Ears
By: Skittlez and V-chan
Chapter 5Kyoyume had been able to slip away from Naraku when Hakudoushi and Kagura had suddenly burst into the room, Kagura chasing after Hakudoushi, who was waving something at her and making childish faces. "Witch! Witch!" He had been taunting with a huge grin. Luckily, neither of them had noticed Kyoyume's ears as she darted away, totally embarrassed by what Naraku had told her. 'He's blackmailing me because he thinks I'm cute. . .' Her face heated up again and she buried it into her pillow.
She sighed deeply. At least he wasn't that horrible.
He was a decent person, a little shady at times, but he wasn't as bad as she had initially thought. Still, she had to watch herself more than ever with all these people around. Despite what Naraku had said, she was nervous about walking through a house full of people with no hat on to cover her ears. She supposed it was just a built-in instinct now. Rolling over, she fitfully tried to go to sleep, but it simply was not working. Nothing she tried could ease her into thequiet reverie of sleep.
She heard a few little noises, every little one scaring her more than the ones before it, and when she heard a door slam, her curiosity got the best of her.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the hollow drumming echoing in the depths of her ears. It was a kind of strange, anxious song that drove her forward and made her muscles jump alive despite their fatigue. Sticking her head around the corner of her door, she narrowed her eyes to see down the dark hallway.
"Curiosity killed the cat." She whispered as she peered out a window, seeing Naraku walking down the paved sidewalk that led to the sidewalk that lined the street.
She shook herself as she realized what she was doing. She was spying on Naraku! Sighing to herself, she slipped back into her bed, staring up at the ceiling in contemplation.
Her curiosity overwhelmed her a few moments after she lay down and she HAD to follow him. She crept out of her room and looked into the window, he was still standing there. She snuck out, hiding behind a bush, peeking out.
The more cat-like instincts that seemed to reside in her as well suddenly sharpened, and she lurked quietly in her hiding place, watching him silently. Her ears picked up every noise that was heard all around her, twitching and turning constantly. Gray-blue eyes seemed to shine in the moonlight that reflected in them.
He stood there alone for several slow minutes before 2 other figures approached, the 3 of them began talking in low voices.
Kyoyume strained her ears to pick up what they were saying, but she could only pick up snatches of it, none of which made any sense. She frowned to herself thoughtfully. What was so secretive?
One of the shorter figures finally nodded and handed Naraku something, which Naraku put in his pocket, and the two left.
Naraku immediately headed back toward the house, his hands in his pockets idly, staring at the ground as if in deep thought. Carefully, Kyoyume maneuvered so that she could not be seen as he walked by. When he was safely inside, she clambered back through her window, which she had left open and slipped into bed.
Kyoyume's dreams were plagued by conspiracy theories. And she woke up mumbling: "Maybe Naraku is an ALIEN!" but she said it too loud.
Hakudoushi walked by, hands folded behind his head. "He is." He agreed before he passed out of sight again. Kyoyume's eyes widened and out of instinct she pressed the pillow over the top of her head tightly. When she saw that he was gone, she sighed in relief and released the pillow, groping around for her hat. Where had she left it?
"I AM NOT AN ALIEN HAKUDOUSHI!" Naraku yelled from somewhere in the house.
"Great fervor in denial like that makes it even more suspicious." Hakudoushi informed him in a monotone that Kyoyume could hear quite plainly in her room thanks to her ears. Finding her hat, she grinned at it, comforted, and pulled it on tightly.
She walked out into the main room where Kanna was sitting on the floor, drawing. "Kagura, take the kids to the park today." Naraku demanded.
Kagura glared at him, folding the paper she had been reading only idly and slamming it down on the table in her annoyance. "Fine." She snapped, picking up her keys. Hakudoushi narrowed his eyes at Naraku as he prepared to leave. Kanna was already at the door; Kagura had left. "I'll bet you just want the house to yourself and Kyoyume, huh?"
Kyoyume blushed startled, "That's not it, I just heard that Taigokumaru was taking Shiori today and thought YOU'D might like some time with YOUR girlfriend." He noted snidely.
"Shiori is not my girlfriend, idiot." He replied, though something had lit up in his eyes at the mention of the girl's name. Following after Kanna out the door, he was still glaring at Naraku as he slammed it shut.
"Denial." Naraku muttered, reading his paper.
Kyoyume giggled, her blush had faded.
"Why did you seem to think I was an Alien this morning?" he asked with a strong air of amusement.
"Oh, that." Kyoyume laughed in embarrassment. "Sorry, weird dreams."
"Its okay. Happens all the time."
