A/N: Damnit!! I'm so sorry that I have been late in updating. My keyboard died so I couldn't type. Anyway, onto the reviews.
Reviews:
Demon Lady of the Western Land: I was thinking of doing that. But I still question my abilities. Your style is almost just like mine.
Yokakurama: Thanks for the compliment. I'm sorry that I don't listen to Linkin' Park enough to use it as a band.
black rose: Offspring it is then my dear black rose.
Chad's gurl: In any way. But basically, was he massacred by fangirls who want to get a piece of his shirt yet.
Goth Musician: Wouldn't that be cool. Anyway, Broken is one of my favorite songs. I love it.
DraGonMistress704: I'm confuzzled...is this and insult or a compliment?
Mike: MIKE!!! I've missed ya buddy! Glad that you're alive. Offspring, got it.
Punks-Rock: I'm sorry to say that I can't do Bad Religion. Lots of people wanted to go for Offspring. But tell you what, I think of someway to fit in one of their songs in. Promise.
Starry22153: If I could have, I would have. But the voices are just too different. I'm trying to create a consistent sound. It's a good thing that you like the Offspring.
gothic inuyasha: well, that eliminates the All-American Rejects.
SCARYREVIEWERGIRL: It's a good thing that you'll still read my story if the people choose the Offspring. I'd hate to lose a reviewer with a name like that.
Heather ((bean)): Thank you, I tried to keep it somewhat consistent with the show. Like the injuries and pasts (more so with Shippou's though).
Lil' Angel Aj: That is sexy. Very sexy!
Kagome M.K: thanks.
Meeko: sings Have I told. You lately. That I love you?
Kitsy: Ocean Avenue is a good song but I must go with the majority. Now I feel guilty.
Foxylilraven: Thanks sis. I sent you an e-mail.
moongoddess1989: I know. They do sound more InuYasha-ish.
Anubaka: Hopefully the suspense didn't kill you. I also must apologize for being brief. It's 3:48 in the morning.
randomgemini07: I've heard of them but I don't own the cd.
Inulover626: I listen to them more too. I tried to add more humor in this chapter though.
kute-lido-azn: Where are you from? I'm too tired to tell what my other fic is but...ah never mind. Just read the bottom A/N.
Black-Nights-Angel: I'm sorry that it took so long to update. Computer problems suck.
Disclaimer: read the others.
Muted Words
§Midnight§
-Saturday-
Kagome woke up in the middle of the night. Desperate for more sleep, she curled up to InuYasha's peaceful form, drawing on his scent, like that of the woods after a spring rain, and warmth to lull her there. Her efforts, however, proved to be futile. She turned so that her back faced his chest, testing the theory that a new position will bring the desired results.
It hadn't.
Sighing, Kagome moved to go to the kitchen or something. Gently sliding out of InuYasha's arm, she stood and almost immediately regretted it. Her head seemed to have suddenly lost the weight of its brain because it suddenly seemed light. The feeling she received left her dizzy and struggling to stand. She contemplated waking InuYasha and immediately decided against it. He just looked so peaceful there, almost like a little child. Usually, he sort of had a scowl of some kind. Of course, it vanished when he looked at her. But she could tell why he had it.
The past holds such pain for the both of them. InuYasha's mother was murdered, him injured in the process. Kagome hadn't realized it until she thought about it, but her and InuYasha had a lot in common. Both suffered in childhood. Both lost a parent (Kagome losing both). Both had fatal injuries before. Both loved music and were good at it. Hell, they were both the younger of twins. They could relate to each other.
But Kagome knew that InuYasha was tired. He had stayed up most of the night to be with her and keep her company until he went home at one. Onigumo attacked her thirty minutes later. She fell out of the window, or rather she jumped, fifteen minutes after that. It took about ten minutes to get to the hospital from the Teki home. If her calculations were correct, that left a grand total of twenty-five minutes. No, she wouldn't, couldn't, wake him up. After all that he had done for her, she had to let him get some form of reward. Steadying herself, she wobbled to the door and opened it slowly, thankful that it didn't squeak and awake the sleeping albino.
The halls lights were dimmed but not too dark, it was possible to still see normal features if there was a person close by. In fact, that was exactly what happened.
Myouga, as InuYasha called him, was coming up the steps to make sure that the bathroom that was used before was in order. On his way, he noticed a young woman almost fall down the stairs. It didn't take him much time to realize that she was one of the guests, InuYasha's girlfriend. Being the gentleman that he was, Myouga ran up to her and supported her a bit.
"Lady Kagome, you shouldn't be moving around," he scolded lightly. Kagome looked closely at the old man.
