Disclaimer: If Inuyasha were mine I would've killed him
and kept his ears in a jar to poke at my leisure because that's just
the kind of bitch I am.
A/N: Finally! An update! What can I say... I decided to sit down and force myself to write this thing, so it may not have come out very good, but I suppose its better 'n nothin. And to all you Americans out there... happy July 4th!
Morgana - Thanks for catching it, I was hoping I'd edited all of the "Lily's" out. Being a procrastinator I had an English assignment to write a story, and by the last minute I couldn't think of anything good so I just changed the names in this one (didn't have to be complete...). Of course, being an idiot I'd forgotten that I hadn't yet posted Chapter 5 of this story so I was forced to go through it and change all the names BACK again (and you have no idea how painstakingly slow that went)...thanks for the review!
Chapter Six
Dinner is Served
The detailed glass patterns outlining the delicate window structure grew dark in misty fog as a shadowy black overtook the night sky, the pale white stars contrasting well with the black sky above it as they danced across its depths. The moon shone tranquilly above the lands below, and Kagome found a surprising comfort in the familiarity of its color. A lone light gray hand perched carefully on the windowpane, absentmindedly tracing the delicate patterns with sleek and confident fingertips. A regretful sigh traveled subconsciously from the girl's slightly parted once rosy lips and mingled with the breezy air for a moment before dancing lightly across her skin, its gentle caress causing the tiny hairs on the smooth surface to bristle in recognition. The hand dropped stealthily to the girl's lap, resting tranquilly on her exposed knee which peeked out dangerously from under the once emerald green uniform skirt which had warmed her legs for so many years.
"It's freezing in here," Kagome stated bluntly, though not at such a volume where her somewhat blurry voice would be audible to the mysterious ears of the nighttime sky. "I'll bet that Inuyasha fellow hasn't even thought to install air conditioning in here. He's so selfish, he's probably gone and installed it in his own room, completely ignoring the fact that a 'guest room' serves a purpose, and that purpose is to house his guest, not that he'd ever receive any company with that arrogant and vulgar demeanor he's constantly putting out," she mumbled crossly before flopping back onto the silky sheets below her with a barely audible 'thump', causing the rumpled covers to shift slightly from their original positions. Her head lay cradled softly against the cotton white pillow, the beaded designs prickling her scalp as her midnight black hair parted to allow the contact.
"Oh, who am I kidding? I'm just feeling slightly wistful is all. I mean yesterday I had all these hopes and dreams of becoming a legendary artist crowding my brain, and today I find out that my lifetime aspiration was a lie, and possibly my talent as well, since I was only accepted in that darned school in the first place because of my supposed 'otherworldly cause,'" she heaved a melancholy sigh before allowing her head to loll slightly to the left, so that it was only partially supported by the feathery pillow beneath her.
"I wonder what sort of advice Yuka would give me right now. Wait that's no good, with a guy as supposedly "hot" as Inuyasha, at least in Yuka's eyes I'll bet, she'd probably tell me to turn up the charm and try to get laid, while at the moment Kaede seems more of an appealing choice for a date. Maybe Souta would have some good advice," she closed her soft gray eyes and let the thoughts of her (in her mind's eye) pest of a brother cloud her thoughts. She imagined his silky brown hair and soft, naïve doey eyes which could usually succeed into sweet talking both Kagome and her mother into anything of his choosing. His rumpled clothing which oftentimes never matched, and his black and blue baseball cap that he'd won on their vacation to America at least half a year ago and barely removed since. He seemed to smile down at her from her vision and parted his lips to speak, which at the moment were coated in the crumbs of what appeared to be homemade chocolate chip, Kagome's own special recipe.
"Hey Sis, how 'ya doin? You certainly seem to have a knack for attracting trouble, I think it may have to do with that little thing I'd like to call 'karma'," he snorted gleefully before continuing, "Anyhow just bake that guy some of your special cookies. No man can resist cooking that good, especially since it's the only thing you've ever been any good at, other then that 'art' stuff which to me looks like you threw up all over your canvas and looking at it usually makes me want to throw up all over you. Oh, and another thing, take up that "mission" of yours, since fighting sounds like it'd be a big part of it, and it'd be awesome if you could come home looking like Arnold Schwar... er.. Schwartg...erm.. that guy who kept appearing on the telly in the U.S. Good luck Kagome!"
Kagome let out a remorseful sigh before rolling over in the other direction, a teasing lock of raven hair hanging mercilessly in front of her eyelids. "Thanks a lot, Souta," she muttered cantankerously before allowing a more uplifting giggle to float through her parched lips. "Hmm, well if not Souta or Yuka, what about mom? I could always count on her to point me in the right direction, a little too often sometimes if you want my opinion," she smirked before allowing her eyelids to shield her eyes from the darkness once again, which in turn allowed her brain to fully concentrate on picturing her beloved mother. She stifled a giggle as the picture of a slightly frumpy middle aged woman floated through her mind, hand clutching a broom and piercing brown eyes twinkling merrily as they seemed to brighten at Kagome's presence.
"Hello Kagome, dear. You've certainly gotten yourself into quite a predicament, but if you want my advice, which I'm sure you probably don't, just give these new opportunities a chance. Sure it may not have been what you'd expected to do with your life in the next four years, but honey, these people are in desperate need of your help right now, and this new opportunity could do wonders for opening up your mind to new ideas and cultures," Kagome snorted at this. "As for this Inuyasha fellow, just be a friend to him, and given time, I'm sure he'll open up to you. What sane human being can resist an open invitation for friendship from such a nice girl?" she beamed before her eyes narrowed and took on a more sinister appearance. "BUT NO SEX. Got it, Kagome? At least not before any weddings, and no weddings before you return home," Kagome could've sworn she saw sparks emitting from the woman's usually cheerful eyes before she reverted back to her original state. "Have fun dear!"
Kagome let out an uncertain chuckle before shifting in an attempt to obtain a more comfortable position. Seeing that her attempts were futile she gave a last half-hearted shrug and lay as close to the edge of the soft, squeaky mattress as possible, letting a sleek and graceful arm drape over the edges, her fingers drumming a steady rhythm upon the firm wooden bed frame. "I need an asprin," she said absentmindedly with an exaggerated yawn, "but seeing as Inuyasha isn't exactly the most approachable of people, I might as well make an attempt to get some shut-eye," she allowed her soft eyes to slowly drift to a close, making an exaggerated show of tossing and turning a bit before finally settling down into the soft mattress, the blankets enveloping her slight form in a perfect fit and a few stray locks of raven hair tickling her nostrils. 'I wonder if this whole thing has been a dream...I'll bet that's it. Tomorrow I'll wake up and my mom will be yelling at me to get to school, or Souta will come whining to me about baking more chocolate chip cookies, or else I'll wake up in the hospital since Kanna could very well be some sort of martial arts master who found my pressure points and knocked me unconscious, but then that weird Hojo advisor was really a member of the F.B.I and he broke into my room and had a huge showdown with Kanna while the rest of the students sat around chanting "FIGHT! FIGHT" and the teachers sat in the background conversing about the artistic merit of murder," her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked silently a few times before allowing a nervous giggle to pass through her lips. "All right, I definitely need a good night's sleep," she raised her arms to the sky in a tired gesture before letting them flop back down at her sides.
