Yo! Welcome back!
Disclaimer- I'm not the creator/owner person of Inuyasha. Nor, I'm I getting any profit from this... This story is only for entertainment purposes or whatever... Nor, do I own Frogger, Cole Blade or Ms. Youkai... So, um, on with the third season!
Chapter 7
The beginning of confusing Past and Present
The fresh, moist scent of running water still lingered in the air; as you twist the shower dial to the point where the water completely turns off, squeak free. Dressed in school uniform, you step in front of the mirror; wipe the fog away and quickly fix your hair as best as possible without a comb. Exiting the bathroom, you yawn as your eyes hazily wander around the room and land on the bed. Blushing you quickly turn away from the crumpled sheets and leave the room, but not without a last glance.
Stepping into the hall you let out a breath that could be somewhere between a sigh and yawn and proceed down the long hall once again. The guest treatment in this place was still horrible, very much so that you could stumble upon a secret hidden trap door and never be heard from again! So, what if you were sleeping with the host, he probably forgot you were even here a long time ago and what good was a disappearing host to you? Feh, you might as well accidentally find that trap door and fall down because he obviously wouldn't and/or doesn't care!
Ending your mental rant, your eyes widen with surprise and glee when you hear the theme music of your favorite cartoon coming from down the hall. Similar to being pulled by a magnet, you practically sprint down the hall, ignoring whatever it was you almost knocked over and enter the living room. Your eyes instantly land on the large television as you float over to the empty space on the couch beside Rin and sit.
"Good morning (your name)!" Rin happily says, obviously happy to be watching Saturday morning cartoons, too.
"Good morning to you, too, Rin!" You say grinning at the ten-year-old.
Your attention soon goes back to the starting cartoon as you eagerly watch it. 'I haven't seen this in years!' You whine happily, while bawling with joy inwardly. The scent of food, most likely breakfast hits your nose drawing your attention away from the television. 'That smells good… And it must not be done yet because Rin's watching TV, well… Can't let good reruns go to waste…' You nod turning back towards the TV, back in awe with your favorite cartoon.
"Jaken… I didn't know you cook… And so well at that…" You say dreamily, while biting down into a piece of sausage.
"Yeah, and I didn't know you ate and so much at that either… And you've been saying that for the last five minutes! Stop it already!" The spatula holding and apron wearing toad man says irritably.
"I told you already Jaken, just because a person, like me, is beautiful doesn't mean they have eating disorders… It's natural, hon!" You reply waving a piece of bacon at him.
"I'm being sarcastic; I bet you eat your own home into the poor house! You're just like that American pig puppet!" Jaken says chuckling at his own joke.
"What? " You question staying up from the table as a cold aura starts to surround you. "Just what are you trying to say about me, Jaken? Hmm?" You ask darkly with a small smile. Despite the change of temperature in the room, Rin still sits at the table, humming a tune while munching on her breakfast.
"I-It was just a joke, brat…" Jaken replies glaring at you, and quickly shoving a tray of breakfast in your direction. "Make yourself useful and deliver this to Lord Sesshoumaru, he's been in his office all morning."
"Well, I don't usually do maid work, but…" You mutter shrugging off the frosty aura. "Whatever! This time it's on the house, but next time you're going to cough up some cash!" You say taking the tray and as gracefully as possible, walking out of the kitchen with it.
Passing through the living room, you make effort not to stick around and watch a few more cartoons and proceed down the hallway. Frowning, you pause and look around. 'Stupid Jaken didn't tell me, where his office was!' You think while opening the closet door to of course, find coats… 'Well, of course he isn't in the closet, what I'm I thinking? Maybe Jaken drugged my food, the toad bastard…' You think scowling. 'Well, now isn't that a nice coat…' You close the closet disinterestedly and continue down the hall. Stopping at the second door, you open it, to find it lighted and occupied, finally. Walking into the room, you smile at the occupant and sit the tray down on the desk, which also held a computer.
"Good morning! Normally I don't do maid work, but I think I might have beat Jaken up if I stayed any longer; he needs to learn some manners, especially to guests! I mean one minute a person can be complimenting his cooking, next thing you know he's telling a person they have eating disorders and throwing spatulas at them… It's a wonder you guys get guests at all! Wait, do you get guests at all?" You ask walking behind the desk and occupant, to see the computer screen.