Kyoyume found that she was flushing again. She felt so embarrassed that everyone had heard her. And had Hakudoushi seen her ears? She supposed not since he had not even glanced in her room, nor had he made any comment, but she could never be sure with him. She reached inside of her hat, idly scratching behind one of her ears that lay bent and crumpled underneath.
"Sleep well?"
Grinning, she nodded. "Yes, thank you. And you?"
"Good enough." He replied putting the paper down.
Kyoyume nodded, wondering what to do now. They didn't have school today since it was the weekend, but she still felt as it she were supposed to do something.
"Wanna get out of here?" he asked vaguely.
Kyoyume shrugged. "Sure." She agreed in a bit of a cheery tone. "Where to?" She asked.
He shrugged. "I dunno."
Kyoyume followed him as he picked up a pair of keys and headed for the door. Blinking in curiously at the idea of actually going somewhere with Naraku, she closed the door behind her tightly, making sure it was locked. 'Are we just gonna drive in circles then?' She wondered to herself.
"Let's see...hmm..." he muttered to himself. "Well, maybe we could go to...the amusement park?"
Kyoyume nodded. That didn't seem like such a bad idea, as long as she held tight to her hat on any fast rides or anything like that. "That's fine." She agreed.
"Okay, you'll like it."
"You seem sure about it." She grinned.
"You will. Its really fun."
They listened to music almost the entire time, sometimes idly chatting about this or that. At any rate, it got them to the amusement park in about twenty to twenty-five minutes. Kyoyume's eyes widened a little at the sight of the large rides that weaved through the sky above them. She hadn't been in an amusement park since she was very young, with her parents, and even then they had kept a diligent watch on her the entire time.
Naraku pulled out his wallet and paid their way in. "Where to first?"
Kyoyume shrugged, looking in every direction at once. "I haven't been to a place like this since I was a kid." She said with a smile.
"I haven't been since last year, Hakudoushi demanded it."
"You're so lucky you have brother's and sister's." Kyoyume said in almost a wistful tone, tagging along behind him as he led her through the crowd of people. She was nervous by the mass of bodies pressing in on all sides, but managed to keep her head enough to act as if everything was normal.
"Not always." He argued. "How about..."
Kyoyume was going to protest, but dropped the subject as he looked at a few of the rides that they had come upon. Each of them formed a new knot in the pit of her stomach, and fear flowed in her veins. She would ride them though, since Naraku had paid.
"You choose." He finally said.
Kyoyume licked her lips thoughtfully. "How about that one?" She asked, choosing one at random. It was a wild roller coaster, but she was sure she could handle it. There couldn't be anything worse than running from school, hands clapped over her head trying to hide her ears from everyone that she passed. A true flight of fear, being chased home by all sorts of students that wanted to get pictures for the newspaper or something. Naraku grinned at it, obviously he had wanted to go on it too. Or maybe there was more to the grin that she was overlooking?
"Works for me." He told her, still smirking.
Kyoyume tilted her head to one side in curiosity but didn't pursue the question. Walking up to the line, she wondered how long they would have to wait to get on the ride.
They stood there in silence for a minute or two, the line not progressing.
Above them, the delighted screams of those that were riding shrilled in their ears. Kyoyume winced once or twice visibly at the noise, but said nothing of it.
"So..."
She looked up at him curiously. "Hm?"
"How do you like my...family?"
She thought the question odd, but answered anyway without hesitation. "They're quirky, but I like them all a lot." She replied with a grin. "I wish I could have had some brother's or sister's."
"Then you can have them, they drive me insane."
Kyoyume laughed softly. "You can't mean that. They're splendid. And people are always going to drive you insane no matter who they are when they're int he same house as you. When people are real close like that in a single dwelling, there's liable to be conflict. It's being able to get through it that's the most important part."
"Then again, I'd rather be insane." He finished, laughing a little.
Kyoyume laughed at her own little speech. "Yeah, I guess that was pretty sappy, huh?"
"No, its just...in most societies people have an innate respect for the insane." He told her.
"Ah, I see. And you don't get that with them?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Nope."
"Well, that's simple. They're your siblings, they're supposed to drive you nuts and not give you respect at times."
"You are wise beyond your years, grasshopper." Naraku teased as the line jumped forward a few people.
Kyoyume gave him a mockingly indignant smile. "Of course, you expected me not to be?" She joked back, just for the heck of it as they proceeded further.
"I did not know what to expect." He admitted scoffing.
"Oh, I see how it is!" Kyoyume pretended to be offended.
"It was a compliment!" he cried.
"How is that a compliment?" She questioned as the line moved forward again.
"You are simply unpredictable is all."
Kyoyume shrugged after pondering this for a moment. "I guess."