'Too bad I couldn't stay with Sango and Kaede, I'll bet the two of them would've been much better company then this Inuyasha fellow,' her eyes fastened shut tightly as she allowed her mind to drift back to the earlier events of the evening...
O.O
"MMM, Kaede, this is absolutely delicious! I hate to say it, but you're even a better cook then my mother, though she'd skin me alive if she heard me admit it," Kagome beamed cheerfully as she returned to enjoying the delicacy placed before her.
"Thank you, child, I'm glad to hear you like it. Some of us," she glanced meaningfully in Inuyasha's direction, "would do well to pick up some of your manners," she narrowed her slightly beady eyes at Inuyasha's will to ignore her sarcasm and continue picking at his food, which he didn't exactly seem to be relishing. "This dish was once known as "salmon", a mighty beast who took to the treacherous waters which Sango and I were forced to scope out in hopes of retrieving it," she stole a glance at Sango whose attention seemed to be elsewhere, preferably on the task of keeping her cheeks from growing crimson at Miroku's increasingly close proximity.
"You know Sango," Miroku choked out between mouthfuls which seemed to be entering his mouth a bit too rapidly for good health in Kaede's opinion, "I've been working on another poem especially for you, which I'm sure will steal your heart away and force you to abandon your current home and come live with me in my ever so lonely and humble domain where we shall spend the rest of eternity with our many children and deliciously cooked salmon," Miroku smirked innocently in Sango's direction who proceeded to scoot cautiously towards Kagome, who in turn stifled a giggle and shifted closer to Inuyasha in an attempt to allow Sango's endeavors. Inuyasha on the other hand wasn't paying much attention to his friends antics, rather to the girl whose proximity was coming just a bit too close for comfort.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Sango retorted smartly, praying to the gods above that any hints of her obvious embarrassment weren't apparent on her porcelain skin. "Last I heard wandering straight into the beast's lair is never a very wise decision," she finished with a teasing smirk and a wink of her piercing gray eyes, which Kagome was almost certain had once been a deep, penetrating brown.
"She got you there Miroku," Kagome chuckled lightheartedly as she gestured to Miroku with the prongs of her fork, vaguely wondering how on Earth such an obviously prehistoric era got a hold of modern kitchenware, but dismissing the thought as unimportant. She glanced up at Inuyasha curiously, inquisitive as to why he hadn't participated in the conversation once all evening. She drew back in an expression of pure surprise when her gaze found his scrutinizing gray pupils intertwined with her own in a heated gaze, as if he were analyzing her, no, memorizing her. His eyes narrowed a bit in disgust and his lips pursed angrily as he shifted until he was facing in the opposite direction, still appearing furious at something.
"You know," he began, and while he appeared to be conversing with the wooden planks adorning the wall, Kagome knew he was addressing her, "You can stop being so obvious, and I'll have you know that I'm not quite that easy to seduce," he spat out bitterly, completely unaware of the response his statement was to ensue from an obviously shocked Kagome whose eyebrows had been raised in an expression of complete astonishment, her lips parted slightly in bafflement before the words had an opportunity to sink in.
"WHAT?" she bellowed, obviously enraged as her hands began to clench dangerously by her sides, "What in heaven's name are you talking about, you pervert? I've barely said a word to you all night, you haven't the right nor proof to accuse me of such a thing," she spat crossly before shooting him a final glare of loathing.
"Oh, so you think I haven't NOTICED how you've been "unintentionally" drawing nearer every three fucking seconds that pass by? What do you take me for?" he narrowed his eyes patronizingly as he turned to face her, his arms still folded neatly across his chest.
"Somebody who draws conclusions too easily, that's what!" Kagome's voice rose to reach an all time high, and Sango marveled at her ability to hit octaves she hadn't known existed. "What sort of nutcase would be attracted to somebody they barely know and whose treated them like a jerk in the short time since they met!" she wrinkled her nose in slight agitation as Inuyasha yawned exaggeratedly before leaning back against the sturdy wooden planks, lowering himself until he was sitting Indian style with his arms never leaving their original position across his chest.
Seeing as a retort wasn't about to come anytime soon, Miroku interjected with a familiar smirk. "Well I for one would, if she was hot enough," he spoke brightly, seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding before him as he forked the last bite of salmon into his ravenously awaiting mouth.
"Well then I guess we've found a match for you Malome," Inuyasha replied with his eyes clamped shut tightly and his lips drawing upward in a sarcastic smirk. A deep and penetrating growl rose from within the depths of Kagome's throat, and this time it was Miroku's turn to marvel at Kagome's obvious range of tone. 'She must have wonderful singing capabilities,' he smiled inwardly at the thought of Kagome atop a newly constructed stage, her voice swaying throughout the scales as she belted out her newest single, "Miroku, My Rampant Sex Monkey" and a tear leaked out the corner of his amiable eyes as he stared appreciatively at her from behind an ornamental curtain with velvet as red as the blood of one whose been pricked by the sharpest of thorns. The vision was so entertaining that Miroku almost missed Kagome's retort to Inuyasha's accusations, but luckily Kagome's screech brought him out of his reveries, whether this was to his comfort or dismay he wasn't quite sure.
"MY NAME IS KAGOME! KA-GO-ME! And you'll do well to learn it too, or you'll never have to worry about women "seducing" you again!" she screeched deafeningly before breathing inwardly a few times and allowing herself to relax a bit, which was apparent when a lighthearted grin claimed its usual spot on her lips, representing the return of her cheerful demeanor for which the entire group (save Inuyasha) was quite grateful.
"Now now children," Miroku began in an attempt to cut through the awkward tension suffocating the occupants of the tiny hut, "save the argument for the bedroom," he winked coyly at both Kagome and Inuyasha who in turn drew back, obviously repulsed, and Inuyasha had to suppress a chuckle as Sango glanced peculiarly at him from the corner of her eye.
"Miroku!" she heaved an exaggerated sigh and allowed her eyes to casually roll up to rest below the roof of her eyelids.
"What?" Miroku shrugged defensively. "Where I come from argument has always been considered as a form of foreplay," he ducked, just barely missing Sango's outstretched fingertips.
"Boy, does that explain a lot," Inuyasha muttered cynically, shaking his head at the antics of his companions before shifting his gaze to focus in on Kaede, who (now that she'd finally completed the task of whipping up a second batch of salmon for the group) shook her head in utter annoyance as she set her spatula on the musty floorboards.
"You're all a troupe of fools, you excluded of course," she gestured toward Kagome with a wave of her hand and allowed the hand to linger in midair a moment before dropping back to rest in perfect alignment with her spatula. She kept her eyes trained steadfast on Kagome as she continued, "I wouldn't waste much of my precious time around this lot if I were you or you'll end up as obviously corrupted and foolish as the rest," she smiled teasingly and Kagome resisted the urge to beam at the obvious love reflected in the older woman's eyes for the company surrounding them. It was blatantly obvious that the group shared very tight knit bonds with each other, and Kaede seemed to play the part of their overbearing mother figure in their circle, though she was most obviously the glue holding them together.
