Ton Up
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha, the track, or the hotels. I'm not making any money from this. And to the places that exist, maybe I'm doing free advertising of a sort. So don't sue me. Also, the summary (since someone asked) is taken from a quote by Hunter S Thompson. I don't own that either.
Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.-HST
The ride to the hotel was short and not nearly as fast. She was able to keep her eyes open and watch the world go by at a more sedate pace, and giggled when more than a few people stared at them driving past. When he stopped at the hotel, she felt the engine rumble to a stop before sliding off on the correct side, stumbling but managing to catch herself.
Pulling the helmet off, she wondered if there was any way to band her hair and keep it from emerging a mess every time. Kouga seemed to have gotten it, for the most part. When he removed his helmet, his pony tail only seemed a little mussed.
"I've got to work on the bike for Hayate tomorrow, but it should be done pretty quickly," He told her, hands resting on top of his helmet.
"Do you want my number?" She asked, pulling her phone out. He unzipped his jacket and reached in, pulling a phone out and flipping it open. She quickly gave him her number and he gave her his. They were just putting their phones away when she heard a familiar voice.
"Kagome? What are you doing out of bed?" Eri asked, eyes widening when she saw Kouga.
Crap.
"You-" Yuka began, obviously recognizing him.
Shit.
"Hey, it's the rude one," He smirked, taking the time to wave.
"You-"
"Kouga," Kagome groaned, knowing he was intentionally trying to bait her friend. She had hoped that was one behavior he had gotten over, but apparently not.
"Fine," He sighed, shifting on his bike and rocking it lightly.
"Kagome?" Ayumi asked, eyes traveling back and forth between her, Kouga and Yuka.
"Guys, this is Yuuma," Kagome began.
"You just called him Kouga," Eri pointed out, mouth in a firm, angry line.
"It's a nickname. I went for a walk to see if some air would help, and he recognized me."
"From...Where?" Eri asked, giving Kouga a once over only to frown even more. Obviously she was not impressed.
"He was a friend of Inu Yasha's," She said, wanting to hit herself with her helmet when he let out a choked sound behind her. "And he wanted to catch up."
Her friends were quiet, probably remembering her turbulent relationship with the hanyou and the few times they had met him.
"He's not like Inu Yasha is he?" Eri finally asked.
"I'm right here," He muttered.
"Kouga's a really nice guy, and so are his friends. I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind if we all hung out tomorrow, to get to know each other?"
"We were going to go back to the beach tomorrow," Ayumi pointed out, smiling shyly at Kouga.
"Sounds good to me. Swimming will be good after working all morning," He added, not even acknowledging Yuka's further sputtering.
"Working?" Ayumi asked. Obviously she was taking his presence far better than the others.
"Kouga is a motorcycle mechanic, and is helping out the local track owner for a race. He even invited all of us to it," She added, casting a meaningful glance in Yuka's direction. Her friend immediately ceased making faces, blinking several times as the news sunk in.
"Like, VIP?" She finally asked.
Kagome thanked every god she could name and a few she couldn't that her friend loved those three letters as much as she loved shopping.
"Sure. Good seats and when it's over you guys can come down to the pit and meet the jockeys," He said, obviously catching on and deciding to make it easier. Kagome couldn't help but be thankful for the small kindness.
"That could be fun," Eri said, catching her friend's eagerness. "It would be really cool to meet people who race."
"I guess that's a yes then," Kagome said, sighing in relief. "Give me a call tomorrow?"
"Sounds good. The boys'll be thrilled" He added, winking at her before putting his helmet back on and starting the bike. It roared to life and drowned out her farewell, but he turned enough to see her wave and waved in return before turning out of the parking lots and speeding up.
"He seems nice," Ayumi observed.
"He is," Kagome observed, smiling lightly. Yuka and Eri were still chattering about the excitement of being VIPs at a race. Kagome felt they were blowing the whole thing out of proportion, but if it meant smooth sailing when the three youkai showed up the next day, she had no problems with it.
"Your hair is a mess," Eri said as they walked inside and to the elevator. "It looks like rats have been nesting in it."
"It's the helmet," Kagome pointed out. "I didn't wear my hair back at first so it got tangled up and I didn't have a brush."
"Yuuma should have had one," Yuka pointed out. "He's got long hair."
"It seems Kagome knows a lot of guys with long hair," Eri pointed out slyly.
"Some guys just like long hair," Kagome pointed out, feeling defensive. "And he didn't have one, so I just put it up and dealt with it."