"Ya know, when we get on the Coaster, if you get too scared you can hold my hand." He told her sarcastically.
"I don't think so!" She informed him, smirking. She wasn't about to let him hold her hand after hearing why he was blackmailing her the night before.
He smirked. "Then again, I might be the one freaking out." He added.
"Better hope not, that would ruin your image." She teased him.
"No one will see me but you, and you cant blackmail one who by which you are being blackmailed."
"Darn, and you had me goin' there too."
He smirked. "I tend to do that," he told her.
"Well, I don't think it's funny." Kyoyume informed him pointedly, though she too was smirking for some odd reason.
"So? I do, and right now that's all that matters."
"That so? It would be horrible for someone to burst your bubble."
Naraku shook his head. "You have already busted it my dear."
"Good." She grinned.
"That isn't funny." He pouted. "My poor, poor bubble." He noted, holding his hands out like he was holding the remains of his 'bubble'.
Kyoyume giggled at him. "Poor Bubble. Are you going to bury it?"
Naraku wiped his hands together. "Bah, nah, I'll make a new one."
"How cruel." Kyoyume noted, sounding sad.
Naraku smiled. "I know I am."
The line had jumped ahead some by now and it was almost their turn. Kyoyume was giving him an incredulous look. "That's not something to be proud of." She chastised.
Naraku tilted his head to one side. "So?"
"You're hopeless." Kyoyume sighed, shaking her head at him.
"Are you sure you're not too scared?" Naraku asked as they were in the front of the line.
Kyoyume shook her head, blue hair swirling widely. "No. I'm fine." She assured him with an anxious grin. She was feeling nervous, but she was far more excited about riding.
Finally they were on the coaster. They were belted in and the car started moving slowly at first, then faster.
Kyoyume checked to make sure her hat was secure before digging her nails into the arm pads, thoughtfully investigating the scenery as they came to the top of a large hill. Butterflies danced in her stomach as she looked down from the peak. Her eyes widened a touch and as her mouth opened in shock, the butterflies darted out to safety as the coaster took off down the track.
Naraku looked perfectly calm, but Kyoyume looked terrified. He looked over at you, his ridiculously long wavy brown hair flying back in the speed.
"Scared?" He called over to her, smirking. Kyoyume shook her head roughly, though it was evident that she was lying. "Of course not!" She cried back in a stressed tone.
He laughed. "Don't worry!"
"I'm not!"
Kyoyume's eyes widened. "I don't wanna go upside down!" she cried as they approached a loop.
Naraku laughed as she placed one hand on her hat and shut her eyes swiftly. The sensation still hit her as they were spun in the air at a roaring, fast paced run. The machine jerked as they came back straight again.
The ride finally finished and Kyoyume wobbled off. "Now I need to eat...to settle my stomach..." she groaned.
She looked pale. Naraku chuckled at her again. "This way, then." He said, leading her along. He had to walk slower because any amount of speed made Kyoyume wobble even more than she already was.
"Are you okay?" he asked. "Are you gonna puke?"
"Yes. . .and. . .no. Feels like it though." Kyoyume said, blinking. "I'm just...a little...shaken..."
He sat her down, "What do you want to eat?" he asked.
Kyoyume looked to what was available. "Maybe just a soft pretzel and a coke, thanks." She said, giving him a weak smile. "Sorry."
"Its fine, happens all the time." He told her shortly, walking away.
Kyoyume shook her head and, deciding it was best, rested it on the table. She breathed slower, trying to calm her racing heart and even faster thoughts that were flying everywhere at once. They soon complied, though there was still some tense thoughts whenever she referred back to the coaster.
After a moment Naraku returned, handing her a pretzel and a drink. "Here."
She took them gratefully and began to eat. "Thank you." She said with a sheepish grin. "Nothing for you?"
He shook his head, sitting down. "No."
She shrugged, taking another bite of the pretzel.
Naraku reached out and stole a bit of her pretzel. "Thanks." He remarked, popping it in his mouth.
"Always happy to oblige." Kyoyume smirked at him as she sipped on her coke.
"That's nice."
"Of course." She said, ready for another sneak attack on her pretzel.
She finished it off and Naraku looked around. "Where to, Mistress?"
Kyoyume shrugged, thoughtfully glancing about. "What do you suggest? Oh, and don't call me that."
"Uhm...oh, I bet I could win." He said, pointing to a stand, a game where you had to shoot moving targets.
"You're on." She replied after looking over her shoulder to spot it.
They played 2 rounds and Naraku came out on top, his aim being superior.
Kyoyume pretended to pout. "Oh well." She shrugged, though she could tell Naraku was about to have a gloating moment.