"Old hag," Inuyasha muttered disdainfully, apparently not much caring whether or not his companions caught his insult since the volume was enough to send four pairs of ears swiveling hastily in his direction, with the exception of Miroku who only appeared merely curious.
'Of course, I'm beginning to doubt whether this useless lunk of flesh even has the capacity to feel love for somebody,' Kagome inwardly rolled her eyes as she glared menacingly at the man before her. "Inuyasha!" she admonished. "That was uncalled for".
"I heard that, ye ungrateful mongrel," Kaede shook her head with an elongated sigh before running a leathered hand through her stringy graying locks. "No second helpings for you," she pursed her lips as she shifted the plate containing the appetizing meal to a spot on the ground which she was certain lay just out of his reach. Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly before allowing a single eye to flutter open and fix heatedly on Kaede.
"Oh, cry me a river woman," he said, his voice layered thick with bouts of sarcasm and his arms never once leaving their position folded neatly across his chest and thrust haphazardly in his blackened sleeves. "I never asked for first helpings of that slop to begin with," Kagome's head began to throb in response to Inuyasha's unnecessary comments, and she drew a hand to her forehead to steady herself while managing to make an exasperated strangled noise from the back of her throat.
"You're exhausting," she shook her head morosely as she glanced at Miroku, Sango, and Kaede in sheer bafflement. "I can't believe you three put up with him on a daily basis".
Miroku, as was his nature, shook his head back in boisterous laughter as he slanted comfortably against his self proclaimed area, which of course both Sango and Kagome were welcome to enter at any time of their choosing. His jet black hair ruffled gently as he subconsciously blew it out of his face in annoyance, and at the moment Kagome could've sworn he looked slightly familiar, though she couldn't put her finger on where she'd seen him before. "Oh, relax, no offense to you Kaede," he added quickly when the elder's beady eyes narrowed in his direction, "He doesn't eat much of anything if it doesn't fall into one of two elite categories: Ramen and Desserts, the former preferred over the latter of course," Miroku finished pointedly, and Inuyasha gave a swift nod in response, his hands finally withdrawing from the depths of his coat sleeves and resting casually at his sides, his nails drumming an unfamiliar rhythm on the flooring which echoed throughout the base of the cozy shack and pulsed boldly through Kagome's delicate eardrums.
"Damn straight," Inuyasha smirked haughtily. "Neither of which you know much about, I'm sure," his voice took on a tone of silent competition and Kagome fought the immense urge to burst out into laughter. If only he had any idea...deciding not to take the bait, Kagome shrugged and turned pleasantly back to Kaede who appeared to be watching the scene with great interest.
"So anyhow Kaede, do the four of you live here?" Kagome inquired in an attempt to keep conversation from heading straight downhill. She nudged her plate to the side slightly to signify that she had completed her meal, and Kaede smiled inwardly at the younger girl's tactics. 'Yes, she will do quite well amongst us'.
"Oh, of course not child. We have difficulty enough fitting in here just to enjoy a hearty meal, using this place for shelter as well would be unbearable," she shook her head repulsively at the thought as she cocked her head meaningfully toward both Sango and Miroku, the latter who had a familiar look appearing in his responsive gray eyes and the former who braced herself for Miroku's next (and most likely perverted) response.
"Oh, I dunno. If both Sango and Kagome used me as a mattress, I think that arrangement may work out quite nicely, don't you agree?" he flashed his teeth innocently, and Sango groaned in annoyance, lowering her head to cup morosely in her outstretched fingers as she heaved a lengthy sigh at the man's all too familiar antics.
"Ignoring that," Kaede began purposefully, "That does pose a slight problem. Where'll young Kagome be spending the night?" she raised an eyebrow questioningly and Sango glanced upward in response.
"Well I think that should be Kagome's choice, seeing as wherever she chooses is hopefully gonna end up her hectic little home for quite awhile," she smiled teasingly at Kagome as she pushed a lock of once chocolate hair behind her ears. Kagome grinned in response to Sango's statement but suddenly felt a bit queasy at the prospect of the decisions she'd need to make by the coming day. She decided it'd be best to put it out of her mind for the moment and concentrate on the matters at hand.
"Well," Kagome heaved an elongated sigh in an attempt to stall for time, "If it's all right, I'd much appreciate being able to live with you Sango," she smiled inwardly as Sango seemed to positively glow at her statement. "Of course I have no problem living with Kaede as well," she cocked her head in the older woman's direction whose round cheecks seemed to become ever so rosier at Kagome's invitation.
"Well actually," Sango began hesitantly, her mouth drawn up in an expression of insecurity as she fidgeted with the folds adorning her clothing, "Kaede and I live together".
Kagome gave a joyous sigh tinged with relief as she glanced methodically at the two women. "So I'll be staying with you two?" she asked to concrete the arrangement and cocked her head in bewilderment when the two women glanced meaningfully at one another before glancing back at their newfound guest. "Is there a problem?" Kagome spoke up, her voice laced with a slight tinge of uncertainty.
"Well you see," Sango piped up, "I live with both Kaede and my younger brother Kohaku who take up the already limited amount of bedding as well as the living room couch," she finished reluctantly, "So unless you want to sleep in a bathtub or on the kitchen floor....," she trailed off uncertainly and glanced at Kagome to see her reaction to this setback. To her immense surprise the younger girl just shrugged and turned back to Miroku, who had been keeping immeasurably quiet in the last few minutes for reasons it only took Sango a few seconds to fully grasp.
'Of course,' Sango's chest felt slightly suffocated, as if a tiny rock were waiting in the depths of her lungs to release itself into her heart where it would continue to grow until it had succeeded in consuming her entirely. 'I should've guessed. Miroku obviously wants Kagome to stay with him, but he doesn't want me to end up miserable. I don't know whether I should be offended or flattered,' the pathetic attempt at humor left her insides feeling even less optimistic. 'Oh, cheer up Sango!' she said inwardly in an attempt to bring herself from the depths of despair. 'It's nothing to get upset over; I mean it's not like you have any claim to Miroku, and you don't even like the guy! Right?' her heart plummeted as she reflected back on her inner sentiments. 'Oh who am I kidding...'.
Inuyasha snorted from his respective corner and inwardly rolled his eyes at the obvious dilemma unraveling before him. "You two are so bleeding obvious. If you're going to be that dense, the chick probably wouldn't be too safe with you anyhow. I'll take her," he smirked dryly, pleased with himself for settling the matter though noticing with an inward chuckle that Miroku looked vaguely disappointed with the arrangement.
"But," the dark haired man began in protest before realizing that all possible arguments were futile, "Never mind. That's an excellent suggestion, Inuyasha. Didn't know you had it in you," he winked coyly at the hanyou who blinked a few times in repulsion before curling his fingers back into the palm of his hand and pursing his lips, a sure sign of the hanyou's unmistakable fury.
"Now listen you," he began lividly, "I'd rather jump into a pit of piranhas then even think about having to spend more then three seconds with this bitch, but you know as well as I do that her existence is vital to us, so why don't you shut up and stop pulling these perverted remarks out of your ass," he spat out crossly, seemingly unaware of the obviously perturbed female bristling beside him as she blew a lock of raven hair from teasingly dangling before her eyelids.
