~Freak Attraction: Seven-Man Circus~
Chapter Seven: New Discoveries
Another chime sounded at the front door, nearly wrenching a groan from the woman just sitting down to her warm cup of tea. She knew who it would be, and since it wasn't her darling daughter or the dog-eared young man finally coming home, she was in no hurry to answer it. Still, the bell continued to ring, and Mrs. Higurashi rose from the table to see to her household duties. Three teenage girls looked eagerly up at her as she slid the front door open, and although she'd grown fond of her daughter's friends, she had no more news to tell them today than yesterday.
"I'm sorry girls, but Kagome is still unwell. She's just not up to having guests right now." Their crestfallen expressions tugged at her heart, and a sincere smile worked its way onto her face as she stepped aside with a kind "would you like to come in for some tea?"
Yuka shook her head respectfully, saying "Thank you ma'am, but we don't want to be a bother. We're just worried about her is all."
"I know girls, I know" Mrs. Higurashi answered softly, "but with rest and enough time to recover, she'll be as good as new! She won't disappear on us again." They each nodded, a haunted look in their young eyes as they recalled the months their friend had been missing. To the older woman, it seemed as though they still blamed themselves. Kagome had never told them how grateful she was they'd made her skip school that day.
"Hi girls! Sorry to make you worry."
Four sets of eyes snapped to the figure approaching down the hallway, though none were as surprised as Mrs. Higurashi. The only thing keeping her from falling in a heap on the floor was the slight squeakiness to the voice which didn't fit the body housing it.
"K-Kagome!" Eri gasped, "You're well enough to get up? We thought you were bedridden!"
'Kagome' giggled, somewhat nervously it seemed to Mrs. Higurashi's ears, and pulled her shawl closer over her shoulders. "Well, you've all been coming around so often, I just had to see you and say thanks!" Her eyes darted to her mother's, but the older woman just watched in silence, a slightly amused and somewhat exasperated look in her eye. Kagome coughed for effect and brought a dainty hand to her head as she swayed dramatically. "I'm still too ill to be up long," she started in a strained, rasping voice, "and this cough has ruined my throat unfortunately."
"That's too bad," Ayumi added softly. "Is there anything we can get for you? Would you like some company? Hojo's been asking about you for days, and we'd be happy to let him know when he can visit!"
The other girls brightened immediately, hopeful eyes beaming at Kagome across the foyer in anticipation of her excitement. There was no excitement or even embarrassment however: her smile turned upwards, almost into a smirk, and Mrs. Higurashi thought she saw those dark eyes start to bleed green as Kagome responded "No, you don't need to bother him. I'm well looked after! Besides, I don't think my fiancé would appreciate it." In the time it took the three friends to process those words, Mrs. Higurashi gave the girl beside her a stern glance. It was returned with mischief in every inch.
"What!? Kagome, since when have you had a fiancé?"
"Who is he, Kagome?"
"Why haven't you mentioned him before?"
Turning suddenly bashful, Kagome retreated into the fabric of her shawl as she simpered out "His name is Inuyasha, and he's just wonderful! He helped me find my way back home when I got lost all those months back, and we've been in love ever since!" Hands clasping dramatically to her chest, Kagome continued "I can't imagine my life without him now! You'll just have to tell Hojo that I can no longer see him. It wouldn't be fair to keep his hopes up like this."
Oblivious to the hammy acting of their sick friend, the girls shared looks of shock in near silence, until Eri spoke up curiously "So… where is your fiancé? Can we meet him?"
"He's gone to get me medicine in town" Kagome answered quickly, dismissing the second question almost at once. "He's such a good man, always looking out for me like that!"
The confusion had yet to fade from the three faces as they were coerced into saying goodbyes and eventually turned away from the house. All questions about when he would be back and when they were to be wed were expertly evaded by a Kagome who seemed increasingly hale and high-voiced. The only thing saving the failing performance was the dazed state of Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi as they half-listened with whirling minds. Finally shutting the door on the retreating group, Mrs. Higurashi folded her arms and tried to keep from smiling as she said firmly "Kagome isn't going to like you spreading rumors like this."
There was a popping puff of smoke, and Kagome disappeared to be replaced by a grinning, red-haired fox demon. "I know, I know" Shippo answered, hopping up onto the woman's shoulder, "but maybe it'll give those two a push in the right direction!"
Ruffling the little demon-boys hair, Mrs. Higurashi gave him an affectionate smile and carried him into the kitchen to fetch him a snack for his troubles and finally finish her tea.
It was a silent morning. A heavy air of expectancy hung in the tent, bearing down on the shoulders of the half-demon seated on the cot's edge. One downy dog-ear flicked at the soft sigh of the woman behind him, still lost in slumber as light seeped into the thin crack of the tent flap. He listened for any other sounds, but she wasn't even close to waking yet, and he had no desire to disturb her. She'd worked so hard last night to comfort him, to mend their bond, and she deserved to rest as long as their duties would allow. Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder to watch her sleep, lashes brushing her cheeks and lips slightly pursed, with the hand beneath her curled by her cheek and the other reaching out to his side of the small bed. He wanted to be there with her, to feel the gentle pressure of that hand on his chest and the warmth of her breath against his shoulder, but his mind wouldn't let him rest.
Tonight would be a New Moon. Tonight he would lose his demonic powers and become human. There was no telling what the six remaining Circus Gods would do to him should they find out. 'They won't find out' he told himself firmly, 'I don't care what I have to do; if I have to fake being sick or poison myself for real, I'll keep this secret from those creeps.' He was only half convinced by his plans, and knew that Kagome would be even harder to persuade. But there was no other option.
Nightmarish remembrances from Naraku's circus flooded his mind: demons crowding his cage during his human time, their ugly faces pressing in as they shoved rotted pieces of human flesh through the bars, specially saved from feeding nights. Sometimes the fox-women would come to taunt him, tugging his chains and pulling his limbs through the bars as they shape-shifted into human women with painted white faces and blackened teeth, simpering and cooing to throw him off his guard. He hated them too much to ever fall for their tricks of seduction, and every time one reached inside his cage in an attempted caress, they ended up with a broken wrist. Demons like Hiten had taken full advantage of his vulnerable state. Thunder-pike in hand, the acrobat would spend hours during the moonless night testing Inuyasha's human limits, jolting him every now and then with just the tip of the pike, giving him enough time to recover before electrocuting him again. Come sunrise, the physical signs of abuse would vanish, and the demons would ignore his presence until their next chance to make sport of him; but the rising sun could never erase his memories.
The Shichifukujin were not going to find out about his human night.
His dog-ears perked at the light crunch of gravel approaching their tent in a scraping, uneven gait. The scent was familiar, even if the rhythm of the steps was not. With a last glance back at Kagome's sleeping face, Inuyasha rose from the cot and went to meet the messenger, glad that the woman wouldn't have to see what was sure to be a grizzly sight.