"Lady...Kagome?" she asked curiously. Myouga chuckled slightly.
"You're InuYasha's girlfriend. You should be treated with respect just for that fact," he chortled good-naturedly. Kagome giggled slightly as well. One time, while InuYasha and her were at dinner one night, they told each other their dating history, or lack there of. Neither of them were able to get a single date in throughout adolescence, which really shocked, and relieved, both of them. InuYasha couldn't believe that Kagome never had a boyfriend. She was so beautiful. How could no one want to date her? That was basically the same story for Kagome to InuYasha; except for him it would be a girlfriend. He was one of the hottest things she's ever seen, besides the sun, of course. Then again, she was starting to question that. "Where were you heading to Lady Kagome?"
"I was going to go to the kitchen or something. I think that eating should help this dizzy feeling," she analyzed. Myouga, who started to lead Kagome down the stairs, paused his actions and looked at her in curious concern.
"You're feeling dizzy?" he questioned. Kagome looked at him for a second.
"Just a little bit. Besides, if it gets really bad, then there is a doctor in the house," she responded with a small laugh. Myouga joined her as he continued his way to the kitchen. Once there, he sat her at a stool by the island and headed to the refrigerator. Myouga looked through it and then realized something.
"You never told me what you wanted," he stated. It was true. Kagome smiled and shook her head a little.
"That's right. Is there a possibility that I could have a small salad or something? I don't know why, but I have a craving for oil and vinegar," she requested. Myouga searched for a bit until he came to what he was looking for.
"Would this do?" he asked while holding up a bag of pre-made salad that looked fresh. Kagome nodded, relieved that Myouga didn't have to make her a salad from scratch. That's why her house doesn't have any servants. She always felt guilty about making them work for her. If he didn't have the bag, she probably would have changed her suggestion.
Myouga poured some of the food into a medium-sized bowl and looked for the oil and vinegar. Finding them in a cabinet, he poured equal amounts of each into the dish. Picking it up, he brought it over to the table that Kagome was situated at and got her a fork.
Kagome attacked the salad with remarkable grace. Myouga had to admit, InuYasha really hit the nail on the head with her. She seemed to be the perfect match for him. His musing about what their kids might look like was interrupted by a presence at the doorway.
"Hey cuz, what're you doing up?" Rin asked, followed by Sesshoumaru. They both looked, and sounded, like they just woke up. Their hair was tousled slightly and Rin was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Sesshoumaru scratched the back of his neck and took a seat beside Kagome. He looked to her, to her salad, then to Myouga, and then slumped face down onto the cool countertop. Rin suppressed a giggle and hugged him from behind. "Thanks for taking me down here." Sesshoumaru lifted his head and nodded before turning to Kagome.
"Speaking of taking, where is my brother?" Kagome looked to her salad then turned back to look at him.
"I couldn't wake him up, I didn't want to. He looked too cute. I couldn't bear the thought," she reminisced. Rin smiled, giggling lightly.
Sesshoumaru looked indifferent.
"Whatcha eating?" Rin asked in a playful tone while stroking Sesshoumaru's hair fondly. Kagome smirked.
"Food," she responded in the same tone. Rin's smile only grew, happy that she had someone to joke with.
"What kinda food?"
"A salad."
"What kinda salad?"
"A pre-made, sold in a bag but still good with oil and vinegar salad." Rin's look became curious.
"Oh...can I have some?" Kagome turned to look at Myouga.
"I don't know. Can she Myouga?" Sesshoumaru lifted his head once again off the island and shook his head.
"Don't bother Myouga. Jaken can do it." Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru in question.
"Whose Jaken?" she interrogated.
"His jackass servant who doesn't like me at all," stated a voice from behind her. Jumping a bit at the new and unexpected sound, Kagome looked up and saw, in all his sleepy glory, InuYasha. "Why aren't you in bed, Kagome?" Kagome quirked her head to the side.
"I was hungry," she stated, pointing to the nearly finished salad that decorated the bowl. InuYasha walked up and sat on Kagome's other side.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" he continued with the interrogation. However, Kagome was spared from having to say anything.
"Because, dear brother, apparently, you are...cute...when you sleep," Sesshoumaru answered with a hint of a smirk on his face. Kagome smiled innocently as her eyes went skyward. Rin giggled and hid her face in Sesshoumaru's shoulder. InuYasha blushed slightly and looked up to see Kagome's salad bowl.
"Why didn't you eat your carrots?" InuYasha asked curiously. Kagome looked down too.
"I just don't feel like eating them," she reasoned.
"But they're good for your eyes. Have you ever seen a rabbit with glasses?" Kagome was thoughtful for a second.
