Hey everyone! Just wondering... do people actually read these top author's notes, or do they just skip them and read the story? Hm. Anyway, sorry again for the wait! Enjoy!
Dedicated to my first reviewer, Lanerz! Thanks for your kindness!
24 - Happy Birthday Rin!
"Feh!"
"Oh come on Inuyasha! You know she would love it!" Kagome cooed, holding out a large rainbow colored wig and a bright red clown nose.
"And humiliate myself like that! Never!" the inu-hanyou crossed his arms and sneered at her defiantly.
At first this greatly annoyed her. 'It's not like I'm asking him to pose nude or anything...' She blushed lightly at the metal image that started to take form and pushed it away. 'Why would I think of that example! Geesh...' Instead she focused on the task at hand. Her ears picked up a smack from the next room and she knew she needed to hurry. "Okay... But when Rin starts to cry and Shippou teases you about being a big coward, don't come running to me. And think of what Sesshomaru will say..."
His eyes burst open and he quickly snatched the wig and foam nose from Kagome's hands and slammed the bathroom door behind him, mummbling profanities that made her blush. But it didn't matter. She got her way in the end after all.
'I can't believe we've only been here two months,' she mused quietly as she made her way to the party taking place. A large banner was plastered across the top of the sliding glass doors in the large living room that read 'Happy Birthday!' made her smile. Technically it wasn't Rin's birthday, but it was the day Sesshomaru and Kagura adopted her. From what Inuyasha said, the little girl was found by Kagura amongst her murdered family, barely alive herself. Even though she was supposed to make sure the entire family was dead, Kagura couldn't help but feel pity for the young one and sneak her back to Sesshomaru. At first he had been very against the idea of the little girl invading their space, but she slowly worked her way into his heart with her undying devotion and sweet gestures. Finally, Sesshomaru allowed her to join their family officially, but she was to forget everything from her past, which included her birthday. Shippou had come into their lives in a similar fashion, his parents killed by the Syndicate as well. 'So many ruined lives...' Kagome mused as she watched her friends from her spot leaning against the hallway wall as she waited for Inuyasha.
Kagura was bustling around the kitchen, making sure that the cake was perfect. Kagome knew even if she went over and offered to help, she would be shooed away. That's how the woman was. She would cast icy eyes at a news cast about a mass murder, but when it came to her child's needs it was a different story. A smirk flittered across Kagome's face as she remembered the numerous shopping trips she had made with the older woman and Sango. Kagura would always end up with a new dress for Rin or a new toy for Shippou before they were done. She spoiled them rotten, always allowing them to stay up late and reading them an extra bedtime story if they desired it. Kagome had thought on this for a while and decided it was Kagura's way to pay the children back for everything the Syndicate had taken from them, even if it wasn't her fault. She adored the woman for the way she treated the kids, who Kagome had also grown extremely fond of. Whenever she and Inuyasha would come over Shippou would practically tackle her and Rin would give her a hugs hug and call her 'Auntie Gome', which she didn't mind at all.
Her eyes wandered over to the patio where Sesshomaru sat with the birthday girl in his lap, allowing her to braid a small section of his beautiful silvery hair. She had also grown fond of the calm man, accepting his coldness as part of his nature. Even though he didn't show it, she knew that deep down he had a heart... somewhere. If he didn't, he wouldn't have a wife and children. He and Kagura were an excellent match if she said so herself. Kagome knew she wouldn't be able to be with the, as Inuyasha put it, 'emotionally retarded' demon. He just appeared too uncaring. But Kagura was sort of like that too, making herself emotionally detached form anything that didn't affect her or her family. She would sit with him quietly for hours as though it were completely natural just to sit and do nothing. But if Kagome had learned anything from them, it was that sometimes words weren't needed.
SMACK! BAM!
In the living room, Sango had slapped Miroku so hard he fell off the couch, knocking over the wooden coffee table in the process. A small cream and black cat mewed from the floor, showing her approval. Even though Miroku had properly proposed to her last month with a gorgeous silver diamond ring, he still groped her any and every chance he got. The couple had moved into an apartment in the same building that she an Inuyasha resided in, which meant that they were constantly over to filch food from her and Inuyasha's refrigerator. Miroku had decided that Sango's education came first and sent her back to school as he worked as a full-time waiter at a nearby restaurant. Of coarse Sesshomaru had offered to pay for their rent and living expenses so they could both go to school, but they politely declined his kindness. Miroku said he wanted to provide for his future wife with his bare hands, causing Sango to blush and hold his hand tightly. When she wasn't in school, Sango taught a self defense coarse for young children at the martial arts academy. She was incredibly strong thanks to her demon slaying background, and she could put her black belt to good use and earn a meager paycheck at the same time. One day she had come home with a kitten, adopting it immediately despite Miroku's allergic reaction. Later they found out she was in reality a demon, capable of transforming into a large fire cat if the occasion called for it. The two tailed cat happily blinked her large blood red eyes at Sango, hopping into the woman's arms as Miroku stood up, rubbing his face with a grin.
