Miroku and Sango sit in their comfortable Masterpiece Theatre chairs, which have been relocated to the hospital room of Earl the Lawyer, along with the fabulous trumpet music. Unfortunately, Rambler was still not able to convince the hospital staff to allow the fireplace in the room, so she had Shippo draw her a picture of one for the wall (no, she never does anything herself). A girl with long black hair occupies the bed next to Earl, holding her head and muttering about "commas" over and over again.
Miroku: (Holds a bag of ice to his head as he stares at the impromptu backdrop Shippo drew them) What the heck was Shippo trying to draw Sango?
Sango: (Sighs, collapsing further into her chair) Well, Rambler was obsessed with having a fire place wherever we had the introduction, so she insisted that Shippo draw one.
Miroku: (Raises an eyebrow) So he drew Kaede's hut on fire?
Sango: He didn't know what a fireplace was! So he drew a place that he liked, Kaede's hut, and fire.
Miroku: (Sweat drops) I think the kid has seen a little too much violence this past year.
Sango: (Looks about, and yelps and surprise when she sees the readers) Er… welcome back to Rambler's first fic! Although Earl-san is not well enough to leave the hospital, he is well enough to hold up signs with this chapter's disclaimers on them.
Earl the Lawyer: (Sitting up in his hospital bed, grimacing in pain. Holds up the first sign, which reads "The great and almighty Rambling Coffee Addict does not own Inu-Yasha or Masterpiece Theatre, unfortunately." He weakly puts down the first sign and lifts the second "Never fear dear readers for though she may own nothing now, one day in the near future she will rule the world!" He finishes by holding up a third sign that says "MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!", and then collapses back onto the bed.
Miroku: (Smiles at Earl the Lawyer) There you go, Earl-san! Flatter Rambler! That will at least spare you from her random lightning bolts another two times!
Sango: (Shakes her head) Anyhoo, enjoy the third chapter, which is unusually long… That woman never knows when to shut up. (Dodges the lightning bolt, and takes a deep breath) What put her in such a bad mood?
Miroku: The Starbucks she went to yesterday refused her gift card, and she didn't have any cash on her (nods knowingly).
Chapter 3
Family Portraits
Four figures ate in utter silence in the early evening. Despite the earliness of the hour, room in which they ate was draped in shadows, lit only by a few torches along the cold stone walls. But the family seemed to care little about the darkness or the void of conversation.
Family; when most hear the word, they think of love, holidays, or at least home. Inu-Yasha was not one of those people, however. No, family wasn't love for him, it was hate. It was Sesshomaru's calm façade eying him suspiciously across the table, daring him to say the wrong thing. It was the howls in the night, the claws that sought to tear him limb from limb.
Family was not even associated with holidays. The Yamura clan took holidays as a vacation away from each other. There was a mass exodus for a few days, each one going so far as to get drunk in separate towns. And when the holiday was up they came back the Yamura manor without so much as a muttered greeting, as if the entire thing had never taken place.
At best, the Yamuras shared the bond of fellow inmates. Caged within the same spacious walls, they were bound to one another by their shared blood. They wore the shackles of each other, suffering quietly, if intolerantly. Except for when it came to Inu-Yasha and his mother. They were the one subject on which the prisoners/members of the Yamura household could agree upon. The general consensus was that they were vile, tainted creatures who must be disposed of quickly.
Inu-Yasha's mother, Takiko, was despicable in every way to them. Some human geisha Inu-Yasha's father, Lord Taisho, had irresponsibly gotten pregnant and then insisted on marrying. While she had been a beautiful flower in her youth, she had wilted rather quickly. Defending her son from all of Taisho's relatives had taken its toll on the woman; now she was no more than a shadow of the lovely creature who had stolen Taisho's heart. The family found it pitiful the way the woman seemed to twitch and cry at the slightest remark, and they honestly wondered if it would not be better to put her out of her twittering misery. But Taisho, being the sentimental fool that he was, in their opinion, would have none of it.
Takiko's son was treated with even less courtesy, even though she tried to protect him. It was simply disgraceful that this illegitimate half-breed would get any of Taisho's inheritance. Disgraceful, and outright wrong, considering he had so many deserving relatives. Inu-Yasha could feel their eyes on him and his mother like a thousand gnats swarming around his body. Their hateful stares clung and itched. No matter how he slapped the thoughts of them away, more just kept coming back.
