Disclaimer- Due to a typographical error in my contract, I am no longer the owner of Inuyasha. Apparently someone name Rumiko Takahashi is. Well, that will teach me to read before I sign...
AN- Now let's see if we can actually get somewhere with this chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews. Just when I think I've put out a piece of junk, you guys tell me how much you like it. It's a great ego boost.
Hanami
"It's okay Mom, really." Kagome linked her arm with her mothers and gave a friendly squeeze.
"Yeah mom, it's not like you knew they were closed," Souta called back from his position almost half a block ahead of them. He turned around and waited for them to catch up a little before skipping ahead once more.
Mrs. Higurashi sighed. "I know, but I still feel bad for dragging everyone all the way out here. The next park isn't for miles. I guess we'll have to get back on the subway."
"Don't worry about it honey," Kagome's grandfather said, giving his daughter a pat on the shoulder. "It's just good to get out for a while."
She tilted a grateful smile to him. "Sorry to make you close the shrine and then blow our plans, Dad."
Grandpa Higurashi waved her comment away. "I needed to spend more time with my family anyways. I'm not getting any younger you know."
Kagome leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Only in spirit, gramps."
"Heh heh. Well getting a kiss from such a pretty young girl certainly makes me feel young!"
"Oh grandpa, stop!" Kagome blushed as she gave his arm a playful swat.
"Yeah," perked up Souta. "Kagome's not that pretty!"
"Hey! Who asked you?"
"Just stating the obvious."
"Yeah, well my hand is about to be even more obvious to you." Kagome waved a threatening fist in the air and sprinted over to her brother, who giggled madly and darted away.
The two adults watch in amusement as Kagome chased her brother up and down the sidewalk, eyes shining and cheeks pink. Their playful shouts and happy laughter rang up and down the streets, causing passersby to shake their heads and smile.
"Kagome's looking much brighter. She looked a little down at breakfast this morning."
Kagome's mother nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's good to see her smiling. It's just not natural to see her without it!" She chuckled as she watched her children racing around. "What do you say we just walk instead of taking the subway? It's so nice out."
Grandpa Higurashi scratched his chin as he thought the idea over. "Well I suppose this old man should walk while he's still able to."
His daughter let out a short burst of laughter at his words.
"Oh Dad!"
She leaned down and planted a kiss on his cheek as Kagome had done earlier. "Trust me, you'll never be old."
"Move your fat, smelly feet you old bat!"
Fifteen minutes had passed since Inuyasha had left the bottom of stairs that led up to the Sunset Shrine.
Fifteen long, frustrating, hair-pulling minutes.
"I swear... If you don't move that wrinkled ass of yours in the next three seconds, I'm going to push you in front of the next car I see."
The old woman next to him continued to stare into the store window in front of her.
"One..."
The woman tilted her head and pursed her lips in thought.
"Two..."
She tilted her head the other way, examining the dress in the window from a new angle.
"Thr-"
The old lady suddenly turned and passed through him as she made her way to the door of the shop.
"Bout damn time," he muttered as he fell into a crouch for probably the hundredth time that day. It had been an empty threat, but he had been tempted to throw her pocketbook down the street instead. Inuyasha rested his hands in front of him and dropped down to his knees as he tried to pick up Kagome's scent once more. People walked up and down the sidewalk, oblivious to the hanyou on his hands and knees with his nose to the ground. Unfortunately, though it was a plus they couldn't see him, it was also annoying that they were constantly stepping in front of his line of scent and obscuring whatever leads he had picked up to Kagome's whereabouts.
It had been easy at first. At the bottom of the steps, until the end of the street, Inuyasha had been able to pick her scent up immediately and follow it without trouble.
Then he reached the crosswalk and it had all been downhill from there.
There was almost no trace of her under all the smells of tires, oil and combustion on the street, but common sense told him that if she had been standing at the crosswalk, odds were she had gone to the other side of the road. Luck had been with him and though the sidewalk was more crowded on that side, he had picked her out again without too much trouble.
And then he got to the shopping district.
Kagome's scent had all but disappeared as he turned the corner and was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people and scents in one place. And so the last ten minutes he had managed to move a total of three street blocks forward. It was really quite irritating.
