A/N: Salut, mes amis! It's been a while (hiding behind the door as knives came flying at me) Hehe, okay, I admit. Three months is a LONG while. I kind of got sidetracked a little… all right! Fine! I got sidetracked a LOT! I sort of had numerous attempts to start on several other stories (Hikaru no Go, Beyblade, more Inuyasha, and I just thought of a plot for Spirited Away! Holy…), but… I think I'll put them on hold, simply because I can't manage so many stories at once. (Just wait until the day that I can't resist the temptation to write them and post them up) XP
To kagome555, Moonlight-Miko, Sayori-chan, OfficiallyObssessedwithPyro, Tigeris, Lostinashadow, Bishie Chaser, AnimegirlH, TetsuoTsubushi, Sarcasm Girl8, and Ariel: Mua! Mua! Mua! (kissing and hugging you guys) I luv ya all!!! Thank you for the reviews! Thank you! Thank you! (everyone dropped dead from the kiss) Err..... hadn't meant to kill you guys..... Didn't realize that I have Dementor's Kiss (from Harry Potter).
Oh, as to Totosai and chocolate pudding, I know, uurrrrgggghhhh But I had this craving for chocolate when I wrote that part in chapter 3. Hehehe...
Disclaimer: Um... errrr..... ya.......hm..... right........... you know the routine...................
Chapter 4
"I – I think we'll be safe here," Kagome paused to catch her breath. Fewsh that was close. She didn't know how long they had been running, but they had outrun those three rogues back there. She purposefully led them around in circles before losing them behind and putting some distance between them. Who would've thought that she'd still be playing hide-and-seek at this age? Then again, she supposed that one was never too old to relive the childhood fun, especially when emergency arises. Along this wild chase, she had held on tightly to the brown-haired kid in one hand and the silver-haired teen in the other as she guided them and herself to safety. Now that they were in a park several blocks away from where they had originally started their "marathon," she could finally relax and let down her guard.
Standing beside Kagome, still holding on to her hand, Inuyasha and Shippo were both panting heavily as they tried to take in as much of the deprived oxygen as they could in each breath.
Shippo believed that if he weren't getting support from Kagome, he would topple over and drop dead any moment. Who knew that the human body could experience so much physical discomfort and pain from running around? Not to mention that it tired easily. He really had to keep in mind of the frailty of humans from now on, and when he turned back into a cupid again, he would certainly give Totosai, his boss or not, a HUGE piece of his mind just for making him go through this unpleasantness. Oh, if only he were a cupid again. He could easily have covered this amount of distance in no time minus the physical stress. Save that thought for later. Now air, he really needed air Curse his luck, curse Master Totosai, and curse that chocolate pudding…
Inuyasha raised a hand to wipe off the sweat on his forehead and flinched when he touched the tender spot of his swollen left eye. Ouch! If he weren't taken by surprise by one of those bastards, he would show them… And by the way, why was he running for the past half an hour? Who was this girl beside him that led him on the run? Now that he thought about it, she made him run away from a fight! How dare she making a coward out of him!? Inuyasha never backed down from a challenge, but her… this strange, dark-haired girl… she put shame on his reputation! (A/N: Does he have a reputation to start with? Cough, cough…) He tried to glare at her, but failed miserably due to the fact that his left eye was swollen and his right cheek was aching painfully. He really couldn't put much expression onto his face when it was all battered up. Instead, he contented himself by studying her. Long, wavy, charcoal black hair slightly tousled from the run, large brown eyes, delicate nose, and soft lips that looked as if they were ready to part and blossom into a smile came into his squinted view (due to his swollen eye). She looked… passable, not someone who could give you a heart attack if she decided to jump out of the corner of the street at night yelling "Surprise!" Well, not that he was one who'd care about appearances and WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT WEIRD THOUGHT??? He must be suffering form a concussion………
Sensing intense gaze burning on the side of her face, Kagome tilted her head slightly and met Inuyasha's amber eyes. The boy hastily averted his gaze and redirected it somewhere else.
"Is there something on my face?" Frowning, Kagome inquired.
"No," The teen replied gruffly.
Deciding to pass it off, she led both Inuyasha and Shippo to an empty bench under the shade. "Come, you two. Sit here and I'll treat your wound." The last phrase was directed at Inuyasha who practically fell onto the bench seeing that he was actually tired out.
"Hmph." He crossed his arms.