Eri and Yuka continued making insinuations, not that she minded. She was already thinking about what Kouga had mentioned at the diner. Though they hadn't talked about it after that, the promise of learning how to drive a motorcycle was enough to make her heart skip happily. And he was an amazing driver. Maybe one day she'd be able to ride like him. Though she hadn't entertained the idea of going too fast before, she wasn't entirely sure if, having seen him do it, that she was opposed.
When they got back to their suite, she walked to her room and dropped the helmet on the bed and then took the jacket off almost reluctantly. In a way it felt like she as the same as the three youkai, who wore their own black jackets with accenting colors. It had felt nice to belong again.
Though she loved her friends dearly and did fit in with them, there was always the past that would separate her. The others only referred to it in passing, and when referring to it only said 'that time you were sick for months'. With the three youkai, it would be 'when we fought against Naraku'. It would be the truth, and she supposed that in part, that was what made it so easy to fall into that sense of belonging with them.
Her legs were sore from straddling a motorcycle, and she quickly stripped and wrapped a towel around her chest. The others were gone when she stepped out of her room, and she wondered if they were going to get food in the hotel restaurant. Still full from her lunch -and Ginta had been right, the small dive had made the best burger she'd ever had, not to mention the biggest- grabbed on of the surplus robes and tied it snugly before heading down to the elevators.
In less than five minutes she was showering, and in another ten she was sinking into the women only side of the small hot spring the hotel had been built around. In thirty she was relaxed enough to fall asleep, and when she finally went back to her room, she fell onto her bed and cocooned herself in the blankets.
"Are the others cute?" Eri asked, pumping her for information. When they had woken that morning, her friends had begun chattering nonstop about the three men, and Eri had jumped into the possibility of a summer romance almost immediately.
"I don't know," Kagome sighed, rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time. They were on their way to the beach in Yuka's car, and the only saving grace of the half hour drive was that Kouga had texted her sometime early in the morning, reminding her not to forget her helmet or jacket and to bring a pair of jeans. Knowing that it could only mean one thing -getting back on the motorcycle- she had only been too happy to oblige. When her friends had seen her put them in the trunk, they had assumed the same thing. And a little bit more. Well, a lot more, actually.
Some of which still made her cheeks flame with embarrassment.
"How can you not know?" Eri asked, turning around in the front seat to look at her. "You've seen them, right?"
"Yeah, but it's not like I was judging how cute they were," She retorted.
"Is Yuuma cute?" Eri shot back
"I guess," She started, stopping when she saw her friend's triumphant grin.
"See, I knew it, you do like him!" Eri crowed, waving a finger around and grinning madly. "You just don't want to admit it."
"I don't like him like that," She shot out, frowning petulantly. "We're friends."
"But you think he's cute."
She gave up, letting her head fall back into the seat and staring at the roof of the car, wondering why her friends seemed so determined to set her up with someone, anyone, all of the time.
"Fine," Eri said. "What do the other two look like?"
She gave intentionally vague descriptions just to get back at Eri for her constant needling, feeling childish even as she did it. The half hour easily felt like an hour, and when they got out of the car, she took a moment to text Kouga and let him know they had arrived. Within seconds he had called to tell her that they were finishing up at the track and that they'd be there soon.
Kagome grabbed her bag and towel and followed her friends to the concrete building to change. While her own bikini was modest, she was momentarily mortified to realize that it was the same blue as Kouga's helmet. Luckily none of her friends noticed, or if they did, they said nothing. Ayumi's pink bikini was also modest, but when she saw Eri's she blushed for her friend, and when Yuka finished putting hers on, she was positive her jaw was going to come unhinged.
"Like it?" Yuka asked. "I wanted to be daring."
Daring wasn't quite the word Kagome would have used, although she kept that to herself.
"It makes tanning easier too," Yuka added with a smirk.
And tan lines minimal, she added silently to her friend's declaration.
They walked out, bags and towels in tow, and looked for a spot on the sand that was 'perfect' in Eri's words. When they finally found it -Kagome couldn't help but notice how close it was to a cluster of attractive men- they unrolled their towels and she and Ayumi began applying sunscreen while Eri and Yuka applied tanning oil.
Within seconds they had men asking if they wanted help. It was so stereotypical that Kagome had to fight not to laugh, merely waving them off and saying she was fine as she pulled a book from her bag. Ayumi was blushing and shaking her head no instead of saying anything, and Eri and Yuka basked in the attention.
"You didn't bring a spare, did you?" Ayumi asked quietly.
"As a matter of fact, I did," Kagome chuckled, pulling another book out of her bag. It was a mystery, and she offered Ayumi her own as well. "I haven't started yet, so you can choose. One's a mystery and the other is a supernatural thriller."
