He did NOT like this ordering around shit. He only allowed it from his family and Kalie, who was no longer that person and didn't qualify in ordering him around.
He DID want answers as to why – given he WAS this asshole – they split like this. They had three bodies total, he was one, and the hanyou was another. The wonder was great toward Tessaiga ending up in his family after a hundred years and so many possible people...and the outfit given to him on the year he became a man looked exactly like the one the hanyou always wore.
He was torn to obey this once or be spiteful out of all that happened and ignore the irritation for a while. He settled for something in between and decided to walk home.
How he managed to get two miles out of the city on his board amazed him. By the time the hanyou released him to the waking world, dawn appeared, but he was okay with that. He needed light to get back because he had no damn clue where he was! He knew the direction of his house positioned with the sun and was thankful Inuyasha kept him that long. He would've been forced to wait anyway, so it turned out.
It was a slow trek back and his stomach was rumbling by the time brown spotted any building. He wanted to jog over to see what it was and if they were open, but that would use less time. Even after covering some of the distance, he was still irritated at having to do this.
Who knew what the hell that bane to his existence would do to him - to them - once he dug it from the kitchen??
He sighed and idly spun a wheel with a finger from its place hugged against his waist. If this thing was that magical to change so many lives, there would be no way to keep it from contacting Inuyasha. There was no way he could talk to it first.
Thankfully this turned to be a twenty-four hour gas station and he gave a quick look in unease to his attire before going in. This wasn't Japan, even though it was heavily Japanese and Japanese influenced...someone was going to raise a few brows. Quick and fast, that's all he needed. He grabbed an energy drink to get him through the trip and a few granola bars to help his appetite.
"By the gods, Inaki-san...what the hell are you wearing?!"
He cringed and halted at the voice. 'Jolette-san works out here?? Shit I didn't know that!'
He pasted a grin on and set everything on the counter. "Ah...ohayou nasai Jolette-san... What're you doing up this early for work?"
Said person started to do her job, giving a few wide eyes at the attire. "SOME of us have college to pay for. Why are you wearing that outfit??"
Second person to tell him that within the matter of a few hours. A brow ticked in annoyance. "Mou...can't a guy wear the clothes of his ancestry??"
"I don't mean that – you look nice in traditional wear...but why THAT one? That's what you got for Seiji no hi. That doesn't merit everyday wear."
"Yea well...I know that now..." He muttered, trying to fumble for an excuse. Saying the spirit in his head decided it looked enough like the clothes of his era didn't seem to pass for sane. Jolette may've been Japanese, but she would've seen him for a nut job.
"And why are you out so early in the morning? Don't you know your family is looking for you??" Jolette handed him change and looked to the counter. "They called Robert's house asking for you." A finger rubbed over glass top. "Inaki-san...there's something you...don't know..."
Brown widened and his spine straightened at a sense of foreboding. "I don't like that tone Jolette-san...what are you trying to say? I'm not in the mood for stalling."
He caught a glimpse of misty eyes before the girl turned. "Ah, Inaki-san...your hahaue called and said...your hisobosan was..."
He wanted to launch himself over the counter and shake answers out of her. "What?? What happened to hisobosan?!"
"This was last night, but I don't remember the time. They said she was hospitalized. I guess it was a strain on her when...you ran away."
He stumbled back a step, mind reeling at this. "I – I didn't run away! I'm still here aren't I?? Did anyone call you after that?"
The swish of her head was enough to send panic searing his heart. "I – I have to go!!" He whipped around and ran out, taking off down the street with Jolette crying his name in surprise. He was aware he didn't take food or drink, but that was farthest from his mind.
'Masaka! Why did this have to happen?? Damn you Unmei-sama! If it's not one thing it's another! When am I going to get a fucking break?!'
He was huffing by the time familiar surroundings of his neighborhood came into sight. He was tired and wanted to stop, but grit his teeth and forced himself faster. He wouldn't rest until he knew what happened. The stupid shikon jewel could wait – he wanted to know what his precious hisobosan was going through!
