Disclaimer: I do own it. I'm NOT insane…I think.
Story: Due to the jewel shards on their necks, the last four members of the Shichinintai were somehow able to travel to Kagome's time. Unfortunately for her, the well has sealed up. At least they don't have their weapons!
Set after Ginkotsu's death.
Spoilers: After Ginkotsu's death, no.
Warnings: Eh, maybe…this is anime after all…
Pairings: No telling! Secret, secret!
A/n: Not much in this chapter, sad to say. Nothing really important, but there's always at least one important thing I put in a chapter so the chapter isn't that bland. Just a clue: I just wanted to establish a character.
Kagome Higurashi! No Need for Shichinintai
Chapter Nine: Catch Me Catch You
The next day, Kagome awoke in her bed shivering. The cold winter was starting to creep inside. She was still so sleepy, though. Peeking from underneath her covers, she saw Renkotsu was the closest one to her. Rolling off her bed and staying wrapped up in the blankets; she landed on Renkotsu's mattress with a thump.
"Oof!" Her voice was muffled underneath her huge comforter.
Her mind barely registered that all the racket she was making could've woken everyone up and that all her moving could've definitely woken up Renkotsu, who was right next to her. Seeing as nothing happened, she guessed last night really tired them out. Like she wasn't. She was still half-asleep going back to sleep.
She snorted and mumbled something that even she didn't know what before falling into slumber again.
When the rest of the Shichinintai woke they stared at the bundle next to a stiff Renkotsu.
"Is that Kagome wrapped up next to you?" Jakotsu asked.
Because Kagome had gotten comfortable as soon as she fell off her bed of her own accord. Still wrapped in her comforter, she had gotten underneath Renkotsu's blanket as well, snuggling up to the 20 year old.
"I don't want to wake her up but I kind of want to get up." Renkotsu said, staring straight at the ceiling and still not moving an inch.
Jakotsu snickered. "Then why don't you get up?"
"Because one of her legs is thrown over my middle and is hugging it." Renkotsu said plainly.
All three blinked at the same time before Suikotsu moved Renkotsu's blanket off the lying miko and assassin. Sure enough, Kagome's comforter had inched up and her leg was thrown over his stomach and she was clinging to him like that while her torso was still hidden in her comforter. She was snuggling very close to him, making the fire breather very uncomfortable. Although, who's to say he wasn't enjoying it…
"Okay, we'll just…move her leg slowly so we don't wake her. Uh…here, I'll do it."
And Bankotsu moved closer, leaning a little over Kagome and reaching for her leg. Grasping it, he slowly –his face raging red, brought it over Renkotsu to place it down on the ground straight when Kagome surprised him. She had flipped to her other side, facing Bankotsu, and her leg had flipped with her and onto Bankotsu, leaving the leader trapped.
"I'll…do it."
And Suikotsu warily moved next to Bankotsu to lift the leg, only to get a similar reaction. This time the other leg had gone free of the comforter and joined in the assault. Both legs had tripped Suikotsu, wrapping around his legs. Suikotsu was now semi underneath Kagome, stuck in between her legs and facing Renkotsu's.
Jakotsu started cracking up.
"She actually has pretty strong legs, you know." Bankotsu remarked candidly.
"Damn straight she does," Suikotsu agreed from where he was situated at on the floor.
Renkotsu shrugged. "I wouldn't actually really know. I wasn't tripped or knocked over and the only reason why I couldn't get up was because I didn't want to wake her."
Jakotsu was still laughing at them. "Why don't you try again, Renkotsu? You'll see."
"Oh I know you're not lying. But I'm just saying she hasn't attacked me yet and I don't plan on it. Although, why don't you have a go, Jakotsu? Since you're all smug and giggly."
"Yeah, yeah. Just because none of you can't handle a girl, sleeping no less, doesn't mean I have to clean up your mess. Move it over. I got this one."
