punkish furball—Yay! Chapter 8!
Words to Ponder:
Thank you for reviewing.
InuYasha characters will be joining in soon. Pairings are still a little unclear though. Nothing else at the moment.
Thank you, Chibes, DeathNoteMaker, Ox King, iluvchocs, Kagome Lady of Darkenss, naru-chan13, Hoku ala, Bloody Serpent 2, ancient-relic, Jhetzel, Evil RULZ, Anime Punk Kitty, Death By Squishy, cowgirlkitten2000, xXKillorbeKilledXx, KuroxTenshi, LadyAkina, IceDarkness, regretfully-yours-Cassy-chan, vampiric instincts, Shiori Abarai-Sohma, Shin Wal-New Moon-, shadow miko, Bloodcherry, StarlitBaby, kunoichiKagi, kitsunegirl48, Mistress Kira- Fires of Hell, Sevvy101, Dark Inu Fan and LadySakuraFores for reviewing.
Chapter 7
Kagome took the phone and placed it to her ear.
'Motoko seems a bit pissed off at something,' Kagome thought before saying hello to her mother.
"Kagome, how is everything?" her mother asked, "Are you and Motoko getting along well? She seemed upset for some reason."
"Just as well as ever," Kagome said grimly.
"Well, how is everything at school?"
"School is great. I've already met a lot of new friends and the classes are alright. I'm still having some trouble with math though."
"Maybe one of you new friends can help you?"
"I guess you're right. But, Mom is there any particular reason why you called?"
"No reason really. I just wanted to see how school was going."
Kagome didn't really believe her.
'Something's up. Mom wouldn't just call for anything,' she thought, 'Is InuYasha there?'
"Are you sure? Is there something up at the shrine? Or with the dry well? I can come home as soon as I can."
"Nothing is wrong at all. I just wanted to check on you. And I wanted to make sure that you remembered to pay a certain someone a visit."
"Don't worry about that. I planed to see him tomorrow and I have everything ready. I'll tell him hi for you," Kagome said and sighed. She wasn't getting anything out of her Mom at the moment, "Call if you need anything. I love you, Mom. Tell Souta and Grandpa the same."
"I'll be sure to tell them. I love you too, sweetheart." Kagome hung up the phone after her mother. She turned to see Motoko still standing behind her.
"Oh, is there something you want?" Kagome asked.
"Where were you?" Motoko asked, "You were gone for a while."
"I was just at a friend's house," Kagome said.
"Which friend?" Motoko asked sounding a bit upset at her answer. Kagome frowned.
'What is it to her who I was with?' Kagome asked, 'Okay, so maybe I didn't tell anyone I'd be gone and they don't know who I was with, but why is she so mad?'
"Honda Tohru," Kagome said in an irritated tone, "like I said just a friend. Why do you care so much?"
Motoko froze a bit, obviously thinking of an excuse, "Well, I've been hearing some things about you at school. You've been hanging around those two Sohmas in your class a lot; rumor is you've been messing around with Sohma Hatsuharu. You're also seen with that Yankee and the psychic a lot. I just want to make sure you're hanging out with the right sort of people." After her explanation, Motoko crossed her arms over her chest and gave Kagome a hard stare, "Being with that sort of people doesn't reflect well on you and your actions also affect me."
Kagome could barely keep her mouth from dropping. She blinked once…twice…three times…
'…so she really did say that to me!' she thought angrily.
"You have no right to tell who I can hang out with or when I can hang out with them," Kagome said in a hard even tone, "Uo, Hana, Tohru, and all the Sohmas are really nice people. I don't care what the other kids at school say about me and you shouldn't either." With that Kagome walked off and went back downstairs and out the door.
'Seems like all I do is just walk out of this place,' Kagome thought, 'Still, I don't think I shouldn't have went off on her like that. She was just tying to help me. I'll apologize to her…much…much later.'
"Kagome!" Kagome turned to see her name being called by someone. She noticed Shigure walking behind her in a navy blue kimono instead of his usual tan colored one.
"Shi-kun!" Kagome said and ran up to him. Once she reached him, she threw her arms around him.
"Well, what did I do to get such a meeting?" Shigure said and put his arms on her waist, "You seem a little tense. Is everything alright?"
