- All the pretty reviews…YOU ARE MINE, MY PRETTIES, ALL MINE! I am so loved…I can actually hardly believe all the reviews I've been getting lately. Chapter Nine got 21 reviews by itself. OO Mind-boggling. Maybe I can get my vampire novel published after all.
None of my other stories get any reviews; I don't know what's so special about this one, but I like it! I've been thinking about making my Gundam Wing one-shot, Red Christmas, into a chapter fic, or making a sequel or something…to write or not to write? Oh, what a question…
Hmm. Now that I've got that out of my system…I have nothing good to say, do I? Oh! I know! I'll start talkin' to my reviewers. Heehee, fun. (Sorry, I just drank some Mountain Dew, God help us all.)
Branch of tree la, you reek of awesomeness. Nice to know you'll never flame anyone again. XD. That means I'm doing good. But sometimes soon this angst all has to come to some happy conclusion…eventually. Right now I'm enjoying myself too much.
Silver Moon Midnight Skies…it's not really my place to forgive you, but I appreciate you apologizing to branch of tree la. Thanks for still reviewing and everything.
Bus Buddie, you crack me up. Sorry 'bout your cat…my kitten, Avalon, is also gray—she's a gray tabby with a white belly, white chin, and white paws. She's SO cute. I love her. Right now she is curled up in my lap…gosh, if my brother had asthma, I'd kill him instead of getting rid of the kitten.
For the rest of you reviewers, you can keep your ears. For those who didn't review, Avalon has much enjoyed munching on your earlobes and spitting them out. Hmm…I counted five ears. FIVE! You creeps! You didn't love me enough to review me…sniff sniff…but that is fine…I have my revenge…and a few eyebrows sitting in my stomach from two chapters or so ago…
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I think you figured that out about ten chapters ago. If I was receiving money for this, I would not be baby-sitting to get my money. NO SUE! .
Chapter 12
Family Ties
Construction started the very next morning.
A surprising number of villagers had volunteered to help Inuyasha build his house. He was still used to the social stigma that came with being half-demon. Since he wasn't in the village a whole lot, he hadn't paid enough attention to realize they had all changed their minds about him.
They had very much changed their minds about him. Instead of hissing half-breed as they had fifty years earlier, they were now calling him "Inuyasha-sama." Although he had refused the title, blushing a little, they had insisted upon it. He had rescued their village, aided Kaede, and brought the priestess Kagome back safely time and time again. Inuyasha was now worthy of their praise.
Maybe things are changing for the better, he thought, hoisting another log up. Shippo was slowly warming up to him, and Inuyasha was surprised that he actually liked the fox-demon. He was thoughtful, adorably mischievous, and very intelligent for his age. He didn't know how he could have missed it before. Maybe he was jealous that Kagome's attention went to Shippo instead of her. Well, it was no reason for him to act be a jerk, and he saw the error of his ways now. He was going to make it up to Shippo.
Inuyasha's house was going to be slightly bigger than all of the other houses in the village. Most of them had one or two rooms, but Inuyasha was making three. He'd decided that Shippo should have a separate room. When he got older, he'd want his privacy anyway. The room in-between the bedrooms had a cooking area and a sitting area, and he had asked a traveling merchant to get him some school books. He had designed a small, crude shelf to go in the sitting area.
When the humans took their lunch break, Inuyasha walked over to Kaede's hut to sit down. He looked out at his house, already half-completed. It wasn't in his dreams or plans to settle down and build a house, but now that it had come…well, he really didn't mind the idea. Actually, he kind of liked it.
A tap on the shoulder surprised him. When he turned his head, he saw Shippo holding a bowl in his tiny hands. "It's for you," he said, a little shyly.
Inuyasha stared for a couple seconds, then smiled. "Thanks," he said, accepting the bowl. "Did you make it yourself?"
"Yeah." Shippo sat down next to him. "The house is almost finished."
"Mm-hmm. I'd been planning on building it myself. I'd thought it would take a week, at least." He at some of the rice Shippo had given him. "At this rate, we can move in tonight."
"That's good."
"I know it's probably not as nice as the house you and your parents lived in, but it's what I can afford." I could afford more, he thought, if Sesshomaru had ever let me touch the money my father left for me. But that would happen when hell froze over. What was the point in trying?
"Are we still looking for jewel shards?" Shippo asked.
The question surprised Inuyasha. He'd thought the answer was obvious. "No," he said. "Kagome was the only one who could sense the shards. She's gone with her pieces of it. Our quest is ended."
"Do you think Miroku and Sango are still going after Naraku?"
