Author's note (IMPORTANT)-
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Sorry, guys, I guess I wasn't so clear on some things:
==Yashinu is NOT Inuyasha, he's a reincarnation, kind of how Kagome was to Kikyou. They were similar in appearance, sure, but REALLY different otherwise. Therefore it isn't OOC to make Yashinu like poetry, since I made him up. Right?
^_~ sorry if I wasn't clear enough!!!
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ssp51201- Aw, darn, you could call out my plotline? And here I thought I was being ORIGINAL. *snaps fingers* Actually, Inu is not the poet, its his reincarnation, Yashinu. You're so lucky that your husband can sing! I've been in choir for 12 years, and I have YET to find a boy that is attractive and has a nice singing voice. And thank you so much for understanding the gaps between my updates! ^_^
Fire Maiden Kiya- Thank you SO MUCH *blush blush blush* You have no idea how happy you made me! I just hope I can live up to your expectations, I would hate to disappoint you! *Cries* I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!! (haha, I'm just a little emotional ^_~)
Redroses- Thanks, and I'm trying to make more as fast as I can ! Redroses....that reminds me of Tuxedo mask *sigh!* :-)!
Haunted Hell- Man, you keep changing your name!!! I always get so confused, lol. The first time I thought I had made a mistake with your name or something. Did you get my review, lady? ;-) OH, and that pic of Inu in your profile? That is one of my FAVES, I always go back and look at it.!
Kagomepotter- Trying to update soon soon soon! You know, we're a lot alike, I'm a HP/Inu obsessed person too! And I LOVE the Draco/Harry pairing.
Kaye- Sorry it took me a while to update, its spring break (in fact, the LAST day of spring break as I write this). I should be doing homework *whoops*
Asya18- Hey, thanks for telling me that you were confused! I actually need people to tell me that so I can fix my problems. Just remember, it's not Inuyasha, it's Yashinu, his reincarnation. Just like Kikyou is different than Kagome, Inuyasha and Yashinu are different. And Sango and Miroku aren't twice Kagome's age: their reincarnations are, so its another different story. As for Yashinu, you'll understand his soul, romantic/angry, better in later chaps, I promise! Thanks for helping me know that I was being confusing.
aznchicki- You like Long stories? Well, then, if you have any ideas, supply them to me and help me!!! :-D I'm just scared to make the story too long--- I don't want anyone to get bored. Thanks for the review!
Pasta Head- Mmmmmmmmm......Hershey's bars. Man, I'm on a diet, what are you trying to do to me, reminding me of chocolate? *cries* But thanks for the analogy, an addiction to Hershey's bars is something I can DEFINITELY relate to. ^_^
Shiari1- Oooooooooooooooh you are SO right. Thanks, I will do my BEST not to rush it. If I start rushing anything, please tell me and I'll try to stop.
priestessmykala- I'm sorry your heart broke *brings over masking tape* I'll do my best to mend it. I just hope you like how I unravel this story, its so hard to decide what to do sometimes. And if you don't like what I'm doing, don't be afraid to tell me ok? ^_^
Kagwoman- I'm sorry I AM EVIL! *mwahahahhahahahahahahhaha* *thunder in background* *evil smile*
Lady of Chaos- I'm glad you think its interesting, I just hope that I can keep it up as long as possible. Thanks for the boost of confidence :-D
GGWuvsInu- Of COURSE I don't have better things to do! What could be better than writing about Inuyasha? *grin* Thanks for all the reviews. Yeah, you're right, I'll try not to end it TOO quickly. *sigh* I just wish I had more TIME in the day. I'll try to update as quick as I can, but if I don't, don't hesitate to email me and get angry. Sometimes I might need a little push ^_^ I can be lazy! And to answer all your questions: Yes, the adventures with Inuyasha DID happen because of the scar on her hand, you're right. Everyone in the warring states era remembers her (yay!) You'll find out what Inuyasha has been up to in Kagome's absence in later chappies *I promise* Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions ^_^
Madcow- You're weird, woman. WEIRD.
Demented Squirrel- LOL, you have EVERY right to be "weirded out" it IS kinda strange that Sango/Miroku's reincarnations gave birth to Yashinu. You're really the first person to realize how truly STRANGE it is. Thank you! ^___^
" TALK
' THINK
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Do you like oden, Kagome?" Mrs. Yamamoto asked sweetly, edging a plate in Kagome's direction.
"Ummm.........hai!" Kagome spoke distractedly, still amazed at how MUCH Yashinu's parents looked like Miroku and Sango.
Were they the same people?
Dinner plates clinked mildly and the proper dining utensils were used for each course of the meal. Soft elevator music played in the background.
Speech was soft and reserved.
