punkish furball—I'm happy to say that school is out and I have a lot of down time until June.
Words to Ponder:
InuYasha will be in the next chapter in person! I keep putting it off and it will happen in the next chapter! I don't care if the next chapter is 87 pages (this one is 15 and was cut down some) so help me he will be in it!
Final pairings! I know what they will be! : P Y'all are in for a twist! (Note: This chapter may or may not hint towards the final pairing. ; D)
Thank you Runabisenu, Ichigo Mirai (2x), Ayjah, Sugar Sprite, Mya Uzo, Saphire1204, Mistress Kira- Fires of Hell, Demonic Cho, Syn'ri, Iriomote Yamaneko Nokomis, xXxLuna-the-ChosenxXx, xXxKillorbeKilledxXx, IcedLilith, Shin Wal-New Moon-, Blue Fairy Girl, Demonic kunoichiKagi, ancient-relic, Lovelywitch, Bloody Serpent 2, DeathNoteMaker, Natsumi Tshchi-Ookami, IhaveIdeas..ANIME!!, Falling Right Side-Up (2x), regretfully-your-Cassy-chan, shadow miko, Dark Inu Fan, sharingon-sasu-kun, iheartanime43, CatgirlKitsune, hermonine, black rose15839, XtremelyRandomNinja, Sevvy101, Starlight - Wild Koneko, crimson-rose-blossoms, ShadowSilverMixVixen, and hieikag for reviewing!
Chapter 10
After eating dinner with the others, Kagome was sleeping peacefully on her new bed when she felt something tickle her face. It was warm and soft like fur.
"Kagome, wake up!" was whispered into her ear. Kagome knew that voice.
"Momiji?" Kagome said and opened her eyes. Next to her head was a red eyed rabbit with blonde colored fur.
"Yeah, it's me," the rabbit answered, "Tohru asked someone to come get you because you stayed in your room so long after dinner. I ran to come get you and I guess I bumped into Tohru and transformed." Momiji reached up his paw and scratched behind one of his floppy ears. Kagome smiled and pulled the rabbit to her chest.
"You're so adorable, Momiji!" Kagome squealed and patted the bunny's little head and scratched behind his ears.
"Knock knock," Haru said as he walked into Kagome's room with Momiji's clothes on his arm. As he walked in, he noticed that Kagome's hair was slightly askew and her school uniform skirt had risen up her thigh.
'Since she's going to be living here now,' Haru thought, 'maybe I should invite myself over more often.'
"I came to make sure that Momiji had these when he transforms back," Haru said.
Kagome sighed, "Does he have to change back?" Kagome held Momiji up to Haru's level, "He's so cuddly this way!"
"Do you intend on holding onto him for the rest of the night?" Haru asked and Kagome groaned.
"I guess not," Kagome said and set the rabbit on the bed. She stood up and heard loud poof behind her.
"Just in time," Haru said and tossed the clothes onto the bed and led Kagome out of her room while the transformed zodiac member dressed himself.
"Sorry about not coming out after dinner," Kagome said, "I guess I had lain down for longer that I intended."
"No harm, no foul," Haru said, "We're just doing some homework upstairs. Tohru wanted to make sure that you're caught up for tomorrow especially since tomorrow's the last day before golden week."
"It is isn't it?" Kagome said, "Wow, it feels like everything just flew by. We have exams when we come back, don't we?" Haru nodded.
"You know," Haru began in a shakier voice than before, "Since we're going to be off for a week…and …well…I was…wondering…if—"
"Did you ask her yet, Haru?" Momiji asked as he walked out of Kagome's room while straightening his sleeves.
"Not quite," Haru said and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Oh, Haru, you're so dull. You can't even ask her," Momiji said sighing and putting his hands on his hips. He turned to Kagome.
"Haru has cinema tickets and he wants to ask you to go with him," Momiji said, "but I'm not sure how much he wants to seeing as he can't even ask you."
"Momiji…" Haru began but stopped when he felt Kagome nudge his shoulder slightly. He looked at her; her head was lowered and she was fiddling with her fingers. What Haru could see of Kagome's face was pink tinted. If he wasn't embarrassed himself, he would have found the image endearing.
"Umm…if that is true," Kagome said, "then I would like to go with you."
"Really?" Haru said and smiled down at the top of Kagome's head, "How about the day after tomorrow?"