And it was. Izumo's face was mottled black and blue with bruises, his left eye swollen shut and blood caked over a laceration on his bottom lip. The parts of his forearms peeking from his folded sleeves showed similar blotches, and Inuyasha guessed that the odd pace of his walk was probably due to a limp. At least the six gods hadn't killed him, but they'd repaid his lax guardianship with a thorough beating. Kagome would be heartbroken.
"There will be no performance tonight."
Inuyasha was so caught up in his guilt over the half-demon man's state that he nearly missed what had been said. When the words finally processed, he found himself frozen and not daring to believe his own ears. "W-what?! Are you serious?"
"The Gods are requesting the assistance of all available workers in rebuilding the stage this morning." Izumo's voice was without tone or inflection, and behind the bruises, his expression seemed more lifeless than ever as he continued "Both you and your wife are required to assist, as the other monsters will also be involved in the rebuilding."
And without another word he turned away, never giving Inuyasha so much as an accusing frown. Could it be that he didn't mind getting beaten for their cause? Or perhaps… had the remaining performers done something to him? Did he even remember why he'd been so brutalized? Inuyasha shook the thoughts from his head, and hurried back into the tent. He'd worry about all that later, but right now, he needed to wake Kagome and tell her the news. Finally, they'd found a spot of luck in the Lucky God's circus.
"C'mon, move it Inugami! Less slacking, more hammering! And you! Ogre! Pick up the pace." Jakotsu's terse commands rang out over the hustling buzz of the stage area, the workers following his orders in varying levels of compliance. Inuyasha bit his lip to keep from snapping back; he'd been hard at work since they arrived that morning, pushing his body to its limits to get as much done as he could. He didn't need the circus-monkey on his back to get him to work.
"Woman! Put some back into it! I don't want to see a single speck of blood on these floors, do you hear me?" Inuyasha looked in the direction of Jakotsu's crowing voice to see Kagome kneeling on the stage, a soaked rag in her hand and a bucket of murky water beside her as she washed away evidence of the dead and injured wolves. She was dutifully keeping her mouth shut at the harsh commands, but Inuyasha could see the pinch between her brows, and he growled. If that freak didn't lay off Kagome, there would be even more blood on the stage, and Kagome wouldn't clean a drop of it.
Snapping his head back to his hammering, Inuyasha glared at the beam he was securing back in place, and wondered how much longer they'd be needed here. The noonday sun was high overhead, but there was still time before it would begin to set. Still… the sooner they could get away and avoid any suspicion, the better. His yellow eyes wandered again, singling out the small half-demons assisting Kagome in scrubbing the wooden boards – they would have to stage it so none of them were blamed. The last thing he wanted were more Izumos.
The bull-half-demon worked across the stage, silently hammering away without concern in the presence of his abusers. Inuyasha was sure he'd been bewitched or brainwashed or something as he slaved tirelessly at his rebuilding. It was unnerving to see his mottled complexion, to look over at the dried blood and swollen eye, and to know that the men surrounding him had been the cause. Kagome kept her back to Izumo as much as she could, as her misty eyes at the sight of him were difficult to hide.
"Fifteen minute break for food, and then back at it! We want this stage finished tonight!"
Chucking his hammer to the packed dirt, Inuyasha headed at once for Kagome's side. He watched as she took Ai by the hand, lifting the little girl onto trembling legs and slowly guiding her off the stage. Even as she did, her eyes scanned the rest of the platform, intently watching the other half-demons, making sure each would follow. Shiori padded after them in silence, arms useless at her side as her orb had been left in her cage, and Jinenji lumbered to the front of the small group, clearing debris from their path. Kagome paused as Shion remained kneeling on the wood. "Inuyasha" she called out as she caught his eye; his ears perked at the undercurrent of fear lacing the sound, "can you help Shion?" She didn't need to ask twice.
The ram-horned boy was unresponsive as Inuyasha knelt beside him, making no move to get up or follow the others. Inuyasha didn't speak as he took stock of the boy's condition, and the stench of infected flesh reached his sensitive nose. Shion's modified feet were inflamed, the skin swollen and yellowing, and Inuyasha grimaced. No wonder the boy wouldn't stand. At once his arms came around the small half-demon and lifted him off the floor and his injured feet. Kagome was waiting anxiously at the bottom of the stage steps for them, and her eyes went wide as Inuyasha relayed the situation.
"But… but I've been tending to him!" She said adamantly, "I've been treating his feet! How are they still infected?" Inuyasha watched her heart break as she brushed the hair from Shion's forehead, the boy's eyes as blank and emotionless as always; his own heart broke with her.
"It's infected from the inside. The scent is pretty deep. Unless you can get him some medicine, there's not much else we can do." Setting Shion on the ground beside the other half-demons, he started towards the line of workers handing out bowls of stew.
"Then I'll get some."
He paused and glanced over his shoulder to see Kagome's determined scowl. "If he needs medicine, we'll get him medicine." Her fists were balled at her side, and Inuyasha sighed resignedly as he turned back to dissuade her. The gods would never let her go, they'd surely be suspicious, they'd – wait. Her expression had changed: she was looking at him expectantly, as if trying to send a message without words. Inuyasha struggled to receive it, until it hit him – she had the perfect excuse to get away now. Izumo was busy with reconstructing the stage, and wouldn't be able to make a run to the town for anything, let alone medicine. Jakotsu would probably push her through the gate himself.
A subtle nod was the only sign he gave her, but her lip curled up into a tiny smile regardless. "I'll speak to the gods for you" he said quietly, before turning back to get them a meal. Once she was outside the circus, it would be easier for him to slip away unnoticed. He only hoped the gods wouldn't go searching for them later.
Kagome grimaced as the ripe stench of fish permeated her nose to settle on her tongue as she wandered the shop-lined main street. The remaining catches from the morning's fishing trips hung like deadly omens from the eaves of food stalls; Kagome hoped ignoring their presence would keep her from getting cursed. She couldn't afford any trouble now – she knew Shion would be alright without her care until tomorrow, but at the moment… she was lost. A bundle of medicinal herbs and packets of powder rested safely in the folds of Kagome's striped green kimono, though she herself felt anything but safe. There were so many people, half of them foreigners, and all of them older than her by far. It was strange to be dressed in school clothes in such a savvy, adult setting. Of course, she was considered an adult now, wasn't she? She'd finished her required schooling – she was ready to take the next step in life. As far as anyone here was concerned, she already had.
Her thoughts turned to her 'husband', and worry set in. The sun was almost gone behind the sea mountains; the change would happen any second, and he still hadn't found her. He'd assured her that staying in town till sundown was her best option, that he'd catch up once he managed to get away, but she'd had doubts at the time, and they had yet to dissipate. Without his nose and dog-ears to guide him, it could take hours before he tracked her down. 'He'll already be feeling weak' she thought anxiously; 'It's hard enough to hear over crowds without having to adjust to a new set of ears.' Weaving between the noisy shoppers and drunken townsfolk, it was difficult for Kagome to keep from being drawn into the hustle and bustle of the evening. Shops full of foreign treasures and expensive gifts drew her eye at every turn, and thoughts of Inuyasha soon became lost in the tumult.