Pulling out her handkerchief, Kagome went to look for the nearest water fountain. She wet the piece of cloth and quickly returned to the bench. She sat down between Inuyasha and Shippo and gently wiped off the blood and dirt on Inuyasha's face. My, his face is really really battered up. The poor boy. Now I'm feeling guilty for getting him involved in this, although technically I didn't ask him to and his original intention wasn't to help us out, Kagome thought to herself as she continued to clean Inuyasha's face. At least his gorgeous white hair isn't as messed as his face is. Huh? Hold on a minute. White hair? Hadn't she seen that somewhere before?
Suddenly, her eyes widened with recognition as she recalled certain tragic event. "Oh my god…" She breathed out.
"Ouch!" Inuyasha drew back as the girl pressed too hard on one of his cuts. "Watch it, will you?"
Noticing her dumbfounded look, he waved a hand in front of her face. "Hey, are you all right? What's with you?"
"You… that day… the coffee shop…" Kagome was incapable of forming coherent sentences as she tried to register the prank that coincidence had played on her.
"Coffee shop?" Inuyasha was confused. He scowled. "What about cof—Oh!" Now he remembered.
"YOU!" They both pointed at each other.
"The Coffee Boy/Girl!!!" They echoed in unison.
Birds and pigeons nearby took flight as they were scared off by the unexpected loud noise.
"Did you know that I have to buy an entire set of new uniform just because you spilt coffee all over the old one? Not to mention the humiliation of getting home with half wet, half brown hair and dressed in that oversized track pants that threatened to slip off any minute?" Inuyasha was the first to blurt out. He shot an accusing look at Kagome.
"Well, I already apologized to you a million times that day and I'll apologize again today just to make you feel better and to show my sincerity. I am very very sorry for spilling coffee on you." Kagome shot back. Why was he saying all those things to her when she already felt bad about the entire incident? "But did you know I lost my job just because of that? Did you know that half of my pay was deducted to compensate for the loss of the café? Have you any idea how hard I searched before I got that job? Have you any idea how difficult it is to get a job?"
She knew she probably shouldn't sound so accusing, as if she was blaming the loss of her job on the teen boy sitting in front of her, but the volcano to her frustration that had been building up since that day had finally erupted. She bit her lips to prevent herself from saying more.
"Hmph." Inuyasha got up. He almost wanted to bite his tongue off. Why did he have to go out of his way to say those things just to make the girl feel even worse? He thought that she had caused him trouble when she spilt coffee on him, but he never considered that she would be in trouble because of that either. Now he knew, judging from the grievous expression on her face. Great, why was he feeling guilty all of a sudden? It wasn't even his fault to begin with! Arrgghh!!! He definitely needed to get his head X-rayed. He was turning so unlike his normal grumpy self.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Kagome called after him. Had she angered the teen boy?
"Home." Inuyasha replied, although he seriously doubted that he could make it with only one eye.
"Oh," Kagome twisted her handkerchief and lowered her head. Then she looked up and called after him again. "Wait! I just want to say thank you for helping me out earlier!"
Inuyasha turned. He fidgeted. He wasn't used to having people thanking him and now he felt even more weight on his conscience, because he didn't fight the bad guys with the intention of helping the teen girl and her brother on mind. "Don't thank me. I wasn't trying to help you and your brother."
"Huh? My brother is at home." She was confused for a moment as she thought of her little brother Souta. "Oh, no, the little boy here is not my brother."
Abruptly recalling that there was still another presence beside the teen boy and her, Kagome quickly turned towards the little brown-haired boy to ask if he was all right. Only the park bench was empty. Where did the little boy go? She was almost sure that he was still there a moment ago…
"Ahhh Hey! Let go of me, you little brat!" Inuyasha's frustrated voice came from five feet away.
Kagome whirled around to find that the boy had clung tightly onto Inuyasha like he did before the fight. How could she describe this sight? A baby kangaroo in the pouch of the parent kangaroo? A monkey hanging to a tree? A baby koala holding on to papa koala? It seemed more like an octopus closing in on its prey! She couldn't resist but smile at the sight of the teen getting his hands full with the little boy. Soon, the smile turned into a smirk, then laughter. The boy really had the limbs of an octopus! Except that he was four tentacles short!
"Hey! Quit laughing! Can't you tell your bro to get off of me here?" Inuyasha scowled at the girl doubled over with laughter. He managed to pry off the kid's right arm only to find that his right hand had already found its way to the hem of his shirt and was now clutching it tightly. He growled in frustration. Whatever did he do to deserve this?
