ONCE AND AGAIN
By Jodie-chan
Chapter 15 Fishy Escapade
"Oh my God! Are you seeing what I'm seeing Kagome-chan?" Sango gasped in amazement. Kagome eyed her friend in perplexity, still holding some folders in her hands.
"Huh? What do you mean?" She asked in complete puzzlement. Sango walked over in her table and scooped a bunch of flowers in her arms.
"Look! Holland tulips! These are expensive flowers!" Sango point a finger in her head. "Hmmmnnnn, who might be the benefactor?" She looked down at the flowers and noticed something. "Oh there's a card! Come on Kagome-chan, open it!"
Kagome took the small envelope and pulled a card inside and read aloud. "To my dearest Kagome… can't get you out of my mind… I hope you like the flowers… love, Kouga." Kagome and Sango both gaped at the said letter.
"He's really serious after all. What do you say Kagome-chan?" Sango nudged her friend. Kagome sat in her swivel chair and shrugged her shoulders. "That's it? I mean, what do you think about Kouga? He looks good and he's very interested with you." She winked teasingly.
"He's a little cocky, you know. And besides, I don't think he would be happy to date a single woman with a kid." She pulled a sketchpad in her desk drawer.
"But what if he asks you to go out with him, would you turn him down?" Sango asked expectantly while taking a couple of files from the filing cabinet.
"I don't know, it depends…" She replied without looking at her while continuing her sketching.
Sango turned to her and sighed deeply. "You know what? You should go out sometimes… I mean go out on a date and take a break. Jeez you've been too wrapped up with your job and to your son since… what… ahhh since you gave birth to him. Go on and get a life!" She smiled slyly.
"Hey! Is it you Sango-chan? Is it really you? I should be the one telling you that!" She laughed a little.
"Well…. I think I already have a life…" She bit her lower lip to prevent a smile that's creeping on her face. She turned to leave when Kagome asked her curiously.
"What do you mean?" She eyed her a suspicious look. "Ahah! You're already dating! Do I know the guy?"
Sango stopped and turned to glance at her. She leaned her back on the closed door. "Not yet but… he asked me to go out with him next week, probably after we go on a fishing trip." Kagome opened her mouth to say something when Sango cut her off. "Don't worry he promised to behave, this time for real and if he doesn't, I'm not gonna talk to him for the rest of his life." She finished with a smile.
"So Miroku asked you out… That is so great!" She jumped up and hugged her friend excitedly. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Ne Kagome-chan, I'm not going to marry him or anything like that, we're just going out on a date."
"It's a start! It could be a start of a very good relationship! And I'm just happy for you!" Kagome squealed like a child.
Sango looked thoughtful. "Well, if he could change his 'attitude', maybe… we can never tell." Then she exited the office dreamily.
Kagome and Sango were having their lunch at the building's canteen located at the ground floor when they spotted Miroku coming their way. He's carrying a tray of his lunch. He smiled when he saw the two women and walked over their table. The area was a little crowded because of their co-workers who's also having their lunch and employees from other companies that's renting on the building owned by the Takagi's.
Miroku sat beside Sango and set down his lunch then he started to eat. "I am so hungry! Ladies, do you want some?" He offered.
"No thanks." The two both said seeing how much cholesterol he's eating. He had sweet and sour pork steak with rice, beef ramen, macaroni and cheese, fruit salad and a bottle of mineral water.
"Figure conscious?" He lifted a brow.
"Not actually, just health conscious." Sango eyed him carefully while he's eating. "You can eat all of that?" She said shaking her head.
"Why? What's wrong with the way I eat?" He asked in confusion.
"It's not the way you eat Miroku, it's how much you eat." Kagome commented.
"Well, wait till you see Inuyasha." He said mindlessly and continued eating.
"You mean he's worse!" Sango said in disbelief.
"Of course! And I'm not exaggerating." He took the bottled water and drunk half the contents of it.
"Speaking of Inuyasha. Where is he? I mean, I haven't seen him today." Kagome tried to sound uncaring.
"Remember what I told you before? About him, divorcing his wife, well, they have a hearing today but I don't know what time it will end." He finished his lunch and drunk all the contents of the mineral water.
"Hey Miroku." Sango nudged him in the arm and he turned to look at her. "I'm just wondering, you know about Mr. Takagi and Mr. Ookami, they seem to hate each other. I'm just curious but why? Are they rivals or something?"
A teasing grin started to show from Miroku's face. He held his chin while shaking his head then he started to relate the story behind Inuyasha and Kouga's long time dispute.
"Rivals? Definitely they are but it only started because of one reason. Take a good guess." He glanced both at them smiling when Kagome spoke.
"A girl." She uttered with a flat look.
"Bingo! Way back in Senior High, Kouga was the first to go out with Kikyou, you know Inuyasha's soon to be ex-wife, they been dating for a while and then here comes my best friend with all his might, wealth and good looks that rivals of Kouga's; asked her to go out with him. She agreed, then they became constant dates but Kouga found out and confronted Inuyasha. Unfortunately Kikyou never really liked him and admitted to Kouga that she's already in loved with Inuyasha, so she completely ditched him. We didn't know that Kouga's really serious about her until we found out that he's trying to kill himself by jumping off in a bridge near our school. Lucky him because the lake wasn't deep, but he ate a mouthful of mud and that's what we saw when we got to the bridge. Since then, they became rivals in everything, in school, competition, car racing, girls, you know, Inuyasha and Kikyou had an on and off relationship before they got married so there were spare sometimes." He finished with a half-hearted laugh, remembering their high school life.
"You mean like spare tires? Gods!" Sango rolled her eyes. "Men are so pathetic! Fighting over a girl?"
Kagome was listening intently while Miroku told the story of Kouga and Inuyasha and she had a serious almost annoyed look. 'So that's the reason why he's acting like jealous when Kouga held my hand. Hmp! It wasn't me after all; it's just his pride or maybe his wife. Oh my God! I didn't just think about that, did I?' She kicked herself mentally.
"Why? Aren't the women also fighting over a guy? Didn't it happen to you Sango?" He asked while lifting a brow.
Sango blushed with his question when she remembered her high school crush whom she assumed dating another girl, that broke her heart.
"I don't know what you're talking about and I don't care. I never had a boyfriend in my entire life…" Kagome mindlessly stated, stood from her seat and started to leave.
Miroku opened his mouth to comment but Sango was faster to shift the topic. "Oh! It's almost time, we have to go back to work!" She laughed nervously and followed her friend who seemed to be a little lost in her thoughts.
Miroku was left with a puzzled look.
Four days had passed; Inuyasha found out from Miroku that Kouga, his greatest rival, has been giving flowers to Kagome everyday. A messenger from a flower shop always sent the flowers in the agency and it made him furious from the core of his being.
February 14, Valentines Day, every men and women in the agency were very excited because of that special occasion. Inuyasha decided to give Kagome a dozen of red roses as a friendly gesture because 3 red roses would be more suspicious so he settled for a dozen. He bought the flowers from a nearby flower shop in the agency. He left the address and the name of the person where they would deliver the flowers. He went straight to the office after buying the flowers. He entered his office with a very lively mood. Employees he passed by had greeted him in accordance with the occasion and he greeted them back with a smile. He slumped in his swivel chair and started to do his job.
Kagome never expected to receive a different kind of flowers since Kouga sent her everyday of the same kind. She and Sango were surprised to see a dozen of red roses in her table.
"Red roses? This is new." She took the roses and brought it to her nose to smell its sweet scent.
"There is a card. Why don't you read it, maybe it came from a different person?" Sango said teasingly.
"I doubt it, it's probably Kouga…" She pulled the card inside the small envelope.
Kagome,
Happy Valentine's Day!
Just, Me
They both read the message and looked at each other with confused faces. Kagome put back the card inside the envelope. "Is it Kouga? But why did he change the flowers?"