And so Inu-Yasha didn't even feel his home was with the demons he called family, just his jail cell.
The dining hall was a large, hollow room, which echoed even the slightest whisper. Voices carried like ripples through water, the echoes getting louder and louder as sound traveled to the heavy stone walls. The constant clang of noise in the room was almost maddening. Hardly anyone spoke at dinner, or came for that matter. The only ones who regularly occupied the cushions around the large oak table were Lord Taisho, Takiko, Sesshomaru, and Inu-Yasha. Everyone else ate either in their rooms, or in one of the restaurants in the village.
The four who did eat in the dining hall had various reasons for doing so. Lord Taisho came because it was his food and his house. He would be damned before he would let a bunch of free-loading kin ruin his appetite. All of the important people to him ate there anyway, even if it was in relative silence.
Sesshomaru came because it was the "civilized" thing to do, as well as his duty since he was Taisho's heir. There were also some pleasant side effects which made his appearance at the dinner table all the more gratifying. Sesshomaru liked making Inu-Yasha and Takiko so uncomfortable they couldn't eat. He found personal satisfaction in the haunted look that would cross his stepmother's face every time he stared at her coldly. Besides, someone had to rebuke his father for allowing the whore at the dinner table, even if only by glowering and growling silently.
Takiko came because she had to. She couldn't take this house on her own any more, she just couldn't. Anymore than five minutes out of either her son's or Taisho's presence sent her into hysterics, so high was her anxiety. Her so-called "in-laws" had driven her to the point of insanity with their callous ways. But she staved of the madness, huddling next to her husband at the table, shivering even though she smiled like nothing was wrong. The worst part was that her husband, although affectionate and loving, seemed to be oblivious to the glaring eyes she always found upon her. He just thought her to be human, and therefore vulnerable and easily ruffled.
Inu-Yasha didn't know why he bothered anymore. The only reason he could think of for his continual presence at supper was that in some absurd way, he thought of this as quality time with his father. Yes, it was quality time spent mostly in sullen quiet, under the watchful eye of his fratricidal brother, but it was time spent in his father's presence none the less. And Inu-Yasha couldn't help but crave more of it, even though they either argued or didn't speak at all to each other.
In all honesty, he barely even knew the man. His mother had raised him while his father had been out patrolling the Western Lands. Only recently had he sent other demons to patrol for him, or had dispatched Sesshomaru to do it. The man who sat at the head of the dinner table was practically a stranger to Inu-Yasha, and he couldn't help but feel both resentment and yearning toward Taisho.
Taisho suddenly broke the silence. "Inu-Yasha," The hanyou in question turned slightly to look at the majestic figure of his father, his hand frozen on his bowl of soup. Taisho grunted, wiping a napkin over his lips before continuing. "I trust you find your future bride to be acceptable?" He spoke in a measured baritone voice, his dark amber eyes looking over his youngest son neutrally.
"Uh…" For some strange reason he got the feeling he was being set up here. The feeling was lost, however, in the overwhelming anxiousness to have an actual conversation with his father, not an argument. "She's okay, I guess."
"You 'guess'?" A small grin tugged at the corners of Taisho's thin lips.
"She's fine." Inu-Yasha said in a more quiet, but firm voice.
"Well then," His father spoke in a lighter tone, edging on amusement as he ran his calloused hand across his bearded chin. "Why exactly haven't you spent any time with her the past few days?"
I knew it! I knew the bastard wasn't capable of having a fucking conversation without some ulterior motive! Inu-Yasha fought the urge to growl as he watched his father with humorless eyes. "Because I am going to be spending all of my time with her in a little while."
Taisho frowned thoughtfully. He knew his son was on to his motives for actually starting a conversation, but that didn't mean he was going to let the subject go. "But wouldn't it be a good idea to get to know her before the marriage?" He suggested amiably, even raising an eyebrow for his next comment, "You know, so things aren't awkward on the wedding night?"
A hot flush threatened to cover his son's face. The condescension and sarcasm he felt in his father's last comments stung. He honestly did not want to get into a fight with his father, but his injured pride was demanding that he strike back. In desperation he looked to his mother, to find her mahogany eyes pleading with him, begging him not to let Taisho get to him. He sighed, "What do you want?" He asked wearily, keeping his eyes on his mother's desperate ones.