"May I please be excused?" Kagome asked unsteadily, obviously attempting (yet failing miserably) to keep her voice from wavering. She drew herself up to her knees and finally up onto shaky legs as she strolled morosely out the wallpaper thin door without even a second glance back at her open mouthed companions.
"Stupid Inuyasha," she muttered, her voice shaky as she tried to keep the moist tears from escaping the corners of her watering eyelids, "Why does he have to be so infuriating? Isn't it enough that I've been yanked out of my home, away from my family, my friends, my dreams? Is it really neccasary for him to just show up out of the blue and insult me at every turn when all I want is to make peace with him and get on with my life?" she sighed wearily as she sunk down upon a hollow gray log and stared wistfully up at the night sky. It was almost something out of a painting to the young girl, especially one with such an artistic nature.
The sky was black as a raven's wing, a deep penetrating shade that Kagome knew she'd never laid eyes on in the course of her short lifetime, and the surrounding areas looked bleak and dark, almost something taken straight out of the creepiest of horror films. An owl made its prescence known in the form of an indignant hoot, and the nighttime breeze tickled her delicate skin as she absorbed the scene before her. The stars were a pale white and scattered haphazardly across the black depths of the sky, the colors contrasting with such a clash that made the overall appearance that much more appealing to the younger girl below, as the entire manifestation gave the feel of a familiar, comforting blanket securing the lands below, the stars being tiny, pinpricked holes poked through its surface to allow the universes the opportunity to watch over their fellow neighbors. Kagome felt almost as if inexplicable warmth settled down upon her shoulders, and for a brief moment she felt safe, protected, and most of all cherished.
The comforting silence was broken, however, when the cracking sounds of snapping twigs came from behind her, and she was drawn from her mystical reveries with a melancholy sigh. "I wish I could go home...," she muttered morosely as she brought a weary hand to drag across her eyelids, wiping the few tears strewn across her cheeks then shaking her hand toward the sky for a moment to allow the dampness to disintegrate.
"You can," a voice spoke up from alongside her and she glanced up to see a familiar figure settling down beside her. "I wish you wouldn't, though. A fair amount of people are counting on you, and I'd feel rather disappointed with myself if I knew the reason you left was because you couldn't stand my best friend. I'd probably have to rethink my judgment a bit when it comes to choosing friends, and I'd end up so picky that I'd become a recluse forced to live off hermit crabs. Not a future I've particularly spent my life yearning for, so for my sake, Kagome, don't give up on us yet," Miroku smiled amiably down at the girl before running his fingers through his silky black hair, and Kagome smiled thankfully up at him in response before staring uncertainly back at her palms, unsure of whether or not to discuss her innermost thoughts with him before deciding it couldn't much hurt and drawing in a deep breath as preparation.
"It's just that I really don't know where to go from here, y' know?" she stared quizzically up at the man who cocked his head in confusion at her inquiry, scratching his head a bit in bewilderment. Sensing that he didn't understand the implications of her previous statement, Kagome concentrated hard on her fingertips to keep her immense insecurity from entering her voice.
"I mean, I know so many people are counting on me and it'd be really selfish to let them all down but," she paused for a moment, hesitant on whether to continue, "I miss my family, my friends, heck, I miss my life overall. I mean if I actually had gone to an art school things wouldn't be so different, but at least I'd be able to keep in contact with them, and I probably would've made new friends as well, but here, I just don't know. I mean to hear that my very life is at stake, and I may possibly never see my family again," she sighed with remorse, "It's just a decision I didn't think I'd have to make at this point in my life, or ever for that matter," she shook her head a bit as the mysterious night air seemed to have taken a particular liking to swirling the tangled strands of her unkempt locks around, tantalizingly dangling them in front of her for a moment before allowing them to dance freely around her face. She glanced worriedly up at Miroku, awaiting a response, but he seemed to be immersed in thought for a moment, as if trying to fully grasp and understand her situation before replying.
"Kagome, I know it's a lot to think about, but while I barely know you I'm confident in your abilities. And for however long it takes to conquer our obstacles, we'll be your family in all respective purposes, and your friends. While sacrifice may not always be the easiest course of action, it's oftentimes the most rewarding. I learnt that the hard way," he gestured toward the sloppily constructed shack hovering in the distance, "We all did".
"Oh right," Kagome broke in, remembering the earlier tale of the Grays, but deciding not to pursue her idle wonderings for the moment.
"Anyhow, Kagome, I'm confident that you'll choose the path that's best for you in the end, whichever road that may be. Just remember that I'm always here if you need somebody to confide in, or Sango, or even Kaede. And while Inuyasha may not be the most approachable of people, he may turn out to be strikingly different then the person you pegged him to be," he smirked in recollection of his first encounters with Inuyasha. "Besides, it's no surprise that he'd be slightly disoriented at the moment, what with the whole situation with," he paused for a moment, looking rather flustered as if he'd let on too much about his hanyou companion.
"Situation with what?" Kagome cocked her head curiously as was her nature. "What's wrong with Inuyasha?"
"Nothing, Kagome. Nothing you need to worry about at the moment," he glanced furtively at the shack to reassure himself that nobody had been around to witness his slip of the tongue. "Well, I best get back. Heaven knows what sort of violations Sango will accuse me of," he grunted and rose to his feet, outstretching a hand to Kagome which she immediately grasped and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet . Miroku released her momentarily and the two proceeded their walk back in silence, Kagome glancing at Miroku out of the corner of her eye every few seconds before finally working up the courage to voice her gratitude.
"Miroku?"
"Yeah?" he asked nonchalantly, briefly glancing down at her before continuing ahead with her struggling to match his long strides.
"Thanks," he stopped for a moment to regard her, and while Miroku couldn't see it under the cover of darkness, Kagome positively beamed at him as the alluring sounds of the night made up the background music to the heavy moment, a chilling breeze crossing the air, causing both parties to shiver involuntarily.
After regarding her for a moment, as if assessing her he sent her a cheerful grin in return. "You're welcome, Kagome. You're very welcome".
O.O
'Yup,' Kagome thought to herself as she shifted for a final time on the comforting cotton. 'I think I may actually grow to like it here, if I give it a chance. And as for advice?' her heart warmed as she recalled her conversation with Miroku. 'I may not need to go running home to mother after all,' she snuggled deeper into the slightly stiff pillow as she allowed her eyes to slowly drift closed.
'Still,' she thought with a slight yawn, 'I can't help but wonder what Miroku meant about Inuyasha's....situ," another yawn, "ation. Not really any of my business, anyhow...," was her last coherent thought before she relinquished all holds on her consciousness and allowed herself to slowly drift off into a deep slumber.
A/N: Before anybody says it, NO this is NOT a MirKag. Sango's the only one for Miroku in this story, and of course Kagome's the one for Inuyasha. But keep this in mind: while we may know that Miroku and Kagome won't end up more then friends, Sango doesn't.
Next chapter: Kagome finally makes her decision (like we don't already know what that'll be ;-)) and finally has a decent conversation with Inuyasha! Yay!