"I was just a little upset earlier," Kagome said into Shigure's chest, "My cousin doesn't like me coming to your house so much." Kagome pulled herself from Shigure until she was arms length away.
"If you have to, it's alright if you limit your visits," Shigure said.
"No! Absolutely not!" Kagome exclaimed, "I love coming to your house to see you and all the others. I wouldn't give that up for anything." Kagome lowered her head a little as a rosy blush spread across her cheeks. "It's really…the only place…I feel like home here." Kagome felt Shigure's fingers lift up her chin.
"It's nothing to embarrassed about," Shigure said, "If you feel at home with us then, by all means, come by as much as you like. I enjoy your company as does Tohru and everyone else."
"Well," Kagome started, "to change the subject, what are you doing out? I just left the house a little while ago."
"With Aya around, I forgot I had some errands to run," Shigure said, "but why don't we get some ice cream instead?"
"Oh, I can't keep you from your—" Kagome started but Shigure cut her off.
"It's nothing really," Shigure said and grabbed Kagome's hand and began to walk, "I just have to have a meeting with my editor, but it can wait."
"In that case, let's go," Kagome said and followed the dog zodiac.
-O0o0O-
Mii, Shigure's editor, suddenly let out a large sneeze.
'That was weird,' she thought, 'I'm not sick. Is someone talking about me? …Oh, no…'
"SHIGURE!!!!" she cried out and burst into tears.
'I bet he's not coming,' Mii thought, 'Why doesn't he just kill me now?'
-O0o0O-
"I wonder where Shigure went," Tohru said to Yuki as she and he watched dishes together.
"Bets me," Yuki said and dried a plate with a towel.
"Are you okay, Yuki?" Tohru asked and put the dish she was washing back into the water.
"I'm fine," Yuki said and sighed, "I don't know. I just feel a little tired is all."
"You go up to your room," Tohru said, "I'll finish up here."
"I couldn't leave you with all this to do," Yuki said, but Tohru wouldn't hear of it.
"You go up and rest," Tohru said, "Ya know, they're going to start nominating students for class president. A lot of people think you should run this year."
"I don't know," Yuki said, "but I'll consider it." Yuki bid Tohru goodnight and went upstairs. He flopped onto his bed as soon as he was in his room. His nose breathed in the scent clinging to his pillow. It was very pleasing and fragrant.
'It must be from Kagome's hair,' Yuki thought. Yuki was soon lulled to sleep by the scent of Kagome.
-O0o0O-
'Dammit,' Kyo thought and put down the his weights he was lifting and slapped his hand to his forehead.
'What the hell is wrong with me?' Kyo thought and laid down on his bed, 'It's still early, but I'll just go to bed. I don't feel so hot.' Kyo closed his eyes thinking about the walk he had earlier today with Kagome by his side and her small hand in his.
-O0o0O-
"This is fun," Kagome said as she sat on the bench licking her strawberry ice cream cone, "Thank you so much, Shigure."
"You're most welcome," Shigure said finishing off his vanilla ice cream, "Ya know, I was thinking about what you said earlier. About feeling at home with us. There is another room in our house on the first floor; I use it as an office sometimes. It's a little small, but I'm sure with a little work it could make a fine bedroom."
"Bedroom?" Kagome said in a confused manner and then shook her head, "Oh, no. I couldn't impose on you like that. Besides, I don't think my mom and my aunt will go for it. No matter what I feel."
Shigure sighed, "If that's what you want; the offer still stands. It'll be golden week soon; a good time to move in while you're out of school." Shigure leaned forward to Kagome and took a lick for her ice cream.
"Hey!" Kagome said, "That's mine."
Shigure just smiled, "Well, you did reject my offer to come live with me. I had to make up for that somehow."
Kagome sighed, "Shigure, what am I going to do with you?"
"I'm sure you could think of some ideas…if you moved in with me," Shigure said and pouted in Kagome's direction.
"Quit it!" Kagome said, "You're making a scene; people are staring."
"Maybe because they think we're such a good couple," Shigure said.
