Progress! Yay!

A safe place happened to be Max's house, just close enough that they could keep an eye on the portal in case it reopened or something came through it. Kagome wasn't sure how long a sutra made out of common pen ink and notebook sheets would last and at any second they could find themselves surrounded. Max assured them her mother probably wouldn't be back until later that day, so they had a few hours to rest and plan.

It seemed the creatures could cross the portal, but not many of them nor any of the big guys. Not yet, at least. If Vecna somehow managed to open a portal like the one in the secret lab, they wouldn't stand a chance. There were at least two more portals, in the lake and where Benson died; even if Vecna got to send only a few of the demobats at a time, they would bring chaos in no time.

What was stopping Vecna from attacking was the main question at the moment. They had suspicions but could only take guesses so far. Maybe he was waiting until he could come to this side, or he was waiting for something. Without much more to do, after everyone was tended to, they all took turns to rest and watch Eddie's house.

It was Kagome's turn to keep guard when Eddie joined her in the kitchen area. He had a fresh set of clothes, skull rings adorning his fingers and a bandana taming his hair. Without the others noticing, he sneaked out and went home. Kagome thought he looked cute but didn't mention it. He placed a couple cold beers and sandwiches on the table.

"Uncle Wayne had the fridge full. I guess he expected me to stop by anytime."

Kagome wasn't one to drink often, but she accepted the cold beverage. She nibbled the sandwich, realizing they hadn't eaten since morning. Eddie leaned against the chair with his knees touching hers. He kept his eyes on Kagome while his mouth was busy. A few times the girl was sure he would say something before he took another bite.

The silence was broken by Steve walking up to the restroom. The girls were sharing Max's room while the boys spread over the living room. Steve nodded at them before closing the door.

"What will others say if they find out 'King' Steve and 'Queen' Nancy are hanging out with Hawkins' #1 freak?" Kagome chuckled. "I'm serious. This will taunt their reputation forever." He sipped more beer. "How's the high school in Japan?"

"Quite different from here. For one, in most schools uniforms are mandatory. Skirts for girls and shorts for boys. Can you believe I used to run all over feudal Japan with a green skirt this short? I bet I flashed my panties to a few hundred people. Mama said it was easier and cheaper to fix and replace the same clothes instead of having a full wardrobe. As for the people… teachers and school staff, in general, are much more respected than in American schools. The kids are… just kids I guess. We'd gossip, go out and have fun. There are some punks-"

"Like me?" Eddie added with mirth.

"Maybe in fame?" She giggled. "There are some gangs controlling schools. They engage in fights with rival gangs, shoplifts, and other students are scared of them, but I'm not one to judge. Japanese society is very strict with anyone who looks or acts differently from the norm. You are supposed to fit in, never to stand out. I can't say how dangerous they really are, just how bad they are viewed. Maybe they are nice, like you. You just dress differently from the standard guy with a polo shirt and perfect hair." Kagome smiled. "I like it. I like being with you."

Kagome didn't flinch when his fingers brushed against hers nor did the glint on his eyes when his thumb caressed her knuckles made her uncomfortable. There was a shyness in him that she wasn't expecting or maybe that was just how he was. "I like it too," he said, finally closing his hand around hers.

He didn't let go of her hand nor did Kagome pull it back. There was a comfortable stillness between them shattered only by the soft snoring from the others and the chirping outside. Kagome bit her cheek trying to hold back a grin that dared to come forward. Eddie wasn't so subtle, letting his eyes wander from her blue ones to her lips.

Kagome wasn't sure of what to do now. The prospect of having someone interested in her and her reciprocating it was never taken into consideration. Not knowing where to go next, Kagome did what she would have done in her natural habitat: she got up and placed a kiss on Eddie's cheek.

Eddie was on his feet in a blink. His face stood mere centimeters from her face. He looked from her eyes to her lips and back. Kagome rolled her eyes. So much for reservations. If she was to live in America she could start acting like an American teenager. Kagome realized Eddie wouldn't move forward if she didn't. He already gave her an opening, the choice to accept or reject his advances. And for that Kagome was glad, because she was tired of not having an option. With her mind made up, Kagome closed the gap between them.