Please review!!
A/N: Finally! An update! What can I say... I decided to sit down and force myself to write this thing, so it may not have come out very good, but I suppose its better 'n nothin. And to all you Americans out there... happy July 4th!
Morgana - Thanks for catching it, I was hoping I'd edited all of the "Lily's" out. Being a procrastinator I had an English assignment to write a story, and by the last minute I couldn't think of anything good so I just changed the names in this one (didn't have to be complete...). Of course, being an idiot I'd forgotten that I hadn't yet posted Chapter 5 of this story so I was forced to go through it and change all the names BACK again (and you have no idea how painstakingly slow that went)...thanks for the review!
Chapter Six
Dinner is Served
The detailed glass patterns outlining the delicate window structure grew dark in misty fog as a shadowy black overtook the night sky, the pale white stars contrasting well with the black sky above it as they danced across its depths. The moon shone tranquilly above the lands below, and Kagome found a surprising comfort in the familiarity of its color. A lone light gray hand perched carefully on the windowpane, absentmindedly tracing the delicate patterns with sleek and confident fingertips. A regretful sigh traveled subconsciously from the girl's slightly parted once rosy lips and mingled with the breezy air for a moment before dancing lightly across her skin, its gentle caress causing the tiny hairs on the smooth surface to bristle in recognition. The hand dropped stealthily to the girl's lap, resting tranquilly on her exposed knee which peeked out dangerously from under the once emerald green uniform skirt which had warmed her legs for so many years.
"It's freezing in here," Kagome stated bluntly, though not at such a volume where her somewhat blurry voice would be audible to the mysterious ears of the nighttime sky. "I'll bet that Inuyasha fellow hasn't even thought to install air conditioning in here. He's so selfish, he's probably gone and installed it in his own room, completely ignoring the fact that a 'guest room' serves a purpose, and that purpose is to house his guest, not that he'd ever receive any company with that arrogant and vulgar demeanor he's constantly putting out," she mumbled crossly before flopping back onto the silky sheets below her with a barely audible 'thump', causing the rumpled covers to shift slightly from their original positions. Her head lay cradled softly against the cotton white pillow, the beaded designs prickling her scalp as her midnight black hair parted to allow the contact.
"Oh, who am I kidding? I'm just feeling slightly wistful is all. I mean yesterday I had all these hopes and dreams of becoming a legendary artist crowding my brain, and today I find out that my lifetime aspiration was a lie, and possibly my talent as well, since I was only accepted in that darned school in the first place because of my supposed 'otherworldly cause,'" she heaved a melancholy sigh before allowing her head to loll slightly to the left, so that it was only partially supported by the feathery pillow beneath her.
"I wonder what sort of advice Yuka would give me right now. Wait that's no good, with a guy as supposedly "hot" as Inuyasha, at least in Yuka's eyes I'll bet, she'd probably tell me to turn up the charm and try to get laid, while at the moment Kaede seems more of an appealing choice for a date. Maybe Souta would have some good advice," she closed her soft gray eyes and let the thoughts of her (in her mind's eye) pest of a brother cloud her thoughts. She imagined his silky brown hair and soft, naïve doey eyes which could usually succeed into sweet talking both Kagome and her mother into anything of his choosing. His rumpled clothing which oftentimes never matched, and his black and blue baseball cap that he'd won on their vacation to America at least half a year ago and barely removed since. He seemed to smile down at her from her vision and parted his lips to speak, which at the moment were coated in the crumbs of what appeared to be homemade chocolate chip, Kagome's own special recipe.
"Hey Sis, how 'ya doin? You certainly seem to have a knack for attracting trouble, I think it may have to do with that little thing I'd like to call 'karma'," he snorted gleefully before continuing, "Anyhow just bake that guy some of your special cookies. No man can resist cooking that good, especially since it's the only thing you've ever been any good at, other then that 'art' stuff which to me looks like you threw up all over your canvas and looking at it usually makes me want to throw up all over you. Oh, and another thing, take up that "mission" of yours, since fighting sounds like it'd be a big part of it, and it'd be awesome if you could come home looking like Arnold Schwar... er.. Schwartg...erm.. that guy who kept appearing on the telly in the U.S. Good luck Kagome!"
Kagome let out a remorseful sigh before rolling over in the other direction, a teasing lock of raven hair hanging mercilessly in front of her eyelids. "Thanks a lot, Souta," she muttered cantankerously before allowing a more uplifting giggle to float through her parched lips. "Hmm, well if not Souta or Yuka, what about mom? I could always count on her to point me in the right direction, a little too often sometimes if you want my opinion," she smirked before allowing her eyelids to shield her eyes from the darkness once again, which in turn allowed her brain to fully concentrate on picturing her beloved mother. She stifled a giggle as the picture of a slightly frumpy middle aged woman floated through her mind, hand clutching a broom and piercing brown eyes twinkling merrily as they seemed to brighten at Kagome's presence.
"Hello Kagome, dear. You've certainly gotten yourself into quite a predicament, but if you want my advice, which I'm sure you probably don't, just give these new opportunities a chance. Sure it may not have been what you'd expected to do with your life in the next four years, but honey, these people are in desperate need of your help right now, and this new opportunity could do wonders for opening up your mind to new ideas and cultures," Kagome snorted at this. "As for this Inuyasha fellow, just be a friend to him, and given time, I'm sure he'll open up to you. What sane human being can resist an open invitation for friendship from such a nice girl?" she beamed before her eyes narrowed and took on a more sinister appearance. "BUT NO SEX. Got it, Kagome? At least not before any weddings, and no weddings before you return home," Kagome could've sworn she saw sparks emitting from the woman's usually cheerful eyes before she reverted back to her original state. "Have fun dear!"
Kagome let out an uncertain chuckle before shifting in an attempt to obtain a more comfortable position. Seeing that her attempts were futile she gave a last half-hearted shrug and lay as close to the edge of the soft, squeaky mattress as possible, letting a sleek and graceful arm drape over the edges, her fingers drumming a steady rhythm upon the firm wooden bed frame. "I need an asprin," she said absentmindedly with an exaggerated yawn, "but seeing as Inuyasha isn't exactly the most approachable of people, I might as well make an attempt to get some shut-eye," she allowed her soft eyes to slowly drift to a close, making an exaggerated show of tossing and turning a bit before finally settling down into the soft mattress, the blankets enveloping her slight form in a perfect fit and a few stray locks of raven hair tickling her nostrils. 'I wonder if this whole thing has been a dream...I'll bet that's it. Tomorrow I'll wake up and my mom will be yelling at me to get to school, or Souta will come whining to me about baking more chocolate chip cookies, or else I'll wake up in the hospital since Kanna could very well be some sort of martial arts master who found my pressure points and knocked me unconscious, but then that weird Hojo advisor was really a member of the F.B.I and he broke into my room and had a huge showdown with Kanna while the rest of the students sat around chanting "FIGHT! FIGHT" and the teachers sat in the background conversing about the artistic merit of murder," her eyelids fluttered open and she blinked silently a few times before allowing a nervous giggle to pass through her lips. "All right, I definitely need a good night's sleep," she raised her arms to the sky in a tired gesture before letting them flop back down at her sides.