"Maybe because of the occasion, it's Valentine's Day you know. Maybe he wants to be more romantic?" Sango shrugged her shoulders.
"Maybe…" 'How I wish it was 'him', would he like my gift if I give it to him?' She sighed deeply and slouched herself on the swivel chair.
Outside Kagome's office, Miroku snuck inside. He's holding a single red rose with a very long stem and a small red envelope in it. Aya smiled to him when she saw the flower in his hand.
"Aya, where's Sango?" Miroku asked the secretary in a whispering voice.
"Inside. For her?" She asked glancing to his hand.
"Yeah." He smiled and scratched his head. "You think she would like?"
"Perfect." She made a thumb up gesture.
He set the flower down on top of Sango's table and left with a confident smile.
Sango just came out from Kagome's office, holding a pile of folders. She's going to sit behind her desk when she noticed something on top of it. She set the folders on the other side of the table and held the single red rose in her nose. A soft smile grazed her lips when she pulled the small card and read the message.
Lovely Sango,
Happy Heart's Day! I'm sorry for all the things 'I've done to you'; I hope you can still forgive me…
P.S. Don't forget our date next week…
Sincerely yours'
Miroku the Handsome
Sango was still smiling and shaking her head when Kagome peeked behind her shoulder. "Hmmnnn, love is in the air."
"Kagome-chan!" Sango blushed a healthy shade of pink.
"Aha! You're blushing1" She laughed at her friend while snatching a folder from her table. "I'll borrow this first." Kagome came back to her office and decided to call Kouga and thank him for the flowers. She dialed his direct line and waited for someone to pick up the phone.
Phone conversation
"Hello? Kouga?" She drummed her fingers in the table.
"Kagome? It's you Kagome! Why did you call? Did you miss me?"
"Errr I just want to thank you for the flowers and to greet you also 'Happy Valentine's Day!" She laughed a little.
Kouga was in deep thought, 'I just called the flower shop? They delivered the flowers already? That fast? It doesn't matter.' "So, did you like the tulips?"
Kagome was out of words for a moment. "Tulips? But it's a dozen of red roses, right?" Her brows furrowed in doubt.
"Oh! Yeah! Red roses! Silly me I forgot." He laughed nervously. 'Who the hell sent her a dozen of red roses!' He mentally cursed.
"Oh. Anyways, I just want to remind you also about the commercial. We'll start to shoot next week; that would be out of town in a beach, as we agreed yesterday in the meeting."
"Would you come Kagome?"
"No, I wouldn't be there but Mr. Fujima, our Creative Department Supervisor will supervise everything. No worries."
"Uhm Kagome can we go out tomorrow, its Saturday?" He hopefully asked.
"I'm sorry Kouga but I already have plans for the weekend and I have so many things to do. You know, work…"
"Your boss, probably force you to work too hard. If you want I can give you a better job with higher salary…" Kagome was beginning to get annoyed.
"Thanks Kouga but I love my job. Bye" She hung up the phone and stretched in the chair. She looked at the flowers in her table once again and pulled the card and read the message. She recognized the handwriting. She pulled her desk drawer and took a piece of paper. She compared the handwriting in the card and in the paper she took from the drawer then a soft smile curved her lips. She took her bag and pulled a rectangular box wrapped in a glossy wrapper with heart designs on it and then she wrote a simple message in a stick pad and put it on top of the box.
Inuyasha emerged from his office to look for Miroku when he heard something that caught his attention. Kagome's secretary and another lady employee were chatting excitedly while walking on the hallway carrying a bunch of file folders.
"You remember Mr. Kouga Ookami? He gave Ms. Kagome a dozen of red roses today!" Aya squealed.
"Really! That is so sweet!" The other employee said.
"Much better than the tulips he used to send her! I wish someone give me roses too." Aya said in a dreamy look. The two employees passed by Inuyasha.
He had a dumbfounded look on his face when he heard his two employees. 'Red roses? Kouga? It's not from him! It's from me! Damn that wolf!' He's infuriating inside when he bumped to Sango on his way to the elevator.
"Hey Sango!" Inuyasha called for her. Sango glanced behind her a couple of times and made a 'Me?' gesture pointing a finger to her self.
"Yes of course. Is there anymore Sango here?" He asked in a slight smug tone.
"It's just that you called me in my first name." She looked doubtful.
"Nonsense. Call me Inuyasha." He waived his hand. "Have you seen Miroku?"
"Nope, I've been looking for him too." She shrugged her shoulders and continued on her pace while Inuyasha went down through the elevator.
Kagome quietly closed the door in Inuyasha's office after leaving a gift and a note in his table when Sango tapped her shoulder from behind and she jumped clutching her chest. "Sango-chan! Don't do that again! You're giving me a heart attack!" Sango eyed her in a flat look.
"Ne, Kagome-chan? What are you doing here?" She put a finger in her lips.
"And what are you doing here too?" She asked back.
"I ask first." She tapped her foot on the floor. Kagome sighed.
"I left him a gift. It's not Kouga, it's him." She softly smiled.
"Really?" Sango gasped. "Well my turn, I have a gift for him too, there." She pointed to Miroku's table.
"Is that a honmei-choco?" Kagome curiously asked.
"Why? You gave him a honmei?" Sango widened her eyes to her friend.
"Errr… Mom made it." Kagome smiled innocently.
Sango sighed and pursed her lips. "I wish I had bought a honmei-choco too, but the stores were already out of stock when I went to buy one. That's why I have no choice but to buy the giri-choco. I hope he wouldn't be disappointed…"
"Ms. Sango! Ms. Kagome! What are you doing here?" Kaoru burst inside the office and the two jumped in surprised.
"Nothing!" They both glanced at each other meaningfully.
"I mean we just left some important papers…" Kagome laughed nervously then Sango hauled her out of the office before Kaoru could even asked another annoying question and both resumed in their jobs.
Inuyasha found his friend on the lobby flirting with the receptionist. He dragged him up to his office before he could get slap again. Before entering his private office, Miroku called out for him with a stupid grin on his face while waiving a gift in his hand.
"Look Inuyasha! Lovely Sango gave me a gift! I'm sure this is a special honmei-choco." He confidently stated while rubbing the box of gift in his cheek.
"Keh! What's so special with that?" He snorted trying to hide his envy. 'So what?' He entered his office while Miroku followed him.
"You're just jealous because no one gave you a gift." Miroku teased him like a child. Inuyasha sat behind his table noticing a box wrapped in a glossy wrapper with hearts designs and a small note sticking on it. He read the message quietly; 'Inuyasha, Thanks for the roses… I knew it was you, your handwriting told me and Happy Valentine's Day! Kagome.' Inuyasha carefully folded the note and put it on his wallet. He held the box in his hand and smiled softly when Miroku snatched it from him.
"What do we have here huh!" Inuyasha tried to grab back the package but he ran around the office. Inuyasha chased him until he bumped his knee on the side of the table. Miroku clutched his knee in pain letting go of the box he grabbed from his friend.
"Serves you right!" Inuyasha snickered at him. He took the box and unwrapped it when Miroku peeked behind his shoulder.
"A honmei-choco! Inuyasha, who gave it to you?" He asked in complete shocked.
"Kagome…" He only shrugged his shoulders.
Miroku scampered from opening his gift from Sango when he suddenly shrieked in disbelief. "Only a giri-choco! Noooooo! This is so unfair! Why would Kagome gave you a honmei and Sango only gave me a giri? Why?" He whined like a four year old.
Inuyasha face faulted. He doesn't even know the difference between a honmei-choco and a giri-choco and why his friend was so affected with it. For him it's only chocolate; no big deal as long as it tastes good.