"I'll go with the mystery," Ayumi laughed, accepting the small paperback and opened it to the first page. Eri and Yuka chattered on the other side of them, and she opened her book back to the first page and began reading, tuning the flirting and boasting out. It was easy to get lost in the story, especially considering her past. The idea of ghosts and monsters was easy to accept, having seen more than her fair share, and the story was well written, pulling her into it.
In fact, she was so wrapped up in the book that she didn't notice when a shadow fell over her. Or a the sound of a throat clearing.
It wasn't until a tanned hand and arm reached down and pulled the book from her hands that she noticed, and her first reaction was not 'hello' but an angry yelp.
"You came to the beach to read?" Kouga asked, brow raised, book dangling from his hand. He was squatting, knees bent, so that he was almost hovering over her.
"Give it back," She demanded, getting up and reaching for it.
"I don't think so," He mocked, tossing the book onto her bag and grabbing her.
Later, she would reflect with no little embarrassment that the noises she had made had not been feminine in the least. If anything, she had sounded like a squawking bird as he threw her over his shoulder and began walking for the water. As they got closer, she noticed that he wasn't wearing a shirt, and that even though his black swimming trunks were long, they hung low on his hips.
"Kouga, put me down," She demanded, blushing as she tried not to notice the lines of his muscles moving in his back as he walked into the water.
"You sure?" He asked, sounded as if she'd smacked him. But her stomach was beginning to hurt from his shoulder pressing into it.
"Yes, I'm sure," She muttered, using her hands to push against his back.
"Fair enough."
Another angry screech erupted from her throat when she felt herself rising into the air, limbs flailing.
It stopped when she hit the water.
She came up sputtering and pushing her hair out of her face, easily ten feet away from him and having to tip toe to reach the bottom.
"You looked bored," He joked.
She was going to say something, but was stopped when she heard a scream that was half laughter. Turning to the shore she saw Ginta and Hakkaku carrying Ayumi between them as they dashed into the water. As they waded deeper they began swinging her and shouting out a countdown before letting her go and watching her rise in the air and then fall into the ocean.
"See?" Kouga tried when she tried to smother a giggle as her friend came up laughing. They began wading over to the others, and for the first time she saw Kouga, soaked from the neck down, shirtless and standing in the light perfectly.
"F-Fine," She mumbled, turning away only to be hit with a splash by Ayumi.
It started a war that somehow formed teams, and ignoring how immature she felt, she splashed her friend and moved closer to Kouga, trying to use him as a shield. When it didn't work she gave in and just turned her head away and closed her eyes, pushing at water blindly.
When something wrapped around her ankle she let out a high pitched scream before it was pulled from under her and she was underwater. She shot back up to the surface only to see a drenched Kouga grinning at her. Ayumi came up seconds later sputtering, and all of the youkai burst out laughing at their indignant expressions.
"Boys never grow up," Kagome muttered, pushing her hair out of her face again.
"Nope," Kouga laughed.
"Hey guys!" A voice called out. They turned back to the shore and saw Eri waving and jumping up and down.
"Think it's important?" Kouga asked. Splashing him once before walking over to her friend, she noticed they all followed behind her.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, but they're making a volleyball team, but we're short a few players. Please come play," Eri wheedled.
"Sounds fun," Kagome said, looking to the others, who were nodding.
Ten minutes later, when she found herself on Kouga's shoulders, she was wondering why she had said yes. There was something far too strange about his large hands on the tops of her thighs holding her in place.
"Are you okay?" He asked, tilting his head back as much as he could to look up at her.
"This is a little strange," She admitted.
"Need me to let you down?"
Not wanting to admit to how strange it was, she shook her head and straightened back up. She had the small comfort that at least out of most of the people there, she was guaranteed not to fall off or topple over. The same went for Ayumi and Eri, both of whom were perched on Ginta and Hakkaku. Yuka balanced on a muscular, tanned male that was wearing sunglasses and had bleached, spiked hair and cutoff shorts instead of swim trunks.
The volleyball came hurtling over the net and at her. Trusting him to hold onto her, she lifted both hands and hit it back, not even feeling the least bit off balance as she did so. It was like sitting on a rock, he was so steady.
After that it wasn't difficult to get into the game, especially because her team was winning. With the solid youkai holding them up, they were able to bend and reach without fear, and once Eri and Ayumi realized it, they took full advantage of it. Even the man Yuka was holding onto seemed solid enough for her to move almost as much.
The other team was full of toppling people, not that they seemed to mind. Halfway through the game Kagome realized that she was having fun, that she was cheering her friends and being cheered for, and that she was laughing with everyone else, including Kouga.