"Have you ever seen the Energizer Bunny?" she responded in challenge. Rin shot up and started to jump around.
"BUNNY!!!" She began a conga line, a solitary conga line, while singing to the beat "En-er-gi-zer-Bun-ny". Kagome and InuYasha were shaking with ill-suppressed laughter. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as the enthusiastic girl pulled him to his feet and forced him to join in. Although, admittedly, he just had his hands on Rin's shoulder, following her, and lazily kicked the air to whichever side he was supposed to.
"Well, if I knew that there was a party going on down here, I would have dressed in better clothes," chuckled InuTaisho.
"My apologies, Dr. Teki," Kagome began, "I suppose your invitation was lost in the mail. Of course you're invited. After all, it is your house." InuTaisho sat down across from Kagome.
"Now really Kagome, you don't have to call me Dr. Teki," InuTaisho smiled. Rin and Kagome gave him curious looks.
"What do we call you then?" Rin asked, stopping her little conga line for Sesshoumaru's sake. The older man looked solicitous for a moment.
"You can call me what you like. InuTaisho, Sho, Inu...though if I'm correct in saying, that's InuYasha's, if you want to, you can even call me Dad," he pondered.
"Dad?" they both questioned at the same time.
"If you want," he repeated, hoping that they would say yes. He had always wanted a girl; not that he didn't love his boys. But he wanted something that could possibly calm down everything and yet make everything seem worth living for like his late wife could.
"It's been a long time since I ever got to say that," Kagome whispered more to herself then anyone else. Rin nodded in agreement from Sesshoumaru's lap.
"Or," InuTaisho laughed a bit, "you could call me that after you two marry my sons. I'll expect that then." Kagome and Rin chuckled. Kagome looked up into InuTaisho's eyes and smiled.
"It would be nice to have some sort of father again...Dad," she stated for Rin and herself, testing out the name that surprisingly felt sort of right. Rin hopped out of Sesshoumaru's lap and ran to InuTaisho, giving him a bear hug.
"DADDY!!!"
InuYasha led Kagome to his room once more. He pulled away the covers and waited for her to get inside. Taking the hint, Kagome laid down on her back, a small frown on her face. Noticing this, InuYasha sat by her side.
"You okay, Kag?" he asked concerned. Kagome continued to stare at the ceiling.
"I...don't know. It's been a strange past twenty-four hours. We sing, we make-out, there's a fire, I go inside, I run away, I wake up in a hospital, I see you, you are forced to leave, Onigumo calls me a whore, I jump out a window-"
"That bastard called you a whore?!!" he raged. Kagome continued on as though she hadn't heard him, her voice still dazed.
"-I dropped Shippou, you caught him like I knew you would, Onigumo pulled me back inside, choked me, you jump in and save me, you get me away, you take me here, I take a bath, I get sleep, I wake up, I have a salad, Rin does the Energizer Bunny conga, Sesshoumaru joins the Energizer Bunny conga, I get another dad, I tell you this, and you are still furious that Onigumo called me a whore," Kagome concluded.
"Why would that bastard call you a whore?" he asked, trying his best to remain calm. Kagome moved her eyes from the ceiling to the clock. It was 3:49 am.
"He said that I tempted Akira like I tempted Naraku, then denied them both," Kagome looked into InuYasha's eyes. "I didn't want that, I didn't want them! I never tried to tempt anyone. I never wanted anyone but you. Akira was my stepfather! Naraku was...well...I don't really know what Naraku was but I certainly didn't want it. Onigumo knew everything about my past. Stuff that I never wanted to have to hear from someone else, a stranger nonetheless, was all being told to me in the point of view from one of my attackers. That I was selfish for my life when my Papa died, that I was ungrateful for the medicine from that shrink and the physical therapist, that I was a tease, a whore! Is that really how people think? That I would actually want to be nearly killed or raped?" Kagome was breathing heavily but no tears fell down her face. Why wasn't she crying?
"Kagome." InuYasha hugged her close to him, stroking her hair. "No one who knows the true story, who would not look for a stupid revenge would think that you wanted to anything that happened you. I know that you would never want that and I know that you're not a tease, or a whore. But I am not everybody. I can't speak for others. They speak for themselves. Most of them agree with me. Most of them see the truth. But there are some, there are those people who would see things differently. But those people are looking for an excuse to make you look like the bad guy. They're blinded by something, probably hatred or jealousy, and can't see how much you don't like the major events of your past and they're the ones who will turn you against yourself. You know that you did nothing wrong. Really, that's all that matters."
