Here we are, chapter 14. We're moving right along with this story, aren't we? Yes, I do think we are! For the record, only Jaded Hanyou Girl got the songs from last chapter right, so yay her! *throws a party and invites everyone* So sorry it took so long for me to get this chapter up and out. I had a hellish encounter with writer's block and a load of personal issues. I worked pretty hard on this chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or American Hi-Fi, but I still wish I did because then I could legally rape them. All the sexual-abuse charges would go away if they were mine.
Chapter 14: The Dangers of Mistletoe
Got nothing to lose this time
And I'm bored with the same old lines
"I'd say we did a damn good job," Miroku said, cracking his back as he admired the decorations.
"What do you mean we?" Sango snapped, sliding down the ladder and whacking him over the head with a hollow cardboard wrapping paper roll. She had just finished taping the paper around the archway into the spacious entry room. It was the last room the had to work on. "I'm the one who did most of the work."
"Only because I enjoy watching you," Miroku said with a sparkle in his eye and a smile on his face. Sango's cheeks flooded red as she glared at him. Why does he have to make everything into a sexual thing? Is it so hard for a normal conversation these days?
"God, you suck, you know that?" Sango raged, throwing the roll at him. Miroku ducked easily and came up laughing.
"That's only because I know how much women love when I'm like that. If I was any other way, I wouldn't get nearly as much attention."
Sango rolled her eyes and sighed while rubbing her temples. Why had she agreed to come here? Sango was not a glutton for punishment. She didn't enjoy being humiliated and embarrassed. She hated being seen as some kind of a weakling. Yet it seemed that every time she was around Miroku, that's all she became. A weak, embarrassed little girl who craved punishment if it meant Miroku would smile at her with that cute, easy-going smile of his. The one that always left her a little breathless.
One look at him and she knew why she was there, and why she always would be there if he asked her. Damn her stupid heart!
"Sango?" Miroku asked, moving about her. "Earth to Sango….woo-hoo, are you still with me?" He waved a hand in front of her face. Sango batted it away.
"Yes, you freak, I'm still here."
"Good!" he announced before falling over to lay spread eagle on the floor. "I'll say it again, the place looks stunning."
Sango looked down at him, her hands on her hips. "I'm so glad you approve."
Miroku smiled lazily at her. "I appreciate beauty when it's in front of me." Sango blinked, taking a second to understand what he meant and then recollect her equilibrium. Miroku always set her so off balance, it wasn't fair! Her only defense was physical abuse. So she kicked him once and then grabbed a folding chair, turned it backwards, and straddled the seat to join him in a moment of reflection.
The house really did turn out wonderful. Miroku's house was fairly large. The entry room was festive, covered in wrapping paper and large red bows with ornaments hanging from the ceiling. Mistletoe also hung over every doorway in the house--Miroku's one must-have decoration. When a person passed through the entry hall, it seemed like they were passing into another world.
The long hall was covered in small elves and mini Santa's. The entire house smelled like pine due to the wall hangings and the huge Christmas tree in the back room--where the party was being held. Ribbons covered all the banisters and columns. Every window was covered with a window painting or fake snow. It seemed that just about every inch of the house was covered in…Christmas. Just looking at it made Sango giddy. And how could she forget the shopping bag full of gifts she had brought with her for all her friends.
"Tell me," Miroku said suddenly. Sango looked down at him in question. He looked up at her upside down. "Do you think Kagome will like it?"
Sango blinked her large brown eyes in confusion. "Well, I know she loves Christmas. I don't she how she could not love it. Why?"
Miroku looked thoughtful for a moment before voicing his worries aloud. "Do you remember at your house, at the victory party?"
"Yeah?"
"Kagome said that she had to complete something before she became the High Miko, right?"
"I think so," Sango replied, thinking back and trying to recall her exact words.
"Well…she's the High Miko…isn't she?"
Sango finally started getting his drift and she frowned. "You think she's leaving soon?"
"I wouldn't doubt it. She said it herself that there really isn't much point of her sticking around once it was done. She has all this responsibility and stuff now."
"But that doesn't mean she's going to up and leave!" Sango protested. "Kagome's happy here. Why would she want to go back home if she has so many problems with her mother?"
Miroku only shrugged and sat up, an arm slung over his knee, and a pensive expression gracing his features. "It is a mystery," he said at last. "But you must consider something important." Sango leaned forward on her chair, balancing it on two legs, intent on his words. "Family is sacred, especially to someone like Kagome, so it's a matter of loyalty over desire."
Sango nodded, her head down. She laced her fingers together and sighed slightly. "I don't want Kagome to leave," she said quietly. "It's been really great with her here, you know? She makes Rin so happy, and everything seems more fun when she's around. Maybe we haven't known her that long…but it feels like she's been around forever." She paused in her monologue to shake her head and laugh a little. "I sound ridiculous, don't I?"
"Not at all," Miroku reassured her. "I know exactly what you mean."
Sango sighed and chewed reflexively on a piece of her hair. Miroku watched her with a mischievous glint in his eye and suddenly hopped to his feet. "I think I'll put on a little mood music," he said cheerfully, going over to the large stereo set up in the corner.
"Let me guess," Sango said with a grin. "Jingle bells?"
"You slay me with your words," Miroku retorted, popping in a Christmas CD and then taking off his shoes.
"What are you doing?" Sango asked, watching him untie each lace and set the shoes perfectly symmetrical next to each other on the floor. He looked back at her with his signature smile, then took a running start before sliding across the room on his socks. His landing was an oh-so-graceful collision with the far wall. By that time, Sango had fallen out of her chair from laughter.
"Come on," he said when he got up, rubbed his nose from falling face-first into the wall, and skated over to her. "Slide with me, Sango dear."
"Sorry," she giggled. "I still have a little dignity."
"No you don't," he said with a sly smile. "You're hanging out with me, alone. There is no dignity in that." She rolled her eyes but stayed firm in her resolve to keep two shoed feet on the ground. That was until Miroku suddenly grabbed her around the waist and tossed her over his shoulder.
"What the hell…?" she raged, wriggling and demanding to be set down.
"Oh no," he laughed evilly. "You are now my captive. At least until Inuyasha and Kagome get here."
"You suck!" Sango shrieked when Miroku deposited her on a sofa without flourish. Before she could recover herself, Miroku was untying her shoelaces. "What are you doing?" she queried.
"Helping you relax," he said, tossing the first of her sneakers over his shoulder. "You need to have a little fun too, Sango."
"Miroku," she said warningly. But it was too late. Miroku had released her second foot and was pulling her to her feet from the couch. "What now?"
"Why, we skate," he said dramatically, shuffling backwards on the wooden floor and pulling her with him. Sango squeaked when she almost fell over, but she kept her balance as she glided ahead of him. Miroku slid faster than her across the floor on his knees. "Move faster," he laughed.
"Faster?" she taunted, picking up her pace and kicking him as she passed him by in the hallway, stopping in the doorway of the next room. "I am the cheetah and you are my prey."
"Cheetah?" he laughed, climbing to his feet and skating leisurely past her a few feet.
"If I want to use a cat-like analogy, I will," Sango said haughtily, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Oh, very polite," he snorted.
"I'm a lady, after all," she reminded him with a smile. Miroku tilted his head as he looked at her, his face suddenly taking on a serious expression. "What?" she asked, suddenly nervous. The way he was looking at her was making heat rise slowly up her neck.
Ever so slowly, Miroku raised his hand and extended his pointer finger to indicate something above her head. Sango, with a puzzled expression, looked up and her face drained of color. There, seemingly innocent while tied with a bright red bow, hung an ordinary piece of mistletoe. Sango gulped, eyes wide.
"Oh, I'm never going to live this down," she said with a sigh.
"It's tradition," he taunted.
"Does it have to be?" she whined, looking at him with a pleading expression.
"If you don't want Santa to give you coal in your stocking," he laughed, circling her as she spoke.