Some higher power must have finally decided to take pity on him as he took a break and sat with his back to the wall of some building or another. As Inuyasha turned to look down the sidewalk, Kagome's scent floated just under his nose and tickled his senses. Inuyasha whipped his head around to see if she had made a sudden, and at that point very welcome, appearance. The scent vanishes as soon as he moved his head. Frowning, Inuyasha looked back to where he was before.
Ta-da. Kagome's scent.
Inuyasha stood up to see over the crowd better. Poof. No more scent. He clenched his hands into fists and tried not to swear too loud, just in case she really was hanging around. He kneeled on the ground again and tried to see if maybe he had just missed something, but found only the same bunch of nothing he had before. Settling into a crouch in the middle of the sidewalk, people passing around and through him, Inuyasha reigned in his temper long enough to try and think why he had suddenly smelled her so strongly.
Okay, she wasn't hanging around in the crowd, or walking across the street. He couldn't find her scent on the ground. The only place he had smelled her was when he was leaning against the-
Oh. Duh.
Inuyasha smacked himself on the forehead. Of course. He had picked up her scent from the wall; no wonder he couldn't find it when he stood up. After he figured out that rather obvious piece of information it was only seconds before he was back on her track. He inwardly blessed Kagome's fondness for trailing her fingers along walls and rails.
Now it should be easy enough to catch up to her.
"Wow."
"For once, I agree with Souta. That is a definite wow." Kagome's eyes were wide as she scanned the park area.
Mrs. Higurashi sighed heavily.
"Not to worry, we can squeeze in... somewhere." But Kagome's grandfather looked as doubtful as he sounded as he too watched the hundreds of milling people in front of them.
Kagome gave a small shake of her head. "I know it's cherry blossom season, but this is ridiculous. Were there this many people last year?"
Her mother tilted her head to the side as she thought. "I don't think so, but I've haven't been to this park during season before."
As far as the Higurashi family could see, families and couples, businessmen and workers on lunch break, sight-seeing tourists and foreigners were crowding the park and all the grounds surrounding it. There was barely any room to walk around, much less to sit down and enjoy lunch. Even the paths through the grass and trees were obscured by meandering people trying to get a good spot for blossom viewing.
Kagome spun around and thrust one arm in the air, fingers stretched. "I motion we keep walking."
Souta raised his arm also. "I second that."
Kagome's mother and grandfather exchanged glances and with matching smiles, raised their hands together.
"Alright then," Mrs. Higurashi chirped. "Off we go then."
Thirty Minutes Later
"Is it even legal to have that many people in one area? I mean, it's some sort of fire hazard isn't it?"
"I don't think it really counts if everyone is outside already, Kagome dear."
"Hey look! Those people are sitting on the fence even! Hey Mom, can we-"
"No, Souta. We aren't going to sit on the fence."
"Awww."
"I wonder if there might be a higher power trying to keep us from sitting down and enjoying lunch."
"Somehow I don't think that's the case Dad."
"Okay Mom, what now? Should we just go home?"
"It seems such a shame after we came so far though."
"Well it wouldn't hurt to try one more place, what do you think children? Shall we try once more for your mother?"
"I don't mind."
"Yeah! Come on let's go, I'm starting to get hungry."
"You guys are the best."
About Twenty Minutes Later
"Okay, let's go home."
"Yeah."
"Maybe it's for the best."
"I guess we'll just have to come out earlier next time..."
The subway.
She would have had to go and get on a damn train.
Of course.
It would have been too easy to just walk to wherever she was going. No, let's throw off the poor hanyou Guardian trying to protect our sorry ass. Let's take the freaking subway!
'Maybe I should just go home and wait for her...'
But Inuyasha hated admitting defeat. Even if it was only to a huge, moving piece of metal. Besides, he didn't feel comfortable just waiting for Kagome to come back. He had an almost desperate need to see her and make sure she was okay. It was actually like that every time she wasn't near him; as if some part of himself was missing when she was gone. Restlessness and worry were always predominant when she wasn't around.
And so...
Onto the train he went. He had a only a tiny hint as to where she had gotten off. He hoped it was enough.
And so, as he stood in front of the closed gates of an empty park ten minutes later, he couldn't keep the string of rather hash expletives from spilling out of his mouth.
Some much for his detective skills.
'That woman was going on and on about them yesterday. I was almost sure they would have come here.'
But alas, the park would be accommodating no people that day. On closer inspection of the sign posted on the gate, he saw they would actually be open next Monday for hanami, and would remain so until the end of cherry blossom season.