Kagome lifted her head and smiled, "Sure."
Haru could hardly contain his mirth. He didn't mention it around Yuki, but this was the main reason he was angry at Kyo was for taken Kagome out today. He didn't have a chance to ask her at school today when he had his confidence on his side.
"Great!" he said, "Let's go upstairs. Tohru and the others are waiting."
"I'll meet you guys upstairs!" Momiji shouted and ran up the stairs ahead of the two teens.
"Kagome?" Haru said, "I did want to ask you that, but I also wanted to know tell you that…I like you very much and I want to know more about you. I was hoping that I would be able to get the chance."
"I like you too," Kagome said, but thought of Yuki and Kyo when she did. After everything that has happened between them, she was certain that they felt something for her just like she felt something for them.
'It's probably not a real date,' Kagome thought, 'He must want to hang out or something. Yuki and Kyo seem like they both have some sort of feelings for me but Haru, too? That's just too weird.'
"Thank you for telling me that," Haru said and grabbed Kagome's hand and lead her upstairs. They went upstairs and Haru opened the door to Yuki's room- where all the others were sitting: Tohru at Yuki's desk, Yuki and Momiji on the bed, and Kyo on the floor near the window. Yuki and Kyo weren't fighting but the air around them was still a little tense. They both seemed upset and weren't saying anything, but after what Kagome had seen, she was surprised they were in the same room and not fighting each other physically.
"I was beginning to think that the two of you got lost," Momiji said and smiled at the two.
"Did you enjoy your nap, Kagome?" Tohru asked, "Sorry we woke you."
"It's not trouble at all," Kagome said, assuming that Momiji had told the group that she had been napping, "I needed to get up anyway. I still haven't got up with my school work. Did I miss much?"
"Hmm," Momiji said, "We just have a quiz tomorrow on the stuff you missed in class today."
Kagome sighed as she sat down on the floor next to Haru.
"What is it on?" Kagome asked drily while silently praying it wasn't math or anything number related.
"History," Haru answered and sat down beside Kagome. He handed her his notebook which she took gratefully.
"Thank goodness it's not anything else," Kagome said.
"So you like history, Kagome?" Tohru asked.
"You can say that," Kagome said, "I guess that history just comes easy to me."
'It must come to you easier after you live through it,' Kagome thought.
"I guess?" Haru repeated in a sarcastic tone, "You're such a history buff you spend most of your time in class standing up and spouting facts and tidbits out of your head."
"I'm really that good?" Kagome said.
"Don't pretend like you're not," Momiji scolded playfully, "You even have a favorite time period."
"That's amazing!" Tohru exclaimed, "Do you think that maybe you can help me? I have so much trouble remembering that even Yuki can't help me."
"Seriously?" Kagome said, "Maybe it's the way you study."
While Kagome and Tohru talked about each other's study habits, Yuki and Kyo were continually getting agitated with the fact that Haru was smirking and looking very pleased with his self. He had been that way ever since he walked into the room. They also didn't miss how he walked into the room with Kagome's hand in his.
"I never thought to do anything like that before!" Tohru said.
Kagome nodded, "It really helps and makes everything so much clearer. Reading notes off a piece of paper never really made it stick in my head before. But timelines are so easy to understand especially if you use a lot of bright colors."
"I have some markers in my room," Tohru said and stood out of her chair.
"Great," Kagome said and stood up, "You guys don't mind if we go into Tohru's room for a while, right?"
"Not at all," Yuki said and the others nodded.
"I want to help too!" Momiji shouted and walked out to the room with Tohru and Kagome leaving Kyo, Yuki, and Haru alone.
"So what do you look so smug about?" Kyo asked Haru as soon as the group left the room.
"Smug?" Haru said, "Me? I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't be so coy, Haru," Yuki said, "You're not good at it."
"I guess there is no reason to keep it a secret," Haru said, "The truth is that Kagome and I are going on a date."
"A date?!" Kyo exclaimed.
"Yeah," Haru said and shrugged his shoulders, "What's the big deal? It's not like she has a boyfriend or anything."
"You know the problems she's going to have at school if everyone hears about this," Yuki said, "You're only going to complicate things for her."
"Oh really," Haru said, "I think that you're jealous. The cow finally gets something before the rat did, am I right?"
"It's nothing like that," Yuki said, "I'm just looking out for her."
