Different sides of the track
Chapter 12: Parents and children, please leave. It's Party Time!
Everyone woke up late again. The mood around the Higurashi's beach house seemed to be tired. But who could blame them? All of these kids have suffered through a lot, even Kagome! Mrs. Higurashi guessed that any chance to have a relaxing time would defiantly be taken. Even if it was for only a week.
Souta and Shippo had stayed up late the night before, both boys refusing to lose at Mortal Kombat. The boys were now asleep on the couch, video game controllers still in hand. Mrs. Higurashi and Souta would be leaving today. They were going back to Kagome's old house. The police should have already moved out Mr. Higurashi's body.
Mrs. Higurashi turned as she heard a small yawn come from behind her. She smiled as she saw her daughter standing next to the doorframe. Kagome returned the smile and went to sit down at the table, her eyes half lidded. She only woke up to thank her mother for the delicious smelling plate of breakfast that was placed in front of her. She dug in while her mother poured them each a cup of coffee and sat down.
"So hunny, Tell me more about these 'jobs' you do."
Kagome swallowed. This wasn't going to be fun.
"Well mom. Try and keep an open mind ok?"
Mrs. Higurashi nodded.
"Well you see, there is a guy named Naraku. He isn't the nicest guy out there, and he tends to … steal from people. But he isn't really strong enough on his own, and people know different spells that they can place on the items to keep Youkai and Hanyous from getting to it. I know how to break them, plus I'm not that bad of a fighter. InuYasha has been training me. Miroku and InuYasha also work for Naraku doing the same type of jobs I do. Kouga is in charge of taking care of people who … defy Naraku. Ayame is an everything person. She does whatever she is ordered to. Jobs are like killing people and stealing. I'm sorry if you don't like this, but actually, it's sorta fun. A new challenge every day."
Kagome's mother sat in silence, poring over what her daughter had just finished telling her. Kagome, her little girl, killing people? Doing illegal things? She had to make sure she wasn't doing drugs or anything like that.
"Kagome … You aren't doing drugs are you?"
"No mom, none of us do drugs. Naraku sells them though, but InuYasha and Miroku only sellthem. They haven't done anything like that since I have been here."
Kinoke let out a sigh of relief. As long as her daughter wasn't harming herself, she could learn to deal with it. Harming others wasn't something she really approved of, but she could learn to deal with that as well.
InuYasha walked in and sat down next to Kagome. He put his arm around her and sniffed what she was eating.
"Are you hungry InuYasha?"
"Yes m'am."
"Then I'll make you a plate like Kagome's. And what did I say about you calling me m'am?"
"Thank you Kinoke."
"Your welcome. What do you want on your omelet?"
"Mushrooms, bacon, and cheese please."
"Of course. Would you like coffee as well?"
"Yes please."
Kinoke hummed to herself as she started cooking up another plate of food. InuYasha and Kagome talked quietly until the food was placed in front of InuYasha. Then he dug in. Both ate rather quietly. One by one the other members started to wake up. Ayame came in yawning widely and sniffing the air. Miroku, then Sango, and finally Kouga followed her. Everyone was drooling over the wonderful smells coming from Kinoke's skillet. All enjoyed the good food, and very little was said. Kinoke was first to break the silence.
"Well, Souta and I will be leaving in about an hour. I'm all packed, and Souta will just leave his stuff here."
"We're gonna miss you."
"And your excellent cooking!"
"InuYasha!"
"What? I was giving your mom a compliment."
"It didn't sound like it."
"Well sorry for how it sounded but that was what it meant!"
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Kinoke grinned at their antics, then went to wake up the two sleeping boys. Both came charging into the kitchen and took seats at the table, even though there were no seats left open.
"Shippo, it's more polite if you ask before you sit in someone's lap."
"Ok Kagome, I'll remember that."
"Kid … Why are you sitting in my lap!"
"Cause you're my new hero InuYasha!"
"Oh great."
The boys ate breakfast, while the teenagers sat around the house. The first full day and they were already bored. But Kouga had an idea. The only problem was Shippo. You can't throw a real beach party with a little 8 year old kitsune. Fortunately, fate seemed to be on his side.
"Hey Shippo, you wanna come back to my house? I have an even better system there."
Shippo turned big eyes to Kagome.
"Please? Can I Kagome?"
"Yes, of course you can Shippo."
"Yay! Thanks Kagome, you're the best mom ever!"
Kagome blushed. Her mother was looking at her funny.
"What did he mean by that Kagome?"
"Well, I'm sorta Shippo's adopted mom."
"Oh."