"Maybe it's because you look like a filthy old pedophile hitting on an innocent teenage girl," Kagome said causing Shigure to pout again. Kagome stood up, "I better get back to my aunt's house. I'll see you later, Shi-kun!" Kagome began to walk and waved at Shigure as she walked away. Shigure waved back until he couldn't see her anymore. When she was out of sight, Shigure stood up and walked back home.
'I hope that Kagome made the right decision,' Shigure thought, 'It's not too late for her to change her mind. Just imagine…two lovely high school girls in my house. Yay!'
-O0o0O-
Kagome walked into the vegetable store intent on getting past her Aunt Naomi and Motoko, but was unsuccessful.
"Kagome," her aunt said as soon as she saw her.
"Yes, Aunt Naomi?" Kagome said.
"I understand that you have been staying at a friend's house quite a lot during your stay here," Naomi said.
"I know," Kagome said, "I'm sorry if I caused any problems. I know I haven't been calling you every time I stayed there."
"It's fine with me," Naomi said, "You seem to like going there a lot. And if it makes you happy, that's all that's important." Her aunt turned and went up the stairs. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Kagome."
"Night, Auntie," Kagome said and went up after her. Once she reached her room and lay on her bed, she began to think.
'Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea if went to live at Shigure's,' she thought and then shook her head, 'How am I kidding? Shigure may be alright with in now, but what about later? And what would Tohru, Kyo, and Yuki say about it? It's better for everyone if I just stay here.' With that Kagome feel asleep.
-O0o0O-
Kagome woke up the next morning intent on visiting a special someone, the one her mom talked about. She got dressed in a black tank top and black pleated skirt from her duffle bag; he always hated dressing up. She picked a small stereo out of the duffle bag too with the C.D. already in it and put it in a smaller bag with some spring rolls she had made for her visit, a photo album, some sticks of incense, a lighter, and a burner. Placing it on her arm, she went downstairs and out of the store. She walked around paying careful attention to street signs; it had been a long time since she visited him and she did not want to get lost. A smile stretched on her face when she reached her destination. Kagome walked up to a small, simple but charming temple. She walked passed it and up the stone steps and walked down the various rows until she stepped in front of the one she was looking for.
"Hey, dad," Kagome said and sat in front of the grave and placed her bag down, "I see that they'll been doing a good job taking care of you. Sorry I haven't been here to clean up myself. I brought your favorite." Kagome reached into the bag and pulled out the spring rolls and placed them in front of the grave. "They're not fresh; I made them a few days ago, but they're still good. I got your favorite C.D. too and that sandalwood incense you like so much. Mom, Grandpa, and Souta are well; I have some pictures to look at." Kagome pulled out the burner, incense, and lighter. Once the incense was lit, the smell of sandalwood flooded the area. She pulled out the stereo and pressed play. The soft tones mingled with the scent of sandalwood. Kagome closed her eyes and smiled.
"Kagome!" someone shouted causing her eyes to open. She looked up and Tohru running towards her.
"I knew I heard music up here," Tohru said once she reached Kagome.
"Tohru, I didn't expect to see you here," Kagome said, "Visiting someone?"
"Yep," Tohru said and then her hands went to her mouth in sudden realization, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude on your visit."
"Not at all," Kagome said, "This is my dad's grave; he used to live here so we had him buried here. Dad, this is one of my friends, Honda Tohru. Tohru, this is my dad, Higurashi Shuusuke."
"Pleased to meet you, Higurashi-san," Tohru said and bowed deeply.
"You don't have to call him that," Kagome said, "He never liked being called by his surname. Just call him Shuusuke."
"Well then, pleased to meet you, Shuusuke-san," Tohru said and sat down, "So what is this music playing?"
"It's an American artist, Sade. My dad loves her music. This song, By Your Side, was played when he married my mom," Kagome's face took a wistful expression, "When I was younger, dad would let me listen to the music with him until I fell asleep while the sandalwood incense was burning."
"That sounds very special," Tohru said.
"It was," Kagome said, "This way it still is."
"Would you mind me asking how your dad died?" Tohru asked hesitantly.
"It was a car crash," Kagome said, "It was raining really badly when it happened and dad was rushing. It was while my mom was pregnant with my little brother, Souta, and he was coming home after work to check on us. When he died, she couldn't support us and we had to move in with my grandpa on my dad's side."