"Now look what you've done!" a throaty voice wailed from somewhere out of her vision. Immediately a small green toad demon scampered into the living room, setting the table back up and placing various fruit in a whicker basket just as Sesshomaru entered the room, Rin still in his arms.
"Is there a problem Jaken?" he asked in his clear baritone voice, even though he clearly knew what had transpired.
Jaken fell to the ground, bowing at his slippered feet. "No Sir, everything is just fine!"
Not changing his expression, he sat Rin down carefully and strode easily past Kagome and up the stairs tot he second floor. 'Most likely to get Shippou,' she thought as she remembered Shippou making a big deal about his new video game and running to his room a couple hours ago to play.
She turned and passed the stairs, walking to the bathroom she knew Inuyasha was in. 'It shouldn't take this long to change,' she thought as she rapped lightly on the door. "Inuyasha, are you okay in there?"
"I'm not coming out," he muttered, forcing her to strain to hear him.
With a sigh, Kagome wrapped a strand of her now short ebony hair between her fingers. A couple weeks ago she had wanted a change, and with Kagura's persuasion and Sango's support, she had cut her once long locks so they barely hit her shoulders. Everyone had loved it, except for Inuyasha. At first he said she looked cuter with long hair, but after a fight that spanned three days, he finally told her with a blush that the short hair was sexy. "Do we have to go though this again? Honestly, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to a child..."
Inuyasha burst out of the room, causing Kagome to fall on the floor in fits of laughter. His face immediately turned red, only causing tears to run down her cheeks. "Oh... Inu... Yasha..." she gasped as she tried to stand leaning against the wall, "You... you look... great!"
He practically growled at the laughing woman, restraining himself from tackling her to the ground again. 'How dare she!' he thought miserably. 'This was her idea in the first place!' He suddenly found himself being pushed to the living room, Kagome's barely repressed laughter reaching his ears underneath the fuzzy wig. "Damn it all..." he muttered, knowing there was no way out of the inevitable.
"So this is it?" Yura asked from the driver seat of her sport's car.
Tsubaki nodded, looking over the instructions she had scrawled on the back of a napkin. "It took two months, but we found them. Sesshomaru hid his trail well." Her stony eyes narrowed on the house, thinking over all the time they had gotten yelled at from Naraku for not finding them. 'Damn him,' she thought. 'Why the hell am I doing all this crap again?'
"Oh, let me go at them first! I've been itching to get blood under my fingernails..." Yura said as she tapped her bright pink fingernails against the tan steering wheel with a hungry look in her crimson eyes.
"Whatever. Go for it. Just remember what Naraku said-"
"Two weeks," they finished together, having been told numerous times after they got the address.
'However sick that whole blood thing was...' Tsubaki thought as Yura stepped on the gas, gliding them slowly out of the residential area.
The relationship between the two female assassins was an uneasy friendship. They got along because they had to, not because they wanted to. Yura's short hair blew in the breeze from her opened window, her long fingernails still tapping along with the radio. Tsubaki looked at her profile for a moment in annoyance before concentrating on the road ahead. 'Damn you Naraku...' she seethed mentally as she recalled the last discussion she and her wayward partner had with him.
- flashback
"We found the location of Sesshomaru's home, Naraku sir," Tsubaki said breathlessly as she jogged into the room, Yura hot on her heels.
"Good. I didn't doubt you would." His comment was empty. He didn't even look at them when he said it. He just kept watching that stupid fish swim back and forth in the little glass bowl.
How many times had Tsubaki thought about flushing that insufferable creature down the toilet? She had lost count.
"We're going tomorrow to check the place out," Yura said when she noticed he wasn't paying attention.
"As long as they're dead within the next two weeks, I really don't care what you do," he said with no enthusiasm, tapping the glass every time the fish swam near him.
"That won't be a problem sir," Tsubaki said with confidence. Tap.
"I would hope not. If you can't kill a group of teenagers then I really have underestimated the both of you." Tap.
Yura raised an expertly groomed eye brow and looked to Tsubaki. Not knowing what to say, Tsubaki shrugged and motioned for Yura to leave. Tap. Just as they both reached the door, Naraku called to them. "Two weeks."
"Yes sir," the both replied and continued on their way. Tap.