When the first game was over, Hakkaku let Eri down, saying he was going to grab some drinks for them, and another male quickly stepped in to take his place. Though this one wasn't nearly as steady, a new game started and they found themselves more evenly matched. By the time Hakkaku came back, a cardboard box of sodas in hand, she was breathless with laughter from watching Eri and her partner topple and get tangled in the sand.
After it finished, with her team winning again, Kouga bent down and let her off, laughing as Eri managed to topple her partner yet again. They walked over to where Hakkaku was sitting, enjoying a soda and smirking at all of them.
"Nice game," He commented, staring pointedly at Kouga, who rolled his eyes. Kagome caught the soda he tossed to her and tapped the top. Yuka and Eri walked over with their partners, chattering excitedly.
"Hey guys, we were talking about going up to a spring Heiken knows about. Did you want to come?"
"Yes," Kagome said, answering for everyone immediately. Even though the other men seemed safe, she didn't want to let her friends go with them alone.
"Sounds like a plan," Kouga said, brows furrowed, as if guessing her thoughts. "Did you bring your helmet and jacket?"
She nodded and everyone split into groups, she and her friends going and grabbing their bags and towels and heading for the car. Dry from her time in the sun, she was able to shrug on her pants over her bathing suit and zipped the jacket on over her top. Heiken and his friend, introduced as Ken, both arrived first. They were riding with Yuka and Eri, since they hadn't come in their own car, which left Ayumi with no place to sit, not unless she wanted to be a third wheel in what was obviously flirting.
When Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku arrived, she explained the issue. Kouga's brow furrowed and he glanced over to Hakkaku and Ginta, who were speaking too quietly between themselves for her to hear.
"It'll be fine," Kouga told her.
"She can use my helmet," Hakkaku told them.
"And she can wear my jacket," Ginta added.
"But what about you, isn't it important to wear-" Ayumi stuttered, eyes darting between them and then to the bikes.
"We'll be fine," Hakkaku laughed.
"We're safe drivers."
Kagome was only okay with it because they were youkai, and because she trusted them to drive safely. She was fairly certain they would survive if something happened, but she was still worried about them.
"They'll be fine," Kouga promised, laying a hand on her shoulder as she watched her friend stammer out a thank you and put on the red helmet and black and green jacket.
"How far is it?"
"About fifteen minutes inland," Heiken said from the open window of the car. "We're going to stop at the store really quick though."
Kagome didn't protest when Kouga 'helped' her onto the bike the way he had before, by picking her up around the waist and setting her down. She grabbed a hair tie from her pocket and put it up, then shoved the helmet down on her head. Kouga was already getting on, putting his helmet on as he did. She automatically wrapped her arms around his waist and turned to look over at Ginta and Hakkaku. Ayumi has holding onto Hakkaku, although her face was hidden from view by the helmet's tinted visor, Kagome could tell her friend was nervous. She had a death grip around Hakkaku's waist.
He didn't seem to mind, smiling wolfishly and giving a thumbs up before starting his bike. Kouga and Ginta followed suit, and she leaned forward with Kouga, clinging more tightly as they followed the car out of the sand covered parking lot.
It was easier to focus since they were following. Kouga wasn't able to drive as fast and she was able to watch the beach recede and sparse scatterings of trees turn into forest. It was definitely longer than fifteen minutes, but she didn't mind in the least. After a day on the beach, it felt right to have a long ride on a bike. More and more she realized that it felt like what she had always hoped a 'typical' summer vacation would be.
They all stopped at a small convenience store that looked like it had seen better days. Ken and Heiken emerged, each carrying a case of beer. Immediately she felt nervous, holding more tightly to Kouga, who had removed his helmet to talk to Hakkaku, although what about she wasn't able to discern.
He stopped however, when he felt her arms tighten around his waist. He turned in the saddle and pushed her shield up so he could look her in the eye.
"I won't let anything bad happen," He promised.
She nodded, mumbling a small thank you and feeling childish for worrying about it, but grateful none the less that he was there and had understood.
They pulled back out onto the road and after another fifteen or twenty minutes of driving, they turned onto a small, single lane road. Here Kagome learned the downside of riding a bike. Every bump and rock was felt, jolting her lightly as they slowed and followed the car. By the time they parked, she was more than willing to throw herself off of the bike.
Eri got out, giggling and blushing, and Yuka got out smiling widely. They carried towels while the two new males carried the beer, and Ayumi gave back the jacket and helmet with profuse thanks, smiling widely.
"We'll catch up, we've got to change," Kouga told her. She nodded and started when Ayumi grabbed her hand. For the first time she noticed the blush on her friend's cheeks and wondered if Ayumi felt something for Hakkaku. But as they followed their friends down the path Ayumi was fairly skipping.
