Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter twenty-two: Twist and Shout
It was a Saturday morning and the Taisho family was sitting at the breakfast table enjoying a meal of pancakes and fruit. Things were back to a comfortable level of normality and it'd been months since anything of significance had happened. Kagome was doing well with her dance lessons and her first recital was coming up, to which she spent every possible moment practicing for, and the boy's were busy with their extracurricular activities. Sesshoumaru kept up with his swimming and Inuyasha had joined his school's basketball team, making their presence at the house even scarcer than it had been before. And for the girl who hardly left the impressive, but lonely house, she was starting to feel more and more isolated. Kagome didn't miss living on the streets, but she did miss seeing people and watching society; even if she had been an outcast. Dance lessons were her only way out during the day, but it wasn't enough.
As Kagome chewed on a piece of sweet bread, she watched Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru texting away on their phones. Leaning over some to look at the younger brother's phone, she saw that he was texting Miroku. But before she could read what he was typing, the young boy clicked his tongue in annoyance and shoved her away. With her fork still in her mouth, Kagome's round cheeks puffed out slightly as she pouted. She wanted to have people to talk to like Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha did, but since she didn't go to school, it was hard to make friends. The girls at her dance lessons were all too serious and there was no time to socialize. Izayoi had made a promise with the six-year-old that she would be allowed to go to school once she was ready, but neither of them knew when that would be. Sighing softly, Kagome propped her cheek up with her fist and stabbed a blueberry in mild frustration.
"Hey, Inuyasha, have you thought about what kind of party you want to have? Your birthday is coming up in a few weeks." Everyone looked up when Izayoi spoke up suddenly, but Inuyasha instantly perked and nodded his head quickly.
"Yeah! I want a pool party!" He said excitedly. Izayoi groaned softly and gave him an exasperated look.
"It will be early March though. New York is still cold during that time." She informed him, frowning when he whined back at her. Kagome bit her lip nervously at the idea of a pool party. She still couldn't swim and required water wings. It'd be so embarrassing to be the only one using them.
"But you guys installed the heater in the pool. So we can make the water warm, right?" He begged, looking over at his father for support. Inu-Taisho looked between his son and wife and cleared his throat.
"I don't care what sort of party he wants. It's up to you." He said calmly and went back to reading. Izayoi sent him a deadpan look before sighing and turning her attention back to Inuyasha.
"I'm sorry, but no. Pick a different kind of party honey. What if we rented go carts or something like that? It's not too cold for that sort of stuff. You can have all your friends over and some can spend the night if you'd like." She offered hopefully, trying to appease him. Kagome looked between Izayoi and her son, waiting for Inuyasha to make the next move. The eight-year-old pouted and looked like he was going to refuse, but with a huff he reluctantly agreed.
"Fine, but I want a Velcro-Wall too! And me and my friends can sleep in the big TV room." With the terms negotiated, Izayoi reached across the table and shook her son's hand in front of Kagome's face.
"Alright then; we have a deal." She said with a smile and looked at Kagome. "This will be fun! You'll get to meet some more kids and make some friends." Kagome smiled and nodded excitedly, then put the blueberry she'd speared earlier in her mouth. Things were starting to look up!
That night, Kagome spent her time with Sesshoumaru in his room. He was on his bed, one leg bent with the other crossed over it, and his book of precious pokemon cards propped up against his thigh. His half-lidded eyes were fixed on the illustrations while his finger traced their straight edges. Sitting on the floor, leaning against the bed, was Kagome with a drawing surface in her lap and blank sheets of paper. In her right hand was a red crayon, but all she could do with it was tap it against the paper in deep thought. It was Inuyasha's birthday in less than two weeks and she didn't know what to do for him! Sighing softly, Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru over her shoulder.
"Sess, what are you going to get for Inuyasha?" She asked curiously. The twelve-year-old didn't miss a beat as he answered calmly.
"Money," Kagome blinked and stuck her bottom lip out cutely. Was that a gift? She thought that gifts were bought with money. Looking back at her blank paper, the little girl doodled absentmindedly.