There weren't many store fronts like ones she'd seen in Tokyo, with tall glass windows set in brick buildings, their displays filled to bursting with gaudy displays of splendor. Here, the goods sat just beyond the red awnings, beckoning passersby to step forward for a closer look. Brightly dyed spools of threads and fabric with intricate patterns lined the walls of a few shops, with pre-sewn kimonos arranged on dress-forms out front. Some of the kimonos had been westernized, no doubt hoping to appeal to the sea-visitors with their oversized obis and lace trims. Kagome found herself pausing in her trek to admire a few, waving away shopkeepers who tried to sell her on rolls and spools.
A small stand caught her eye more than the rest, its wares glittering in the glowing streetlamps that were springing to life around her. Small tables draped in clean cloth provided the backdrop to a collection of bowls and cases that at once were very familiar to Kagome. She'd seen bowls like this in her mother's room before, on her vanity dresser with a small dish for water and a clean brush set beside it. Kagome could remember holidays as a young girl where her mother would sit her down in the chair at that table and carefully dab water into the bowl. She would watch, fascinated, as the shimmering green coating inside of the basin turned the most vibrant of reds, the liquid seeping like ink into the bristles, and then she would sit very still as her mother brushed the magical substance over her lips. She remembered her mother saying she'd buy her a bowl of her own as a gift for finishing school. They hadn't been able to take that trip to town, as fate had once again intervened.
Noticing her fixation on the lip rouge, the old man behind the counter rose from his stool and regarded her with twinkling eyes. "Young woman," he began in a rasping voice, "you seem to have good taste. This here is the finest Beni you'll find anywhere, made of the most vibrant Safflower petals, straight from Yamagata!" His watery eyes crinkled and he raised a hand to whisper behind it "You won't find anything so red from the foreigners – they wouldn't know color if it came up and bit them!"
Kagome smiled, but kept her thoughts to herself. Of course things from other lands were going to be different, that's why they were here – to share and to learn. But even Kagome had noticed the men and women from the west tended to dress a little… drab. Turning back to the display of lip tints, she gently picked up one of the bowls and turned it around in her hands, watching the iridescent shades of green glimmer in the flickering light of the lamps.
"I have sets for those, if you'd like" the old man said earnestly, "with the brush and dish and everything! I could give you a good price!"
At that her smile fell, and ever so gently she set the bowl back down. "Thank you, but… I really couldn't right now."
"Nonsense!" The old man sputtered, "A lovely girl like you would be radiant with some Beni to her face! You'd look a real high class lady to all the young men!"
"Now that's something I really don't need" she laughed. At a look from the old shopkeeper she explained "I'm already married", at which his face seemed to shed almost twenty years of wrinkles.
"Excellent! What a good young girl you are! A fine example of youth! Now don't be stubborn, I insist you buy something to dress yourself up – give your husband a nice surprise, eh?"
Kagome was already blushing down to her feet by the time he mentioned her husband, and through her flustered state she managed to squeak out "N-no! That's alright. I mean, I'd love to, but… we're travelling right now, and… I can't carry a set around. Too big." She bit her lip and hoped he'd let the issue rest. The truth was, she wanted the lip paint. It brought back memories of her mother, memories of a simpler time, and the thought of painting her lips in the mornings made her feel like the mature adult woman she'd been pretending to be.
The old man thought for a moment, his weathered hand scratching at the gray whiskers peppering his chin, until a smile crept up at the corners of his mouth. "Young miss, I believe I've got just the thing."
Reaching beneath the table, he pulled out a small wooden box and set it between them. Unstopping the lid, he let Kagome peer inside to see a small stack of sticks that looked almost like foreign cigars, wrapped in thick pressed paper sleeves. "These," he said, pulling one of the small sticks out of the box, "are Beni crayons. They're a new product I've been meaning to test." He handed one over to Kagome and watched avidly as she handled it.
"It's heavier than it looks" she commented, tracing her finger over the rough grain of the paper. "What exactly are they?"
"Beni crayons!" he said again, and Kagome gave him wide, questioning eyes. Finally realizing she'd missed the concept, the shopkeeper explained in an excited rush "I mixed the base for the lip paint with wax and honey, and shaped it into a stick! You just rub away at it a little, then rub some on your lips with a finger. No need for brushes, or even water! It's always ready to use. And you could carry it with you in your kimono or a small satchel, if you wanted!" His small black eyes were shining, looking younger most likely than he had in years. One look at that face, and Kagome knew it was a lost battle.
A sigh passed her smiling lips as she twirled the wrapped crayon in her fingers. "How much?"
"For you miss?" he responded with shining eyes, "Twenty Sen. I charge the foreigners a whole yen for this sort of thing, but I can afford to part with this for less. I remember what it was like to be young and married. Not a coin between you I wager!" Wrinkles obscured his eyes as he laughed boisterously, the noise losing itself in the crowd beyond the stall. "Besides, I can see you're quite taken with it." The lines around his eyes only deepened in his knowing smile, and Kagome couldn't help smiling back at the look.
"That's very nice of you, but I can't let you do that. This is worth much more I'm sure." Even as she spoke, she turned the paper-wrapped crayon over in her fingers, gently brushing the rough grain and wondering how richly red the pigment of the Beni inside would be.
"Bah, these are only experiments! I've hardly had a chance to test them out." He watched her a moment more as she continued to look longingly at the lip tints, and said quietly "I tell you what young miss, I'd very much like to give these crayons a trial run. If you promise to try it on and come back to show me how it looks, I'll give it to you for ten Sen."
"You're a horrible bargainer" she said grinning. The old man chuckled, shaking his head as he responded "Never could think straight around a pretty face." Her fingers tightened around the stick, and eyes sparkling, she relented. "I guess I'd better just say yes, before you end up giving this away for nothing!" Fishing through her satchel for the needed copper coins, she gave them to the smiling man with a renewed promise to return and show him the result of her purchase.
"Bring your husband along as well when you return" he shouted to her as she departed, leaning over the table of his booth. She nodded and waived, smiling at the weight of the lip rouge in her hand before the sight of the vendor was lost to the crowd. When she returned, she'd be sure to pay for the Beni Crayon in full.
In her distracted state, she almost missed the soft sound of meowing. The sound was nearly at her feet before the sound of a cat registered in her mind, and she had barely begun to recognize the sound when a flash of black and cream caught her peripheral. Craning her neck, Kagome peered through the sea of smart boots and thonged sandals before her eyes landed on vibrant red eyes watching her from a furry face.
"Kirara!" Kagome forgot to even say 'excuse me' as he pushed her way through the crowd to reach the demon cat. Kirara meowed in greeting as she finally reached her, but didn't wait around for a pat on the head. As soon as Kagome was before her, the little cat turned and scampered off into the market street once more, leaving a confused Kagome in her wake. It wasn't until Kirara turned bright red eyes over a fluffy shoulder to glance back at the stunned girl that she caught the hint – she was supposed to follow. Quickly stowing her newly bought Beni in her money satchel, Kagome hurried after the cat without another thought.