'Too bad I couldn't stay with Sango and Kaede, I'll bet the two of them would've been much better company then this Inuyasha fellow,' her eyes fastened shut tightly as she allowed her mind to drift back to the earlier events of the evening...
O.O
"MMM, Kaede, this is absolutely delicious! I hate to say it, but you're even a better cook then my mother, though she'd skin me alive if she heard me admit it," Kagome beamed cheerfully as she returned to enjoying the delicacy placed before her.
"Thank you, child, I'm glad to hear you like it. Some of us," she glanced meaningfully in Inuyasha's direction, "would do well to pick up some of your manners," she narrowed her slightly beady eyes at Inuyasha's will to ignore her sarcasm and continue picking at his food, which he didn't exactly seem to be relishing. "This dish was once known as "salmon", a mighty beast who took to the treacherous waters which Sango and I were forced to scope out in hopes of retrieving it," she stole a glance at Sango whose attention seemed to be elsewhere, preferably on the task of keeping her cheeks from growing crimson at Miroku's increasingly close proximity.
"You know Sango," Miroku choked out between mouthfuls which seemed to be entering his mouth a bit too rapidly for good health in Kaede's opinion, "I've been working on another poem especially for you, which I'm sure will steal your heart away and force you to abandon your current home and come live with me in my ever so lonely and humble domain where we shall spend the rest of eternity with our many children and deliciously cooked salmon," Miroku smirked innocently in Sango's direction who proceeded to scoot cautiously towards Kagome, who in turn stifled a giggle and shifted closer to Inuyasha in an attempt to allow Sango's endeavors. Inuyasha on the other hand wasn't paying much attention to his friends antics, rather to the girl whose proximity was coming just a bit too close for comfort.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Sango retorted smartly, praying to the gods above that any hints of her obvious embarrassment weren't apparent on her porcelain skin. "Last I heard wandering straight into the beast's lair is never a very wise decision," she finished with a teasing smirk and a wink of her piercing gray eyes, which Kagome was almost certain had once been a deep, penetrating brown.
"She got you there Miroku," Kagome chuckled lightheartedly as she gestured to Miroku with the prongs of her fork, vaguely wondering how on Earth such an obviously prehistoric era got a hold of modern kitchenware, but dismissing the thought as unimportant. She glanced up at Inuyasha curiously, inquisitive as to why he hadn't participated in the conversation once all evening. She drew back in an expression of pure surprise when her gaze found his scrutinizing gray pupils intertwined with her own in a heated gaze, as if he were analyzing her, no, memorizing her. His eyes narrowed a bit in disgust and his lips pursed angrily as he shifted until he was facing in the opposite direction, still appearing furious at something.
"You know," he began, and while he appeared to be conversing with the wooden planks adorning the wall, Kagome knew he was addressing her, "You can stop being so obvious, and I'll have you know that I'm not quite that easy to seduce," he spat out bitterly, completely unaware of the response his statement was to ensue from an obviously shocked Kagome whose eyebrows had been raised in an expression of complete astonishment, her lips parted slightly in bafflement before the words had an opportunity to sink in.
"WHAT?" she bellowed, obviously enraged as her hands began to clench dangerously by her sides, "What in heaven's name are you talking about, you pervert? I've barely said a word to you all night, you haven't the right nor proof to accuse me of such a thing," she spat crossly before shooting him a final glare of loathing.
"Oh, so you think I haven't NOTICED how you've been "unintentionally" drawing nearer every three fucking seconds that pass by? What do you take me for?" he narrowed his eyes patronizingly as he turned to face her, his arms still folded neatly across his chest.
"Somebody who draws conclusions too easily, that's what!" Kagome's voice rose to reach an all time high, and Sango marveled at her ability to hit octaves she hadn't known existed. "What sort of nutcase would be attracted to somebody they barely know and whose treated them like a jerk in the short time since they met!" she wrinkled her nose in slight agitation as Inuyasha yawned exaggeratedly before leaning back against the sturdy wooden planks, lowering himself until he was sitting Indian style with his arms never leaving their original position across his chest.
Seeing as a retort wasn't about to come anytime soon, Miroku interjected with a familiar smirk. "Well I for one would, if she was hot enough," he spoke brightly, seemingly unaware of the chaos unfolding before him as he forked the last bite of salmon into his ravenously awaiting mouth.
"Well then I guess we've found a match for you Malome," Inuyasha replied with his eyes clamped shut tightly and his lips drawing upward in a sarcastic smirk. A deep and penetrating growl rose from within the depths of Kagome's throat, and this time it was Miroku's turn to marvel at Kagome's obvious range of tone. 'She must have wonderful singing capabilities,' he smiled inwardly at the thought of Kagome atop a newly constructed stage, her voice swaying throughout the scales as she belted out her newest single, "Miroku, My Rampant Sex Monkey" and a tear leaked out the corner of his amiable eyes as he stared appreciatively at her from behind an ornamental curtain with velvet as red as the blood of one whose been pricked by the sharpest of thorns. The vision was so entertaining that Miroku almost missed Kagome's retort to Inuyasha's accusations, but luckily Kagome's screech brought him out of his reveries, whether this was to his comfort or dismay he wasn't quite sure.
"MY NAME IS KAGOME! KA-GO-ME! And you'll do well to learn it too, or you'll never have to worry about women "seducing" you again!" she screeched deafeningly before breathing inwardly a few times and allowing herself to relax a bit, which was apparent when a lighthearted grin claimed its usual spot on her lips, representing the return of her cheerful demeanor for which the entire group (save Inuyasha) was quite grateful.
"Now now children," Miroku began in an attempt to cut through the awkward tension suffocating the occupants of the tiny hut, "save the argument for the bedroom," he winked coyly at both Kagome and Inuyasha who in turn drew back, obviously repulsed, and Inuyasha had to suppress a chuckle as Sango glanced peculiarly at him from the corner of her eye.
"Miroku!" she heaved an exaggerated sigh and allowed her eyes to casually roll up to rest below the roof of her eyelids.
"What?" Miroku shrugged defensively. "Where I come from argument has always been considered as a form of foreplay," he ducked, just barely missing Sango's outstretched fingertips.
"Boy, does that explain a lot," Inuyasha muttered cynically, shaking his head at the antics of his companions before shifting his gaze to focus in on Kaede, who (now that she'd finally completed the task of whipping up a second batch of salmon for the group) shook her head in utter annoyance as she set her spatula on the musty floorboards.
"You're all a troupe of fools, you excluded of course," she gestured toward Kagome with a wave of her hand and allowed the hand to linger in midair a moment before dropping back to rest in perfect alignment with her spatula. She kept her eyes trained steadfast on Kagome as she continued, "I wouldn't waste much of my precious time around this lot if I were you or you'll end up as obviously corrupted and foolish as the rest," she smiled teasingly and Kagome resisted the urge to beam at the obvious love reflected in the older woman's eyes for the company surrounding them. It was blatantly obvious that the group shared very tight knit bonds with each other, and Kaede seemed to play the part of their overbearing mother figure in their circle, though she was most obviously the glue holding them together.
