Chapter 7-Distractions and Delays
No, I do not own Inuyasha and company! I own Sanae, Akiyoshi, Ichiro, Oyoto, and Yatsumi.
In Tokyo, another priestess was just as exhausted.
"Mom!" a gentle voice woke Kagome. Sanae was leaning over her, and she was...on her couch at home??
"Where-scratch that. I drained myself, didn't I?" she asked tiredly.
"I think so. I came and got you. It was a good thing the wards faded and I could get in. What happened?"
"That's a damned good question. Is Kagome alright?" Inuyasha agreed, peering at her worriedly as he crouched near her feet. So she told them what happened, mostly.
"Three days? Not much time. What stuff, and how can I help, Mom?" Sanae asked.
"I have to get the maps together, and pick up some things we'll need."
"Maps? Don't tell me you have a map of where all the shards are!" Inuyasha snorted.
"Close enough," Kagome said with a tired smile, leaving him speechless.
The next day, Kagome and the hanyou went to a department store in a light rain to start collecting supplies. After wrecking the den, she wasn't letting him stay in the house alone. Too many temptations and awkward questions if he did start looking around, anyways. No need to let him know everything, she was already asking him to conceal a lot. So she brought him along shopping. Not that this was better, to her mind.
He nervously tugged at the hat from the house that he insisted on, charm or no. Inuyasha wasn't happy. It was crowded, she made him leave Tetsusaiga at home-and wear these baka clothes! Clothes that were the other one's. A pair of what she called jeans, a cream buttondown, shoes, a coat, for kami's sake! Not to mention the funny 'boxer shorts' underneath...no. He wasn't happy at all! So he scowled, arms folded as they headed to sporting goods.
"Yasha!! Hey! Hold up!" the words behind them made Kagome wince as they walked.
"Oh, no. Kitamura Etsuo. Friend of my husband," she gritted before she turned with a smile. A plump, youngish man approached. His greeting made Inuyasha frown with worry and he glanced desperately at Kagome.
"Kagome, lovely seeing you. Yasha, where have you been? Your cell kept saying it was out of service and all I got was voice mail!"
"Hello, Etsuo! Oh, well, family emergency. We had to leave town fast, and only came back to check the house and see to a few things. We're heading back to see to it soon," Kagome answered pleasantly.
"Nothing too bad, I hope?" Etsuo asked, face falling. A cheerful head shake.
"No-no, just needed to do some shopping real quick."
"Oh. Well, I won't keep you," he glanced at 'Yasha', puzzled at the silence. "Call me, alright? Missed you at poker and then the Giants' game. I know you're a busy guy, but call, man! I worry when my friends vanish on me, who else will go in half on season tickets?" he said, grinning. The hanyou said nothing, he was too busy puzzling out what the hell the human was talking about. Goodbyes were said, and Kagome grabbed Inuyasha's arm, walking him away fast and looking relieved.
"What's poker?"
"A card game. The Giants are a baseball team, one you've cheerfully rooted for and overspent on tickets to watch since the thirties. It's a game, and you buy tickets to watch them play. You'll like it." At this, he stopped and scowled at her in disgust.
"You're telling me that I waste my time playing card games and going to some baka entertainment with that-that person? That wasn't even a warrior, just a damned mortal peasant! What the hell kind of crap is that other one up to?" Inuyasha hissed.
"He got a life. You might try it sometime."
"This is such crap." A scowl, and her eyes hardened.
"What...ever."
But she focused, buying piles of strange goods and ordering them delivered. He began to frown more and more as the day wore on and they moved from store to store. For once he was paying attention to the numbers, having a sinking feeling...money was all different here, but addition still worked. She was spending money-probably his money-like it was lying loose behind every rock to be picked up!
"Cash or charge?"
"On my charge." A small plastic card was swiped and she signed, and Inuyasha looked very, very unhappy as they left the store and headed to the next one.
"How much is all this? A lot? It looks like a lot. You didn't even try to barter or dicker!"
Kagome froze. Sweet kami, it never ended! He was so incredibly cheap!! Budgeting, saving, being careful with their money was a damned passion with him. His wallet senses were likely tingling in the feudal era. But a warm, slightly wicked thought came to her, and she answered his complaint pleasantly.
