Inuyasha gave her funny feelings and made her heart pound. It was worse than the flu. She didn't think this was something she would get over like a virus.
Shiro bounced to the middle of the room. He never walked. He always bounced or ran. One of these days, Kagome was going to check the bottoms of his feet for tiny springs. He struck a pose, gleaned from watching too many music videos.
"See the little ducklings
Swimming here and there
Swimming here and there
Heads down in the water
Tails up in the air"
Inuyasha and Kagome clapped. Shiro bowed. Inuyasha blew a piercing whistle and shouted, "Encore! Encore!" Shiro responded to the encouragement and sang a counting song about a mama duck calling for her babies. Inuyasha and Kagome joined in after the first verse.
Inuyasha stood up and took the microphone from Shiro before he could think up any more duck songs. "Who's up for a movie?" He opened a cupboard next to the TV. It was filled with videos. "We have 'The Lion King' and 'Toy Story 2 and--.'"
"'The Lion King!'" Shiro ran to the linen closet and returned with a large red blanket. Kagome helped him spread it on the sofa while Inuyasha set up the movie.
It was cozy on the sofa. The only thing between Kagome and Inuyasha was a hyper little boy. Shiro shouted encouragement to Simba and sang along with the songs. About twenty minutes into the movie, Kagome noticed that it had grown quiet. She looked down to see that Shiro had fallen asleep with his head pillowed in his daddy's lap. Kagome hit the pause button while Inuyasha took his son to bed. Shiro stirred slightly and muttered something about ducks. Inuyasha returned after a few minutes.
"Sit down, Inuyasha." Kagome patted the sofa. "I want to at least see the end of the movie. I've never seen this one before."
Inuyasha sat gingerly on one end of the sofa. Without Shiro present, Kagome made him nervous. He hadn't felt this way around a member of the opposite sex in a long time. He jumped when Kagome snuggled up next to him and pulled the blanket over his lap.
"It's cold in here," she mumbled sleepily. "And the blanket's big enough to share." She yawned and laid her head on his shoulder. Kagome was too tired to blush. It felt so right to lean against him. Especially, when he moved his arm so that it was draped loosely around her shoulders.
Inuyasha had forgotten the plot of the movie by now. Something about the lion who would be king. All he could concentrate on was the feel of Kagome pressed up against him. Kikyo had never snuggled. Kikyo wouldn't be caught dead watching anything that was animated. He found it harder each day to imagine life without Kagome. She made him laugh, and Shiro adored her. She mumbled something. Inuyasha turned to ask her to repeat herself.
Kagome was asleep. Her face looked so peaceful that Inuyasha hated to wake her. He put a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly.
She scrunched up her nose and gripped his shirt in her hands. "I'll do it later. I wanna sleep now." She was one heavy sleeper. He heard rain dripping on the roof. That gave him all the excuse he needed. He pried her fingers loose and stood. She protested the loss of her pillow but didn't wake. He slipped one hand under her knees and used the other to support her back. He picked her up, blanket and all.
It was tricky, carrying her up the stairs. He nearly dropped her once. He fumbled with girl and blanket, but managed to turn the light on and get her to the bed without major mishap. He tried to pry the blanket out of her hands, but she had a death grip on it. With a long-suffering sigh he pulled the covers up to her chin. He brushed an errant lock of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. No one was around and Kagome was fast asleep. This gave him the courage that he otherwise lacked. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Goodnight, Kagome," Inuyasha whispered. He backed out of the room, turned off the light, and went downstairs to make as comfortable a bed as he could on the sofa.
^**^
A/N: The promised duck songs! They did kiss, sort of. It's just that Kagome wasn't awake to enjoy it. Next chapter might see their first actual. . . kind of. . . maybe. . . date. Will Inuyasha ever kiss Kagome while she's awake? Will Shiro learn a new duck song? We'll have to see how things turn out. I am seriously sleep-deprived. Until next time!
^**^
Food for thought:
I try to take one day at a time
But lately several days have attacked me at once
Here is the next chapter full of singing, movies, and fluff. Enjoy!
^**^
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any songs I may use.
^**^
Chapter 12
^**^
Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shiro sprawled on the couch. Running, tickling, and laughing were hard work. Kagome didn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard or had so much fun. Inuyasha sat, feet on the coffee table, head thrown back, and arms looped across the back of the sofa. Shiro sat on her lap, playing with her hair. He wore a look of fierce concentration as he twisted strands together. Kagome was too content to care how much work de-tangling her hair was going to be.