He stopped at the edge of the concrete fence and panted for air. Knees gave out and he slumped down, barely managing to catch himself and grimacing against the harsh landing.
He still wasn't able to go in with confidence and not worry about that bastard popping up and trying to take control, but had no choice. If hisobosan was in the hospital, he had to know why. He would push aside such internal turmoil for his family, even if he had to sometimes keep them away from it too.
When he had the strength to raise his head, he jerked in surprise at a pair of shocked, saddened eyes meeting him. Tears gathered there and fell as he righted. "Inaki...you're back."
He nodded and hopped the waist-high fence, taking a few steps inside the yard. The window gaped open and he had the answer of how he was found out. "Somehow...saying sorry isn't going to make up for what I've done, will it?"
"Oh Inaki! It's horrible!"
He steadied them both and wrapped his arms around the girl to comfort her, despite needing it himself. "Nee-chan?? What is it? What happened to hisobosan?!"
That only forced Jayden to cry harder. Her face buried in his haori, hands gripping fabric. She carried on and the door opened in curiosity at her noise.
"Musuko...okaeri nasai..."
He blinked at tears suddenly wavering his vision. A lump in his throat made it hard to swallow, but the warmth in his chest was nice and he embraced it. "Okaasan."
Kristine didn't run as Jayden did, but threw arms around both children and hugged them to her. Jayden's position shifted enough to accept her mother's hold. "Shh, Jayden...you have to calm down a little."
"Okaasan, what happened to hisobosan?? Ogenki desu ka??"
Brown and green locked until green filled with tears. "Ano...sore wa...Mira-san wa..."
Dread bumped his skin. "M – masaka! Hisobosan is okay, ne okaasan??"
"Chigau."
The pair looked up and his jaw clenched. "Ojiisan."
Kekoy took the stairs down and stopped a few paces from the group. "Hahaue...died not too long before your arrival magomusuko."
The breath stilled in his lungs. Tears rapidly filled and cleared as the news sunk in. "S – so – sonna..."
Kekoy nodded and moved to gently tug Jayden's hold away and put his arms around her instead. The girl's crying continued with the reaffirmation of news, and buried her face in his shirt.
His body turned to stone and wouldn't obey him. He barely felt his mother's comforting touch before it was ripped away on his trip to the ground. He didn't feel the landing, but his body let him know it was being abused by pain.
Shocked, dead brown stared at ground, trying to focus the chaos in his head and find some logic. Tears kept dripping from his face and annoying his hands, but he couldn't get them to move.
'Hisobosan...you were the last person I heard besides otousan. Why you?? Why did this happen to you?!' Fists clenched and jammed into his eyes, squeezing them to feel physical pain. It barely made a dent in the hole that engulfed him. 'Hisobosan! Naze!! Did I do this to you?? You, who stayed outside waiting for such a worthless person as myself!'
He barely heard his name in question, the words of comfort to try and get him to head inside. He ignored them all, lost in his grief, and hunched over, pounding a fist against the ground. "NAZE?! Naze hisobosan wa!!"
He sobbed without a care of who heard. Guilt over his great grandmother's death hit and hit hard. His family was the only one who never judged him or made him be someone else...they loved him unconditionally and because of that fact alone, he loved them more than his own life. Now a member of his house was gone. He never knew his great, great grandparents, but wistfulness of being able to see them occasionally crossed him mind as a child from stories of the elders.
Hands finally touched his back. He ignored them until tears finally dried and he was incapable of them. Fatigue weighed on him so heavily, and with the lack of good sleep recently, he almost passed out. It would've been a relief from the real world, but his mind was as horrible a place right now.
There was no release from his life. Horrible things happened to him any which way now and it was building up. He had no way out, no one to turn to let loose his grief. The others had enough sadness to be burdened with his. He needed a rock in a place full of sand.
"Musuko, come inside. All is forgiven – we don't question your actions or why. You should get some sleep to feel better."
