I hope to post two more chapters soon so be aware!
Sylavannastar
Untimed Meeting
Kagome heard Inuyasha growl. She pushed on his legs to move him out of her way and the unexpected motion sent him falling forward.
Boton squeaked and threw her arms out to keep the hanyou from squashing her.
"Urrgh!"
"Eeeep!"
Thud.
"Oh! Boton, are you okay?" Kagome pulled Inuyasha off the other girl.
"Stupid bitch!" he yelled.
"Hey!" the girls said together, unsure who he was addressing. Either way it was insulting.
"Keh!" he turned his nose up at them and glared at the four boys and child.
"Inuyasha, be nice. I told you that they were friends." Kagome heard him growl again. "Don't make me say it..."
His eyes flashed dangerously at her. "Woman! You don't need these-"
She didn't let him finish, knowing whatever he said would be rude. "Sit!"
Wham!
"I'm sorry. He's in a very bad mood today," she apologized.
"Damn it, woman! If you think-"
"Sit!"
Wham!
They winced. It was so much more painful looking in person than on the screen. He was bigger too. As tall as Kurama, with a mouth like Yusuke.
He spat out dirt and glared but didn't say anything else. He recognized the smell that had been the strongest on Kagome and located a the red-haired boy, Shuuichi. His golden eyes met green and narrowed in warning at the mild look of curiosity revealed there.
Kurama watched the dog demon eat dirt the second time, impassively. In his opinion, there was no need to be so disrespectful to a woman and so offered no sympathy to the half-demon. He was surprised by the look of open hostility he felt directed his way, though. Those gold eyes issued both threat and challenge and Kurama was intrigued. Youko was ready to spit and fight, while Shuuichi was confused and wanted to begin the peace talks. Then Kurama suddenly understood. The dog was possessive of Kagome and found him to be a threat. Interesting...He smiled knowingly and looked at Kagome, accepting the unspoken challenge. Sure enough, the hanyou growled again. Mischievously, his smile widened and he greeted Kagome politely, receiving one of her dazzling smiles. The growling increased in volume and intensity. He flashed his emerald eyes at the dog demon and winked. The growling abruptly stopped.
Inuyasha sat up. "Feh!" he colored slightly. Kagome would never be interested in such a girly looking boy...would she? His eyes fell on the moody fire demon in the shadows and just as easily slipped away.
Hiei seethed. Damn them all! Pass me over like I'm no threat...Though Hiei was not interested in the girl like that, it irked him that the other males seemed to think he was incapable of winning in the mock battle for the girls attention. I'll just show you! His red eyes glowed in annoyance as he smiled in the dark shadows. Just because he wasn't technically in the race didn't mean he couldn't beat them into a bloody pulp. He caught Kagome's eye and schooled his features into the much used expression of utter disgust. She looked surprised at first and then flashed him an angry look back. He turned his face away, as if dismissing her from his sight. It worked.
Kagome pried herself away from Inuyasha's grasp and Shuuichi's polite banter to glare at the demon leaning on the wall. They knew everything about her, but she didn't know anything about them. And that-that- she wasn't sure what kind of demon Hiei was. To look at me like that! Ohhh!
Hiei calmly stepped between them, keeping Kagome's angry gaze. He stopped next to Kurama and clearly said, "I win." And proceeded to walk casually out the door.
"Win what?" Koenma looked confused.
Kuram looked down and saw Kagome's face flushed in anger with her silvery blue eyes flashing blue fire at the koorime's back. He started to laugh. The little fire demon had indeed gotten her attention! Poor Hiei, if you think that is winning, I'm afraid what it will look like when one of us loses!
Kagome smiled in response to his laughter and allowed her anger to vanish.
I won't be the one to lose this one, he thought. But what about the way I fight myself... How could I pull her into a relationship when I don't even know who I am myself? The sparkle in his eyes faded as he stepped back to allow the others access to the doorway. He had no right to do such a thing to her. He sighed slowly. No he wouldn't lose. Because he wouldn't join the battle.
Coward, Youko snarled.
Or perhaps incredibly brave...Shuuichi replied quietly.
Kurama just let the familiar wave of loneliness wash over him. It was time to let this dream go. There was no future for any girl with a man who was actually two people. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed the others out.
Kagome chatted brightly with Boton for a few moments before excusing herself to shower and dress.
Boton noticed that Yusuke and Kuwabara were unusually quiet. They seemed to be sizing up the testy dog demon. Hiei was no where to be seen and Kurama was gently touching the god tree. Koenma was trying to establish some authority over the hanyou with no result.