The smirk was wiped off his face to be put on his comrades when Kagome finally let go of Suikotsu when Jakotsu barely touched her legs. She unconsciously did a kick and moved restlessly. Doing so resulted in Jakotsu tripping and then landing on his ass, only to be knocked over and then used as a pillow for her legs. Fortunately, she wasn't pressing down and trapping him. Unfortunately, she started to when he tried to get up and she would also stomp her heels angrily. Little kicks were added and those and the legs' landing hurt even more.
"What the hell!" Jakotsu exclaimed, much to his chagrin and the others' amusement.
"Leave me alone, Souta. Just five more minutes. Go away." Kagome mumbled. She was without a care in the world, oblivious to what was happening outside of sleep.
"Come on guys! Help me out!"
"So, Renkotsu, Suikotsu. What are we going to do today?" Bankotsu asked nonchalantly as they walked out of the room.
"Big brother! Don't be so mean!"
Echoing laughter of the three flowed back to Jakotsu. He pouted.
'This is so unfair."
There was a grumble coming from the bundle. Jakotsu huffed at it.
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In the time that Jakotsu was trapped and Kagome was keeping warm to the time she woke up, the other three had manage to try and stop worrying about their gifts but they wandered around the house, still worrying any way, despite their supposed resolution to stay calm. And they still didn't want to get caught. And they still felt everything was too obvious. And they still felt they would slip up. And there were too many ands.
It didn't help that they thought that Kagome already knew. There were other thoughts like that, many that were making all of them suspicious and nervous. What if she were to find the gifts? Or what if she were to hate the gifts? What if she was just waiting for them to crack?
They awkwardly greeted her when she awoke, all worked up about what Kagome would feel and all sorts of things relating to that. But she was quite awkward herself and the three that had left Jakotsu had a feeling it had to do with the scream and yell that was just heard a couple of minutes ago. Then again…
There was no mention of that morning. Later, they had gone to the mall to finish up Christmas shopping. Not that Kagome knew they had gone but they were still nervous about being caught.
Kagome was buying the last gifts, this time for her family and she had also inconspicuously helped each one of them find a gift for the other members of the Shichinintai. When the others weren't looking and Bankotsu, Suikotsu, Jakotsu or Renkotsu had found something they thought another of them might like, she went ahead and added it to her purchase.
Of course, since last time the males were there, they were in a hurry so they didn't get to explore and see everything, not even noticing the colorful Christmas displays. But now, they were so preoccupied with looking that it was quite easy to sneak in a gift for one of them.
Kagome almost snorted. She had her Christmas shopping all done, getting gifts for everyone yesterday, including these four. Now she was only getting her family's gifts, but instead she was getting more. It was weird how easily the Shichinintai seemed to have integrated into her life. But in a way, it seemed okay and strangely she was already so used to them. Their presence, attitudes, habits and whatever else seem to stick to her head.
"Earth to Miss Higurashi! We done here yet?" Jakotsu's voice yelled from the front of the store. It sounded a little distant, not because of how far away he was but because of how aloof it sounded.
However, for the Band of Seven, they were still bothered by the beads she never seemed to take off. They were a little put off by Inuyasha's persistence to stay, even when he wasn't actually there.
"Yeah. Actually, I'm done period. How does going to Asakusa Hagoita Festival sound to you?"
They were all right with it and they headed out of the mall to head back to the temple they visited two days ago, on the second day of sightseeing.
Asakusa Hagoita Festival was a festival for the game Hanetsuki which was much like badminton without the net. It is played with a wooden paddle called a hagoita and a shuttle called a hane. In Asakusa, the festival is held in the Hagoita Market where beautifully ornamented hagoitas were sold in numerous stands.
And as Kagome and the others looked in awe at the colorful, artistic and/or tasteful wooden paddles, one in particular made Kagome's heart stop. It was medium sized, made on light colored wood. But it was the picture that stood out and grabbed at Kagome. The Sacred Tree glared out with the familiar vines of that first time, with that same figure in red. The figure of a girl was near the red figure, standing on the vines and reaching up to play with furry ears. Both figures were blurred and shadowed. The faces weren't seen and the colors of red, green and white were distorted, sort of hazy.