"Please, Kagome, take some fried egg," Mr. Yamamoto smiled, offering her a plate in his right hand.
This was her chance to check for a void in his palm!
She took the plate gingerly, staring at his outstretched hand.
To her dismay, his palm seemed pretty much normal.
She sighed.
"Kagome, are you feeling all right?" Yashinu questioned, concern lingering in his dulcet voice.
Her mind was going a mile-a-minute.
'No,' she realized, 'no, these people aren't Miroku and Sango. These must be their.....reincarnations,' she gulped down her food ravenously.
The background music ran into a high pitched violin solo, and hiccup escaped Kagome's slightly parted lips, unexpectedly, making her jump.
But her mind whirred on, not realizing that the room was staring at her, wide-eyed.
Was she not fed very much at home?
'They are Miroku and Sango's reincarnations........just as I am to Kikyou.......' she froze, her mind finally ready to admit what she had known all along, but had been afraid to confess, 'and Yashinu is to........Inuyasha.'
So.
It seemed to be part of destiny for the group to be together.
Before her mind could wander anywhere else, the door to the dining room banged open, and a young boy with grass stains on his knees walked in, dribbling a soccer ball with his feet.
Yashinu rolled his eyes.
"Kitahachi, how many times have I told you NOT to eat dinner until after you change out of your soccer clothes?" Sango.........er, Mrs. Yamamoto groaned.
"Oh, sorry.........." the incredibly skinny, redheaded boy grinned.
He looked at Kagome, and stopped.
He began to edge closer, smoothing his light-auburn hair in the back (to no avail, of course. It sprung right back up after he lifted his hand).
"Hellooooooooooo, madam," he began, grabbing her hand, "to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you?"
She half-expected him to ask her to bear his child.
Kagome almost burst out laughing at the look of pure contempt Yashinu shot at his brother.
"YOU---out-of-here---NOW!" he grumbled underneath his breath.
The boy shrugged, winked a green eye at Kagome, and continued to dribble the ball out of the dining hall.
Mr. Yamamoto sighed.
"Honestly. Sorry about that Kagome, I don't know WHERE that boy gets the nerve to randomly talk like that to any pretty girl he meets," Mr. Yamamoto shook his head, not noticing the disbelieving stares he received from his wife and his elder son.
Kagome grinned madly, deducing from the disbelief in Mrs. Yamamoto's glare that the perverted monk had not changed his ways, even after a lifetime, even though he was now Mr. Yamamoto.
AND he had passed his perverseness on to Shippo.
Er, Shippo's reincarnation.
Kitahachi, wasn't it?
She was amazed at how-at-home she felt with these people.
She mentally slapped herself. They were NOT the same people, remember?
They didn't have the memories she had.
They didn't remember her as she remembered them.
Realizing that Yashinu had been asking her a question for the last five minutes, Kagome's attention whirled back into the present.
"HMmm?" Kagome mumbled, embarrassed at her rudeness.
"Er, sorry Kagome, but..........it seems that all the miso soup you were holding has fallen on to your shirt," Yashinu blushed profusely.
'Why is he blush--" Kagome gasped madly, covering her top.
Her uniform top.
The miso soup had fallen on her now VERY transparent, white top.
She groaned.
Of all the days to run out of white bras and have to wear a leopard-spotted one.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kagome dried herself off quickly, changing into a shirt that Mrs. Yamamoto had lent her.
It was a surprisingly good fit.
Mrs. Yamamoto was really thin for her age.
Kagome stepped out of the bathroom, trying as hard as she could to not let her self-consciousness get the best of her.
Yashinu was there, waiting, a small smile on his face.
"You ok? You seemed kind of out of it during dinner......."
"Mmm, I guess my mind was........just not here today," she said, laughing uncomfortably.
For a few moments, the only sound to be heard was the wind beating against the bricks of the house.
Yashinu's face shifted to a position she had never seen anyone express before, a countenance of something she had no way to acknowledge by prior reference.
Was it exuberant? Sorrowful? Emotional? Stoic?
But the expression, fleeting, was gone as soon as it came.
What had he been thinking?
"Er, I guess we should get back to work now," he volunteered at last.
She nodded, and they walked into his room together.
Kagome took a moment to look around at the dusk-colored surroundings.
The walls were covered with posters: famous and not-so-famous paintings, a plethora of musicians she had never heard of, and artsy, critically-loved movies that Kagome had never really been that inspired to go see.
Still, it amazed her how versatile and somewhat well-balanced Yashinu's taste was.
She followed him in, setting down at the huge mahogany desk in the corner.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"But, OH, KIKYOU! I MUST PRRRRROTECT THEE!" Yashinu blared out, rolling the r's persistently, his eyebrow twitching passionately, one hand on his chest, and the other holding the script above his head.
