True to Your Heart
A/N: Surprise, surprise. Another update this week. Hehe.
Chapter 4: The Change of Heart
:&:o:&:o:&: Saturday, December 3 (continued) :&:o:&:o:&:
"BURGLAR! BURGLAR! BURGL-"
Inuyasha clamped a hand over Souta's mouth.
"Be quiet!" he hissed and turned off the light with his free hand. The two of them stood quiet in the dark kitchen, neither of them making a sound. Inuyasha let out a sigh of relief when he heard no one coming down to see what the commotion was all about. He loosened his hold on Souta, turned him around, and gripped both of Souta's shoulders.
Inuyasha felt a swell of guiltiness take over him when he saw Souta stare at him with fear.
"I'm not a burglar, okay?" Inuyasha whispered. "I'm one of your sister's classmates."
"So?" Souta said back stubbornly. "Even if you were, why are you in this house?"
"It's a long story," Inuyasha answered, flicking the lights back on. Souta blinked twice before replying.
"Silver hair…dog ears…claws…are you Inuyasha?" Souta asked.
Inuyasha turned around and gawked at the young boy, "H-how did you know?"
"My sis talks a lot about you…well, she used to anyway," Souta shrugged casually. "She said you were her first crush…but that was a long time ago."
Inuyasha's heart skipped a beat.
'She had a crush on me and I never noticed,' he groaned.
"Why do you look so depressed?" Souta remarked. "Is it because I told you that Kagome had a crush on you?"
Inuyasha shook his head, "No, it's because of something else."
Souta didn't say anything, signifying that he was waiting for Inuyasha to continue.
"I'll tell you if you promise not tell anyone. Especially your sister," Inuyasha sighed heavily.
"I promise!" Souta said excitedly.
Kami, he was like another Shippou. A period of silence passed before Inuyasha opened his mouth.
"I…change into a dog whenever I sneeze," Inuyasha said slowly.
Souta's gave him a look, "Jeez, I know I seem like a little kid to you, but do you have to come up with stories as stupid as that one?"
"I'm serious!" Inuyasha argued. "You want me to prove it?"
Before Souta could give his consent, Inuyasha walked over to the pepper shaker, took a big sniff and sneezed.
"Oh…my…gosh…" Souta gaped when he saw the same white dog from earlier in front of him. Then, he darted behind the kitchen counter. Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He forgot that Souta was afraid of dogs. Inuyasha took a big whiff of the pepper shaker again.
ACHOO!
"You can come out Souta," Inuyasha said with an annoyed tone. "I don't get you. You're not scared of my hanyou form, yet, you're afraid of my dog form. And the ironic thing is: I'm half dog-demon!"
"I'm just scared of dogs," Souta protested. "I don't know why…but they just scare me."
Inuyasha sighed and brought the pepper shaker to his nose again.
ACHOO!
Souta yelped and hid behind the counter again. This was so funny that it was sad. Inuyasha slowly made his way to Souta, who cringed against the counter.
"Ah!" Souta squeaked when Inuyasha poked his knee with his nose. Inuyasha became aware that the young boy was trembling like crazy.
'This is so pathetic.' Inuyasha rested his head against Souta's leg. He felt Souta flinch, but he kept his head there. A moment later, he looked up and gave Souta a lick on the cheek. 'Kami, now I really feel like a dog.'
Souta let out a small giggle, "That tickled."
He stretched out a hesitant hand and started petting Inuyasha. After a few minutes, Inuyasha retreated and walked briskly to the shaker again.
ACHOO!
"Now was it that bad?" Inuyasha asked as he dusted himself off. "Not all dogs are scary. Anyways, I have to get home."
Souta, still shaking a little, stood up, "Thanks for helping me try to overcome my fear. By the way, you're lucky that everyone in my family are heavy and sound sleepers."
"I guess," Inuyasha gave a nod. "What are you doing down here so late at night anyway?"
"I always come here this late at night to get a midnight snack," Souta explained.
"It's not midnight."
"I know, but I like to come here early."
"I see."
"So you're the dog my sis brought home…"
"It was an accident that she did. I was heading home and then she found me and decided to take me to Higurashi Shrine."
"That's Kagome alright," Souta laughed. "She loves dogs. She wanted one ever since she was a little kid."
He looked up at the ceiling with a thoughtful face, "Mom told me that Kagome wanted one ever since kindergarten…and the first class you and Kagome had together was in kindergarten, right? So, I'd say she wanted a dog ever since she met you, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha turned his head away to hide his blush.
"Feh, as if," Inuyasha replied gruffly. "Anyways, I'm heading out."
Souta opened the refrigerator door and stuck his head inside it, "Alright, bye."