"How will it get better?!" He snapped, sitting up. Red-rimmed eyes glared at his family. "Hisobosan wa shinimashita yo!" Kristine stooped to rest a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. "It'll never be okay again...never!"
"Yamoi Inaki, don't you treat your mother that way!"
The sharp tone of ojiisan stung and anger deflated. He hunched over, eyes somehow filling again. "Hisobosan..." He was helped to his feet and practically walked into the house. He had no energy to walk, to stand, to even breathe.
Omo was sitting with Setsumo and both looked grave, but didn't say a word to his sudden appearance. Probably because he looked like shit and they knew he was told. He mentally thanked them anyway and tried not to stumble up the steps to the upper level.
"I don't want...to sleep..." He mumbled, resting against the wall in his room in meek defiance. "Hisobosan doesn't get to be awake anymore...I need to do so...for her."
Jayden bit her lip at his words, but nodded to her mother and the two gently grasped an arm. "We're all up ototo; we can do so for her. You need to rest so you can stay up for hisobosan as much as you like. Right now, you won't do her much good."
"Not fair, not fair... Hisobosan..." He sunk onto the futon, its soft padding so much better than hard, prickly ground. Brown closed instantly to savor the feel and the smell that was uniquely his. "Naze desu..."
The pair watched him mumble until his words became unintelligible. Brown looked to green, both sad and tear-lined. "Okaasan... Where do you think he went? Why did he wear this outfit? And why was," Brown shot a wary look to outside the room, "ototo practicing with ojiisan's katana??"
Kristine's head shook with a heavy sigh. "Questions we can worry about later musume. But ones I don't have any answer too." The woman looked down and moved to pick a stray leaf from his hair. "Who knows where he went since yesterday afternoon? He's the only one who can tell us and we have no right to ask him. Not now that his suffering has begun."
Jayden glumly nodded. "Who knew this would push hisobosan's heart to extremes." She harshly swallowed, trying to keep from crumpling.
"Come musume. Let's leave him to peace. We can't help him and he doesn't want it from us. But I think I know of someone who can."
He didn't know how long he slept, whether it was a full day or just half. Afternoon sun was right in his face and he was hell-bent on ignoring it. He didn't have the energy to roll over, and even breathing seemed to take effort. The weight of his heart was worse than the fate of his life.
There was a small, timid brush to his bangs and it took away some pain. He focused on touch instead of emotions and reveled in the feelings it evoked. He wished it to carry on forever, or until he processed everything and could deal with it better. "Ii na..."
"Hountoni kore wa ii?"
Brown peeked open at the familiar voice and the second he caught a familiar smile, they widened. "Y – you!" He rolled away and landed with a low thud on his back. He didn't feel anything and shot to his feet. "What are YOU doing here?? Who let you in?!"
"Your okaasan called me. And Kekoy-san let me in."
He glared at the mere thought of HER watching him sleep. "They shouldn't have." Hands plunged in his hair and he started pacing tatami. "But they didn't know did they? Then I can forgive them for the mistake. But still, why did they do so behind my back?? Didn't they think for one second on that?"
"Inaki..."
"I mean, they don't know anything. That's easy to see. I bet they're burning with questions now." He stopped and slapped hands over face. "Oh gods! I'm in so much shit! They're going to throw me out and then I really WILL have to sleep on the ground!"
"Osuwari!"
Before he could think, his body sat on the futon and incredulously stared at sheepish brown. "What the fuck was THAT?!" He stared at his legs, blinking and tapping a finger at them.
"Ah, ha ha...gomen. Force of habit."
He glowered. "So it would seem..." It was nice to know he had control of his body and turned to give his attention. "Why ARE you here?? Do you honestly think I want you near me right now? You're the cause of the other half of my distress. I left because of that crap and it caused hisobosan stress that she died from. Don't you think that entitles me to a little peace from you??"
"I – I heard about that... Gomen ne Inaki-kun..."
"Don't call me that!"
"Would you prefer your other name then??"
He glared, a reflexive growl coming from spending too much time around the other. He paused as soon as it rang in his ears and slapped himself for such comparable behavior. "Damn it! Why do you do this to me?!"