Inuyasha and his mother were having their dinner in the mansion's long dining table without his father. He went to another business party with some of his colleagues but Inuyasha's mother didn't come because she prefers to eat dinner with her son rather than spend the Valentine's Day with her husband in a business party together with people who might not even aware if that occasion exists. They ate quietly together when Inuyasha asked his mother suddenly.
"Mom, what's a honmei-choco for?" She gave a dumbfounded look to her son.
"You don't know?" She questioned him in disbelief.
Inuyasha stopped eating and glanced up his mother's quizzical look. "That's why I'm asking." He rolled his eyes.
"It's been a tradition already that only started as a marketing tool; every 14th of February women are encouraged to give chocolate to men to express their love." She took her tea and sipped it slowly. "But there are two kinds of chocolate women give to men, the first one is a giri-choco, it means an obligation or something like that, women give it to men whom they don't feel any special feelings, they usually gave it to their bosses or co-workers. While the other one, which is a honmei-choco, that you asked me about is also called as prospective winner. Women give it to men whom they have a special feelings or in simple words, men they love and cared for. Those chocolates are far more expensive and usually homemade. I used to give it to your father but he doesn't seem to appreciate it anymore, maybe old age makes him more of a dense person everyday." She laughed with her own comment when she noticed her son looking at her in agape. "You didn't understand me, did you?" She slanted a flat look when Inuyasha started to grin stupidly then bursting into fits of laughter until he can no longer control it and he rolled in the floor, clutching his stomach.
"Ha ha, now, ha ha, I know, ha ha why ha ha Miroku!" He said in between laughter. His jaw already hurt and he had tears from the corner of his eyes when he stopped and stood abruptly remembering what his mother told about the other kind of chocolate women give to men, which he just ate a while ago.
"Holy shit! I just ate the whole thing!" He walked away from the dining room leaving his confused mother. 'Did she really… Was it just a mistake?" He went to his room with those fleeting thoughts. He has to wake up early tomorrow before Miroku could drag him from his bed. Tomorrow will be the fishing trip they planned and scheduled for the weekend. They are going to pick up Kagome, her son, Sango, Souta and Sango's brother Kohaku in the shrine.
Miroku was early bugging him from the bed. They've been arguing what vehicle to use since they had a load of pack including some fishing poles and other important things needed for the trip.
"What! We can't use the limo, stupid! Are you really thinking or your brain is just props?" Inuyasha gave him a mocking stare.
"I'm just suggesting." He walked over Inuyasha's car collections in the garage and eyed every car in awe while holding his chin. "Hmmmm, how about the Jaguar?" He said looking at his friend.
"We won't fit in there." Miroku nodded in agreement with him and continued sorting the cars.
"Ahah! The Road Trek! I'm so sure we're going to fit in there! We can even bring all your house maids Inuyasha!" He laughed while holding a couple bags in his hand.
"Better. Wait here I'll get the keys and don't make much noise, Mom and Dad are still sleeping." He warned while running inside the house.
They reached Kagome's house in no time. They parked the van at the bottom of the shrine's steps and proceeded to climb the stairs.
Inside the house everyone were scampering in preparation including Kagome's mother though she wouldn't come with the group. She helped them in preparing everything especially the food and some extras.
"Kagome dear, have you already changed your son's clothes?" She asked while carrying a basket of food and putting it together with the other packs in the living room.
"Kohaku don't just stand there, help us will you." Sango ordered his brother while trailing behind Kagome's mother carrying another picnic basket.
"It's ok Sango, this isn't heavy anyway." The two boys were playing a new video game with Souta's play station 2. "You two better ready your bags, your sisters' friends will be here any minute now." Kagome's mother nudged them in their ears.
They both stood scratching their heads and complied. They helped in carrying the other packs from the kitchen.
Sango slumped on the couch while waiting for Miroku and Inuyasha. She wore a light blue T-shirt with little flower designs on it, a walking short and a rubber shoes. The two boys were also in over size shirts and three fourths.
Miroku and Inuyasha knocked on the door and Souta opened it for them. "Inuyasha-san, Miroku-san! You're early! Come in first, my sister is still upstairs, but Sango-oneechan is here."
Sango stood and welcomed them. She introduced his brother. "Miroku, Mr. Ta… I mean Inuyasha, this is my brother Kohaku." The kid bowed and smiled.
"I see, so you're Sango's little brother, I'm sure we can get along perfectly." Miroku put his arm around Sango's brother while Sango glared at him.
"They're cool!" Souta commented and nudged Kohaku in the arm.
"Keh! You just want to teach these kids with some of your perverted ways." Inuyasha snorted.
"Don't ever think about it." Sango threatened him in a harsh tone.
"Sango, where's Kagome?" Inuyasha turned to Sango and asked in a very curious manner.
"I think she's helping Inari-chan changing his clothes, he's still sleeping a while ago. It's hard to be a mother."
Kagome's mother emerged from the kitchen holding a spatula and spotted Inuyasha sitting on the couch. "Oh! It's you Mr. Takagi! Did you like my homemade chocolate? I told my daughter to give it to you, since it's Valentine's Day yesterday." She said in a cheerful voice.
"Ah, thank you, it's really tasty and please call me Inuyasha, I prefer it that way ma'am." 'So it really came from her mother and not from her.'
"What a nice gentleman!" Miroku and Sango sweat dropped when they heard the old lady's comment to Inuyasha's character. "Kagome will be here in a minute." She walked at the bottom of the stairs and shouted. "Dear hurry up, they're here, your boss and your friend!"
"We're going down Mom!" She shouted back. After 3 minutes she was going down the stairs carrying her half-sleeping son while dragging a traveling bag behind her. She wore a walking shorts, a plain white shirt and a rubber shoes. "Are we all set?" She asked them in between breathing. Her son was getting heavier almost everyday.
"You should breathe first Kagome-chan." Sango muttered in concern noticing how tired looking her friend was. "You three should help us in carrying all the bags and the baskets." She ordered Miroku, Souta and his brother while putting her hands in her hips. They all scratched their heads upon seeing a very serious looking Sango.
Kagome nudged her son softly. "Inari-chan don't you want to walk now? Are you still asleep?" The boy yawned and looked at his mother. "Mama can't carry you all the way down the stairs." The kid peeked behind his mother's shoulder when he noticed Inuyasha standing and smiling to him.
"Unce Inu!" He squealed happily. "Put me down Mama!" Kagome set her son down and he ran to Inuyasha.
Inuyasha kneeled in front of him and the kid hugged him tight, he almost stumbled in his rear end. "Whoa! Calm down kid, I'm not going anywhere." He laughed and tousled his hair. The boy giggled and he let him hopped on his back.
Inuyasha walked over Kagome and nudged her softly. "Your bag."
"Huh?" She looked at him flustered.
"I mean give me your bag… I'll carry it." Kagome's son peeked behind Inuyasha's shoulder with a wide grin.
"It's ok I'll carry it, you're already carrying my son for me, besides they will help." She took the bag and headed to the door. "Mom, are sure you don't want to come?"
Her mother walked over her smiling. "I will be just fine dear, you go ahead and have a good time. You need to relax sometimes." She touched her arm softly. Kagome smiled and hugged her mother.
"Thanks Mom. We'll be back Sunday night. Inari-chan say goodbye to grandma now."
Inari coaxed his head to his grandma's direction and kissed her cheek. "Bye bye ba-chan!"
"Take care!" She called out for them while waiving her hand. "Souta be good!" Her son rolled his eyes.
They boarded the van in awe. Sango sat beside Miroku, who's going to drive; he didn't want Inuyasha to give everyone a heart attack. Inuyasha and Kagome side by side, Inari in between them and on the back seat, Kohaku and Souta occupied.
"So how far is that place from here?" Sango asked Miroku while fixing her sitting position beside him.