"Couldn't have opened today? No, had to wait until next week. Stupid garden. I came all the way out here and you're clo-"
Wait a minute. If he had come out here thinking the place was open, maybe Kagome and her family had come here too? He dropped to the ground and did his little bloodhound routine. After a few minutes, his 'dogged' persistence was rewarded with the lingering scent of one very hard to come by school girl.
Fortunately, since the park itself was off limits to the public for the time being, there were fewer people hanging around on the sidewalks. There were still enough to make him growl in frustration more than once, but it wasn't nearly as bad as last time. As he neared the entrance to another park, Inuyasha's heart sunk. How was he supposed to find her in that mess? He viewed the chattering, laughing, happy throng of people and wondered if he could just start throwing people over the fence and cutting his own path. He doubted it. Figuring his nose was probably the best bet, even with so many people around, he set to the ground once more. It was a pleasant and highly unexpected surprise to find that Kagome's trail didn't even make it to the edge of the grass before turning and continuing it's merry way down the sidewalk.
He silently thanked her for the small favor.
Twice more he approached a public park only to be rerouted down the street and onward once more. Not that he could blame them. He got claustrophobic just looking at the tightly packed mass of people. Damn, but this city sure loved its cherry blossoms. They had barely opened a couple of days ago and already every park and garden in the area was swamped with viewers.
Apparently, Kagome's family wasn't too thrilled about being crushed by hundreds of sakura watchers either, as they had yet to go into a park. That was fine by him, it made things that much simpler for him and he was all for things being less difficult.
As time passed by, Inuyasha found the buildings around him were becoming more and more familiar. In fact, they looked suspiciously like the ones near her house...
"I don't fucking believe it!"
Inuyasha leaped to his feet and took a good look at his surroundings. Sure enough, he could place his exact location to only a few miles outside the school where Kagome attended. Which meant they were less than an hour from the shrine by walking standards.
At first, he wanted to punch the wall beside him as hard as he could and see how big a hole he could put through it, but after a few seconds the reality of his situation hit him and doubled over, resting his hands on his knees.
And laughed.
It took him a while to get his shoulders to stop shaking and for the chuckles to trail off, but eventually he managed to stand up straight once more. With one final disbelieving shake of his head, Inuyasha bounded down the sidewalk, abandoning Kagome's trail in favor of something a little bit faster.
Obviously they were on their way back home. Judging by the strength of her scent, he guess Kagome and her family were still walking, so it was possible that he would be able to find them soon. He hesitated a moment, wondering if they might decide to go somewhere else before returning home, but decided if he didn't find them, he would just come back and pick up where he left off. His nose needed the break anyway.
Inuyasha jumped onto one of the lower buildings and scanned the clusters of people walking up and down the sidewalk. Nothing. He bounced his way over to another building and stopped to look again. He repeated this procedure five more times before finally, finally finding what he was looking for.
He heaved a huge sigh of relief and a tension he hadn't even know was there flowed from his back and shoulders.
She was there, she was safe. She was... talking to a boy.
'Who the hell is that?'
Whoosh. The tension rushed right back into his back and shoulders. He comes all the way out here, tracking her down for miles, and she's out there talking to some boy? Of all the ungrateful... Inuyasha tried to calm himself down, remembering that she didn't know he was looking for her and was mad at him.
But it still pissed him off for some reason.
He leaped closer and closer until he could see them clearly. They were walking together, her family a short way up from her, and talking about something or other. He couldn't hear them yet. With one final jump, Inuyasha landed on the sidewalk and caught up to the elusive young woman. Creeping closer, but keeping out of her line of vision, Inuyasha could just make out some of what they were saying. Nothing of interest popped out at him. He must have been a schoolmate of hers, since that seemed to be all they were talking about. Ah, now he remembered who the whelp was. That annoying Hojo kid that came to see her when she was sick. He immediately felt the urge to trip him. Unfortunately, his newfound semi-freedom from his curse didn't extend to the harm of living things. At least not people. He wasn't sure about animals and he knew for a fact he could step on at least a bug or two. And weeds had never really been on his 'do not hurt' list, but he was getting off the subject...
What were they talking about now?
"So after four different parks and almost two hours of walking around, we've finally just decided to give up and go home. I think next time we'll have to get up at dawn to find a spot for lunch!" Kagome's tinkling laughter floated to his ears and Inuyasha smiled before remembering who it was directed at and returning to his former scowl.