Although he was ignored by the two for a short period of time, Shippo was content because the people on his matchmaking list were having a conversation with each other. That was definitely an improvement. Maybe they could finally learn each other's names and decide that they like each other after they talked? Then his task would be completed and he would graduate and become a fully licensed cupid! He could already see himself with a bright future ahead of him. He'd be the object of admiration, for being able to complete such a difficult task at his current apprentice level. He would be the star of all cupids and soon be promoted. When he became older, he would take over Master Totosai's role and be the head of everyone in the cupid world…… Ah The joy Eh? Had he daydreamed too long? Where was Inuyasha going? He wiped off his drool as he broke out of his reverie. No! He couldn't let him leave! Not when Kagome was right here!
It was amazing how old tricks were the best tricks. His "human gum" sticking tactics kept Inuyasha rooted to the ground. He wouldn't be able to leave Kagome now. Shippo silently congratulated himself as his right hand found a piece of Inuyasha's clothing to grab onto.
"He… he's not… he's not my brother." Kagome came forth as she replied, still breathless from all the laughter.
"Well, if he's not your brother, then how did you get mixed up with him?" Inuyasha's frowned deepened. "Urrggghh! Whatever he is, make him let go!"
"I saw him getting picked on by the three bastards back there, so I tried to help him. Then you jumped in shortly afterwards." Kagome explained as she bent down to be on the same level as the little boy. "Hey little guy, what's your name?"
The boy's light brown eyes blinked innocently. "My name is Shippo."
"Shippo? That's such a cute name. My name is Kagome. Say, Shippo, why are you clinging onto….um…" Kagome raised her head to the young teen inquiringly.
"Inuyasha. My name is Inuyasha." He answered automatically without second thought.
"Okay." She turned her attention back onto the boy. "So, Shippo, why are you clinging onto Inuyasha here?"
"I don't want him to leave." Shippo responded.
"You don't want him to leave? Why not?" Kagome raised an eyebrow.
The kid Shippo remained silent.
Seeing that he didn't want to answer, Kagome changed to another question. "Don't you have to go home, Shippo? Where are your parents?"
Huh? Parents? What are those? Shippo panicked for a moment, as he didn't know what parents were. Then he remembered that parents are the people that make you. Well, what should he say? Cupids weren't born from one another. Cupids were created from the essence of human love. How was he supposed to know who his parents were when he was created from the love essence of so many couples? He decided to remain silent to questions that he didn't know how to answer.
"Do you know how to get back home?" Kagome asked another question, since Shippo remained silent again.
Where he lived? Shippo racked his mind. He didn't know how to get back to the cupid world through human means. He supposed that count as not knowing how he could get back home. Therefore, he shook his head.
Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged a worried glance. Oh no, this kid must be lost. He didn't know his way home.
Inuyasha sighed. "Maybe we should take him to the police station. That way, when his parents get back and discover that he's missing, they'll be able to find him there." He suggested.
Kagome heaved a sigh as well. The poor kid. First he got rounded up by the rogues and now he couldn't find his way home. She really felt sorry for him. Wasn't there any way she could help him? She gave one last try. "Shippo, I don't suppose you remember your phone number?"
Again, Shippo shook his head.
"Right then." Kagome patted him on the shoulder. "Inuyasha isn't going to leave. He'll come with us to the police station, so can you let him go now?"
"Promise?" Shippo asked.
"Promise." Kagome smiled.
He then turned to look at Inuyasha.
"Promise." Inuyasha said begrudgingly. He had just sentenced himself to babysit the boy until they reached their destination. Great, just great. How did he get so sidetracked? All he wanted to do was go to the arcade in the first place! Somehow, he ended up in a fight, ran around like a blind rhinoceros for the longest time since he could remember, and now he was stuck with this strange octopus kid Shippo and the coffee girl Kagome. If he didn't know better, he'd swear that some mischievous being was playing tricks on the course of his life, making him take unexpected turns.
"Well, to the police station it is." Kagome stated as she once again held out her hand to grab Shippo's.
'Hmph." Came Inuyasha's usual gruff reply.
Out of the blues, the sound of someone's stomach growling could be heard. Inuyasha and Kagome looked at each other before letting their gaze fall onto the tiny figure between them.
"Are you hungry, Shippo?" Kagome asked. "Do you want something to eat? How about a hotdog?"
"Okay," Shippo nodded his head. Hotdog sounded fine, although he didn't know how the taste would compare to the hotdogs in the cupid world.