"I'm not doing anything!"
"And just who is 'I' anyway? Which one are you? It was all a trick wasn't it? You just wanted him all along. All those pretty words and ways of roping my attention and curiosity were just fake."
"Chigau! Stop pointing fingers at me! You think I had anything to do with this?! I just found out about everything not too long before you. Where do you think that shoulder wound came from?? I came to grips with things just after I left the hospital and some still takes getting used to."
"No way can I believe you were a pawn like I am."
"It's the truth – take it or leave it. Kristine-san called me to cheer you up and comfort you, but I can see you'd rather have me gone. I'll not stand here and be insulted. It's nice to see you – though the comparisons are overwhelming me – but I'll not take your abuse. Mou, and I thought I'd be used to this by now..."
He watched her walk a few steps to leave and reached out to grab her arm before he could stop himself. No matter whom she was, her face was a comfort to his nerves.
Fiery eyes whipped to meet his before she yanked her arm free. "Did you have something else to berate me on?"
He snorted and plopped on the bed, hands going in his sleeves. Brown looked to the floor. "Answer me this...what makes him so special?"
"I...I love him, but I love you too."
"Not good enough."
She scowled. "If you're asking who's the better person, you'd be it. You're polite, funny, charming, caring, emotional...basically a lot of what he's not. But he is caring in his own way and he's loyal, protective, strong, honest, sweet, and occasionally thoughtful."
"So really, you still can't figure it out. You can't have both you know and I won't be him."
"Well I'm not her! You want to know what happened to me in the end?"
"I saw what happened, saw more than I wanted. I got the whole after picture too and it's not pretty." He finally looked up and gave a raised brow. "So what EXACTLY do I call you now? I'd like to have a name with the face, or I'll just call you who he knows."
"I haven't changed you know, I'm still Kalie. I gave you that name when you asked the last time. You don't know what happened to the souls that got split. They were born in me and I ended up being the piece ripped from Kikyou. Kagome finally showed me the truth and what I was missing and I took it. Maybe you should give him some thought as well."
"You just told me I was the better half! Why should I give that up?? This is MY life!"
She smirked. "Now why does THAT sound familiar?"
"Uresai!" A hand rubbed his chin as he moved to sit cross-legged. "He wants me to talk to the shikon."
"Yahari."
"Eh?"
"I thought I sensed the tama's power. I bet I could pick it from the correct floorboard too."
He balked. "How can you have Kagome's power??"
She snored. "And you're Buddhist... Kikyou was born with massive spiritual power was tagged to her soul. Kagome was born with massive spiritual power – given time they both could've been powerful miko. They're the same person and I'm the same from them. I was born and acted on Kikyou's part of our soul; I got her magic with it."
That got his curiosity. "Have you tried anything with it?"
Brown rolled. "How CAN I? There're no youkai in this country. Even if some moved this far away to live in peace, I bet they know spells to conceal their youki that even I don't know about. Who knows how long they live anyway? Maybe they're all dead." Their eyes met in silence before she longed to figure out what was going on past vacant eyes. "What?"
"Hearing you talk like that is almost freaky."
"You didn't sound very stable pacing your floor you know. If I hadn't gone through the same thing already, I would've backed out of the room by now."
He snorted and shifted to rest on the mattress. A hand plopped on his chest, staring at the ceiling. Silence came after he finished shifting to get comfortable. "So, I suppose you heard when you got here." He muttered, face turning solemn.
"Ee."
"Is that why you came? To cheer up and comfort me?"
"Did you think it was to get to Inuyasha?"
"Yes."
"Then you're wrong." Brown met serious, hurt brown. "You two are totally different people and I love you both separately. I love Inuyasha for his strength, loyalty, honesty, and good side; and I love you for your personality, humor, kindness, thoughtfulness, and politeness." Teeth nibbled on her lip. "But thinking back on who you were before this happened, I do see some of him in you."
He groaned. "Not you too! I got enough comparisons to that jackass from him...you can spare me the details."