Her mother smiled, but seemed to still be a little hesitant. Twenty minutes later, the boys were packed up and Mrs. Higurashi was saying good bye to her daughter.
"Well Kagome, I just want you to be safe this week ok? No drugs, no booze, and please, be safe if you have sex."
Kagome and InuYasha turned bright red while Miroku and Kouga nudged InuYasha's arm with their elbows, knowing smirks on their faces.
"Mom! Did you have to say that in public!"
"What? I'm sure all of your friends are being safe right?"
She turned to a now blushing Kouga, Ayame, Miroku, and Sango. All were nodding.
"You see? Have you and InuYasha been safe?"
"Mom! We haven't done that yet!"
"Oh, well if you decide to start this week, just be safe ok?"
"Yes mom, now please go!"
"Alright hunny. Bye everyone!"
"Bye!"
The expensive car drove out of the driveway and out of sight. Kagome was still blushing. InuYasha came up behind her and put an arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him.
"Hey, relax. It's not something we haven't been told before."
"Yeah, but has your mom ever said it in front of your best friends?"
"My mom died before anything like that could be an issue for me."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
He shrugged and started to head back into the house where the others had already gone. Kagome followed after him. They went in through the sliding door on the side. Everyone was waiting, cuddling on the couches. Kouga cleared his throat as they entered the room. Now was the perfect time to announce his plan.
InuYasha and Kagome sat down on a chair, Kagome sitting on InuYasha lap. Everyone turned to Kouga. Ayame had to crane her neck to do so.
"Now that all of the kids and 'adults' are out of the picture, who wants to throw a beach party?"
Ayame's eyes lit up, and she squeezed Kouga tighter. She smiled.
"Sounds great to me! It's summer, and it's a beach. There are bound to be tons of teens like us that just want to party! When should we do it?"
"It's fine by me, so long as they don't trash my house. InuYasha?"
"Awesome idea! Wimpy wolf actually came up with something relatively good sounding!"
Kouga bristled. He started to growl, but a quick kiss from Ayame calmed him down. Miroku and Sango also nodded their approval. Kouga grinned, proud of himself for coming up with an idea that everyone liked. Kagome took charge next.
"So, should we make flyers and have the party on Friday?"
"Good idea, give everyone time to go shopping!"
"No girls, no more shopping."
"You haven't even shopped with us yet, except for swim suits, which you enjoyed, so it wouldn't really count as shopping."
"Yeah if the guy enjoy it, then there is no point."
"Oh Sango my love, as long as it is you wearing the clothes I could never be bored!"
Everyone stares.
"Houshi, that is not the point. The point is that we want to go shopping for new clothes to wear. We also have to buy stuff for the party, like food and drinks. You goggling over us is not what this trip would be for."
Miroku sighed and looked down, muttering things along the lines of 'sounds like I got the point' and 'we'd just give you opinions on the clothes you'd pick out."
Sango started to feel bad, so she hugged him around the middle. He smiled and took the opportunity to feel and little too low on her back. Her eyes turned red and a resounding 'smack!' could be heard around the room.
Chuckling, Kouga turned to Kagome.
"Where near by would you suggest that we go to get all of the supplies?"
"Ashi's place. Her store has everything, plus great prices. There is also a store near to that that can make the flyers."
"Well, let's do all of that tomorrow. I feel like being in the sun today."
InuYasha grinned. Last night he saw a volleyball net, and, judging by the way Miroku was looking at him, they were planning on having a little beach volley ball game.
"Then let's get changed."
Everyone darted to their rooms. They changed in the fastest times possible for people their age and ran out the door, guys beating the girls. Kagome grabbed a volleyball on the way out.
"O.k. Who's up for a little beach volleyball?"
The day was full competition, but the night was full of stargazing. Everyone was grouped off in couples, sitting or laying on blankets, gazing up at the mesmerizing little orbs of light. Neither of the groups wanted this moment to end. They could forget reality in the night, just enjoying their partners' company. No Naraku, no fighting, just plain old being.
"InuYasha, can you stop time? Make this moment last forever?"
InuYasha gazed down at the dark haired figure lying besides him.
"Kagome, if I could, I would. I'd give you anything you want. But that is one thing I cannot do."
She smiled and stared back up to him.
"It's one thing no one can do, but everyone wants to at one point or another in their lives. Thanks any way. I love you InuYasha"
"I love you too Kagome."
The day before the party was uneventful. All they did was go shopping and decorate. By the time it was 6:00 Friday night, 30 had already shown up. Including one really unexpected visitor.
Kagome answered the door and stared.
"H- Hojo!"