"Old hag," Inuyasha muttered disdainfully, apparently not much caring whether or not his companions caught his insult since the volume was enough to send four pairs of ears swiveling hastily in his direction, with the exception of Miroku who only appeared merely curious.
'Of course, I'm beginning to doubt whether this useless lunk of flesh even has the capacity to feel love for somebody,' Kagome inwardly rolled her eyes as she glared menacingly at the man before her. "Inuyasha!" she admonished. "That was uncalled for".
"I heard that, ye ungrateful mongrel," Kaede shook her head with an elongated sigh before running a leathered hand through her stringy graying locks. "No second helpings for you," she pursed her lips as she shifted the plate containing the appetizing meal to a spot on the ground which she was certain lay just out of his reach. Inuyasha shrugged nonchalantly before allowing a single eye to flutter open and fix heatedly on Kaede.
"Oh, cry me a river woman," he said, his voice layered thick with bouts of sarcasm and his arms never once leaving their position folded neatly across his chest and thrust haphazardly in his blackened sleeves. "I never asked for first helpings of that slop to begin with," Kagome's head began to throb in response to Inuyasha's unnecessary comments, and she drew a hand to her forehead to steady herself while managing to make an exasperated strangled noise from the back of her throat.
"You're exhausting," she shook her head morosely as she glanced at Miroku, Sango, and Kaede in sheer bafflement. "I can't believe you three put up with him on a daily basis".
Miroku, as was his nature, shook his head back in boisterous laughter as he slanted comfortably against his self proclaimed area, which of course both Sango and Kagome were welcome to enter at any time of their choosing. His jet black hair ruffled gently as he subconsciously blew it out of his face in annoyance, and at the moment Kagome could've sworn he looked slightly familiar, though she couldn't put her finger on where she'd seen him before. "Oh, relax, no offense to you Kaede," he added quickly when the elder's beady eyes narrowed in his direction, "He doesn't eat much of anything if it doesn't fall into one of two elite categories: Ramen and Desserts, the former preferred over the latter of course," Miroku finished pointedly, and Inuyasha gave a swift nod in response, his hands finally withdrawing from the depths of his coat sleeves and resting casually at his sides, his nails drumming an unfamiliar rhythm on the flooring which echoed throughout the base of the cozy shack and pulsed boldly through Kagome's delicate eardrums.
"Damn straight," Inuyasha smirked haughtily. "Neither of which you know much about, I'm sure," his voice took on a tone of silent competition and Kagome fought the immense urge to burst out into laughter. If only he had any idea...deciding not to take the bait, Kagome shrugged and turned pleasantly back to Kaede who appeared to be watching the scene with great interest.
"So anyhow Kaede, do the four of you live here?" Kagome inquired in an attempt to keep conversation from heading straight downhill. She nudged her plate to the side slightly to signify that she had completed her meal, and Kaede smiled inwardly at the younger girl's tactics. 'Yes, she will do quite well amongst us'.
"Oh, of course not child. We have difficulty enough fitting in here just to enjoy a hearty meal, using this place for shelter as well would be unbearable," she shook her head repulsively at the thought as she cocked her head meaningfully toward both Sango and Miroku, the latter who had a familiar look appearing in his responsive gray eyes and the former who braced herself for Miroku's next (and most likely perverted) response.
"Oh, I dunno. If both Sango and Kagome used me as a mattress, I think that arrangement may work out quite nicely, don't you agree?" he flashed his teeth innocently, and Sango groaned in annoyance, lowering her head to cup morosely in her outstretched fingers as she heaved a lengthy sigh at the man's all too familiar antics.
"Ignoring that," Kaede began purposefully, "That does pose a slight problem. Where'll young Kagome be spending the night?" she raised an eyebrow questioningly and Sango glanced upward in response.
"Well I think that should be Kagome's choice, seeing as wherever she chooses is hopefully gonna end up her hectic little home for quite awhile," she smiled teasingly at Kagome as she pushed a lock of once chocolate hair behind her ears. Kagome grinned in response to Sango's statement but suddenly felt a bit queasy at the prospect of the decisions she'd need to make by the coming day. She decided it'd be best to put it out of her mind for the moment and concentrate on the matters at hand.
"Well," Kagome heaved an elongated sigh in an attempt to stall for time, "If it's all right, I'd much appreciate being able to live with you Sango," she smiled inwardly as Sango seemed to positively glow at her statement. "Of course I have no problem living with Kaede as well," she cocked her head in the older woman's direction whose round cheecks seemed to become ever so rosier at Kagome's invitation.
"Well actually," Sango began hesitantly, her mouth drawn up in an expression of insecurity as she fidgeted with the folds adorning her clothing, "Kaede and I live together".
Kagome gave a joyous sigh tinged with relief as she glanced methodically at the two women. "So I'll be staying with you two?" she asked to concrete the arrangement and cocked her head in bewilderment when the two women glanced meaningfully at one another before glancing back at their newfound guest. "Is there a problem?" Kagome spoke up, her voice laced with a slight tinge of uncertainty.
"Well you see," Sango piped up, "I live with both Kaede and my younger brother Kohaku who take up the already limited amount of bedding as well as the living room couch," she finished reluctantly, "So unless you want to sleep in a bathtub or on the kitchen floor....," she trailed off uncertainly and glanced at Kagome to see her reaction to this setback. To her immense surprise the younger girl just shrugged and turned back to Miroku, who had been keeping immeasurably quiet in the last few minutes for reasons it only took Sango a few seconds to fully grasp.
'Of course,' Sango's chest felt slightly suffocated, as if a tiny rock were waiting in the depths of her lungs to release itself into her heart where it would continue to grow until it had succeeded in consuming her entirely. 'I should've guessed. Miroku obviously wants Kagome to stay with him, but he doesn't want me to end up miserable. I don't know whether I should be offended or flattered,' the pathetic attempt at humor left her insides feeling even less optimistic. 'Oh, cheer up Sango!' she said inwardly in an attempt to bring herself from the depths of despair. 'It's nothing to get upset over; I mean it's not like you have any claim to Miroku, and you don't even like the guy! Right?' her heart plummeted as she reflected back on her inner sentiments. 'Oh who am I kidding...'.
Inuyasha snorted from his respective corner and inwardly rolled his eyes at the obvious dilemma unraveling before him. "You two are so bleeding obvious. If you're going to be that dense, the chick probably wouldn't be too safe with you anyhow. I'll take her," he smirked dryly, pleased with himself for settling the matter though noticing with an inward chuckle that Miroku looked vaguely disappointed with the arrangement.
"But," the dark haired man began in protest before realizing that all possible arguments were futile, "Never mind. That's an excellent suggestion, Inuyasha. Didn't know you had it in you," he winked coyly at the hanyou who blinked a few times in repulsion before curling his fingers back into the palm of his hand and pursing his lips, a sure sign of the hanyou's unmistakable fury.
"Now listen you," he began lividly, "I'd rather jump into a pit of piranhas then even think about having to spend more then three seconds with this bitch, but you know as well as I do that her existence is vital to us, so why don't you shut up and stop pulling these perverted remarks out of your ass," he spat out crossly, seemingly unaware of the obviously perturbed female bristling beside him as she blew a lock of raven hair from teasingly dangling before her eyelids.