"Santa will give me a play station if he knows what's good for him," she retorted, shivering slightly when he moved closer to her.
"Come on, you trust me, don't you Sango?" Miroku asked suddenly, stopping in front of her. Sango had to look up to meet his eyes. She hated that he was taller--it gave him an advantage. It was then that she registered what he had asked her.
"Do I trust you?" she parroted. "What kind of question is that?"
"If it's so easy, why don't you answer?" he gently pushed, his eyes unreadable.
Sango opened her mouth for another smart-ass reply, but shut it slowly. That's not what he needed, not what he was asking. Did she trust him?
There was a time when Sango would have laughed in the face of anyone who asked her that. Miroku was just some idiot that hung around with Inuyasha for comic relief. He joked, he quipped, and he groped anything with breasts. That was what made her start beating him up and, ironically, make her start to like him. It was through beatings that she started to get to know him and in doing so, her feelings for him had grown. Did she trust him? Such a simple question that invoked so much fear in her. Sango did not easily trust.
Her mother had left her family when Sango was a child and Kohaku was just a baby. Her father had raised both children as best as any working father could. There had been a period of time when Sango was so hurt by this betrayal that she shunned everyone but her father and brother. It was Rin who had broken through her reserves, back in middle school. In befriending Rin, she had met Inuyasha and Miroku. She healed, a little every day. The question was, in this moment, did she trust him?
The answer was simple, yet profound. Resounding, but quiet. She trusted Rin and now Kagome like sisters; she trusted Inuyasha like a brother. Kohaku and her father, they were her most trusted companions in all things and would never betray her. She trusted Miroku, in a different way, like she felt for Miroku in a different way.
Sango suddenly found herself unable to meet his eyes. It wasn't shame that made her freeze. She was frightened, but she would always be too proud to admit it. Miroku sighed and ran a hand through his hair--unglued today. Sure, perversion was his hobby, but he would have thought by now that Sango would have seen there was more too him. He had hoped that by now, she could see that he had loved her since the first time she decked him.
His first reaction was to be angry, but Miroku was not a man who held much stock in anger. He felt that it resolved nothing. He was more disappointed, maybe a little hurt, and suddenly quite shy.
"It's not that I don't trust you Miroku," Sango said in a rush. "Because I do. It's just that when it comes to things like that, you know, it's really weird for me. "
"Understandable," he muttered.
"It's not a reflection on you," she denied quickly. "It's just…I dunno. I'm afraid of commitment or something. My brother was reading this thing out of a woman's magazine--don't ask me why he was reading Cosmo though--and he did this quiz for me and it said I was noncommittal or some--"
Sango was cut off on her dialogue of run on when Miroku swiftly bent down the few inches between them and kissed her. It was unexpected for Sango, but not unwelcome. It was a chaste kiss, not unlike those she bestowed upon him at the Nationals Tournament, and to appease the group during Truth or Dare at her party, but for some reason, without a command or a dare, this kiss was the best of all.
Miroku pulled back quickly, blushing a little, but still smiling that self-same smile that made Sango go weak in the knees. As she looked at him, the conflicted feelings in her rose. She was not the kind of girl who thought any man was better than her. She was the kind of girl who prided herself on her strength. When around Miroku, she felt stronger, but at the same time, she felt like that kind of girl who would play the pity card to gain a man's affections.
One wouldn't think Sango was an expressive girl. She kept most of her feelings to herself, using anger and aggression to mask her vulnerability. To Miroku, she was as easy to read as an open book. Her facial expressions gave away most of her internal thoughts and feelings, but it was her eyes that betrayed her. Right now, he could tell she was a little scared, almost like a deer waiting to bolt at the first sign of trouble, but he also saw that burning determination he so admired in her.
He was a pervert, granted, but no one could say that he did not know women. Or at least, the three women in his life. He had known from the beginning that if he ever wanted to make an attempt at courting Sango, it would have to be a slow and careful dance. He accepted those terms because he knew in his gut that she was worth it. That was just the kind of girl she was. He was about to continue his newest approach, his lips a breath from her own, when the doorbell rang.
"I never know what to do or what to say to you,
One look and you'll knock me out,
You'll put me on the floor for the ten count"
It had been hard to tear herself away from her Christmas present, but Kagome insisted that they had a party to go to. Inuyasha grumbled about it the entire way there, but she saw the gleam in his golden eyes. Kagome had never thought it possible really, that she could fall in love. She had always been such a wallflower, such a quiet and introverted person. When she came to this city, she suddenly found herself loud and obnoxious, laughing almost as much as she drew breath. For the first time in her life, Kagome really understood how the loss of such a thing could drive a person to the brink.
"Come on Kag," Inuyasha prodded, drawing her from grim thoughts as he pulled her up the front steps to Miroku's house. He rang the doorbell and then stood impatiently waiting for the pervert in question to open the door. Kagome held her bag in front of her casually, fixing the Santa hat that she sat on her brow.
When Miroku opened the door, Kagome saw immediately that something had been going on--and was interrupted. There is always an air about people who have unfinished business. Miroku's hair was ruffled and his voice was pinched, but there was color high in his cheeks and this look in his eyes that reminded her strongly of guilt. Yup, it had something to do with Sango. The girl in question was standing a few feet back, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.
Kagome opened her mouth to comment, but Inuyasha spoke first, grabbing Miroku's elbow and steering him toward the kitchen. He yelled back to Kagome that they were inspecting the food, and she should run along to make herself pretty. She shook her head and sighed. Sometimes men were just dumb.
She turned her focus back to Sango. "So," she said subtlety. "He's that good of a kisser, eh?" Her friend blushed and looked away miserably. "Don't worry," Kagome said with a smile, wrapping a free arm around Sango's shoulders casually. "I won't tell Inuyasha."
Sango snorted. "That's just what I need," she commented. "The pervert and the ass talking about me." Kagome snickered and the two of them made to follow their boys. That was when Rin burst through the door. The smallest girl was panting, her face flushed, and looking desperately around until she zeroed in on them.
"Thank Heaven I found you two before them," she cried, slamming the door and leaping across the threshold. "I need your help. I'm desperate!"
"I'll say," Sango laughed.
"Haven't seen a girl run that fast since the Christmas Eve sale at Macy's," Kagome commented. Rin glared at them both, but then switched back to pleading.
"Please you guys. I really need your help!"
"With what, pray tell?" Sango inquired, crossing her arms and eyeing the backpack dangling from Rin's arms. The other girl suddenly blushed fiercely and hide the backpack behind her back with a squeak.
"Spill it Rinny-kins," Kagome demanded, a smile starting on her face already. She leaned closer to Sango and whispered, "Twenty to one, it's about a guy."
"No doubt," she whispered back. Rin scowled at them both.
"Ok, so you're right," she conceded. "It is about a guy."
"Namely Sesshomaru," Sango narrated.
"And it also has to do with the party tonight," Rin continued as if there had been no interruption.
"Namely the party he will be attending."
"Oh stop rubbing it in!" Rin cried, her knees folding underneath her and falling hard to the ground. "I'm such a fan girl," she whispered, looking down at her hands. "I am a preppy, Mama's girl who could never get a guy like that to notice me! I'm innocent and…and…"
"I really don't think self-loathing will win the heart of your demon fair," Kagome said, kneeling next to her. Her cousin pushed one of Rin's braids behind her shoulder. "You want us to help you look fabulous for tonight's festivity?"
"If you'd be so kind," she said tonelessly. Kagome looked up to Sango and the two shared a mutual grin before each grabbing on of Rin's arms. Together in a fluid motion, they hoisted the smaller girl to her feet and the three raced up the stairs.
Sango looked at Kagome out of the corner of her eye. There was something more at ease about the High Miko then when she had first arrived. There was no denying she had changed, and for the better. Yes, Kagome was happy here and no matter what, she wouldn't be leaving them.
"I don't wanna make a scene I gotta make you see,
That I've been waiting for a girl like you"
The first thing out of Miroku's mouth was simply, "Nice hat."