"Simply for you to spend all of tomorrow with the girl." Taisho spoke as if his requested that Inu-Yasha pass the butter. It was nothing; a small simple request for his smaller, simpler son.
Unfortunately, Inu-Yasha did not feel the same way. "WHAT?!" He roared incredulously, slamming his soup down on the table. It splashed over the table as echoes of Inu-Yasha's outraged question rippled through the hall. Takiko stared at her son with knitted brows, anxiety written in the creases covering her pale face.
"So childish, so dull witted." Sesshomaru chided, shaking his head in disgust at Inu-Yasha's little display. "Think about it, mongrel. It is perfectly logical of Father to suggest that you spend tomorrow with the mortal. After all, you didn't leave her on a very good note the other day. If you would stop being such an insolent pup, maybe you would see Father is only trying to get you to do what is best." Really, talking to Inu-Yasha was like talking to a young, simple kid. It was Sesshomaru's experience that one had to use small words and clear descriptions; otherwise the guy got all huffy and tried to kill you. Not that Inu-Yasha would ever be able to kill his older brother.
Inu-Yasha growled menacingly at his brother, his eyes glowing with the desire to turn him tiny bits of charred ash. "Stay out of this, bastard."
"Sesshomaru is right." Taisho snarled at Inu-Yasha, his own temper rising to meet that of his son. "How dare you question my authority! I am lord of the whole Western Lands! Don't you think I know what is best for one of my sons?!"
"But it's my last day before I have to marry the bitch!" Inu-Yasha shouted back in defiance. "Shouldn't I be able to enjoy it?"
Taisho rolled his eyes at his son and gulped down his cup of sake. "Oh please, Inu-Yasha, spare me the dramatics. We both know that you would get drunk off your ass and end up brawling with whoever would fight you. Then you would show up to the wedding looking like the bedraggled bastard you are most of the time; sporting a shiner or some other silly bruise. I am not letting you fuck this up for yourself."
Inu-Yasha sputtered indignantly. Who was his father to tell him what he would do? This man had barely been anything but a shadow in the background. When he would come home from his long years of patrolling, he would barely be able to tell which child was Inu-Yasha because he remembered him as four rather than seven years old. Now he was sitting here, claiming to know what Inu-Yasha would do. Even if he was right, he had no right to predict the actions of a son he hardly spent time with. "No." Inu-Yasha refused flatly.
Taisho's eyes flashed dangerously. "You will not defy me, boy." He stated coldly.
"I said no, Asshole!" Inu-Yasha spat.
Takiko winced at his tone, her eyes still pleading with him to stop as she rocked back and forth in place. Wringing her hands, her eyes jumped between the two men that mattered more than anything in the world to her.
Taisho fought to control his temper, each of his fists shaking violently on either side of his bowl. "You will do as I say, you ungrateful prick. It's not YOUR choice!" He stood, looming over his rebellious son.
Takiko, covered her ears with her hands. All she wanted was to block out the raging voices bouncing off of the walls, vibrating furiously through the room, throbbing through her overworked brain.
Inu-Yasha stood up, meeting Taisho's gaze viciously "Like hell it isn't! She's my fucking bride to be, I will see her when I damn well feel like it!"
"INU-YASHA YOU-"
"STOP!" Inu-Yasha's mother shrieked, fearful tears falling down her gaunt cheeks. "STOP IT PLEASE! I CAN'T TAKE IT! The echoes, oh, the horrible echoes! Please Taisho, make them go away!" She shook visibly, her eyes wild as she looked at the two of them pitifully. "Stop fighting, I can't stand it when your fight…" Takiko begged as if a small child, only to fall into complete hysterics, "Oh the echoes, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible-" Her ranting was stilled by a resounding slap on the face.
Sesshomaru stood over her shaking form in complete repulsion. "Stop your ravings, whore." He commanded apathetically to the still sobbing woman. "I said stop crying." He reiterated in aggravation, growing increasingly irritated and repulsed with his stepmother's weakness. "You shouldn't be alive." He stated coldly as he looked over her, his voice quiet, but full of conviction. "We should have put you out of your misery-"
"I'll do what you want." Inu-Yasha said quietly to his father, his long shaggy bangs covering his eyes. He really hated to stand down, but she was crying. She's been through so much, so fucking much… So he swallowed his pride. "Now get him the fuck away from her. She shouldn't suffer for me; she shouldn't cry for me."