"And why is that?" Haru argued with his voice growing louder, "I'm looking out for her too. Why do you think you need to protect me from her?"
"I never said that," Yuki said with agitation in his voice.
'I just want to protect her,' Yuki thought, 'because I care about her.'
"Hey, I'm against this too!" Kyo shouted, "Don't ignore me!"
"So what do you think?" Haru asked Kyo, "Regardless of whatever you have to say, Kagome is going out with me whether you like it or not."
"So what!" Kyo shouted and stood up quickly, "You idiot cow! You know I went out with her!"
Haru stood up as well so that Kyo wasn't standing over him.
"So that is what this is about?!" Haru shouted, "You want her for yourself, is that it?! Is that why you took her out today?!"
"Shut up!" Kyo said, "You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Shut up the both of you!" Yuki shouted, "Quit talking about her like she's a piece of—"
"Excuse me," Kagome said through a crack in Yuki's door causing all three boys to still and look downward and to lower their guilty mouths that were unable to take their words back. They prayed she hadn't heard what they were arguing about.
"Is everything alright?" Kagome asked, "We heard shouting. I hope that there is a point this argument."
"I'm afraid there isn't," Yuki said, deciding to speak for the group, "We didn't mean to bother you."
"I thought as much," Kagome said with a sigh, "Anything I can help with?"
"No," Yuki said, "It's resolved. No problem."
Kagome didn't look convinced but decided to leave the boys alone for now.
"Okay, then," she said, "Oh, and Hatori is downstairs waiting for you, Haru." Haru nodded and walked out of the room. He grabbed Kagome's hand on the way, causing Yuki and Kyo to glare. Once Haru was out of the room and a safe distance away, he drew Kagome into his arms and nestled his head into her hair.
"I'll see you at school tomorrow," he said into her hair.
"Okay," Kagome said slightly distracted by the scent of Haru but managed to speak again, "Is everything okay between you and Yuki and Kyo? I don't buy what Yuki said."
Haru smiled. He bent down until his lips were parallel with Kagome's ear.
"No, I think that the three of us are going to be fighting like that more often," Haru whispered into Kagome's ear, "but in the end, I'm sure that it'll all work out." When he finished talking, he placed a kiss on Kagome's cheek. He stepped away from her and descended the staircase while holding her hand. Downstairs, Hatori was talking with Shigure and Momiji was standing by the door talking to Tohru. When Haru and Kagome could be seen, Momiji ran full speed and hugged Kagome around her neck.
"Bye, Kagome!" he said. Kagome hugged him back and told him he would see her tomorrow. Momiji said good-bye to Tohru and Shigure before walking out of the door with Hatori. Haru grabbed Kagome's hand and gave it one final squeeze before walking out of the door after the other two. Shigure bid the two girls good night and went to his room.
"Kagome, do you want to use the bathroom first?" Tohru asked.
"I would like to if you don't mind, Tohru," Kagome said. Tohru shook her head.
"Not at all," Tohru replied, "I still need to finish my timeline anyway. I think I can manage on my own."
Kagome went into her room and grabbed her clothes, soaps, shampoo, and her other personal hygiene necessities. She headed upstairs to the bathroom. Once she was there she closed the door behind her and began to run the water and putting in a dab of bubble bath, intending on soaking for a while.
'I wonder what the guys were fighting about,' Kagome thought while listening to the sound of the steady running water, 'I hope that it isn't something that happened between us.' Kagome paused and thought about what happened between Haru and herself before they went into Yuki's room. Then about how Haru held her hand when they walked into the room. There was already tension between Yuki and Kyo and it seemed to increase when she and Haru entered the room.
'They can't know about that, right?' Kagome thought as she turned off the water, 'Then again, Momiji could have told them. Or maybe Haru told them while Tohru, Momiji, and I went out.' Kagome began to peel off her uniform. Once all her clothes were off, she slipped into the warm water and bubbles.
'Does that mean they're arguing about me?' Kagome thought but shook her head immediately, 'I shouldn't be so vain. Sure, Yuki and Kyo both have taken some sort of incentive towards me, but it's not like I'm dating anyone exclusively. And Kyo and Haru just said that they liked me and probably want to be friends. Yuki never said it out right, but he must feel the same way. Still, even if their feelings are somewhat romantic or not, I don't want to seem like I'm dating all three at once. That's not fair to them.' Kagome paused in thought and sighed, 'No wonder the kids at school talk about me like they do.'