"If you comment on it again," Inuyasha warned. "I won't tell you anything." Miroku nodded, pantomiming locking his mouth and throwing away the key. And so Inuyasha told it all, from start to finish.
"Wow, that was heavy," Miroku said finally, leaning across the table in exasperated silence. "And I always thought I was the romantic one!"
Inuyasha casually leaned on the island in the center of the kitchen with a smug expression. "I can be romantic if properly motivated."
"You really fell hard, didn't you?" Miroku asked, suddenly serious.
Inuyasha was quiet a moment, levelly thinking over the statement. "Yeah," he breathed at last, looking up at the ceiling. "I really did."
"Aw, that's so cute!" Miroku laughed, falling from his position and cackling hysterically.
"Oh, go to hell," Inuyasha snarled, haughtily turning away. "Like you've gotten any further with Sango than her kissing you on a bet." That shut up the cackling boy without delay.
"Fuck you," he said abruptly, leaping to his feet. The two stared down the other for a tense moment before both turning away. Arms crossed, back to back, both of them stood stock still.
"Truce?"
"Truce."
"Tell me," Inuyasha said nonchalantly. "How are things with you and Sango?"
"They would be better if you and Kagome had been late," he grumbled. Inuyasha grinned wolfishly but didn't comment.
"So…" Miroku said, searching for an ice breaker. "You got Sesshomaru to leave the house long enough to come to the fiesta tonight?"
"Yeah," Inuyasha said, stretching out his back. "All I had to do was say Rin was going to be there, and he's drawn like a moth to the flame."
"He's another one who's got it bad," Miroku observed.
"Yeah," the hanyou agreed with a sad expression. "But I don't see how well that can turn out."
"Hey, what about a hanyou and the High Miko?" Miroku said with a smile, elbowing Inuyasha in the side. The other boy smiled as well.
"Her dad was a hanyou and her mom was the High Miko, so it's not forbidden or anything," he said quickly.
"Oh, good defense," his friend approved.
"Shut up."
"Nazi."
"And I know there's nothing I can do
Don't wanna make you hurt"
"Step one," Kagome began. She stood in front of Sango and Rin, both seated on the end of Miroku's bed and looking on attentively. Kagome whacked a hairbrush on her open palm as she paced and spoke. "We must deviate from the norm."
Sango nodded, eyeing Rin. Rin just gulped and looked back and forth between them. "What does that mean?" she squeaked, inching away.
"It means we'll be riding you of these," Sango said, tugging on the end of one of Rin's braids. Rin back lashed quickly.
"You're not cutting them off Sango!"
"No one said cut," Kagome said rationally. "We're talking about taking them out of the braids."
"Oh," was all her cousin could say. That was when Sango shifted her position enough to take the ties from the ends of Rin's braids, and let out her silky black hair. It fell across her shoulders languidly, but there was jut enough of a wave crimped in the strands to make her look like she had spent hundreds at a salon.
"Wow, that looks stunning," Sango said, genuinely awestruck. Rin blushed and hunched a little.
"Ah-ah-ah," Kagome rebuked her. "No hunching, love. You came to us for help. We'll give it, but you have to trust us in all things." Kagome kneeled down, resting her elbows on Rin's knees and gazing up at her. "Can you do that?"
"Of course," she said without hesitation. Kagome grinned brilliantly, then straightened, handing her brush to Sango.
"Lieutenant Sango, you are in charge of the subjects hair and nails." Sango straightened and saluted with the brush.
"Yes, ma'am."
"I'll do clothes and make-up," Kagome said as an after thought. "Just relax Rin."
"Okay," she said with an ironic smile. "I guess I asked for it."
"Yep," Sango said pleasantly, running the brush through Rin's iridescent locks.
"You have your clothes in the bag?" Kagome asked, unzipping the backpack.
"Among other things," Rin said as she watched her cousin dump the contents of her pack all over the bed. In it was various cosmetics, a pair of shoes, and a dress folded neatly--sealed inside a vacuum bag so as not to wrinkle.
"Well, we should get you dressed before we do anything else," Kagome said with a nod. She and Sango exited for an allotted amount of time, giving Rin time to change, then they resumed their work. The dress itself was lovely, an off white material that fit her form perfectly to her hips, where the material flared to fall just passed her mid calves. It looked good on her, making her dark eyes even darker and her raven hair striking.
"Well, when did you get this little number?" Sango asked, eyeing the dress. Rin smiled serenely.
"You like it?" she asked, eyes alight.
"Very much," Kagome said with admiration. "It suits you so well."
"Kagome, do you remember great Aunt Nyamh? She came the day after your coronation."
Kagome thought for a second, then laughed. "How could anyone forget great Aunt Nyamh! She's the one who designed my robes for the ceremony." Then she paused and looked at Rin with a smile. "Sly Rin, very sly."
"Am I missing something?" Sango asked with her head cocked to one side in confusion.
"Family thing," Kagome said, waving her hand. "Rin's and my great Aunt is a clothing designer. In her day, anyone who is part demon--or has demon in the family--they were often segregated from the rest of society. So she was never famous, but her designs are legendary in our family."
"She's always trying to get the family to wear the things she makes," Rin explained with a smile. "So when she came in last week to wish Kagome well, I asked her if she might have something I could wear. Of course she was flattered beyond all call, whisking me away to her house and having me pick something out. I liked this dress so much so she fixed all the hemming to fit me and voila!"
"Awesome," Sango laughed. "You guys have people who do everything in your family."
"Pretty much," the cousins said in unison before laughing aloud.
Once more, the two girls went about readying Rin for a grand début. Sango searched though the cosmetics Kagome had emptied on the bed and came up with a bottle of white nail polish. She quickly went to work on Rin's nails with flourish, entertaining both girls with anecdotes of how she used to dress Kohaku like a girl when he was younger.
Kagome, who was adding frost eye shadow to Rin's eyes, also talked about her torture of Souta and Shippou. Rin was able to back her up on some of the claims when she had witnessed--and assisted--in several occasions. Once the nails were dry, and the lipstick was applied, and the fawn-colored boots were put on, Sango and Kagome sat back to admire their work.
Rin sat back, looking at both of them with a satisfied smile. She could see herself in the mirror on the other side of the room and was more than happy with the work achieved by the other two girls. "I look good," she said at last, a touch of wistfulness in her voice.
"Something's still missing," Kagome said, her brow furrowed. "But what?"
"You're scheming Kagome," Sango pointed out.
Suddenly, Kagome sprang forward and grabbed her nearly forgotten bag. Digging through the bright packages, she zeroed in on the desired object. Pulling it forth from the bottom of the bag, Kagome checked it over before presenting it to the other two girls, who were both watching her quizzically.
"Almost forgot this," she said at last. "My other present for you Rinny-kins, after the jacket." In her hands, Kagome held a white and green wreath. It was a woven circle of white fern leaves and holly. The tiny jeweled snowflakes that decorated the leaves sparkled in the light and made the wreath glow like a halo. Kagome placed the circle on Rin's head, over her dark hair, and it rested like a crown on her brow. "Now you're perfect."
"Kagome…" Rin breathed. "It's beautiful." Her eyes involuntarily filled with tears.
"Ah! No crying," Kagome mock-scolded. "Not after I just did your make-up." Rin laughed and hugged her cousin.
"Oh, you guys!" Sango cried, throwing her arms around them both in a group hug. A second later, all three of them burst out laughing. After another minute, they pulled apart. Rin sat on the edge of the bed again, adjusting her wreath.
"Before I forget," Kagome said with a pointed finger. She reached into her bag and pulled out another hat. This one was a Santa hat similar to her own, but there were tiny candy canes embroidered into the red felt. She handed it over to Sango. "Merry Christmas, love," she laughed. Sango happily adorned the hat and posed.
"I feel so festive." They all giggled.
"Well, I gave Rin her presents, now I should give Sango hers!" Kagome announced, pulling out a brightly wrapped package. "I'll give Miroku his once we go downstairs." She handed the box to her friend.