"Well actually," Hojo said with a smile that made Inuyasha want to throttle him. "There's a little spot I know of that's not too far away from here. It's not really a park or anything. In fact it only has three or four trees I think, but it's really quite pretty. The cherry blossoms started blooming there last week, so I think they are beginning to fall right about now. And it doesn't usually get a lot of visitor, since it is a little hard to find. I could give you directions if you like."
Kagome's face split into a happy grin. "That's so nice of you Hojo. Let me go tell my family and see if they would like that." She jogged over to join her family and related Hojo's words. From what he could tell, they thought the idea good and his suspicions were confirmed a minute later when Kagome ran back and asked for the directions.
"Okay, I think I can find that." She paused for a second and then flashed a sweet smile at the boy. "Would you like to join us?"
'No.'
"I'd like to, but I can't," Hojo replied with a regretful smile back.
'Aw, what a shame.'
"I'm afraid I have to go pick up some things at the store for my grandmother. In fact, I should probably get going. It was a pleasure speaking to you Higurashi. I'll see you at school in a couple weeks."
"Alright, bye Hojo. Thanks for the directions." She waved as he jogged across the street and disappeared in the crowd, then practically skipped over to her family to share Hojo's directions. Then they all set off together, Inuyasha trailing along behind.
"Oooh, it is pretty here."
"Mmm-hmm. Quiet too."
"Yeah, it's really nice. Can we eat now?"
"Souta! Er, actually I am kind of hungry too, Mom."
Mrs. Higurashi laughed and handed the cooler she was carrying over to her son.
"Alright! Hey gramps, come put the blanket over here!"
Kagome wandered around as her brother and grandfather set up their picnic blanket and lunch, her mother watching a little way off and occasionally laughing at something Souta said. Hojo had been right about there not being many cherry trees. She counted four, though one was almost all green and with few blossoms left to it. Even as she stood watching it, the tree let a few more petals swirl gracefully to the ground. The area they were sent to was small, approximately the size one of the smaller classrooms at her school, but serene. Kagome and her family were currently the only occupants. As she made a slow circle around the edge of the property, she wondered if maybe this place had been meant to be something bigger or more grand than it actually was. Nestled in a little cul-de-sac behind some older buildings and past several side streets, the little grassy field had looked incredibly out of place with its shady trees and occasional flower bush.
Not that she was complaining. While not the glorious view she had been hoping for, the four out of place trees were theirs alone to enjoy for the moment. Kagome glanced down at the grass beneath her feet, noting it was short and well maintained. Someone must have been fond of the place, because she was certain it wasn't a city park of any sort, but she was pretty sure it wasn't just someone's back yard either. It felt too open and inviting, as if it was just waiting for someone to come by and enjoy its peaceful refuge from the busy city streets.
"Kagome! Come eat!"
She looked over her shoulder and saw her brother waving franticly for her to come over.
"Coming!" She turned completely to run back to her family, but paused as she caught a brief glimpse of something red from the branches of the mostly green tree. She stepped closer to investigate, a niggling suspicion coming to the front of her head that she knew what she would find when she looked up into the foliage. Or rather, she knew who she would find. A few more feet would place her directly under the tree and able to see up through the leaves and into the branches above. There was a soft rustle and several blossoms floated to the grass below, as if something were moving in the greenery above. Most likely trying to get higher up and out of sight...
"Kagome! Come on, what are you doing?" Souta was on his feet bouncing impatiently from foot to foot, probably seconds away from running over and dragging her bodily to the blanket. Kagome gave one last glance to the tree and shook her head, one side of her mouth quirking up in a half smile.
"Don't go anywhere just yet," she whispered to the leaves and flowers above. And any stray hanyou hiding within them.
She turned on her heel and dashed over to her family, which was far enough away to miss the quiet curses the sakura blossoms muttered under their breaths.
The afternoon had grown late by the time they were all packed up and ready to finally head home. Kagome could barely feel the depressing weights of the day before bearing down on her now. Perhaps when the night came and the quite darkness crept up on her she would once again relive the horrors of reality and the terrors of her unconscious mind. But that would wait until later. There was something else to deal with first.
As her family began to leave the grassy field, Kagome tugged her mother to the rear and waited until her grandfather and brother were out of earshot.
"Hey mom, I'll catch up to you guys later okay? I need to talk, uh, alone..."