"I think they both want to, but they feel like they can't by themselves."
"They could go together," Shippo pointed out. "Then they wouldn't be alone."
Inuyasha shook his head. "Miroku and Sango aren't going to join forces. Each one thinks the other doesn't want to do it, so they aren't going to waste time asking."
"That's stupid," Shippo muttered.
"Yes, it is." Inuyasha continued eating. "Kagome was the only thing that held the other four of us together. Now that she's gone, we've gone our separate ways."
"I'm still here with you."
"Yes, but I don't know if you would have stayed if you had any other choice."
Shippo frowned. "I probably would have left at first."
"But?" Inuyasha prompted him.
"I dunno. You're different now. I think I wanna stay."
"I'm glad," Inuyasha said, eating the last of the rice. He handed the empty bowl to Shippo. "It was good. Thanks for making it."
"It's fine," Shippo said, but he looked pleased with himself.
Inuyasha got back up to continue building. Kagome had always told him that if he had ever made an effort, he and Shippo would get along. He hadn't believed her, hadn't even been willing to try. Until she was gone. What would she say if she could see the two of them now?
Kagome brushed her hair and studied her reflection in the mirror. She wore a short blue dress, cut off at the knees. The sleeves were spaghetti-strapped. She didn't normally wear spaghetti straps because it was so hard to wear strapless bras. She had opted for a bra with clear straps this time, so it didn't look tacky and it didn't keep sliding down off of her.
She couldn't remember the last time she had looked that attractive. It made her wonder what Inuyasha would think if he could see her now. He'd probably complain about her choice of perfume, though. She should try to forget him, try to forget…
Kagome reached for a pair of earrings and pushed them into her ears. Inuyasha would get on fine without her, and if he didn't, he probably deserved to suffer anyway. Sango and Miroku could take care of themselves. A thought sprang to mind. Who was taking care of Shippo?
"Shit," she swore out loud, a hand flying to her mouth. She had been the only one taking care of him before. She hadn't even been able to say good-bye to him, or make arrangements for someone to care for him. What was happening to him now? Had Sango or Miroku taken him?
No—they'd be going on hunting Naraku. Sango for revenge, Miroku to end a curse. Inuyasha had probably left to go somewhere else—since he couldn't get the entire Shikon no Tama, he had no use going after Naraku's piece. And Kaede…well, Kaede had no idea how to take care of a child; she'd never had one. And besides that, she was too old to raise Shippo. He was only eight; Kaede was seventy.
Who could possibly be taking care of Shippo?
Calm down, she told herself, vaguely aware that her eyes were wide and frightened. It's not like they'd just abandon him. He's got to be with someone somewhere. But how could she know for sure?
A knock on the door. "Who is it?" she asked.
"It's your mother, dear. Houjo is here to pick you up."
"O-okay, thanks," Kagome called.
"Don't stay out too late."
Kagome sighed. Her mother had been a nervous wreck until she had come back from the Feudal Era (by all physical appearances) unscathed. Mrs. Higurashi had been pretty calm overall about Kagome's visits to Inuyasha's world, but this time she had been hysterical. The second Kagome walked through that door, she felt Mrs. Higurashi's arms around her, holding her tightly, crying her eyes out. She had thought she'd never come back again.
The well had been sealed off. Inuyasha couldn't lay a hand on her now. He would never be able to come through the well again. Somehow, the thought made her heart feel heavy. She had enjoyed her time with him, traveling through all the villages…even those times when he had become stubborn hadn't been that bad.
If could have been perfect…if that damn rosary hadn't broken. It meant she couldn't trust Inuyasha has she had thought she could. She'd always thought that part of him had grown fond of her, that he would never really hurt her. The truth had hurt her, proven her horribly wrong. She chewed her lip. She should have known. Should have known all along that he hadn't changed since the day he first used his claws against her, trying to get the Shikon no Tama away from her.
It was the new moon, she realized suddenly, looking at the calendar. Inuyasha was turning into a human tonight…funny how his most vulnerable night was the night she finally gave in and dated another guy.
She couldn't go back now to check on Shippo. She'd have to wait until night…yes. Wait until night, when Inuyasha was human, to go to Kaede and find out where he was. She could take him back with her if he was alone. If he was touching her when she went through the well, he could travel it, too.
Kagome picked up her purse and started out the door. "Bye, Mom!" she called as she raced down the stairs. As she descended, she found Houjo at the bottom of the steps, smiling at her.
"You look nice, Kagome," he stated. His eyes seemed to linger on her a little more than she liked.