"A couple of hours drive, maybe 2 or 3, it depends on the traffic, but since it's Saturday and pretty much early, there wouldn't be too much traffic." He started the engine and drove off.
Kagome pulled a romance novel in her bag and started to read silently when she noticed Inuyasha falling asleep quite fast. 'He must be tired.' She took pity on him and continued on her reading.
Inari was getting bored; there's nothing to play; his mother was reading and Inuyasha was sleeping and he's just a kid. He squirmed in his seat and started to climb into Inuyasha's lap. He lightly poked his chest, confirming if he's really sleeping then he tried to lift up his eyelids with his hands, giggling when he only saw white in his eyes.
Kagome noticed the commotion and heard her son giggling when she glanced back on her side and saw the boy making fun of Inuyasha's face. "Inari stop that!" She pried his hands away from his face. The kid frowned and pouted. "That is not so nice, don't do that again ok?" She wiggled a finger in the air.
Inuyasha cracked open an eye when he heard Kagome talking to her son. "It's ok Kagome… he's just a kid." He took the kid's side and smiled, ruffling his hair.
The kid's face lightened up and hugged his chest. Kagome only stared in amazement while shaking her head. "You're spoiling him."
"Of course not, he's just having fun, no big deal." He felt his eyelids drooping once more and he fell into deep slumber.
Kagome hadn't noticed that the van already stopped after almost 2 hours of traveling. She fell asleep herself while reading the romance novel. She felt something warm in her face and a soft tug on her hair.
Inuyasha on the other hand was leaning to something that smells good and felt warm. Someone's pulling his locks of hair softly and he started to flutter his eyes open.
Kagome flinched with the tugging on her hair; she didn't want to get away from the warm feeling on her face but she had to open up her eyes or she's going to be bald. She carefully peeked through her eyelids until her vision got clearer.
Inuyasha widened his eyes when he saw Kagome's flushed face just an inch closer to his and then they heard a soft giggling voice and they both glanced to its direction.
Inari was holding his face with his two hands, staring intently to them wearing a wide grin that reached from both of his ears. Inuyasha and Kagome both scampered to get away from each other until they bumped their foreheads. "AWW!" They said together, massaging the pained area.
"Mama, get up! We're here!" The boy squealed happily trying to pull his mother out of the van.
"He will never run out of energy, is he?" Inuyasha followed her where the kid pulled his mother.
"I don't know but, he never been this excited before…" She let her son to pull her until they reached where the others.
They entered a bungalow style cottage made of wood with a big signage outside that said 'Camp Tama'; at the center part is where the small reception area was located. There's an old lady, around the age of 50 behind the reception desk. She wore a red and white, old style kimono and she had a patch in one eye.
"Lady Kaede! What a pleasant surprise!" Miroku bowed a little to the old woman who he seemed to recognize.
"Kazaana, Miroku?" Kaede looked at him carefully trying to mentally remind herself of the man in front of her. "Its really you." She smiled softly.
"You seem to know them very well baa-san?" Sango approached the old lady politely.
"They used to go here almost every month before, but that was almost 8 years ago." She looked at Sango and studied her carefully and then glanced back to Miroku. "Still a lecher, aren't you Miroku." She said in a teasing voice.
Sango blushed wildly while Miroku scratched his head grinning. "Lady Kaede this is Sango, we work in the same company that Inuyasha's family owned."
Sango bowed to her. "Nice meeting you Lady Kaede." Kaede nodded in return.
Inuyasha, Kagome and her son spotted the two in the reception area; Kohaku and Souta were outside admiring the scenery. They walked over Sango and Miroku when Inuyasha recognized the aging woman they've been talking to.
"Baba, I thought you've already kicked the bucket!" He said a little louder while grinning smugly.
"As rude as ever, aren't you Inuyasha?" She stated while shaking her head. Kagome approached her with a gentle smile on her face.
"I'm sorry baa-san for his attitude, I mean he didn't…"
"It's just like him, I know him that way…" Kaede stopped suddenly and studied Kagome's face. "Hmmm Kikyou? I thought you're already getting a divorce Inuyasha?" She turned to look at him; Kagome got a little annoyed with the comment.
"I'm not her…" Kagome corrected the old lady and she eyed her once more carefully. Kaede held Kagome's chin and studied her face sideways.
"You're not her…" Everyone had a dumb look; Kaede withdrew her hand from Kagome's face and smiled apologetic. "Sorry for the mistake, so are you getting a cottage and how long would you stay?"
"Lady Kaede we want the biggest, we still have two more teenagers with us, they're just outside." Miroku informed her.
"The biggest we have has only 3 bedrooms in it." She said while looking down a room lists.
"Kagome, her son and I can share a room and our brothers can share a room too, so you guys must…" Sango suggested while looking both at Miroku and Inuyasha.
"Don't ever think about it Miroku! I'm not going to share a room with him!" He was getting irritated with the idea.
"What! We used to do that a lot before! Where do you want to sleep? Outside?" Miroku challenged him and he glared back threateningly.
"Fine!" He crossed his arms over his chest. "Like I have a choice." He grumbled under his breath.
"You're saying something Inuyasha?" Kagome nudged him in the arm.
"Nope… I'm just thinking how can I walk with your son on my legs." They both looked down and saw the kid clinging on one of Inuyasha's legs.
"Mama can we go fishing now?" He asked innocently.
"Yes dear but you have to let go of Uncle Inu's leg because he cannot walk like that." She took his hand and dragged the kid away from Inuyasha's leg.
Souta and Kohaku burst inside; both their faces wore complete fascination. "Inuyasha-san, this place is cool!" Souta commented with a glee.
"Yeah! There's a bridge over a swamp. Souta we should have brought our bungee jumping equipment!" Kohaku added but his sister poked him.
"Hey! You can't do that here and when did you learn bungee jumping? It's very dangerous." Sango's eyebrows curved annoyingly. The boys gulped and edged away.
Miroku held the key of the cottage and tapped his friend's shoulder, which in turned looked at him in an accusing manner. "Your turn he he he, I sort of forgot my wallet… I think." He grinned while scratching his head.
"You always forgot your wallet." Inuyasha snorted and walked over Kaede to present his credit card.
Kagome followed him. "Hey… I think we should share or rather I pay it since it was my plan…" She twisted uneasily while running a hand in her left arm.
Inuyasha shook his head, pulled his wallet and gave his credit card to Kaede. "Let me… I mean, let's just say it's some kind of a treat. So I can make up with all the things I did before, those were not so good?" Kagome just stared at him silently and nodded in agreement.
"Here's your card Inuyasha." Kaede gave back his card and smiled to both of them, 'Hmmm I see Inuyasha has a new prospect and a look a like of his wife.' "I'll ask my niece to guide you to your cottage, please wait here." She entered a door with 'Staff Room only' sign on it.
A teen age looking girl followed Kaede outside; she had a fair complexion and a shoulder length hair. She wore a white sundress reaching just below her knee. "Kanna guide our visitors to their cottage and helped them set their packs." The girl nodded when he noticed Miroku beside Sango. She walked over him and looked him in the eyes.
Miroku stared at the girl trying to remember her face. "Kanna? It's you! Inuyasha, looked at her she'd grown up!" Miroku touched her shoulder and she blushed a pink shade in her cheeks. "The last time we saw you, you're just like this." Miroku motioned with his hand how short was the girl before.
"Keh! Of course she will; that was a long time ago." Inuyasha stated looking over the girl who used to have a big crush on his friend.
"Miroku-kun, I'm so happy to see you again." She smiled shyly when Sango nudged Miroku and the smile from her face faded gradually.
"She's a cute girl Miroku. You're Lady Kaede's niece, aren't you?" Sango smiled to her but she only gave a blank stare and turned to Miroku once again. Sango shrugged her shoulders. 'I thought she's nice…'
"Miroku-kun, Aunt Kaede told me to guide you to your cottage. Follow me this way." She walked ahead of them with a dopey look.