Her mother raised a hand, a knowing smile on her face. "Say no more, Kagome. You want to talk to Inuyasha, right?"
"Well, um, yeah." Kagome blushed momentarily before reminding herself that, most likely, her talk with Inuyasha would probably involve quite a lot of yelling and very little to get all pink in the cheek about.
"Okay, honey," Mrs. Higurashi said, leaning down to plant a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "Don't be too long."
"I won't." Kagome waved to her mom as she left, waiting until she had disappeared around the same corner as her brother and grandfather before turning around to face the tiny cherry grove.
'I wonder if he'll come out first. Probably going to have to drag him do-'
"Aaaah!"
Kagome stumbled backwards and landed on her butt in a rather inelegant sprawl.
"Stop doing that!" she roared to the grinning hanyou looming above her.
"Doing what?"
"That thing," Kagome griped as she picked herself up, waving away Inuyasha's hand. "You know, the sneaking up on me thing."
"Oh yeah, that."
Kagome dusted off her clothes and glared at him as best she could. "Don't you give me that innocent look. You knew perfectly well what you were doing."
"Don't glare so much Kagome, you're face might get stuck like that."
"It seems to stuck like this anyway, whenever I'm around you."
"Yeah, I noticed that too."
In spite of herself, Kagome began to smile. "You're incorrigible."
"I try." His smile matched hers.
Suddenly finding herself a little flustered, Kagome turned away to walk towards one of the more blossom laden trees. She knelt down on one knee and picked up a fallen flower, waiting for Inuyasha to join her, as he did a second later. Still kneeling and playing with the blossom in her hand, Kagome spoke.
"Why are you here?"
He must have expected this question, because he answered right away. "I was worried. Why did you leave without me?"
Inwardly, Kagome was somewhat surprised at how calm he was being, but tried not to let it show, lest her good luck run out. Of course if she answered him truthfully, he would probably get mad anyway. She didn't want to lie just to spare his feelings though. He would see right through her, even if did choose to lie. Then he would get really pissed. Such were the downsides of having such a temperamental friend. Kagome finally decided to just be honest, if he didn't like the truth then oh well.
"I'm angry, well, I was angry. I didn't want to be around you." She stood and turned to see how took her little admission. Surprisingly, he only looked a little sad.
"I knew that, but I came anyway." He looked sheepish as he said the last part. "I, um, had a bad dream."
Kagome gave him a quizzical look. "About what?"
Instead of answering her, Inuyasha turned and began pacing in front of the cherry tree, occasionally kicking a pile of fallen flowers. "You know it was a real pain in the ass tracking you down."
"Tracking me down?"
Again he ignored her question. "I felt like giving up a couple times, but would get these horrible images of terrible things happening to you and I would keep going. I think my nose has gone numb..."
"I'm fine as you can see."
He shrugged. "That's not the point."
Kagome put her hands on her hips and gave him an exasperated look. "What exactly is the point?"
Inuyasha stopped his pacing and flopped cross-legged to the ground. He stared at the ground for a few moments before looking up at her. When he finally did, the look in his eyes was unsure and slightly nervous. Now why did he look like that?
"Kagome, you... you're the first friend I've ever had." Kagome blinked in shock and opened her mouth, but was waved quiet. "I know you're going to say that isn't possible, but it is. I don't really want to go into too much right now, but just believe me when I say it isn't easy being neither completely human or completely demon back the time I was born. You end up not belonging to either, rejected by both. Not a whole lot of chances to make friends that way."
'I had no idea it was that bad.' Kagome felt her heart go out to him. She couldn't imagine being shunned by everyone who met her. What must it have been like for him? And why was he deciding to tell her all this now? Well, that didn't really matter. No friends...
"But, your family..."
My father died when I was born, my mother, five years after."
'All alone at five years old?'
"You didn't have any brothers or sisters?"
A bitter look came over his face, as if he had tasted something bad. "Don't make me laugh. My half-brother would sooner slit my throat than take me in."
"You're kidding!"
Inuyasha smiled, but it was tight and unpleasant. "Not about Sesshoumaru."
Kagome blinked. 'I wonder if everyone in his family has such odd names.'
Taking a few steps forward, Kagome knelt next to Inuyasha and put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm honored to be your first friend Inuyasha."
His smile this time was genuine. "Thanks."
"And if you behave yourself, I won't have to slit your throat."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I'd like to see you try."