Inuyasha was at the front door and was about to open it when a thought struck him. He walked back to the kitchen doorway.
"Souta…" he said quietly.
Souta looked up from the carton of milk he was holding. "Yeah?"
"You're not going to tell anyone about all this, right? About me being here and me changing into a dog?"
"No. I promised, remember?"
Inuyasha had to smile at that, "That's right…man-to-man promise…"
He looked up at the stairs and turned back to Souta to add, "And…can you tell Kagome in the morning that you let 'Inuyasha-chan'-that's what she named my dog form-out of the house?"
Souta stared at him with wide eyes, "She'd kill me if I said that."
"Just say that you saw him at the front door when you were going down the stairs to get your night snack…then he ran up the stairs to you. Then, due to your fear of dogs…you made a run for the door and opened it to escape from him…only to see 'Inuyasha-chan' running past you and out of Higurashi Shrine…" Inuyasha suggested.
Souta rolled his eyes heavenward, "I'll tell her that. But in any case, you'd make an awful storyteller."
"Yeah, I know."
:&:o:&:o:&: Monday, December 5 :&:o:&:o:&:
"You have to flatter her," Miroku said.
It was morning. Inuyasha was back in his house. He'd left Kagome alone for a day so she could "cool off". During Sunday, he told Miroku the whole story-well, most of the story-about what happened on Saturday evening. Today, Miroku was telling him "advice" on asking a girl out.
Inuyasha leaned back against his chair and closed his eyes, holding the phone to his ear, "She's so stubborn, Miroku. I don't think flattery will get me anywhere."
"Well, you have to flatter her in order for her to like you in the littlest bit."
"That's the thing. She liked liked me when we were in kindergarten."
There was a long pause on the other end.
"Are you serious?" Miroku's voice came a moment later.
"Dead serious. She had a crush on me when we were little kids. I found out from Kagome myself. She told it all to my dog form."
"Guess the curse isn't that much of a bad thing after all," Miroku laughed. "Anyways, this is good. If she had a crush on you then…what makes you think she can't have a crush on you again?"
"Oh, I don't know…maybe because she hates my guts?"
"I'm not so sure about that, Inuyasha," Miroku replied, amused. "You know the saying that people who fight each other really care about each other, don't you?"
"That's crap."
"No it isn't. Anyways, go ask her out again today. And take in any insults she gives you…just be sure not to insult back."
"Got it," Inuyasha grumbled. He turned off the phone and stood up. "Let's see if luck is on my side today."
"Will you go on a date with me?" Inuyasha said to the air as he made his way to Higurashi Shrine. "No, that won't do…Kagome, will you go out with me? No, that won't do either…"
He let out a frustrated yell, "Arg! Why is this so hard! And why am I feeling so nervous!"
He ran the rest of the way to Higurashi Shrine.
"Screw it, I'll just say whatever comes to mind," Inuyasha decided as he rung the doorbell. When the door slid open, he blurted, "Will you go on a date with me?"
Souta stared back at him from the doorway, "Uh…"
Inuyasha blinked and gave a nervous laugh, "H-hey, Souta. Don't mind me. I was just practicing for a play."
Souta gave him a sure-whatever-you-say look, "Kagome is in the park. And I'm beginning to think that you should've stayed overnight on Saturday…because all of Sunday, she was crying her eyes off that her beloved 'Inuyasha-chan' ran away."
When he heard that Kagome was crying, Inuyasha felt his heart wrench for some apparent reason.
"Well, thanks for covering for me," Inuyasha said briefly. "I'll see you later."
With that said, Inuyasha headed to the park. He winded up and down several paths before he found Kagome. She was sitting on a bench with a sad look on her face.
"Kagome?"
Kagome's head shot up. When she saw him, she grunted, "What do you want?"
Inuyasha gritted his teeth, but took in the insult. He asked, "What's with the long face?"
Kagome glared at him for a minute before answering, "A dog I found on Saturday ran away from me."
She looked down at her lap and said quietly, "I became so fond of him so fast. I even went here to the park yesterday to see if I'd find him again…but I didn't."
When she looked up again, Inuyasha saw tears brimming in her eyes.
"I just want to see him again at least once to make sure he's okay," Kagome's voice cracked. Her breath caught in her throat when Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her and drew her close to him in a hug. Inuyasha had no idea what came over him to make him do this.
"I'm sure he's okay," Inuyasha assured her softly.
"Probably," Kagome stated. She blinked and then quickly pushed herself away from him. "Hey! What the heck are you up to?"
"What do you mean?" Inuyasha asked, confused.
"You're sucking up to me, aren't you? You're trying to get me to lend you my homework so you can copy it!"
"I'm not here for that," Inuyasha protested.
