Disclaimer: I own nothing~
Chapter fifteen: Strawberry Fields Forever
Another punishment had befallen Inuyasha after Izayoi returned home. Sesshoumaru was not one to cover up for his brother and had promptly retold how the incident unfolded, in almost painful detail. Needless to say, Izayoi's rage and disappointment was not restrained as she screamed at Inuyasha, threatening him with more loss of privileges and finishing with a firm smack to his behind. Inuyasha could be heard from across the hall screaming and crying, begging Izayoi for pity. All this was heard by Kagome, who sat back in her bed with her hands folded behind her head and a smug grin curling at her lips. It was like a symphony to her ears. Oh yes, he had gotten his just desserts. Of course, she hadn't actually extracted her revenge, but this was as close as she would get…for now. Until she was able to get out of bed she'd just have to continue daydreaming about all the ways she'd get him back. It was only fair.
A week later and Kagome was up and about. Every day, Izayoi had Kagome trying to walk; and everyday she could walk a few feet further than the last. Her leg muscles were still very weak, but with all the food and nutrients she had been eating, Kagome's weight and energy was returning. And today, she was going to hold Izayoi to her promise from weeks ago.
It was Saturday morning. Kagome was sitting on the couch downstairs, watching morning cartoons with a bowl of cereal placed neatly in her lap. Her hair was still disheveled and her sleep shirt, one if Inu-Taisho's old workout shirts to be exact, was all she wore. As she chewed away at the circular pieces of cereal, eyes glued to the yellow, animated sponge on the screen in front of her, Izayoi came down the stairs still fastening the clasp on her watch. She was wearing a pair of pin-striped black pants and a white, button-up blouse. Her hair was brushed to perfection and face made up beautifully. It was only them for the day; Inu-Taisho was at work, Sesshoumaru at swim practice, and Inuyasha was spending the day with Miroku. And although Kagome liked having Sesshoumaru around, it was nice to just spend the day with Izayoi. When the older woman came waltzing into the room Kagome perked up and offered a milk crusted smile. Izayoi grinned right back and plopped herself down next to Kagome, sinking into the cushioned leather seat.
"What will we do today, Kagome?" She asked curiously. Kagome decided to put her plan in action. She swallowed her food and looked at Izayoi through the corner of her eye, trying to seem as calm as possible when really she was bursting with excitement on the inside.
"'member when you said you'd take me to get new clothes as soon as I could walk again?" She asked nonchalantly, taking a small bite of her cereal. Izayoi saw right through Kagome's ploy and laughed.
"Why, yes I do. Were you wanting to go shopping today? Not reading or math practice?" When Kagome sent Izayoi a deadly look, one that showed just what she thought of math, Izayoi had to lean away with her hands put up in defeat and laughed nervously. "Alright, alright; we'll go shopping. But you have to take a shower first. I was hoping you'd want to go sometime soon anyways. I hate seeing you wear nothing but old t-shirts," She pulled at the sleeve of Kagome's shirt/nightgown with a scrunched up face. Kagome made a similar face and nodded in agreement. "Okay then! You go take a shower in my bathroom and I'll find something for you to wear while we're out."
The remaining cereal in Kagome's bowl almost spilled out as she hopped of the couch in a burst of excitement. Izayoi reached out to take it before Kagome could run off with it, smiling warmly a she watched the little girl clamber up the stairs awkwardly, her scrawny legs basically tripping over themselves in her haste to get there fast. She could hear Kagome's quick footsteps above, and then the sounds of pipes and water running. By now, after taking so many showers in Izayoi's bathtub, Kagome was an expert at it. She knew just how much to turn the knobs to get the right temperature and such. And as she lathered her short hair with the coconut scented shampoo, Izayoi was busy rinsing off Kagome's bowl in the sink and going to the laundry room to find something for Kagome to wear.