"What about her parents? Why didn't you go stay with them?"
"Well, they weren't on good terms…still aren't actually. You see, my mom's parents didn't really like my dad and disowned her when she married him."
"Why is that?"
"My dad was in a gang around here and they didn't approve."
"A gang?"
"Yeah," Kagome pulled out the album and turned to one of the first pages. "See this is him and his gang."
"Who's that?" Tohru asked and pointed to a woman in the picture.
"That was one of my dad's best friends," Kagome said, "She knew my mom too. I even think she helped my dad propose to my mom. I can't remember her real name, but my dad told me her street name is 'Red Butterfly'."
"That's my mom!" Tohru exclaimed.
"Really?"
"Yep. That was her street name. She told me a story once about someone who used to be in her gang and how she helped him propose to his girlfriend. He was called 'The Silver Streak'."
"That was my dad. He was called that because all you could see when he rode his bike was the blur of his silver helmet when he sped by."
"This is so amazing. Uo will love to hear about this." Tohru sat up and shrieked.
"What's wrong?" Kagome asked.
"I left Uo, Hana, Yuki, and Kyo," Tohru said, "We were supposed to visit my mom since it's the one year anniversary of her death today."
"And you ditched us," someone said behind them. Tohru and Kagome both jumped and saw Uo, Hana, Yuki, and Kyo behind them.
"Relax," Kyo said and crossed his arms, "It's just us."
"Kagome, it's nice to see you," Yuki said, "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my dad," Kagome said, "Dad, this is Uotani Arisa, Hanajima Saki, Sohma Kyo, and Sohma Yuki. This is my dad, Higurashi Shuusuke."
"Her dad was in my mom's gang," Tohru said, "He's the 'Silver Streak'."
"Wow, your dad's a legend! One of the best in Kyoko's gang," Uo said.
"Kyoko always spoke highly of him," Hana said.
"So Tohru's mother knew your father?" Yuki asked Kagome. She nodded and held up the photo album.
"See here they are together," Kagome said and pointed to the picture she and Tohru were looking at.
"That's the Red Butterfly alright," Uo said.
"There's some wedding pictures in here too," Kagome said and turned the page. In the picture was her mother, Kun-loon, in a white wedding gown and her dad beside her in his riding jacket with his signature silver helmet. Kyoko was beside them with her arm around Kun-loon's neck.
Kyo began to sway a bit and covered his nose, "What's with this stink?"
"It's sandalwood incense," Kagome said, "My dad loves to burn it when he listens to his Sade C.D."
'His nose must be sensitive to it,' Kagome thought.
"What's the name of this song?" Tohru asked.
"This is The Sweetest Taboo," Kagome said, "One of my dad's favorites. We'd always dance to this one."
Tohru smiled and stood up. She held her hand out to Kagome.
"Kagome, do you think I can have this dance?" Tohru asked and giggled, "I don't think Shuusuke-san would mind."
Kagome took Tohru's hand and smiled just as widely as she was.
"Sure," Kagome said and laughing loudly as she and Tohru began to dance in circles.
"They make quite the pair," Uo said.
"Yes," Hana said, "Their electric signals are quite compatible."
Yuki looked on at the two girls with a smile of his own.
'The two of them have been through so much and yet they have the strength to smile,' he thought, 'And looking at them, I can't help smiling back.'
The song changed to another one, Smooth Operator. Tohru and Kagome stopped spinning.
"Come on," Kagome said in the direction of the others, "Dance with us."
"Why not?" Uo said, "It's a party!" Yuki and Kyo sweat dropped when they saw the group of girls—excluding Hana who just watched them with a smile under her black veil—dance to the beat of the music in front of the grave with wisps of smoke from the incense.
'This is not normal,' Kyo and Yuki both thought.
"That was fun," Kagome said once the C.D. stopped. She bent down and packed the stereo in her bag.
"Kagome?" Tohru asked.
"Yeah?" Kagome said after she snuffed out the incense and put the burner in her bag.
"Would you like to meet my mother?" Tohru asked.
"I would love to," Kagome said and put her bag on her arm.