"I don't know what to give him and I still don't like him. Inuyasha makes me so mad sometimes! But still…he got me something when I moved here. I think I'll draw him a picture and make him a card. Is that a good gift?" She asked curiously, getting just a sound of approval rather than words. Smiling softly, making the subtle dimples in her cheeks appear, Kagome began to draw fervently as ideas appeared in her head. Her clumsy hands still weren't all that great at handling things, but she was able to draw well enough for the subjects to be clearly understood. It was a picture of Inuyasha in his favorite red jacket with Izayoi. The two of them were standing on a tall, round hill with a bright yellow sun behind them. Blue outlined clouds hovered around them and small flowers sprouted out of the grass at their feet. It was a simple picture, but sweet nonetheless. Kagome was just finishing drawing Izayoi's long, black hair when she heard a voice in her ear.
"You've never drawn me a picture," It caused her to jump out of fright and look over at Sesshoumaru, whose face was now right by hers. Blushing softly, Kagome looked down at her drawing and slid it under the rest of the stack.
"Do you want one?" She asked softly, smiling when she got a nod in return. "Okay! What do you want me to draw?" She looked back at her perfect older brother with a big, eager smile. Sesshoumaru thought for a moment, his facial expression unchanging.
"Draw a picture of me. Just me." He said simply, shifting slightly on his stomach as he lay across his bed sideways. Kagome nodded and went to work quickly, her small hands unable to keep up with her mind. Sesshoumaru watched with a calm, but curious, eye as an image of him slowly began to form. Some minutes later, Kagome brushed off the stray crayon bits with the side of her hand and held up the picture proudly for Sesshoumaru to see.
"Here, Sesshoumaru! Look I drew your long, pretty hair, your face," As Kagome listed off her favorite aspects of him, her little finger traced over the papers surface lightly. Sesshoumaru bit back a soft laugh when she traced over his smiling face and gently took the picture from her. Kagome watched as the older boy went to his desk and found a pushpin and tacked the paper to the wall above his desk. Seeing him display her picture so proudly made a warm feeling rush through the small girl's body and she scrambled to her feet. The next moment she was by his side, her arms wrapped around his middle and face pressed into his stomach. Sesshoumaru let a smile appear on his face and petted his new sister's head gently. For the rest of the night, until Kagome's bedtime, he let her sit with him and watch as he played games; Kagome couldn't have imagined a better time with him.
Deep in the ghettos of Brooklyn, where it was almost fatal for one to even stumble upon, sat a man with a turbulent past. Hunched over and leaning against a condemned old building, Nobu Higurashi breathed his rancid breath into grimy hands to keep warm during the cold March night. He tugged the collar of his ratted trench coat up around his ears and tucked his hands under his arms, his legs pulled up to his body as much as possible. All around him were persons just like himself, aimless and dead inside. Coughing softly, Nobu looked up and down the street for any movement, thinking for a moment how different the area was from the subway he once resided in. While he'd lived there with his daughter, life had been somewhat predictable and manageable. The people that roamed those streets were well off for the most part and the trashcans almost always had something edible in them. Spare change fell into his can more readily there as well…why did he leave? Sighing softly, Nobu was about to get up and leave when the sounds of hard souls scraping against the concrete came louder and louder towards him.
Looking to his right, he saw pristine, white pants and knew instantly who it was. After standing up, swaying back and forth in inebriation, Nobu let out a gruff noise and glared at the man.
"Dammit, you were s'posed ter be here thirty minutes ago!" He said irritably and stood before the nicely dressed man, who stuck out like a blinding light in the grim setting. A condescending chuckle filled the air between them as the stranger just smirked lazily at the bum.
"Now now, you know that to be part of my group one must jump through a few hoops. Just a few more tests and you'll be one of us~," He said smugly in his deep, resonating voice. Nobu bit back a cursing retort and looked away angrily.
"Just gimme the money. Here's the package." Reaching into the deep pocket of his coat, Nobu pulled out a brown package, crudely taped together, and held it out to the other. The stranger quietly took the parcel and handed Nobu a healthy roll of cash. As the dirtier of the two men obsessively counted the bills, the other tore a small opening in the brown paper and pulled out a small, plastic bag that contained a pill. Square and lime green, it looked ominous in its own right. Smirking softly, he held it out to Nobu, who looked back curiously.
