Disclaimer: I own nothing.
*sigh* Here I am... at 4:30 in the morning... munching on an onigiri... not even sleepy. Geez.
Anyways, I apologize for the lateness. So happy belated Christmas and hope you guys have an awesome new year!
Kagome stalked towards her classroom, Yoru trailing after her, smirking slightly. Ooh, that Ikuto! she irately thought. If he makes one more perverted comment, I'll shove a log up his ass!
Ikuto had better watch out, then.
Snickers could be heard from the chara behind her. Her annoyance seemed to amuse Yoru greatly.
Whipping her head around to face Yoru, Kagome inquired, "What's so funny?"
Yoru shook his head vigorously, waving his paws in a defensive manner. He stuttered out the evasive, oh-so-clever response of, "Nothing," and flew ahead of her, a smirk still on his cat-like face.
Letting out a huff, Kagome went up to the chara and pulled on his tail. As he let out a yelp, the miko dragged the two of them behind a tree for some privacy.
"Okay, what the hell is your problem?" she hissed, inwardly cursing herself for her temper. "Is there something wrong with me or do you just hate me for no reason?"
Usually, Kagome was a kind spirit, very nurturing to others. Unfortunately, she had a very short temper that often led to arguments and at least one of the people involved storming off. She silently prayed that this argument wouldn't end as badly as the others. Although, Kagome doubted the way she had started off would help…
As she had expected, Yoru's face contorted into a somewhat affronted expression. "Kind of mean, don'tcha think, nya?"
"You're one to talk," Kagome snapped. Damn it. She made a mental note to look up some places for anger management.
The chara let out a small sign, its lower lip jutting into an adorable pout. "I'm sorry," he muttered, fiddling with his tail. "It's just that… when I saw Ikuto getting so attached to you, I was afraid he was going to forget me."
Even through his apology, Kagome couldn't help but think how cute he looked with that expression. Her eyes softening slightly, a small smile made its way up to her face.
"I understand where you're coming from. I used to act the same way once, myself," she confessed. She restated several of her thoughts when she believed that she was going to lose InuYasha to Kikyo. Of course, this merely brought tears to her eyes.
"O-oi! Why are you crying?!" Yoru cried, flailing his limbs around frantically.
Hurriedly wiping away her tears, Kagome gave Yoru a watery smile. "Nothing. They just died six months ago, is all. I miss them a lot, but I'm okay. They told me to be happy, so I won't be Miss Gloom-and-Doom anymore."
Miss Gloom-and-Doom? Even in her miserable state, the miko wondered how she came up with such an idiotic name.
"So," Yoru began, tentatively wringing his paws together, "Are you still mad at me?"
The sapphire-eyed girl winced slightly, mentally kicking herself. She hadn't wanted to come across as mad!
"Of course not," she said, her full lips drawing in a reassuring smile.
The chara gave her a shy grin before it morphed into a perverse smirk. "So… do you like Ikuto, nya?"
Kagome's jaw dropped. The nerve of that cat to ask her that! Of course, she was willing to bet he already knew the answer to his question, but still! To ask such a personal question of such a nature was embarrassing to her!
Flushing, Kagome replied, "Of course not! We're just friends!"
"Uh huh, that's what they all say," was his reply before he flew off, cackling.
Ooh, they're way too alike! Kagome fumed, stomping her foot in a childish action. Chasing after him, she gritted her teeth, swearing to kick Yoru's ass. Forget about anger management class. I'll find one later.
Staring, staring, and more staring. That was all Kagome had received from Amu that day. As they sat together in a deserted classroom, golden eyes continued to relentlessly stare at her.
Really, did the girl blink?
A fine eyebrow twitching, Kagome ground out, "Amu, is something wrong with me today? Why have you been staring at me?"
"Eh? Oh! Sorry, Kagome-chan!" The golden-eyed girl seemed genuinely surprised that she had been found out. "I was just wondering why you were with Yoru."
The miko merely gave her a blank stare. With no desire to tell Amu why Yoru was with her, she decided to play dumb. "Who?"
"The chara behind you?"
She turned around and saw Yoru waving to Amu's small blue chara, a dream-like stare on both of their faces. Kagome smirked. Perhaps love was in the air. Unfortunately, Amu seemed to have noticed the smirk, so she couldn't continue her small façade.
"Oh, him," the miko began, stalling slightly to search for a suitable lie. "He, uh, wanted to see your chara! That blue one!"
"Eh?" Yoru looked startled, a faint blush donning his cheeks. "I was only here because Ikuto wanted me to stay with you!"
As she took in Amu's surprised face, Kagome mentally kicked herself. Dammit, Yoru! That wasn't supposed to happen!
Sensing he had done something wrong, the cat-like chara sent her an apologetic grimace. "Sorry," he mouthed.
A fine raven eyebrow twitched slightly with annoyance as a pair of cobalt eyes glared murderously at Yoru. The miko really didn't want to explain her relationship with Ikuto, nor did she want to tell Amu anything about her mission.
Amu's eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Ikuto. Putting her hands on her hips, she demanded an explanation. "Kagome-chan, what's your relation with Ikuto? I'm tired of being left in the dark."
"Well, you can't be left in the dark when none of your friends are in the light, now can you?"
"What?"