Kagome hugged him to her tighter, pressing her face into his neck. In return, InuYasha placed chaste kisses along her own neck, trying his damnedest to make her go to sleep. His wish was granted when her breathing evened out. Silently, InuYasha crawled in beside her, holding her close.
"I will protect you, I promise."
-Monday-
Keade agreed to watch Shippou until her lunch since she had no clients. She also set up a time midway through fifth period for meeting with the principal to discuss the problem at hand.
Kagome was playing the keyboards, Stairway to Heaven to be exact, when this announcement came over the intercom for only the music room.
"Excuse me, is Kagome Higurashi there?" came the feminine voice of the secretary. The teacher confirmed her presence. "Can she come to the main office? Her...uhh...son is here."
Silence ran through the room. Even the teacher was too stunned to speak. Noticing the sudden hush, Kagome walked to the door.
"I'll be there in a minute," she told the intercom and she exited the room.
Kagome moved through the halls with practiced guidance and made it to the main office to see Shippou sitting there on the couch.
"Mommy!!!" he exclaimed, letting himself be picked up by the young woman. Keade came to stand and smiled and her.
"Kagome, it's nice to see you are strong enough to pick Shippou up, child. Come on, your principal awaits ye," Keade spoke; her one eye gave a sparkle of amusement. The other was hidden behind a patch. She told Kagome that she lost it when she was boating with her Girl Scout troop, when a girl that she really didn't like 'accidentally' caught her eye with the end of her hook and cast away, ripping part of the eye to be baited to the hungry little fishies. Kagome cringes every time she recalls that story.
Stepping into the doorway of the Mr. Mori's office, Kagome took a seat with Shippou in her lap, having refused to be let go of, and Keade sat to her left. Mr. Mori sat behind his desk and offered some coffee to Keade and cookies to Shippou and Kagome.
Shippou just took the plate.
"Now we are here to talk about Shippou, is that right?" Mr. Mori asked. Kagome nodded.
"The daycare center that Kagome left young Shippou at was burned down on Friday, as I'm sure you know," Keade explained. "Due to this recent event and the fact that the nearest daycare center is way off in the distance, the boy has nowhere to go while Kagome is in school. Now, Kagome tried to convince me that she could be home schooled but I disagree. Kagome loves school here and there is a alternate solution to this problem." Mr. Mori looked curious.
"How?" Kagome decided to answer.
"By letting him stay here, possibly in the guidance office. Keade doesn't like the idea of me home schooling myself and going an hour away to get to the other center would call for two hours earlier for me to wake up. I would be waking up at 4:30 in the morning, Shippou as well." Keade cut in.
"If you have looked closely into Kagome's medical records, Kagome has a rather...fragile system due to past inconveniences. If she should choose to go to that center, then the fatigue could cause black-outs or even heart attacks. Not to mention the effect it would have on Shippou. He's a growing boy and he needs his sleep."
"Mr. Mori," Kagome begged, "If I knew that this could be solved with a more practical method then believe me, I would go for that, but the fact is that this is the best option. I know that this is a lot to ask of you, and I know that it really isn't fair but please understand. That center was something that was necessary for me to keep things in balance." Kagome looked down at the floor to her right. "When Onigumo burned that place down, he made sure that he ruined something in my life if I didn't die."
"Onigumo?" Mr. Mori inquired.
"Naraku's older brother. He set the center on fire to get his 'revenge' on Kagome, by either taking away Shippou or lose her own life. It's not known to the public that the center was set on fire rather then just caught on fire," Keade answered.
"May I ask the relationship between Kagome and Shippou? Is he really Kagome's son?" Mr. Mori asked.
"Kagome adopted Shippou after finding him out on the streets in winter. His birthparents died by electrocution and his godmother abandoned him. So yes, in a sense, Shippou is Kagome's son," the elder responded with sympathy. Kagome, who took the plate away from Shippou so he wouldn't spoil his lunch, looked up to Mr. Mori.
"So, will you watch him for me?" It only took the principal a moments hesitation before answering.
"Yes."
§§§§§§§§§§§§
A/N: This is important too. I won't be able to update for a while because I'm going to Tennessee. But I don't think that it's fair to just come back and update one chapter but I also don't think that it's fair for me to type two chapters and not have good reason why. Therefore, I pronounce...a deal. If I get 50 or more reviews, I'll update the two chapters I have yet to write. If, by some miracle, I get over 100 reviews, I throw on top of that the new release (that sounds so professional) of my work in progress (meaning that I haven't finished the first chapter yet) fanfic, "Bewitching Beauty". If not, then you guys get one chapter and have to wait for a while till you get to see my newest fic. It's your decision. Just remember what you want. And my muse came up with this deal, so yell at her if you hate me now.