Eddie's hand made its way to her waist while Kagome crossed her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoes. His lips were soft and warm, just like his personality. The faint scent of male cologne had a sense of familiarity, along with the smell of the products he used on his hair - which looked much better after a shower and some love and care - and the taste of the beer they shared previously. There was no rush at that moment, just a milestone in the flirting that had been going on for the past few days.

They separated when a noise startled them. One of the boys moved in their sleep and dropped a cushion. Eddie's hand didn't leave Kagome's side neither did she release him. He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes again before descending on her lips.

For a couple hours, under the shield of the night, they shared more kisses and caresses, forgetting about the upcoming morning and just enjoying each other's company.

It was hard to pretend nothing had happened when Eddie kept sending her grins when the others weren't looking. The sudden matching plumpness of their lips was a dead giveaway too. Yet Kagome couldn't help the smile gracing her face from time to time whenever she thought about it. It was proof that she was still in her late teens, after all. Her mother would be proud. Between all the weirdness of parallel universes, mythical creatures and evil wizards, Kagome found herself flirting and making out.

Robin didn't have to say anything as she kept looking from Kagome to Eddie as they tried to act normal. It wasn't as if they wanted to hide the development, it just wasn't the right time. They were planning on going back to the Upside Down and facing Vecna. Talking about dating didn't fit the atmosphere. That didn't stop Eddie from sneaking a hand around her waist here and there or Kagome from accidentally touching him.

Taking down Vecna would require ammunition and firepower. Nancy was the only one to actually know how to hold a gun, therefore the others would have to improvise. Kagome needed a few quivers, ink and paper - she wanted to bless whatever they had. The others also needed something for attack and protection.

The solution came when Eddie pointed to an ad in the newspaper. The War Zone was a store specialized in supplies for hunting, camping, firepower and ammunition in general. The kind of place whose customers were usually the people they should avoid; at the same time, it was where they would find what they needed and more.

They required transportation. War Zone wasn't far from Hawkins but not close enough to get there walking or pedalling. They needed a vehicle that fitted all of them and still had enough space for their shopping. Eddie's van could do but the police were probably looking for it or already had it. It was once again Eddie who got a solution.

In the early morning, only a few inhabitants were out at the trailer park. They moved through the houses, sneaking from one to the other, trying to not make much noise. Having lived there for a long time, Eddie knew how to get around unnoticed, which RVs still worked and which one would be the easiest to borrow.

A couple sat under an awning listening to a radio. The group tiptoed to the other side of the RV, managing to avoid capturing their attention. Eddie tested the windows until he found one unlocked and slid it open. He joined his hands, intertwining his fingers, and nodded to Kagome, who got the clue and used the leverage to hop in. He went after her and the others came in right after.

In a matter of seconds, the door and windows were locked and everyone was in. With a sour face, Eddie cut the cables and hot-wired the engine. He didn't like to be reminded he was still a Munson, a name that came with baggage. At least, the knowledge passed down by his father was put to somewhat good use. He let Steve drive and joined the others in the back. Soon enough they were on the road to the War Zone.

Eddie slumped beside Kagome with a long face. Being reminded of the weight of his name brought back memories he wanted to forget. It wasn't hard to find out about Munson, the father, and the things he did around Hawkins and nearby towns. It reflected how Eddie was perceived by others. It reminded her of Inuyasha and how he was mistreated for things that were out of his control.

Kagome squeezed his hand. There wasn't much she could do but at least she would support and comfort him.

For the entire ride, Dustin kept sending the duo glances and raising an eyebrow. A question was on the tip of his tongue. Once they parked in a secluded spot behind the store, they decided it was best for Kagome, Lucas, Eddie and Dustin to stay since the police could spot them and Jason was surely after Lucas after he mislead him. When only the four of them remained, Dustin spoke.

"Are you fucking?" If Kagome wasn't used to this kind of direct speech she would have been mortified.