Taisho glared at Sesshomaru, who backed away from Takiko's broken form. Sesshomaru could tell his father would have "words" with him later about his lashing out at his stepmother. Taisho gently strode over to his wife, picking her up to cradle her as if she were a small child.
Inu-Yasha, stalked out of the room in defeat, leaving the people he called family behind. He did not get far enough to miss his mother's final words before she fell into weary oblivion: "Why? What does he do to make you so angry Taisho? What does he do to make you hate him?"
To Kagome, miko studies were something to be taken very seriously. Her grandfather had made it absolutely clear she would be the one to take over the shrine and protect its honored reputation after he was gone.
The man was absolutely giddy when Kagome had first showed signs of having holy powers, he himself having virtually none. He had danced around his nine year old granddaughter, shrieking for all the world to hear: "My granddaughter purified a flea demon! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" As a little girl Kagome had no idea what had happened, she had just been glad the "icky wicky" bug was gone. But now she understood why her grandfather had bought enough sake for everyone in the town that night. Her miko powers could help the shrine gain more prestige then simply being a place of rest. Her powers were her grandfather's ticket to fame, or at least the continued success of the shrine. All of the responsibility seemed to fall on her narrow shoulders. It was a weight which caused Kagome a great deal of tension and stress.
Kagome narrowed her eyes as she concentrated her mind and energy on the practice target. The field around her vanished, leaving only the small red bulls-eye about twenty feet away from her. Pink energy radiated out of the sharp point of the arrow. Kagome was about to start her count down to releasing the arrow when-
"Hey wench!" A voice surprised her from behind.
Startled, Kagome let the arrow fly in a random direction. "AHH!" She squealed. Flying around to see whoever the idiot who surprised her was, she found Inu-Yasha comfortably sprawled in a small tree behind her. She couldn't help but gasp in shock; it never occurred to her that he would want to be within ten feet of her until the wedding.
Inu-Yasha raised an eyebrow as his hands slipped behind his head. "What?" He asked indignantly as she continued to gape in disbelief. "Can't I come to see my future 'ball and chain' before the wedding?"
Oh, Kagome just loved the way he sweet talked her all the time. Could he be any more of a barbarian? "Did you come willingly?" She asked wryly as she looked up at him.
"I wanted to make sure you weren't psycho or anything. You had me worried with that fruit question the other day." Like I would tell this girl the truth…
Kagome was about to try and make a witty comeback when a strangled "meow" caught her attention. She turned from Inu-Yasha to see her beloved cat collapsed in the grass a small ways from the red target, an arrow sticking out of his stomach. "Buyo!" Dashing forward, she swept up the injured cat in her arms. The cat still appeared to be dazed from the experience, blinking and looking around wildly. "You stupid, stupid cat! The one time you decide to venture out of the house!" The cat could barely waddle three steps without collapsing on the floor, not to mention he would never attempt to open the door. Unless someone had left it open….
Kagome turned cold, accusing eyes on a still confused Inu-Yasha. "YOU!" She spat out at him as she carried Buyo toward the tree he was reclining in. "This is all YOUR FAULT!" She yanked Inu-Yasha's foot out of the tree, causing him to collapse to the earth with a painful thud. "You left the door open, didn't you?!" She screeched, angry tears threatened to pour down her face as the cat's breathing became shallower. "And then you had to go and ruin my concentration… and now my cat…" She sobbed as she looked down at the dying creature. "Oh gods, Buyo! It's all my fault!" Hot tears streamed down her face as she fell to the ground, still holding the suffering cat.
Inu-Yasha panicked. She was crying. No, she was wailing. And that cat of hers was about to bite the big one. Then she would probably cry some more, and he just couldn't stand to see that.
Suddenly all he could see was his mother, bent on the floor weeping hysterically. "Why? What does he do to make you so angry Taisho? What does he do to make you hate him?" He hadn't felt this guilty in a very long time. Something had to be done. "Give me the cat," He barked hurriedly, desperate to save the dumb animal.
"No!" She
shouted back at him, clutching the wide eyed creature closer to her.
"Now listen up, Little Girl."
He growled, leaning over her sobbing form to grip the cat in her hold, "If you
continue to bitch and moan like this, the fucking cat is going to die. SO GIVE
IT HERE SO I CAN FIX THE GOD DAMN THING!" He roared as he finally was able to
pull the cat from her clutches.