"May I please be excused?" Kagome asked unsteadily, obviously attempting (yet failing miserably) to keep her voice from wavering. She drew herself up to her knees and finally up onto shaky legs as she strolled morosely out the wallpaper thin door without even a second glance back at her open mouthed companions.
"Stupid Inuyasha," she muttered, her voice shaky as she tried to keep the moist tears from escaping the corners of her watering eyelids, "Why does he have to be so infuriating? Isn't it enough that I've been yanked out of my home, away from my family, my friends, my dreams? Is it really neccasary for him to just show up out of the blue and insult me at every turn when all I want is to make peace with him and get on with my life?" she sighed wearily as she sunk down upon a hollow gray log and stared wistfully up at the night sky. It was almost something out of a painting to the young girl, especially one with such an artistic nature.
The sky was black as a raven's wing, a deep penetrating shade that Kagome knew she'd never laid eyes on in the course of her short lifetime, and the surrounding areas looked bleak and dark, almost something taken straight out of the creepiest of horror films. An owl made its prescence known in the form of an indignant hoot, and the nighttime breeze tickled her delicate skin as she absorbed the scene before her. The stars were a pale white and scattered haphazardly across the black depths of the sky, the colors contrasting with such a clash that made the overall appearance that much more appealing to the younger girl below, as the entire manifestation gave the feel of a familiar, comforting blanket securing the lands below, the stars being tiny, pinpricked holes poked through its surface to allow the universes the opportunity to watch over their fellow neighbors. Kagome felt almost as if inexplicable warmth settled down upon her shoulders, and for a brief moment she felt safe, protected, and most of all cherished.
The comforting silence was broken, however, when the cracking sounds of snapping twigs came from behind her, and she was drawn from her mystical reveries with a melancholy sigh. "I wish I could go home...," she muttered morosely as she brought a weary hand to drag across her eyelids, wiping the few tears strewn across her cheeks then shaking her hand toward the sky for a moment to allow the dampness to disintegrate.
"You can," a voice spoke up from alongside her and she glanced up to see a familiar figure settling down beside her. "I wish you wouldn't, though. A fair amount of people are counting on you, and I'd feel rather disappointed with myself if I knew the reason you left was because you couldn't stand my best friend. I'd probably have to rethink my judgment a bit when it comes to choosing friends, and I'd end up so picky that I'd become a recluse forced to live off hermit crabs. Not a future I've particularly spent my life yearning for, so for my sake, Kagome, don't give up on us yet," Miroku smiled amiably down at the girl before running his fingers through his silky black hair, and Kagome smiled thankfully up at him in response before staring uncertainly back at her palms, unsure of whether or not to discuss her innermost thoughts with him before deciding it couldn't much hurt and drawing in a deep breath as preparation.
"It's just that I really don't know where to go from here, y' know?" she stared quizzically up at the man who cocked his head in confusion at her inquiry, scratching his head a bit in bewilderment. Sensing that he didn't understand the implications of her previous statement, Kagome concentrated hard on her fingertips to keep her immense insecurity from entering her voice.
"I mean, I know so many people are counting on me and it'd be really selfish to let them all down but," she paused for a moment, hesitant on whether to continue, "I miss my family, my friends, heck, I miss my life overall. I mean if I actually had gone to an art school things wouldn't be so different, but at least I'd be able to keep in contact with them, and I probably would've made new friends as well, but here, I just don't know. I mean to hear that my very life is at stake, and I may possibly never see my family again," she sighed with remorse, "It's just a decision I didn't think I'd have to make at this point in my life, or ever for that matter," she shook her head a bit as the mysterious night air seemed to have taken a particular liking to swirling the tangled strands of her unkempt locks around, tantalizingly dangling them in front of her for a moment before allowing them to dance freely around her face. She glanced worriedly up at Miroku, awaiting a response, but he seemed to be immersed in thought for a moment, as if trying to fully grasp and understand her situation before replying.
"Kagome, I know it's a lot to think about, but while I barely know you I'm confident in your abilities. And for however long it takes to conquer our obstacles, we'll be your family in all respective purposes, and your friends. While sacrifice may not always be the easiest course of action, it's oftentimes the most rewarding. I learnt that the hard way," he gestured toward the sloppily constructed shack hovering in the distance, "We all did".
"Oh right," Kagome broke in, remembering the earlier tale of the Grays, but deciding not to pursue her idle wonderings for the moment.
"Anyhow, Kagome, I'm confident that you'll choose the path that's best for you in the end, whichever road that may be. Just remember that I'm always here if you need somebody to confide in, or Sango, or even Kaede. And while Inuyasha may not be the most approachable of people, he may turn out to be strikingly different then the person you pegged him to be," he smirked in recollection of his first encounters with Inuyasha. "Besides, it's no surprise that he'd be slightly disoriented at the moment, what with the whole situation with," he paused for a moment, looking rather flustered as if he'd let on too much about his hanyou companion.
"Situation with what?" Kagome cocked her head curiously as was her nature. "What's wrong with Inuyasha?"
"Nothing, Kagome. Nothing you need to worry about at the moment," he glanced furtively at the shack to reassure himself that nobody had been around to witness his slip of the tongue. "Well, I best get back. Heaven knows what sort of violations Sango will accuse me of," he grunted and rose to his feet, outstretching a hand to Kagome which she immediately grasped and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet . Miroku released her momentarily and the two proceeded their walk back in silence, Kagome glancing at Miroku out of the corner of her eye every few seconds before finally working up the courage to voice her gratitude.
"Miroku?"
"Yeah?" he asked nonchalantly, briefly glancing down at her before continuing ahead with her struggling to match his long strides.
"Thanks," he stopped for a moment to regard her, and while Miroku couldn't see it under the cover of darkness, Kagome positively beamed at him as the alluring sounds of the night made up the background music to the heavy moment, a chilling breeze crossing the air, causing both parties to shiver involuntarily.
After regarding her for a moment, as if assessing her he sent her a cheerful grin in return. "You're welcome, Kagome. You're very welcome".
O.O
'Yup,' Kagome thought to herself as she shifted for a final time on the comforting cotton. 'I think I may actually grow to like it here, if I give it a chance. And as for advice?' her heart warmed as she recalled her conversation with Miroku. 'I may not need to go running home to mother after all,' she snuggled deeper into the slightly stiff pillow as she allowed her eyes to slowly drift closed.
'Still,' she thought with a slight yawn, 'I can't help but wonder what Miroku meant about Inuyasha's....situ," another yawn, "ation. Not really any of my business, anyhow...," was her last coherent thought before she relinquished all holds on her consciousness and allowed herself to slowly drift off into a deep slumber.
A/N: Before anybody says it, NO this is NOT a MirKag. Sango's the only one for Miroku in this story, and of course Kagome's the one for Inuyasha. But keep this in mind: while we may know that Miroku and Kagome won't end up more then friends, Sango doesn't.
Next chapter: Kagome finally makes her decision (like we don't already know what that'll be ;-)) and finally has a decent conversation with Inuyasha! Yay!
Please review!!