As Izayoi rummaged through the bin filled with clean, folded clothes, she sought out the one thing that would be appropriate for Kagome to wear outside the house. It was a rather outdated dress, one she had borrowed from Karin a few days ago just for this reason. But where was it? Quickly going to the dresser in Kagome's room, she began to rummage through it. One of the two household maids, Blanca or Claire, must have left it there somewhere. And of course, the pink, cotton thing was at the very bottom of the stack of clothes. Izayoi pulled it out of the bin, shook out the wrinkles, and went to find a pair of underwear for Kagome. It took another three minutes, but they were eventually found.
Izayoi walked up the stairs, clothes in hand, and listened to hear if the water was still going. Surprisingly it wasn't and when Izayoi pushed open the door to her room, she was happy to see Kagome standing on a stool at the sink, wrapped in a blue towel, and brushing her short hair. Kagome saw Izayoi through the mirror and sent her an excited smile.
"Ready to get dressed?" Izayoi asked as she approached the bathroom.
The ride was an eventful one. Kagome was dressed in the pretty outfit Izayoi had found her and a pair of furry boots, almost three sizes too big for her but it was late November, with Thanksgiving quickly approaching, and the air was static with that all too familiar chill. Tom was once again driving the car, and after an awkward introduction between the two of them, one where Tom almost broke down crying from his lingering guilt, Izayoi and she climbed into the back as he drove them towards the city. Izayoi was sitting back in her seat, leg crossed nicely with a calm smile on her lips as Kagome pressed her face against the glass to see the towering buildings. Her breath fogged up the glass and hands left prints, but Izayoi didn't mind. She'd indulge Kagome's fantasy and happy mood for the day.
As they went further into the city, more and more people passed by and bigger and bigger buildings began to appear, blocking out the sun most of the time. Kagome, who had spent much of her life on a stoop in the slums, had no memories of being in this fine part of the city. Beautiful women walked around with their designer handbags and large sunglasses covering much of their face. Men wearing fine suits and ties talked on their cell phones with their noses in the air and serious expression on their face. Kagome wondered where they might be headed, but she quickly forgot them when the car came to a stop and she heard Izayoi unbuckling her seat belt. Kagome looked back to see her also sliding a pair of oversized, dark sunglasses on her face.
"Miss Izayoi, why are you wearin' those? 'snot even bright." Kagome inquired. She jumped when the door on her side was opened by Tom, who stood on the sidewalk, waiting patiently for the two women to slide out. Izayoi ushered Kagome from the backseat and told Tom to follow, then held her hand out for Kagome to take. Kagome quickly slid her hand into Izayoi's larger one and they began to walk, weaving in and out of the fast-pace crowd. Izayoi seemed to keep her head ducked down and pulled Kagome along at a fast walk. Finally they entered a large building with a colorful interior. Kagome had been too busy looking at her feet to notice the name on the storefront, but when she looked up and saw the numerous logos, she recognized what it was. "Old navy?" She asked Izayoi curiously, with a hint of excitement. Izayoi grinned down at Kagome playfully and they took off in the direction of the children's apparel.
Hours later, Tom was sitting outside the dressing room with stacks of clothes in his lap. To the other shoppers around him, he looked like a man serving a life sentence in prison, but Izayoi knew he was accustom to her random shopping sprees and was aware of what his job entailed. She and Kagome were still inside the dressing room, trying on more clothes for the little girl. Music played softly in the background, inspiring Tom to tap his foot to the familiar tune; then the sound of his employer's voice getting nearer made him alert and ready for action. She was carrying five hangers with muti-colored shirts and a pair of jeans in the other hand. Kagome was dressed in a cute little blue cardigan with white, horizontal pin stripes in varying thickness. Underneath that was a simple white dress that ended at her knees. She had on black tights and a new, matching pair of tall furry boots. And shifting from foot to foot, like the sheepish little thing she was, Tom couldn't help but smile at how adorable she looked.
