Disclaimer: The author of this story does not own anything (or anyone) used in this story.
How the writing is organized:
"....." speaking
'......' thoughts and quotes (if it's quotes then it'll be in the speaking)
Word character's actions or sound he or she makes
(......) notes
Italics how much time has passed or where the scene is taking place
Chapter Four: Never Mess With an Old Man
"Grandpa! Mom! Souta! I'm home!" a happy Kagome dashed through the entrance gate of the family shrine. She quickly dashed through the front door and headed towards the kitchen.
"Wait a minute there young lady!" Kagome groaned at the sound of Grandpa's voice. "What is wrong with you? Where are your miko clothes? What are you doing in those common men's clothes? Well? Hurry up and explain! I've got a shrine to run! And where did you go? You were supposed to helping me with the daily shrine cleaning! I had to do your cleaning for you! Did you know I have to work longer now? Your little escapee has left me with a messed up schedule! I'm behind in my medicine preparation! If I can't get them done on time, we'll run out of stock, and the customers won't be happy! Explain yourself young lady!" Grandpa shouted angrily.
Kagome looked down at her shoes. 'Maybe if I look ashamed enough, he might go easy on me...what if he makes me clean the entire shrine? It can take weeks! I can't do that. I have other things to do. Besides, I have an appointment with Miroku and Sesshy tomorrow. Who knew boys could be so much fun?' Kagome looked up after mentally shaking her head from those thoughts. She was supposed to pay attention. Maybe she could fire something back at him? I better answer him. "Grandpa, I'm sorry. It's just that Miroku came back late last evening... There was a contest in the village today. People from all over the Western Land came to participate! I went to watch Miroku beat everybody." Kagome defend as she thought. 'Grandpa would kill me if he found out I participated.'
"That's still no excuse for wearing men's clothing!" Grandpa argued.
"Miroku lent them to me. We thought that if I went in my miko clothes, people would notice and then they might go after the jewel. You know I always have to carry it with me..." Kagome said as she thought about her brilliant excuse. 'Ha, ha! Nice save Kag! I always knew I am brilliant!'
Grandpa sighed as he put on a look of defeat. "Fine. But I won't be so easy nice time."
"You're the best Grandpa!" Kagome said as her face lit up.
"However, you will have to stay here tomorrow to make up for the work you missed."
Kagome groans. 'Spoke too soon...Darn! I have to meet them tomorrow! What am I going to do?' Kagome thought in distress. "But Grandpa..."
"Now listen here young lady! Don't you try your silly little tricks on me!" a suddenly angry Grandpa replied but was cut of by Kagome.
"Grandpa... you see, I promised Miroku that I'll spend tomorrow with him and his friend. Please? I'll make it up the next day! Please? I know you're a great Grandpa..." Kagome begged as she got on her knees.
"No!"
"But it's not just Miroku... it's his friend too..."
"No!"
"Please?" Kagome pleaded as she unleashed the power of her puppy eyes.
"Alright. Fine..."
"Thank you so much Grandpa!" Kagome exclaimed in joy yet again.
"On one condition!"
"What is it? I'll do almost anything!"
"Sango! Kagura! Come here!" Grandpa shouted as footsteps can be heard and a pair of young women dressed in servant's clothing comes in.
"Kagome! You're back!" the two servants shout in joy. Grandpa suddenly coughs and mutters an 'Ahem'.
"Yes milord?" the two young women replied in unison.
"Now that you're done greeting my granddaughter, can you carry out some tasks for me? Sango, go and fetch me a tightly-woven basket, enough to hold five bowl's worth of rice. Kagura, go to the kitchens and bring back a bowl of rice and a bowl of beans." Grandpa commanded as Sango ran off to get the basket.
"Cooked or not cooked, milord?" questioned Kagura.
"Not cooked." With that, Kagura went off to the kitchens.
Three minutes later
"Here it is milord," said the pair while they handed Grandpa what he asked for. Grandpa then took the bowl of rice and poured it into the basket. Then, he took the beans and poured them in as well. He took his hand, stuck it in the basket, and began to mix its contents. 'Uh oh! I can see what he's going to make me do now... argh... I'll never get to sleep!' Kagome thought.
"Kagome, I'll let you get out of shrine duty tomorrow if you can separate the beans from the rice by tomorrow morning." Grandpa stated. With that, he turned around and walked off.
Author's Note: I will now be updating about once a week since it appears that there aren't that many people reading this story and my school work is beginning to take up a lot of my time and I need to focus on it more. However, should I find that I am wrong and that there are actually a lot more readers then it seems, I will update more frequently to the best of my ability.