"Yeah, that didn't really make sense to me, either…" Kagome sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. "Look, Amu, I'd tell you if I could, but I can't. This business is strictly between me and my family."
Her friend still didn't seem satisfied. "You're not working with Easter, are you? You're not taking the Embryo for your own selfish needs, are you?" she pressed.
The miko wanted to give Amu a dry laugh and slap her. Selfish needs, her ass! A Guardian was one to talk! At least Kagome's purpose for the Embryo was more than self-beneficial. Although Ikuto's wish was for his own benefit, it was crucial for his sister and him to live happily.
"No, I'm not working with Easter," Kagome said, tiredly, "and no, I don't need the Embryo for selfish needs. What I need the damn egg for is to help the entire world, both Ningenkai and Makai alike."
"And what's so important about this wish?" Amu demanded, her cherry eyebrows furrowing together.
Doubting the younger girl knew anything about Ningenkai or Makai, Kagome sighed exasperatedly. All she wanted was to have a quiet day with Yoru not attracting attention from the Guardians. But, of course, the life of Higurashi Kagome was never peaceful anymore.
Glowering at Amu, Kagome stiffly replied, "Look, it's important, alright? It has nothing to do with you, so leave it the hell alone." When Amu's face contorted into a hurt expression, Kagome sighed heavily. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? But you shouldn't be prying into things that don't involve you."
"If the Embryo is involved, I, too, am involved," Amu protested. "Please, Kagome-chan, I'm worried about the Embryo and about you."
Pinching the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger once more, Kagome replied, "There's nothing you need to be worried about."
"Just tell me, and I'll stop annoying you!"
She wasn't going to give up, was she? Ugh, I so don't need this right now. "Promise not to tell anyone, Amu," Kagome relented. "Guard this secret with your life. I'm not being over-protective, I'm serious."
Amu nodded her expression earnest and sincere.
"You know I'm a miko, and you know I need the Embryo." Kagome took out the Shikon from underneath her shirt. "I plan on using the Embryo to wish away this cursed jewel."
"What—what is that?" Amu breathed her golden eyes wide with awe.
The miko's expression darkened considerably to a point where she was glaring at the trinket. "The Shikon no Tama is a cursed jewel. In the right hands, it could bring great peace and happiness. In the wrong hands, it will cause discord and bloodshed. So unless you want to die to an evil warlord, leave the Embryo to me."
"You talk about it like you know the consequences."
Letting out a dark bark of laughter, Kagome spat, "This marble is the reason why my friends died." She smiled appreciatively at Amu's sympathetic look. Tears formed in her cerulean eyes. How could an object of supposed purity cause such bloodshed and heartbreak?
Amu hung her head as though she was ashamed. "Gomen nasai, Kagome-chan. I shouldn't have forced you."
Damn right she shouldn't have. But nothing could be done about it now. Almost everything had been thrown out in the open in that vague answer, and Kagome had no intention of specifying.
Cupid-bow lips drew into a slight frown. "You're right. It was wrong of you"—her expression softened—"but it's understandable. My behavior today was inexcusable, as well. Just promise me that you will tell no one and not bring it up again. Don't get involved with my work; you could get killed."
Sighing, Amu got up from her seat and gathered her supplies. "I have to go now. I have a Guardian meeting today," she stated, a regretful look in her bullion orbs.
Yes! She was leaving! "Hai," Kagome said nonchalantly. Her appearance didn't reflect a single on of her thoughts. "Go ahead, Amu. I'll see you later."
Amu nodded and exited the classroom, her charas faithfully trailing after her.
As soon as Amu was out of sight, Kagome sank into her chair and signed in relief. She was grateful she didn't any more questions from Amu and her charas. They seemed satisfied with her vague answer.
"That was a close one, nya!" Yoru commented from beside her.
Kagome glowered at the chara. "You didn't really help." After all of the events of the day, she could only hope this was the last one of the sort.
Unfortunately, Kagome's life was far from calm.
What a boring day, Ikuto concluded, sauntering through the halls of Easter. The entire day included nothing of pointless meetings and endless plots to retrieve the Embryo. He would've taken a nap, but he had already gotten enough sleep with Kagome. That bed worked wonders on the aches of his back!
He had been sent on another pointless mission to draw out X eggs, and Ikuto was heading back to headquarters to report the news. All his stepfather was going to hear were lies. They didn't know Yoru wasn't with him, so he wasn't able to retrieve X eggs.
Reaching Kazuomi Hoshina's office, Ikuto opened the door and entered without so much of a care of who was inside. "Nothing with the Embryo," he drawled lazily.
"Alright. Your business is done. You may go," Kazuomi replied, a scowl on his face.
"I wasn't going to ask your permission," Ikuto snapped. His face contorted into an expression of annoyance. The cat was about to give his employer (or slave master as he preferred to call him) a witty response when he was interrupted by a door sliding open.
"Gozen, you've got some complaints from someone in the lower divison," a feminine voice called. Light footsteps followed the voice. "Said something about you bitching at them too often."
The woman sounded and looked extremely familiar. After staring at her for a moment, trying to figure where he had seen her before, cobalt eyes widened in realization.
Rin Taisho!
Sorry if this sucked. I know the ending was pretty rushed.
Reviews are greatly appreciated!