Sango grinned merrily before crawling to the other side of the bed and pulling out another bag filled with boxes. From there she pulled out two packages, handing one to Rin and one to Kagome. "Merry Christmas, y'all."
There was an eager glint in all their eyes as the girls tore into presents. Ribbons were discarded, metallic paper covered with trees and snowmen was shredded and left in a pile on the floor. Sango got hers open first and let out a squeal of happiness. In her hands was a pewter picture frame carved with several cats--Sango loved cats, especially those like her own cat, Kirara--and holding a picture of the Martial Arts Team, dressed in their finest, taken just before the Nationals victory. Also in the frame was a cut out newspaper article about their triumph and a strip of pictures that came from a photo booth in the mall--just the three girls one bored afternoon.
"I thought you'd like that," Kagome said with a smile. When she was at Sango's house, Kagome noticed it was nearly void of pictures.
"Thank you!" she exclaimed, leaning over and hugging Kagome. "You are my hero."
"See, she's gained more of a fan base," Rin laughed, finishing unwrapping her own gift from Sango. "Sango!" she exclaimed. "This is gorgeous!" And indeed Rin lifted a necklace from her box. On the thin silver chain was an intricate snowflake charm made of thin silver.
"Wow San, that's…wow," Kagome stammered, looking at the necklace in Rin's hands, then clutching at her own Yue charm.
Sango smiled and took the necklace from Rin, leaning over her shoulder to clasp it around Rin's neck. "I'm happy I thought this one would suit you best, it goes great with the dress." It was a widely known fact that although Rin was never one to ask for expensive or luxurious things, she was fond of pretty things, especially jewelry. She had next to none because of her family's middle class income compared to her friends' worth, ranging from rich to super rich.
"Thank you," Rin whispered, biting her lip to prevent tears as she nearly tackled Sango in a hug. Kagome was laughing so hard she could barely breathe because of Sango's startled face.
"Now now Rin, don't get all mushy on me," she said sweetly. Rin nodded and leaned back again, now toying with the charm and smiling brilliantly.
Now it was Kagome's turn. She was always slow with unwrapping gifts because she wanted to savor the moment. As the last of the paper fell away, Kagome smiled down at her present. Delicately laid inside of an unmarked box was an American Hi-Fi sweatshirt.
"I know you're into leather," Sango said shyly. "But everyone needs a hoodie."
Kagome only grinned, then tossed an arm around Sango's shoulder. "Thanks pal." She was rewarded with a smile.
"Well, the other party goers should be arriving in the next half hour or so," Rin commented, looking at a nearby clock. "Perhaps we should award our boys with their gifts before then?"
"Capital idea," Sango said in a horribly British accent. Then she grabbed her bag. "Last one to the kitchen has to drive Inuyasha home after he gets smashed on egg nog." Kagome looked to Rin with a confused smile.
"Tradition," her cousin said, wrinkling her nose. Kagome only laughed and made ready to follow Sango--who had already bounded out the door. Rin grabbed her elbow to hold her back. "Here," she said, handing Kagome a long, flat wrapped package about the size of a calendar. "Merry Christmas, cuz."
Kagome grinned, pulling off the paper quicker now, to catch up with the others. As the binding fell away, Kagome was left staring at something that took her breath away. In her hands was a small canvas painting of her own likeness, in what had been her hanyou form. Her expression was that of someone lost, the dark green eyes holding a haunting look. A few strands of bone white hair fell across the face, adding the to the feeling of desertion.
"Did," she had to stop and swallow the lump in her throat. "Did you do this?"
Rin nodded. "I had a picture that Kaede took, from last summer, when we were all sitting on the roof, watching the fourth of July fireworks. I kinda blew most of my allowance on everyone and I couldn't figure out what to get you…but I know how you always tell me that money isn't important and…do you like it?"
Kagome couldn't find words. She felt that if she opened her mouth, she'd end up crying. She hugged her cousin instead, pulling Rin tightly into her embrace. When she had mastered herself enough to speak, she said the only words she could. "Thank you."
Rin hugged her back, but then used her own words against her. "No crying," she smiled. "It's Christmas."
Kagome nodded, whipping a tear from the corner of her eye. Rin smiled and walked from the door, waiting for her on the landing. Kagome was about to follow, but stopped. She placed the painting carefully on the bed before pulling on the hoodie Sango had given her. Then she picked up the painting and followed Rin downstairs.
"Don't wanna make you feel,
Like the world ain't on your side
Like you're never gonna get it right"
When Sango came bolting into the kitchen with a bag in her arms, laughing hysterically, Miroku and Inuyasha knew that Rin was there. Only when the three girls got together was there ever something that could make Sango laugh that hard. They also noticed her hat.
"Hey Sango," Miroku called over. "What's with the head gear?"
"I wouldn't make fun," Inuyasha warned, tugging on his own elf hat. "I'm sure Kagome has a hat in her miracle bag for you too."
"Oh goody," Miroku said under his breath. That was when Kagome made her entrance, hood up over her head, but still wearing the Santa hat on top.
"Oh Miroku!" she called in an innocent sing-song voice. "Here is a gift for you!" Suddenly, she whipped a headband out of her bag and jammed it on to his head. Ornamenting the band was a pair of fuzzy brown reindeer antlers.
"What the hell…?" Miroku inquired, trying to look at the top of his head. Kagome covered her mouth to stop from laughing. Inuyasha didn't bother, he pointed and howled. Sango came over, giggling hopelessly, but flicked one and said, "I think you look cute." That's why the antlers stayed.
After a healthy round of everyone's favorite game, 'Torture Miroku', Rin walked in and the boys' jaws dropped. "Rin?" they both questioned in unison. She blushed horribly and hung her head.
"Do I look that ridiculous?"
Sango stepped on Miroku's foot while Kagome elbowed Inuyasha in the gut. "No!" they both cried.
"You look great Rin," Miroku said.
"Barely recognized you, that's all," Inuyasha added.
"See?" Kagome said with an encouraging smile. "You're still fabulous." Rin smiled back with renewed vigor. "Now," she said happily. "Time for the giving of gifts!" Without any other flourish, she presented Miroku with a small package.
He gleefully tore into it like a six-year-old boy. When the paper had fallen away, he held a box of professional sutra paper in his hands. The boy grinned at his friend. "Thanks Kag."
"But of course, my friend," she said with a smile. "For practice." They shared a smile for a minute before the rest of the gift exchange took place. Rin and Sango each presented Miroku and Inuyasha with their gifts. Kagome was on standby, sweeping up the discarded paper.
In the end, Rin was presented with a new dagger set from Miroku and Inuyasha with mahogany handles carved with her initials. Sango was graced with a gift certificate to her favorite clothing store and cold, hard cash. Both boys shrugged and blushingly said they couldn't think of what to get her. Kagome was awarded with a small stuffed dog from Miroku, a joking gift to make fun of Inuyasha. Kagome loved it. Inuyasha was given an official Finch shirt from Rin, and Sango got him Final Fantasy X-2. Miroku was given a gift card to Victoria Secrets from Rin, something that made him very happy. Sango gave him the complete first season of South Park on DVD. The boys didn't exchange presents, at least not in front of the girls.
By the time the first guest arrived, Rin had gone back upstairs to clean up Miroku's room, Kagome and Inuyasha were sitting on the couch in that back room admiring Rin's painting, and Sango was adjusting some of the appetizers while Miroku tried to eat them.
"No I can't fight I can't sleep at night,
Just thinking about you girl,
I'm a fool for you"
The entire room was chanting 'chug'. It was hardly the scene one would predict for a Christmas party atmosphere. There were adults, dressed in their holiday finest, circled about the room chanting along with the younger crowd. Inuyasha sat in the center. There was a small tower of empty eggnog glasses turned upside-down beside him, and a fresh tray of filled glasses on the other side.