Kagome stared at him dumbly as he walked into the house, not even waiting for her to follow. Getting up quickly, she rushed into the house after him. Inu- Yasha set the moaning cat on the sitting room table, where they had had tea the other day. He groaned as he looked over the creature, muttering curses to himself. He turned to see Kagome pale even further as she stared at the arrow in her cat's belly. Setting his golden eyes firmly upon her, he ordered "Girl, get some bandages, warm water, a needle, thread, and some sake."
She turned, only to stop as she mentally went over his list. "Sake?" She questioned.
"How else are we going to get the fucking animal to stay still?" He spoke patiently, as if talking to a particularly dumb child. "NOW GO!"
Kagome obeyed, fleeing the room to find the room to find the materials Inu-Yasha had requested. Hands full, she returned to find Inu-Yasha stroking the cat's head, whispering awkward assurances like "Quit your moaning. You won't biting the dust anytime soon, as long as you don't scratch or bite me while I'm doing this. If you do, then I really would have to kill you."
He stopped trying to be what he thought was friendly to the cat as soon as he heard Kagome hesitantly entering the room. He poured nearly the whole bottle of sake down the cat's throat before setting to work on the arrow. "Hold the cat still while I'm working here." He muttered to Kagome while he grabbed the arrow. She merely nodded, and held the cat down. He winced as he wrenched the arrowed from the cat's chest, and quick began to stitch the wound up, even though blood seeped from the wound. "It's a good thing this cat is so damn fat." Inu-Yasha remarked, trying to dispel some of the tension in the room. "It appears the arrow didn't hit anything vital because the cat has so much blubber."
Kagome didn't reply as he carefully pulled the needle and thread along the torn skin, dodging Buyo's weak attempts to scratch him. Somehow he seemed different to her as he worked to heal her cat, almost as if it were a different person. He cares… And suddenly, in the span of a few minutes, Kagome found herself looking at the boy in a completely different light. He wasn't as barbaric as he looked. He wasn't the bastard he seemed to be at all. He just wanted the world to believe that he was. She felt a wave of guilt wash over her, realizing how judgmental she had been towards Inu-Yasha, even if he had invited that judgment. She would never make that mistake again.
When he was finished stitch up the now drunken cat, he gingerly wrapped the cat in bandages. The cat looked like a mummy under Inu-Yasha's ministrations, but he had never claimed to be good at this sort of thing. Settling the cat down on Kagome's futon, he wrapped blankets around him to keep him in place. "Don't let the cat move any where for awhile. He probably won't be able to walk for a week or two…"
"Especially since his eyes are covered in bandages." Kagome noted in amusement as she leaned over Buyo.
"Urusai." Inu-Yasha grumbled irritably. Here he was being all charitable, which was a great rarity, and she was mocking him. "The thanks I get..." He shook his head in a chiding fashion.
Kagome could have reminded him that he was the one responsible for her cat's injury, but she didn't. Instead she sighed, looking over the hanyou warmly before bestowing a sincerely grateful smile on him. Despite the fact that she looked worn from her panicking over Buyo, she glowed in Inu-Yasha's opinion. For one moment they gazed at each other, Inu-Yasha mesmerized by Kagome's bright smile, Kagome just happy to have her cat in one piece, even if covered in bandages. It was the first moment both were entirely at peace with each other, as if a deeper understanding had been reached.
"Kagome, why is there blood on the sitting room table?" And then the moment was gone. Kagome's grandfather wandered into her bedroom, befuddled by the mess in the house. His eyes widened in shock when he saw Inu-Yasha standing next to his granddaughter. "DEMON!" He shrieked, jumping nearly five feet in the air. Somewhere in his mind he registered that the rest of his grey hair had turn white. Finally gathering his wits about him, he went into priest-mode, whispering spells and trying to find some demon wards in his pockets.
"Wait Ji-chan, he's-" Kagome barely got those words out when five wards flew at Inu-Yasha, landing on his head.
Inu-Yasha tried to look at the wards, at a loss as to what to say and annoyed by it. He slowly lifted the wards from his head, looking at the old priest in confusion.
"Nani?!" Ji-chan's mouth drop to the floor, his eyes becoming large and watery in dismay. "They didn't work?!"