Ignoring your question the dog demon continues to type away on the keyboard. Frowning at his disinterest, you peer down at the screen.
"Aren't you hungry? Jaken said you were in here all morning." You ask sincerely, while rubbing your hands over the dog demon's shoulders.
"…I don't need to eat, Jaken should know that… However, I'm not surprised you didn't." He finally replies, pausing for once during his nonstop typing. 'Well, someone didn't get up at the right side of the bed this morning… Maybe I should sleep on the left side next time…'
"I knew that! I've been around you, almost twenty-four-seven for two years! How can someone not notice! I'm not that unaware, ya' know…" You say putting your hands on your hips and acting as insulted. "…Though, even in your human form, you're not hungry at all?"
"My dear, this is just an appearance, it doesn't change who I really am underneath." He says still typing away on the keyboard. 'Eh? "My dear"! Yes, I should definitely try getting on the left side next time…'
"Oh… But how come? Everything needs to eat! Even dirt! If it didn't it couldn't grow so many pretty flowers! I know a living being just can't live on air!" You say dramatically.
"Woman… Are you comparing me to dirt?" He asks, coming to a halt in what was nonstop typing as a bead of sweat slides down the side of your face at the inquire.
"Of course not! Though I didn't mean anything bad by that! If I were comparing you to dirt I'd say people would have to grow wings, or travel in the air because they can't afford to step on you!" You reply, unaware of your ego flattering words. "But, anyways… When you say "need", do you mean as in you're not hungry or when someone asks a person if they have to go to the bathroom and they decline, but they have to go a minute later?" You ask curiously and frown when his cell-phone rings.
"…Hello?" He asks, after retrieving the phone from his desk. "Yes, this afternoon." He says, replying to the mumble sounding voice. "No, it's starting this week and ending ten weeks later… Exactly…" As he leans back in his seat, he throws a casual glance at you, despite the business of the call. "Yes, red type, G… Excellent work, goodnight." He says ending the call, when he presses a button on the phone and puts it back in its respective place.
"You never tell me goodnight!" You grumble, folding your arms. You sigh at the dog demon's persistent interest in the computer. 'Cursed, stupid computer… Did I just call a computer stupid…?'
"Um, I need to go back home… Not that I don't love the awesome guest treatment and free breakfast…" You say frowning at the memories. You finally receive the dog demon's attention when he turns towards you with a raised eyebrow. "I can't; of course, I can't walk around here in my school uniform forever can I? Of course not, it makes no sense! But I'll be back of course!"
"Very well, have Jaken to drive you… And you may as well have Rin accompany you too." He says getting up from his desk and walking toward the door.
"Why? That means you're going to be all alone, right? Or are you coming, too?" You ask following.
"No…"
"So, you're inviting someone over so you won't be alone here?" You ask frowning.
"No, I have to attend a meeting later." He responds exiting the room.
"You work on Saturdays and Sundays?" You ask quizzically. 'And I thought going to school 5 days a week was overworking yourself…' "But since you won't be here later, you won't be here when we get back!" Your eyes widen at the card held in front of you, which you take silently.
"That will most likely occur, so if you please you can go out and come back here at a later time. I trust you won't indulge too much." He says while you stare down at the plastic card, which supposedly held credit, too.
"You're giving me your credit card…?" You ask dazedly, as a particular memory starts to resurface.
"Why are you giving me your plastic card, Dad? Weren't you and mom complaining about it?" Asks a child who looks around the age ten. The child walks with a man beside her, through a bustling toy store.
"We were, but now it's different, (your name)! And this isn't just a plastic card it's a credit card, it has lots of money on it, and today is your day to get anything you want! I know it's a little early for your birthday-"
"My birthday is in 12 days!" The little girl interrupts, happily.
"I know, and since you've been so good this year, I'm giving you an early birthday present! Just keep it a secret from your mother, alright?" The man asks ruffling the grinning child's hair.
"Well, Dad… It's going to be a little hard trying to keep my mouth shut about this, ya' know?"
"Alright, will two free gifts keep your mouth shut?" The man asks smirking.
"That with ice-cream and candy later can do a lot for a while…" The little girl says smiling innocently.