"I could win you a prize for compensation."
"That would be noble of you. Sure you wanna smear your image?" She challenged with a playful grin.
"What image? I have no image. Ah, the strong-man-thing. I could do that."
They walked over and Kyoyume looked on and Naraku picked up the mallet with ease. 'Show-off.' She thought as he smirked and looked her way. She rolled her eyes in return, showing she wasn't impressed by his stunt.
He slammed the mallet down and it went to the top, gently ringing the bell. He pointed to the prize wall. "What do you want?"
Kyoyume looked from Naraku to the prize wall. "Uhm, that one." She said, pointing out a tiny stuffed black cat. She grinned when Naraku gave her a funny look.
He pointed to it, the pimply disgruntled looking teenager grabbed it, and handed it to him.
Naraku came back over and handed it to Kyoyume who smiled happily and held tightly to it. "Thanks." She said brightly.
"You're welcome."
"What now?" She questioned as they started off again, walking by rides and swarms of other people.
Naraku looked over his shoulder as he began walking backwards. "The Tunnel of Love is open."
Kyoyume gave him a look and a hard shove. "You goof." She said, giggling a little, though she was trying to hide a blush.
"No, seriously, just for fun, you can kiss your cat." He told her smirking.
Kyoyume laughed at him. "No thanks, but if that's what you wanna do, fine." She complied.
He pulled her along and they got in line. "It's completely bogus anyway."
"Whatever you say." Kyoyume replied. Everyone else in the line was either holding hands or leaning on one another. She inwardly grimaced at them.
Finally they came to their swan-boat-thing and got in, the tunnel was dark. Really dark.
Kyoyume clung tightly to the stuffed kitten, her eyes glowing a little in the dim light. She could see relatively, but only dark outlines and grotesque shapes. She frowned and tried to pick up a sound of some sort, but all she could catch was the water flowing by.
The tunnel was full of horridly done cupids and hearts. "Is this supposed to scare you or make you fall in love?" Naraku asked.
"I'm hoping the former. . ." Kyoyume grimaced at the horrid shapes.
"What IS that?" he asked pointing to something that popped out of the shadows.
"!" Kyoyume turned swiftly, trying to figure the mystery out herself. "I. . .have no idea. . ."
Naraku laughed. "This is about the point that the couples start kissing."
"Indeed. . ." Kyoyume was still watching the unnamed object with fascinated curiosity.
Naraku gagged. "I can't wait to get out of here."
Kyoyume giggled at him. "It was your idea to come in here in the first place."
"I know."
"Regretting it now?" She probed.
"Yes, my plan didn't work."
"Plan?" Kyoyume asked, confused. There was a 'plan?'
He sniffed sadly. "I want a hug."
Kyoyume raised an eyebrow at him, tilting her head to one side. "Then get one."
Naraku pulled her into a hug. Smiling evilly, he pulled away. "Yes."
Kyoyume blushed brightly. "I didn't mean me!" She cried.
"So?"
Kyoyume rolled her eyes at him, the blush fading. "So that was uncalled for."
"I don't care, it was fun."
She sighed, rolling her eyes again. "So now it's a game?"
"No!" he said, rolling his eyes as he helped her out of the swan boat and they walked away from the horrid tunnel of love.
"Good." She said, pouting.
"Don't pooout." He begged mockingly.
"Why not?" She asked, still holding tightly to the black kitten.
"Because you need to be happy!"
Kyoyume grinned at his comment, and tried desperately to correct herself but to no avail.
"Now what?"
Kyoyume shrugged. "Whatever is fine with me."
"Hmm...we could...go home?"
"Fine by me." Kyoyume agreed.
They left the park, walking to Naraku's car. "I had fun."
Kyoyume smiled brightly. "Me too." She agreed, hugging her stuffed animal. "Thanks for bringing me."
"No problem, glad you had fun."
They got back in the car and, fighting traffic, got back to the house a little later than expected, but it still wasn't quite dark out. "Thanks again." Kyoyume said as she stepped out of the car.
Kagura and the others were home when they walked in. "And where were you?" Hakudoushi asked smugly.
"None of your business." Naraku informed him curtly. Kyoyume nodded in greeting to them.
Hakudoushi cackled and walked off.
Naraku glared after him, muttering under his breath.
"He takes after you, Naraku." Kagura noted. "Oh, and Jakotsu and Bankotsu came by. Call them."
He sighed heavily and walked over to the phone. Picking it up, he dialed Jakotsu and Bankotsu's number. Kyoyume idly walked up to her room, still holding onto the black cat.