"That was wonderful, Kagome. I can see why you got so interested in motorcycles now. Cars are nothing like that!"
While it hadn't been the exact reason she had gravitated to motor cycles, it was enough for her to nod and agree while her friend gushed about how much she loved riding. By the time they got to the spring the others were already in, Eri in Ken's lap and Yuka next to Ruka with his arm draped over her shoulder. Each had a can of beer and were flirting heavily.
The three youkai got there as they were getting in, Kagome and Ayumi having discarded their pants and adjusting to the heat of the water. It was a fairly large spring, and Ken explained that there were several smaller ones nearby.
In less than ten minutes he had persuaded Eri to go to one with him, and five minutes later Yuka and Heiken were getting out to go scout out one of their own.
"Well this isn't awkward," Kagome muttered when the two couples had left.
"You are so lucky," Kouga muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Why?" Kagome asked, noticing the light blush on his cheeks for the first time.
"I can hear them," He muttered.
Ginta and Hakkaku nodded, both of them bright red as they looked up at the sky.
"Pretty sky," Ginta said.
"Looks like it's getting late."
Kouga sputtered and then burned and even brighter red. Obviously he had heard something that shocked even his sensibilities.
"How about dinner?" Kagome suggested. She was uncomfortable knowing her friends were only yards away. She couldn't imagine what it would be like to actually hear them.
"I could eat," Ayumi said, almost too quickly, as she jumped out of the water, face perhaps the brightest red out of everyone there. "Yuka and Eri have phones, we can just text them so they know we left."
"I think it will be fairly self evident when they find the bikes missing," Kouga said as he hauled himself out of the water. She followed suit, grabbing her towel and pants, not even bothering to dry off as they followed the guys back to the makeshift parking lot.
Thankfully Yuka hadn't locked her car, so she and Eri held their towels up for one another while Kouga, Ginta and Hakkaku went into the woods to change, all of them looking vaguely ill.
"I can't believe they did that," Ayumi muttered, still red-faced and stuttering. "They only met them today."
"They both wanted to have a wild and crazy vacation. Looks like they're going to get it," Kagome sighed, hoping that her friends would be okay. There wasn't much she could do for them, and she wasn't willing to subject the three youkai to an evening of live audio porn just to stick around until they had finished either.
It was strange though, how embarrassed he'd gotten. It seemed out of place for him, and she was musing over it still when he came back. All three males balled up their swimming trunks and used their keys to unlock a small compartment under their seats. She hadn't noticed it before, but apparently it was something like a trunk, although it was tiny.
This time is was Ginta that offered his helmet and Hakkaku his jacket, and though she looked mildly confused,Ayumi was apparently too desperate to get away to ask questions as Ginta helped her onto his bike. Kagome zipped up her jacket and looked to Kouga, who was about to put on his helmet.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think that would happen."
"Not your fault," He grunted before shoving the helmet on and turning on the bike. Feeling like it was, she tried to ignore the guilt that ate at her stomach and put her helmet on, grateful when he pulled out onto the even road and navigated it quickly. She breathed another sigh of relief when it was behind her and clung to him more tightly, closing her eyes and allowing herself to pay attention to the feeling of the wind pushing at her.
When he slowed, she felt a bit more normal, a bit more herself, and opened her eyes, curious about where they were.
They were across the street from her hotel.
Was he that mad?
She panicked and tapped his arm, but he didn't pay attention as he pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and parked. By the time she had pulled off her helmet he was just starting to take off his. She waited impatiently, afraid she had made him angry.
"I'm sorry," She blurted. He turned in the seat and looked at her, brows raised and shock widening his eyes.
"For what?" He asked, shock quickly shifting into confusion.
"I thought you were mad and dropping us off," She said, the words rushed as she looked to the hotel.
"No, no. There's a really good steakhouse near here, close enough to walk. We figured you guys might want to take a quick shower and change."
Oh. Well, she felt stupid.
"I'm so-"
"No, not your fault, and if you say sorry again I'll-" He paused, eyes darting back and forth as he tried to think of something. "I won't let you ride for a week."
She sputtered indignantly, was still sputtering when Hakkaku and Ginta pulled into the parking lot. Ayumi looked worried when she pulled off the helmet, glancing between Kagome and the hotel, the question obvious in her expression.
"What did you do now Kouga?" Ginta asked.
"Bet he said she was his w-" Hakkaku started, stopping when Kouga threw a death glare in his direction. Kagome was supremely grateful he hadn't finished. It would never be the time to explain that story to Ayumi.
"She kept apologizing when it was my fault. I told her if she didn't stop I wouldn't let her ride for a week."
Both males looked duly impressed.
