"I'm going to go now!" Kagome called over her shoulder, waving goodbye to her mother who was making cookies.
"Okay, be safe!" It was her mom's usual response, but it was always accompanied with the same genuine smile.
"Make sure Souta saves one for me!" Kagome spoke as an afterthought, dashing out into the courtyard surrounding the shrine.
"Okay, have fun Kagome!" Ms. Higurashi laughed.
"I'll try Mama! Ja matte ne!" Kagome yelled, then hopped down the shrine steps with giddiness.
It had been engraved on the back of her eyelids since Monday, the beautiful boy that Inuyasha walked home with.
Kagome giggled helplessly, shaking her head vigorously to clear the image. She was not able to tame the blush rising on her cheeks.
It was Sunday now, almost one week after the project had been assigned. Kagome had begged the teacher to allow them to write their own tale instead of retell one, and he had agreed with casualness.
Now they were writing their own myth.
Kagome walked on as her eyes clouded over, thinking of the different stories she could create.
She almost missed the house - if that was possible.
She froze mid-step when she was about to pass the huge gates, and that's when she dazedly realized; Inuyasha lived in a mansion.
It was not a exaggeration, Inuyasha's family was very wealthy. Or, more accurately, Inuyasha's father was very wealthy.
Kagome timidly walked up to the door and knocked lightly. Somebody automatically answered it.
"Good morning. I presume that you are Kagome-sama that will be studying with Inuyasha today? My name is Inutaisho, I am Inuyasha's father. It is good to meet you." The man's face was gentle and kind as he leaned down to shake her hand. He then stood to the side to lead her in.
When Inutaisho saw Kagome looking wonderingly at the hugeness and intricacy of the house, he smiled warmly.
"I am a very successful businessman, that is why I have such a large house." Inutaisho answered her unasked question.
"What kind of business do you work for?" Kagome asked foolishly.
"I own a very large business myself, actually, it is a computer company." Inutaisho murmured.
"Oh." Kagome said, still awestruck by the house.
Inutaisho stopped then, and Kagome skidded so that she did not step before him.
"Inuyasha is waiting in the dining room, which is right there." Inutaisho pointed out the door, then turned away.
"You're not coming?" Kagome asked helplessly, spinning to look pleadingly up at him.
"Ah, no, I have business to attend to. If you have any questions, Inuyasha will surely help you with anything." Inutaisho said before resuming walking.
Kagome watched until he disappeared up a set of stairs, gulped, then turned to walk toward the dining room.
Kagome sheepishly smoothed her pale blue denim skirt, ruefully picking off a cat hair and silently reprimanding Buyo for sleeping on her clothes again.
She felt so plain in this house, like a picture's space of white where the rest of the wall was covered in brilliantly colored paintings.
She nervously walked into the dining room, staring for a moment at the huge expanse of table and then following its length to an amused Inuyasha.
Kagome walked down the green carpet, dragging her hand along the finely polished wood as she went.
"Don't do that." Inuyasha snapped. Kagome's hand instantly jumped from the tabletop, dropping instantly to her side.
"You really didn't know that my dad was rich, did you?" Inuyasha smirked.
"Well, you never told me." She wet her lips.
"Didn't you hear my last name wench? Or are you deaf?" Inuyasha sneered at her as she sat on the chair beside him.
"I've never heard of you before." Kagome defended breathlessly, swallowing uncomfortably again. Inuyasha let out a snort of laughter.
"Whatever, let's just get this done with."
"Okay." Kagome said softly, not feeling she had the right to argue in his house - or a house of this caliber.
Inuyasha sniffed again, gesturing to a stack of unmarked lined paper.
Kagome timidly pulled it toward her, taking a pencil as well before sending a look at him that clearly said 'ponder' in the most commanding silent-order she could muster.
He sniffed again and then began a massive staring contest with the table.
Kagome began doodling on the paper, drawing squiggles and loops while she waited for Inuyasha to pull out a wonderful idea.
"Tell me again why we're writing our own story?" Inuyasha snapped, making Kagome jump.
"Be - because I thought it would be fun." Kagome said lamely.
"Fun." Inuyasha snorted, "A pain in the butt is all this is."
"Well… It would have to take place a long time ago…" Kagome began, looking at the scribbled up paper again.
"There's a decent start." A cool silky voice startled both of them.
Kagome spun in her chair to see who it was, while Inuyasha only glared.
"Get outta here Sesshoumaru. This is none of your business." Inuyasha growled.
"I will make my business whatever I will." Sesshoumaru retorted back.
"How old are you?" Kagome asked him suddenly, desperate for an answer before she forgot.
His abnormally pale hazel colored eyes trailed lazily to her slight form and he looked bored as he answered her rushed question.
"I'm sixteen years old. How old are you, brat?" Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes slightly, but Kagome didn't take it as a threatening gesture.
Kagome blushed in fact. "I'm twelve. I turned twelve on April the 14th." Kagome informed him.
"When's your birthday?" She asked as an afterthought. He looked offended that she continued talking to him, and swiftly turned away.
She looked disappointed until he said emotionlessly over his shoulder, "My birthday is on September the 10th."
She looked pleased but then exasperated as she yelled after him.
"My name is Kagome! Ka - go - me! Get it right or else I'll start calling you something mean too!"
He didn't glance back.