"I should probably get going." Kagome was reluctant, but she couldn't impose on Inuyasha and his son forever.
"Can't," Inuyasha said. His eyes were closed. Kagome had thought he was almost asleep. "It's still raining. Don't you hear it?"
Rain pounded on the roof, not as hard as before, but it didn't sound like it would be stopping anytime soon. Inuyasha opened one eye to look at her. He yawned.
"I don't feel like drowning today." He put his feet on the floor and stretched his arms over his head. He rotated his head and winced as if his neck was stiff. Kagome had the urge to massage his tension away. "The rain can't last forever. You can go home later."
Kagome looked down at Shiro. He was trying to thread a ribbon he had found through her hair. "What do you want to do, munchkin?"
Shiro tapped one finger against his chin. His look of deep thought was totally adorable. Kagome wanted to hug him and never let go. She breathed in his delightful little boy scent.
"I know!" He climbed out of Kagome's lap. "We can have a sing-a- long! Daddy and I do it all the time." He looked pleased with his idea.
Kagome looked over to see Inuyasha frantically shaking his head. "I can't sing. Kagome doesn't want to hear me sing. Let's do something else."
Shiro jumped up and down with excitement. "Let's sing, Daddy! It's my idea, so I get to pick the songs." He went quiet for a moment. Then, a big grin split his face. "Duck songs, Daddy! I want songs about ducks!"
"Ducks?" Kagome turned to Inuyasha, a puzzled expression on her face. He groaned, but she had already figured out that he wouldn't deny Shiro anything. What was wrong with ducks?
Inuyasha buried his face in his hands. When he spoke, his voice was muffled. "The rule in this house is that whoever picks the game gets to choose the rules or the theme. Since singing is Shiro's idea, he gets to decide what we sing about. And he has this thing about ducks. I never should have bought him that rubber ducky."
"I don't know any songs about ducks," Kagome protested. Shiro grabbed her hand and pulled. She stood and absently helped him push the furniture to the edges of the room.
"You can make up words," Shiro told her. "It's more fun that way." He ran up the stairs and returned with a toy microphone. Inuyasha joined Kagome in the center of the room and accepted the microphone Shiro shoved at him.
Shiro grabbed Kagome's hand and dragged her back to the sofa. "Daddy's first! He gets to pick the next singer. Sit here, 'Gome." Kagome flopped onto the cushions. Shiro climbed onto the sofa and leaned against her. She put her arm around him and turned her attention to Inuyasha, standing uncomfortably before them.
Inuyasha cleared his throat. He turned the plastic microphone over a few times and cleared his throat again. This was too hilarious. What duck song would the great Inuyasha sing?
"There was a little duck and he had a webby foot
And he lived in the meadow by the willowy brook"
Kagome couldn't believe her ears. His voice was gorgeous. Even though he was singing a kid's song. He caught her eye, and grinned at the expression on her face.
"And he ruffled up his feathers And he said I'm mighty warm
Another little swim won't do me any harm
Ducky ducky duck duck"
"Quack Quack," shouted Shiro. Inuyasha finished with a flourish and bowed. Shiro laughed and applauded. Kagome joined in. Inuyasha looked up and there was a look on his face that promised retribution. He stepped forward and folded her hands in his. She blushed. When he released her, she was holding the microphone. She shook her head, panicked.
"Your turn, Kagome," he said. She wanted to smack that smug look off his face, or sink into the cushions. She couldn't decide which.
"Sing, 'Gome! Sing, 'Gome!" Shiro chanted. Kagome allowed the two of them to push her into the middle of the room. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. Her mind went blank; she didn't know any duck songs. Wait, there was something her mom used to sing when she was a little girl. Her mom liked ducks too. She cleared her throat in unconscious imitation of Inuyasha.
"Five little ducklings I once knew
Fat ones, skinny ones, short ones too"
Kagome's voice was true. She had closed her eyes to better remember the words and missed the surprised look in Inuyasha's eyes. A look that turned to pleasure.
"But the one little duck with a feather on his back
He led the others with a quack quack quack
He led the others with a quack quack quack."
Shiro stood up on the couch and clapped. Inuyasha couldn't applaud; he was laughing too hard. He never thought he would hear Kagome singing about ducks. She did have a rather fine voice. Maybe she would sing something else for him someday? He shook his head to clear it of that disturbingly pleasant image.
Kagome marched up and cuffed him lightly. "Be nice," she scolded. "I didn't laugh at you." Inuyasha caught her hand before she could hit him again.