Kagome turned her thoughts to something she hadn't been thinking of as much as she should.
'I wonder what InuYasha is going to think about this,' she thought, 'I haven't seen him for a while; we're about due for another visit. I guess I got too use to being a normal teenage; I'm surprised I'm not bored.' Kagome squeezed some body wash into a towel and began to wash herself, 'Then again with Momiji, Tohru, Yuki, Haru, Kyo, and everyone else I've met, it's not easy to be. I wonder how long InuYasha is going to give me this free time and how I'm going to explain long absences to everyone.' Kagome slid deeper into the water to wash the suds off her body.
'I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.'
-O0o0O-
'Damn, Haru!' Yuki thought angrily. After Haru left, he was unable to forget what he had told Kyo and him and the smug look on his face when he said it. Of all the people Kagome has met, he wasn't expecting Haru to get to her like that.
'There I go again,' he thought with a bit of self loathing, 'I'm making her sound like a trophy just like before.'
Yuki got off of his bed and headed towards his door.
'Why can't I control it?' he thought, 'I want to be with Kagome. I want to learn more about. I just want that chance. Now, Kyo and Haru got there before me. Damn them!' Yuki sighed as he walked down the hallway towards the bathroom.
'Great,' he thought, 'not only am I lovesick, but I'm possessive too.' Yuki opened the door to the bathroom; he felt the need to cool down and wipe his face.
-O0o0O-
Kagome opened her eyes and looked at her hands.
'Better get out now,' Kagome thought, 'I'm beginning to prune.' Kagome stood up out of the tub just as the door knob began to turn. Yuki walked into the bathroom before Kagome could reach her towel. Both teens froze. Yuki's eyes widened to take in the sight of Kagome's naked form. Her lightly tanned skin dripping in tiny water droplets could have passed for perfection. Her waist was small and her legs were slender. Her long, black hair stuck to the back of her neck with its tips brushing the base of her shoulder blades. Her curves were full yet subtle just beginning to reach definition. But her arms and her torso…there were faint almost transparent scars. The top of her thigh close to her hip…there was a starburst shaped mark.
'What happened?' Yuki thought and wanted to ask, but couldn't find it in him to speak, 'What could have hurt you so much and given you so many scars?'
Yuki realized he was staring and quickly averted his eyes. Kagome, broken out of the trance as well, quickly ducked into the water in an attempt to cover herself. She slipped on the slickness on the base of the tub and fell down backwards. Yuki turned back around and was immediately at Kagome's side. He reached down into the water and lifted Kagome off the bottom of the tub; one supported back of her head and the other wrapped around her waist.
"Kagome, are you okay?" Yuki asked.
"I'm fine," she replied wincing slightly, "I just hit my head. Thanks for helping me." Yuki nodded but frowned; he could feel the knot beneath his hand.
Though Yuki was aware of Kagome's injury, he could not help but notice her body again. He could feel the warmth of her moist, slick skin and the thick perfume of the water intertwined with Kagome's scent made Yuki intoxicated. The bubbles adhered to Kagome's skin and hair; it made her seem like a doll elegantly clothed in thin layers of lace. A light blush lit up her face making her more endearing and adorable. Yuki quietly gulped and composed himself.
"Do you need any help standing?" Yuki managed to ask without his voice cracking.
"No," Kagome answered, "Besides, I got you soaked enough as it is."
"Right," Yuki said and gently let Kagome go. When she was able to sit up, Yuki left the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He leaned against the door and took a deep breath. The image behind him wouldn't leave his mind of a long time.
"Yuki?" someone asked the rat zodiac. Yuki looked up and saw that it was Shigure.
"Why are you all wet?" Shigure asked his younger cousin. Yuki looked down at his person; he was completely soaked. Before he could answer, Kagome walked out of the bathroom wearing and white wife beater and pink pajama pants. She had a towel around her neck.
"Oh, Shigure, hi," Kagome said.
"Kagome," Yuki said, forgetting his cousin, "how is your head? Do you feel any better?"
"It still hurts a little," Kagome said, "but I think it'll be okay by morning. I'll grab an ice pack on my way downstairs."
"I'll come down and check on you," Yuki said as Kagome disappeared down the hall and descended the staircase. Shigure looked towards the direction Yuki was looking in and smiled.
"Word of advice, Yuki," Shigure said, "You might want to take off you clothes next time."