"Hmph, don't tempt me."
"Kagome?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
Kagome lost her balance and fell over. Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open in shock. Did he just apologize to her? Without a severe beating?
"Oh, don't look so damn surprised. I can admit when I'm wrong... sometimes."
"Uh huh..."
"Oh never mind! I take it back; I'm not sorry."
"No wait, don't take it back!"
"Hmmm, alright. If you can stand the shock of hearing it again, I really am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you're feelings this morning. I was... a little confused I guess."
"I figured. I'm sorry too. For, you know, blowing up like that." Kagome blushed, remembering her explosive words.
"I kind of deserved it, I guess. And um, about last night..."
"Forget it."
Inuyasha started in surprise. "Huh?"
Kagome stood up once more and walked a little ways off, before turning around again. She had a bright smile on her face and her eyes were shining. "You really made me feel a lot better. I won't say I regret kissing you, cause I don't, but it's okay if you're confused about it. And it doesn't have to hang between us either. I really like you Inuyasha. And now I know you consider me a friend too. That can be enough. Right?"
Inuyasha nodded his head dumbly, staring at her with unblinking eyes.
"I'm kind of glad you came after me Inuyasha. I always feel better when you're around, even if I'm mad at you." She winked at him as she said the last.
Shaking his head slowly, Inuyasha got to his feet and walked next to Kagome. "You know, I think you are one of the most confusing people I've ever met. But, I'm glad to know you and... I hope we can be together for a long time. What I really came after you to say is-"
"I know."
"What?"
Kagome took his hand and smiled. "I know already. You don't have to say it."
"But-"
"It's fine. Everybody gets a little scared every now and then. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
Now Inuyasha's jaw dropped in shock. "How the hell did you know that?"
Kagome gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "You aren't very good at hiding your emotions you know. Your eyes and your voice give away everything. When you called my name before I left, I could see it. Plain as day. Though I suppose if it makes you feel better, we could just say it's because friends just know these things."
"Feh, what a load of crap that would be."
"Yeah, but it's an easy out."
"You're so weird."
Kagome grinned and shrugged.
Inuyasha grinned back. "Don't change okay?"
"Yes sir!" Kagome shouted, giving a sharp salute.
"Jeez, let's get out of here, I think the cherry blossom smell is getting to your head."
"I think you're right. Let's go home."
Kagome's two week break flew by for her. Before leaving the Feudal Era the last time, she notified Kaede she would only be able to come on the weekends while school was in session. The thought of balancing training with school and homework was a daunting one, but Kagome considered herself up for the challenge. She felt her training was going well and her archery was definitely improving, only having whacked herself in the arm twice more. Inuyasha had finally given up trying to keep her from the well. It had only taken five more subduings to get to that point. Though the last time she had come back down the well she had been rather amused to find a human Inuyasha stuck at the bottom. Apparently he had hoped that he might be able to travel in his human form and had jumped down without remembering to put the ladder down first. She had spent several hours teasing him after that, being stuck down the well herself until someone came to help. No helpful vines or handy claws to assist in the climb up. Luckily, her mom came to check on her when she didn't show up after a while. She laughed quietly, but managed not to tease the pouting Inuyasha like her daughter.
When her first week of school ended Kagome was more than ready to head back down the well. She had come to love the Feudal Era, with it's fresh air and vast forests. It was so different from everything she had grown up with, she was even willing to overlook the lack of plumbing and hot baths.
Early Saturday morning, Kagome and Inuyasha walked to the well, Kagome laden with her backpack and a couple school books, Inuyasha with his usual frown and grumpy attitude.
"Don't pout Inuyasha. I'll only be gone until tomorrow night."
"I'm not pouting, thank you."
"You are too."
"No I'm not! I don't pout!"
"Jeez, now you're just being cranky."
"Oh shut up."
Kagome sighed. They reached the well house and went down the steps. Sitting on the side of the well, Kagome looked down into it's dark depths and sighed again. "Okay, okay." She turned to Inuyasha and laughed at the sight of him with his arms crossed, leaning against the steps. Definitely pouting. "I'll come back early alright?"
Inuyasha brightened and uncrossed his arms. "How early?"
Kagome put a finger to her mouth and thought. "Um, how about lunch tomorrow?"
"Tonight." He countered.
"No."
"Tomorrow morning?" He asked hopefully.