Kagura shuffled quietly through the empty circus stalls. The lot seemed to be closed for the night, all the workers returned to their tents once the sun had fallen and the stars had shone. Her eyes swept the food vendors stalls with no hidden criticism – she'd been around a circus long enough to recognize quality from laziness. The workmanship of this place was nothing but shoddy.
Her aura twinged at the feeling of another close by, and her attention was drawn further into the compound, where a familiar demon was waiting. She hadn't known what it was that had called to her back at Sesshomaru's mansion, just that the pull of it was strong. So strong she'd left the safety of his barrier and flown all the way to Yokohama to find the source. Of course she should have known it would only be-
"Kanna." The small girl in white stepped into her path, the mirror in her hands turned away, showing its polished silver design to the wind demon. She showed no emotion, but Kagura knew well how to read that face. They were both demons of elements, of things intangible, and she felt a sort of sisterhood with this girl of the void. And Naraku had controlled Kanna as well, giving her strength while at the same time enslaving her service. The only difference was that Kanna never really seemed to notice… or care.
"So… how've you been?" Her fan rested leisurely against her shoulder, head cocking and a half-smile on her lips as she locked her red gaze with white eyes. Kanna did not respond in kind – Kagura had not expected her to.
"The Seven Performers have returned to Japan. They felt Naraku's death."
"Hmm, I figured they would. Took them long enough to get here." Kagura stepped forward, Kanna's unblinking eyes watching without alarm as the demon woman pointed her folded fan at the girl. "Have you been with them all this time, Kanna?" A nod was the only response, and Kagura tapped her chin with the fan in thought. "I don't suppose you're going to tell me what your role in this is?"
Kanna's blank eyes stared up at her, and for a moment Kagura was stunned as she found an answer in them. "You don't know why?" Slowly, the white-haired head moved side to side. "Damn… and here I thought this would be easy."
"I'm to do as they bid" Kanna said softly, "and stay with them at all times."
"And are you to protect them?" There was a beat of silence as the girl mulled over Kagura's question, as though she were waiting for a response herself, before finally shaking her head in a slow back and forth. Kagura smirked. Things were looking up once more.
"Well, that's settled. Come Kanna, we've got some experimenting to do." Her red eyes glanced up at the night sky, darkened with the absent moon as the stars struggled to light the world beneath them. She fought back a laugh, remembering how she'd caught the half-demon jumping over the back wall just as the sun disappeared. Yes, this was the perfect time to enact her plan. Perhaps she'd enlist the help of the halfbreed and his human at some point, but for now she couldn't risk their interference. There was something she had to find out for herself first.
"I-Inuyasha!"
Upon reaching the small house buried deep in the Yokohama streets, Kagome had expected the welcome sight of Miroku and Sango as they came to the door to greet her. She even took the sight of an old, rotund man sporting a bushy mustache and reeking of sake in stride, realizing it was likely he who owned the house. What she couldn't grasp was the sight of her very human Inuyasha sitting against the wall as if he'd always been there, and scowling up a storm. Rushing to his side, she discreetly checked him for any signs of injury – she had no idea whether he'd had trouble getting out of the circus or not, and in wake of his apparent attitude, was afraid to ask.
"What took you so long?" he groused, setting his violet eyes on her and catching her off guard. Somehow she always forgot just what shade they were in the month between transformations. Looking into those eyes was a new experience almost every time. He continued to stare at her though, and with a start she realized he'd asked her a question.
"Well it's not like I have a pocket-watch" she answered calmly, taking up her spot beside him and smoothing the pleats on her hakama. Sango came to sit close by as Miroku rushed off to another room with a few quick words to the old man. Kagome caught something about 'dinner', and could feel her stomach growling at the mere thought. She hadn't eaten since their lunch at the circus! She was glad for Inuyasha's poor hearing, as he surely would have thrown a fit over her poor care of herself. Best to keep him distracted. "When did you get here?"
"Oh he hasn't been here long" Sango said quickly, smiling a little too wide as Inuyasha shot her a glare. "Don't let him guilt you – we were worried about him getting away too, once we realized what night it was. So we sent Kirara out to find him. She was practically dragging him by the pant-leg when they got here!" The girls hid their laughter in their sleeves as Inuyasha sank into grumbling, but Sango managed to continue "After that, Kirara took off to find you. He's been sitting here sulking ever since."
"I was not! I just knew she'd probably get lost out there, and I wanted to go find her myself!" His dark eyes blazed behind black bangs, but despite his firm words, Sango brushed him off with a roll of her eyes. "As if you know this city any more than she does! Honestly, what good would you be to anyone getting lost?" Inuyasha mumbled something under his breath, but didn't dare say it to Sango's face. From their time at the Higurashi Shrine, he knew better than to engage her in a fight. She'd have no pity on his human state right now. Settling back against the wall, he crossed his arms and stared in determination at a far rice-paper door.
Sango only shook her head in amusement as she rose and followed after Miroku with the remark that she'd get them something to eat. As soon as she'd left the room, Kagome placed a gentle hand against Inuyasha's happi coat. "Sorry to make you worry." He turned slightly to meet her eye, his posture still stiff but his scowl softening. Taking a deep breath, Kagome continued "I was pretty worried myself. I didn't know how you were planning to get out."
Inuyasha let out a breath that had his body sagging in weariness. "Aw damn, there weren't any way to make it out that wasn't risky. After you didn't return right away with the medicine, those clowns started gettin' mad. So I asked if I could go get you, y'know? Perfect excuse!" Blunt fingernails dug into thick black hair as Inuyasha scratched sheepishly at the back of his head. "Didn't work though. They wanted me to stay and work even longer as punishment just for asking." Kagome gripped his arm, eyes wide as she asked quietly "So what did you do?"
"Snuck out the back o'course!" He shrugged, picking at the hem of his coat as he continued "Not like they were gonna listen to anything I had to say, so the next break we took, I took off. Good thing too, because I didn't count on the change happenin' so fast."
Kagome could read the problem hiding between his words, and her stomach clenched nervously. "Inuyasha… you did get out before you turned human, didn't you? You weren't seen?"
He shuffled awkwardly, but still managed to look offended somehow. "Course I wasn't! You think I'm that sloppy?" There was still something he wasn't telling her though, and Kagome was determined to find it out. "So… when exactly did it happen? I mean, how far away were you?" Inuyasha's lips pursed, his eyes glancing from hers to the floor, never daring to linger long, and his face turned an interesting shade of red against the black of his hair.
"I, uh… I was just crossing the wall."
Kagome waited impatiently for more, but he didn't offer. "What do you mean 'just crossing'? How far were you, Inuyasha?"
His gaze stayed on the ground this time. "It was… it happened… right as I jumped. I kinda botched my landing 'cause my human legs couldn't take… I mean I wasn't ready for it." She was already running hands over his shins, inspecting them for bruises or signs of blood. He turned scarlet and shied away from her touch, sputtering. "Wh-What're y'doin'?!"
"No wonder Kirara was dragging you here, you were probably in pain and moving slow after a fall like that!" Her wandering hands went to grab one of his feet, noting how the dirt and calluses made it difficult to find any unusual scrapes.