"You should become familiar with the product my group pushes~ just place it on your tongue and let it dissolve…meet me two nights from now in this same spot if you want more." Turning on his heels, the suave and mysterious man left the scene without another word. Nobu was left staring at the space that had been occupied just moments before, but then he looked down in his dirty hand at the pill. Doing as instructed, Nobu closed his mouth as he felt the pill dissolving on his tongue, though he was skeptical about what the effect would be. He didn't have to wait long as only a minute later his eyes dilated to the point that the irises were completely lost and his entire body took on a euphoric feeling. The hand that had been tightly clamped around his new money became limp, allowing the bills to fall around his feet. Like roaches, his fellow vagrants swarmed around the oblivious Nobu and fought over the money he'd worked hard to procure. But the drugged up man could care less as he went on the wildest ride of his life.
Inuyasha woke up to the sounds of his mother's voice softly singing the birthday song. Her manicured hand had slipped under his shirt and was lightly tickling the skin of his back, one of the boy's most favorite sensations in the world. Moaning softly, he rolled over and looked up at her with sleepy eyes. Izayoi just smiled back at him and pulled her now nine-year-old into a sitting position on his bed.
"Inuyasha~ it's your birthday today. Everything is ready and your guests will be arriving soon. You need to get ready now," She said softly and brushed back his thick bangs to expose his pale forehead. "And here is your first birthday gift," Inuyasha shut his eyes as his mother leaned in to place a kiss upon his forehead, leaving a red lipstick imprint there. Groaning softly, he wiped at the mark and left the bed to go take a shower; still too tired to make a smart comeback. Izayoi laughed softly as she set out the outfit she wanted him to wear for the party; a pair of designer jeans, the red shirt he always looked so handsome in, and a new pair of shoes he'd been wanting for months. Smiling to herself, the pretty woman left her son's room to go finish setting up for the party. There was so much thought and effort that had been put into the occasion and she wanted every bit of it to be perfect for her son.
Though Inu-Taisho did make time to attend the parties, he was never truly involved in any of it. He posed for photos and gave presents, but that was it. For his first born, it seemed a sufficient way to be. Inuyasha was different though and he craved more interaction with his father. He wanted to be looked upon with pride by his father, but Izayoi knew that her husband would always favor the eldest son no matter what. It was one of the downsides to being a second wife, her son was often overlooked; which was the main reason she gave into Inuyasha so often when his father had only harsh words. Her baby boy, the only child of hers that lived, needed the support from her that he wouldn't get from his father. When he acted out, and others called him a brat, Izayoi knew he was just reaching out for someone to acknowledge him and pay attention. She knew behavior like that would have to end soon now that he was getting older, but for today he was still her sweet little boy.
Outside in the backyard, which was large and nicely landscaped with a pool and small basketball court, was a set up for any young boy's ideal birthday party. There was a small go-kart track with three kid-sized vehicles, a rock wall, and in the center was a big, inflatable Velcro-wall. There was a table set up on the patio with food catering to the taste buds of hungry preteens and everything imaginable for them to enjoy. It was a sight that had Kagome gaping in shock. She stood at the backdoor, dressed in a simple, but nice play dress, with eyes wide and mouth hanging open without any words to say. All of this was for Inuyasha?! It was difficult for the six-year-old to grasp, but at least Sesshoumaru seemed to share her sentiments. As he came to stand behind her to examine the progress of the set up, an irritated expression flitted over the older boy's face.
"What?" Kagome looked back at him curiously. Sesshoumaru just sighed and nudged Kagome to step out of the way so that the butler could bring out more food. As they stood by the decorated table, surrounded by multi-colored balloons and wrapped presents, Sesshoumaru had his arms folded and a disapproving expression on his face.