"But I-" She began again, only to be interrupted as he slid off the bike.
"I should have told you at the spring, but I just wanted to get out of there. My fault, not yours," He corrected, voice almost stern. "So it's fine."
She allowed him to help her off this time, feeling bad for having brought up the mess at all and even worse for panicking to begin with.
"Why are we here?" Ayumi finally asked, still looking lost.
"There's a restaurant near here," Kagome explained, before anyone else could. "The guys thought we would want to take a quick shower and change."
Ayumi nodded, accepting Ginta's help off of the bike and giving him back his helmet. Hakkaku accepted the jacket and threw it over his shoulder, holding onto the heavy garment with two fingers.
"And they can use the other shower while we get ready," She added. "Hot springs smell awful, especially stale hot spring," She added when Kouga looked ready to protest. He immediately shut his mouth and nodded, following when she began walking into the hotel entrance. They headed over to the elevators and waited patiently.
"Little sister is right," Hakkaku said as they got into the enclosed space and the doors closed.
"It does smell bad," Ginta added.
"Do they always do that?" Ayumi whispered into Kagome's ear as she stared at the pair.
"Usually," Kagome chuckled. Both of the males blushed while Kouga only muttered a small 'keh'.
Glad she had remembered to grab her key card on the way out, she pulled it from her pocket and slid it through the lock, opening the door and allowing everyone else to walk in first.
"Nice digs," Kouga commented, looking around at the suite.
"Yuka's uncle owns the hotel and let us have the suite for our vacation," Kagome explained, walking to the shower on one end and opening the door. "Shower, bath, towels, all that is in there," She said, noticing that Ayumi had already closed the door to the second bathroom behind her.
Ginta and Hakkaku both walked in to the bathroom and shut the door behind them, and she stared at it a minute before turning to Kouga.
"Are they-" She began, pointing to the door. He snorted even though his lips stretched into a smile.
"No. Remember Kagome, we spent the first few centuries of our lives as wolves. Sharing a shower isn't really abnormal to us," He chuckled. "Thanks by the way. You're right, hot spring water does smell like shit."
She was going to say something, because her mouth opened. But she really couldn't think of anything to say. Instead she followed him over to the couch and sat at one end while he sat at the other.
"It's strange," She finally admitted. "I think I forgot to think of you as youkai. Other than you being able to hear, well, you've just seemed so human today."
He made a sound that was like a laugh, if the laugh had gotten caught in his throat and half strangled there. She looked up at him, wondering if she had offended him, and was going to apologize when she felt something brush her arm. Startled, she jumped back only to stare down at...
A tail?
He had...A tail.
"You-"
Words failed her.
He snickered and his tail moved, brushing against her arm again.
"It's black."
He nodded.
"I thought you would be brown."
He had the grace to look offended.
"All of the others were brown," She defended.
"Do I have brown hair?" He reasoned.
"No," She said slowly.
"Then would I have brown fur?"
She grabbed the pillow behind her and threw it at him, feeling mildly better when it made contact with his face. He was still smiling when it dropped to his lap. His tail swished again, and wanting to do something to get him back for startling her and making her feel silly in under a minute, she grabbed it and examined it closely.
He said nothing, but when she rubbed the fur down, going with it's growth pattern, she could have sworn it twitched. Curious, she rubbed against the fur, only to have him yelp and pull away. The tail vanished from sight.
"I'm sorry," She muttered, shame faced.
"Please don't do that again," He muttered, looking pained.
"I didn't realize-"
"My fault."
"It's not," She tried.
"It is. I shouldn't have used it to annoy you."
"But I shouldn't have petted-"
"Petted?" He choked.
"Well, what else could you call it?" She asked.
"That wasn't petting," He retorted.
"But I did pet you."
"No, you didn't."
"I did too," She defended.
"This is petting," He said, hand coming to touch her hair and rub it. "Not this," He added, rubbing against the direction it was pulled back into, making her flinch.
"I said I was sorry," She muttered.
They were both quiet for several minutes, both tense and awkward and obviously unsure of what to say.
"This is the part where you say 'but you can pet me now,' and I say that's the worst come on ever," She finally said, hoping to break through the tension with humor.
"Would you?" He joked, smiling a lopsided grin that expressed his own anxiety. She made a big show of rolling her eyes and shrugging deeply.
"Why not?"
Apparently he had not been joking, but she couldn't really say no when he leaned over and used her lap to pillow his head. While it wasn't as much contact as they'd had during the volleyball game, it felt more intimate, which was why she paused for a moment before beginning to stroke his hair.
"I know what you mean," He finally said as she continued. "It's been hard to remember you're a miko, or the past really, today. It's just been nice to have you around."