"Dammit, I'm fine!" His protests were undermined by the fact that he had yet to pull his foot away from her gentle fingers; he'd never admit to it, but the gentle massage as she checked his bare feet for injury felt… nice. He tended to put them through a lot of abuse. As soon as she released him, he debated asking her to continue, and nearly bit his tongue for even thinking such a thing in the first place. It wasn't like she was really his wife – he couldn't ask something so personal of her, so intimate.
In his embarrassment, his eyes drifted up to meet with hers, already watching him and shining with her smile. His breath caught a little. It was so hard to hide how much she affected him when his human blood took over. It was hard to want to hide it.
Inuyasha was just debating leaning in for a quick peck at her lips when their hosts made their re-entrance, bearing trays of food and making a clamor that had Inuyasha scowling all over again.
Their late meal was spent catching Miroku and Sango up on the events of the previous nights; of course they'd heard the circus would be closed, and everyone in town had heard word of the wolves' attack the evening before. Of course it was painted as a vicious attack on the innocent performers, but it was for the best. And from what they could gather from their friends, it seemed no one had heard yet of Kyoukotsu's death. Inuyasha wondered whether the remaining gods would attempt to cover it up. It wouldn't look very good to have one of the Shichifukujin killed by a mere wolf, now would it?
"But I can't believe the wolf demons were working with you!" Sango exclaimed, fingers gripping her tea, "I mean, wolves aren't exactly known for kindness. I would've been worried they'd turn on me every second!"
"Yeah, well…" Kagome fidgeted in her seat, wondering how best to explain without reopening old wounds, and doing her best not to look at the man beside her. "They sorta took a liking to me I guess. And it was only a temporary truce, after all." She could feel the tension rolling off of Inuyasha in waves, and saw Sango glancing suspiciously between the two of them. Thinking quick, she added "Besides, I knew Inuyasha wouldn't let them get away with anything," at which the anger subsided, and the half-human huffed in indifference.
"It was a lucky break for you two, I must say" Miroku spoke up calmly, wisely choosing to ignore the subject that had awkward emotions bubbling around his friends. "The perfect opportunity to get away. But what will you say when you get back?"
No one spoke. Mushin took another swig of Sake, noisily wiping his mouth on an already damp sleeve. Kagome no longer felt very hungry.
"I guess… we…."
"We won't say anything." Inuyashsa answered abruptly, arms folding defensively and eyes stern. "We'll get back early enough that they'll never know we've gone." It sounded like a good idea on the surface, but right away Kagome could see the cracks, and it seemed Miroku could as well.
"But what about Kagome? They never saw her come back from her afternoon trip to the market – that's sure to raise questions. And what if they went looking for you in the evening, wanting to train more or something of that sort?" Miroku's blue eyes pierced through both Inuyasha and Kagome as he said "you need an alibi, whether you use it or not."
"… Well," Kagome spoke up cautiously, "we could say we got lost in town. I mean, it wouldn't be that far from the truth."
"No good." Miroku snipped almost at once. "They'll take you to task on why you didn't just ask for directions back. Everyone here knows where the circus is." Tapping his chin thoughtfully, he looked away mumbling "No, it's got to be something more deliberate."
"Could always say we were sick of seein' their ugly faces" Inuyasha grumbled. "Because that's the damn truth."
"Yes, clever idea Inuyasha." The monk's dry tone instantly had the half-demon scowling. "Insult them and let them know you want to get away. That won't raise any warning bells."
"Well if you know so much, why the hell don't you suggest something!"
The words had barely left Inuyasha's throat before Miroku was already smirking – an unpleasant, leacherous smirk. "Think about it, won't you? You two are supposedly married, you get caught up in the Yokohama night life, probably have a few drinks…" his words trailed off expectantly, eyebrows raising into his hairline as he leaned forward, awaiting their response. Inuyasha and Kagome only looked at each other, perplexed.
"So… we get drunk off our asses?" Inuyasha cocked a disbelieving eyebrow. "Like him?" He pointed rudely at Mushing who was slumped against the wall, having long ago stopped caring about the conversation. "Is that really your grand scheme, Miroku?!"
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Miroku took a deep breath before continuing in a tight voice "No, listen." Opening his eyes to the two young people sitting across him on the tatami mats, Miroku started slowly "Alright, here's what you tell them: you met up in town, had a few drinks, got a little tipsy, and instead of going back to the circus, decided to stay at an inn for the night. … Get it?"
Evidently Inuyasha did not. He hadn't noticed that Sango was oddly silent beside the former monk, or that Kagome was turning slightly pink next to him. "Why would we pay for a room when we stay at the circus for free? They're never gonna believe that."
Groaning loudly, Miroku dropped his head into his hand muttering "I can't believe you're not getting this." Sango tried to cover her laughter under a cough, but the smile was unmistakable. Inuyasha looked from each face in the group, desperately searching for clues as to what he had apparently missed. "Inuyasha, my dear friend," Miroku began once again, his lips pursing as though he'd eaten something sour, "You are married. You rented a room in town for privacy. To be with your wife. I'm not going to draw you pictures."
Understanding dawned on the black-haired half-demon's face, as did a plume of scarlet. "B-but… but we're not actually! I mean, we haven't – We're not really married!" He was helplessly embarrassed and Kagome's close proximity beside him nearly burned. Just what kind of plan was this?!
Miroku laughed heartily, glad to have finally gotten his meaning across. "I know, and that's why it's just an alibi. You don't actually have to do it – you're not really renting the room after all, you're staying here! But it'll give you something to tell them when you get back. They can't deny a man wanting time with his wife, now can they?"
"You haven't met 'em" he groused, but… even he had to admit, the plan had merit. "But who's to say they'll believe us?"
"Figure out a way to make it believable!" Miroku's eyes widened as Inuyasha actually growled at him for that one, but then he noticed that even Kagome looked doubtful. Sharing a look with Sango but getting no more support than a shrug of the shoulders, the young monk sighed heavily. "Must I teach you everything? Alright, we won't risk actually getting either of you drunk - no telling what that might do." Both Inuyasha and Kagome looked relieved, though the black-haired man still seemed offended by the remark somehow. "We'll just make sure you smell like sake when you leave. Now, as for the inn…" he watched with a grin as Kagome and Inuyasha shifted nervously, "We just need a little bit of proof they can see. Something unmistakable, but which shouldn't be too uncomfortable for either of you – I hope."
"Just what the hell are you talking about, Miroku?!"
"I'm talking, my naïve friend, about this." Reaching up to the collar of his black robe, Miroku pulled the fabric aside. The girls in the room gasped. Inuyasha raised a confused eyebrow. A few small, round bruises dotted the man's lower neck and collar, scattered in an uneven pattern. He looked as though he'd been pelted by precisely thrown pebbles. "What the hell happened to –"
"Miroku, I can't believe you!" Sango's shrill voice sent Kagome into a panic – she could only imagine how the monk had gotten such marks, and she knew how her friend would take the idea of him fooling around with another girl. Only… Sango didn't look angry. She was blushing from head to toe and trying desperately to cover the small bruises up again. "Don't go showing those around like that!"
