AN: Thank you for all the reviews, you made sick Neoshipper feel better ^-^ Ugh, I went to the nurse last period the other day and she was like, "You have a fever." o.o If I had went to her earlier, I could have gone home XP. Anyway, I'm glad a lot of people like the story so far. And there were a few questions/comments from reviewers I wanted to reply to (sorry I don't have Internet on this computer so I can't find your names! x_x)
There might be a few Inuyasha x Kagome moments, or I should say there will be at least one or two. I've already decided where this is going as a Kouga x Kagome though, so I can't change everything now, Gomen!
Thanks for the link to the Sango x Miroku site! ^-^
~*^-^*~
"Mama? Souta? Oji-san?" Kagome poked her head through the front door. The lights were off and it was quiet. Which meant once again, everyone was gone. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad she wouldn't have to explain to everyone where Kouga came from or why she was going back.
"No one's home, come in." She pushed the sliding door open until she and Kouga could squeeze through.
"This is where you live?"
"Yea. It's not much, but…If you wait here, I'm going to go grab a couple of things." She hurried up the stairs to her room, praying that wolves listened better than dogs.
"Hey, Kagome. Where are you?"
Apparently, they didn't. She sighed and quickly shoved a pile of dirty clothes under the bed.
"I'm in here!"
Seconds later, Kouga poked his head in, then slowly stepped into the room. Kagome watched him look at everything with great interest. He flipped through pages of her math text book and tapped bottles of perfume curiously. She giggled and took her giant yellow backpack out from in her closet. She had stopped using it two years ago, and shoved it in her closet while cleaning one day.
"What's this?"
Kagome turned her attention to Kouga, who was now poking the small TV on her dresser. She grabbed the remote off her bedside table and clicked it on. Kouga jumped back as an image of a boy and a girl came on the screen.
"What the hell is that thing?"
"A TV. You can watch movies on it."
"Movies?"
"Ooh, never mind. Just watch." She pointed towards the screen. Kouga cautiously approached it, half hunched over and ready to attack. When he realized that nothing was going to pop out of the strange box, he pressed his palm on the screen.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked when he pulled back his hand and growled. He turned towards her, eyes wide and angry.
"That guy bit me!"
"Bit you? That's not possible, Kouga-kun. I think you just got shocked."
Kouga had turned back towards the TV now, watching with peaking interest as the boy and girl moved closer. Kagome blushed and fumbled with the remote, pounding on the off key. It turned off just as the guy had started kissing down the girls' neck.
"T-that's enough TV for now, ne?" She laughed nervously as she shoved a few things in her bag. Kouga said nothing about her anxiousness to turn off the strange talking box, instead turning his attention towards other things on her dresser.
"I've got everything, we can go now." She swung her bag and shrieked when she stumbled under the weight. How had she ever carried this before? She gasped when strong arms caught and steadied her.
"Daijoubu?"
"Y-yea. Thanks." Kagome blushed and pulled back, adjusting the bag straps. Kouga watched her with interest, which made her blush even more.
"C'mon, let's go before-"
"Ane-ue?"
"S-Souta!"
The door to her room opened and her younger brother stuck his head in. He looked like he was about to say something until he saw the man standing behind his sister.
"Ahh! A mutant cat!"
"C-Cat!?" Kouga looked outraged. Kagome, on the other hand, fought back the urge to laugh. Where had Souta even seen a resemblance to a cat on Kouga? Speaking of cats, where was Buyo? She hadn't seen him since she got home.
"Maa, maa. Souta, this is Kouga-kun. Kouga-kun, my little brother, Souta." Kagome hastily made introductions. Souta crept further into the room and hid behind his sister, peeking out to eye the strange man with a tail.
"I'm a wolf." Kouga finally muttered under his breath. Souta seemed to think that over for a few seconds.
"Really? Ne, do you know Inu-onee-chan?" Souta lost his case of shyness and moved forward. Kagome sweatdropped as she saw the anger marks showing on Kouga's head.
"Souta, we really have to go. I'll be back soon though, promise." Kagome patted him on the head and lead the still fuming Kouga out of her room and down the stairs, where they ran into Kagome's mother.
"Mama!"
"Kagome-chan? Who's this?"
"Ahh, this is Kouga-kun, he's from the Feudal Age too. Which is where I need to be going now." Kagome tugged on Kouga's arm and was about halfway towards the door when her mother stopped them.
"Wait!"
"Mama!" Kagome whined as her mother approached Kouga with a thoughtful look on her face. Kouga eyed the woman wearily, not sure how to react.
"Your tail…is it real?" Before anyone could answer, her mother reached out to grab his tail. Kouga was faster and swung away.
"What do you think you're doing, woman?"
"Mama!"
"Gomen, Kagome-chan. I couldn't resist."
Kagome sighed and dragged Kouga out the door, where again they were confronted by an obstacle. Kagome's Oji-san.