"You're like a clone of your own mother! Stepping as low as to blackmail your own father about giving you free gifts! You'd make a hell of a car saleswoman one day kid! And even one your mother blackmailed me into proposing to her! That woman has enough dirt to fill the Grand Canyon!" The man stops noticing his daughter's attention on the credit card.
"What's wrong? Is there something weird on it?"
"No, I was just wondering how this piece of plastic can hold money… It doesn't open and it isn't made of paper!" The child says and the adult stares back blankly before chuckling.
"Well, you can hang on to it if you want until you learn how it holds money, tadpole…"
"Really!" The adult nods as they continue to walk through the busy toy store. "Hurray!" The girl cheers before glaring up at her father "Don't call me tadpole!"
You blink away the memories, as your eyes resettle back on the questioning dog demon...
"Why are you giving me your credit card?"
"Do you have any currency with you?"
"…No, but-"
"In today's society we use currency to compensate to whatever our needs are-"
"I know that! It's not like I have amnesia or something! It's just that I don't wanna take your money!" You say staring down helplessly at the shiny plastic card.
"Why not?"
"Because- it's like you hiring me to be your secretary! You know I really couldn't be your secretary! I know things like that are wrong, but I just don't remember why?" You say folding your arms as the dog demon stares back perplexedly. "Sesshoumaru, it's impolite to-eh!"
You suddenly find the dog demon's lips crushed upon yours, without so much of a glint of warning. You're just as soon enveloped between his warmth and the oddly warm walls of the hallway. Ending just as quickly as it started, you stare up at the dog demon dazedly, before blinking repeatedly when he releases you.
"You should be going, Jaken may be leaving soon. We'll continue this later." He says before walking down the opposite end of the hall.
"...Ok!" You reply, not suppressing a cheerful grin, which Shin and Kaori would probably call dopey, but they weren't here right now, so you could smile dopey all you want unsuppressed!
Turning on your heel, you practically skip out of the hall and into the living room, obviously forgetting about the tray of uneaten breakfast and the credit card, which you placed conveniently in your pocket. Seating on the couch beside Rin once again, you jump up once again when Jaken enters the room, from the kitchen.
"Hey Jaken, Lord Sesshoumaru orders you to take me to my grandfather's house, so I can pick up some things and take us, me and Rin, around (somewhere), and then bring us back here! Is this mission clear to you, Mr. Jaken?" You ask with folded arms and glaring smugly at the toad man.
"Whatever, brat, just be quiet and keep your hands and feet to yourself this time…" Jaken says glaring at you before picking up some keys from the table beside the wall and walking to the door. "And you better hurry up, I'm leaving right now!" He says marching out of the door.
"Right back at ya', Frogger!" You yell after him and fold your arms. "As if I'd touch the guy with a 50 ft pole anyway… I don't even think I can even pick up a 50 ft pole…"
"(your name), hurry up! Jaken's leaving!" Rin says following in the footsteps of the toad demon.
"Oh right!" You follow the girl out the door and from there she leads you down the nicely carpeted hallway. But, not forgetting to put on your coat and shoes first.
Following the 10-year-old, down the hall, you notice the mini lanterns clinging to the walls, providing a dim light and setting a glow to the hall. You also notice the lack of doors, for other residences, not that you'd care, if there's neighbors or not, but the amount of numbered doors are so scarce, there aren't any. Sooner or later, you and Rin reach the end of the hall, which held the elevators and a door, probably to the stairwell. Conveniently, the elevator doors were held open by a slightly irked Mr. Jaken.
"What took you brats so long?" He asks irritably.
"We would have gotten here faster, but there was some thick traffic down there, Jaken! Sorry!" You say sarcastically, while stepping onto the elevator and smiling when you see a tray, holding a bowl of candy inside.
"Free candy!" You cheer skipping towards the bowl before being quickly yanked back. "What happened to the "keep hands and feet to yourself" rule!" You ask glaring at the toad man.
"Firstly, that candy isn't there for brats to eat! It's decoration! And second, that only applies to you!"
"What? Why would it only apply to me, when I don't have a reason to touch you! You're the one touching me all the time! Kidnapper!" You counter wrenching your arm away. "And that candy… It's not made of wax is it? Because it would seem pretty cheap if-"
"I regret it every minute since that time! And it's my job to baby-sit brats anyway, so I have no choice!" He claims as the elevator continues to descend to the ground floor.