Despite the strangeness of the evening, she realized that she couldn't disagree. It had been nice being around, had been nice to hang out and do normal things, be normal people. When she had known him in the feudal era, he had been different, perhaps because he had been the leader of a pack, had been seeking revenge and taking responsibility for some many others. But not it felt like he was another normal person, responsible only for himself.
They had a past, and while it flavored their knowledge of one another, it did little to influence their current interactions. She didn't know if it was because they were both so happy to see one another again or because the past was filled with hurts neither of them wanted to think about, but she did know that she had enjoyed the past twenty four hours more than she had thought she would.
"It's been nice being around," She answered softly.
Less than a minute later the door opened and Ginta and Hakkaku walked out, spotting the both of them immediately. Grins lit up their features like lights and she tried not to stutter out a denial they wouldn't believe anyway. Kouga was already up and heading for the bathroom, ignoring them completely. The door slammed behind him, leaving her alone.
When they both sat on either side of her, she couldn't help but feel the tiniest bit abandoned. And hunted.
"Please don't say anything," She said as Ginta opened his mouth to speak.
"About what?"
"What would we say?"
The door to the bathroom opened and she fled, rushing past Ayumi without saying a word and almost slamming the door behind her.
"Because my night couldn't be awkward enough," She muttered as she turned on the shower and shed her clothing. She scrubbed at her skin and hair, the heart of the water doing nothing but making her blush even worse as she got clean.
Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her hair, she opted just to put on a robe and cinched it tightly before walking out and straight into her room.
Her phone began ringing almost immediately.
She picked it up,worried that something bad had happened to her two erstwhile friends. But she was perplexed to see Ayumi's name on the screen. Flipping it open she answered quietly, wondering if perhaps phones had gotten switched in the hurry to get away from the spring.
"I don't know what to wear," Ayumi admitted in a small voice.
Oh boy.
"Grab a few possibles and come to my room."
"What if they see?"
"Wrap them in a towel?" She asked, unsure if her friend was more afraid of the clothes being seen or herself in a robe.
But the line went dead and less than a minute later there was knocking at her door. Ayumi was blushing heavily and holding a towel the could barely wrap around the bundle of clothes inside of it.
She distinctly remembered saying 'a few'.
"Thanks for helping," Ayumi sighed. "I just, I mean, they said we were walking, right?"
"Yeah," Kagome said, grateful for the fact, because Ayumi had picked out sundresses and skirts.
"I think this one looks good on you," She said, pointing to a knee length yellow skirt and white tank top. It was one of the best outfits her friend had, and she remembered that Ayumi looked perfect in it. Whichever youkai Ayumi had her eye on, she was fairly certain she'd get his attention with it.
Ayumi began changing, already wearing underwear beneath the robe. Kagome looked at the contents of the closet and was reaching for a pair of jeans when Ayumi made a noise.
"You're going to wear pants?" Her friend asked as she finished tugging the tank top down.
"What? I like pants."
Her friend gave her a flat look.
"What?"
"No."
Ayumi had always been the passive one of the group, Yuka and Eri the more aggressive, pushy ones. But for once her meek friend was acting abnormally bold, going through the closet and pulling out a white sundress she had packed more as a lounge outfit than anything.
"Why?"
"Because it'll look wonderful on you."
"But-"
"Kagome, please?" Ayumi wheedled. Unlike her other two friends, she managed to pull off puppy dog eyes without looking utterly ridiculous. Also, unlike Yuka and Eri, it worked when Ayumi did it.
"Fine," She muttered, accepting the dress and bending to pull out the draw beneath it. Grabbing white underwear she quickly dressed, grumbling the entire time. Wearing it was not going to help the situation with the two wolves sitting on the couch, but Ayumi had a strangely determined look on her face, and she wasn't in the mood to argue after the strange emotional roller coaster she had gone through over the course of the hour.
When she finished, she slipped her feet into a pair of plain sandals, put her still damp hair into a ponytail, and, apparently passing Ayumi;s inspection, followed her out into the suite's living room. All three youkai were sitting, talking in muted whispers that stopped as soon as they stepped out.
"You both look wonderful," Hakkaku told them, still grinning widely enough to make Kagome immediately suspicious.
"Let's go," Ginta said, already half way out the door. Hakkaku was rolling his eyes and Ayumi was laughing at his antics as Kouga trailed behind them, strangely quiet.
"What are they planning?" She asked as she reached the door. The others were already down the hallway and hitting the button for the elevator.