Kagome massaged her forehead.
"Um, just remember, Yashinu: this is NOT SHAKESEPEARE. Just calm down and be a normal, teenage boy," Kagome began, freezing as soon as the words came out of her mouth.
Yashinu was just about as far as you could GET from an average teenage boy.
Not that Inuyasha was exactly the most average person in the world, either.
Grrrrrrr, why did she have to keep comparing the two?
They were like opposite sides of a spectrum, she sighed.
"Ok, ok," Yashinu chortled, "Let me try one more time. 'But Kiiiiiiiiiiikyou! I MUST protect thee!' Something is wrong, I just cant tell what it is," Yashinu mused, rubbing his chin, "what's wrong with that, Kagome?"
Kagome sighed, "It's you."
"Excuse me?" he said, startled.
"It's you. Not thee. YOU."
"OH," he laughed stiffly, "I thought you meant----you meant---oh nevermind. Ahem, one more time: But KIKYOU! I MUST protect th---I mean YOU! You! I must protect YOU!"
Kagome whapped her forehead.
'Must not scream, must not scream, must not scream..........' she repeated to herself constantly.
She let out a heavy breath of air.
"That's still.............a little off," she groaned, starting to explain to him a list of things he could do to make it better, nagging and being more nitpicky than she had ever been before.
That's when she first saw it.
Yashinu's eyebrows, so jovial in their feral state, seemed to twist inwards, meeting each other in the middle...........just as a certain Hanyou's had done.
His nose turned upwards just a little, wrinkling at the base.
Kagome's eyes widened.
'Yes,' she thought, 'yes, yes! I may have finally done it. I may have FINALLY gotten him to be angry!'
Alas, just as soon as his eyebrows twisted, they untwisted, and Yashinu's face broke out into that good-natured smile.
"Let's take a break, Kagome," he sighed.
"Instead, let's talk about what inspired you to........choose this storyline. It's brilliant, you must have had one hell of a muse."
'Let's talk.' The two words EVERY girl in the world wanted to hear from a boy. Every girl except Kagome.
She didn't want to talk about her 'muse' as he so called it.
She didn't want to talk about Inuyasha.
"I-I don't really have a muse," Kagome lied through her teeth, "It's just a—a folk story. A Japanese folk story," she added quickly.
"Oh," Yashinu said, with a simultaneous look of disappointment and anticipation in his eyes.
What did he want her to say? She'd have to guess.
"Ah, um, what made you so interested in love? That's what you said excited YOU. What's your muse?" Kagome questioned quietly.
"Oh," he said as if he had expected and not expected that question at the same time, "well, it's kind of embarrassing, but...........my parents," he turned away quickly.
Kagome looked out of his bedroom window, seeing his parents holding hands and walking along the waterfall path.
"What do your parents DO?" Kagome breathed, amazed at how fit the both of them seemed to be.
"My mother actually is VERY athletic. She runs a dojo right now, and used to be a discus thrower in the past. She's actually pretty disappointed that I didn't want to have anything to do with the martial arts," he explained, his eyes twinkling, "but that's what Kit (my brother) is there for, I suppose. Oh, and my dad is a professor. A rather good one, if I do say so myself. My parents are definitely different," he paused, watching his mother force his father to do pushups while she sat on his back, pulling his ear, "but they're also definitely in love."
Kagome sighed.
They certainly WERE in love. Just the look in their eyes when they gazed at each other made her.........bitterly jealous, as little as she wanted to admit it.
"Yes," he smiled, leaning on the wall, his eyes still on his parents, "one day I'm going to write something about them. 'The great love story of Sano and Mariko Yamamoto.'"
Kagome quickly suppressed a fit of laughter and tears at the irony of their names by swiftly swatting her hand over her mouth.
Sano and Mariko? (a/n: dad = Sano, mom = Mariko. Just in case ^_~)
She sighed, her eyes twinkling.
Those two really WERE made for each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"MOM! MOM! Grab this pink-pony-princess thing and put it in the closet! I don't want Yashinu to see it!" Kagome ran about her room, removing her old things, trying to make it seem a little more mature.
She didn't know why, but she didn't want Yashinu to be disappointed by her room.
After they had met at his house the day before, they had planned to meet at her home.
Kagome prayed that her family's oddities would take a vacation for JUST A DAY.
Yashinu's family was so calm, so collected, so cool (well, with the exception of his brother) and Kagome didn't want her family not to seem to be just as functional.
Kagome kept on hearing phantom doorbells, and would randomly grab a load of junk from he room and throw it into Souta's, only to realize that Yashinu still hadn't arrived.