Everybody followed her carrying all their bags and other packs. They left the van in the parking space of the camp. They entered the 3 bedroom cottage and set down their belongings; the cottage was really big; fresh air breezed through the wide windows made of wood; it's over looking the swamp and the canopy of trees around the area. The scenery was really enticingly calm.
Kanna left them after a few minutes and they all slumped down the comfy chairs in the leaving room area.
"What do we do first?" Kagome's brother asked lazily.
Kagome looked at her wristwatch and stood. "Since its near lunch already, we will prepare the food. You can do whatever you want, you can sleep or go out or just rest as long as you come back before lunch. You have an hour to do that." After Kagome finished her statement, the two teenagers rushed outside like a wind.
"Boys." Sango stood to help her friend in preparing the lunch.
Kagome walked over to Inuyasha who covered his face with the pillow looking asleep while sprawling his body over the chair. "Inuyasha?" She tried to make her voice sounded as sweet as possible. Inuyasha peeked in the pillow. "Can you watch him for a while?" She asked for a favor while giving her son's hand to him.
"Sure. Come here kid." He took his hand and the kid sat in between his legs. Kagome smiled softly.
"Thank you. Inari-chan, you behave ok?" Inari smiled and nodded to his mother's reminder.
"Aww! Inuyasha's babysitting! How cute!" Miroku teased his friend while stretching from his seat.
Inuyasha took a pillow and hit Miroku on the face. Inari laughed with their playfulness and the two adults joined him.
Sango and Kagome went to the kitchen and prepared the lunch. Some only need heating since Kagome's mother cooked the rest of the food. They brought rice, stew, miso soup, some instant ramen, bread, chips and other tasty viands.
The three they left in the leaving room went out to stroll down the area. Inuyasha and Miroku decided to find a good fishing spot while roaming around. Inuyasha was holding Inari's hand when the kid started to sneak unnoticed. Both of them were too caught up looking around and hadn't noticed the kid's sudden disappearance.
Inari strayed a little farther following a flying butterfly that he kept on trying to catch. He reached under a big tree and looked back when he noticed that he's already alone. He tried to go back where he came from but he didn't know which way to go. He started to panic and sniff when he heard a small voice behind the big tree.
He followed the voice and peeked behind the tree then he saw another kid with orange hair. The kid was smaller than him and he had two toy soldiers in his hand that he played with. He tried to make the two soldiers fight and he's making loud gun noises and bombing sounds. He was sitting cross-legged position on a grass-covered ground.
Inari tapped his shoulder softly and the kid jumped in surprise. He smiled widely and introduced himself. "Hello! I'm Inari. What's your name?" The stranger kid eyed him carefully, studying his features.
"Shippou is my name!" He puffed his chest proudly and broke into a wide grin. "Do you wanna play wars with me?" He offered to Inari.
Kagome's son nodded a couple of times, excitement evident on his face. "Yap! Can I? Can I?" He asked more than once, happy to meet a new friend.
"Of course! You can be my friend." Shippou squealed happily. "You can call me Shippou-chan."
"Let's go and play Shippou-chan!" They sat together under the big tree and started to play. Unknown to Kagome, her son found a new friend.
After almost half an hour of looking around, both Inuyasha and Miroku sat on the ground, leaning on the bark of a tree, the swamp facing them. Both of them were wearing T-shirts and cargo shorts that reached below their knees. The weather was really hot and the sun was in its 12 pm position.
Inuyasha took his black bandana off his head. He put it a while ago just before they left the cottage while Miroku wore a red baseball cap.
They sat together side by side fanning their faces when Miroku noticed that someone's missing. And that someone was the kid, Inari! Miroku stood, looked around and poked his friend in panic. "Inuyasha! I think the kid is missing! Where did you leave him?"
Inuyasha abruptly stood and looked around either then his face paled when he didn't catch a glimpse of the kid's face. "Shit! Damned! Where is that kid? His mother would probably get mad. And this time with me and not with her brother." Inuyasha clutched his forehead, closing his eyes.
"We should start to look for him, it will be lunchtime and we have to go back to the cottage. Kagome would never be too happy to know, her son's missing."
They tried to look all over the area but they failed until they bumped into Souta and Kohaku who were heading back to their cottage.
"Inuyasha-san! Miroku-san! You looked around the place too?" Miroku and Inuyasha both looked at each other meaningfully and they walked faster leaving the boys before they could ask anything. The teenagers ran after them until they caught up. "Ahhh! You want to race with us!" Souta said in an assuming tone.
When they're already a few meters away from the cottage, Inuyasha noticed a man talking to Kagome. The guy had a long black braided hair; he's wearing a jogging pants and a fitted white shirt and a whistle on his neck.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in the direction of the stranger when he noticed Sango beside him holding Inari's hand and another kid, he didn't recognize.
Kagome spotted them and waived her hand, smiling. Inuyasha and Miroku were relieved to find that the kid was just fine and his mother wasn't furious at all.
Just before they reached the cottage the guy already left, shaking Kagome and Sango's hand and patting the two kids in the head.
"Who's that?" Inuyasha stated in a slight smug tone.
"His name is Hiten, he's a teacher and they're camping here too, together with his students. He found the kids near their camping site…" Inuyasha looked down and spoke softly.
"Kagome I-I'm really sorry… we haven't noticed that he's missing, that's why…"
"It's ok, nothing bad happens and besides he's really like that, that's why Souta always lost him, he goes wherever he wants to go as long as there's something that caught his attention." Inuyasha looked down at the kids who were running around Sango.
"Who's the other kid?" He asked curiously looking at the other boy with orange hair.
"My son met a new friend, he told us that he's with his parents, just a few a cottage away, I think he knows his way but Sango and I have to bring him back, maybe after lunch. Shippou, Inari, come here." Kagome called out for the boys. "Shippou-chan, how old are you?" She asked the kid smiling.
"I'm six!" He held his six fingers in her face.
"He looks like 3." Inuyasha commented teasingly when the kid shouted.
"And you look 50 Mister! Your hair are all white, you must be very old!" Everyone burst into fits laughter; Inuyasha's brows twitched in annoyance.
"Old man! Wahahahahahaha!" Miroku laughed harder while pointing a finger in his friend's direction.
'This brat is getting into my nerves!' He glared at the kid; Shippou stuck his tongue out to him and Inari giggled with his new friend's action.
They finished the hearty lunch and the guys started to prepare the fishing poles and the bait. Shippou begged to come with them in fishing but promised to go home before sunset. Kagome couldn't say no to the cute kid so she let him to come with them much to Inuyasha's annoyance. They found the nicest spot; it was a small clearing near the swamp with crystal clear water. Sango was left in the cottage because she's taking a shower but promised to follow after.
Kagome set down a blanket on the grassy ground under the shade of a big tree. She took one picnic basket and some snacks for the boys. Soon they will all going to get hungry and looking for food. She took the romance novel she's been reading a while ago and continued.
Miroku and Inuyasha prepared the poles and the bait while the two kids looked on. Miroku was teaching them how to put the bait in the hook and how to roll the string if a fish caught the bait on the end of the pole.
The two kids sat in between them cross-legged. The two teenagers went their way to roam again especially when they heard that there were students camping on the vicinity. Teenagers nowadays don't enjoy fishing much, and so was Inuyasha.
He lazily threw the bait in the swamp and yawned sleepily. He glanced back to his side; the kids were patiently waiting for a fish to be caught. His eyes were getting heavier as minutes ticked off and then he decided to hand the fishing pole to Inari.
"Inari-chan, hold it like this ok, don't move much so the fish wouldn't be disturbed, then if there's something moving on the water, you roll this thing and then pull the bait. Did you understand?" The kid nodded excitedly. "One more thing, after you pull the bait, wake me up." He lied down on the grass just beside the kid, took the bandana in his hair and blocked his eyes from the sun with it.
