CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Same Shit, Different Era
Kagome woke up the next morning to the sunshine on her face. It was warm and inviting as she made her way across the room. The wind that came in from her open window played around her face as it lightly tossed her hair over her shoulder. She stopped in the middle of the room and turned around. The sleeping form of Inuyasha was peaceful. He was leaning against Kagome's bed facing the window and had his left arm hooked around the tessaiga. This sleeping position was very common in Inuyasha's time among warriors that had to react quickly if an enemy attacked during the night. Kagome smiled and walked out of the room. She went downstairs and enjoyed a quiet breakfast before Souta woke up and started nagging her to make him something to eat. She was in the process of pouring her whiny little brother some cereal when Inuyasha quietly slipped into the kitchen. He sat down next to Souta, gave him a pat on the head and waited for Kagome to finish.
"Hey, how about me?"
Inuyasha's voice almost caused Kagome to drop the plate of cereal as she turned around, obviously startled. "Inuyasha… I thought you were asleep. Do you want some cereal?"
The hanyou leaned in and sniffed Souta's breakfast, thought for a second, then nodded. Souta made a face of disgust and quickly pushed the plate towards the hanyou. "Here Inu no nii-chan… this one's yours." (A/N: For those of you that aren't aware Souta calls Inuyasha Inu no nii-chan which in Japanese means Dog Brother.)
Kagome gave another bowl to Souta and then sat down next to Inuyasha. The hanyou didn't seem to mind and munched hungrily at his cereal. Kagome flattened out the creases on her shorts and got up. She headed upstairs wanting desperately to take a shower. Inuyasha finished his meal and waited for the girl in the living room with Souta. He tried to get into the games that Souta was playing but his temper kept getting the best of him. Kagome came down a few moments later wearing a blue skirt and a dark blue sweater. "Let's go." Inuyasha nodded, got up, and dashed up stairs. He came back down with his tessaiga in his left hand and a cap on his head. Kagome's first reaction was to take the sword away from him.
"What's wrong with you! You can't walk around in my era with the tessaiga!" Kagome took the sword, much to the hanyou's disapproval, and put it back in her room. When she came back down Inuyasha was wearing a sour face but was none the less waiting by the door. Kagome sighed and followed him outside.
"Come on Inuyasha… don't be like that. I can't have you running around with a sword." Inuyasha was still scowling.
"How am I supposed to keep your ass out of trouble without tessaiga?"
Kagome chuckled. "You don't need it in my era. Besides, you're more than strong enough to protect me here without it." The hanyou felt a little better after hearing those words.
The two teenagers had been walking for a while and were now in the city. Kagome plotted a course for the shopping centers and had to drag Inuyasha along who was staring at an electronics shop that had a large variety of televisions at the window all tuned to different channels. She tore him away from there and pulled him towards a supermarket. Once inside Inuyasha went straight for the food aisle and again was pulled against his will as Kagome yanked him over to the linens section of the market. She looked up at the various selections of blankets while Inuyasha took to punching the crap out of some pillows.
"Come on Kagome… I'm bored!" She ignored the hanyou's plight and took her time to select the perfect set for her room. After finding her diamond in the ruff Kagome took the quilt in her arms and made her way to the register. She was rounding a corner when a trio of voices caught her ears.
"Kagome!"
She spun on her heel to find her three friends, Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka, standing almost right behind her. Kagome gave them all a nervous smile. Her friends quickly crowded around her and bombarded her with questions. They were asking about the two timing violent boyfriends when a voice from behind startled the three girls.
"Keh…"
Ayumi, Eri and Yuka almost fell over at the sight of Inuyasha. They had already met him before of course but that time he was dressed in red loose clothing that they all thought was a uniform from where he worked. This time however he was wearing a tight black shirt and a pair of loose camouflage pants. All three stared at him as he rose to his full height.
"You remember my friends, right?" Kagome was in a hurry to leave. For some reason she didn't like her friends eye balling Inuyasha.
Inuyasha simply crossed his arms over his chest and nodded. He was obviously irritated.
Kagome's friends surrounded Inuyasha and started asking him question after question:
"Where do you go to school?"
"Where do you live?"
"How's your brother?"
"How are things between you and Kagome?"