She bit her lip and sat on her bed, secretly hoping that he would call her up and insist that they work at his house again.
She heard the winds spin the door-chimes outside.
She fell back onto the springy mattress, staring at the ceiling, not really understanding the meek uneasiness that was beginning to grow in her belly.
Finally, she heard a sound knock on the front door, and ran down, straightening her shirt the whole way, to open it.
The door creaked open.
"Good afternoon, Kagome," Yashinu smiled, a little more shifty-eyed than usual.
He walked through the door with such hesitation that it gave Kagome pause.
"Um, Yashinu, is something wrong?"
He stopped, his eyes shooting to the ground.
"Well, Kagome.............I just have a feeling.......do you have any pets?" he tugged on his collar, obviously a little sweaty.
Kagome rose an eyebrow, suspicious of his intentions.
"Yes we do--" she began, motioning for him to come inside. Upon seeing his face deflate, she quickly added, "It's just a cat, and he stays in the living room most of the time, so he wont bother us......"
Yashinu shook his head with apparent relief and smiled unconvincingly.
"It's just that---just that----well, I suppose you can know. I'm DEATHLY afraid of dogs. I just—I just have this strange feeling whenever I'm close to them."
Kagome sincerely hoped that he didn't notice how utterly dumbfounded she felt.
He. Him. Yashinu. Inuyasha's reincarnation. He was afraid of dogs?
"Um, is there any REASON you're afraid of them.........?" Kagome asked.
He sighed. "Well, when I was little---I know it sounds strange, but—dogs used to follow me around EVERYWHERE," he shuddered, "randomly picking fights with me and whatnot. It was strange—almost as if they wanted to compete with me. I haven't been able to feel comfortable with a canine ever since. Especially anything wolf-like," his voice quavered sharply.
Kagome's head hurt. She didn't want to think about it right now.
"Oh. Well, that's.........." she couldn't say 'weird,' "....understandable. Come on. lets go work in my room."
Kagome pulled in an extra chair, and they both sat at her desk.
Right before they could get started, however, Souta walked into the room.
"Nii-chan," he whined, his nose wrinkled, "you--"
"Souta," Kagome interrupted, "please, we're doing work. Can't you come back some other time?"
Souta paused, looking from Kagome to Yashinu repreatedly.
"Fine," he declared stoutly, "just don't throw your icky doll things into MY room," he puffed haughtily, throwing a very naked Barbie doll onto Kagome's desk and turning around to go stalk to his room.
Kagome gulped.
It was one of the things she had found under her bed that she had thrown into Souta's room in the morning!
Her eyes trailed to Yashinu's, but she couldn't read his expression because his bangs trailed down to his nose.
She slowly reached down to pull the doll away, making the mistake of grabbing it by its right foot, causing its legs to splay open with a 'squeak.'
'Oh well,' Kagome said to herself with a groan, 'at least the worst is over. NOTHING could be more embarrassing than THAT,' she threw the doll back into its initial hiding place underneath her bed.
To her surprise, Souta walked into her room once more.
"Souta, if you have another doll to give me, PLEASE, I'll get it later," she glared at him, her voice a bit shaky.
Souta blinked at her, widening his eyes in innocence.
"No, nii-chan, I don't have another one of your dolls........" he began.
Kagome sighed with relief, Souta edged closer.
"..........but for some reason there was THIS weird thing was in my room. I figured you might need it for whatever it is you're doing," Souta said, smiling, throwing a red-frilly training bra that Kagome had gotten when she was 12 to the top of the desk once again.
Unfortunately, this time the throw missed, and the bra landed straight on Yashinu's lap, with the tag, "I'm a BIG girl now!" facing upwards.
Kagome's stomach lurched forward.
That was the second 'bra'-related mishap she had had in two days.
So much for not embarrassing herself in front of Yashinu.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
*WHEW* it's DONE! A pretty long chappie, if I do say so myself.
This chapter is actually an idea that I just kind of added on, since a few of my reviewers insisted that I make the story longer. This story is already a lot longer than I thought it'd be, and in this chapter I deviated a lot from the central plot.
Actually, reading over it, its not my absolute favorite chapter. But alas, I have already written it, so I will submit it. I hope it doesn't make anyone lose their interest. This chappie is just a bit immature, but that's kind of how I am ^_^ I hope you still enjoyed it!
OH, and in case you were wondering, Kitahachi, Shippo's reincarnation's name was chosen because it was kind of similar to "Kitsune."