"He's going for a new record!" squealed one of the women dressed in crushed red and green velvet. The man next to her held up a handful of twenties and shouted, "I have $60 saying he'll never make it passed twenty-five!"
"You've got a bet, Mr. Campbell," Miroku chuckled, taking the money with a smirk. He was working the room, taking bets on how much eggnog his best friend could consume in one sitting.
Several people had explained to Kagome that Inuyasha usually performed this particular trick at least twice during the party. She hadn't stayed to watch the result of the first attempt. Instead, she had wandered from the crowded room and went in search of Rin.
The last time she had seen her cousin, Rin had run upstairs for a third time to escape the pursuit of some young, rich debutante. Kagome had to smile to herself. There was only one rich, young debutante that her cousin had her eye on, and so far he hadn't arrived yet. Sango was hiding out in the kitchen, but she popped out every now and then to yell at Miroku and Inuyasha for scamming people. Kagome found the party to be a very happy occasion that everyone seemed to look forward to. It reminded her of Christmas when her father had been alive. It was always such a happy time.
Upon further inspection of the upstairs hallway, Kagome discovered that Rin was no where to be found. It left her puzzled and a little worried. So she headed back downstairs to continue her search, but stopped when she reached the steps. In fact, she threw herself around the corner and prayed that no one had seen her.
On the plus side, Kagome had found her cousin. On the minus side, Rin had stolen away from the party to have a few minutes of alone time with her beau. Kagome desperately wanted to give them that time, but two drunken party-goers had locked the doors that would have provided an unseen escape. The only other option was the stairs, leading her right into where she didn't want to go. Kagome had no choice but to wait until Rin and Sesshomaru left before making her get away.
How do I always get myself these things? she thought to herself in dismay. That was when the voices from below came to her ears, ever echoed by the howling laughter and chanting that originated in the other rooms.
"You look lovely tonight, Rin," Kagome heard Sesshomaru comment. She couldn't be sure, but it sounded like there might have been a hint of affection in his voice.
"Thank you," Rin said proudly, but still shyly. "You don't look so bad yourself." Kagome peeked around the corner and saw that Sesshomaru did look rather strapping in white. Conservative, as always, but casual to fit the party setting.
"I hope this has nothing to do with my presence, but you seem a little out of character tonight," he said lightly, as if trying not to hurt her feelings.
"Oh," was all Rin said. Kagome felt for her cousin, who she knew was blushing and hanging her head. Sesshomaru seemed to press on though. Kagome didn't know if it was because he was indifferent to Rin's disappointment or because what he was saying really had to be said. She assumed the latter.
"If it does have to do with my being here, I think you should know that you are lovely every time I see you." This took both girls a little by surprise. Kagome sighed--not in a bad way, but in that both men in the Inutoya family are romantics way. Sesshomaru wasn't trying to be flirtatious or seductive, he was just stating a fact that he thought was true. It only made his statement more endearing. Kagome smiled.
"I…just wanted to impress you," Rin said softly. So softly in fact that Kagome could barely hear it. Still, it made her wince a little at the note of painful shyness in it. Rin was a strong girl, stronger than she knew, but her shyness often made her too timid to seize what she really wanted. Tonight was a big step for her.
"You wasted you time," Sesshomaru informed her. "Nothing could impress me more than when I first met you."
"I was six," Rin laughed.
"So?" he asked. Kagome bit into her bottom lip to keep from squealing at the utter cuteness. She was one step from sugar-shock. When no further conversation rose to her, she peeked out from her hiding place again to see if they had left. Instead, she saw them lip-locked on the bottom step. Quickly she whipped around back behind the wall, but she was certain neither had seen her. They were too deep in their own world.
Ah, love, she thought to herself with a dreamy smile. Kagome was genuinely happy that the love of her cousin's life was working out for her. She loved Rin as a friend, a cousin, and a sister; she deserved to be happy. Kagome would not interfere with that. But that didn't mean she wouldn't have a little sport with her tomorrow.
"Come on." Sesshomaru's voice came to her ears suddenly and jerked her out of her menacing thoughts. She looked around the corner again to see him leading Rin toward the rest of the party. "We have to see the spectacle my brother makes at every public gathering."
Rin giggled. "He is the life of the party."
Kagome clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing herself. Once she was sure they were out of sight, she descended the stairs and reentered the throng congregating around Inuyasha, betting on what he would do next. Kagome only shook her head.
"Yes I am,
You've been on my mind,
Since I saw you walking by"
After a while, Inuyasha ran out of stupid party tricks and the buzz wound down. As the last of the guests left, the martial arts team made ready to take their leave as well. Miroku's father had gone to bed for the night, trusting it to Miroku to take care of all the party clean-up that couldn't wait until the morning.
Rin needed to be home before curfew, so she took up Sesshomaru when he offered her a ride. Kagome gave her a wink and a thumbs up on her way out, something that left her cousin red in the face. Kagome laughed a little. Sango had been roped into staying with Miroku to help him clean up. From the looks that were passing between them, Kagome had a pretty good feeling more would happen that evening then the refrigeration of left-over deviled eggs.
Finally, it was up to her to return her dazed and confused hanyou hottie to his home before the national guard was called out to search for him in the wee hours of the night. Kagome wished a good evening to her friends, but not before stealing a kiss from Miroku under the mistletoe. She hugged Sango goodbye, telling her once again how much she loved the hoodie, and telling her to keep her nose clean. Her exact words were 'Mayonnaise is not that answer'.
Inuyasha sat in the passenger seat, sobering up slowly as Kagome drove his car, humming to herself as she drummed her fingers along the steering wheel. Tomorrow was Christmas day, then only two more days before she went to go visit her family for the week before New Year's. She was, in fact, planning to stay until school started up again. She had already relayed these plans to her cohorts and they all wished her a good trip.
"Tell me," Inuyasha was quietly, startling her out of her thoughts.
"Hm?" she questioned, glancing over at him before turning back to the road.
"How much eggnog did I actually drink tonight?"
Kagome laughed a little. "Miroku said anywhere between three or four gallons." He groaned, curling into as much of a ball as he could on the seat. Kagome reached over a free hand and patted him on the head lightly, brushing the bangs from his face. It was a gesture she often used on her brothers, to comfort and offer security. It didn't occur to her right away what she was doing, it just felt like the natural thing. When she did realize, she coughed a little and returned the hand to the wheel.
"Are we almost home?" he asked in a little voice. Kagome was unnerved by how young he sounded, how different from the cocky boy she knew and, for the most part, loved. He sounded almost…helpless. But the key word was almost. She knew about hanyous and demons, and knew that even injured and in pain, they were deadly to the unwary.
"Almost," she replied in a soothing tone. "I'll take you inside."
"Ok," he sighed.
It took them another ten minutes before they got to the Inutoya mansion. Kagome saw the car that Sesshomaru had been driving was still in the driveway, so Rin must be home safe and sound. She parked out front and went around to the passenger side. Helping Inuyasha out of the car, she let him lean on her all the way up the steps and inside. Myoga was there to take him up to bed.
"'Night Inuyasha," she said when he was being led away. "I'll come see you tomorrow, so sober up."
"Later," was all he said. That was when Hime entered the room, dressed as she did the night Kagome had intruded in their home the day before her birthday.
"I was just on my way out," Kagome assured her. "He needed a little help."
Hime looked at her son and simply shook her head. "He's done that every Christmas since his father was killed," she commented lightly. "No matter what I tell him." Kagome inwardly winced, but she pressed on as if nothing was bothering her.
"Mrs. Inutoya, I was wondering," she began, trying to be polite. Hime smiled and looked expectant. "I know tomorrow is Christmas and everything, but do you mind if I come by for a little bit? I just want to give Inuyasha his present."
She smiled. "Of course. You are always welcome here Kagome." Kagome smiled and then took her leave, but even though still, a small feeling of guilt began to grow steadily worse in the pit of her stomach. Hime's words echoed in her brain. Every year since his father was killed.