After a few minutes, Kagome was too caught up with her reading when she heard a big splash of water and she looked over its direction. She saw Inuyasha, dripping wet while chasing Shippou who hid behind Miroku. Her son was giggling and Miroku was laughing hard again. He laughed almost every hour.
"Come here brat! You'll see how I catch a fish!"
"You deserve it! You let my friend hold that, and it's too big for him." He said while pointing on the fishing pole.
"But you don't have to push me on the water! Stupid kid! Now the fish escaped!" Inuyasha said looking around for the fish they caught but unfortunately escaped.
"Wahahaha! Inuyasha! I didn't know that a kid could be a match with you!"
"Shut up Miroku! Or I'm going to push you too." He threatened him and he shut up trying to stifle more laugh.
"Inuyasha, you look like a wet puppy!" Kagome giggled with his look. His silver hair sticking on his face and his wet shirt curved his well-toned muscles, not bulky but lean and hard muscles.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and took his shirt off; he squeezed the water from it and slung it in his shoulder.
Kagome just stared at him unblinking; her gaze went down into his fine abs following a trickle of water that dripped from his silver mane; she gulped a couple of times; mouth slightly open. Inuyasha stretched his arms widely and his muscles contracted from the movement he made.
Kagome's breath was caught in her lungs for a moment when she felt a tap on her shoulder and she spun around.
"I think a fly entered your mouth Kagome-chan, you left it open for a while." Sango teased her intentionally and she blushed beet red like a tomato.
"Sango-chan." She said in a hush tone and nudged her friend's arm. "Inuyasha, we'll just get a towel, you might catch a cold!" She hauled Sango towards the cottage direction.
"I just got here!" She protested while letting her friend dragged her away from the rest.
Miroku continued to do his fishing when Inuyasha sneaked behind him unnoticed and pushed him towards the swamp. The children behind him were giggling when he noticed that his friend wasn't emerging from the water. He looked closer when he suddenly emerged in front of him holding a handful of mud in his palm.
"MUD FIGHT!" He shouted on top of his lungs and hit Inuyasha in the head.
Inuyasha took a handful and smashed it in Miroku's face. The kids were laughing very hard until Shippou decided to take a handful and hit Inari on the back.
Inari also took a handful throwing it in his friend. They kept on throwing and hitting each other with mud until they would no longer be recognized. Inuyasha's silver hair was all muddy and sticky while Miroku's face and even his mouth was full of mud. The kids were filthy too; they continued on mud fighting but Inuyasha stopped when he saw Inari rubbing his eyes. He hurried to his side and kneeled in front of him.
"What's wrong kid? Miroku stop it now!" He looked at his face intently trying to find what's wrong.
"Uncle Inu my eyes hurt." He cried and pointed a finger in his eyes. Shippou and Miroku looked over them.
"What's wrong with him?" Miroku looked curiously.
"I think a mud gets into his eyes." Inuyasha held his shoulder and looked closely.
"Inari-chan, are you ok?" Shippou asked in concern feeling a little guilty for hurting his friend, he thought he was the cause since he's the first one who hit him.
"No worry, Shippou-chan, Uncle Inu is here, I'll be fine." He stated proudly and confidently.
Inuyasha scooped the kid in his arms and took him in the clearer part of the swamp. He washed his face with cool and clean water until all the mud was cleaned up and he asked in worry. "Does it hurt anymore?"
The kid blinked a couple of times and then broke into a wide grin. "It's gone!" He hugged his neck tightly and Inuyasha returned the embrace. He felt something tugged in his heart and he sighed deeply, while running a hand in the boy's back. Miroku only looked on, a small smile grazed his lips.
Kagome and Sango gasped when they saw their filthy appearance. "Gods! What happened to all of you?" Kagome brought a hand to her mouth while holding a towel.
"For sure, it's the 'adult's' idea." Sango gawked at Miroku.
"You're very sharp Sango!" Miroku said aloud while scratching his head.
"It's almost sun down, we better go back to the cottage and you Shippou-chan should go back to your parents too." She looked at the kid who only smiled at her. "Did you catch any fish?"
"A few… I mean some." Miroku held the fish in the container.
They headed back to the cottage and bumped into Shippou's parents on their way. They've been desperately looking for their son since morning. Mr. And Mrs. Kawaine, Shippou's parents thanked them for taking care of their son. The two kids said goodbye to each other and promised to meet again tomorrow.
Kagome and Sango didn't allow the three to enter the cottage unless they cleaned up first outside. Kagome brought a hose and connected it to the faucet outside. She washed up her son thoroughly.
"Sango can you help me clean up again, in the bathroom?" He looked upward in the window where Sango looked down at him. She took a bottle of mineral water and hit him. He dodged the hit and grinned teasingly.
"Pervert." She grumbled under her breath.
"Come Inari-chan, I'll help you change now." She took off his clothes and wrapped a towel around him. She took him upstairs while Inuyasha only looked on smiling softly but almost sad.
Kagome passed by his brother and Sango's brother on her way to her and Sango's room. "Hey! Where you two have been?" She questioned the two noticing their flushed faces.
"Errr, nee-chan, is Miroku-san here already?" Souta asked his sister nervously.
"Yeah, they're downstairs cleaning up. Why?" Both the boys shook their heads and scampered to get away when they heard Miroku's voice talking to Inuyasha.
Kagome went inside her and Sango's room then Sango followed her inside when they heard Miroku's loud screaming coming from his and Inuyasha's room.
"Who read my collections!" Inuyasha snatched the magazines from his friend and his eyes widened like saucers.
"Why the hell you brought these with you!" Inuyasha shouted on his face.
Sango peeked on the slightly open door and took a glimpse of the magazines Inuyasha's holding and she flustered. She threw the door wide-open and stomped inside.
"You are such a pervert!" Sango shouted on Miroku's face not noticing that the two men only had towels wrapped on their lower bodies. She stomped outside fuming.
They had a hearty dinner including the fishes they caught. Souta and Kohaku both earned a lump on the head from Sango and Miroku for reading his 'collections' and not asking permission.
The night was serene; slight cold breeze engulfed the whole cottage; outside, the sounds made by some insects could be heard while fireflies adorned branches of trees and the grassy grounds along the bank of the swamp.
Both Souta and Kohaku went on their bed, probably chatting first before falling asleep while Kagome tucked in her son and sung his favorite lullaby until it lulled him to sleep. She brought some work with her and decided to do it on the dining table.
She carried some file folders, journal and pens outside after giving her sleeping son one more kiss before exiting the room and heading to the dining area.
Sango sat on the stairs near the leaving room, wearing a pair of pajamas. She looked over the swamp and the small bridge adjacent to the cottage they occupied. The bridge's lightened up by a light post, just a little farther so it was dimly lighted.
She sighed and buried her head on her knee; she curled into a ball when she sensed someone sat beside her. She kept her head down when she heard Miroku's gentle voice. She was startled to hear him that way.
"Life is hard…sometimes…" Sango lifted her head and stared at him in disbelief. Miroku fixed his gaze to the bridge and the swamp where the lights from the post flickered in its reflection in the water.
Sango followed where his gaze; she kept silent for a moment and then spoke softly, "What do you mean?"
Miroku kept his gaze to the bridge and answered her question. "Sometimes we thought… we already have everything in life… but the truth is… we don't have anything…"
Sango darted her attention to him and furrowed her brows in confusion. "I don't understand…"
Miroku breathed deeply. "What I mean is… real happiness is hard to find, you can have enough money and buy everything you need, have everything you don't have, be what you want to be… but in the end, you realized, you're not contented because… you're not happy… you feel empty inside and you try to look for it the next day and so on, everyday its always the same and you fake it… you masked it with smiles, laughter, jokes, material things…" He stopped and shook his head lightly.