"That's not a way to talk to a lady, Henderson."

"You have been awfully lovey-dovey since this morning, never staying apart for more than a minute." Kagome wondered if they really had been that obvious. It was hard to stay away after spending a good couple of hours on each other's throats. It opened doors to touching and intimacy that had been locked before. "So, you are?"

"N-"

"Not yet." Eddie stared wide-eyed at Kagome. There was a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Kagome grinned and nudged him. He then relaxed and put his arm over her shoulders, pulling her closer. Kagome wouldn't admit it but she was still a bit wary of this thing between them, so this open claim eased her doubts. "I guess… Humm... We will be dating soon?" she asked.

"We haven't had a proper first date yet, so I think it fits." He turned to Dustin. "Kagome will be my girlfriend once we're done with all this shit." He winked and pulled her into a chaste kiss as if to prove a point. He talked with a certainty that left little room for discussion, for which Kagome was glad because she wasn't one to play with hers or someone else's feelings. Dustin's face opened into a wide smile, his aura exhaling happiness for his friend. Eddie shut him up before he could say anything and made the teens promise to keep it low.

Faster than expected, the others came back and rushed away. They'd been spotted by one of Jason's crooks and managed to get away before the others got to them. They drove back to Hawkins, stopping in a clearing in the middle of the woods to prepare. They had to act fast and tonight was the night.

Kagome sat on the grass as she checked the arrows and prepared some sutras. Upon looking around, it dawned on her that she was possibly facing a greater danger than back in the feudal era. Erica was still in middle school; Lucas, Max and Dustin just started high school; Robin and Nancy were seniors; she was almost the oldest of the group, only younger than Eddie, and maybe the most experienced, despite their previous encounters with the Upside Down creatures.

They were going to face interdimensional monsters with Molotov cocktails, bats, makeshift spears, spiked shields, a rifle and her sacred arrows. There was no Kaze no Kizu, Hiraikotsu or Wind Tunnel to save the day. No friendly powerful demon was coming to their aid. Their chances were dim.

Kagome felt the panic rising. She took a deep breath and let the forest's energy calm down her nerves. If there was a high chance of that being her last day on earth, she wasn't going down without a fight. She remembered how oppressive the Upside Down felt. She wouldn't let it come to this side. She stood up.

"I'm gonna find some logs," she said to no one in particular. Robin and Steve nodded and went back to filling bottles with fuel.

Once she was alone, Kagome took off her shoes and stood barefooted, feeling the damp earth under her feet. She closed her eyes and expanded her aura. Being in contact with nature always served to calm down her nerves and help her to focus. She missed the comforting feeling of the Goshinboku but these woods welcomed her as one of their own.

"You can come out, Eddie," said Kagome to an Eddie that had been watching her for a while.

"I didn't want to interrupt… whatever you were doing. You left the camp looking upset and I just came to make sure you're okay."

Kagome released a deep breath. Eddie leaned against a tree near her. She had been thinking about things she wanted to do. She spent so much time trying to move the clock backwards and now there was a chance it all would end. She didn't want that. She didn't want to wonder about things that could have been. Kagome has been through more than most contemporary people will be all along their lives and yet she missed so much that was common for people of her age. She wouldn't waste time again.

"Eddie…" She turned and got closer, stepping just a few inches from him. He put his hands on her waist. Kagome claimed his lips. She pressed her body to his, trapping him against the tree. His grip tightened. He gasped when a hand caressed his torso under the shirt. Kagome slipped her tongue into his mouth, earning a muffled moan.

Eddie switched their places and had Kagome pinned down to the tree. The girl had her lips parted, panting. His shirt pooled over her wrist and her thumbs drew circles on his skin. His breath sharpened as Kagome pressed her lips on his jaw, leaving a trail of kisses and nibbles. He pressed his groin against her and whispered, "Are you sure?"

There's an extra scene to this chapter that wouldn't fit the current rating. Should I include it on the next chapter?

It will open doors for more spicy scenes, but I'm not sure whether to go for it or not. Depends on what you decide.

Please let me know what you think!