Miroku's reincarnation's name, Sano, was chosen because it was similar to Sango. And Sango's reincarnations name, Mirako, was chosen because it was similar to Miroku. (Therefore making them kind of switch names and make it seem that they were meant to be with each other)
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT! REVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!! *don't be brutal*
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Sorry, guys, I guess I wasn't so clear on some things:
==Yashinu is NOT Inuyasha, he's a reincarnation, kind of how Kagome was to Kikyou. They were similar in appearance, sure, but REALLY different otherwise. Therefore it isn't OOC to make Yashinu like poetry, since I made him up. Right?
^_~ sorry if I wasn't clear enough!!!
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ssp51201- Aw, darn, you could call out my plotline? And here I thought I was being ORIGINAL. *snaps fingers* Actually, Inu is not the poet, its his reincarnation, Yashinu. You're so lucky that your husband can sing! I've been in choir for 12 years, and I have YET to find a boy that is attractive and has a nice singing voice. And thank you so much for understanding the gaps between my updates! ^_^
Fire Maiden Kiya- Thank you SO MUCH *blush blush blush* You have no idea how happy you made me! I just hope I can live up to your expectations, I would hate to disappoint you! *Cries* I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!! (haha, I'm just a little emotional ^_~)
Redroses- Thanks, and I'm trying to make more as fast as I can ! Redroses....that reminds me of Tuxedo mask *sigh!* :-)!
Haunted Hell- Man, you keep changing your name!!! I always get so confused, lol. The first time I thought I had made a mistake with your name or something. Did you get my review, lady? ;-) OH, and that pic of Inu in your profile? That is one of my FAVES, I always go back and look at it.!
Kagomepotter- Trying to update soon soon soon! You know, we're a lot alike, I'm a HP/Inu obsessed person too! And I LOVE the Draco/Harry pairing.
Kaye- Sorry it took me a while to update, its spring break (in fact, the LAST day of spring break as I write this). I should be doing homework *whoops*
Asya18- Hey, thanks for telling me that you were confused! I actually need people to tell me that so I can fix my problems. Just remember, it's not Inuyasha, it's Yashinu, his reincarnation. Just like Kikyou is different than Kagome, Inuyasha and Yashinu are different. And Sango and Miroku aren't twice Kagome's age: their reincarnations are, so its another different story. As for Yashinu, you'll understand his soul, romantic/angry, better in later chaps, I promise! Thanks for helping me know that I was being confusing.
aznchicki- You like Long stories? Well, then, if you have any ideas, supply them to me and help me!!! :-D I'm just scared to make the story too long--- I don't want anyone to get bored. Thanks for the review!
Pasta Head- Mmmmmmmmm......Hershey's bars. Man, I'm on a diet, what are you trying to do to me, reminding me of chocolate? *cries* But thanks for the analogy, an addiction to Hershey's bars is something I can DEFINITELY relate to. ^_^
Shiari1- Oooooooooooooooh you are SO right. Thanks, I will do my BEST not to rush it. If I start rushing anything, please tell me and I'll try to stop.
priestessmykala- I'm sorry your heart broke *brings over masking tape* I'll do my best to mend it. I just hope you like how I unravel this story, its so hard to decide what to do sometimes. And if you don't like what I'm doing, don't be afraid to tell me ok? ^_^
Kagwoman- I'm sorry I AM EVIL! *mwahahahhahahahahahahhaha* *thunder in background* *evil smile*
Lady of Chaos- I'm glad you think its interesting, I just hope that I can keep it up as long as possible. Thanks for the boost of confidence :-D
GGWuvsInu- Of COURSE I don't have better things to do! What could be better than writing about Inuyasha? *grin* Thanks for all the reviews. Yeah, you're right, I'll try not to end it TOO quickly. *sigh* I just wish I had more TIME in the day. I'll try to update as quick as I can, but if I don't, don't hesitate to email me and get angry. Sometimes I might need a little push ^_^ I can be lazy! And to answer all your questions: Yes, the adventures with Inuyasha DID happen because of the scar on her hand, you're right. Everyone in the warring states era remembers her (yay!) You'll find out what Inuyasha has been up to in Kagome's absence in later chappies *I promise* Thanks so much for the helpful suggestions ^_^
Madcow- You're weird, woman. WEIRD.
Demented Squirrel- LOL, you have EVERY right to be "weirded out" it IS kinda strange that Sango/Miroku's reincarnations gave birth to Yashinu. You're really the first person to realize how truly STRANGE it is. Thank you! ^___^
" TALK
' THINK
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Do you like oden, Kagome?" Mrs. Yamamoto asked sweetly, edging a plate in Kagome's direction.
"Ummm.........hai!" Kagome spoke distractedly, still amazed at how MUCH Yashinu's parents looked like Miroku and Sango.
Were they the same people?
Dinner plates clinked mildly and the proper dining utensils were used for each course of the meal. Soft elevator music played in the background.
Speech was soft and reserved.