Sango gaped at him; seeing and hearing him for the first time that serious was something that she's willing to treasure as a good memory of him.
"And that what makes life hard sometimes… if you can't find the answers to your questions; you have to wait until someone comes along and find it for you. Sometimes the harder you look the longer you suffer… but when it comes along, you have to act right away, don't let it go, hold it with your hands, take it close to your heart…never let it go…" He finished and looked at her directly in the eyes.
"That's very… idealistic per se." Sango commented in awe.
Miroku scratched his head and smiled. "You think so? Don't you think I can be an orator someday?" He teased and Sango slanted a flat look. "Just kidding… uhhh, yeah! I remember!" He stood and rushed inside. "Wait here Sango, I'll give you something."
He was back after a minute and held a small black box in his hand. He sat beside her again and presented the box to her. "Take it… it's for you, that's my other gift for the Valentine's Day."
Sango took the box in his palm and opened it carefully. She gasped when she saw his gift. It's a heart-shaped music box made of silver; a ballerina dances when opened and the music playing was hypnotizing like it open up one's soul. "It's pretty… Are you sure you want to give it?"
Miroku smiled softly. "I've never been this sure in my life…" Sango looked down again to his gift and a faint smile crept her lips. "It's my Mom's, actually, she gave it to me, the night before she was…taken away from us completely." He slumped his shoulders and his face saddened; Sango noticed his changed in expression.
"I'm so sorry…" She took pity on him.
"It's ok… she's a very lively woman, just like Inuyasha's mother, that's why I like her so much, she reminds me of my own mother. She died when I was eight; cancer took her away… that deadly disease. She gave that music box to me the night before her death… she left one important reminder though, she told me that, if I ever give it to someone, it should be the person I care the most and closest to my heart…"
Sango blushed and looked down, she begun to feel her heart throbbing in her chest. 'Did he mean…?' thoughts crossed over her mind.
"Sango, the chocolate you gave me yesterday… are you really serious about that? Is it just…" He didn't finish his statement and stared ahead outside.
She stood carefully holding the box in her hand and uttered softly. "It could be a start…" Miroku looked upward and he saw a sweet smile on her face. He couldn't help but admired her beauty as soft light coming from the leaving room danced in her brown eyes; he stared silently. Sango leaned down and kissed his cheek gently. "Thanks Miroku… goodnight…" She spun around and headed to her and Kagome's room.
Miroku was left gaping; his hand caressing the cheek where Sango's soft lips touched. He's one step closer to real happiness…
Inuyasha went out their room after surfing some stuff from the Internet; he brought his laptop with him; he got thirsty and decided to take a glass of water to the kitchen when he passed by the dining area and saw Kagome on the dining table doing something with some folders, sketch pad and pens on top of the table.
"Don't tell me, you're still working?" Kagome coaxed her head to his direction and smiled faintly.
"I'm just finishing what I haven't finished last week. I wouldn't have time to do this the whole week." She got back to her work.
"Are you workaholic or am I just making you work too hard?" He asked her while sitting in front of her.
She laughed a little and glanced at him again. "Neither."
Inuyasha's brows were furrowed in confusion as he listened to her reply. "Why?" He stared at her intently as she continued to write down something on the journal.
"I'm not workaholic because… because I'm not and you're not making me work too hard because it's my job and my responsibility. I already knew from the start that when I got promoted from this position, it's not going to be easy on me anymore, not like before when I was just one of the staffs of the department, the responsibility is less. Now, I have more and I accepted it." She talked while waiving the pen in her hand.
"Is it hard?" He questioned her while putting his right hand on the right side of his face while his elbow rested on the table.
"My job? Well… it depends…" He cut her off and finished his question.
"I mean, is it hard to be a parent?" Kagome stopped what she's doing and stared silently at his quizzical face.
"It's… it's hard sometimes but it's very rewarding, I mean… like me, I worked hard and got tired when I go home but whenever I see my son, all my problems and worries just disappear." She put down the pen and held her chin with her hands, her elbows rested on the table. "He's my joy…my life, he makes me complete and he takes all the emptiness inside my heart… he's what keeps me going on…"
Inuyasha stared at her face unblinking; admiration to the girl whom he used to insult was all he manifested in his baffled expression.
"Kagome, I know it's not so nice to ask you this question but, what happened to Inari's father? You can't answer if you don't want to…"
Kagome stifled with his question but she expected it since they always get to that topic whenever they talked about her personal life. Her heart was pounding in her chest but she kept calm and sighed deeply. She set her hands on the table, a finger drawing circles on it. "He died of a …car accident." Her mind thought faster. "It's the day before he would ask my Mom to marry me and he…on his way to the shrine, his car was hit by a truck and he didn't reached the hospital…" 'Nice story Kagome, try to sound more convincing.' She mentally smacked herself but there's no backing out. She already weaved lies; she has to stand with it.
"That was sad… your son… Did he know the truth?" He wore a worried and concerned face. Kagome shook her head lightly.
"Yeah, that's the only way… I could make him understand why… why he doesn't have a father, not like any other kid." Kagome's expression changed into more pained one. The past was coming back once again; she couldn't hide the hurt and misery she'd been through and Inuyasha noticed her distress. He began to be completely hooked on her expression once again. "If only I could… it's hard to be a single mother, knowing your child would grow without…a father to guide him, I mean, I can't do everything… I want to be both but I know I can't… my family's there but I know in his heart… he longs for a father…" Kagome looked him directly in the eyes as the memories of the past plagued her mind. 'If you only knew…if you only knew Inuyasha, that this woman in front of you, defiled herself for a big amount of money… I don't know if you could even looked at her, like you look at her this moment…'
"Why?" He made a more confused look. "Do I have something in my face?" He asked noticing the way she intently gazed at him.
"I'm sorry…I just remembered something…" Her voice was shaky and a lump built in her throat. "Excuse me for a while, I'm a little thirsty, I'm just going to get a drink …" She stood and rushed to the kitchen. She reached the faucet and stared at it; she's not thirsty after all.
She set her hands on the cold tiles; she closed her eyes and went back to her painful past where her classmates, her so called friends the people who knew her, avoided her and scrutinized her whole being just because her son was born without a father. She could still hear them saying rude, nasty comments; 'How come she got pregnant, she doesn't even have a boyfriend' 'Maybe she sleeps with so many guys, she forgot who the daddy is' then laughter 'Slut' 'Whore'. The voices kept on ringing in her head and she couldn't help but broke down into tears. Hot tears poured from her eyes as her shoulders shook and her body trembled.
'I didn't want it to happen, I didn't have a choice… I love my brother, I did it for him… and I love my son even if I don't know who his father is… I want to forget the past, I want to bury it… why do I have to feel this way… why?' She let her tears poured down the sink.
Inuyasha followed Kagome in the kitchen when she didn't come back right away. He sneaked and peeked at the kitchen door when he saw her body shaking; her back facing the door and he heard her trying to control the noise she's making when she cried.
'She's crying…but why… was it too painful for her to remember the man she loved, the father of her son? Should it be the other way around but… is he really dead or she just killed his memory…? Something isn't right…' Inuyasha snapped when he heard her moving and he rushed to get back at the dining table where they sat and talked a while ago.
Kagome quietly took her seat again while Inuyasha, followed her movement. "You must've drunk too much…" He gazed to her face, noticing her red, puffy eyes.
Kagome laughed nervously. "Yeah, I guess so…" She stuttered trying to hide her croaking voice.
"Kagome…you should rest, it's late and we still have a long day tomorrow." He tried to sound cheerful.
"Yeah, I think so…" She started to gather her things and scooped it in her arms. She walked side by side with him as they headed to their own rooms. Inuyasha helped her in carrying her other things and when they reached her room, Inuyasha stopped and handed her things back to her.