Reviews:
Demon Lady of the Western Land: I was thinking of doing that. But I still question my abilities. Your style is almost just like mine.
Yokakurama: Thanks for the compliment. I'm sorry that I don't listen to Linkin' Park enough to use it as a band.
black rose: Offspring it is then my dear black rose.
Chad's gurl: In any way. But basically, was he massacred by fangirls who want to get a piece of his shirt yet.
Goth Musician: Wouldn't that be cool. Anyway, Broken is one of my favorite songs. I love it.
DraGonMistress704: I'm confuzzled...is this and insult or a compliment?
Mike: MIKE!!! I've missed ya buddy! Glad that you're alive. Offspring, got it.
Punks-Rock: I'm sorry to say that I can't do Bad Religion. Lots of people wanted to go for Offspring. But tell you what, I think of someway to fit in one of their songs in. Promise.
Starry22153: If I could have, I would have. But the voices are just too different. I'm trying to create a consistent sound. It's a good thing that you like the Offspring.
gothic inuyasha: well, that eliminates the All-American Rejects.
SCARYREVIEWERGIRL: It's a good thing that you'll still read my story if the people choose the Offspring. I'd hate to lose a reviewer with a name like that.
Heather ((bean)): Thank you, I tried to keep it somewhat consistent with the show. Like the injuries and pasts (more so with Shippou's though).
Lil' Angel Aj: That is sexy. Very sexy!
Kagome M.K: thanks.
Meeko: sings Have I told. You lately. That I love you?
Kitsy: Ocean Avenue is a good song but I must go with the majority. Now I feel guilty.
Foxylilraven: Thanks sis. I sent you an e-mail.
moongoddess1989: I know. They do sound more InuYasha-ish.
Anubaka: Hopefully the suspense didn't kill you. I also must apologize for being brief. It's 3:48 in the morning.
randomgemini07: I've heard of them but I don't own the cd.
Inulover626: I listen to them more too. I tried to add more humor in this chapter though.
kute-lido-azn: Where are you from? I'm too tired to tell what my other fic is but...ah never mind. Just read the bottom A/N.
Black-Nights-Angel: I'm sorry that it took so long to update. Computer problems suck.
Disclaimer: read the others.
Muted Words
§Midnight§
-Saturday-
Kagome woke up in the middle of the night. Desperate for more sleep, she curled up to InuYasha's peaceful form, drawing on his scent, like that of the woods after a spring rain, and warmth to lull her there. Her efforts, however, proved to be futile. She turned so that her back faced his chest, testing the theory that a new position will bring the desired results.
It hadn't.
Sighing, Kagome moved to go to the kitchen or something. Gently sliding out of InuYasha's arm, she stood and almost immediately regretted it. Her head seemed to have suddenly lost the weight of its brain because it suddenly seemed light. The feeling she received left her dizzy and struggling to stand. She contemplated waking InuYasha and immediately decided against it. He just looked so peaceful there, almost like a little child. Usually, he sort of had a scowl of some kind. Of course, it vanished when he looked at her. But she could tell why he had it.
The past holds such pain for the both of them. InuYasha's mother was murdered, him injured in the process. Kagome hadn't realized it until she thought about it, but her and InuYasha had a lot in common. Both suffered in childhood. Both lost a parent (Kagome losing both). Both had fatal injuries before. Both loved music and were good at it. Hell, they were both the younger of twins. They could relate to each other.
But Kagome knew that InuYasha was tired. He had stayed up most of the night to be with her and keep her company until he went home at one. Onigumo attacked her thirty minutes later. She fell out of the window, or rather she jumped, fifteen minutes after that. It took about ten minutes to get to the hospital from the Teki home. If her calculations were correct, that left a grand total of twenty-five minutes. No, she wouldn't, couldn't, wake him up. After all that he had done for her, she had to let him get some form of reward. Steadying herself, she wobbled to the door and opened it slowly, thankful that it didn't squeak and awake the sleeping albino.
The halls lights were dimmed but not too dark, it was possible to still see normal features if there was a person close by. In fact, that was exactly what happened.
Myouga, as InuYasha called him, was coming up the steps to make sure that the bathroom that was used before was in order. On his way, he noticed a young woman almost fall down the stairs. It didn't take him much time to realize that she was one of the guests, InuYasha's girlfriend. Being the gentleman that he was, Myouga ran up to her and supported her a bit.
"Lady Kagome, you shouldn't be moving around," he scolded lightly. Kagome looked closely at the old man.
"Lady...Kagome?" she asked curiously. Myouga chuckled slightly.