"What are you talking about?" Yuki asked drily.
"Still," Shigure said, ignoring him, "who would have thought that it? Yuki having sex in the bath. Ayame was right about your experimenting."
"Shut up," Yuki said and went into the bathroom to clean up.
-O0o0O-
"Haru, may I speak with you? Momiji, you go to your room," Hatori said he had arrived home with Momiji and Haru. Momiji nodded and went up to his room without a word. Hatori led Haru to his office.
"What do you want?" Haru asked, but he already knew what it was about. It wouldn't hurt for Momiji to learn when he should stop talking.
"You make a date behind my back without Akito's permission," Hatori said, "What would possess you to do such thing? You endanger yourself and that girl as well. Did you even think of all the consequences?"
"I did," Haru answered, "I was going to ask Akito tomorrow."
"And you don't think he would have found out before you planned to tell him?" Hatori asked.
"Who's going to tell him?" Haru asked trying to keep his voice down, "Shigure? You?"
Hatori sighed, "We are both in the same position and are obligated to tell him." Haru was silent as Hatori continued to speak.
"I will give you one day to tell Akito," Hatori said, "then I will go to Akito myself."
Haru nodded and left the room without a word. He understood the reasons for Hatori's warning but did not apply to his situation.
'Kagome and Kana are two completely different people.'
-O0o0O-
Yuki walked down to Kagome's room after he had showered and changed. He wanted to check on her and tell her good night but was a little embarrassed after what had happened earlier. Still when he reached Kagome's door, he knocked a few times before she answered it.
"Yuki?" she asked while holding an ice pack to her head. Yuki opened his mouth but found that he couldn't say anything at all. Kagome noticed he was looking at her ice pack.
"Oh," she said in recognition, "the lump on my heads okay. Just got the ice to be on the safe side."
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Yuki said, "and to apologize for what happened. It was my fault. I don't know what came over me."
"It's not like you meant to," Kagome quickly said, "It's my fault I was stupid enough to leave the bathroom door unlocked and I live with three guys now. Besides, it's not like you really wanted to look at me anyway."
Before Yuki could stop himself, he asked, "Why would you say that?" He knew that it was an inappropriate question, but he wanted to know. Why would she speak about herself that way? He was sure that there were many men who would have loved to be in the position he was in and most of them would probably…
"Well," Kagome began and lowered her head, "I know you saw the…scars…and…"
Kagome stopped in her explanation; she couldn't tell him why she had her scars or condemn them. She was proud of her battle wounds (and her not-so-battle wounds). They proved that she had grown and that she was a survivor. Someone who met her challenges and conquered them. Someone who improved her strength and skill when the need arose. And most importantly, someone who was an equal with all the members of her team. Someone who didn't rely on anyone else to save her if she didn't it. Sure, she is still a little clumsy when it comes to fighting, but that is who she is. But now, when she stood before Yuki, someone who looked like he personified perfection, she couldn't help but feel a little self conscious of those imperfections.
In the midst of her Yuki smiled slightly; he knew what she was feeling. Being awkward and inadequate was something that he had only just begun to overcome himself, but he would have never guessed that Kagome felt that way too. He reached out his arms and pulled Kagome towards him. One of his hands grasped her cheek and the other held onto her hip just above the starburst shaped scar he had seen in the bathroom. He bent down his head so that his lips were located close to Kagome's ear.
"I think that you're beautiful," he whispered and smirked when he felt Kagome shiver against him. Then he moved until Kagome's lips were directly below his. He bent down closer and this time he didn't miss his intended target. He kissed Kagome on her lips, staying for only for a few seconds. He lifted up and saw the shocked look in Kagome's eyes but also noted that she wasn't unsatisfied.
"Good night, Kagome," Yuki said. Kagome smiled and stood on her tiptoes giving him one final squeeze.
"Night, Yuki," she said in a breathy whisper next to Yuki's ear and the two pulled apart. Yuki began his way back upstairs and Kagome watched him until he disappeared. Once Yuki was out of sight, Kagome gingerly touched her lips.
'Wow,' she thought and walked back into her room. She reached her bed and fell onto it with a sigh.