Kagome's mother dashed into the room just as the old man was about to launch a second round at the irritated and sputtering hanyou. "Ji-chan! Why in the world are you trying to purify Kagome's fiancée?" She asked, trying to remind her father of who the boy was.
"Huh?" He responded intelligently, scrutinizing the white haired boy with small crinkled eyes. "But he's youkai!"
"Half demon!" Kagome added helpfully.
Inu-Yasha grumbled, still flustered with the situation. "Keh, rub it in why don't you. Even if I am hanyou, your stupid charms couldn't hurt me any day."
Higurashi-san sent the boy a weathering look, before returning to her father. "Don't you remember, Ji-chan, you have already met him."
Kagome's grandfather appeared puzzled for a moment before his eyes suddenly widened in realization. "Oh yeah, know I remember! You're the guy Kagome clobbered the other day!"
Inu-Yasha muttered several explicatives about "stupid little girls" who didn't "fight fair" in response.
Satisfied the hanyou was not a danger to society, the old man wandered out of the room whistling as if nothing had ever happened. Higurashi-san smiled apologetically at Inu-Yasha from the door way. "Gomen ne, Yamura. Ji-chan is a bit senile these days. How about we make it up to you with a nice hot meal?" She suggested pleasantly, seeming to be blissfully unaware of the cat blood that covered both her daughter and the boy.
Do I want to eat dinner in the hellhole, or with the bitch and her family… Hmm, tough choice. An image of his mother crying popped into his head again. No, I'm not ready to face her yet. "Keh," He shrugged, "Fine with me."
"And because of that lord from that place in that region where there was those jewels, we now have the zucchini." Kagome's grandfather drawled on verbosely at the supper table. He stopped for a minute, feeling a dramatic pause was required at the moment. "And to think, we might not have had zucchini in this part of Japan if that lord lost the bet about trees not making a sound if there was no one around to hear them."
Kagome fixed him with a dry look after stuffing yet another heap of oden into her mouth. "That was deep." She said flatly. Her grandfather was obsessed by anything remotely related to history. Hours and hours of his time was spent looking at ancient scrolls, and perusing whatever artifacts he could find. Sometimes she would hear him giggle maniacally at some new discovery, as if a mad scientist in his laboratory. His little obsession might have been endearing if he hadn't insisted on sharing everything he found out about during supper. No matter how unappetizing the subject, whether it be the history of the silk worm or some war lord's intestinal problems he prattled on and on, completely unstoppable.
She looked over at Inu-Yasha, to find him asleep in his oden, little bubbles rising in the side of the bowl not occupied by his face. Lifting his head by his hair she shouted in his ear "Wake up! If I have to suffer through the history of 'who knows what' so do you."
Inu-Yasha yawned opening his eyes blearily to find Souta giggling and the old man snorting with laughter as Kagome attempted to get the liquid off his face with a napkin. She muttered angrily while she wiped off his face, but he only let out a somewhat annoyed growl in response. She was such a mother hen; probably spending all of her days clucking worriedly over everyone in the house. Her attention was snatched away from him as yet another pot of oden was served up by Higurashi-san. Kagome squealed with joy, clapping her hands together in giddy excitement. Inu-Yasha couldn't help but smirk at the joyous girl out of the corner off his eye. She was the mother hen one minute, and the exuberant child the next.
"Oden! Glorious oden! How I love my wonderful, fabulous, stupendous oden! " Kagome sang as she dumped large spoonfuls of food into her bowl.
"You know, oden has a long and detailed history to it…" Her grandfather began his seventh lecture of the night.
Souta frowned in confusion as he fought with Kagome for the last spoonful of oden. "But Ji-chan, you were in the middle of telling us the history of mold!"
Somehow Higurashi-san managed to sweep the last of the oden from either of her children, neutralizing the fight. "Now, now, Souta, don't confuse Ji-chan."
Inu-Yasha simply gazed at them all silently as they ate. These people were so unlike his family. Sure, they were just as crazy, but in a much more benign way. They were the entertaining kind of crazy that kept his eyebrow perpetually quirked up, not the homicidal or hurtful kind. He envied their insanity, for it was one filled with laughter, playful banter, and a kind of warmth that he only saw from far away. Unable to take any more, he got up from the table. "May I be excused, Higurashi-san?" He requested faintly.
The woman looked at him with concern, but covered it with a warm smile. "Of course, Yamura."