"I ain't dead yet. And even when I am, I won't be taking no orders from a toddler!"
Koenma's face turned red.
Boton hurried to his side to avert disaster. "Oh, Inuyasha!" she began. "Can I see the sword? It's a very powerful sword isn't it?"
Inuyasha swivelled his ears in her direction. The sword was his pride and joy. She batted her eyelashes at him sweetly. He relaxed and tossed the weapon at her, sheath and all. I obviously don't need it, he thought, eyeing the child ruler.
Boton ohhed and ahhed over the sword and Inuyasha drew the blade and let it transform for her. It was bigger then he was but he carried it easily. And he looked so cool. Boton blushed when she realized where her thoughts were taking her. He had stopped scowling and was quite cute by any woman's standards. She wanted to touch his ears. She looked around to see if anyone was watching her.
Kurama was communing with the tree, Hiei was still gone, Yusuke and Kuwabara were bickering, Koenma was pouting...all was safe.
"Ummm," she hesitated.
"What?" he stepped back.
She blushed. "Can I-can I touch your ears?"
He looked at her surprised. "You know, you're the first person to ask me."
She turned a brighter shade of red. "Ahh, sorry-"
"It's okay." He tilted his head down." Just don't pull." He smiled a bit. "I really don't mind. It's nice to be asked once in a while."
Boton kept blushing but snatched the opportunity to rub the white tuft. He almost purred at her gentle touch. She snatched her hands back and stuck them behind her back.
"Ahh, thanks..."
He sheathed the sword, shrugged and walked back to the well house. "Tell Kagome I'll wait for her on the other side," he disappeared from the doorway.
"O-okay..." she was still embarrassed. She pulled her hands in front of her and steepled her fingers. She tried willing the blush to go away. Maybe he wasn't so bad after all...
"Hn."
Boton turned more red, her eyes widened as she whirled round. Hiei sat on the shed roof watching her.
"Shut up," she hissed.
He just stared at her until she ran for cover in the form of company by standing with Koenma.
"Why does everyone treat me so disrespectfully, Boton?" he whined. "I am no toddler..."
Boton sighed miserably. She rubbed her fingers together, fascinated that she could still feel the silky texture of his fur on her finger tips. No, he wasn't that bad at all.
*******************************************************************************************************
Kurama knew the moment that Kagome stepped back outside. The powerful hum of the God tree intensified in response to her presence. It sang and swayed in the wind to a tune only it could hear. The tree called to him, wanting to share a story about the life of a tree. It was calming and pure, like Kagome who the tree obviously resonated well with.
She came up behind him and laid a delicate hand next to his on the rough bark. "Ever since I was little, this tree was always special to me," she said quietly. "I used to come out and talk to it, when I was lonely, like another person. Still do...It's funny, but sometimes I felt like it was actually listening, or even talking back...like in a song I could never make out the words to..."
She pulled her hand away.
Kurama looked at the empty space sadly.
"Silly, huh?"
"Not at all," he said looking at her. "I can hear it too."
She smiled again. "Shuuichi, will you tell me your story someday?"
His human name on her lips snapped him back to the present. She really knew nothing about him. "Someday," he agreed.
Kagome spoke to Koenma and Boton for a few minutes more and bade goodbye to Yusuke and Kuwabara who were still bickering like brothers. Then she spotted Hiei who was now standing by the well house.
She marched up to him. "You know. You're obviously not as cold hearted as you try to make yourself out to be." She smiled gently at him. "Besides, I'm not gonna waste a beautiful day being angry for Kami knows whatever reason. Have a good day, Hiei." She walked into the well house and disappeared with a flash of energy.
Hiei stood there, shocked. He had expected her to continue to be angry with him. Making her brood about his attitude toward her and her own reactions, insuring that his victory lasted at least several days. Instead, she was treating him friendly. He was confused so hid behind an indifferent "Hn."
"Still think you won?" Kurama asked by his side.
"Do you think you have, Fox?"
"No. I think she did."
"Hn."
"So what are you going to do now?"
"I will have a good day," he said and leapt to the roof top and disappeared in a blur of motion.
Kurama chuckled lightly. "You do that, Hiei." Smiling and feeling better, he told everyone good bye and made his own way home, stopping at the park and fountain to make a wish.
Stupid human tradition....Youko grumbled.
"Maybe," he said aloud, but made the wish anyway. Maybe.
He made his way home, them to do some extra chores around the house so his mother could get in a few more hours sleep. Then, maybe he'd find an new book.