"You can't barter there, cheapskate. Um...just try to remember this is for something important, Inuyasha. You always say the quest is what's important, you know, and the Jewel," Kagome answered...with concealed glee. So much for the annual vacation money. He'd wanted to go to a freaking cabin in the mountains again. Kagome secretly despised the damned fishing and hiking trips Inuyasha adored anyways-and this year no need to 'grin and bear it'.
She'd had quite enough of rustic living long ago even if he enjoyed reliving the old days. If it didn't have room service, forget it.
"Well, stop spending so damned much!"
"We need this stuff."
"I don't think so! You bought five of those little folding shelters! Tell me you needed the funny beds? I say you don't need half of that crap! Probably less than half!"
"I hate camping, and if I have to go jewelhunting-I'm using a tent and an air mattress this time and that means one for everyone else!" Kagome growled.
"Five? That's-"
"One tent for the girl and Sango, one for you and Miroku, one for Ichiro and Ayame, and one for Sanae and Rinao-and one for my husband and me so we can all sleep better and not blow all of our cash on Inns when we can find them. Because I happen to know a certain person who gets a sore back from carrying people and the gear who will appreciate it-even if he is brave enough to not complain about it and does it because he's quite gallant and kind."
He paused, secretly pleased at the compliments. It was true, Inuyasha never complained of it, and it did hurt sometimes after a long day. Kagome noted the point was conceded.
"We need to see another store-I still have food and medical to cover, and I have to find something for Ichiro too that you are not to tell Ayame about."
"What, a magic chair to carry him and you around? Iron carts like those two my Kagome had?" he sniped. Kagome froze, and said nothing.
"We don't discuss...bikes," she said, and glared.
"What? I just-"
"Osuwari." Thud
"Gah!" He went to get up and yell...but froze at her next words.
"Don't pretend you don't know why I said it-you deliberately broke them. Because you feel they aren't safe and only encourage me wandering off and getting into trouble away from your watchful eye. You tried to fix one because you realized how mad I was and knew that it was a gift, and I know because you admitted it. I won't tell her-but I should! Now let's go, Inuyasha."
"Uh...It's true, you know. All you do is get in trouble with 'em," he looked very nervous, but Inuyasha got up carefully. "So, what's so important you need to find for him?"
"Isn't, but that's alright. I need to find Ichiro a...distance weapon. He can't fire a bow, and he's no warrior. Ayame won't take the idea well, so she doesn't need to know about it until we get there."
"Why is that, anyway? Why can't he fight?" he asked as they resumed walking.
"Eh...long story. I'm thinking of a few possibles." She settled on one after three stores, five phone calls, and cashing in two old favors.
"That ain't much of a weapon," he grumbled.
"You'd be surprised."
Across the well...a new problem had surfaced in the form of a haggard, injured man. He'd arrived at the village to discover it was full of youkai-most of whom matched the descriptions given him. Enough of them, anyways. He'd been shown to Kaede's, and explained his mission to them all. His village was two days away, and they needed help.
"Please, a terrible youkai is attacking our village! You must come help us. People have been killed, it's terrible. I beg you, you are reputed to be great hunters."
"Help?" Akiyoshi asked, frowning. Both he and Ichiro looked at Inuyasha, feeling slightly confused. Help random humans? This was way out of their familiar territory.
"Sure. We can help. You three'll stay here with Kagome and wait, someone has to be here to tell the others where we went," Inuyasha answered the man.
"Thank you! We need you to come at once."
"Father-we can come, surely?" Akiyoshi asked...in truth feeling a bit jealous of Ichiro. His big brother who had been able to travel with them for days. Even if he hadn't planned it-he knew them, had gotten to talk to them all, even their young Father!
"Since when do I stay behind?" Kagome asked sharply.
"You ain't even trained, you'll be underfoot and it's probably unsafe. We don't know what kind of youkai it is, so I'm ordering you to stay behind, Kagome," Inuyasha answered simply, talking to her...like a small child he was quite fond of.
"How dare you? Osuwari!"
"GAH! You little-"
"Osuwari osuwari osuwari osuwari. Serves you right!" Kagome snapped, and heard two small gasps as the hanyou was smacked repeatedly into the floor.
A glance-and both Akiyoshi and Ichiro stared at her in shock. FIVE? For that?? Mother hit him with one at the most! Seeing their expressions...she looked a bit sheepish as Inuyasha stayed down, knowing that was the best way to avoid more of them. His expression could've curdled milk though.