Kagome watched his retreating form with worried eyes. She gave her mother a pleading look, which was answered with a gentle nod of the head. Following the path Inu-Yasha took, she found him sitting in the stone garden, looking up at the stars. "You okay?" She prodded gently, sitting next to him on a particularly large stone.
"Hai…" He sighed wearily.
"Wow that was really convincing." She said dryly, turning her eyes to the stars glowing softly in the evening sky.
Inu-Yasha snorted, casting a sideways glance at her. "Stop trying to pry, bitch."
Kagome hissed. "Look, I am not trying to pry, it's just that I want us to be friends. We're going to have to live together for the next six months, so it might not be such a bad idea to actually get along."
He turned away from her, unable to deny the logic in her words. "It's just so different." He said in exasperation.
"What?" Her blue eyes filled with concern for the boy.
"Your family." He smiled, but it resembled more of a grimace. "You're all happy and shit. You guys actually talk to each other during dinner, laugh with each other…" His golden eyes glowed distantly as he features tensed. "My family can't even have a conversation without there being an injury or fatality."
Kagome didn't know how to respond. She had always thought her family to be typical. That was what family was to her; love, warmth and laughter. His seemed only to be pain. But she didn't know how to say something comforting and not have him take it the wrong way. So instead she gently grasped his clawed hand, holding it comfortingly in her own.
Stunned at the contact, Inu-Yasha looked at their joined hands. Hers was much smaller than his, pale and delicate to touch. He would have pulled away and headed home, but he felt her soft eyes on him, and knew she was only trying to help. And Inu-Yasha really didn't want to hurt anymore women, at least not tonight. Squeezing her hand lightly he returned his gaze upward.
A figure swathed in darkness watch the couple in the garden through narrow eyes. Hojo stealthy snuck closer to the two, careful to keep his movements as soundless as possible. He listened with rapt attention as their conversation continued, taking care to memorize the boy's features.
"So how did you learn to take care of wounds like that?" His Kagome asked the boy casually. He wounded her? The rat is going to pay…
The boy in the baggy red clothes shrugged. "I learned by taking care of my own wounds. I've had a lot of practice." He had an almost arrogant tone as he carried on about his injuries. Great, he's a sadomasochist to boot. How could Kagome's family choose such a creature for her?
Kagome gave him a narrow look. "Why do I have the feeling that I am going to have to protect you more than have you protect me?" She griped.
The boy puffed out his chest, feeling his ego under fire. He chuckled arrogantly as he stood over the girl. "Like I need protection, you baka."
And now the idiot was making fun of his sweet, innocent Kagome. Couldn't he see what was sitting before him was precious? Why was he being so heartless? No, he promised himself firmly, I will stop this wedding. And then you, whoever you are, will pay dearly for messing with my angelic Kagome. He couldn't help the giggle that burst from his throat, turning into a loud, boisterous laugh. "BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Hojo stopped, realizing what a mistake it would be if he was caught because of his laughter. He turned and sped away as quietly and quickly as he could.
The boy in the red turned toward where the noise had been with a troubled expression. "What the fuck was that?"
Miroku and Sango continue to sit in their comfortable leather seats in the hospital room. Earl the Lawyer is snoring tuckered out from his sign holding job at the beginning. The girl in the bed next to Earl continues to toss and turn, still muttering on about "commas".
Miroku: If any of you are wondering who is Earl-san's roommate, it is Rei, Rambler's unfortunate beta-reader. Rambler's disregard for the use of commas has driven Rei temporarily insane. Rambler would like to apologize to Rei for driving her nuts and tell her that she loves her very much and promises to edit any fiction she might want edited.
Sango: Not that you would want that, Rei, considering how versed we all know Rambler to be in grammar (note the sarcasm here).
Miroku: (Knocks Sango out of the way of another lightning bolt) Why can't you people learn not to insult fanfic authors?
Sango: (Shrugs) She doesn't really mind.
Miroku: How do you know?
Sango: (Smiles evilly) Because she is still going to give me what I asked for!
Miroku: (Eyebrows are raised hopefully) And it isn't me in a thong, with a bubble bath and some Barry White music?
Sango:(Slaps him) No, Houshi-sama
Miroku: (Rubs his red cheek thoughtfully) Then no good can come of this… See you next time, dear readers! Don't forget to review!