'What a mess this is?' Kagome asked herself, 'I never really thought that Yuki had any romantic intentions towards me. That makes me wonder about Kyo and Haru.' Kagome sighed, 'I never thought that anything like this could happen to me. It must be that fact that I can hug them without causing them to transform, I don't think that they'd be that shallow. Then again they are still a little…hesitant I guess. I shouldn't be so quick to judge. I do want to be close to them. I really do. I want…their friendship.'
Kagome thought and thought until it made her mind sick and her chest ache. Her thoughts consumed her in a dark place where she couldn't see. Did she truly believe those words? Had she only desired friendship?
'Of course I do,' she thought, 'I love InuYasha…only InuYasha.' But she hadn't thought of him for more than a few seconds. She hadn't had much time for him.
'I just have to see him again!' she thought, 'I just have to see him and then I will remember the love, the devotion, the promise I made that I will never leave his side…I'll see it and remember…'
"I love InuYasha," Kagome said as if saying the words aloud will make them have more meaning. Instead, she felt heavy and weakened. Kagome crawled into a little ball and immediately fell into a troubled sleep.
-O0o0O-
Kyo stood outside of Kagome's room clenching his fists. He had come downstairs to tell Kagome good night after he had calmed down from what happened before with Haru and he heard what Kagome said. She loves InuYasha. She loves InuYasha. She…loves…someone…Kyo was seeing red, but tried to calm himself down. He remembered the last time he had lost his temper with Kagome and he didn't want to go back to that.
InuYasha…it was an odd name. It could have been a pet's name or a nickname or anything, but Kyo didn't know what to think. He walked into her room and over to her bed. Kagome was sleeping, but Kyo could tell that she was not well. Kagome was uncovered and curled into fetal position with her limbs tangled in her blanket and sheets. A frown etched on her face. Kyo sighed and felt his anger dissipate.
Kyo straightened Kagome's arms and legs. He untangled the blankets covered her up to her chest after placing her head on her pillow. Kyo kneeled down to Kagome's side. He cupped Kagome's cheek and began to smooth out the lines next to her frown. Kagome moaned in her sleep and tried to come closer to the warmth of Kyo's hand. Kyo couldn't help but smile and put what he had heard earlier in the back of his mind.
"Good night," he whispered before standing to his feet and leaving the room.
-O0o0O-
"You wanted to see me," Akito said in a slow drawl to the ox zodiac member.
Haru sat before Akito early in the morning before he and Momiji left for school. Haru decided that this was the best time to have an audience with Akito because one of his coughing fits had kept him up through night and he looked a little disoriented.
"I wanted to ask for your permission," Haru said.
"Permission to what?" Akito asked harshly.
Haru took a deep breathe before answering.
"I want to take someone out for a date tomorrow whom is not a member of the Sohma family," Haru said.
"Who?" Akito asked in a strained tone. He had come closer to Haru so that was only a few inches away from his lowered form.
"Higurashi Kagome," Haru answered. As soon as the name left his mouth, Akito slapped Haru across his face. Haru tightened his fists to keep his anger from getting the better of him. He thought of things to make him calm down; he thought of Yuki when he was smiling with Tohru or Kagome, of Tohru when she would go into her little spastic moments, of Kagome and how she looked when he said he liked her, and of how happy he was when she said she liked him in return. That kept him white.
Akito smirked down at Haru kneeling before him with his cheek swelling and turning red.
"I'll allow you this privilege," Akito finally said, "but it will come at a cost to you."
Haru smirked up to Akito, looking confidently at the head of the family.
"Name your price," Haru said.
Akito looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he answered Haru, causing his smirk to falter.
"I want to spend time with Miss Kagome also," Akito answered, "She will agree to spend an evening in my company at the main house."
Haru frowned slightly, "I can't force her to—"
"Either she is delivered to me or you will be punished," Akito said and Haru knew that there was no point in arguing; Akito's word is law.
"Yes, Akito," Haru said.
"Good," Akito said and turned his back to Haru. Haru stood to his feet and moved to leave the room. Before he made it out of the sliding doors, Akito spoke to him.
"Have a nice day at school," he said, "and be sure to tell Yuki I said, 'Hello'."
-O0o0O-
"I thought this day would never end!" Momiji shouted once the final bell rang letting the entire school out for Golden Week. He, Haru, and Kagome left their classroom after their other classmates who rushed out as soon as the bell rang.
"Me neither," Kagome said, "I'm so glad. Everything went by so slowly."
"So are you ready for your date tomorrow?" Momiji asked Kagome causing the girl to blush.