"If not you won't live to see another job," he said quietly, causing both women to stop at the door and freeze with wide eyes. Tap. "I'm tired of failure."
They just watched him for a moment, reaching into a desk drawer and pulling out a container of 'Gillbie's Goldfish Treats' and tossing a couple in the bowl for his beloved pet. Tap.
- end flash back
The mere memory made her blood boil. 'How dare he threaten us?' she questioned mentally. 'We do all the dirty work while he sits on his ass spitting orders, playing with that damn fish!' Her eyes narrowed dangerously as her hands turned into fists in her lap. 'And that tapping!'
Yura glanced quickly over at the gray haired woman, watching her face scrunch up and her hands twist. 'She stresses too much,' she thought absently as she focused on the busy highway. 'Maybe that's why her hair is gray...'
They remained silent as the car pulled into the large warehouse complex. As they exited Tsubaki took a deep breath and willed herself for the hundredth time not to burst into her boss's office and smash the glass fish bowl into hundreds of little pieces.
"Damn you all!" Inuyasha cursed under his breath at his friends and family who were currently in different stages of hysterics. Kagome was still giggling as she stood behind him, setting a calming hand on his tense shoulder. Sango and Kagura were leaning against each other on the couch, exhausted from laughing so hard. Miroku was still rolling on the floor with tears dripping down his cheeks and it took every once of self control in Inuyasha's body to not kick him. Shippou was hiding behind Sesshomaru, taunting Inuyasha with every trick he could think of. Even Sesshomaru had a small grin of amusement on his face. The only one not laughing at him was Rin, who was clapping her small hands in pleasure as Inuyasha squeaked a little horn, causing everyone else to erupt in laughter again.
His face was as red as a cherry as he attempted not to say anything, silently telling himself not to be a selfish jerk like he normally would have been.
"Uncle Inu?"
Rin had walked up to him with a concerned look on her face. "Yeah?" he bit out slightly harsher that he should have.
She winced at his tone and he immediately felt bad. "It's okay Uncle Inu. You don't have to be my clown anymore."
Inuyasha saw the clear look of hurt in the little human's large brown eyes, which caused his stomach to do uncomfortable flip-flops. He took a deep breath and willed a grin on his face as he bent down and scooped Rin into his arms. "You wanna know something?" he asked her. Suddenly the room was quiet, save for Miroku's attempts to breath normally again.
"What?" she questioned, clinging to his puffy clown sleeves.
"You're the only person I'd be a clown for," he told her, causing her to squeal in delight.
Snap!
"There," Sesshomaru said, camera in hand.
"That's defininetly a picture for the mantle!" Kagura announced, causing more laughter. But Inuyahsa stopped caring once he looked into Rin's glittering eyes. Knowing that he could make one little girl who deserved to be happy smile, then seeing a picture of himself dressed up in a clown suit every time he came over here was well worth it.
"Happy ninth birthday Rin!" the group exclaimed as the little girl blew out nine pink candles on her chocolate cake. Inuyasha had long since abandoned the clown costume in favor of jeans and a red t-shirt. He stood next to Kagome and watched at Kagura handed pieces of the rich treat to everyone gathered around the large kitchen table.
'How did life become this perfect?' he thought as he went out to the patio with his cake and sat on a free standing swing. He watched the birds fly overhead, taking a deep breath in the process. 'Two months ago no one thought things would end up like this, but here we are.' After they got their apartment with a little 'help' from Sesshomaru, Inuyasha started working immediately. Like Miroku, he made Kagome go back to school with the promise that he would follow when they had the money. His first priority was to pay Sesshomaru back, which he did with interest within two weeks. If nothing else, Inuyasha was a hard worker. He took a job at a large construction company not far from his home. Luckily the town they lived in was small, so there was no need for a person who enjoyed a good walk to have a car. His ultra-human strength had gotten him promoted quickly, and his no-nonsense attitude made many of his co-workers admire him.
The little town where he live, miraculously, wasn't against demons in the least. In fact, most of the population was demon. That didn't mean Inuyasha didn't get the odd stare in the market when he went shopping, but he didn't mind. Sesshomaru had chosen this town to settle in because of this very fact.
Everyday after school Inuyasha would show up at the school and walk Kagome home. They would chat and hold hands as they walked, not feeling the least bit threatened. They could smile and laugh together, even steal a quick kiss in public and no one would question why a pretty human girl was with a half-demon. The feeling he got from being able to show the world that Kagome was his make his chest puff out with pride.