"Uh, thanks. I've had this sitting around in my closet."
"But it looks so wonderful on you. It would be a shame not to wear it!" Houjo protested.
Kagome felt her cheeks redden in a gentle blush. Houjo always knew precisely the right thing to say. How was it possible such a perfect man could exist? He was the exact opposite of Inuyasha…kind, understanding, compassionate…he complimented her clothes when Inuyasha didn't even bother looking at them. He probably liked the way she smelled, when Inuyasha complained of her "stench."
Why do I want to get away from him? Kagome wondered, taking Houjo's hand as he led her out the door to his car. Why do I hate being around Houjo? I should be falling head-over-heels for him. Why do I only think of Inuyasha when I see him?
I should hate Inuyasha.
"Ready," Inuyasha said, collapsing on the floor in the sitting room. "Damn, I'm tired."
"You don't require any more assistance, Inuyasha-sama?" one of the volunteers asked.
"Don't sweat it," he said, waving it off. "You guys have done more than enough already. Shippo and I will be able to sleep in our house tonight."
Our house…tonight. Inuyasha bowed his head at the village men as they exited his house to return to their own homes. It was probably six in the evening already, and tonight was the night of the new moon. He'd be inside and protected for once, but he wouldn't sleep.
He couldn't remember even sleeping during the new moon when he was a small child. It had always scared him to be made suddenly weak and vulnerable, a mere human. Back then he hadn't thought of them as necessarily inferior to him. But the thought of being weaker than before wasn't a pleasant one. It was like feeling sick. It was different, uncomfortable.
Shippo came bouncing in. His stuffed fox was under his arm. "Is my room done?" he asked excitedly.
"Yep," Inuyasha said. He nodded his head towards one of the rooms. "We got your futon set up and everything."
"Alright!" He was running to the room already. Apparently he wanted to check it out—he hadn't had his own room since before his parents died. Inuyasha chuckled. Shippo's enthusiasm was contagious, even if he was tired. This was going to be hell on his human body. And it was only another hour or two before the sun disappeared and his powers went with it.
But they'll be back by sunrise, he thought, closing his eyes. They always were.
Kikyo handed Sesshomaru the vial. "That's it."
He inspected it closely. It was nothing impressive. The vial was plain glass, small enough to fit in his palm easily, with a cork stopping the pink liquid inside from pouring out. "This little thing will be Inuyasha's undoing?"
"Yes…if you succeed," Kikyo said, meeting his eyes.
He managed not to flinch or blink against her gaze, but it was hard. "What do I need to do with it?"
"Inuyasha will be human when you approach him. Human and vulnerable." She brushed her fingertips over the glass, inadvertently touching Sesshomaru's hand. "This needs to come into contact with his skin. Once it does that, it will make him human forever. You can steal Testusaiga easily. He probably won't come back for it. He'll be too weak to do so, and I don't imagine he'll have any use for it anyway."
"But if he does come back, it will take nothing to kill him," Sesshomaru murmured.
"It's not a difficult task. And Inuyasha never expected me to help you." She smiled. "But that's why you sought me out, isn't it?"
He chose to ignore the question, although the answer to it was yes. "Did you plan to come with me?"
"The damage I wanted to see done to him is done. What you do is none of my concern." She started to turn, but she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
He leaned in closer to her. "I would be honored…if you would come with me to witness Inuyasha's defeat."
Kikyo's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Your courtly words are tempting, but I don't see how I can be of any use to you."
"Wouldn't it kill him to know you hated him enough to help me like this?" Sesshomaru pressed.
"You don't want me with you to hurt Inuyasha," Kikyo said bluntly. "You are making excuses to keep me with you."
"Perhaps so, but you can't say it wouldn't be interesting to see how he takes this betrayal." He kept his eyes on her face, unblinking, unmoving. Waiting for her decision.
Something in Kikyo's eyes wavered, then she moved his hand from her shoulder. "It would be my pleasure…to join you," she said softly.
Kagome sat through the movie with her chin in her hand. She was bored. Houjo had chosen a cheesy chick flick to go see together, and she was not the least bit thrilled. All chick flicks were the same as the last one. There was no diversity, no flavor, no surprise, and therefore, no entertainment.
Thinking it through, instead of watching the movie, Kagome couldn't remember the last time she had sat down at watched a movie. She did it less and less often now. After all, she'd spent most of her time in the Feudal Era, and they didn't have movies there. Really, there had only been a few movies she enjoyed all throughout her life. Good movies were so hard to come by.