"Sayonara, Oji-san, I'll be back soon!" Kagome waved as she pulled Kouga after her towards the well. Looking back, Oji-san wasn't paying any attention anyway, he was looking in the top fifty deadly diseases of the year book. Kagome sweatdropped. She'd been home for two years now and he'd been looking through medical books every day since. He said he was "preparing for the future". Well, it might come in handy.
"Sorry about that, Kouga-kun. My family is a little…weird." She laughed as they entered the mini shrine with the well. Kouga started forward and was sitting on the ledge when he realized Kagome was still stuck in the doorway.
"Kagome?"
"I-I can't." She fell to her knees, still staring at the well in front of her. Kouga was at her side before she could comprehend what was happening.
"Kagome, this isn't like you. I'll keep that stupid puppy away."
Kagome wordlessly shook her head, eyes still trained to the well. Two years. Two long years, and now? Kouga grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to look at him.
"Pull yourself together. Think of everyone who's waiting for you. You can't back out now."
Kagome took two deep breaths before nodding. Leaning against Kouga, she stood and they walked towards the well together. Two long years. Two cold and miserable years. Kagome slipped onto the ledge of the well, feet dangling in the darkness. Kouga sat next to her, one arm wrapped around her waist, under the backpack.
"Ready?"
Kagome nodded and closed her eyes. She took one last deep breath before pushing forward. And then she was falling. Tumbling, spinning through a void. Two years.
~*^-^*~
"Sango?"
"Houshi-sama." Sango didn't look up from her spot near the well. She watched it like a hawk, waiting for something, or rather, someone, to come out. Miroku sighed and sat next to her, leaning against the well.
"Do you think she'll come back?" Sango finally asked, glancing over at the relaxing houshi. He shrugged.
"It all depends on how deeply Kagome-sama was hurt."
"Then it's hopeless." Sango growled, punching the well angrily. Miroku gently took her hand and rubbed the already reddened knuckles.
"It's not hopeless."
"Where's Inuyasha?"
"He wanted to be alone. He's in the forest somewhere."
Sango nodded absently, mind drifting back to his hands on hers'. She shuddered and was just about to hit Miroku when a flash erupted from the well. Sango gasped and stumbled to her feet, heart pounding in her chest. Miroku stood and took a spot next to her, taking her hand in his. Either she was too anxious or she just didn't care, because she made no move to smack his hand away.
One hand appeared on the ledge, followed by another. A large yellow bag was next, which was tossed onto the grass. Sango felt hot tears in her eyes when Kagome poked her head out of the well. Their eyes locked and Kagome quickly scrambled out, Kouga following after.
"Sango-chan?" Kagome looked surprised, as if she hadn't expected Sango to be in this era at all. Sango opened her mouth, but couldn't make any words come out. Miroku grinned and nudged her forward.
"Kagome!" Sango threw her arms around the startled girl. Kagome shot a questioning glance at Miroku, who just shrugged. Smiling, Kagome wrapped her arms around her friend.
"I missed you, Sango-chan."
Sango just sniffled and nodded. When Kagome was finally able to pry Sango off her, she approached Miroku.
"Kagome-sama." He nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Two years and all you can say is 'Kagome-sama'?" Kagome shook her head and hugged the houshi, deeply surprising him. He had just started to move his hand down a little lower when Kouga growled.
"Don't even think about it, you corrupted bastard."
"Houshi." Miroku corrected as he pulled away. Kagome laughed. She was home. She had just picked up her previously discarded backpack when she heard someone screaming her name in the distance.
"Kagomeeee!"
"S-Shippou-chan? Kirara?" She had to squint to make sure, but it looked like Shippou had hitched a ride from Kirara and they were approaching at a very fast pace. Too fast.
"Kirara! Slow dow-" Kagome shrieked when the large cat pummeled into her, knocking her on her back. A small ball of brown jumped onto her stomach.
"Kagome! You're back!" Shippou sniffled as Kagome patted his head reassuringly. Kirara leaned down and proceeded to lick Kagome's face until Sango was able to pull her off. Kouga hoisted Kagome to her feet before she even had a chance to sit up.
"Thanks." She couldn't help but blush as she picked up her bag again. It wasn't until she turned back around that she remembered she had brought presents for all of them. She smiled sadly. It had almost been Christmas when she left.
"Ne, I forgot I had bought these for you guys just before I left. Here, open them." Kagome reached into her bag and pulled out a few wrapped packages. Everyone was handed one except Sango, who couldn't help but feel a little hurt.
"Come on, Sango-chan, I have a special present for you!" Before Sango could protest, Kagome was dragging her off into the woods, a bag clutched in her hand.
"What could they be up to?" Miroku frowned before looking at the package in his hands. He shrugged and started tearing at the paper.
~*^-^*~
Kagome appeared not too long after; alone. No one seemed to notice though as they studied the strange things Kagome had given them.