His thoughts wandered to the jewlery store window he passed everyday on his way to pick Kagome up. There, to the left, right in the window was the ring he was going to buy Kagome. Every week he would set aside fifty dollars of overtime pay, saving for the day he would be able to buy her the magnificent golden band with the small white diamond nestled in the center. Inuyasha knew she wouldn't want an extravagant one, not even one as big as Sango's. Miroku had taken a small loan from Sesshomaru to pay for the ring and had yet to pay it back. 'He probably won't,' Inuyasha thought with a grin. 'He never paid me back for Sango's Christmas present.'
"Inuyasha?" a soothingly familiar voice said from behind him as a small hand fell on his shoulder.
"Yeah Kagome?"
"You have room for me?" she asked in a small voice.
"Always," he said as he slid over, putting his empty plat on the table next to the swing.
Kagome sat down next to him, leaning easily against his chest. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and they sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, watching the sun set over the hills in the distance. "I wanted to thank you for dressing up today. Rin really adored it."
He ran his rough fingers up the bare skin of her arm, rubbing the fabric of her green tank top and running them back down to her elbow, causing her spine to straighten and a small gasp to escape her lips. "It was no problem, after I destroy that picture my idiot brother took," he said with a grin.
Kagome smiled. Ever since they had arrived in America, Inuyasha had dropped the term 'half-brother' in favor for a simple 'brother', which, to Kagome at least, showed great growth on his part. He was willing to put bitter feelings in the past and go on with his life. His life with her.
"Are you okay, Gome?" he questioned, locking eyes with her. She starred into the amber depths and knew she could never hide anything from his penetrating gaze. Not that she would want to.
"I don't know. I've been getting weird vibes, as though there's something watching us."
"You're being silly, wench," he said confidently. "If anyone dangerous was around, me, Sesshomaru or Kagura would smell it. There's nothing to worry about." He planted a small kiss to her temple and returned his gaze tot he sunset.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," she told him, relaxing into his arms. 'But still... the Shikon no Tama has even been sending me some sort of mental warning, like something dangerous is coming... I must really be paranoid!' she thought as she snuggled into Inuyasha's side, pulling her legs up on the swing. 'There's nothing to worry about.'
Tsubaki sat on the couch in the makeshift 'living room' in the warehouse, which consisted of a couch, a card table with four chairs, and a television that only picked up local channels. 'Naraku's too cheap to even buy cable,' she thought as she did a cross word from the daily newspaper with a basketball game playing quietly on the televison. 'Hmmm... a five letter name for a bear only found in Australia...'
At that moment Yura wandered in from the back 'bedrooms' with a skimpy black outfit on, showing off her well developed chest and slim figure. "Going to a club?" Tsubaki asked innocently.
Yura shot her a glare. "No," she said, tieing her glove in place. "I've decided to get it done tonight."
Tsubaki nodded as she watched the pale woman pick up a red comb from the coffee table. "Good luck."
"Hmpf!" she snorted in response, "I don't need luck! This will be simple!"
"Before you go..." Tsubaki said, looking down at her newspaper, "Do you know a five letter name for a bear only found in Australia?"
She tapped a long pink fingernail against her chin in thought. "A polar bear!" she announced as she swept out the door.
Tsubaki watched the door close behind her with a blank stare. "A polar bear... How much of an idiot is that woman?" Tsubaki asked the air as she filled 'koala' into the blank boxes.
The four teens walked two of the seven blocks to their apartment building in silence a couple hours later. Rin had been the happiest they had ever seen her and they still all had a warm feeling from the little girl's hugs when they left.
"It's a beautiful night," Miroku stated, breaking the quiet.
"Yeah, and look at the moon!" Kagome said from Inuyasha's side as she pointed a dainty finger to the sky, where a full moon watched them.
"It's perfect... everything is perfect," Sango muttered and they all silently agreed.
"Summer is coming soon," Inuyasha said as he sniffed the air. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks, looking into the park they were passing by. "Sango," he stated, causing the girl to stiffen.
"Yeah." With that they both ran down a dirt path deeper into the park.
Miroku and Kagome looked at each other and shrugged, immediately following the sprinting teens.
After a minute, they caught up with Inuyasha and Sango, both standing in the middle of a clear path stiffly.
"Sango, love are you-" Miroku started to approach, but was stopped when Kagome grabbed the back of his shirt. "What are you doing Kagome?"
"You can't see them?" she asked, her doe eyes darting around the area.
"See... what?" Miroku sounded confused as he squinted his eyes, still only seeing Inuyasha and Sango standing in the field.
Kagome bent down and reached out as if to touch something, though Miroku saw nothing. She pulled her hand back as though she were burned and looked at the small cut on her finger. A drop of blood fell tot he dirt as Miroku tried even harder to see what had hurt her.