"Feh," Inuyasha crossed his arms again. "The bratty kid is causing so much trouble. How could he be hungry at a time like this?" As soon as he finished the phrase, his own stomach growled.
Kagome gave him "the eye" before saying to no one in particular. "I guess I'll go buy three hotdogs then, one for each of us." With that, she jogged to the hotdog stand some distance away to purchase the food.
"You know, Inuyasha, you should be more honest about yourself." Shippo looked up at the older boy.
"Shut up, kid!" Inuyasha smacked him on the head, still feeling embarrassed about what had just happened. How could he have made such a fool of himself, especially in front of a girl that he hardly knew!?
"Hey! Leave the poor kid alone!" Kagome said sternly as she witnessed the scene. She handed a hotdog to each person. "Here's your hotdog. It cost me 150 yen."
Staring blankly at Kagome's outstretched hand, Inuyasha blinked. "Huh?"
"150 yen," She stretched her hand further. "You didn't think that you would let a girl treat you to hotdogs, did you?"
"Oh, fine." Realizing what she meant, Inuyasha scowled. He fished in his pocket for the 150 yen. Glad that he had brought change with him since he intended on hitting the arcade. "There you go." He handed Kagome the money. Then he muttered under his breath. "Stingy."
"If I had a job right now, I probably wouldn't begrudge this 150 yen hotdog." Kagome glared at him.
"Don't make it sound as if I made you lose your job," Inuyasha glared back.
Hungrily munching on his hotdog, Shippo looked from Kagome to Inuyasha and then from Inuyasha to Kagome. It seemed like the two were having lots of fun with their staring contest. It was so nice to see them both getting along so well…… (A/N: What gave you the idea, Shippo?)
"Um… I thought you guys said that you'd take me to this po-li-ce station place?" He finally chirped in now that his mouth wasn't full of hotdog. He toyed with the unfamiliar term on his tongue. "Po-li-ce." What the heck was that?
"Hmph." Both Inuyasha and Kagome broke off their eye contact and turned their faces in the direction away from each other. They marched on in silence.
"Go away, kids. I don't have the time to play with you guys right now. Can't you see that I'm busy here?" The policeman waved his hand dismissively when the three reached the local police station and explained their situation. "I've seen your type way too often. You two probably want to go on a date but didn't want your little brother to tag along, so you're gonna leave him here and retrieve him later. I've said this many times before and I'll say this again: the police station is not a daycare centre! Now run along." He shooed them away.
"Listen, you." Inuyasha growled. This policeman was… unbelievable! Was this the way to treat normal citizens? And to reject a lost kid coming here for help, dismissing it as a stupid child's play and a joke. He thought policemen were supposed to help the needy, not turn them down! "Let me get a few things straightened out, so your pea brain can understand. First, this kid is not my brother, nor hers. He really IS lost and can't remember his way home. Second, why in HELL would I ever want to date that girl?" He grabbed the policeman's sleeve and shouted.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean? It's not as if I'd ever want to date you either! You're not even my type!" Kagome objected. "My ideal date is considerate, polite, nice-tempered, and generous, which is in every aspect not you!"
"Well, good, because you're not my type either! I prefer the intellectual and reserved type, and that's definitely not you!" Inuyasha shot back.
"Fine, we've both reached a consensus then. You're not my type and I'm not your type. That's very comforting to know."
"Hmph. For once we agree on something."
"Hey! You kids, watch it! This is the police station, not a common public place for the couple to fight. If you have nothing better to do, then GET OUT!" The irritated policeman bellowed.
"YOU!" He had definitely lightened the fuse that had just begun to cool down a bit. Both Inuyasha and Kagome turned on him, yelling in unison. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be fighting here! Why did you have to say that we're a couple, and with such ambiguity? Do we look like a couple to you, huh? Do we? Look again, because there's something wrong with your eyesight! And HELP THIS LOST KID FOR PETE"S SAKE!!!"
Shippo was really impressed with the scene in front of him. It wasn't everyday that one would see a full-grown adult intimidated by the combined wrath of two teenagers. That had to be saying something about the two. They could become something big when they grow up, perhaps the prime minister of Japan or the CEO of some huge company. Wow
"Well… fine… Leave him in the station then, if that's what you want." The policeman gulped. These two teenagers were really really scary… All he wanted to do now was run home and shiver beneath his trusty comfy blanket. Mommy! Dealing with scary teenagers wasn't part of the job description!
