One of my favourite lines from ADJ, chapter 36.
'And so, the night wore lazily away with the silver-haired hanyou throwing masses of leaves at his beloved.'
I was playing tennis one day and I just randomly thought of that line. Weird, huh.
Tea Garden Scale Chapter 3
Sunday came, and Inuyasha returned to the Tea Gardens, and greeted Hisao at the desk.
"Hello, what is your name, son?"
"Inuyasha." He grumbled as if revealing this amount of personal would cost his life.
"So what can I help you with?"
"I'd like some sort of," he paused and scratched his head "Membership card?"
Hisao looked at him oddly.
"This is a tourist attraction. We don't have membership cards."
Inuyasha blinked stupidly. Watching the confused expression on Inuyasha face, he continued.
"Normally, you just see the gardens once, and that's, well, it. This isn't a sports club."
Hisao could tell that Inuyasha was ready to leave. He heard him mutter something about standing in a very stupid line and then he turned around.
"Son, if you'd like you may purchase the whole weeks tickets. Then I'll just let you through."
Showing an obvious sign of happiness, Inuyasha turned back around and pulled another wad of cash out of his pocket, and in a blink of an eye separated a larger wad from the its smaller counterpart.
"Do I have to count this?" the old man asked wearily.
"I can do math." Inuyasha replied grumpily glancing again at the numbers on the sign. To Inuyasha annoyance, Hisao counted the money even so and muttered praise.
"So you're a smart one." He said as he gave a now irritated Inuyasha the tickets, and then leaned on the desk, no other customers were in line, and it was the tip of the morning. His gaze turned to Inuyasha, who was sniffing the air strangely.
"Kikyo."
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Pulling the jacket closer to her body, Kikyo walked towards the Tea Gardens holding a small Ziploc in which a small sweet was contained. Watching the city's bustle arrive from the slumber of night, she recalled that her piano lesson was today. 5:30. she had never forgot a piano lesson before. Kikyo was just too careful.
"Miss, would you happen to know where the art museum would be?"
She could tell that the young boy in front of her didn't need to try and be polite; after all, Kohaku had grown under a decent family and his caring sister Sango's warmth.
"Forgot already?"
Kohaku smiled sheepishly. A certain someone at the Tea Garden booth eyed the young woman with interest, while the man actually at the booth was looking at him.
"Alright, Kohaku – "Kikyo smiled warmly at him, she then added after looking where Kohaku's eyes were gazing, (and following them herself), "he's a friend of mine-"Kohaku looked back at her.
"Take the next left and you'll see a copper horse, and follow the signs."
"Oh, thanks."
Kikyo looked over at Inuyasha and smiled at him. Roughly he turned away, but not without looking at her. Hisao had poked him after that which resulted in a short, boyish conversation finally ending with Inuyasha saying, which was very frustrated and confused at this point, that he didn't like Kikyo.
"Ah, Good morning, Kikyo. " Hisao looked delightfully at the small package in Kikyo's hand, "Your mother's been baking?"
"She has, this is from her, I'm sorry, but I have to go drop Kae-"
"No problem, Kikyo, I'll see you on Monday, then. " Hisao said after taking the package.
Hisao looked at Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha would be glad to walk you home."
"What?" Inuyasha coughed.
"That's quite alright, really." Kikyo said looking at him.
Looking at Inuyasha's glare he continued with good intentions in mind, "Fine, Inuyasha would be very opposed to walking with you."
"What?" Inuyasha coughed louder this time, with Kikyo raising an eyebrow at him.
"I'll be going now." She said briskly and turned to return home.
Glaring at Hisao, he quickly ran a hand through his hair, and bolted down to walk with her, seeing that the only thing left to do. Their walk was silent but Kikyo smiled at him when he joined her, to show she wasn't mad, upset or any other cinematic movie emotion. When they reached her house, she left with a thank you, and Inuyasha told her that he would be seeing her Monday. Kikyo smiled beautifully at him and again he caught himself staring.
"I'll look forward to it."
Still dazed by her smile, he managed a final word.
" Keh." He growled. Bounding back to the Gardens, he swiftly whacked Hisao on the head and promptly went back home.
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It was a cool Monday; Inuyasha was waltzing slowly into his 5th period class, music. It wasn't a generic music class, where all they taught was how to count to 4. This was a class that InuTaisho had personally enrolled his youngest son in himself, hoping to somehow get on his good side. The teacher, and so far Inuyasha's favorite, Mr. Aramitama was coming closer to him.
"What is your name?" this was the third time someone had asked him that, and he couldn't help but thinking of the first.
"Inuyasha."
"Well, what do you play?"