It was Inuyasha and her; the first time they met.
It didn't matter that you couldn't see the faces or that because of the indistinct colors you couldn't define them instantly. In her heart, she knew. From the ears to their positions. The tree, the blurred outfits. His hair, hers…the arrow. It was all there.
But she scrunched up her eyebrows. Inuyasha didn't have the subjugation beads on when she first saw him pinned to the tree.
"Hello. May I help you?"
That voice! She turned and saw the speaker and her eyes widened. Her heart got stuck in her throat and she almost couldn't say anything.
"Inuyasha?"
'Inuyasha' blinked and spoke, "Sorry, but my name's Mihoto Kyukotsei. I'm the artist of this wooden paddle. It's one of many actually. However, I was unable to bring the rest here since the delivery truck that was to bring them here never came. So I suppose you're interested in this one, ne?"
Kagome felt disappointment flow through her at the realization that this was not Inuyasha. She should have known, though. Mihoto's hair was black and his eyes only held golden flecks inside brown orbs. And his hands were normal hands…they weren't claws. He was more like Inuyasha in his human form.
"I'm sorry. I mistook you for someone else. This paddle…it's beautiful. It's reminds me of a very close memory. You're very talented."
He smiled and Kagome noted that Inuyasha rarely smiled. Mihoto didn't seem like Inuyasha at all now that her mind was clear. This gentleman in front of her was kind and polite. Inuyasha was mostly rude and indifferent. If anything, Mihoto and Inuyasha were like two opposites.
"Thank you, miss. As a gift, please don't mind terribly if I offer it to you for free. I feel right giving it to you. Please accept it."
Mihoto took the paddle from its display and handed it to her. She cradled it in her hands, unbelieving.
For a moment, a flash of snow white hair, golden eyes, and ears appeared before it faded back to black and brown.
"The girl…you remind me of her. I would have said you were my inspiration for her had I not just met you now."
One last wide-eyed look and Kagome fled with the paddle. "Thank you," she called out behind her, not looking. She could feel her heart just tearing into pieces over and over again, her mind starting to blank out. She silently wept as she ran away, the tears flying down her cheeks and behind her.
The forgotten Shichinintai raced after her.
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It was solemn after that. Arriving back home after the Night Festival, they all just went to sleep, unable to drudge up any harbored resentment or feeling inside enough to yell and scream at each other.
But Kagome couldn't sleep. And neither could the men.
So they trailed after her, into the kitchen where she made all of them tea. They sat around the table, waiting for it to finish and feeling uncomfortable with the silence. Kagome was still depressed and the Band of Seven was stressed out. Inuyasha was ever-present in all of their minds.
Suikotsu's thoughts were also bordering on irritation and depression. It's been how many days since they came back and his nightly ritual with Kagome still had not continued? It was a rather miserable experience without the practice and he found himself missing it a lot. He was pretty sure that that night was going to pass by without the habit either. That and with the recent happenings of the day made him feel really dejected.
The whistling of the tea kettle interrupted them and Kagome went to go pour all of them a cup.
In a few minutes, as they were sipping their tea, Kagome laid her head down on the table and started to blink back tears. The men didn't really know how to comfort someone and they had even more trouble doing it in front of each other.
"Will you all…just stay here with me? Until I fall asleep."
They didn't need to answer her. They sat there until her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. Once she was asleep, they carried her upstairs to her room and slipped her into bed. When they were in their own bed, they began to brood to themselves.
The Shichinintai had recognized the figures on the hane. They may not have known what was happening but they certainly knew that schoolgirl outfit and that hakama. And they recognized the artist.
Naraku had told them that Inuyasha had a human form and even showed them what the human form looked like through Kanna's mirror.
The four of them had immediately wanted to take Kagome away from the Inuyasha look a like and that horrid ornamental paddle. A feeling welled up inside them, one that they didn't quite recognize but had felt more often now that they've been with Kagome.
Jealousy.
Started 11/1404 –Completed 11/17/05