His father was killed by Kagome's own mother. It was such a twisted web, a horrible twisting forest of tentacles and deceit. Soon she began to ask herself questions about her own father, about her mother and her own motives. She wondered about how her new position might affect her life, the old one and the new one.
By the time she got home, Kagome was in tears. Kaede had gone to bed, but left her a note wishing her a Merry Christmas. That only made her cry harder as she stumbled up the dark stairs and into her room. That was when she lunged for the telephone and quickly dialed Rin's number, even in the dark. It took a moment before her cousin could answer the phone, but when she did, her voice was groggy.
"Hello?"
"Rin," Kagome said, with a small hitch in her voice. "I'm sorry I called so late."
"Kagome, what's wrong?" Her cousin was alert in an instant.
"I…I don't know," Kagome suddenly sobbed, clamping a hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. "Everything is just so wrong."
"What do you mean? Did something happen with Inuyasha?" That spawned a whole list of answers in Kagome's mind, some practical, some moral, some illegal. "Kagome?"
"Yes," she choked out. She decided to take it in the literal text of the question. Something had happened between her and the hanyou, something that left her conscious riddled with guilt and her heart crippled in pain.
"What?" Rin asked, hushed but frantic. "Are you going to hurt him?"
"No," Kagome said. She sniffed deeply and tried to reclaim her breathing. "I'm in love with him." After the words came out she started to cry all over again.
"I knew I had to know you better you were everything,
But I didn't know what to say,
So you just walked away"
Eventually, after a lot of tears and a hour's worth of heart-to-heart, Kagome calmed down enough to slip into an uneasy sleep. She woke often, and when it was finally morning, she rose and showered with that dull ease that came when someone has just enough energy to function. Kaede didn't comment, but it seemed to Kagome that she had probably overheard some of her midnight conversation. Still, the grandmother and granddaughter wished each other a Merry Christmas. Kaede presented Kagome with a few new and exciting presents--the ones from her brothers and mother would be given when she saw them--and Kagome also gave her own. Once that feat was accomplished, they each set about their chores to prepare for a quiet Christmas dinner at home.
By midmorning, Kagome felt more energized, and by early afternoon, she felt herself ready to face Inuyasha. She did still have to give him his Christmas present after all. With a promise to Kaede to come back within the hour, Kagome hopped on to her bike and drove to Inuyasha's mansion to have a few words with the hanyou in residence.
Myoga, upon answering the door, was dressed in a bathrobe with a stocking cap on his bald head. He greeted her politely, but then went back to his seat by the fire where he was talking with Hime. Kagome waved in at her and the woman smiled in reply. Sesshomaru was no where to be seen, so Kagome was a little disappointed as she would not get to wish him a happy holiday. With a light shrug, she took the stairs to Inuyasha's room two at a time.
Lightly wrapping at his chamber door, Kagome just heard the rustle of a comforter. She let herself in casually and plunked down beside him.
As suspected, the teenager in question was still abed, with the blankets drawn up over his head. Kagome leaned over, poking at him several hundred times before he threw the sheets off. "What?" he growled. His face changed when he saw it was Kagome and she grinned happily at him.
"Merry Christmas sunshine!" she said cheerfully, leaning over enough to kiss him on the tip of his nose. "I said I was going to come visit you today, didn't I?"
"I didn't think you were serious!" Inuyasha said a little heatedly, but then he fell back on to his pillow and flung an arm across his face. The classic picture of a hung-over teen.
"I'm sorry," Kagome said sincerely. "I won't stay long, just wanted to give you your present."
"I thought the hat was my present," Inuyasha grumbled as he attempted to cover himself once more with his blankets. Kagome reached up and pulled them back a down. Inuyasha found himself looking up into a green-brown gaze that was getting rather annoyed.
"I'll be gone in a minute, stop sulking!" she scolded. "You shouldn't have gotten hammered last night, you ass."
"I don't need a lecture from my girlfriend," he muttered unhappily, sitting up with great effort.
Kagome raised an eyebrow at him in question. "Since when am I your girlfriend?"
He blushed a dull red and lifted on shoulder eloquently. "Present," was all he said. Kagome snorted, but got up and eagerly went in search of her gift. "Your present is in my room?" he questioned, confused.
"Ha!" Kagome said triumphantly. She quickly produced a bow from her back pocket. A little crushed maybe, but it still stuck effectively as she turned around and collapsed back down on the bed. With a sigh, she handed Tetsusaiga to Inuyasha.
"What's this?" he asked, looking from the bow on the sword's hilt and back to Kagome. "I was going to get it back to you, I swear--"
"Don't bother," Kagome said with a small smile. "I'm giving it to you. Merry Christmas."
"Kagome, I can't…this was your father's!"
"Yeah, but I can't use it anymore." He looked at her puzzled and she only smiled again. "I won't be a hanyou anymore, not now that I'm High Miko. Papa's sword was created so that a fighter could use it, not so it could sit on a shelf and collect dust. You can use it," she said with a bittersweet note in her voice. "This sword should go to someone who will treasure it, and use it."
"But…you father…" he stuttered. Kagome leaned her forehead against his and looked into his amber eyes.
"Yes, it is Papa's sword. But I don't need a rusty piece of demonic craft to make me remember how much I loved him." He looked doubtful but Kagome pressed a chaste kiss to his lips before getting up. "Keep it. I want you to have it Inuyasha. I know that you will care for the sword as much as I did."
"Thank you," he said in a wistful voice, clutching the sword tightly in his hands. "I'll guard it with my life." Kagome leaned forward to pat him on the head.
"Good boy." He growled and she laughed. "I'll head out now. You, sleep and rest, ok?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh, and pick me up at 3 tomorrow."
"Why?"
Kagome sighed. "We're going to the mall, idiot. Since I'm going home for the rest of the vacation day after tomorrow."
"Oh yeah," he yawned, curling back up with the sword propped on the pillow beside his head. "I'll pick you up at 3."
Kagome closed the door behind her and headed back to her motorcycle. "He'll forget," she laughed to herself, but smiled brightly. It was truly a beautiful day for Christmas.
"I couldn't believe what a fool I was to let you go,
Cause that I've been waiting for a girl like you,
And I know there's nothing I can do (Yeah)"
As predicted, Inuyasha forgot to pick her up. Kagome took it in stride, getting a ride from Rin instead. Upon meeting up with them at the mall, Inuyasha looked appropriately ashamed. Kagome was satisfied, so she placed a kiss on his cheek and then linked her arm with his until he felt better.
The trip was uneventful at most. Though they all had plenty of cash as holiday gifts, they had also been given all of which they wanted, so there was nothing really to buy. Mostly, it was just another excursion to enjoy Kagome's company before she left for the remainder of the vacation. They had been there for a little less than two hours when Inuyasha first noticed they were being followed.
At first, he thought it was only a prank. Two kids, a boy and a girl, were subtly making their way through the crowds. Whenever the team went into a store, one would follow while the other waited outside. Whenever they changed direction, the two kids would suddenly find something in a window display excitingly interesting. He glared at them in passing, but neither paid him any heed. Their eyes were on Kagome.
The boy looked to be about fifteen, small for his age and lanky. Not the cunning warrior type, but Inuyasha knew never to judge a person by how they appear. Most powers are hidden from the casual observer. The girl was younger, maybe thirteen or fourteen. She was willowy and small. Both kids had curly brown-black hair; the girl's the longer. Their appearance suggested relation, a probable brother and sister pair. They watched Kagome with reddish-brown eyes with such calculated intelligence that it made Inuyasha a little nervous.
After another hour of the kids stop and go act, he swiveled his ears in their direction to pick up their whispers to each other.
"He keeps watching us," the girl said in a low whisper.
"At this rate, we'll never get close enough to her," the boy agreed.
"What's the plan?" the girl asked.
"I'll distract the others," he said firmly. "You get the miko." Inuyasha's ears perked at this. They wouldn't be stupid enough to attack Kagome in a crowded place in broad daylight, would they? Before he could consider this closer, someone tugged on his arm.