"Inuyasha's mom spoils him way too much. She always throws a big, over-the-top party for him and it's completely insane. He already gets whatever he wants with his allowance, and then for Christmas and his birthday he just keeps getting more and more stuff he doesn't even use." His disgusted tone was obvious to Kagome and she found herself agreeing. She had never known this kind of indulgence before and now could see why Inuyasha acted the way he did whenever he saw her on the streets. Frowning slightly, Kagome gently hugged Sesshoumaru's arm and to watch from the sidelines as workers continued to set up for the party.
It was noon when the first guest arrived, and to no one's surprise it was Miroku who stood at the front door with a large, brightly wrapped box in his arms. His driver stood behind him, looking sharp in a black uniform, and was holding a small suitcase. Izayoi answered the door, dressed in festive but stylish clothes and maintaining a pretty smile as she regarded everyone.
"Thank you for bringing him; the time to pick him up tomorrow is three o'clock in the afternoon. Come on in Miroku," Izayoi greeted the two warmly as she held open the door for the dark haired boy before taking the suitcase from his driver. Flashing his friend's mother a smile, Miroku thanked her and ran through the house to the backyard where he knew his friend would be. The set up for the party had been completed and there was no sign of any workers other than the one house-hold butler who stood on the patio, waiting to be called on. There was a mood of excitement and anticipation in the air, like the moments before a big explosion or the counting down of a timer. Soon, the backyard would be crawling with young folk and it would hardly be manageable.
As Miroku looked around the backyard, his eyes were as wide as saucers. Inuyasha was already enjoying the rock-wall and had just a little under half of the distance to go until he reached the top. Laughing excitedly and eager to join him, Miroku ran over to the table where all the presents were stacked and placed his own on top of a larger box. He was just about to leave when he noticed two presences sitting at the table. One was familiar, Sesshoumaru, but the other he didn't know so well. Kagome sat in the patio chair next to Sesshoumaru with an innocent look on her face as she stared up at the older boy. Miroku looked back at her and let a nervous laugh slip out when he realized who she was and that she didn't recognize him; or she was good at pretending that she didn't know.
The nine-year-old was feeling conflicting emotions over the girl. Remembering how he and Inuyasha used to taunt and tease her, Miroku initially felt a good amount of guilt for his actions; but then he remembered how much Inuyasha hated her and he was compelled to side with is his best friend and continue to bully her. Did she remember him? They hadn't been around each other at all since he last saw her on the street, so her impression of him was probably less than ideal. Miroku opened his mouth to say something, but the words seemed to get lost on their way out and instead he chose to run off towards Inuyasha. It left Kagome confused and wondering why he had done that. Furrowing her brow, Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru for answers.
"Who was that?" She asked him. Sesshoumaru didn't even have to look up from his phone to answer her.
"That was Miroku, Inuyasha's best friend." He replied dully. Kagome didn't follow up with anything and just continued to nibble at the gourmet finger foods that had been laid out for the party guests. What she really wanted to do was go enjoy all those fun looking attractions that had been rented for the party, but with no one to do them with, Kagome was hesitant to attempt it on her own. Chewing on a piece of chicken on a skewer, the eight year old glanced up at Sesshoumaru hopefully. "Will you take me for a ride on the go-karts?" She asked meekly, not looking away when his hard gaze turned onto her. For the longest time, Sesshoumaru didn't give her an answer, but he eventually decided.
"Yeah, I'll drive you around in one. But that's it. Don't ask me for anything else," He said in a strict voice that had no effect on Kagome other than to make a big smile appear on her face. To her, an answer like that from him was just as good as one with enthusiasm and graciousness. No longer as anxious as before, Kagome awaited the arrival of more guests with a smile and an optimistic attitude.
By the time the last child arrived at the house, the backyard had become a chaotic scene consisting of thirty-plus kids. The once large and vast looking yard was now appearing to be too small for the crowd as small people ran around carelessly. Some had brought their nannies to help keep the peace, but for the most part it was anarchy. As Izayoi stood on the Patio with her husband, all she could see were children enjoying themselves, her son being the main person she worried about. He was, as usual, the life of the party and had a large group of people following him around to all the different things he wanted to do. There was a proud smile on his face as his friends admired and fawned over him and it brought a smile to her own face.
"Look hun, our son is so popular~," She whispered to Inu-Taisho standing next to her with a cup of fruit punch. He had a much less enthused expression on his face, but a small grin did flicker there for a moment.