Without a word, Kagome grabbed a pen and a piece of paper from his desk. She scribbled down her name, address, and phone number, then handed it to the policeman. "I don't trust you enough to leave him in your care. You don't seem so reliable. I'll take the child home and let him stay for the night and come back tomorrow. If someone reports that there's a missing child, then contact me and I'll bring Shippo back right away. Until then, good day, officer." She then grabbed Shippo's hand and walked out of the local police station, her head held high.
Inuyasha followed behind wordlessly.
"I swear I'll never become like him when I join the police force." Kagome blurted out suddenly after silence had elapsed for some time.
Inuyasha looked towards her with interest. "You want to become a policewoman?"
"Yes. You've got a problem?" She said defensively.
"No, no, it sounds cool." He replied.
"What about you? What do you want to be when you grow up?" Kagome asked curiously.
Inuyasha scowled. "That's none of your business."
"Well, fine." She pouted. "No need to be so rude."
"Hmph."
The three continued to walk in silence. It was close to evening, as the sun began to set, tainting the sky fiery red. People could be seen hurrying in every direction all around. Soon the streets would be empty as everyone headed back home after a long day of work.
"The truth is, I don't know." Inuyasha said after a while.
"Don't know what?"
"Don't know what I want to be. It's been like this: everyday I go to school and come back, not knowing what my goal is. Day after day, I do the same routine things without knowing why I do them and not knowing what is it that I want to do with my life. That's why everything is so boring to me and… and… I don't know." He trailed off hesitantly.
Kagome looked at him sympathetically. "Don't rush, Inuyasha. Just open your eyes and your ears and wait patiently. You will find you way eventually. Maybe… Maybe the time for that hasn't arrived yet."
He didn't reply and seemed to be deep in thought. It was quite surprising how he poured out his worry and frustration in just one single moment to a girl that he had just met. He shook his head. Really, his brain must have been damaged from the fight today.
"Well, this is where I live." Kagome pointed to the half-visible shrine located at the top of a small hill. They were now standing at the bottom of the stone steps. The dim streetlights flickered on as few crickets chirped in the early summer night.
"Eh?" Inuyasha looked around with an incredulous look on his face. "All this time we were walking towards your house? Then I could've headed to the subway station instead and be at home already! Why did I walk all the way here with you?"
Kagome gave him an odd look. "Well, I did say that I'm taking Shippo to my house back at the police station. I didn't say that you have to come along to my house, did I?"
"Hmmmm… I suppose not, now that I think of it." Inuyasha rubbed his chin.
Kagome rolled her eyes and made a face at him. "Dope."
"Whatever." He stuck out his tongue at her.
"Well, then, goodbye, I guess." Kagome began heading up the stone steps, leading Shippo.
"Okayl… see you around, if we ever run into each other again." Inuyasha headed off in the direction of the nearby subway station. His figure soon disappeared in the shadows cast by the nearby housings.
Kagome looked back, shook her head, and then climbed on, securing her grip on Shippo to make sure that he doesn't fall.
"Mom! I'm home! And I brought a guest!" Kagome called out as she opened the door. She was finally home and starving for some hot homemade food. "There, leave your shoes here Shippo. Oh, and don't be shy. My mom and brother are really nice, although my grandpa is a bit weird sometimes……"
"Bad spirit! Go away!" Grandpa jumped out of nowhere and stuck a paper seal on Shippo's head. He began chanting. "Good things come in, bad things go out."
"Grandpa!" Kagome sounded exasperated. "Stop it! You're scaring our little guest!" She immediately tore off the seal. "Sorry, Shippo, this is my grandpa. Don't be intimidated by him. He's just a little odd. Really, just a little… I think."
"Hello, grandpa." Shippo greeted the old man. "I'm Shippo, nice to meet you!"
"Oh, Kagome, dear, you've finally come back! I am so worried about you! You went grocery shopping for the entire afternoon! I was scared that something might've happened to you!" Mrs. Higurashi came out from the kitchen and greeted her daughter as she wiped her hands on her apron.
"I'm okay, mom. I just got sidetracked a little after my grocery shopping. The groceries are……" She shut her mouth abruptly and looked down at her empty hands. She faintly recalled what happened to the cartons of eggs and fruits. Her jaw dropped. "HOLY SHIT!!!!!"
A/N: Yeah, I know this chapter isn't that funny, but... sorry, can't help it. Three months of not writing this and I've lost my touch. Yippee (Hey! Don't you guys know it's dangerous to throw weapons at people? Ahhh I would say that includes frozen rock-hard vegetables too! Try not to kill me please.... sob sob)