She smiled and stared, getting to when his eyes closed. Legs went to chest as she huddled on Jayden's futon, content to watch him all day.
He was so gorgeous and even his other two forms had handsome qualities. The human form was striking, the youkai wild and disheveled, and the hanyou a mix between the two. Her body burned with a need to be with him, and damned her thoughts but she wanted to curl up next to him and kiss for a while.
But he would rather throw her out than touch her. His actions upon waking showed that much. He fell out of bed just to get away from her, not caring where he would go.
Brown misted as she looked to her knees. 'I shouldn't blame him. Kagome was so angry at him in the past for this same thing. It's only right I get a little of it back.' A small, humorless smile appeared. 'Looks like I'll never get to have a normal life. I thought, maybe...with him...I could smooth this over. If only the bridge in his mind wasn't crossed. I could've lived with Inaki like he was before Inuyasha demanded to get out. But...I still love Inuyasha too...'
A hand rose, fingers lightly brushing over her lips. That last, and only, kiss she shared before death was so beautiful. She wanted so many more with him, but her first kiss was taken this time. If only she wasn't so daring in this life, she would've been able to give him that at least.
Brown opened all the way as he turned to her, watching her misery. He couldn't help but wonder what was going on in her head. Was she still fighting some pieces from the other lives? He had just one and it was hell on earth, so he couldn't imagine what two would be. It was amazing she managed to continue work and classes, but it explained the odd behavior months ago.
His head shook, berating himself for caring. Was he going to cast aside the fact she said she loved him and another man at the same time?? As stupid as it was, they were as different as night and day. Inuyasha was not apart of his mind, so he might as well be another person.
That's probably what hurt the most. He finally got the guts to tell her, she actually told him back, and then her soul was already tied to someone. He wanted the person to love him and only him with no opposition. He didn't do competition.
He mentally sighed, torn on what to do, what to say. There was so much Kagome in the way she sat, looked, and the way she never cowered under any kind of confrontation. He always hoped Kalie would've managed to be stronger, but not to the point of being someone else entirely!
His brow furrowed. They turned in a circle to where it was like they never knew each other and didn't like each other again. It was kind of hard to fathom, given the things they shared. One would think they'd be inseparable after all of it. Of course, this was the question of just how well they could persevere. It seemed stupid to think that, but was he going to let this take away the one person that calmed his soul, no matter who she was? Granted this person was who the other longed for and imprinted on HIM...
Didn't he tell her he loved her though?
His heart squeezed at the time he thought it for the first time, of being able to tell her. He went through their meetings, every time they talked and hung out together. A smile rose in sheer perverse irony that was their lives. "Seems you got the shittier life this time around." He muttered.
She rapidly blinked to hide her tears, eyes confused. "Huh?"
"You heard me. I got the family, the friendship quality, ability to speak, the emotional capacity, and stable life. You got Kikyou's hatred, the relationship problems, his tendency to keep quiet about himself and his life, loner attributes, and moodiness."
"Moodiness?!" She sent him a dry look. "I DID, did I? What about you?? I at least got her sense of forgiveness to really bad actions, school ethics, study habits, drive to worry about others, figure, skin tone, politeness, and singing voice. What did YOU get? His human form, swearing habits, love for stupid stunts, Japanese background, higher-than-thou attitude, lust for trees, and irrational behavior."
"IRRATIONAL??" He shot up and stared at her in shock. "Isn't that calling the kettle black?! Me irrational...I'm not one you should be saying that to!"
"Well who are you to call ME moody?? Right now you're worse than I am! If you're going to point fingers at someone, look in the mirror and do it yourself."
"I can't – I don't have my own visage!"
"You'll get used to that."
He started pacing again. "I don't WANT to get used to it! So I got some of his features – big deal! Every kid who lives with their parents does some of the same behavior." He stopped in front of the window and opened it all the way, leaning on the sill. A small breeze blew in, bangs tickling his nose. "I'm not going to let anyone push me around, let alone HIM. This is my life, I got it fair and square, and he's not going to force me to merge with him."