Houjo seemed more happy about the movie. His eyes were turned to the screen, his fingers entwined with hers. He didn't seem to notice the other hand was the only thing holding up her head. He didn't know she wasn't enjoying herself. He didn't know she was worried about a fox-demon child all alone in another world 400 years into the past that she reached jumping through a well where she had been collecting magic jewel shards for a half-demon carrying a big sword who she was desperately in love with until his girlfriend came back from the dead and ruined it all—and quite frankly, if she told him, he would think she was developing psychosis on top of all of her other mental illnesses.
He'd taken her to a nice dinner at one of the most romantic (and expensive) restaurants in town. He'd taken her to a movie he thought she'd enjoy. She wasn't feeling romantic. She wasn't enjoying herself. She didn't love him. It was as simple as that. And she knew he felt quite differently about her, but…
But nothing, she thought savagely. You're wasting your time with Inuyasha when you had the perfect guy all along, waiting right here at home. In the twenty-first century! Where you're supposed to live. Not out wasting your time waiting around for some grumpy hanyou to profess his undying love for you—
Her thoughts were interrupted by a shower of applause. The end credits were on. As Houjo stood up, he smiled down at her. "Wasn't that a great movie?"
"Er, yeah," she mumbled. "Really…really great movie…" Not that I saw any of it, she added silently.
Houjo chattered all the way back to the car about his favorite scenes in the movie, the famous actress's new hair color, the emotional break-up scene that she seemed to have totally missed…and he chattered even more on the trip home, never seeming to realize she was not responding to him except for a weak nod or smile every so often.
As he put the car into park in front of her house, he turned to smile at her. "I had a really great time tonight," he said brightly.
I didn't, she thought. "Yeah, so did I."
Then he leaned in. His eyes were closed, his lips slightly parted. The moment he had probably been planning all night. She let him kiss her, nothing more than a brush of lips, then pulled back. A little too quickly.
Houjo blinked, looking hurt. "Kagome, don't you like me?"
"No, it's not that. It's just—" A thought occurred to her. "Um, Houjo, I'm not so sure you're not gay."
Houjo laughed. "Gay? Don't be silly. I'm not gay." He frowned then. "Are you?"
"No." She sighed, clasping her hands in her lap and staring at them. "I just…"
"Don't like me." When she looked up, he was staring ahead, looking sullen. "That's okay. I understand."
"I tried," she said weakly. "I mean, I know any girl would want to date you. God knows every girl in the school is after you."
"Kagome, don't try to make me feel better. I'll be alright, really." He smiled then. "After all, if you don't like me, there must be some other girl out there who's right for me."
"I'm really sorry."
"There's more, though," he said. "There's another guy, isn't there?"
"Yes. And that's the stupid thing." She stared at the ceiling and let out a long sigh. "He's not…like most people, I guess. He's rude, uncivilized, egotistical, and he can never admit something is his fault. He never even admits he has deep feelings about anything. He just…ignores it all. Pushes it all away."
"You must really love him," Houjo said.
"Love him?" Kagome repeated, staring at him in surprise.
"If he's that bad and you still think about him all the time, you must really love him." Houjo shrugged. "He'll probably come around, admit that he's wrong sometimes. And I'm sure he must love you back."
"W-what makes you so sure?" Kagome asked.
"Well, who wouldn't?" he asked. "Let's see, you're kind, understanding, compassionate…you have a beautiful smile. And you're one of the prettiest girls in the whole school."
"I am not."
"You are!" They met each other's gaze, both smiled. "If I can be nothing more than your friend," Houjo went on, "I'll just be your friend. And if I'm your friend, I want you to be happy with this guy."
"I should have known you'd understand," Kagome said with a grin. She reached out and hugged him. "You are a good friend, Houjo."
"Thanks. You are, too."
She pulled back, opened the door. "Thanks for the date—and for the conversation."
"See you later."
"Bye!" She waved until Houjo had pulled completely out of the driveway and the car had disappeared from view. She was already sure of what she was going to do. She set her gaze upon the well and started towards it, ready to go find Shippo and make sure he was safe.
Ooh, what will Kagome find when she goes to find Shippo? Will Sesshomaru and Kikyo succeed in turning Inuyasha into a human? What does Inuyasha think about Kagome coming back? What does he think about his brother and ex-girlfriend's evil plan? What WILL happen? FIND OUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO ME ASK YOU THE QUESTIONS!
The review button is below, and if you do not hit it and type me a nice little message, I shall be very upset. And I shall light a firework under your lazy butt and watch the pretty sparks fly as you say "ow ow ow ow" over and over again and I laugh at your stupidness. REVIEW!