To which the hanyou gave them one straight answer. "I don't go to school, anywhere I want, my brother can go to hell and wha… Me and Kagome…"
The three girls clung to Inuyasha's words. Even though they often scolded Kagome for going out with this "badass" and forbade her to see him they all looked quite attracted to the rebellious hanyou. Kagome's friends followed the couple around the store for a bit and then all the way to the register. The whole time they were talking to Inuyasha about his hair and the fact that he didn't like to wear shoes.
When they left the market Kagome turned to her friends. "Well, we're going back home. I only came to the store to buy some new quilts. I'll see you guys later, ok?"
Ayumi and Yuka pouted, but Eri gave Kagome a knowing wink with a smile and pushed the other two off in the direction of another store. Kagome shrugged and with one hand holding the bag with her things and another itching to take hold of the hanyou's she lead the way back home with Inuyasha following right behind her.
As Kagome's friends walked away Inuyasha smirked at the comments they made when they thought he couldn't hear them anymore. They had turned a corner and were standing just beyond it, talking about how cute he was and about how Houjou-kun didn't stand a chance. Inuyasha pondered for a moment about who this "Houjou-kun" character was, but quickly dismissed it. Who ever the poor bastard was he stood no chance against the hanyou according to Kagome's friends.
It wasn't until they were almost at the shrine that they ran into trouble. As they crossed a street a man walking in the opposite direction snatched Kagome's purse and took off at a run. Inuyasha reacted instinctively and gave chase to the slow criminal. It only took a second for Inuyasha to leap backwards, take the purse back, and slam his fist into the would-be crook's stomach. The man doubled over and fell on the pavement a few feet away from the hanyou. Inuyasha threw the purse back at Kagome and was walking over to her when he felt a searing pain go up his leg.
The man, who was not to be out done, had produced a switch blade from his jacket pocket and had proceeded to stab Inuyasha's calf as he passed by. The hanyou irritated enough as it was, plucked the blade from his leg and grabbed a handful of the guy's clothing. Slowly Inuyasha picked up the man until they were eye to eye. He glared at the purse snatcher and let out a low growl.
"You don't have half a chance moron." With that Inuyasha dropped the guy again.
"What the fuck...?" The purse snatcher was looking horrified at Inuyasha's leg. The hanyou looked down and noticed the pants had been split open. Where there should have been a bloody gash there was only what appeared to be a tiny scratch that was quickly dissolving under his skin. What was left was only the torn pants and a bit of blood trickling down to the hanyou's bare feet.
"Get the hell away from me you freak!" The man was crawling backwards by now and waving the blade every which way.
"Why you?" Inuyasha raised a closed fist and then stopped short. He looked around… the scene had drawn a crowd. Hundreds of pairs of eyes gazed at him… waiting, wondering, and whispering about what the "freak" comment was about. He could hear every word, sense every glare, feel every insult… insults directed at him. A miserable smile appeared on his face. The thief took this chance to run away screaming.
'Keh… just like back then.'
Inuyasha's reality began to wane. The crowd around him suddenly lurched sideways and began to spin uncontrollably. The people in the crowd began to melt and gave way to a different crowd. The people wearing t-shirts and blue jeans were replaced by others wearing kimonos and carrying swords at their sides. A barrage of all-too-familiar voices sprang at his ears.
"Filthy little monster!"
"Half demon bastard!"
"Unworthy son of a youkai!"
"DAMN HANYOU!"
Inuyasha's rage boiled as he recalled his past. It was a memory that he thought he had forgotten, but at this very moment, when history was repeating itself, Inuyasha found himself powerless to stop the oncoming images of his terrible childhood. Then they all stopped. He shook his head and looked down as he was being pulled along. Kagome had taken hold of his arm and was walking next to him, shunning the people in the crowd to move it or lose it. She was genuinely upset and the hanyou was glad he wasn't the one she was upset with. She looked up at him and he automatically gave her a fake smile. It was the least he could do for her.
Kagome sighed and looked away. She knew that Inuyasha was very upset and that he was probably screaming like crazy on the inside, but she figured it best to leave him alone with his thoughts for now. They got to the shrine and ascended the stairs. Kagome looked at Inuyasha again. He was looking straight forward and appeared to be fine now. Kagome took this chance to ask a bit.
"Are you ok?"
The hanyou shrugged.
"Why did you get upset back there?"
"I didn't…"
"You don't want to talk about it?"
"Nothing to talk about."
Kagome sighed again, gave a quiet "ok" and continued up the stairs towards the house. When they entered Inuyasha went straight upstairs and Kagome, giving the hanyou a puzzled look, went into the living room to see if Souta and her grandfather were in there. She looked around and then went to the back door. There was her grandfather tending to the banzai trees in his garden.