"Sango!" The girl in question turned terrified eyes to Kagome, the answer written in her red cheeks. "Where… exactly did he get those?"
"Come now Kagome" Miroku responded cheerily, evading Sango's swatting hands, "don't tell me you can't recognize your friend's handiwork! Sango worked hard at these!" His eyes sparkled in merriment as the woman beside him squealed indignantly and nearly tackled him to the floormats, eventually succeeding in pulling the robe back into place.
"I-It's not what it looks like!" Sango sputtered anxiously, her hands twisting in Kirara's fur. The tiny cat was beginning to complain at the treatment, and managed to squirm her way to freedom before Sango removed handfuls of hair.
"Excuse me, dear Sango, but it's exactly what it looks like. You can't have forgotten already." Miroku pushed back, his posture tall and proud as he rubbed tenderly at the marks beneath his robes. Kagome hardly dared to believe that it had really been Sango who had placed them there, but the look passing between her two friends was unmistakable – something between them had changed. She just wished she knew when!
Amidst the excitement, no one seemed to notice the black-haired man in the red coat against the wall, watching each interaction with growing confusion and consternation. They'd practically forgotten Inuyasha was there at all until in an angry manner he shouted "Oi! Is someone gonna explain what those marks are or what? And what the hell's Sango got to do with it?" He was set with so many blank stares that Inuyasha was beginning to think there must be something wrong with his face. "W-what? Did she beat you up or something?" His attention focused on Miroku, who gave him an indulgent smile and sighed with all the patience of a parent explaining life to a small child.
"I assume then that you haven't done this with your lovely wife yet?" Inuyasha couldn't even think to respond. Done what exactly? No one was making any sense!
"It's a hickey."
Kagome's sudden voice made him jump, but as he turned to meet her eyes, calmness instantly followed. Of course Kagome would explain it to him. She always had his back. Turning slightly to face her, Inuyasha gave her his undivided attention, noting how she seemed to get flustered under his gaze. He smiled a little – she was cute when she got all bashful, though for the life of him he couldn't understand what was causing it. He soon found out.
"It's, uh… well, it's a bruise I guess, but you get it, um… you get it from kissing." Her eyes flickered from his to her hands and back. He blinked once, slowly. "H-huh?" "You know!" Kagome continued, her voice rising in pitch, "When you're… when you're really kissing, and you kiss someone's neck like that, it… it leaves a mark."
He… sort of understood. He was starting to anyways. He had about a million more questions, but Kagome looked uncomfortable enough as it was. An ugly feeling settled in his stomach as one question in particular made its way to the forefront of his mind – just how did she know about these 'hickey' things to begin with? He wanted desperately to find out, but after their experience with Kouga, he knew better than to bring it up in company. He'd wait till he got her alone, and then he wanted the truth, no matter how much it hurt.
"So uh…" tearing his eyes away from his 'wife', Inuyasha faced a smirking Miroku and continued "So these 'kiss marks' will prove we spent the night together?"
"As much as anything else!" He replied, shifting to his knees to gather the empty dinner trays before rising to take them away to the kitchen. Before his foot could cross the threshold, he turned once more to the blushing couple and said airily "It's your choice, but like I said: better to have an alibi than trust to your luck." Sango's eyes followed him as he left, before snapping to their guests with bright fervor. Her voice was low as she leaned forward and said "I know this all sounds like some silly idea his lecherous brain cooked up, but really think about it! It might just get you out of trouble! It's just some kissing, and… besides," her eyes fell to the side and she bit her lip before continuing in a whisper "it… actually does feel kinda nice."
Kagome smothered a giggle into her sleeve; Inuyasha was starting to look a little green. This was more than he'd ever wanted to know about his friends' private lives. They could do whatever they wanted when he wasn't around – he just didn't want to hear a word about it.
But… as for him and Kagome….
Kagura didn't know how Ginkotsu had seen her coming, but she had a real fight on her hands. Her wind blades were almost no match to the god's metal body, scraping noisily against the steel and leaving nothing but annoying gashes. He never looked weakened, never acted injured. He never even bled. The few times she managed to get past his defenses and nick his human skin, his metal teeth would gnash and he'd barrel forward after her, the locomotive attached to his form billowing steam but the skin never so much as turning red.
Gunshots fired past her ear, and Kagura scowled. She didn't have time for this. Soon the other performers would reach them, having already heard the noise of the fight, and she really didn't feel up to taking on their whole troupe at once. One was all she needed to test her theory. Waiting for the right opening, Kagura sent a volley of wind blades at the metal monster, successfully lopping off one of his arms. He chuckled at her, unfazed, and rolled closer.
Leaping nimbly away from his path she observed the dismembered stump – sure enough, there was no blood. The flesh didn't even look fresh. She had been suspecting as much. Ginkotsu turned his cumbersome body awkwardly to follow her quick movements, but he wasn't quick enough. In one decisive movement, a single blade of demonic wind hurtled through the air and sliced through the circus god's throat. His head fell in a heap before the body which continued to rumble onwards, the metal smile ringing sharply as it rattled against the wheels bumping it along the ground like a child's ball.
Ignoring the state of the already decaying body, Kagura watched as a white orb of light flew up from the severed throat and hovered listlessly in the air. It didn't stay there long before choosing its course and streaking across the darkness to vanish into the depths of Kanna's mirror. The small girl made no notice of it, and as soon as it had vanished, she too turned and silently slipped back into the night.
Kagura watched her fellow demon go with a smile – she'd found out all she needed, and now Kanna would be gone before their audience arrived, allowing her to keep doing her secret job until all the pieces were in place. The wind demon felt the change in the wind as the performers approached long before she could hear their racket. She stayed where she was, entirely nonchalant as Ginkotsu's decapitated body finally came to a billowing stop, and the five remaining gods skidded to a halt around her and the wreckage.
"Wha-what the Hell's going on here?!" Renkotsu roared, hands already reaching for a canon he'd strapped to his back. "Who are you, witch?"
Kagura watched each of the men cautiously readying the weapons they'd brought; she hid a smile behind her fan. "Hmm, upset that I broke your machine? I'd forego the repairs if I were you." She tapped the dormant machine with a bare foot, and it creaked and rattled in response. Renkotsu stalked towards her with murderous intent, and she smiled wider.
"Stop right there."
Swiveling back to face a stony Bankotsu, Renkotsu sputtered indignantly. "Brother, you can't just – she's murdered Ginkotsu! I demand revenge." He turned and started toward the woman again, but once more Bankotsu's voice broke the night silence.
"She's a demon, Renkotsu. We don't need to lose another man – we're already down enough as it is." The older man only huffed, responding sharply "That wolf was a demon too, and we ran him off. These demons are all the same: cowards who hide behind their magic tricks."
"I'd watch what you say around her" Bankotsu murmured, his carefree guise dropping under the weight of caution. "Can't you feel it? Don't you recognize that aura?"