He was having a little chat later with his darling miko!
"So. Do you two want to come? You can, you know-I'm going, and I'm sure you would be a big help after you dealt with those snakes, Akiyoshi," Kagome said. The black haired hanyou positively beamed at the praise.
"Thank you!" he answered, nodding.
"That means me too," Ichiro grinned.
"Sure it does. We should pack," Akiyoshi noted, as Rinao frowned in disapproval.
"I shall remain here. Such matters are beneath me," she commented quietly. Inuyasha did look up at that-and there was a small snort from one of her cousins. But he contented himself with a nod. She didn't quite feel that way, but she would likely have to make a full accounting to her doting Papa and that harridan he'd chosen when she got back.
Inuyasha never thought much of that stuck up wench Aiko-and the feeling was mutual. Jumped up bitch who was just important as the Clan Lord's mate, that was all she was. Mad about position, that one. Didn't see what Sesshomaru saw in her that made her worthy of him. Similar to his half sibling's feelings about his own bride, actually. Similar-but Sesshomaru had long considered that Kagome was quite mad in some way to select a mere hanyou as husband.
She'd had better offers.
"Great. Well, let's go," Ichiro asked pleasantly. The farmer who'd come for help was made to stay in the village, having to only give directions. Kaede was worried his injuries might grow worse if he traveled with them.
About an hour later, Sango and Miroku rode Kirara out as a now firerat clad Inuyasha carried Kagome. Akiyoshi just took his brother up in the same way-and off they went, the two hanyou matching strides as they carried humans and packs on their backs. What made Kagome blink was the fact that a red pack was also bouncing alongside her. That, and Ichiro just slipping on a pair of sunglasses and settling in for the ride with the ease of long practice, just like she did in a way.
"Wow. You're fast, Akiyoshi!" Kagome told the hanyou running next to her.
"Thanks, m-Kagome."
"Favorite," a soft mutter in his ear that was inaudible to the miko.
"Yep." A nod-and Ichiro casually twisted the ear he spoke into. That was seen as Akiyoshi yelped.
"Stop that! I thought better of you, Ichiro!" Kagome gasped.
"Next they'll be asking 'are we there yet.' Rotten little brats," Inuyasha's scowled comment made them grin as they jumped a ravine and kept on. He'd heard it all.
"If you can't torment your little brother on trips-who can you torture, Dad?" Ichiro sighed. Kagome hid a small smile, remembering times she'd done the same to Souta. Her little brother would be thrilled to have a hanyou...nephew! The thought was less jarring after a couple of days.
"Hah ha," Akiyoshi shot back.
"Meh. You still ought to look over your assignments, Kagome. No reason not to keep going with lessons," Ichiro told her after a moment.
"True. I'll do it!" Kagome replied cheerfully. Inuyasha noted a shift in weight as she rummaged in her pack and pulled her math book free, soon mumbling formulas in his ear. He just sighed, not seeing the point. The woman hardly bothered balancing her own checkbook! His wife was going to kill him, taking their boys youkai hunting...but damned if it wasn't a thrill doing it again. Golden eyes went to Kirara, Sango and Miroku-even if the little shit kitsune was up there, it was wonderful.
He felt like a kid again. An old warhorse freed from the pasture. A smile, and he picked up speed, noting the girl hung on like a limpet as he did. He listened to her mutter to herself, and sighed.
"For kami's sake, carry the dammed three, Kagome! It ain't hard, it's just algebra," Inuyasha scowled...and she nearly dropped the math book.
Author's notes- Ok! Welcome to the first all new chapter of Balance Restored! I decided I actually didn't like the way the rest was of this one, and it is being rewritten as we speak. I think you'll enjoy the ride. Fun fact. The Giants are the oldest professional baseball team in Japan. They formed in 1936.
That said, I have exciting news! I am proud to announce that my story "The Sweetwater Trail" has been nominated for a IYFG Award for Best AU! It's my first IYFG nomination, and I'm thrilled. If you are an IYFG member and like the story, please feel free to second it when the time comes. Also, my story "Honor's Loss" won second place at the FA for Best Drama! Thanks to everyone who voted for it and for Sweetwater tying for fourth in their Best AU category! Thanks very, very much, and thanks for reading!-Namiyo