"And plus, we're enemies and yet, you're hugging me for the first time during all the years that we've known each other. So, spill it!"
Inuyasha looked into her gray-blue eyes with a far off look, "Will you…go on a date with me?"
She only accepted because he comforted her. She just knew it. But why was her heart pounding?
Kagome tightened her grip on the cup of coffee she held. This feeling she began having at the moment…was the same feeling she had when she was in kindergarten-when she had a crush on Inuyasha.
She glanced up at Inuyasha who sat across the table from her in the coffee shop they were at.
"You didn't have to pay for my coffee," Kagome said quietly.
Inuyasha shrugged, "It's the gentleman thing to do."
"Since when were you a gentleman?"
"I always was. But you probably didn't notice since we were 'enemies'."
"I guess that's true," Kagome said. She looked at his hands and saw that he was drinking nothing. "You're not going to drink anything?"
"I'm not thirsty. And besides, I hate coffee."
"Then why'd you take me here?"
"Because you look tired. Coffee helps a person wake up."
"Oh," Kagome looked down at her coffee again. She had to admit, Inuyasha really was a gentleman at the moment. An awkward silence passed between them. "You know what? I feel like I should repay you for the coffee…and the comfort you gave me in the park. So, if you want, I'll let you copy some of my homework."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Woman, I already told you. I don't want that. If you want to pay me back, I want you to do something else."
Kagome eyed him suspiciously, "Which would be?"
"Go on more dates with me."
:&:o:&:o:&: December 6-9 :&:o:&:o:&:
The following days, Inuyasha had to admit, were actually fun…what's more, he actually looked forward to them.
In the mornings, he got up early and went downstairs to eat breakfast…and instead of being the last one to get to the table, he started being the first to get there. Rin and Shippou were surprised at the change…but not as surprised as Sesshoumaru. Heck, "surprised" was an understatement-he was "shocked".
After breakfast, Inuyasha would head over to the flower shop and buy a single flower-every flower different from the previous ones he'd buy. Then, he'd head over to Higurashi Shrine and ring the doorbell. Every time, Kagome answered the door and was greeted with a smile and the flower.
Then, Kagome would say goodbye to her family and head out with Inuyasha to random places…the park, the movies, or wherever they felt like going. For lunch, Inuyasha would let her choose where and what to eat. Once evening arrived, Inuyasha took Kagome back home and then the whole cycle started all over again.
"I think I fell for her, Miroku," Inuyasha said to Miroku on the phone one evening.
"I knew you would," Miroku's voice replied with a chuckle.
"I don't know why…but she's made me smile and laugh a lot these past days…more than anyone has made me smile and laugh."
"It's love, my dear friend. Love."
Inuyasha sighed and laid back on his bed, "Probably…"
"Anyways, guess what?"
"What?"
"I asked Sango out on a date."
"You always do. What's the big deal about that?"
"She said yes."
Inuyasha laughed, "Finally! Maybe it's because she's tired of your nagging."
"Hehe, maybe. Well, Sango and I are going to the amusement park that's near school. We're going two days from now…Sunday the 11th. You want to come with us with Kagome? It'll be a double date."
"I'll ask Kagome…I'm going to put you on hold for a little while okay?"
"Okay."
Inuyasha put Miroku on hold and dialed Kagome's phone number on a different line.
"Hello?" Kagome answered.
"Hi, Kagome," Inuyasha greeted. He proceeded to tell her about the double date idea Miroku had. Kagome cheerfully consented and they both agreed to meet at the park entrance on Sunday. Inuyasha hung up with a smile and went back to the line where Miroku was waiting. "She said yes."
"Great! So are you going on a date with Kagome tomorrow on Saturday?"
"No, I'm giving her a break."
"You only have fifteen more days, Inuyasha. Use your time wisely."
"Oh, don't worry," Inuyasha said, another smile creeping onto his mouth. "I will."
:&:o:&:o:&: Saturday, December 10 :&:o:&:o:&:
After telling Sesshoumaru that he was going to stay over at Miroku's house that night-and telling Miroku that he'd told Sesshoumaru that-Inuyasha headed over to Higurashi Shrine in the morning. When he reached his destination, he pulled out a pepper shaker he took with him from home and took a big whiff. When he felt a sneeze come over him, he rang the doorbell.
ACHOO!
Inuyasha was in his dog form. He heard footsteps approaching the door. The door slid open and Kagome's face peered out. Inuyasha barked.
Kagome looked down and when she spotted him, she let out a joyous shout.
"Inuyasha-chan!"
A/N: How sweet, Inuyasha's letting Kagome see 'Inuyasha-chan' to show her that he's okay. Heehee.
Anyways, just to tell all of you in case you haven't noticed yet…this story is going to be very fast-paced. :P
Please review!