"Really? You baby-sit Jaken, I had no idea you were …In touch with children that way…" You say surprised, while inspecting the bowl of candy. 'Who am I kidding; he probably just needs the money…' "But, about this candy, is it wax, or what? Because if it is it isn't safe for little kids!"
"I agree, wax candy isn't safe for little brats like you, but it isn't wax candy anyway!"
"That's better then! …Oh, so I'm a little brat now, eh Frogger?" You ask clinching your fist.
"Ne (your name)! What's your home like?" Asks the almost forgotten 10-year-old. Your brows raise in surprise as you turn to the girl, who's helping herself to the elevator candy.
"Well, uh, Rin… I guess you could say it's kinda nice…" You reply hesitantly to the girl as you take a candy from the bowl.
"Why didn't we get to ride in the limo? Aren't you the chauffer, Jaken!" You half whine and sigh as you get out of the small, black, tinted window vehicle, followed by Rin.
"Because you don't deserve one!" The toad man says poking his head out the driver window. "Plus, bringing a limo around here would bring too much attention!"
"Don't deserve one! Really what are you trying to say about me, Jaken! Just say it already! I can take it!" You yell irately at the sunglasses wearing chauffer.
"(your name), come on! Rin wants to see 's home!" Rin says pulling on the sleeve of your coat.
"Oh right! Sorry Rin!" You say walking with the girl toward your approaching home, where Jaken conveniently dropped you both off at.
"Be ready in an hour or I'm leaving you both here!" You hear Jaken yell, before the car pulls off and heads down the street.
Unhinging and pushing aside the gate, you escort the girl in and smile down at a pond of gold, silver and black fishes that greets you both on your entrance. Sighing you walk toward the dojo, which was right beside the house, like a garage, that might even be connected.
"Come on, Rin, my grandfather has pupils over on Saturdays, so he should be in there!" You say leading the girl to the dojo. 'Wow, does everyone work on Saturdays?'
Stepping up the small set of stairs, you peek inside the dojo, to see a bunch of kids, probably fifteen in at the most, around the ages of 10 and 12 practicing kicks and punches, while your grandfather observes not far from you.
"Hey Grandpa!" You call out to the old man waving. The old man turns surprised in your direction, before approaching you grinning.
"Tadpole, I didn't think you'd be back from your trip so early, or are you coming here to get something and go back?" He asks ruffling your poor hair.
"Um, no, well I actually don't know if my trip is over yet, but I'll be back on Monday for school, I guess… Though I am here to get some things, too…" You clue in the old man, fixing your ruffled hair. 'I wish he'd stop calling me Tadpole!'
"Oh, well I hope you have fun-" He glances at Rin. "Who's this, Tadpole? I hope this couldn't be a Tadpole Junior!"
"Junior…?" You glance at Rin quizzically before gasping. "Grandpa! I'm too young to- Whatever, Grandfather, this is Rin, Rin this is my Grandfather."
"Nice to meet, Rin!"
"Nice to meet, grandpa!" Rin says bowing politely.
"Ah, well this little girl is too polite to be a tadpole junior…" The old man says shrugging and you roll your eyes. "And if she isn't a tadpole junior, where did you meet her, Tadpole? I'm sure you didn't steal her…?"
"No, I didn't steal her, grandfather…" A bead of sweat slides down the side of your face. "I met her where I was staying at my trip…"
"Oh, well, I think I'm a bit relieved you didn't steal her… We really don't need anymore trouble with the police, do we?" He says laughing as you frown irritated in the background. 'I just somehow have a feeling the parallel me would be beating the crap out of him, right now… Stupid old man… Stupid, lecherous, old frog…'
"Yeah, well, I'm going to go get my things together… Come on, Rin!" You say stepping out the dojo.
"Ah, Rin's going to stay and watch Grandpa train his pupils!" Rin says watching the boys in the room practice.
"Alright Rin, have fun!" You say walking toward the back door of the house.
