Chapter Three
Kagome sighed and waited by the door. The unforgettable squeaking of wet shoes on a staircase could be heard as the man named Inu yasha came up the stairs. His footsteps were heavy, weighed down by his waterlogged attire and his luggage. Mumbled curses saturated the air as the sound of someone slipping and banging their head on the hand railing could be heard. Kagome's shaking fingers rested softly on the bolt lock, still apprehensive to let this stranger in. Her mind couldn't bare the fact that she had sent a cold, tired man packing when he was inches away from a warm bed. Her heart had warmed for him, her pity for the traveler wielding her to turn the light on. Moriko yawned from her position in the living room chair. To her horror, the little girl had refused to return to dream land and had insisted on staying up as long as her mom was up.
Kagome leaned against the wall, her hand still poised on the lock, ready to flip it and allow Inu yasha access to her home. Moriko took the opportunity of her 'past-bed-time' extravaganza to watch the old late night cartoons on the cartoon network. The distant noise of Scooby Doo talking in his recognizable lisp filtered through the silent apartment building as a soft, hesitant knock hit the firm wood of the door.
Kagome took a deep breath and turned the lock, her eyes resting on the man. Immediately she was hit with the odor of rain and mud, evidence of both on the man. Mud caked his shoes and the bottom of his pant legs and his hair was matted into a tangled mess. His face was alit with annoyance, but his lavender eyes shown with his gratitude towards this woman who had taken him into her home…if not after some persuasion.
"Take off your shoes," she said hesitantly; unsure as to what to say to a man she didn't even know who was now welcome into her home…like a weird, screwed up version of blind date…
He obliged to her request and slipped the muddy shoes off and placed them outside her doorway. Raindrops slipped from his jacket and his hair, his socks brown from the mud that had seeped into his sneakers. Kagome's face mixed into a combined look of disgust and surprise. Sheepishly he leaned down and peeled off the useless articles and discarded them on the floor. Kagome's face twisted in disgust, yet again. With a sigh she shut the door and retreated to the kitchen. Moments later, she returned with one of the shopping bags from earlier that day and placed it at his feet.
"Put your clothes in here and I'll wash them," she whispered and he nodded.
Kagome moved to the living room and grabbed Moriko protectively. Propping the girl into her arms, she felt her daughter's small arms wrap around her neck and rest her head on her shoulder, a small, sleepy sigh escaping her tiny mouth.
Inu yasha stood awkwardly for a moment, staring at the bag. His socks had been placed into the white bag along with his wet jacket, but the rest of his wet clothing remained attached to his body like a second skin. His dark shirt dipping into the crevices of his chest and his pants clinging to his powerful legs. His dark hair clung to his cheeks, his vibrant eyes staring helplessly at the bag. A small puddle was collecting at his feet.
Moriko's soft breathing reached Kagome's ears and she hesitantly shifted the girl onto the other side of her arm. "What's wrong?" she asked quietly.
"…" He said nothing for a moment, unsure as what to say. His lips moved several times but no sound came out. His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance before he finally turned to Kagome, his deep eyes regarding her silently. "I need some privacy…" he said, almost sheepishly, but his voice was calm yet powerful.
Kagome felt her face heating up and she nodded vigorously. "Sorry, I didn't realize," she quickly left the room to help her red cheeks cool. She retreated to her bedroom and pulled back the quilt. With a tender smile she set her sleeping daughter down and released her hair from the long braid. Her smile widened as she brushed some locks from her forehead, only to watch them fall back to the place before. She straightened, tucked in her daughter and closed the door silently behind her.
She slipped into her daughter's room, the usually bright sunny yellow walls appearing a dark mustard as the rain pattered against the window, casting dancing shadows across the dark walls. Kagome nonchalantly ripped the sheets off her daughter's bed. The bare, blue mattress contrasted against the yellow walls and seemed naked and out of place. Cardboard boxes lined the room and the area was empty except a few stray Barbie accessories. She pulled the pillowcases off the pillow and examined the fabric. Small clouds danced across the cloth. Kagome walked to the linen closet just outside her daughter's door and pulled out the spare sheets for the twin-sized bed.
After her task was completed, she returned to the figure in front of her doorway. Inu yasha's suitcase was open, displaying a miniscule amount of clothing. His guitar case was propped against the wall and his clothing was thrown carelessly into the bag. He wore a new set of clothes, or what she would call pajamas and he allowed a shadow of a smile to grace his lips as she entered.
"You'll sleep in Moriko's room," she said and he nodded. He had this night, tomorrow, he was on his own…