The fire-wielding performer finally stopped, curiosity warring with his need for vengeance. He looked over the smiling woman once more with calculating eyes, and his body stiffened as a new sense came over him. Kagura nearly laughed as she watched each of the remaining men put the last piece of the puzzle in place.
"So, you really can still feel him, can you?" Snapping her fan shut, she gave each of them an appraising look. They were all human at their core, but in each man there was a drop of something else – something demon. It was easy to recognize, as she'd carried the same power herself once. "You've been running from Naraku for a long time now. I'm surprised you even dared coming back to Japan."
"You some kind of messenger from him?" Bankotsu's eyes were hard as steel, hands clenching and unclenching as if preparing to fight. Kagura smirked. "And what need has a dead man of a messenger? You sensed that as well as I did." Posture relaxing only slightly, the young man mirrored the wind-demon's expression and responded in a cocky tone "Assumed as much. We all agreed this increase in power must have been him dying, and that's why we came back. And so" he took a menacing step toward the demon, "knowing we're all using his power, and you're outnumbered, you wanna take on the rest of the seven gods?"
Clicking her tongue, Kagura reached for the feather in her hair. "Don't sound so sure of yourselves. It's only intermission." A gust of wind filled the clearing, and the performers shielded their eyes against the biting gale. By the time it subsided, the woman was gone. Swearing under his breath, Bankotsu turned to the company and barked "Suikotsu, Renkotsu! Get these remains out of here. Detach Ginkotsu and rework the mechanics so we can run it ourselves. Find some use for it. Jakotsu!" Flicking his blade back into a white serpent, Jakotsu faced the younger man expectantly. "Go get the Inugami, and have him track that woman. We can't afford to have her wandering around. I don't care if he's asleep or if you have to drag his little wife off him, just get that dog sniffing for demons!"
Jakotsu's painted lips turned up at the corners, only too pleased with his task. "Aye aye, captain! I'll drag him here naked if I have to!"
"Whatever it takes, Jakotsu" Bankotsu called back with a grin, as the god of beauty raced off through the tents. His long legs brought him to the borrowed tent in no time, and he snickered to think of all the ways he could surprise the halfbreed. He hoped the woman put up a fight – he'd love an excuse to wrap her in his blade! Not that he didn't want to see the Inugami wrapped in it as well; he did look so delectable covered in blood….
Pushing aside the front flap of the tent, Jakotsu announced in his loudest and most obnoxious tone "Rise and shine Inugami" – the words caught in his throat, his tongue shriveling and threatening to choke him. The Inugami and his annoying little woman were nowhere to be seen.
"So… a hickey."
Kagome shifted slightly on her folded knees, hands bunched in her green hakama and sweating. Her eyes darted every so often from her fists to the black-haired man crouched in front of her in the otherwise empty room they'd been given for the night, but as he was also staring at her, she never looked at him for long.
"Yeah, umm… we could… just kiss first. See how we feel after that." Mortified by her own words, Kagome ducked her face, trying to bury her red cheeks in her striped kimono to no avail. Gods, this didn't need to be so awkward! How many times had they kissed – really kissed – and never stopped to think about it? Perhaps that was the problem though: they were thinking about it. And knowing Inuyasha, he was thinking way too hard.
Daring the embarrassment, Kagome forced her chin up to meet his burning violet gaze and held it. He looked startled at her bold gesture, but didn't back down. It didn't seem as though he'd make the next move either, and swallowing hard, Kagome took the initiative. Shuffling forward on the tatami mats, Kagome closed some distance between them, putting him within reaching distance. He was much closer now – she could see the rise and fall of his chest, the way his eyes darted back and forth as they looked into hers, occasionally dropping to glance at her mouth… occasionally dropping lower to her neck. She was sure her flush was all the way to her chest by now.
"Hey" she started in a shaky whisper, reaching out to cover one of his folded hands, clenched hard against the mats as he sat like a dog, "it's no big deal." If only she could get her nerves to agree….
"Yeah sure, maybe not for someone like you," he responded, his voice cracking slightly as his eyes fell to where her hand covered his, "but I ain't never kissed anyone but you, and I sure as hell never, I mean… dammit, I didn't even know what a hickey-thing was before tonight."
Kagome almost smiled, her heart warming at his admission, at this vulnerable side he was revealing to her… until she realized what he was implying, and those warm feelings turned to flickering tongues of angry flame. "Excuse me, but just how 'experienced' do you think I am?!"
Fear flickered through his dark eyes, and she felt his fingers flinch under her tightening grip. "Uhh…" he replied smartly, gaze darting around the room as if looking for an escape, "I just… figured since you know about this stuff…." He trailed off, unable to continue or untrusting of himself to come up with a good enough save.
"Yeah Inuyasha, I know 'about stuff', that doesn't mean I've 'done' it!" She glowered at him, both hands now covering his as she leaned in close, bottom lip jutting out in her frown. Inuyasha leaned away as much as he could with her holding his hands in place, his eyes wide and jaw clenched, not daring to say a word. Black wisps fell around her face, turned red for a whole new reason, and Inuyasha stopped moving away as the fiery shine to her eyes began to take on a different meaning in his eyes.
Kagome didn't realize just how close they'd gotten until he was leaning forward. By the time his lips pressed to hers, pushing her back into her space over the mats, she forgot what she'd been shouting about in the first place. Her eyes slid shut, her hands slipping up his arms to grasp his shoulders as he tilted his head slightly to kiss her just a little harder. Inuyasha dropped from his crouch onto his knees, and Kagome didn't notice their new proximity until he'd gathered her up in his arms and pressed her to his chest. She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck, and he took that as his queue to part his lips against hers.
Warm, plush lips, tentative tongues, hot breaths between them… how had she been so nervous about this? His mouth was velvet moss after summer rain and the more she kissed him, the less the world outside mattered. The heady taste of him had her light-headed, and the sensation of being wrapped in his arms was better than any blanket from home. Hands that had been mapping her back moved up to the collar of her kimono, and with the gentlest pressure, began to pull.
Gasping, Kagome broke from his intoxicating kiss to stare wide-eyed into hazy violet, her hands clenching the folds of fabric closed at her chest.
"Just your neck" he breathed roughly, nearly panting from their tiring kisses, "I just needa reach your neck." She almost asked why, until the evening conversation slunk back in, and her cheeks warmed. Shaking hands lowered, and hesitantly she dipped her head in a nod. Before she could second-guess either of them, Kagome reached for him, digging her hands into his silky black hair and bringing his tempting mouth back for more. This time she didn't resist when he loosened the collar of her kimono, though she couldn't help shivering when the rough pads of his fingers traced over the column of her neck. When his mouth broke from hers, she swallowed nervously. As his breath fanned out against her skin, she bit her lip in anticipation. After what seemed an eternity his lips pressed to her throat, and she gasped.