"Ah, Kagome-sama…" Miroku turned the bulky object over in his hands. Kagome giggled and proceeded to show him how a camera worked.
"If you press this button, when aimed properly, you'll get a picture of whatever is in that lens."
"Ohh…" He clearly didn't get it. Kagome sighed and turned to Shippou, who was already eating his present.
"Arigatou, Kagome! It's been so long since I've had some of this!" He smiled happily as he shoved another chunk of chocolate in his mouth. Kirara was busily rolling in the grass with her new catnip ball. Kagome smiled and then turned to Kouga, who was studying a metal chain with interest.
"It's a necklace. See the wolf?" She leaned in to show him the silver charm hanging from the chain. As she pulled back, her arm brushed his, sending a tingling sensation throughout her body.
'W-what was that?' She shuddered and glanced up to see if he noticed. If he did, he paid no attention to it. Kagome watched him struggle with the clasp for a few seconds before taking it from him.
"Here, flip up your hair." She went behind him and clasped the necklace closed. Her fingers brushed against his neck and she shuddered again, quickly pulling back.
"I-I think it's time for Sango-chan to-"
"Kagome." Kouga stopped her by placing a hand on her arm. She froze, but turned around. The look in his eyes was very un-Kouga like.
"Arigatou."
"S-sure." She laughed nervously and pulled away. Why was her heart beating so fast? She shook off the thought and turned back to the line of trees.
"Ne, Sango-chan! You can come out now!"
"This doesn't feel right!" Came the muffled reply. Kagome rolled her eyes and hurried to the girl who was hiding behind a tree.
"Don't you want Miroku-sama to see?"
"H-Houshi-sama!? Why would I want him to see this?"
"I'm not blind, Sango-chan. Come on, he'll love it." She tugged on the reluctant girl's arm.
"That's because he loves anything female." She muttered, miserable. Kagome scolded her and Sango gave in. She took a deep breath before allowing Kagome to pull her out into the open.
"Ne, Miroku-sama! Look!" Kagome called for the houshi, which made Sango try to run back into the woods.
"Hai, Kago- S-Sango!?" Miroku almost dropped the camera as he watched Kagome push Sango forward. Sango averted her eyes, a blush staining her cheeks. Miroku started at her feet and worked his way up. She was wearing clothes from Kagome's world, though none that he'd ever seen Kagome herself wear. She wore her own sandals, but strange dark blue pants that hugged her hips. Her shirt was a plain black, but the sleeves were strangely missing. Kagome later informed him that Sango was wearing a tank-top.
"So, how does she look?" Kagome nudged the speechless man in the side. He grunted and finally got his jaw to work again.
"Sango you look…incredible."
Sango felt herself blush even more as she dug with her foot in the dirt. Kagome grinned. This was going to be perfect! It was the whole reason why she had bought the camera and clothes in the first place.
"Ne, Miroku-sama, if you stand next to Sango-chan, I can use your camera to take a picture!"
Sango tensed and watched wearily as Miroku came up beside her. She snapped her head forward and refused to look at him. An arm snaked around her waist and she looked up, eyes wide. He smiled down at her, and once again Sango found herself looking away.
"On the count of three, smile! One, two, three!" The camera whizzed and Kagome pulled the picture out of the camera. She handed it to Kouga with strict instructions not to touch the small black square.
"One more! One, two…"
"AIEEE! WHERE ARE YOU PUTTING THAT HAND!?"
"Three!"
The camera whizzed again and Kagome took the picture out. Sango stormed over to Kagome.
"Where are my clothes?"
"You left them in the woods, remember?"
Sango nodded curtly, turned and glared at the monk, then stormed back into the woods. Kagome sighed. It had started off well.
"O-oi, Kagome. Something's happening to the picture!" Kouga pointed in amazement as Sango and Miroku appeared. Kagome grinned and ushered Miroku over to see.
"T-that's me and Sango…." Miroku took the picture away from Kouga and marveled at the small piece of paper. Sango came back just as the second picture was finished developing. Kagome snickered and handed it to her.
"Houshi no baka." She muttered before shoving the picture at Miroku. He took one look at it before laughing. Kagome had caught Miroku in the act, his hand on Sango's butt.
"These things from your world are amazing, Kagome." Kouga said as he approached her. She just smiled.
"Well, let's get going. We can go to-"
"K-Kagome?"
Kagome froze. She head Kouga snarl and move next to her. Slowly, she turned around, her eyes clashing with a pair of golden ones.
"Inu…yasha…"
~*^-^*~
AN: Wow, long chappy and a cliffhanger. The whole present thing was kinda spur of the moment, but I couldn't help it. It kinda popped into my head about exactly what Miroku would do with a camera….::ponders:: ^-^;; Erm, never mind. Anyway, I hope it's okay!
Review Please!
~Neoshipper~