He reached out his hand and touched her shoulder gently. "It will be alright…you'll see…" He smiled softly and turned around.
"Thanks Inuyasha…" She quietly said and entered the room, a burden in her heart seemed to get a little…lighter.
The next day, the group decided to go on hiking; they brought all the things they need, the food, the blanket the fishing equipment. Everyone was excited since it's the last day they'll spend on the camp.
Miroku was extra cheerful that day; he couldn't get over Sango's kiss last night and it kept on rewinding over and over on his mind. A satisfied smile never left his face and Sango flushed every time he looked at her meaningfully.
Inuyasha on the other hand was quieter; some things bothered him and he couldn't help but be lost in deep thought. Only Kagome's son can snapped him out of his trains of thought.
They reached a clearing but it's almost a forest since the trees were so big and there were rabbits and different kind of insects around. There was a bigger lake near the place they stopped into.
Kagome and Sango sprawled the blanket under a shade of a big tree and prepared the lunch. The rest of the boys impatiently went on fishing as there were no other things to do. No matter how much Souta and Kohaku protested that they should be left on the cottage, their sister didn't agree. They settled to stay with the rest.
Miroku, Souta and Kohaku, sat by the lake's bank, while Inuyasha and Inari, went deeper into the forest. Inuyasha carried the kid in piggyback ride. He was enjoying every minute he spent with the kid and he didn't notice the passing of time. They both enjoy chasing some rabbits and occasionally saw some monkeys hanging on the trees' branches. They went back with the rest, when Inuyasha noticed the time and it's already lunchtime as his stomach agreed with him.
They enjoyed the rest of the day and decided to head back to the cottage; they started to pack their things up and Souta decided to play a trick. He nudged Miroku and Kohaku. "Do you want to see how my sister dance, without any music?" A mischievous smile grazed his lips.
"You can do that?" Kohaku asked in doubt, Souta only nodded.
"You have something naughty in mind, hmmmmm." Miroku eyed him suspiciously.
"Just wait and see, so are you in?" They both nodded and shrugged their shoulders.
Souta called his nephew and he ran into his uncle. "Come here Inari-chan." The kid smiled meekly. "Give me your hand and open it." The kid did what he said and Souta put the 'thing' in the kid's hand. "You go and give it to your Mama, she'll love it."
"Really Uncle Souta?" His eyes widened in surprise and he hopped to his mother's direction carrying something for her.
Kagome was helping Sango putting all the remaining food in the basket when her son ran into her with a cute grin on his face. She stood and patted his head. Inuyasha was just behind her, folding the blanket. The kid held his hands towards her face.
"Mama it's for you!" He said in cheery voice. Kagome leaned downwards to his hands that he held for her.
"What is it? You have something for Mama?" The kid nodded excitedly while Inuyasha put down the blanket and tried to peek behind Kagome's shoulder.
When Kagome's face was already near enough to her son's hands, the kid gradually opened up his palm. Kagome's face paled and a horrified expression crossed over her. "Wo-worm!" She jumped behind her and bumped to Inuyasha's chest but her son held the creature in his fingers and ran into his mother presenting it.
"Mama, Mama look!" Kagome screamed and jumped continuously until she flung herself to Inuyasha, hugging his neck for her dear life. "Get that away from me! Away! Away!" She waived her other hand while desperately clinging to Inuyasha's embrace.
Inuyasha face faulted but held onto Kagome as she was too terrified with the creature that her son was giving her. He tightened his hold onto her waist and ran his other hand to her back to calm her down.
The rest were laughing their heads off, even Sango, while her son was also giggling witnessing how his mother was so afraid of a small earthworm. But the laughter died down when they saw the two locked in very tight embrace. They all stared to them while their mouths left hanging open.
Inuyasha's eyes were half-closed as he ran his fingers through her hair. He was a bit lost for a moment while Kagome buried her face on the crook of his neck, her soft breathing tickling that part of his body. They were both lost in their own world when they noticed the sudden quietness of the surroundings. Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha's embrace and looked behind her. She found all of them staring and gaping like fishes to both her and Inuyasha then it dawned on her mind what she just did. She blushed seven shades of red and she couldn't look at him anymore.
Her embarrassment turned into fury as she remembered the cause of it. "No one knew me more than anybody here… besides my own BROTHER!" She stomped in his direction and chased him down the forest. The siblings ran around the trees while the rest just looked at them, waiting patiently until Kagome calm her self somehow.
They went back to the cottage, pack their bags and loaded everything on the van when Inari saw Shippou on the parking. They're going home too; he waived to his friend and he ran into him.
"Shippou-chan! Mama Shippou-chan is here!" Kagome went to her son and smiled to the kid.
"Inari-chan, we're going home too!" Shippou's mom followed him and smiled to Kagome.
"I see, you're going home too, I just want to thank you all again for what you did to my son." The older woman said in gratitude.
"It's ok Mrs. Kawaine, but can I take your phone number and address, my son's birthday will be two weeks from now and I'm thinking if Shippou could come to his party?"
"Oh! No problem." The older woman took a business card from her purse and handed to her. "You can call me there, that's my office number and address." She smiled and took Shippou's hand.
"Bye bye Inari-chan!" Then he noticed Inuyasha behind Kagome. "Bye bye jiisan!" Then he stuck out his tongue to him and hid in his mother's skirt.
"That brat! I hope I'll never see him again." Inuyasha grumbled to his breath.
Miroku, Inuyasha, Kagome and Sango said goodbye to Lady Kaede and to her niece. The girl looked sad when Miroku bade his goodbye to her but she glared at Sango, which made her a little nervous as if she's going to steal her soul.
They boarded the van and traveled another 2 more hours. Almost everyone fell asleep as it had been a very long day and they seemed to be very tired. Sango and the two boys were sleeping as well. Miroku who's driving and Kagome were the only ones left awake.
Inuyasha slouched on his seat while Inari was on his chest sleeping soundly. The kid was hugging his neck while Inuyasha's arms were around him. Kagome gazed to the wonderful scene in front of her; her son looked so peaceful and so was Inuyasha's face. She cocked her head on the side and stared at them, all through out the trip.
They reached the shrine past eight in the evening; they were stuck in traffic, as it was already peak hours. Souta helped his sister carried their bags while Inuyasha carried Inari so he wouldn't wake up.
"Sango-chan, Miroku, Kohaku, thank you for everything. See you tomorrow." Kagome said her goodbye to them before they climbed the shrine's steps.
"Miroku you wait for me." He said in hush tone to keep his voice down.
When they reached their house, Kagome scooped her son from Inuyasha's arms. "Epp, he's really getting heavier everyday." She laughed a little. "I'm sure you can't come in inside, can you?" She softly smiled.
"Yeah, they're waiting and I guess I really have to go…" He reached out his hand and lightly tousled the kid's hair; he's still sleeping and never faltered even once.
"Inuyasha, I-I really want to thank you… it had been fun and Inari… I know he enjoyed all the time he spent with you…thank you…" 'And so was I' She added mentally.
Inuyasha gently smiled and nodded. "I had a great time too… he's a very lucky kid to have you Kagome…I'm sure he's more than proud to be your son…so… be strong… but I know you are…bye." He turned around and left quietly. Kagome continued her gaze to him while he's walking down the stairs as the gentle wind blew his silver hair.
She sighed and closed the door; she leaned on it carrying her sleeping child in her arms. 'Can I let myself to love someone…? Can he accept my past and me…? Can I still hope for something…' She closed her eyes…
Author's Note: Thank you very much for all those who reviewed and read, who only read and who just passed by! Thanks to Linda Szymoniak for the info on Valentine's Day tradition in Japan. And don't forget to Read and Review! Constructive criticisms are welcome. Ja ne.