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Kikyo fingered her new sheet music, and bit her lip. This was something new. How would she play something new in front of him? Mrs. Aramitama had told her that this was her and her husband's favorite pieces, because they wrote it together. They had called it A Sacred Ballad, and looking at the music, she deduced it would be a nice song. Something she could look forward to playing.
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Deep notes echoed in the auditorium, and white-haired boy sat on wooden stool, strumming. A young man watched him intently. When the song had finished, the boy placed the instrument on his lap and started to glare at the teacher.
"Well, Inuyasha, I think the guitar suits you well."
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"Inuyasha, "the teacher began, a few minutes after the class was over and the rest of the students were packing up, "Here, I want you to have this."
"What is it?"
"It's a guitar song."
Inuyasha looked at the sheet music.
"It goes with a piano!" he said, looking up surprised, "The accompaniment is here too!"
"It is, a few extra papers shouldn't be a problem should it?"
"No."
"Good. Tomorrow, then."
"Keh."
A Sacred Ballad?
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After the days had ended, both musicians found their way to each other. The sky was a deep white, and Inuyasha did not want at all for it to rain. When it didn't and he met mahogany eyes he almost gave a sigh of relief. Almost. Then something struck him. He had his guitar with him.
Today, Kikyo decided to wait by the entrance for him, sitting on the steps, looking over some notes from school. The first thing she noticed was the black case slung lazily over his shoulder, with his school bag over the other. An instrument? Inuyasha's musical? The thought brought a smile to her features and she decided to ask him to play for her. After all, she though smugly, how many times had she played for him?
She got up to greet him, after putting away her notes.
" Good afternoon, Inuyasha."
He glared at her, but she noted his glares were losing its edge. Kikyo wondered if it was just her. Inuyasha signaled up at the sky, " You still going to play today?"
Looking at the black case, then back at him, she replied cleverly, " Only if you are."
To her surprise, he smirked, as if anticipating the question.
" Well, Kikyo, I'll play a scale or too."
She liked the way he said her name, was that strange? Sometimes he said it sharply, or sometimes he said it smooth. Then Kikyo laughed, Inuyasha was awed by the sound. Deep and … happy.
" What the hell's so funny?' Kikyo stopped at his common use of the word. She frowned, to Inuyasha's displeasure.
" I played for an hour, and you'll only play a scale ? That hardly fair," Inuyasha frowned at this. " Don't you have any music?"
"..."
Kikyo took it as he did have some, but didn't want to play. She opened her mouth to tell him about her new sheets, but he started as well.
" It's not like I asked you to play."
She smiled.
" Is it that you can't play?"
" I never said that!" he stuttered. Looking at the smiling Kikyo, he gave in, " Fine."
Kikyo beamed at him, dazing him slightly, and she started to walk in to the garden with him following. Hisao waved at them and they made there way to the clearing. The grand piano stood there, elegant and proud, waiting for a player. Putting her bags on the floor, she sat on the bench. Opening the black cover, she spoke to the akward young man.
" You can put your bags next to mine and, " she smiled again, " take out your guitar, is it?"
"Yeah."
" What scale would you like to play?"
" F major." Kikyo played an F chord to show she was ready, and counted to three.
She was pleasantly surprised. Surprised even , that one could even be surprised by a scale. He played his guitar well, adding in chords and what-not. They finished the scale and played three more. Kikyo bit her lip, she was so confident in the morning that she could practice her new song without Inuyasha thinking she stank, that she left all her other music at home.
" I only have one song today."
Inuyasha looked at her funnily, she usually brought a whole stack of music.
" So, I only have one song too. I've never even seen it before."
" Really, this one's new too."
Inuyasha looked at her with interest. Then both of them took out their music.
" A Sacred Ballad." Kikyo said, smoothly.
" Hey, me too!"
" Really? Who gave to you?"
Inuyasha looked up at the sky and made a face as he tried to remember. Kikyo laughed at the expression.
" Hey!"
" I'm sorry, Inuyasha."
" Whatever…" he grumbled, but he was glad to have made her laugh, " The music teacher at the school."
Looking at him as if that was the most obvious thing in the world, she replied, " His name is…."
" Mr. Aramitama."
" Oh."
" Why?"
"That'd explain a lot. Mrs. Aramitama gave it to me,"
" Keh." Not knowing what to say, that was his default.
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There was a rustling and they both turned their heads to peer at the other intruder.
" Kagome!" Kikyo exclaimed.
" Kagome?" Inuyasha exclaimed, " Who the hell are you?"
" Inuyasha!" Kikyo glared at him, " Kagome's my sister."
Inuyasha looked guilty and started to look at the new girl. She smelled like …
" Kikyo!"
Kikyo turned his head to look at him, " What?'
" This girl smells like you."
She laughed to Kagome's bewilderment and Inuyasha' amazement.