"I just hope it doesn't go to his head. He's already got a big ego and a careless attitude…It'll be scary to see what he turns into when he gets older if he doesn't grow up. Sesshoumaru was already acting mature for his age by the time he was ten, it'd be nice to see Inuyasha attempt it." His remark earned an eye-roll from Izayoi who gently nudged him with her elbow.
"I hate it when you compare them. Inuyasha isn't Sesshoumaru and he's going to mature differently. I wish you'd accept that." She mentioned with a slightly whiny voice and a pout. Inu-Taisho just remained quiet and sipped the sugary drink as he surveyed the yard. It was then he noticed one pair of kids that caught his attention.
Kagome had been anticipating meeting kids her age once more had begun to arrive; but it seemed that none were interested in getting acquainted. She remained by the table with Sesshoumaru when the scene had gone from a handful of kids to upwards of twenty, afraid to join them while they appeared to be so excited. But after two hours of just sitting next to the stoic twelve-year-old and only being able to watch others have fun, Kagome's nervousness became smaller than her desire to join the others. Tugging on Sesshoumaru's sleeve gently, she waited to speak until he turned his head.
"Sesshoumaru, can you take me on the go-kart now?" She asked hopefully. When he reluctantly put his phone away and stood up, an excited laugh slipped out and Kagome bravely took his arm and lead him through the sea of children without a worry or fear. The crowd seemed to part for them as she took her older brother to the go-kart area and stood amongst the other kids waiting a turn to go on the fast, but small vehicles. There was a man there keeping an eye on the kids and helping those who needed it, but most of the children at the party had previous experience with stuff like this so it wasn't too much of a strain on his part.
As Kagome and Sesshoumaru stood together at the start and stop area, she watched curiously as the current drivers buzzed about easily over small hills and round sharp turns. When the worker flagged them down, telling them that this was their last lap, Kagome jumped in place excitedly with her small hands clasped tightly around Sesshoumaru's pale wrist. Waiting patiently, the three go karts came to a stop and the drivers turned in their helmets and it was finally Kagome's turn. She was nervous to ride in such a small thing that didn't even have a door or roof, but with Sesshoumaru next to her it didn't feel as scary. Once both of them had a helmet on, Sesshoumaru took Kagome to the first go-kart and helped her into the passenger seat, buckling the seatbelt for her before strapping himself in. The small girl jumped slightly when the engine revved on and her hands instantly grabbed onto the nearest bar as the go-kart jolted forward. Sesshoumaru effortlessly navigated the simple and safe track set up for the go-karts, his facial expression never changing.
Sitting next to him though, Kagome was as happy as she'd ever been. Her face was lit up with a big smile and her heart was racing inside her small chest. Every time Sesshoumaru made a sharp turn, making the go-kart feel as if it would turn over, Kagome's grip on her seat tightened and an excited shriek would slip out just before a burst of laughter. Sesshoumaru glanced down at her and let the faintest of smiles appear before looking back ahead. If this was all it took to make her happy, he didn't mind. It was the least demanding relationship he'd ever been in and that alone made him grateful. Coming to a slow stop once their turn was over, Sesshoumaru took off his helmet and easily fixed his hair before looking down at a pale-faced, but excited, Kagome as she sat frozen in her seat. Her fingers refused to uncurl from the edge of her seat and Sesshoumaru couldn't help but laugh softly. Carefully he helped Kagome out and supported her when her legs couldn't quite keep her steady.
"Did you have fun?" He asked as they stood on the sidelines while the next group of kids took their turn. Nodding quickly, Kagome let out a silly laugh and ran a hand through her short, wavy hair. She was just about to elaborate when something caught her eye. Inuyasha and three others were approaching, and the sight of them instantly took Kagome back to a different time and place that made her feel sick to her stomach. She recognized them now, the three people that had always been with Inuyasha when he passed by her subway entrance to torment her. Tears stung the shocked girl's eyes as Inuyasha took his friends to the go-karts, glancing at Kagome for a moment but not taking any interest while Kikyou was next to him. It was then Sango and Miroku noticed her as well and they instantly got twin looks of guilt on their faces. The only person who didn't seem to notice her was the always pretty, and just as nasty, Kikyou.