"You're InuYasha's girlfriend. You should be treated with respect just for that fact," he chortled good-naturedly. Kagome giggled slightly as well. One time, while InuYasha and her were at dinner one night, they told each other their dating history, or lack there of. Neither of them were able to get a single date in throughout adolescence, which really shocked, and relieved, both of them. InuYasha couldn't believe that Kagome never had a boyfriend. She was so beautiful. How could no one want to date her? That was basically the same story for Kagome to InuYasha; except for him it would be a girlfriend. He was one of the hottest things she's ever seen, besides the sun, of course. Then again, she was starting to question that. "Where were you heading to Lady Kagome?"
"I was going to go to the kitchen or something. I think that eating should help this dizzy feeling," she analyzed. Myouga, who started to lead Kagome down the stairs, paused his actions and looked at her in curious concern.
"You're feeling dizzy?" he questioned. Kagome looked at him for a second.
"Just a little bit. Besides, if it gets really bad, then there is a doctor in the house," she responded with a small laugh. Myouga joined her as he continued his way to the kitchen. Once there, he sat her at a stool by the island and headed to the refrigerator. Myouga looked through it and then realized something.
"You never told me what you wanted," he stated. It was true. Kagome smiled and shook her head a little.
"That's right. Is there a possibility that I could have a small salad or something? I don't know why, but I have a craving for oil and vinegar," she requested. Myouga searched for a bit until he came to what he was looking for.
"Would this do?" he asked while holding up a bag of pre-made salad that looked fresh. Kagome nodded, relieved that Myouga didn't have to make her a salad from scratch. That's why her house doesn't have any servants. She always felt guilty about making them work for her. If he didn't have the bag, she probably would have changed her suggestion.
Myouga poured some of the food into a medium-sized bowl and looked for the oil and vinegar. Finding them in a cabinet, he poured equal amounts of each into the dish. Picking it up, he brought it over to the table that Kagome was situated at and got her a fork.
Kagome attacked the salad with remarkable grace. Myouga had to admit, InuYasha really hit the nail on the head with her. She seemed to be the perfect match for him. His musing about what their kids might look like was interrupted by a presence at the doorway.
"Hey cuz, what're you doing up?" Rin asked, followed by Sesshoumaru. They both looked, and sounded, like they just woke up. Their hair was tousled slightly and Rin was rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Sesshoumaru scratched the back of his neck and took a seat beside Kagome. He looked to her, to her salad, then to Myouga, and then slumped face down onto the cool countertop. Rin suppressed a giggle and hugged him from behind. "Thanks for taking me down here." Sesshoumaru lifted his head and nodded before turning to Kagome.
"Speaking of taking, where is my brother?" Kagome looked to her salad then turned back to look at him.
"I couldn't wake him up, I didn't want to. He looked too cute. I couldn't bear the thought," she reminisced. Rin smiled, giggling lightly.
Sesshoumaru looked indifferent.
"Whatcha eating?" Rin asked in a playful tone while stroking Sesshoumaru's hair fondly. Kagome smirked.
"Food," she responded in the same tone. Rin's smile only grew, happy that she had someone to joke with.
"What kinda food?"
"A salad."
"What kinda salad?"
"A pre-made, sold in a bag but still good with oil and vinegar salad." Rin's look became curious.
"Oh...can I have some?" Kagome turned to look at Myouga.
"I don't know. Can she Myouga?" Sesshoumaru lifted his head once again off the island and shook his head.
"Don't bother Myouga. Jaken can do it." Kagome turned to Sesshoumaru in question.
"Whose Jaken?" she interrogated.
"His jackass servant who doesn't like me at all," stated a voice from behind her. Jumping a bit at the new and unexpected sound, Kagome looked up and saw, in all his sleepy glory, InuYasha. "Why aren't you in bed, Kagome?" Kagome quirked her head to the side.
"I was hungry," she stated, pointing to the nearly finished salad that decorated the bowl. InuYasha walked up and sat on Kagome's other side.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" he continued with the interrogation. However, Kagome was spared from having to say anything.
"Because, dear brother, apparently, you are...cute...when you sleep," Sesshoumaru answered with a hint of a smirk on his face. Kagome smiled innocently as her eyes went skyward. Rin giggled and hid her face in Sesshoumaru's shoulder. InuYasha blushed slightly and looked up to see Kagome's salad bowl.
"Why didn't you eat your carrots?" InuYasha asked curiously. Kagome looked down too.
"I just don't feel like eating them," she reasoned.
"But they're good for your eyes. Have you ever seen a rabbit with glasses?" Kagome was thoughtful for a second.