"Tomorrow at lunch, Inuyasha. I have to stay for a little while at least.
Inuyasha crossed his arms again, but still looked a little happier. "Alright. Lunch tomorrow."
"See you then!" Kagome waved happily before jumping down and being swallowed by the blue light.
A short while later, she was climbing up vines in the other time period. When she reached the top she almost fell back in at the sight of the person before her. Clinging to the side of the well, she waited to see whether the other person was friendly or not before getting out. She could always just let go and fall back to her time if they meant her harm.
Suddenly remembered a dream she had. She had seen this person before!
"Ah, so you're finally back. I knew this was where you came from. You're scent is all over it and I saw you go down it before and disappear."
Kagome blinked, finally getting over her initial shock.
"Who... who are you?"
"Oh," the person in front of her grinned cheekily. "That doesn't really matter, but you are either going to give me that Sacred Jewel you have or I'm going to take it."
AN- Whew. Look, a new face! Yea! But... who is it? Oh don't act like you don't know LoL. Hehehe.
Q and A
Q. Inuyashafreke- Will Inuyasha tell Kagome how he feels about her?
A. He's getting there. Slowly but surely. Damn stubborn half dog demons.
Q. Lake of Fire- How will I get featured in the review responses?
A. Congratulations. By simply adding a legitimate question, you too have become one of the few, the proud, the uh... well... you get the picture.
Q. XxDemonic-PrincessxX- Kagome's mom didn't see Inuyasha yet, right?
A. Actually she has, though she still can't hear him. I forget which chapter it is, but the one where they go to the park and Kagome gets jumped by the two guys is the first time her mom sees him.
Q. Blade Of Iceflame- Orange-scented? What does that mean?
A. I mean that there will not be any lemony scenes, but there might be some situations that might be considered slightly citrus tinged. Their kissing scene comes to mind. No lemon, but still a little juicy.
Q. random- Does the well work in the same style as it does in the series? If so, then wouldn't it be difficult for Kagome to have the same relationship with Shippou?
A. The well works the same, so it will be difficult, but I shall try not to bore him to death picking herbs with Kaede all day. Somehow.
Q. Le'letha- If Inuyasha keeps pacing around Kagome's room, will he wear a hole in the floor and fall through to the downstairs?
A. That is an excellent question. LoL Technically he could fall downstairs through the floor anytime he wants to. Though it might take a few more months to do it the old fashioned way.
Q. Crystalfire92- If you're not doing a lemon, why did you change the rating from PG-13(T) to R(M)?
A. Because FF has very strict rules about what is age appropriate. The amount of vivid gore I had in that particular chapter (21 I think) was enough that I didn't want to take a chance on being deleted. Better safe than sorry.
Q. little ghost- I was wondering how when it's a new moon, Inuyasha can go anywhere and do anything mostly and that the spell only works on humans, could Kagome go through the well on the night of the new moon and Inuyasha's body should be human itself, so could Kagome just be able to slide the arrow out without being electrified?
A. That is a very good thought. It's well thought out and logically correct, but unfortunately, not possible. The way I figure, Inuyasha's body is in suspended animation pinned to the tree. Time goes by around him, but his body isn't effected by it. In the anime, Naraku didn't know that Inuyasha turned human on the new moon. If he were pinned to the tree for fifty years and changed into a human, odds are Naraku would have made the connection in that time. So, Kagome will just have to get that arrow out the hard way. Perhaps a pair of rubber gloves might help...
Q. houen-aishita- Will there be a lemon scene?
A. No... Hentai:-P Nooo not bunny Princess Booboo!
Q. ApAtHy aNgEl- How old is Kagome in this fic?
A. She is fourteen right now. But she will turn fifteen soon, which incidentally will coincide with Inuyasha's release... Dun dun dun...
Q. AkeryouSesshoumarusMate- Will Sesshoumaru, Rin, Jaken, Ah-Un and Kikyo be in it?
A. Most likely, but probably not for a while. Sesshoumaru go a mini cameo in this one at least. LoL
Q. BassSista- The part of Inuyasha being connected to Kagome and that he is not able to stray far reminds me of the connection between People and their Daemons in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. Have you read that and is this where you got the idea from?
A. That's very observative. I didn't even remembered that. I have read the books, years and years ago. So no, unless is was subconsciously, I didn't get the idea from him. I simply wanted to make a painful and annoying spell for Inuyasha. Wicked I know.