'Hell, if Rin wants to stay in a room full of 11-year-old boys it's her choice… Wait-' You enter the kitchen, pass the backdoor and pause when you see a beer on the table and someone, wearing a gi and hakama raiding your grandfather's frig. Picking up the full can of Ludweiser beer, you pop the top and take a sip as the person still rummages through the frig.
"Hey kid, aren't you a little too old to be drinking beer, you've passed the age of 7 haven't you?" You ask casually as you take a seat on one of the stools beside the table. The raider freezes for a second before continuing his rummage.
"Yeah, well I think I'm well over the age of drinking… Probably a whole million years or two, you know I lost track of my age decades ago…" The raider says, and your eyes widen at the familiar voice.
"Shinny baby! You know you couldn't be a million years old or two! You look as good as a 90 year old!" You say skipping up to the frig raider, who turns grinning.
"Well, maybe not a 90-year-old, but definitely a 120-year-old!" He says before pulling you into a hug. "Well, you seem buzzed,(your name).You must be getting along with that cold-blooded boyfriend of yours, I assume!" You blink at his reference to Sesshoumaru. 'Well, that's a bit strange…'
"Yep, I am! But, what are you doing here?"
"Really, I don't know, just yesterday I was cleaning my shack out from the New Year's party and now, I'm back at work already, boy how time passes, huh (your name)?" He says patting you on the back smiling sadly. "I'm surprised you're not still smashed from that sea of vodka you polished…"
"V-vodka? Shin, I didn't have any vodka!" You protest frowning at perplexed bat demon.
"Yeah, (your name) you're innocent, God's little, naïve angel!" He says rolling his eyes. "Don't worry, I didn't tell grandpa anything and I might if you keep playing naïve so much…" He says dryly. "Well, I gotta get back to work, nighty night, don't let the vampires bite!" Shin says cackling evilly, as he walks out the backdoor, while his regular long, black pony-tail swishes behind him.
"Um, right… To my bedroom!" You say walking out of the kitchen, through the living room and up the stairs.
'What the hell is wrong with Shin, he didn't have vodka at the party… And I wouldn't have drunken any, vodka isn't apart of my variety of things… Well, maybe it wasn't the Shin of the past, but of this present… Saa, no use crying over spilled milk, Shin doesn't seem any different anyways…' You muse as you enter your bedroom and your eyes widen when you see new items on your bed. Blushing slightly you pick up the bouquet of roses, which was wrapped in a green paper wrapping and sniff them. You quickly pick up the card and read it… Then read it again…
Our love is like a war, easy to begin but difficult to end, but it is not our time to make a treaty, or surrender yet… The battle may be over, but our war hasn't even begun, let us fight to the best of our abilities, don't give in yet, my love…
Love, your only one
Your blush strengthens as you set aside the card and roses. 'Who is this person? Lieutenant Major Guy, or someone!' You pick up the heart shaped box and regard the plush rabbit stuff-animal, perplexed. 'How sweet, chocolate…' You smell the box, happily before sitting it back down on the bed. 'I wonder who they could be from… I don't think Sesshoumaru would do something like this… Maybe-maybe in my dreams, or if he was smashed… I can't even imagine a smashed and/or buzzed dog demon lurking about… And it's already been established that I'm not dreaming… Maybe I could ask gramps… Or maybe Shin…' You think rummaging through your closet, pulling out clothes and dumping them into your bag.
You quickly go to the bathroom, change out of your school uniform and snag your toothbrush. 'Can't live my room without old yeller of course…' You drop the brush in your bag and proceed out your room carrying the gifts. Just as you close your door, you hear a crash come from the inside of your room, and quickly yank open your door in shock. You gasp at the person in shock before stepping backwards in horror.
Turn to page- 9
Author Notes-
Yoho! Chapter completed, thanks for reading! I wonder why Sesshoumaru seems so peeved. Well, the guy has always been a bit odd, so no worries… And that Jaken, he bugs me, but I won't do away with him… Not yet anyway, fufufufu! Yes, and doesn't everyone have sudden memory things, where they just zone out for a minute or two? It doesn't seem that peculiar to me, so I put it in, it goes with the flow, so what can ya' do… And about that love letter/note/card thing, I don't really know why I put it in, but it seems ok, couldn't be that bad right? Oh, and who the hellhole is that trespassing into your room! God knows, you've had one too many surprises in one week!
Later!