"Dog-boy?" Kagome asked, frowning. "Are you ok? You look distracted."
"I'm fine," he responded quickly, still trying to keep track of the two kids.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah!" he said, a little harsher than he meant. Kagome only frowned again and turned away from him. That was when Inuyasha saw the boy streak past him, toward Sango and Miroku. He was about to lunge after the kid, get a few answers, when he saw the girl coming up fast behind Kagome as she caught up with Rin. Almost before thought, he planted himself right in the girl's path.
"Ah!" she shrieked, pulling up short so fast she lost her balance and fell over.
"What are you doing?" Inuyasha snarled, his arms open to shield Kagome from any attack the kid might be planning. The boy suddenly appeared beside her and lifted the girl back to her feet. They both looked at Inuyasha with mistrust and warning.
"Yukina?" a voice said from behind Inuyasha's left shoulder. "Nidaku?" He turned his head a fraction of an inch, trying not to take his eyes of the kids for even a second. Kagome stood behind him, eyes transfixed on the two children.
Both suddenly dropped to one knee in submission, their heads bowed. "High Miko," they said in unison.
Kagome shoved past Inuyasha quickly. "It's ok," she explain, hurrying to them. "These are my cousins." Then she dropped to her knees beside Yukina, forcing the girl to meet her eyes. "Tell me what happened." They were distant relatives, second cousins of Kagome's and of no relation to Rin. Both had come to pay homage to her the week before, though she had met them before then. Theirs was a family very attune to the old ways.
"We were sent to bring you with us," Nidaku explained, looking up. "Our sister, Aiko, she has fallen gravely ill. Mother says that it is a demon possession." Kagome didn't need to hear anymore, she was already on her feet.
"Take me to her," she said in her most aristocratic voice. It still needed a little work.
"Come," Yukina said, holding out her hand. Kagome was about to take it, but she remembered something and then signaled that she'd return in a moment.
"Sorry to cut our outing short," she said to Sango and Miroku with a lop-sided grin. "I'll see you guys next week." She hugged Rin quickly, promised to call while tweaking her braid, then quickly kissed Inuyasha. "I'll call you when I get home."
"Don't be too late," he warned. She only winked before pulling on her leather jacket and followed her cousins from the mall. The Martial Arts Team watched their fifth member leave.
Rin let out a heavy sigh. "This is what it's always going to be like," she said quietly. "Never knowing when a relative might pop up and need you to do something. Never knowing when a demon might need killing or whatnot. I already feel the noose tightening." The other three nodded gravely.
"Then I saw you at the beach talking with my friends,
I couldn't believe my eyes it was my lucky day,
So I just asked you out to the Forum to see No Doubt"
When the three reached the house, Nidaku threw open the door. Both children ran inside, screaming for their mother, to tell her that they had brought Kagome. The High Miko stepped inside and her senses were immediately assaulted with demon aura. She sneezed twice.
That was when the children's mother entered the room. Dita Higurashi. Her long black hair was unbound and her face was wet with tears. She had only to look at Kagome before she broke down once more. Kagome told Yukina to tend to her mother, then asked Nidaku to take her to Aiko.
Aiko was in a vacant room on the second floor. She was dressed all in white, clean closed, and laid out on a futon before the family shrine. Candles and incense were burning, filling the room and making Kagome's eyes burn. She placed her bag on the floor next to the futon--they had stopped at the dojo for Kagome's effects before coming to the house just outside the city. Kagome went about the room, opening all the windows and blowing out candles and incense in her path. When she was finished, the room was clean and clear once more. That was when she kneeled down beside her charge.
Aiko was only eight years old, small and fragile. Her black hair was short and cropped, but it stuck to her sweaty face and neck. Her eyes were closed, but Kagome knew they were the same color as everyone else in the household. Kagome pressed her hand to the girl's forehead and clicked her tongue. A fever was wracking her body already. Whatever demon was inside her, it was trying to eat her from the inside out. If Kagome couldn't fish the beast out soon, there would be nothing left to save. Kagome sent a little bit of her power into the girl. Aiko flinched and cried out. Kagome could feel the demon burrowing deeper inside of it's host.
"What's happening to her?" came Nidaku's fearful voice from the doorway.
"Nidaku," she said calmly as she opened her bag. "Please hold Aiko's shoulders." The boy didn't question, he just did as he was told.
Kagome removed a small vile from her bag containing a clear liquid. She smoothed Aiko's hair from her forehead before pouring the liquid. Any skin the liquid touched began to turn a deep shade of blue. Aiko suddenly began to thrash around harshly. Nidaku had to lean down hard to keep her from hurting herself. Kagome inspected Aiko's forehead, then she quickly reached into her bag again. This time she pulled out a tall, thin jar containing herb leaves. Kagome extracted one and rolled in into a tube, like a long straw.
"Nidaku," she said, still removing bottles from her bag, uncorking a few and pouring liquids into an empty cup. "Has Aiko come into contact with any lakes or pond recently?"
After a few moments, when Nidaku still didn't answer, Kagome looked up at him sternly. He was white as a sheet, staring fixedly on his little sister's forehead. Where the skin had turned blue, scales had suddenly surfaced, blue and peeling and mottled with black splotches. "Nidaku, has she?" Her cousin couldn't answer. He quickly turned away as he emptied his stomach on the floor beside him. Kagome turned her head with a sigh.
"Yes," a voice said from the doorway. Kagome turned to see Dita, supported by Yukina, standing at the door.
"What happened?" Kagome asked. Dita came to stand by her, watching over Kagome's shoulder. Kagome signaled for Yukina to help her brother, and Nidaku went to go clean himself up as his sister replaced him in holding down Aiko, who was trembling violently.
"We went skating four days ago," Dita said in a quivering voice. Kagome saw that her hands were shaking and she looked ready to burst into tears in another moment. "The ice was too thin near the far side. I told her not to go over there, but she always was such an adventurous child." Tears began to run from her eyes again. "My little Aiko is such a spirited girl." That was when she broke into sobs, folding to the floor once again.
"She fell into the water," Yukina said. Kagome turned to look at the girl. Tears ran from her eyes, but she still held firm. "We got her out and brought her home. She was fine until last night, when she collapsed." Kagome nodded, feeling Aiko's forehead again. She opened each of her closed eyelids, inspecting the pupils. She adjusted the dosage of medicine accordingly, then dipped the straw into the cup. She covered the tip with her thumb, to lock the liquid into the herb straw.
"Yukina, please lift Aiko's head and open her mouth."
Nidaku had returned, clean but still pale. Since he was the stronger of the two, he went back to holding down his sister. Yukina held her head so that Kagome could feed her the medicine a few drops at a time. The first few straws were coughed up, but after the fifth straw, the liquid slid down her throat without incident. Halfway through the dose, Aiko began to shudder and convulse viciously. Her siblings held her firmly and Kagome waited until she was still again to repeat the process.
When all the medicine was gone, Kagome instructed the children to take their mother and get out of the room. She also warned them that no matter what happened, they were not to come in until she exited through the door. Grimly, they accepted the terms, and fled with their mother. Kagome gravely watched the young girl shudder. She could feel the demonic energy slowly intensify within her. Whatever it was, that demon was coming out.
Kagome took a few herbs from her bag and sprinkled them around all the windows and the door that led to the balcony. This would ward the exits, making it impossible for the demon to leave through any part of the room accept the door Kagome left unsealed--she stood between that door and Aiko. Reaching into her bag again, and sitting Indian style on the floor, Kagome retrieved two pieces of wood and a string. She deftly screwed the wood together, forming a curved wooden bow. She strung it just as Aiko's eyes opened.
They were glowing an unnatural blue. Her mouth also opened, as a blue mist rolled from her parted lips and covered the room. Through the mist came a shape, and from that shape came the demon. A large blue water lizard with blackish spots down its back and a long red tongue. It's black eyes searched the room for any way out, but it found none. None accept the door behind Kagome. The herbs restricted it's movements. That was the only way to get out.