"You like it Tom? Izayoi says I can wear it out the store." Kagome said with a subtly eager tone in her soft voice, looking for acceptance from the driver. Tom gave her a soft applause, looking awkward with the amount of clothes still in his arms. He stood up to follow his employer to the checkout line, placing their chosen items on the conveyor belt. Kagome was shocked at the amount of money Izayoi was forking up though and stared wide eyed as the price kept climbing with every swipe across the price checker. She wondered how much money Izayoi actually had to spend so frivolously.
As they walked out of the store, with Tom carrying the seven bags of clothes in his arms, Izayoi led them back to the car. She unlocked the car for Tom as he piled all of the clothes in the trunk then helped Kagome get in the back. Once Tom had gotten in the car and was buckled in, Izayoi leaned forward to him.
"Tom, please take us to Saks Fifth Avenue." She said nonchalantly and sat back. Tom nodded and started the car, pulling out of their parking spot and merged into the slowly moving traffic. During the slow ride, Kagome barraged Izayoi with questions.
"How much money you got?" She asked bluntly, kicking her feet lightly against the back of the passenger seat. Izayoi slipped her sunglasses off to place them atop her head then looked down at Kagome.
"Well, my husband really is the one who makes all the money. But I do get a monthly allowance of seven-thousand dollars to spend however I want." She said while re-applying her lip gloss. She was so blasé about it, and that's what shocked Kagome. Izayoi noticed the flabbergasted look on the little girls face and chuckled. "I guess that is a lot for someone who isn't used to it. Trust me; you'd be even more surprised to know how much my husband saves in our bank accounts rather than spending it. He gives the boys a monthly allowance as well, but it's just five hundred dollars." Izayoi put her lip gloss back in her purse and tucked her dark hair back.
"Why do you wear those big sunglasses?" Kagome asked again. Izayoi reached up to touch the pair of glasses atop her head curiously.
"These? Well I wear them because I'm more recognizable without them. My husband isn't a T.V. or movie celebrity, but we are quite well off and that seems enough to attract the paparazzi. It gets annoying, so he prefers us to wear these when we go out in public so that people don't make a fuss; not that there's much to make a fuss over." Kagome made an 'o' shape with her mouth and all went quiet for a while. Then, she noticed something. The little girl wasn't sure if she should ask, and with one side-long look at Izayoi, she almost didn't. But her curiosity was too strong.
"Miss Izayoi…if I'm living with you now, that makes you my new mommy?" It was as if the air in the car had been completely sucked out. Tom's back straightened and Izayoi's eyes went as wide as dishes. She hadn't been expecting this at all, and as she stared into Kagome's searching eyes, Izayoi was at a loss for an answer.
"Um…well, I'm not sure. We haven't legally adopted you, we're only fostering you until mrs. Turner finds a permanent home for you. But, I can be your foster mom...would you like that?" She asked nervously, feeling slight anxiety over possible rejection. Kagome sat back in her seat and let out a sigh. She didn't know what she wanted. Her real mother was still very much alive in her memories and she still wished she was alive, but Izayoi was so nice and acting like a mom was supposed to.
"I dunno. I miss my old mommy. But I like you a lot." Izayoi smiled warmly and put her arm around Kagome's shoulders, hugging her close. Kagome relaxed into the comforting embrace and snuggled even closer.
"I like you too, Kagome." She said back sweetly. Suddenly the car came to a gentle stop and Tom turned around in the front seat.
"We're here ma'am." He said and abruptly got out of the car to open her door. Izayoi and Kagome separated and unfastened themselves from the car to slide out. Izayoi lowered her glasses and took Kagome's hand in hers. Kagome looked up at the looming, intimidating building, with all its windows and concrete, it didn't look the least bit friendly. But when she looked at the women coming and going into and out of the building, they all had a happy glow about them. Those going in with excitement on their faces and fast pace looked so anxious to spend. And the women coming out, hands full with shopping bags, looked as if some kind of euphoria had settled on them. Izayoi looked much like the handful of women also going inside and Tom looked less than enthusiastic. As they entered the shopping-mecca, Kagome was put under the same spell everyone else was under.