"They're just being idiots," He muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. Unlike before, it was pulled into a low ponytail, and it made him look different, although how she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Making sure she had a key card, she accepted his offer to hold it since she had no pockets to carry it in. By the time they reached their friends, the elevator had arrived and was being held for them. Feeling as if she was walking into a trap, she got in and leaned against the back wall. Kouga followed and stood in the middle, keeping watch on the floors as the door closed and they descended.
Kagome realized she'd murder for conversation. But everyone was silent as they waited, and when the doors finally opened she walked out after Kouga, not even waiting for Ayumi. Not that it mattered, because by the time they'd reached the doors, she had a youkai on each arm and was smiling and blushing as they walked her out.
"This is a little surreal," She admitted as she fell into step next to Kouga.
"I think you're friend's doing well enough," He chuckled, watching as the trio walked ahead of them, barely noticing them as they talked about taking her on a ride on the track.
"Ayumi has always been the quiet one. When Eri and Yuka were dating, Ayumi and I would hang out on the weekends and watch movies," She admitted. "She's only had a few dates, mostly because she's shy."
"Could'a fooled me," He laughed.
"You guys have a way of bringing a person out of their shell," She retorted, finally relaxing now that they were on a neutral subject.
"I think you mean dragging," He joked.
"Pretty much," She admitted impishly, then sobered somewhat. "She really likes riding. I have a feeling Eri and Yuka will be busy for a few days. Do you mind if she comes with me?"
"Not at all. The guys have taken a liking to her, so it's not like she'll want for attention," He smirked.
Watching her friend, she was happy that at least she got along with her friends from the past. She still wasn't sure about Yuka or Eri, but she also knew she was probably right, Yuka and Eri probably would be busy, at least for a few days, living out their 'dream vacation' for however log they stayed interested.
"You alright?" He asked, nudging her with his elbow.
"Just thinking," She said absentmindedly. "Yuka and Eri had these grand plans for the vacation, and I didn't really think they'd actually do it," She admitted.
"Everyone has their own ideas of what a vacation is," He pointed out. "For them, it might be the last chance to get out of their shells and be a little crazy."
He had a point, and when put that way, she realized she couldn't really disagree with what they were doing. It was what she was doing, in a sense, or at least, what she had planned.
"What about your plans?" He asked, as if tapping into her thoughts.
"I wanted adventure, but mostly through motorcycles," She admitted. "I figured I would learn to ride a bit, then go back to Tokyo and then to school."
"And now?"
"I prefer it happening this way," She admitted.
"Good, me too," He told her, throwing an arm over her shoulder. It was a friendly embrace, one that offered company and support and pressed for nothing.
When they finally made it to the steakhouse, she was ecstatic when looking over the menu, Ayumi as well. Far from serving just beef, they also served different dishes of the local fish. Dinner came with stories about the track, about her high school adventures. When she finally broke down and admitted the gag gift of condoms had been for Ayumi, all three youkai had laughed uproariously while Ayumi blushed hotly and swatted at her playfully.
After they had been served their dinner it became a strange sample buffet with everyone offering one another food. She was reminded again that the youkai were just that, youkai, of a pack no less. Maybe they were used to sharing food. Ayumi didn't seem to mind, although she was shy at first before offering up a taste of her own.
Ribald jokes erupted and soon they had devolved into stories about the silly things they had done growing up. Kagome was shocked to learn that Kouga had gone through his fair share of klutz attacks and Ayumi laughed when Kouga had responded by telling them about a time when Ginta and Hakkaku had tried to spy on women bathing and gotten an eyeful of their own mothers.
By the time they walked out, she was so full she was positive she would pop, and sleepy to boot. Ayumi yawned widely, leaning against her until Hakkaku offered to carry her.
Kagome wondered if the two youkai were developing an interest in her friend or if they were being kind, and what would come of it. But, as if it was contagious, she yawned delicately and stretched as they walked along.
Kouga stopped hunched down a little.
""Huh?" She asked dumbly.
"Come on, can;t have the guys showing me up when it comes to chivalry," He joked. Nodding once, she didn't even bother arguing as she hopped on. It wasn't nearly as awkward as when she had first hopped on his shoulders, and his back radiated warmth. His arms hooked under her legs and she hugged his shoulders.
"Thank you," She murmured sleepily. He really was warm, and when he walked he barely bounced at all.
"No problem."
She pillowed her head on her arm and closed her eyes, resolving to open them in just a minute. However, the activity of the day and her full stomach caught up to her, and she soaked in the warmth radiating from the ookami, quickly drifting off to sleep.
A/N: It was at about this point that I realized two things. One, that Velvet had somehow roped me into another long fic. And two, that this was going to be much, much longer than anticipated. May the gods have mercy on our souls. I blame her for everything.
And you guys, actually. Did you know that reviews encourage this madness? Well now you do.