"Great," Uo said, "All that dancing made me hungry. We brought a picnic."
"Who brings a picnic to a grave?" Kyo shouted once he recovered from the smell of the incense. The girls ignored him and began to walk to Kyoko's grave. Yuki just shook his head at the cat and followed the girls.
"Oi! Wait for me!" Kyo shouted and ran after them.
"Mom, these are my new friends Sohma Yuki and Kyo and Higurashi Kagome," Tohru said once they were all at the grave.
"Pleased to meet you," Kagome said and bowed, "My dad told me a lot of good things about you, Kyoko."
"Not that that's over, let's eat," Uo said.
-O0o0O-
"Later," Kagome said once all the food was gone and they had cleaned up the picnic.
"You're walking home alone?" Tohru asked.
"Yeah," Kagome said, "I walk around here a lot. I pretty much know my way around now."
"Still, it's not safe," Tohru said, "Someone has to go with you."
Before Kagome could protest, Kyo spoke up.
"I'll walk her," Kyo said.
"Just wait a—" Kagome said but Kyo took her hand and the bag from her grip.
"So which way to your house?" Kyo asked.
Kagome gave up and pointed in the direction, "That way."
"That was nice of Kyo to offer to walk Kagome home," Tohru said.
"How strange," Hana said.
"That was unlike him," Uo said.
"Yeah," Yuki said in a forced voice, "Very nice." He after all was planning to offer his assistance to Kagome.
"I guess he really likes her," Tohru said; she turned to Yuki, "You want to head home now."
"Sure," Yuki said and the duo began walking.
-O0o0O-
"It's right here," Kagome said and pointed to the vegetable store.
"You live there?" Kyo asked, "Isn't it a little small?"
"It's alright," Kagome said, "It's not like I have anywhere else to go." Then Shigure's offer echoed back in her head.
"Kyo," Kagome said and stopped in front of him, "Can I ask you something?"
Kyo tilted his head to the side a bit indicating he was listening.
"If someone that you are pretty good friends with asked you to come live with him, but there are other people in the house with him and you don't know how they feel about it, would you still move in?" Kagome asked.
"What the hell kind of question is that?!" Kyo shouted.
'Just who the hell is this punk who asked her to move in with him?!' he thought, 'I'll kill 'im!'
"I met up with Shigure yesterday," Kagome said, "He asked me if I would move in. How…how would you feel if I did?"
Kyo hesitated before saying, "Well, how will you feel about it?"
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"Would it make you happy?" Kyo asked staring intently in Kagome's eyes.
"I don't know," Kagome said and looked down at her feet, "I guess; I really love staying over and when I'm there I feel so much at home there. But I couldn't just move in. Shigure said he was okay with it. But what about Tohru and Yuki and you? I couldn't just invade your home like that. Not to mention my own family. What kind of person would I be if I left them?"
"You done?" he asked and Kagome nodded when she finished.
"First off, if it makes you happy who cares what all those other people think even if they are your family," Kyo said, "And of course Tohru and that idiot Shigure will like you staying with us and who cares what the hell that stupid rat thinks?! He can rot in hell! And lastly," Kyo paused a moment and tentatively place his hand on one of Kagome's cheeks so she would look directly at him, "If you came to live with us, it would make me happy." Kagome's eyes widened a fraction at the confession and the little splash of pink on Kyo's cheeks.
Before Kyo knew it, Kagome had pressed her self against him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Thank you," Kagome said into his neck, "I'll tell my mom and my Aunt Naomi about the idea and then I'll ask Yuki and Tohru what they all think about it and if they all go for it, you're looking at your new roomie."
"Great," Kyo said in a slightly dazed voice and looped his arms loosely around Kagome's waist. Perhaps too loosely for Kagome pulled out of the embrace seconds later.
"Thanks for walking me here," Kagome said and walked to the door, "Night, Kyo."
"Night," Kyo said and turned around, looking over his shoulder to see if she got in safely. Once she closed the door behind her, he began to walk reveling in the warmth that still lingered around him.
-O0o0O-
punkish furball—There you go! A little sweet for my tastes but I felt it had to be done. InuYasha characters are coming in soon. L83R, DUD32!
(edited 9/4/07)