"Sh!" Kagome said, "Not so loud!"
"Momiji," Haru said, "Quit bothering her." Haru was a little on edge; he still hadn't talked to Kagome about what Akito ordered him to do.
"Why are you two being so mean?!" Momiji whined, "I'm just excited! Akito doesn't normally let the members of the zodiac do much of anything even if we do ask his permission."
"Akito?" Kagome said and turned to Haru, "You had to ask Akito's permission?"
Haru grimaced and had to fight the urge to strangle the little rabbit but decided that it was something that had to be said.
"I did," Haru answered, "but he said it was okay. So don't worry about it."
'I can't hand her over to Akito,' he thought to himself, 'I would never forgive myself. Neither would Kyo or Yuki.'
"If you say so," Kagome said, "Either way, I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."
"I'm glad," Haru said. The trio walked out of the school doors towards the exit. Kagome looked out of the corner of her eye and noticed someone following them a few feet away. Kagome stopped and turned around.
"You guys go ahead," Kagome said, "I've got to check on something."
"Okay!" Momiji said and he and Haru continued walking away.
Kagome walked down the hall until she reached who was following them.
"Motoko?" Kagome asked, "What do you want? You could have just talked to me instead of sneaking around like this, ya know." Kagome noticed a change in her cousin. She seemed like she was ill and somewhat depressed.
"Your things are gone," Motoko said quietly, "Mother told me that you have moved out."
"I did," Kagome said, speaking slowly and cautiously; she did not want to upset Motoko.
"You know the Sohmas, right?" Kagome asked, "I'm living with some of their family members."
Motoko muttered something under her breath and Kagome couldn't hear her words.
"What was that?" Kagome asked and stepped closer.
"Did you…um…do you live with Pri—I mean, Yuki?" Motoko repeated.
"What does that matter to you?" Kagome asked; she was making no sense.
"Please tell me that you are not living with Yuki," Motoko said, her voice growing more and more desperate.
"Why—" Kagome began but Motoko cut her off.
"Just tell me!" Motoko shouted.
Kagome backed away slowly.
"Motoko, you need to calm—"
"Why are you doing this to me?!" Motoko shouted hysterically.
"Is there a problem?" Both girls turned to the source of the voice.
"Yuki?" Kagome said, "What are you doing here?"
"I had to take care of something before we left for the holidays," he said, "But, Kagome, Minagawa-senpai, is there anything the matter?"
"Nothing," Motoko answered, "Nothing at all. I'll see you later. Good bye."
Motoko turned and ran off before the other two could say anything.
"What just happened?" Yuki asked Kagome.
"I really don't know," Kagome answered with a sigh, "Motoko is my cousin, the one I used to be living with."
"Do you two not get along?" Yuki asked.
"Something like that," Kagome said, "But I'll resolve it later." Yuki's presence began to overwhelm her and Kagome immediately thought of what happened last night. She began to blush and stutter.
"Kagome?" Yuki asked and put his hand over Kagome's cheek so that she would look at him, "Are you all right?"
"Yes!" Kagome squeaked and pulled away from Yuki's touch, "I just remembered that… Haru and Momiji are waiting for me. I better go now." Yuki smirked and grabbed Kagome's hand before she could walk away from him.
"I'll walk you," he said without looking at Kagome and keeping his eyes faced ahead, but he knew that she was staring at him.
"Oh," Kagome said. She looked at Yuki for a moment, but when he did not return her gaze, she looked ahead and continued walking.
-O0o0O-
"That is the ultimate injustice to our president!" Minami said through clenched teeth. She and her fellow club members knew that their president was going to confront Higurashi today; they stayed behind in case she needed back up.
"Higurashi is going to pay!" Mio said, "She insulted our president and our entire organization. The Prince Yuki Fan Club is not going to take it anymore."
"But what can we do?" Mai asked her two superiors, "Yuki totally likes Higurashi."
"I know exactly what to do," Minami said, "Higurashi isn't going to know what hit her!"
-O0o0O-
punkish furball—Well, don't that seem interesting? I'm so sorry I had to cut this chapter down; I had the cutest Kyo and Kagome sparring scene, but I got so caught up in the Yuki and Haru bits!
-for some reason, when I think of studying, I picture Yuki's room
I will have the next chapter ready soon (it's partially done since this chapter was reduced in length).
Until next time, L83R. DUD35!