She wanted to laugh at the near mirror of his words. Kagome said them so many same times and so did she. Her only difference was she had nothing to lose – he had everything.
Her heart went out to him. She watched him stare out, jaw clenched tight. She felt sorry for his opponent to be Inuyasha. With Kagome as the prize, the hanyou would stop at nothing...he was loyal past death – as showed with Kikyou – but maybe the words from her lips would persuade him to stop.
But she wanted to be with Inuyasha almost as much as Inaki.
It was a hard choice, considering they were the same, yet different. She understood that now, but it was hard to apply it to him. No matter how much he denied it, there was a lot of Inuyasha in Inaki. Either Inuyasha was starting to take hold in his normal stealth fashion, or Inaki always acted that way and never knew why.
Her mouth opened to ask what he was thinking when his head bowed and shoulders trembled the barest of degrees. Her brow furrowed and she stood without thought. She padded around his bed and stopped inches behind, teeth gnashing lip. Her hands moved and paused just before touching his back. They pulled away and moved again...stopping in the same place.
'Onegai Kagome...give me the strength to help him.'
She took a deep inhale and forced herself to move. Fingers touched thick cotton and flattened.
He tensed, but she expected that. Not to be deterred, hands slowly twisted and encircled his waist as she pressed against him. "Nani wa kangaete?" She whispered, pressing a kiss to his spine. "You can tell me...no matter whom I am. I will still love you regardless."
His face crumpled. He thought to keep quiet, but her touch felt so nice and so necessary. It seemed forever since he felt this way with her and he needed it more than anything. Tears lined his eyes as a hand moved and rested over hers.
"Hisobosan is dead because of me. If I hadn't left, she wouldn't have worried herself to extremes. But I couldn't let them see what he was putting me through... I didn't want them to fear me or fear for my sanity. I didn't know what he'd do to them – what he'd say." He exhaled a shaky breath. "Boku no sei. If only I hadn't left...I could've hidden it. I know I could've!"
She disengaged from his back and grabbed forearms to turn him. He went willingly, but didn't meet her eyes. "Listen to me. Mira-san's death wasn't your fault. She was eighty-three. Maybe it was her time. Shinigami never tells us these things." Tears lined her eyes as a hand rose and pressed over his heart. "Do you feel blame here?"
His head shook, head drooping. "Only misery." Her other moved and cupped a cheek, thumb rubbing over skin. Tortured brown met hers before they closed and he leaned against her touch.
"None of this is your fault. None of it is my fault. None of it is anybody's fault. We were born with issues from past lives still unsettled. Don't think because you were going through so much that it transferred to Mira-san." The other hand moved and both drew his face forward. Her forehead rested against his with a sigh. "You deserve none of this. How I wished you could've lived a life of blissful ignorance to everything that happened in the past. Kagome wanted to tell you because that's what she woke for. But I couldn't let you go through that. I saw differences between you two and I didn't want you to fight like I did. You have to believe me on that."
They looked at each other for what seemed eternity. He searched pleading eyes, digging deep to search for the truth. He blinked back tears, finding she was honest in her words.
He copied her hands, relishing in the feel of smooth skin. "Through my betrayal...a part of me missed you so much..."
"I never meant to hurt you like that. You did so much for me and I love you because you are you. You know how hard it is now to fight the comparison of your other. I allowed myself to become whole and I don't regret it, but I wasn't able to stop from saying what I did. I'm all of them, but I'm still myself. I found a line and I'll never cross it."
"Shinjimasu. Now that I've been through some things - been able to think of them – I understand more. None of us should've gone through it, but we can never escape our pasts can we?"
"Not for me it seems. But you broke free from the life he led. You didn't have to be the way he was. You're a whole other person because of that. I don't know what else to say, but never forget who you are."
His lips tilted. "I did miss you. The feel of your skin, your calming presence..." Brown closed. "But you're the one he was looking for. I still don't know if I would've met you if it wasn't for that."