She set the kitty down on her bed and flopped down beside it. "Ah...feels good to be home..."
Pulling off her hat, she let her ears relax and sighed resignedly, closing her eyes slowly.
She dozed off for a long while, until a loud ruckus reached her twitching ears.
Making a face, she slowly got up. She rubbed sleep-bleary eyes and stared around the room. "Eh?" She wondered aloud before setting out, putting her hat in her back pocket.
"Kyoyume!" A voice called, her door flung open. "Come party with us!"
Kyoyume stopped, shocked at the sudden burst. "W-wha?" She asked as she saw Jakotsu smiling brightly at her.
Jakotsu laughed. "C'mon, we're having FUN!" he cried.
"Uh. . .ok. I'll be there in a minute." She told him, wondering if he saw her ears or not. She was lying them as flat to her head as she could, but she wasn't sure if they were still visible or not.
Jakotsu stood there for a moment. "Just c'mon..." he whined impatiently.
Pulling her hat out of her back pocket, she fixed it snuggly over her head, smiling a little awkwardly as she walked toward him. "Ok, ok." She said with a laugh.
Jakotsu rolled his eyes. "Always with the hats." He mumbled walking out.
"What's wrong with my hats?" Kyoyume asked defensively.
"Because, you're oppressing your scalp and that doesn't promote proper hair growth."
Kyoyume raised an eyebrow at him, and tried not to laugh. "Whatever you say."
"It's true, I read it in one of Suikotsu's books one day."
"I believe you." Kyoyume said, still smiling at him. "I just like to wear hats." She lied.
Jakotsu narrowed his dark eyes. "Liar."
She grinned, blushing a little in embarrassment. "Caught me."
"Just take it off, no one here cares."
Reluctantly, Kyoyume pulled the hat off again, stuffing it into her back pocket. She blushed, embarrassed as her black ears flew up immediately.
Kyoyume blinked, that hadn't been the reaction she had anticipated. A small grin spread across her features and she nodded, still blushing in embarrassment. "Sure."
Jakotsu reached out and his hands fastened to her ears, tweaking them gently. "So adorable!"
"T-thanks." Kyoyume giggled, happy that he had not pulled away at the sight of the strange ears.
He let go and walked back into the room. "Okay, she's here!"
Kyoyume hoped her face wasn't too red as she peeked around the corner a little hesitantly. She wasn't used to going into a crowd with her ears exposed, or really going into a crowd at all, so it was a bit overwhelming. "Hey everyone." She greeted them with a smile.
She sat down in one of the empty chairs and everyone started with their buzz of chatter.
'No one's saying anything?' She wondered, not that she was complaining. She was at least glad that she knew everyone that was present.
"Sleep well, Kyoyume?" Naraku asked distantly.
"Very well, thank you." She replied.
He nodded faintly and Hakudoushi burst into the room, jumping into Kyoyume's lap he cowered. "I made Kagura mad..."
Startled, Kyoyume wasn't sure how to react. "Again?" She asked him lazily.
He nodded, clinging to her shirt. "She won't hit me with you here."
"Really?" Kyoyume asked as Kagura stomped into view, searching wildly for the young boy. Hakudoushi made a frightened noise and hugged tighter to her shirt.
Kagura sighed. "I'll get you soon, Hakudoushi." She growled.
Hakudoushi grinned evilly when Kagura disappeared again. "See? You're a good shield." He informed her.
Kyoyume's eyes widened. "Uh..."
"Thanks." He said, still grinning as he let go of the tight grip he had had on her shirt and slid from her lap.
Kyoyume shrugged helplessly and he disappeared again.
Sighing slightly, she shook her head at him. 'Funny little guy.' She mused.
"Kyoyume, you want some food?" Jakotsu called.
"Uh, sure!" Kyoyume called back over the crowd.
"Whad'd'ya want?" he called.
Kyoyume scratched behind one ear thoughtfully for a moment. "Just some chips or something, please." She called back.
"Okay," Jakotsu said, and a few seconds later a bag of chips flew over the crowd and hit Kyoyume square in the face.
A cat-like yelp escaped her as she flinched, looking at the chips in her lap in confusion for a moment before her mind started to register what had just happened. She blinked at the chips before opening them up and munching on a few. "Thanks!" She called to her invisible friend.
"No problem!"
Kyoyume munched on the chips thoughtfully for some time, not feeling quite at home among all the people that were hanging around. She was still nervous and worrying about her ears being out in plain sight, when the thought suddenly struck her. Naraku couldn't black mail her if everyone saw her ears and new she had them! It didn't mean anything real good for her either if they didn't react as Jakotsu had, but at least she was free of Naraku then.
End Chapter