"Please, Kagome, take some fried egg," Mr. Yamamoto smiled, offering her a plate in his right hand.
This was her chance to check for a void in his palm!
She took the plate gingerly, staring at his outstretched hand.
To her dismay, his palm seemed pretty much normal.
She sighed.
"Kagome, are you feeling all right?" Yashinu questioned, concern lingering in his dulcet voice.
Her mind was going a mile-a-minute.
'No,' she realized, 'no, these people aren't Miroku and Sango. These must be their.....reincarnations,' she gulped down her food ravenously.
The background music ran into a high pitched violin solo, and hiccup escaped Kagome's slightly parted lips, unexpectedly, making her jump.
But her mind whirred on, not realizing that the room was staring at her, wide-eyed.
Was she not fed very much at home?
'They are Miroku and Sango's reincarnations........just as I am to Kikyou.......' she froze, her mind finally ready to admit what she had known all along, but had been afraid to confess, 'and Yashinu is to........Inuyasha.'
So.
It seemed to be part of destiny for the group to be together.
Before her mind could wander anywhere else, the door to the dining room banged open, and a young boy with grass stains on his knees walked in, dribbling a soccer ball with his feet.
Yashinu rolled his eyes.
"Kitahachi, how many times have I told you NOT to eat dinner until after you change out of your soccer clothes?" Sango.........er, Mrs. Yamamoto groaned.
"Oh, sorry.........." the incredibly skinny, redheaded boy grinned.
He looked at Kagome, and stopped.
He began to edge closer, smoothing his light-auburn hair in the back (to no avail, of course. It sprung right back up after he lifted his hand).
"Hellooooooooooo, madam," he began, grabbing her hand, "to what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you?"
She half-expected him to ask her to bear his child.
Kagome almost burst out laughing at the look of pure contempt Yashinu shot at his brother.
"YOU---out-of-here---NOW!" he grumbled underneath his breath.
The boy shrugged, winked a green eye at Kagome, and continued to dribble the ball out of the dining hall.
Mr. Yamamoto sighed.
"Honestly. Sorry about that Kagome, I don't know WHERE that boy gets the nerve to randomly talk like that to any pretty girl he meets," Mr. Yamamoto shook his head, not noticing the disbelieving stares he received from his wife and his elder son.
Kagome grinned madly, deducing from the disbelief in Mrs. Yamamoto's glare that the perverted monk had not changed his ways, even after a lifetime, even though he was now Mr. Yamamoto.
AND he had passed his perverseness on to Shippo.
Er, Shippo's reincarnation.
Kitahachi, wasn't it?
She was amazed at how-at-home she felt with these people.
She mentally slapped herself. They were NOT the same people, remember?
They didn't have the memories she had.
They didn't remember her as she remembered them.
Realizing that Yashinu had been asking her a question for the last five minutes, Kagome's attention whirled back into the present.
"HMmm?" Kagome mumbled, embarrassed at her rudeness.
"Er, sorry Kagome, but..........it seems that all the miso soup you were holding has fallen on to your shirt," Yashinu blushed profusely.
'Why is he blush--" Kagome gasped madly, covering her top.
Her uniform top.
The miso soup had fallen on her now VERY transparent, white top.
She groaned.
Of all the days to run out of white bras and have to wear a leopard-spotted one.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Kagome dried herself off quickly, changing into a shirt that Mrs. Yamamoto had lent her.
It was a surprisingly good fit.
Mrs. Yamamoto was really thin for her age.
Kagome stepped out of the bathroom, trying as hard as she could to not let her self-consciousness get the best of her.
Yashinu was there, waiting, a small smile on his face.
"You ok? You seemed kind of out of it during dinner......."
"Mmm, I guess my mind was........just not here today," she said, laughing uncomfortably.
For a few moments, the only sound to be heard was the wind beating against the bricks of the house.
Yashinu's face shifted to a position she had never seen anyone express before, a countenance of something she had no way to acknowledge by prior reference.
Was it exuberant? Sorrowful? Emotional? Stoic?
But the expression, fleeting, was gone as soon as it came.
What had he been thinking?
"Er, I guess we should get back to work now," he volunteered at last.
She nodded, and they walked into his room together.
Kagome took a moment to look around at the dusk-colored surroundings.
The walls were covered with posters: famous and not-so-famous paintings, a plethora of musicians she had never heard of, and artsy, critically-loved movies that Kagome had never really been that inspired to go see.
Still, it amazed her how versatile and somewhat well-balanced Yashinu's taste was.
She followed him in, setting down at the huge mahogany desk in the corner.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"But, OH, KIKYOU! I MUST PRRRRROTECT THEE!" Yashinu blared out, rolling the r's persistently, his eyebrow twitching passionately, one hand on his chest, and the other holding the script above his head.