'Of course… grand pa trims his little trees on Saturday. This means Souta's probably at a friend's house.'
Kagome went back upstairs and into her room only to have her heart sink. Inuyasha had already taken off the t-shirt and pants and had put his usual clothes back on. The hanyou didn't seem bothered by her entrance and was busy pulling his white shirt over his still heavily bandaged chest. Kagome entered and knelt in front of Inuyasha. She checked his bandages before he put his shirt completely on and then went to sit at the window sill. The breeze that wafted in from the open window was cool and inviting. Kagome sat there a moment enjoying the silence. She wanted to talk to Inuyasha… to find out what was wrong… to help him… but he didn't want her help. With a noticeable pout on her face Kagome walked back out into the hallway and went to take a shower.
Inuyasha watched as the sad faced girl walked out of the room. He crossed his arms and looked out the window. The bright light filtered through the curtains and danced around the floor. The hanyou traced figures and patterns along the overlapping shadows. He was halfway through a star shape when his eyes gave way and shut. He felt himself lean back on the wall of Kagome's room and then drifted off to sleep.
A large crowd surrounds the hanyou. Blurred faces and pointing fingers are all he can see. Words of hatred are spoken amongst the people. He can hear every tiny comment and insult. He balls up his hands into fists and growls. His voice… he looks down at his stubby hands and stretches them as he stares in disbelief. He looks back up at the humans accusing him.
"ABOMINATION!"
He bares his fangs.
"HALF-BREED!"
He crouches down.
"FILTHY LITTLE ANIMAL!"
He stretches his tiny claws.
"HANYOU!"
"SAY THAT TO MY FACE!" Inuyasha found himself back in Kagome's room. He was on his feet brandishing his claws at the desk across the room. Realization dawned on his face.
'It was a dream.'
A crooked smile spread across his lips. Looking out the window he noticed that it was still daylight. Had he only been asleep for a few minutes? Inuyasha suddenly felt very exposed and wanted to go back to his own time. Fresh memories about the incident earlier poured into his mind.
'Doesn't matter where I go… If only I was… If only I wasn't…'
Inuyasha's nails dug into his hands as he balled them up tightly into fists. The hanyou paid no mind to the pain and continued to let his fury get the best of him. Insults echoed in his mind and ate away at his patience. Because he was different nobody would ever accept him… not even…
He turned towards the door and was about to walk out when it opened and Kagome stepped in wearing her usual uniform and a towel on her head. Inuyasha made to side step Kagome and walk out, but her kind stare kept him rooted to his spot.
"huh… were you going somewhere?"
Inuyasha turned away and faced the window. He had wanted to leave before Kagome got there but now he could see that it wasn't an option. He looked over his shoulder at the girl in the doorway.
"I was gonna go look for you because you took so damn long!"
Kagome made a surprised face but couldn't hold it as her rage took over. "What do you mean I took long! I was only gone for a second!"
The hanyou huffed in annoyance and sat down on the bed, suddenly aware of how out of place he was in Kagome's time. Kagome removed the towel around her head and draped it over the chair by her desk. Inuyasha's nose was filled with the scent of wildflowers. He secretly inhaled the sultry scent and let it take his anger away. He had just closed his eyes when he felt the bed move slightly. He didn't open his eyes, but knew that Kagome was sitting next to him.
"What do you want to do today Inuyasha? It's still early so maybe we can go shopping for supplies…"
When the hanyou didn't respond Kagome shifted uneasily. It looked like he only wanted to rest. A smile dawned on her face and she shifted again, this time so that she could lay her head on Inuyasha's lap. She slowly put her head down and when she didn't feel any signs of protest closed her eyes and leveled her breathing. A second later she was fast asleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
Inuyasha felt Kagome's head rest on his lap and opened his eyes. His face flushed when he saw the raven haired girl sleeping on his lap. She was lying on her back and would have been looking straight up had she been awake. Inuyasha watched her smile as she lay there without a care in the world.
'That's right… Kagome accepts me for who I am.'
He remembered a talk they had once when they were helping a friend get to Mount Fuji. She had told him that she liked Inuyasha the way he was… As a hanyou. Kagome's smile reflected on Inuyasha's own face and he gently put a hand on her head. He stroked her hair lovingly and closed his eyes. His body relaxed and he drifted off to sleep with his Kagome on his lap.