"Have you ever seen the Energizer Bunny?" she responded in challenge. Rin shot up and started to jump around.
"BUNNY!!!" She began a conga line, a solitary conga line, while singing to the beat "En-er-gi-zer-Bun-ny". Kagome and InuYasha were shaking with ill-suppressed laughter. Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as the enthusiastic girl pulled him to his feet and forced him to join in. Although, admittedly, he just had his hands on Rin's shoulder, following her, and lazily kicked the air to whichever side he was supposed to.
"Well, if I knew that there was a party going on down here, I would have dressed in better clothes," chuckled InuTaisho.
"My apologies, Dr. Teki," Kagome began, "I suppose your invitation was lost in the mail. Of course you're invited. After all, it is your house." InuTaisho sat down across from Kagome.
"Now really Kagome, you don't have to call me Dr. Teki," InuTaisho smiled. Rin and Kagome gave him curious looks.
"What do we call you then?" Rin asked, stopping her little conga line for Sesshoumaru's sake. The older man looked solicitous for a moment.
"You can call me what you like. InuTaisho, Sho, Inu...though if I'm correct in saying, that's InuYasha's, if you want to, you can even call me Dad," he pondered.
"Dad?" they both questioned at the same time.
"If you want," he repeated, hoping that they would say yes. He had always wanted a girl; not that he didn't love his boys. But he wanted something that could possibly calm down everything and yet make everything seem worth living for like his late wife could.
"It's been a long time since I ever got to say that," Kagome whispered more to herself then anyone else. Rin nodded in agreement from Sesshoumaru's lap.
"Or," InuTaisho laughed a bit, "you could call me that after you two marry my sons. I'll expect that then." Kagome and Rin chuckled. Kagome looked up into InuTaisho's eyes and smiled.
"It would be nice to have some sort of father again...Dad," she stated for Rin and herself, testing out the name that surprisingly felt sort of right. Rin hopped out of Sesshoumaru's lap and ran to InuTaisho, giving him a bear hug.
"DADDY!!!"
InuYasha led Kagome to his room once more. He pulled away the covers and waited for her to get inside. Taking the hint, Kagome laid down on her back, a small frown on her face. Noticing this, InuYasha sat by her side.
"You okay, Kag?" he asked concerned. Kagome continued to stare at the ceiling.
"I...don't know. It's been a strange past twenty-four hours. We sing, we make-out, there's a fire, I go inside, I run away, I wake up in a hospital, I see you, you are forced to leave, Onigumo calls me a whore, I jump out a window-"
"That bastard called you a whore?!!" he raged. Kagome continued on as though she hadn't heard him, her voice still dazed.
"-I dropped Shippou, you caught him like I knew you would, Onigumo pulled me back inside, choked me, you jump in and save me, you get me away, you take me here, I take a bath, I get sleep, I wake up, I have a salad, Rin does the Energizer Bunny conga, Sesshoumaru joins the Energizer Bunny conga, I get another dad, I tell you this, and you are still furious that Onigumo called me a whore," Kagome concluded.
"Why would that bastard call you a whore?" he asked, trying his best to remain calm. Kagome moved her eyes from the ceiling to the clock. It was 3:49 am.
"He said that I tempted Akira like I tempted Naraku, then denied them both," Kagome looked into InuYasha's eyes. "I didn't want that, I didn't want them! I never tried to tempt anyone. I never wanted anyone but you. Akira was my stepfather! Naraku was...well...I don't really know what Naraku was but I certainly didn't want it. Onigumo knew everything about my past. Stuff that I never wanted to have to hear from someone else, a stranger nonetheless, was all being told to me in the point of view from one of my attackers. That I was selfish for my life when my Papa died, that I was ungrateful for the medicine from that shrink and the physical therapist, that I was a tease, a whore! Is that really how people think? That I would actually want to be nearly killed or raped?" Kagome was breathing heavily but no tears fell down her face. Why wasn't she crying?
"Kagome." InuYasha hugged her close to him, stroking her hair. "No one who knows the true story, who would not look for a stupid revenge would think that you wanted to anything that happened you. I know that you would never want that and I know that you're not a tease, or a whore. But I am not everybody. I can't speak for others. They speak for themselves. Most of them agree with me. Most of them see the truth. But there are some, there are those people who would see things differently. But those people are looking for an excuse to make you look like the bad guy. They're blinded by something, probably hatred or jealousy, and can't see how much you don't like the major events of your past and they're the ones who will turn you against yourself. You know that you did nothing wrong. Really, that's all that matters."