He paused, and for a moment Kagome worried that she'd spooked him – but if she had, it didn't last long. Inuyasha gently kissed the skin of her neck once, twice, and then he opened his mouth and pressed his tongue to her for a taste. Kagome shuddered, and so did he. Her hands that had fallen idle against his head resumed their massage against his scalp, encouraging his exploration. This wasn't quite what Miroku had explained to them, and it wasn't anything like Kagome had heard from her school friends, but she didn't care. It felt damn good. If Inuyasha wanted to keep doing this, far be it from her to stop him. His broad tongue swept slowly over the length of her neck, taking his time, relishing in the taste and the subtle shivers running through the girl's body with every swipe. A sigh of satisfaction slipped past her lips, and Inuyasha left off bathing her neck at the disarming sound.
When he resumed, it wasn't another sigh he got from Kagome – it was a squeal. His mouth dropped to her neck, lips closing over a patch of skin he'd already lathed with his tongue, and thinking of her earlier explanation, he kissed. Sucking on the soft skin, he listened in amazement and amusement to the shocked sound emanating from Kagome's lips. Her fingers curled in his hair, tugging almost painfully but not to try and pull him away. He sucked a little harder just to see what she'd do, pressing his tongue to the spot for effect, and she leaned in closer.
After a few more moments Inuyasha pulled away, gasping and wiping his mouth as he stared in fascination at the glistening spot of red on his 'wife's' neck. It wasn't yet a bruise, but it likely would be come tomorrow. If it wasn't, well, he'd just have to try and give her more. Leaning in to another delicious looking part of her neck, Inuyasha was stopped mid-move by a gentle hand to his chest.
"Wait."
He would have been awash with worry were it not for the apple-red cheeks and timid smile on that beautiful face before him. As it was, he felt mostly confusion. "Don't you think I should, uh… give you some more? Hickey-things I mean?" At his stuttering words she nodded instantly, and Inuyasha couldn't stop beaming at the prospect of getting to kiss her neck again with full permission. But he didn't have that permission just yet.
"I was thinking… it's not very fair, is it? I mean, you should have them too, don't you think?" She was looking at him as though she expected him to say no. As though she expected him to say anything other than the mantra his head was currently screaming of 'oh hell yes, please kiss me right now dammit!' The more he thought about it though, and the longer she sat there, waiting anxiously and eagerly to place her mark on him, the more he realized the tragic flaw in their plan.
If he'd had his dog-ears, they'd have plastered to his head in dejection.
"S'no good" he mumbled, and Kagome's budding excitement shattered in the face of his apparent rejection. Before things could really turn south and tears made their appearance, Inuyasha explained hastily "My body – it heals itself, remember? Come sunrise, any bruises I get will disappear. Y'see?" She did see, as testified by her pouting bottom lip. Inuyasha felt like pouting with her. He was about ready to tell her to forget the 'proof' thing and just give him a temporary hickey for the hell of it, when her face suddenly lit like a lantern.
Before he could ask, she had dug a hand into the folds of her kimono and dug out her small coin purse. Inuyasha eyed it in confusion as she drew it open and pulled a small stick wrapped in paper from inside the bag. "Bless that old man! Oh, I hope this works!" Carefully unwrapping one end of the paper, Kagome revealed a vibrant red stick peeking from the package. Her smile grew even brighter, but Inuyasha only became more lost. "Kagome, you mind tellin' me what you're so excited about? What is that thing?"
But Kagome shook her head, holding up her hand for quiet when he tried to protest. Pursing his lips in frustration, Inuyasha crossed his arms and watched as the girl rubbed her finger into the end of the stick until it began to smudge. The half-demon found his ire fading as curiosity took its place. The strange substance smelled faintly of honey and flowers, and seemed to be melting like wax against Kagome's skin. He watched in fascination as she brought her finger, now coated in the red substance, to her lips. When she began to gently trace the red back and forth over the skin, he finally understood.
"That's the strangest Beni I've ever seen."
She smiled, rubbing her lips together and smacking them slightly, unused to the oddly sticky feeling. "I just hope it lasts as long as the normal stuff. I'm counting on it staining." Placing the lip rouge back in her purse, she cleaned her hands against the tatami and met Inuyasha's eye. Her smile was now more pronounced than ever, and Inuyasha was taken aback for a moment by the beauty of it. He'd always loved her smile. It looked gorgeous outlined in red. Kagome moved closer to him, her hands finding their way to his shoulders once more, and Inuyasha couldn't fight the goofy grin as she gently began to loosen his red coat and slip it off his shoulders.
"Probably wouldn't show any stains if you left it. It's the same color y'know." She met his grin with challenge in her eyes, but he was feeling too good to back down. "You want me to put it back on?" she snapped, her fingers digging into his shoulders. He winced, but couldn't stop smiling. Arguing had started this whole mess in the first place. It came natural to them… among other things….
He shrugged, and let the shirt fall the rest of the way to hang around his waist. His black leather shirt left enough of his neck exposed that she wouldn't need to move it… unless she wanted to of course. "You gonna try that stuff out, or what?" He joked, eager to get her back to the calm, comfortable state they'd been in earlier. She looked as though she was considering, but hadn't yet given up being annoyed with him. "C'mon," he tried again, leaning toward her slightly. She glanced at him, a smile tugging at her lips as though she were fighting not to let him see. Inuyasha was done with the fighting though. Perhaps it was the New Moon, perhaps it was all the kissing, or perhaps he just really wanted to know what those hickeys felt like firsthand. Whatever the reason, he swallowed his pride and looked away, tilting his head back and sweeping his black hair aside to bare his neck. "Gimme my alibi already."
Inuyasha didn't have it in him to look at her with his pride in such tatters – but then he felt the feathery touch of finger-pads against his collarbone, and his eyes pinched shut. A second hand came up, brushing over his chest, up behind his neck, tangling in his nape and holding him in place. The other hand traced those light fingers up his neck, and he shivered, eyes still tightly shut. At the first touch of warm lips to his exposed throat, he hissed. Breath filled and emptied from his lungs in rapid successions, and all the while those lips stayed in place with constant pressure. Just when Inuyasha thought he'd go mad, she pulled away. One eye peered open, watching as she inspected her handiwork with sparkling eyes. Those eyes veered up to meet gold, and he started.
"Just seeing if it worked" she said with a smile, and before he could gather a response, she'd latched onto his neck once more. This time her lips parted, and just as he'd done to her, she sucked the skin into her mouth and lathed it with her tongue. Inuyasha buckled underneath her warmth, his arms tight around her middle as he fell backwards, dragging her down with him. Kagome only broke contact with his throat for a moment, adjusting to lay alongside him before diving in for more. She'd only managed one or two more spots before she found herself rolled onto her back and her black-haired half-demon was kissing her neck instead.
The lantern in their room had burned through almost all of its oil by the time the two lied down to sleep, their necks and collars peppered red and smiles of satisfaction on their tired lips.
*Author's Note:
…. I didn't mean for it to be MONTHS between updates. Sorry everyone! I am very much still working on this fic – it's not abandoned! I just have a busy life. Believe me, if I could spend all my time on this stuff I would. And I know Kagura said "it's only intermission" but… I think we just had our intermission, don't you? :P Act II starts now!