Her mouth opened to answer him, but closed. Thoughts raged, trying to get sorted to give him an answer to not lose hope. How could she tell him to go with his heart when Inuyasha was the one guiding him from the unknown in the past?? "You asked me out long before either of them awoke. You were interested in me before you knew why. Even now that you know, does that still make a difference?"
He could tell this was hurting her, but he had it just as bad. There were no sparing feelings here because someone was going to get hurt. If they didn't resolve this together, they would end up going their separate ways.
He thought of it only in spite, but never did he consider talking to someone who threw his mind into chaos. Her words reached him though and he figured he owed her a decent conversation if nothing else. After all they went through since the beginning it was scary to see them parting ways. Even if the hanyou needed her, he did as well. He was tired of being alone and dated for more than just Inuyasha trying to find Kagome.
Brown opened and stared at her. He loved her before he knew what was going on in her head...did that mean she changed in his mind? He thought that was Kalie and even during the hospital when Kagome peeked out.
Gods he was so confused...
"I can't think – I just don't know. Does it matter? Is any of it relevant? Are we ourselves or just the people we were before, and adapting to this time and place? Were we EVER ourselves?"
She was unable to handle such forlorn on his face and defeat in his voice. She knew what that was like and it pained her to see. Her lips touched his, desperate to make him understand and snatch the words from his mind. She didn't want him thinking that way. Perhaps she had more experience with this kind of thing – as far as the soul itself – but he would never survive the rest of his life as either person if he couldn't be sure of himself!
He was shocked at her action, but the second it wore off a hidden fire burst to life and he practically attacked her. Arms wrapped around her waist and tightly pressed her against him, fingers splaying over her back.
His mind blanked of everything that happened and focused on her. The feel of her body set his haywire. It seemed so long...so long since he touched her this way.
They pulled away for air, lungs unable to keep up with bottled passion and emotion. She stepped away and touched her lips, eyeing him as he did the same. Neither said a word, but a small smile appeared. "I wanted to do that with you for a while."
"Me or him?"
She took a step forward, hand extended. "Just you...only you."
He took her hand, satisfied with her answer. Their fingers entwined and he stared at the size distinction before giving a squeeze. It was returned and he tugged her closer. "No matter what he wants of me, I can't lose you. I know that now."
She hugged him, face pressing against his collarbone. "If you don't want to, he can do nothing against it. This is your life – you said so yourself." Brown looked to brown. "You said he wants you to talk to the shikon. I have questions I want answered to. Let's ask them together."
He gave a small nod and looked to the back of his door. "We'll wait until later. I'm not going to worry about him until everything in my life is figured out. And right now I'm more concerned about what'll happen than his issues."
She smiled. "Why don't you get some more sleep...you probably didn't get much with him and you look like you need it."
"Thanks."
"I call it as I see it."
He grinned after a second and let go to plop on the bed. He heaved a sigh and moved to the other side after a second. "Sit."
A brow rose. "That doesn't work on me like it did him you know."
Brown rolled before he leaned up and grasped a hand. Without warning, he pulled her down and made sure to catch her when she landed on him. "Sit." He mumbled, pressing a kiss to her temple. "You're not leaving and if I'm going to bed, you are too."
Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled her down for a kiss. She rested on him until forcing herself to move. "This is...not the time or...place..." She breathed. Her head moved to the side as lips touched neck. "Your...family is in...the traditional room..."
He stopped and pulled away. "Are they all there?"
"Hai."
"Suppose they don't need to hear us then. The place isn't that soundproof." She reached out and slapped a shoulder, grinning despite herself. "Joudan! Now get off me before your tits crush my ribs."
"You never complained before." She muttered, sliding to one side.
He inhaled a shaky breath at that and forced his hands to keep from touching her. "Minx." Arms tugged her to spoon her body. "This I definitely missed..."
"Ee."
How he slept so long was beyond him, but the events didn't make it easy on his mind. The only reason he woke was a quiet nose reached his ears. The past few days of light sleeping changed his habits and brown opened. He looked over Kalie's head and found Jayden sliding into bed.