"Hair..." she mummbles as she stood up, looking at Inuyasha and Sango. "Hair is wrapped around them!"
"What? I don't..." Miroku's eyes widened as he saw a glimmer. Suddenly the park was full of thin strands of hair, criss crossing in odd patterns in front of them. Inuyasha and Sango were both immobilized by the silky threads wrapping around their bodies.
"My, my, my. I seem to have underestimated you," a taunting voice said from somewhere above them. A form in skimpy black clothing dropped down to stand on the strands near their immobilized friends.
Kagome gasped and Miroku looked her up and down, momentarily forgetting his fiance and best friend were in mortal danger. "Yura!"
To my Friends and Reviewers -
Lanerz - I'm really sorry I made you wait so long! The absence will be explained in the bottom author's note. But yep, that darn fish. I think Naraku would be the type to keep a fish. Or sea monkeys. Something like that. And of coarse you need the fluffy WAFF! Hehe! Thanks so much for liking my story enough to review this chapter three times!
eliteElite - Hehe! (hugs)
Suaru - YAY! (swings new sledge hammer around) OMG, I luff you so uber much! Love and hugs to you FOREVER! Oh yeah... UPDATE!
JadeElemental - Aww! (huggles Chel) Of coarse I missed you! You always make me laugh! And that perverted part of your brain needs an off switch! Hehe! Well, from the episodes she was in, she seemed like that, no? I hate when people are like that! Go Chel! Yeah! Kanna and Kagura were always my favorites of Naraku's offspring, so I made them on the good team because... It's my story! (strikes lame pose) Tada! And I luff you Chel! (huggles Chel) ((don't be a perv about it!)) And I didn't mean that in a sick way! Geesh... And they do work for him... and he's kinda their boss... even though you see now Tsubaki does hate him. Go ahead and have Miroku, cause I have my Sesshy-sama! (huggles Sesshy) ((you can be perverted about that huggle... Hehe...)) Hey, that's my dark corner! I've been hiding there for at least twelve chapters! Yeah, it was pretty short. This one is around 12 I believe. The longest chappies of the story (ch 6 and 7) were around 20 pages! Those were killers right there! Smilies rule! Love and Hugs! Oh, do you know something? I always know it's your review in my inbox because the file size is at least three times bigger than other reviews!
demon mind69 - Yeah, I didn't want to put poor Sango through that again so I skipped into the future! Darn that fish... Thankies!
BeckyJoe3689 - Thanks! Kagome and Inu are one of my favorite anime pairs and I'm glad I portrayed their interaction well!
pistachio564 - Hehe... Needless to say I felt bad. You're so very welcome! (blushes) It's an honor that you all read it and enjoy!
penguinlover7 - Thanks so much!
Anime-Devil-101 - I'm glad you think so! That's what I was hoping people would think! Thanks a lot!
sapphire-glass - Hey, it's no biggie, Sapph! I understand that completely! Yeah... I also understand that! Love and Hugs, my furry friend!
Laura of the fashizzle - Wow! (blushes) I'm so happy that you would recommend my story to first time readers! I'm honored! Yeah, Lanerz is great! I know, normally I don't like when she turns into a hanyou either. But it was just a little temporary twist I threw in! Besides, she'd look adorable with ears! And I'll definitely read it when you start! Just tell me when you do! And thanks again! I'm thinking of starting an original story, but I still want to improve my writing more. Until I get the nerve to start it, fanfiction is the only thing for me! It would be awesome to be an author... In my dreams! But thanks for your confidence in me!
Devilchild34 - Thanks so much!
Sangonesan - AHH! Chicken ramen is my favorite! No, he didn't. Being in the Syndicate himself, he understood. Besides, could you see Fluffy-sama going off the deep end and yelling at her? That would be interesting! Thanks!
One&OnlyKagome - Hehe! Yep! Yeah, a lot of people feel sorry for poor Sango-chan... Anyway, he is very much the protective type! And the WAFF is so adorable! Yeah, but it was part of the plot. The whole point of her becoming half demon was to make her better understand how Inuyasha felt. But, thanks!
Well guys, again this took awhile. Real life got in the way. A couple weeks ago my great grandma died, and I really didn't feel like writing for a while. Sorry about that, but I'd rather give you a quality chapter with my heart in it than a crappy chapter without my heart. So yeah. I'm hoping to have this story completed before it's one year anniversary in September. So wish me luck! Thanks again for all the kind comments! I really appreciate it! Your REVIEWS make writing oh so enjoyable! Until next time (which will hopefully be sooner) my friends! Adios mi bien amigos y amigas!
Ash