Kagome reached once more into her bag before kicking it aside. From it, she pulled an arrow. It was not just any arrow, but a Higurashi clan arrow. Each Miko family had a signature type of arrow that could identify them. Kagome's arrow had a thin shaft with three lightning-bolts carved into the wood. The feather tips were black and white striped. A ring of green and a ring of brown circled the shaft near the arrowhead. Nimbly, Kagome notched the arrow and looked upon her prey. The water lizard was watching her closely.
"So," he said with contempt. His was a voice that sounded like a waterfall hitting rocks, of rapids and of ocean waves hitting the shore at high tide. "They send a child to defeat me."
"I am no child," Kagome said evenly. She brought up her arrow even with the demon. "I am the High Miko."
The demon let out a shriek, lashing it's tail as it charged the door. It was thinking of freedom and life; Kagome wouldn't give it that chance. She concentrated all of her internal energy into her arrow until the object began to glow with her green light. She let the arrow fly with an enraged cry. It struck the demon in the forehead, just between it's too black eyes. It fell to the floor as black and red blood flowed from the wound and pooled around it. The demon shrieked as it thrashed about in the throes of death. Finally it lay still. Kagome didn't move until she felt the last of the demonic aura leave her senses. That was when she knew it was dead.
Ever so calmly, Kagome unstrung and unscrewed her bow, placing it back in her bag. She then pulled out one final vile filled with a thick black soup. She uncorked it and a metallic smell hit her nostrils. Kagome emptied the vile over the demon's corpse. When the mixture hit the skin of the demon, it ate away like acid. The flesh crumbled inside the body and when Kagome's herbal remedy met with the demon's organs, it melted them away, disintegrating the corpse from the inside out until nothing remained but a pool of reddish black blood.
Kagome sighed, falling to her knees. She looked down at her shaking hands and rolled them into fists, willing herself under control. With a few deep breaths, she went to the door. Dita, Nidaku, and Yukina were all in the hallway, anxiously awaiting her presence. They all rushed to the door when she opened it. "Get me some water," she commanded. Yukina rushed to obey.
"Will she be alright, High Miko?" Dita asked quietly.
"I don't know yet," Kagome said sadly, but honestly. The demon had been a strong one. There might not have been enough of Aiko left to save her life. Yukina arrived with the water and Kagome shut the door again. She hated to leave them outside to worry, but they couldn't be inside to distract her when she needed to focus on Aiko.
Kagome kneeled next to the little girl, pulling her small frame against her own. Kagome propped Aiko's head on her shoulder and held the cup to the girl's lips, tilting cup and head back enough to let the liquid slid into her open mouth. After a few tense moments, Aiko coughed and some water spilt from her mouth. With another cough, her ruddy eyes opened and she blinked an unfocused gaze up at Kagome's face.
"Hello Aiko," Kagome said with a smile. "I need you to drink some more for me, okay?"
"Okay," Aiko said with a froggy voice. The cup was brought back to her lips and Aiko drank greedily until it was gone. Kagome took a little bottle from her bag and poured a green liquid into the water glass, giving it to Aiko.
"This will taste a little weird," Kagome warned. "But it'll make you feel so much better." Aiko obediently drank, even though Kagome knew it tasted awful. After the medicine was gone, Kagome just held Aiko for a few minutes.
"I do feel better," the little girl said, focusing her eyes to look at Kagome fully now. Her voice also sounded better.
"Good," Kagome said with a smile.
"Can I see Mommy now?" Aiko asked.
"Of course," Kagome replied, going to the door. Once more, all three were on their feet in an instant. This time, Kagome opened the door wider so they could all see Aiko sitting up on the futon, waving at them as if she hadn't almost died. All three rushed passed Kagome to mob her with hugs and kisses and cries of joy. Kagome waited for a few minutes before pulled Dita away.
"How can I ever thank you High Miko?" she cried, looked at Kagome with such joy that it wrenched her heart. Kagome had to look away.
"Aiko is a strong little girl, but I need her to stay in bed for five days. No more skating for the rest of the winter." Dita nodded. "Expect her to get sick often in the next few months," Kagome explained. "The demon drained much of her body's defenses, and her heart may be in danger. If anything happens that you feel is life-threatening, just send Yukina and Nidaku, and I'll come right over." Dita nodded again. Kagome picked up her bag and pulled out the bottle with the green liquid which she promptly handed to Dita. "Give her four drops of this in the morning and before bed. If you run out and she still isn't well, come to me and I'll give you more."
"Thank you," Dita said, closing her hands around Kagome's. Kagome smiled and nodded her head.
"It's my job." Then Kagome took her leave from the happy and relieved family to return her to her grandmother's dojo. She had an unofficial boyfriend to call. Maybe, if she was lucky, she would stop crying before she got there.
"When you said you would go I thought I might explode,
Cause that I've been waiting for a girl like you,
And I know there's nothing I can do"
Well, there you go all, chapter 14. I'll try to get 15 out a little faster that this one, hehe. This was using American Hi-Fi's most excellent song, I'm A Fool. Time for reviewer's corner and then I'm outta here! Thanks for reading and remember to review!
moonlight-angel2003: I'm glad you liked last chapter. I hope this one was satisfactory. I love Simple Plan, they rock! Thanks for reading!
pruning shears: Let me say that just because they admit their love for each other, it doesn't make their relationship any easier. In fact, I think it'll make it harder. All of your questions will be answered, you just have to be patient. Let me write--and I will get to it--and you'll know all. Yes, a lot of people hate Sayaka, and I feel really bad to make her out as a person to be hated. She's really not! Well, if Kagome had run away, she would never have inherited the power and a lot of chain of events wouldn't have taken place--the next high miko would have been Souta's daughter because he is also a direct descendant. The fact is, Kagome would never have run away because her ascension was preordained. Even if she had genuinely wanted to run away, she never would have been able to outrun who she is. Sorry it took me so long to update!
SarahlovesDBZ: He finds out about Kagome's past in two chapters, so you can see the craziness for yourself! Sorry this chapter took so long. I promise to get the next one out really soon!
NightstarAngel: I have a romantic soul, even if it is a little difficult for me to write romance. I don't know why, I just get really caught up in it. I'm so happy that you liked the last chapter though. I'm sorry I took forever to update this story, but I hope this chapter was good enough to make up for me in a slight way.
SakuraMona: I read your review! Jell-o and cults really don't mix, it's just bad. I'm sorry I took forever to update and I hope you like this chapter!
Alice Deal: Lol, I'm glad you liked their date. You change your name faster than I can write a chapter. So sorry for the long delay, life sucks, you understand. Music is choice, and my readers are too, hehe.
Laraeliae Black: I write long chapters for this story, I don't know why. It just makes me what to write. Sorry for the long delay between updates. I hope you like this chapter. Mirokus-grl is one of my best readers.
Girl with the long name: I was too lazy to type out the entire name so here goes. Thanks for reading, sorry for the delay, hope you aren't sick!
Terenity Rose: I'm really happy that you like my story. I'm sorry for the delay. I hope this chapter was a good installment and I swear to get the next one out really soon!
Jaded Hanyou Girl: Yay, it's my groupie! Because you got all the songs correct--and were the only one--you win the great prize and privilege to read the final chapter of Tainted Blood before anyone else. Because I have your e-mail address, I will personally send you the finale chapter before it's posted. Congrats! I hope you liked the party episode, it was killer fun to write. As for Kag's decision, it'll be tough but I shall not give away my suspense ending just yet.
Kiamo: I know, I'm so sorry it took so long! My beta reader has also been having a lot of person problems and we have been very slow. I promise to go faster with the next chapters, scouts honor!
PurpleOboe: It's actually a manga that I adore--it's hysterically funny. Sorry to take so long updating, life has been hell. School is hell, friends are hell, love life--or lack of--is hell. I promise to get the next chapter out much faster than this. Thanks for hanging in there with me!