Kagome hugged him to her tighter, pressing her face into his neck. In return, InuYasha placed chaste kisses along her own neck, trying his damnedest to make her go to sleep. His wish was granted when her breathing evened out. Silently, InuYasha crawled in beside her, holding her close.
"I will protect you, I promise."
-Monday-
Keade agreed to watch Shippou until her lunch since she had no clients. She also set up a time midway through fifth period for meeting with the principal to discuss the problem at hand.
Kagome was playing the keyboards, Stairway to Heaven to be exact, when this announcement came over the intercom for only the music room.
"Excuse me, is Kagome Higurashi there?" came the feminine voice of the secretary. The teacher confirmed her presence. "Can she come to the main office? Her...uhh...son is here."
Silence ran through the room. Even the teacher was too stunned to speak. Noticing the sudden hush, Kagome walked to the door.
"I'll be there in a minute," she told the intercom and she exited the room.
Kagome moved through the halls with practiced guidance and made it to the main office to see Shippou sitting there on the couch.
"Mommy!!!" he exclaimed, letting himself be picked up by the young woman. Keade came to stand and smiled and her.
"Kagome, it's nice to see you are strong enough to pick Shippou up, child. Come on, your principal awaits ye," Keade spoke; her one eye gave a sparkle of amusement. The other was hidden behind a patch. She told Kagome that she lost it when she was boating with her Girl Scout troop, when a girl that she really didn't like 'accidentally' caught her eye with the end of her hook and cast away, ripping part of the eye to be baited to the hungry little fishies. Kagome cringes every time she recalls that story.
Stepping into the doorway of the Mr. Mori's office, Kagome took a seat with Shippou in her lap, having refused to be let go of, and Keade sat to her left. Mr. Mori sat behind his desk and offered some coffee to Keade and cookies to Shippou and Kagome.
Shippou just took the plate.
"Now we are here to talk about Shippou, is that right?" Mr. Mori asked. Kagome nodded.
"The daycare center that Kagome left young Shippou at was burned down on Friday, as I'm sure you know," Keade explained. "Due to this recent event and the fact that the nearest daycare center is way off in the distance, the boy has nowhere to go while Kagome is in school. Now, Kagome tried to convince me that she could be home schooled but I disagree. Kagome loves school here and there is a alternate solution to this problem." Mr. Mori looked curious.
"How?" Kagome decided to answer.
"By letting him stay here, possibly in the guidance office. Keade doesn't like the idea of me home schooling myself and going an hour away to get to the other center would call for two hours earlier for me to wake up. I would be waking up at 4:30 in the morning, Shippou as well." Keade cut in.
"If you have looked closely into Kagome's medical records, Kagome has a rather...fragile system due to past inconveniences. If she should choose to go to that center, then the fatigue could cause black-outs or even heart attacks. Not to mention the effect it would have on Shippou. He's a growing boy and he needs his sleep."
"Mr. Mori," Kagome begged, "If I knew that this could be solved with a more practical method then believe me, I would go for that, but the fact is that this is the best option. I know that this is a lot to ask of you, and I know that it really isn't fair but please understand. That center was something that was necessary for me to keep things in balance." Kagome looked down at the floor to her right. "When Onigumo burned that place down, he made sure that he ruined something in my life if I didn't die."
"Onigumo?" Mr. Mori inquired.
"Naraku's older brother. He set the center on fire to get his 'revenge' on Kagome, by either taking away Shippou or lose her own life. It's not known to the public that the center was set on fire rather then just caught on fire," Keade answered.
"May I ask the relationship between Kagome and Shippou? Is he really Kagome's son?" Mr. Mori asked.
"Kagome adopted Shippou after finding him out on the streets in winter. His birthparents died by electrocution and his godmother abandoned him. So yes, in a sense, Shippou is Kagome's son," the elder responded with sympathy. Kagome, who took the plate away from Shippou so he wouldn't spoil his lunch, looked up to Mr. Mori.
"So, will you watch him for me?" It only took the principal a moments hesitation before answering.
"Yes."
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A/N: This is important too. I won't be able to update for a while because I'm going to Tennessee. But I don't think that it's fair to just come back and update one chapter but I also don't think that it's fair for me to type two chapters and not have good reason why. Therefore, I pronounce...a deal. If I get 50 or more reviews, I'll update the two chapters I have yet to write. If, by some miracle, I get over 100 reviews, I throw on top of that the new release (that sounds so professional) of my work in progress (meaning that I haven't finished the first chapter yet) fanfic, "Bewitching Beauty". If not, then you guys get one chapter and have to wait for a while till you get to see my newest fic. It's your decision. Just remember what you want. And my muse came up with this deal, so yell at her if you hate me now.