'Night already?! But it was just afternoon!' He looked at the dark settings, wondering how he could easily dismiss that.
"Nee-chan?"
Jayden whirled around and relaxed, giving a small nod. "Ototo..." Brown landed on Kalie. "We didn't have the heart to wake you two, but is she going to stay the night?"
He pricked up, eyes wide. "Oh shit! Her work!!"
"I've got...the next few nights off..." The pair blinked at the sleepy mumble, watching Kalie sit up with a yawn and stretch. "Kristine-san called me and asked me to come over. She told me what happened and I called work to let Charlie know what was going on and got my schedule covered. I emailed my teachers so I'm free for a while."
"How the hell did you manage to do all that in one day??"
Kalie turned, pinning him with serious eyes. "You needed me. I wasn't going to sit around and linger."
He smiled and brushed a hand over her cheek, getting a smile. "I have to say, the work ethic is still the same as it always was." The two grinned at that private joke before he looked past. "Nee-chan, has anything been discussed while we slept?"
"Ee. We're letting the hospital wash and stuff the body. None of us have the heart to do so, even if it is hisobosan. We're pulling her best kimono and bringing it tomorrow for the mortician to dress her in." A hand nervously pushed hair behind an ear. "Ojiisan is talking with okaasan about the date, but we all agreed there's no need in waiting. We can get Wednesday in the early afternoon."
He looked to the bed, giving a small nod, feeling highly subdued. "Is everyone going to be allowed to the wake?"
A raven brow rose. "Of course ototo! Everyone knew hisobosan as good as we did – if not better. We shouldn't keep friends from the right to say goodbye."
He nodded again and slid from the futon. "I should get some food – I haven't eaten well."
"I'll come with you Inaki. It's been hours for me too." They got to the kitchen before he stopped and slumped onto the eating table. She stopped and stood before him, arms bringing him to her. There were no words of apology or ways to cheer up that she knew, so this had to suffice.
He sighed and nuzzled her stomach, pressing a kiss against it. Arms went around her waist and he groaned after a second of her hands stroking his hair. He was grateful for everything, for being next to him without it needing to be asked or said. She always knew, as Kagome and Kikyou did.
The past lives brought his attention to what he needed to be doing and he shifted to stare at the tiles. A beat of power greeted his senses and he focused internally, a little surprised at the absence of internal noise. 'Where are you?'
Still here...
'You haven't bothered to show yourself recently. Why?'
It's not the time.
'Eh? Are you saying even a hanyou knows when to give peace to a mere human?'
Keh!
He smiled. 'Arigatou. I promise I will talk to the shikon, but give me this time to bury my family.'
Un.
He regrettably pulled away and looked up, letting her hands continue their administrations. "Are you sure you want to be there with me for this? I won't keep you from it, but you never knew her that well."
A hand left the back of his head and wrapped around his chin. "You need me. I can see it in your eyes. I'll be there for you and to say my goodbyes. I knew Mira-san too."
He nodded and pressed forehead against stomach, blandly staring at tatami. "I have a few days till I need to finish what's going on. I promised I would do what we talked about, but he's granting me this time."
"Really?" He looked up at that thread of amusement. "I never knew he was that kind to back down."
Oi! Bitch!
An eye squeezed shut against the onslaught. "Please don't piss him off – you'll make my head hurt...literally."
She smiled and leaned down to kiss his head. "Gomen ne."
I am a BEGINNER Japanese learner...so if these are not 100% correct...please let me know if you care to do so. I only have a web page to learn from, a dictionary, and a few months experience to work with.
Translations: Ohayou nasai-(Good) morning Sonna-It can't be/You're joking (General statement of disbelief) Naze hisobosan wa-Why is great grandmother (dead)
Hisobosan wa shinimashita yo-Great grandmother is dead Ii na...-That's nice... Hountoni kore wa ii?-Is this really nice? Osuwari-Sit Nani wa kangaete-What are you thinking
Boku no sei-My fault Shinigami-God of death Shinjimasu-I believe (you)