"I'm sorry." His lips twitched with suppressed mirth. "It was a very nice song. You have a sweet voice." Kagome pulled away and turned to Shiro to hide the reddening tinge on her cheeks. He liked her singing? Flustered, she handed the microphone to Shiro.
"Your turn, munchkin." She managed to hide the slight quaver in her voice. She fiddled with the edges of her shirt, trying to calm the butterflies doing backflips in her stomach. Any compliment from Inuyasha gave her funny feelings and made her heart pound. It was worse than the flu. She didn't think this was something she would get over like a virus.
Shiro bounced to the middle of the room. He never walked. He always bounced or ran. One of these days, Kagome was going to check the bottoms of his feet for tiny springs. He struck a pose, gleaned from watching too many music videos.
"See the little ducklings
Swimming here and there
Swimming here and there
Heads down in the water
Tails up in the air"
Inuyasha and Kagome clapped. Shiro bowed. Inuyasha blew a piercing whistle and shouted, "Encore! Encore!" Shiro responded to the encouragement and sang a counting song about a mama duck calling for her babies. Inuyasha and Kagome joined in after the first verse.
Inuyasha stood up and took the microphone from Shiro before he could think up any more duck songs. "Who's up for a movie?" He opened a cupboard next to the TV. It was filled with videos. "We have 'The Lion King' and 'Toy Story 2 and--.'"
"'The Lion King!'" Shiro ran to the linen closet and returned with a large red blanket. Kagome helped him spread it on the sofa while Inuyasha set up the movie.
It was cozy on the sofa. The only thing between Kagome and Inuyasha was a hyper little boy. Shiro shouted encouragement to Simba and sang along with the songs. About twenty minutes into the movie, Kagome noticed that it had grown quiet. She looked down to see that Shiro had fallen asleep with his head pillowed in his daddy's lap. Kagome hit the pause button while Inuyasha took his son to bed. Shiro stirred slightly and muttered something about ducks. Inuyasha returned after a few minutes.
"Sit down, Inuyasha." Kagome patted the sofa. "I want to at least see the end of the movie. I've never seen this one before."
Inuyasha sat gingerly on one end of the sofa. Without Shiro present, Kagome made him nervous. He hadn't felt this way around a member of the opposite sex in a long time. He jumped when Kagome snuggled up next to him and pulled the blanket over his lap.
"It's cold in here," she mumbled sleepily. "And the blanket's big enough to share." She yawned and laid her head on his shoulder. Kagome was too tired to blush. It felt so right to lean against him. Especially, when he moved his arm so that it was draped loosely around her shoulders.
Inuyasha had forgotten the plot of the movie by now. Something about the lion who would be king. All he could concentrate on was the feel of Kagome pressed up against him. Kikyo had never snuggled. Kikyo wouldn't be caught dead watching anything that was animated. He found it harder each day to imagine life without Kagome. She made him laugh, and Shiro adored her. She mumbled something. Inuyasha turned to ask her to repeat herself.
Kagome was asleep. Her face looked so peaceful that Inuyasha hated to wake her. He put a hand on her shoulder and shook her lightly.
She scrunched up her nose and gripped his shirt in her hands. "I'll do it later. I wanna sleep now." She was one heavy sleeper. He heard rain dripping on the roof. That gave him all the excuse he needed. He pried her fingers loose and stood. She protested the loss of her pillow but didn't wake. He slipped one hand under her knees and used the other to support her back. He picked her up, blanket and all.
It was tricky, carrying her up the stairs. He nearly dropped her once. He fumbled with girl and blanket, but managed to turn the light on and get her to the bed without major mishap. He tried to pry the blanket out of her hands, but she had a death grip on it. With a long-suffering sigh he pulled the covers up to her chin. He brushed an errant lock of hair off her face and tucked it behind her ear. No one was around and Kagome was fast asleep. This gave him the courage that he otherwise lacked. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Goodnight, Kagome," Inuyasha whispered. He backed out of the room, turned off the light, and went downstairs to make as comfortable a bed as he could on the sofa.
^**^
A/N: The promised duck songs! They did kiss, sort of. It's just that Kagome wasn't awake to enjoy it. Next chapter might see their first actual. . . kind of. . . maybe. . . date. Will Inuyasha ever kiss Kagome while she's awake? Will Shiro learn a new duck song? We'll have to see how things turn out. I am seriously sleep-deprived. Until next time!
^**^
Food for thought:
I try to take one day at a time
But lately several days have attacked me at once