Kagome massaged her forehead.
"Um, just remember, Yashinu: this is NOT SHAKESEPEARE. Just calm down and be a normal, teenage boy," Kagome began, freezing as soon as the words came out of her mouth.
Yashinu was just about as far as you could GET from an average teenage boy.
Not that Inuyasha was exactly the most average person in the world, either.
Grrrrrrr, why did she have to keep comparing the two?
They were like opposite sides of a spectrum, she sighed.
"Ok, ok," Yashinu chortled, "Let me try one more time. 'But Kiiiiiiiiiiikyou! I MUST protect thee!' Something is wrong, I just cant tell what it is," Yashinu mused, rubbing his chin, "what's wrong with that, Kagome?"
Kagome sighed, "It's you."
"Excuse me?" he said, startled.
"It's you. Not thee. YOU."
"OH," he laughed stiffly, "I thought you meant----you meant---oh nevermind. Ahem, one more time: But KIKYOU! I MUST protect th---I mean YOU! You! I must protect YOU!"
Kagome whapped her forehead.
'Must not scream, must not scream, must not scream..........' she repeated to herself constantly.
She let out a heavy breath of air.
"That's still.............a little off," she groaned, starting to explain to him a list of things he could do to make it better, nagging and being more nitpicky than she had ever been before.
That's when she first saw it.
Yashinu's eyebrows, so jovial in their feral state, seemed to twist inwards, meeting each other in the middle...........just as a certain Hanyou's had done.
His nose turned upwards just a little, wrinkling at the base.
Kagome's eyes widened.
'Yes,' she thought, 'yes, yes! I may have finally done it. I may have FINALLY gotten him to be angry!'
Alas, just as soon as his eyebrows twisted, they untwisted, and Yashinu's face broke out into that good-natured smile.
"Let's take a break, Kagome," he sighed.
"Instead, let's talk about what inspired you to........choose this storyline. It's brilliant, you must have had one hell of a muse."
'Let's talk.' The two words EVERY girl in the world wanted to hear from a boy. Every girl except Kagome.
She didn't want to talk about her 'muse' as he so called it.
She didn't want to talk about Inuyasha.
"I-I don't really have a muse," Kagome lied through her teeth, "It's just a—a folk story. A Japanese folk story," she added quickly.
"Oh," Yashinu said, with a simultaneous look of disappointment and anticipation in his eyes.
What did he want her to say? She'd have to guess.
"Ah, um, what made you so interested in love? That's what you said excited YOU. What's your muse?" Kagome questioned quietly.
"Oh," he said as if he had expected and not expected that question at the same time, "well, it's kind of embarrassing, but...........my parents," he turned away quickly.
Kagome looked out of his bedroom window, seeing his parents holding hands and walking along the waterfall path.
"What do your parents DO?" Kagome breathed, amazed at how fit the both of them seemed to be.
"My mother actually is VERY athletic. She runs a dojo right now, and used to be a discus thrower in the past. She's actually pretty disappointed that I didn't want to have anything to do with the martial arts," he explained, his eyes twinkling, "but that's what Kit (my brother) is there for, I suppose. Oh, and my dad is a professor. A rather good one, if I do say so myself. My parents are definitely different," he paused, watching his mother force his father to do pushups while she sat on his back, pulling his ear, "but they're also definitely in love."
Kagome sighed.
They certainly WERE in love. Just the look in their eyes when they gazed at each other made her.........bitterly jealous, as little as she wanted to admit it.
"Yes," he smiled, leaning on the wall, his eyes still on his parents, "one day I'm going to write something about them. 'The great love story of Sano and Mariko Yamamoto.'"
Kagome quickly suppressed a fit of laughter and tears at the irony of their names by swiftly swatting her hand over her mouth.
Sano and Mariko? (a/n: dad = Sano, mom = Mariko. Just in case ^_~)
She sighed, her eyes twinkling.
Those two really WERE made for each other.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"MOM! MOM! Grab this pink-pony-princess thing and put it in the closet! I don't want Yashinu to see it!" Kagome ran about her room, removing her old things, trying to make it seem a little more mature.
She didn't know why, but she didn't want Yashinu to be disappointed by her room.
After they had met at his house the day before, they had planned to meet at her home.
Kagome prayed that her family's oddities would take a vacation for JUST A DAY.
Yashinu's family was so calm, so collected, so cool (well, with the exception of his brother) and Kagome didn't want her family not to seem to be just as functional.
Kagome kept on hearing phantom doorbells, and would randomly grab a load of junk from he room and throw it into Souta's, only to realize that Yashinu still hadn't arrived.