" We are cousins." Kagome replied, staring at him stranglely. Inuyasha sniffed the air again.
" You too look the same too 'cept…" he trailed off, finishing the sentence is his head.
" Except, what, exactly?' Kagome peristed.
" None of your business!" he sneered at her. Kikyo is more beautiful that this weirdo.
" Inuyasha!" Kikyo returned to glaring at him, and then softening her gaze, when the look of guilt momentarily crossed his face.
" Whatever. So what are you doing here? Do you play to?"
" No… So your name is Inuyasha?"
" What? Are you deaf? " his reply earned another glare from the girl at the bench. Kikyo coughed.
" So what brings you here, Kagome? Pardon Inuyasha-" Inuyasha glared at Kikyo, " he's –"
" Rude." Kagome completed , glaring at him, " Gotcha. Tell me he's not your secret boyfriend or anything.'
" Kagome!" Kikyo looked uncomfortable and felt her face get hot, refusing to glance at the accused.
" So why the he-"
" Inuyasha!" Kikyo stood up to glare at him again, causing to step back, with resulting in Kagome bursting out into laughter, " Are you going to tell me something, Kagome?"
Kagome stopped laughing, " Ummm, my mom won't be able to cook today, so we have to order out. I need to know what you want to eat."
" Oh."
" You guys to live together?"
Kikyo nodded slowly, still pondering the previous question.
" How the hell do you put up with her ?" the comment brought Kagome's back to fierce glare and she opened her mouth to retort, but Kikyo beat her to it.
" Really, now, Inuyasha, your tongue was way better when you met me. I don't think you want to give Kagome a bad first impression."
" What if I want to?"
" I really don't think you do." Kikyo looked at him kindly.
" So,umm, what do you want to eat?"
" Anything will do. You can pick."
Kagome perked up, " Really?"
Kikyo smiled, " Sure."
" Cool, so I'll see you at home, when your done, then."
" That's right."
Kagome started to turn away from them.
" Good luck dealing with him."
" Hey! What the hell!"
Both girls resumed their glaring, with Kagome saying, " See? Told 'ja so."
" Bye, Kagome."
" Thanks for leaving."
Kikyo sighed and looked at him with a defeated gaze.
" What?"
Looking upwards at the cloudy view, Kagome, saw it was going to rain soon. Better tell Kikyo. Taking out her phone, she typed the simple message. A idea hit her head, and she added a sentence.
InuTaisho wondered why his son was spending so much time at the Tea Gardens. The Tea Gardens! Normal boys did not spend their time at the Tea Gardens. SO much for normal.. He sighed. Taking out his cell, he rang up his friend Hisao. Surely the old chap had some idea.
" Hellooo?"
" Yes, is this Hisao!"
"Yes it is. InuTaisho."
" That's me. I wanted to know why my son is spending so much time in the your gardens."
Hisao laughed, " Oh, he has seemed to have found a friend. Kikyo, her name is, she plays the piano."
" A girl? My son is frolicking around with a girl? He's not in-"
" Oh, no. They play music together."
" Oh, then I'll talk to you later."
" Goodbye.'
Hisao smiled, not yet anyway.
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A beeping sound rang from Kikyo's bag. She picked up the phone and read the message.
Going to rain soon. And he's not that bad.
Kikyo smiled. No he isn't.
Slowly drops of rain began to pour from the sky. Kikyo looked up, a raindrop hitting her peachy skin.
" Kikyo?"
" Yes."
He snorted, " It's raining stupid."
Kikyo looked back at him and smiled. She enjoyed the rain, except it meant they had to close the piano.
" Hisao normally helps me pull the tarp over, but…" she trailed off looking at him, expecting him to jump up and help.
" Fine, but it's going to cost you." Kikyo smiled and agreed. They pulled the heavy white tarp over the piano and packed up their music. Walking out of the Tea Gardens, they waved again at Hisao, and then the too parted.
" Goodbye, Inuyasha ."
" Tommorow."
She started to walk down the steps and then realized something. Kikyo turned back to call out.
" Inuyasha, we never played the new song."
"Keh."
Inuyasha couldn't wait to play the next song and looked forward to tomorrow, and as did the girl.
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A.N:
Wiped forehead
Well, that was a long one, Kagome's introduction wasn't supposed to come in till later, but this story is starting to write itself. I swear.
Inuyasha : Yeah, right. That's just an excuse cause your getting offtrack.
Donut: Go keh somewhere else.
Inuyasha: The hell! That's so lame.
Author: grumbles: Shut up!
Inuyasha : No! Why the hell should I shut up!
Kikyo: glares: Inuyasha!
Inuyasha: uneasy: What?
Everyone sighes at the stupid remark and the author's unabilty to stick to a plot plan.
See you guys next time!
Donut Done