While Sango and Miroku stopped for a moment, Kikyou and Inuyasha continued on to take one of the go-karts. When he snapped and called for the stunned two to join them, Kagome bit back a sob and ran away towards the house. She thought that part of her life was over, but the reoccurrence of the terrible foursome sent Kagome for a debilitating spin. No one, except the only one who truly understood her, noticed her small form darting through the crowds of children, slipping right by the two adults. Sesshoumaru sighed and followed at a calmer pace as she rushed into the house and up the stairs to her bedroom. Getting there moments later, Sesshoumaru stood outside of the younger girl's bedroom and knocked softly.
"Kagome, can I come in?" He asked through the door, and was answered with a muffled 'yes' sound. Stepping inside quietly, Sesshoumaru shut the door and approached the bed where Kagome lay with her face in the pillow. "Why did you run away?" He asked softly. Kagome turned her head so that she could look up at him, but half of her face was hidden in the downy pillow and allowed for only one blue eye to open.
"Inuyasha's friends used to be really mean to me." She explained in a wavering, pitiful voice. Sesshoumaru joined Kagome on the bed, but made no attempt to comfort her with a gentle hand. He simply remained her ever calm and level-headed companion.
"You saw them at father's Christmas party. Why didn't you get upset then?" He inquired patiently.
"I didn't recognize them." Kagome said as she pushed herself up to sit next to him. The usually pale skin of her face was flushed with embarrassment and sadness and the short waves of her dark hair had become unkempt and messy. Rubbing her teary eyes softly, the little girl looked down at her lap. "That girl with black hair used to be really mean…I don't want to be around them." Sesshoumaru nodded in understanding and didn't press any further. He didn't much care for Inuyasha's friends either, especially Kikyou.
"Come to me if they pick on you again. Don't go to Izayoi every time; she'll take Inuyasha's side more often than not. I'll always take your side." He offered, getting a surprised look from her before sad acceptance. Kagome sighed and looked at her dangling feet in thought. She trusted Sesshoumaru and Izayoi before everyone else in the world, and having to choose loyalty between the two of them was difficult. Izayoi had saved her many times and Kagome was still very grateful to her, but recent events still made Kagome nervous to be completely open with the woman who'd hidden her real daughter. Sesshoumaru was always consistent with her, never angry or mean, and promised to take care of her. But whenever Kagome and Inuyasha seemed to make progress and were kind to each other, Sesshoumaru acted distant towards her until he saw that she and his half-brother still hated each other. Her conflicting thoughts were interrupted by a touch to her arm.
"Let's go back. It's about time for Inuyasha to open presents." The tone in Sesshoumaru's voice didn't seem all that eager to actually be witness to it, but Kagome wasn't going to fight him on it. She knew Izayoi would be upset if they weren't there. Jumping down from her bed, the small girl walked with her older brother out of the room, down the stairs, through the house, and out the back door to the yard. True to his word, everyone was gathered around the table, which had been cleaned and cleared of food to make room for more gifts. Inuyasha sat at the head with Kikyou standing next to him, smiling prettily as he gushed over her present for him. Izayoi and Inu-Taisho stood to the side behind the crowd of children and had similar expression of shock and reluctance on their faces. Sitting back away from the scene with Sesshoumaru, Kagome wasn't paying particular attention to the action and instead had her head leaned against his arm. It didn't go unnoticed though and Izayoi nudged her husband to get him to see it as well.
"What do you think is bothering them?" She whispered into his ear softly, her attention now split between her son and new daughter. Inu-Taisho glanced at the two children sitting on the sidelines, but didn't make a situation out of it.
"You can ask her later tonight while Inuyasha is busy with his friends and Sesshoumaru is out. Just leave them alone for now," He said softly. Though Inu-Taisho was curious about it as well, he knew that their attention needed to be on his second born for the time being. Izayoi agreed and went back to capturing Inuyasha's reactions to his new toys with her digital camera, but her worry for Kagome lingered in the back of her mind.