She bit her lip and sat on her bed, secretly hoping that he would call her up and insist that they work at his house again.
She heard the winds spin the door-chimes outside.
She fell back onto the springy mattress, staring at the ceiling, not really understanding the meek uneasiness that was beginning to grow in her belly.
Finally, she heard a sound knock on the front door, and ran down, straightening her shirt the whole way, to open it.
The door creaked open.
"Good afternoon, Kagome," Yashinu smiled, a little more shifty-eyed than usual.
He walked through the door with such hesitation that it gave Kagome pause.
"Um, Yashinu, is something wrong?"
He stopped, his eyes shooting to the ground.
"Well, Kagome.............I just have a feeling.......do you have any pets?" he tugged on his collar, obviously a little sweaty.
Kagome rose an eyebrow, suspicious of his intentions.
"Yes we do--" she began, motioning for him to come inside. Upon seeing his face deflate, she quickly added, "It's just a cat, and he stays in the living room most of the time, so he wont bother us......"
Yashinu shook his head with apparent relief and smiled unconvincingly.
"It's just that---just that----well, I suppose you can know. I'm DEATHLY afraid of dogs. I just—I just have this strange feeling whenever I'm close to them."
Kagome sincerely hoped that he didn't notice how utterly dumbfounded she felt.
He. Him. Yashinu. Inuyasha's reincarnation. He was afraid of dogs?
"Um, is there any REASON you're afraid of them.........?" Kagome asked.
He sighed. "Well, when I was little---I know it sounds strange, but—dogs used to follow me around EVERYWHERE," he shuddered, "randomly picking fights with me and whatnot. It was strange—almost as if they wanted to compete with me. I haven't been able to feel comfortable with a canine ever since. Especially anything wolf-like," his voice quavered sharply.
Kagome's head hurt. She didn't want to think about it right now.
"Oh. Well, that's.........." she couldn't say 'weird,' "....understandable. Come on. lets go work in my room."
Kagome pulled in an extra chair, and they both sat at her desk.
Right before they could get started, however, Souta walked into the room.
"Nii-chan," he whined, his nose wrinkled, "you--"
"Souta," Kagome interrupted, "please, we're doing work. Can't you come back some other time?"
Souta paused, looking from Kagome to Yashinu repreatedly.
"Fine," he declared stoutly, "just don't throw your icky doll things into MY room," he puffed haughtily, throwing a very naked Barbie doll onto Kagome's desk and turning around to go stalk to his room.
Kagome gulped.
It was one of the things she had found under her bed that she had thrown into Souta's room in the morning!
Her eyes trailed to Yashinu's, but she couldn't read his expression because his bangs trailed down to his nose.
She slowly reached down to pull the doll away, making the mistake of grabbing it by its right foot, causing its legs to splay open with a 'squeak.'
'Oh well,' Kagome said to herself with a groan, 'at least the worst is over. NOTHING could be more embarrassing than THAT,' she threw the doll back into its initial hiding place underneath her bed.
To her surprise, Souta walked into her room once more.
"Souta, if you have another doll to give me, PLEASE, I'll get it later," she glared at him, her voice a bit shaky.
Souta blinked at her, widening his eyes in innocence.
"No, nii-chan, I don't have another one of your dolls........" he began.
Kagome sighed with relief, Souta edged closer.
"..........but for some reason there was THIS weird thing was in my room. I figured you might need it for whatever it is you're doing," Souta said, smiling, throwing a red-frilly training bra that Kagome had gotten when she was 12 to the top of the desk once again.
Unfortunately, this time the throw missed, and the bra landed straight on Yashinu's lap, with the tag, "I'm a BIG girl now!" facing upwards.
Kagome's stomach lurched forward.
That was the second 'bra'-related mishap she had had in two days.
So much for not embarrassing herself in front of Yashinu.
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*WHEW* it's DONE! A pretty long chappie, if I do say so myself.
This chapter is actually an idea that I just kind of added on, since a few of my reviewers insisted that I make the story longer. This story is already a lot longer than I thought it'd be, and in this chapter I deviated a lot from the central plot.
Actually, reading over it, its not my absolute favorite chapter. But alas, I have already written it, so I will submit it. I hope it doesn't make anyone lose their interest. This chappie is just a bit immature, but that's kind of how I am ^_^ I hope you still enjoyed it!
OH, and in case you were wondering, Kitahachi, Shippo's reincarnation's name was chosen because it was kind of similar to "Kitsune."
Miroku's reincarnation's name, Sano, was chosen because it was similar to Sango. And Sango's reincarnations name, Mirako, was chosen because it was similar to Miroku. (Therefore making them kind of switch names and make it seem that they were meant to be with each other)
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT! REVIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!! *don't be brutal*