Brilliant, shiny things glistened before her, enticing Kagome to reach out and feel the plush fur of a coat, try on one of those fancy hats, or slip her tiny foot in that gorgeous boot. The place was crawling with women, and some men, all either idly browsing or chatting with a sales-clerk. Kagome had never seen a place so extravagant or fancy and as she looked about her she began to understand why the women looked the way they did. Izayoi walked Kagome around the store; stopping everywhere Kagome saw something that struck her fancy. They'd try on shoes and jewelry, but Izayoi had a certain department in her mind.
"Come on Kagome, I want you to show you something." She said mysteriously, and off they went. Tom had some difficulty getting through the jungle of women as he kept up with Izayoi and Kagome, and when he finally caught up when them, they'd come to a stop. They stood side by side in front of a special department of clothes. All beautiful, elegant dresses fit for young girls. Kagome was amazed at the beauty in each dress, gawking with her mouth hanging open. Izayoi grinned and lead Kagome into the sea of dress racks, pointing out a few to Kagome.
"Do I get to have a dress Miss Izayoi?" She asked as they perused the dresses. Izayoi nodded as she felt the tulle on a certain dress.
"My husband is attending a charity banquet next month and its very family orientated; so all of us are going." She laughed when Kagome's smile widened and her search for a dress became even more frenzied. With Tom keeping a vigilant eye on Kagome, Izayoi went to find someone to get Kagome's measurements. Not shortly after a pretty, middle aged woman hanging new dresses on a rack. Her dark hair was pulled up in a tight bun and a strand of yellow measuring tape hung around her neck. She noticed Izayoi and instantly went to aid her.
"Hello, miss. Can I help you?" She asked in a friendly tone.
"Yes, I'm here with my, um…daughter and I'm looking for a nice dress for her to wear to a banquet. Can you please come and take her measurements and help us find something suitable?" The lady perked up and with a smile followed Izayoi to where Kagome was. The young girl was look up into the skirt of a rather poofy dress when Izayoi caught her attention. "Kagome, this woman is going to take your measurements so we can find a dress that will fit." Kagome smiled back at the welcoming woman and followed her into the changing room.
As the lady kneeled before Kagome, taking the measurements of particular body parts, Kagome wondered how much longer it would take. The lady stood back up, struggling because of her age, and put a hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"I'll go pull some dresses for her and let you chose from those. May I get you some champagne while you wait? Some juice maybe?" She asked, looking at Izayoi and Kagome with a smile. Izayoi shook her head and the woman was off. It didn't take long for her to return with arms full of dresses, all of them beautiful. She ushered Kagome back into the center of the changing room and held the first dress out for them to see. It was a lime green one with yellow flowers sewn into it. Kagome looked at Izayoi and they each had the same look on their face.
"Not that one, thank you." Izayoi said courteously. The lady held up the next, a lovely pink one, and Kagome automatically began to shake her head. Dress after dress, they rejected each one, finding none to suit their dual expectations. Until finally, one was held up that took Kagome's breath away. It was white, as white as snow, with a black sash tied at the waist. The lining of the seams was black, and the layers of the skirt had black tulle peaking out at the bottom. It was lovely. Izayoi saw Kagome's amazed reaction and smiled. "That's the one. Can we try it on?"
"Most certainly, ma'am." Kagome and Izyaoi went into an individual dressing room to try it on.
When they left the store, Kagome was beaming with a glow that seemed to radiate around her. She skipped and danced as she and Izayoi exited the store, while Tom carried the cumbersome dress, which was protected by a plastic casing, behind them. Kagome and Izayoi were laughing about something when something caught her eye. Across the street were a bunch of girls, around Kagome's age, all filing out of a building wearing pretty dance leotards and skirts. They all looked happy as their parents ushered them into their respective cars. Kagome kept her eyes fixed on that building, curious and yearning to know what sort of things happened inside. Izayoi picked up on the subtle message and made a mental note to bring that up again.
"Come Kagome, it's time to go home." She said and Kagome rushed to join her in the car.