Ton Up
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 16
Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Inu Yasha
AN: Okay, first off, this is the censored version. The lemony content is, as ever, to be found on my Archive Of Our Own account under the same name. Now, second.
Oh, hey, look, I'm not dead. Wow. I actually have chapters to post for the next few weeks too. Double wow. I'm pretty sure this is a summery story, and I know it's taken forever to get to this point. Here's to getting it done this summer. And to your patience and reviews.
She and Ayumi stared at the formidable looking gray building that stood out from it's surroundings like a sore thumb. Perfectly manicured grass and trees surrounded it, only partially blocking the view of a large parking lot littered with bright orange cones. It was currently empty. Kagome wondered if they did any sort of tests there.
"Now or never," Ayumi breathed, voice pitched in her nervousness. Kagome took her hand and walked into the building with her, heart slamming in her chest. She was grateful the youkai had gone back to the garage, back to work to finish the chrome monstrosity they'd complained about all through breakfast, coming up with a hundred analogies, almost all of them inappropriate and slighting the future owners masculinity.
But that good cheer faded as they stepped into the air conditioned building and saw what was easily three dozen people sitting in chairs, reading books or watching the red numbers on the signs overhead change, clutching slips of paper in hand like lifelines.
"This might take longer than I thought," Kagome groaned.
They both walked up to the counter to retrieve a number. The attendant looked bored, her hair in a messy bun and eyes blank.
"What are you here for?" She asked.
"We're both here to take the cyclist's permit test."
"Go over there to the computer stations, input your information and if you pass we'll confirm identity and take your picture."
Surprised, she and Ayumi walked over to the stations and sat down in different cubicles. Kagome wouldn't deny bypassing the line was a bonus she hadn't expected, typing in her name and address, as well as her birth date and other various information.
The test itself was no harder than the practice tests she and Ayumi had taken, especially given her experience, however little it was. The only one that she didn't know, but felt more like common sense, was the last question, asking when to use the kill switch for the engine. Quickly hitting the only answer that made sense to her, she waited patiently for the computer to load her results.
As she had expected, a perfect score. Looking at the clock, she realized it had only taken her ten minutes to answer fifteen questions, and wondered if the test really wasn't too easy. Looking over when she heard a chair scraping against the floor, she looked at Ayumi, who was smiling.
They walked back over to the desk, waiting in line behind two people to speak to the woman again. Kagome overheard a man protesting a ticket, which the woman said could only be done in court. Blinking, wondering why someone would go to the DMV to protest a ticket, she watched the man get more and more frustrated before walking off. He reeked of the sickly smell of alcohol.
The next person was fairly quick, muttering about having her license reinstated. The woman referred her to the computers.
"We both passed," Kagome said, her voice almost giddy despite how easy it had been.
"I need your documentation."
Kagome opened her book bag and pulled out a folder holding her birth certificate, social security card and her highschool id card. The woman took them, typed into a computer for a moment and then handed the items back and pointed at a wall that had been put it. Kagome walked over to it, noticing the camera set onto another desk.
"Please put your toes on the tape," Someone said, walking past her and behind the desk. Kagome looked down and positioned herself, looking back up to the camera and fighting a smile. Despite her best efforts it emerged as the camera flashed, and the attendant worked with a machine next to it, waiting patiently.
"Please sign this," He told her, still sounding apathetic as she walked forward and signed the touch pad with a flourish. Ayumi watched, smiling widely as Kagome waited.
A moment later the card was in her hand, the stiff, heavy plastic still warm to the touch as she stared down at it. Despite the fact that she looked like she'd just eaten a bag of candy, chugged soda and been shaken well, her smile was so big in the picture, so undeniably goofy it looked stupid, she couldn't help but bounce excitedly.
Her permit.
Her motorcycle.
Riding.
She watched Ayumi go through the same procedure, a similar smile on her lips as she had her picture taken and a giggle escaping when she walked forward to sign her name. When the card came out they both waved and almost ran out, a bounce in their step as they escaped the building into the warm humidity of Tokyo, almost running into someone about to come in.
"Sorry!" Kagome called out breathlessly before looking down at the card again.
"I can't believe it!" Ayumi said, smiling so widely her teeth showed.
"I can! The test was so easy!"
"I missed the last question," Ayumi admitted. "What did you put?"
"When the throttle is stuck and you can't free it," Kagome told her.
"I put when you start to lose control," Ayumi said shyly, coloring.
"Now you know," Kagome giggled. "I just picked the one that seemed right to me, since the book didn't talk about kill switches, at least not that I've read yet."
"We have permits to ride motorcycles," Ayumi said as they walked, almost skipped to the bus station. "I can't wait to tell the pack!"
Kagome noticed her friend said pack and not guys, and it was a subtle distinction, one that made her smile as she opened her wallet and stuck her permit in, almost hesitantly. It still wasn't quite real, and when she closed the wallet she had to resist the urge to check it.
"When I get a bike I'll have to stop carrying a purse and use a wallet too," Ayumi observed. "That'll take some getting used too."
"You'll be fine," Kagome laughed as they waited for the bus.
"Did you still want to go to that place?"
The question put an immediate damper on Kagome's spirit, sobering the high her permit had given her.
"I need to. After yesterday, I can't very well ask mom to make an appointment, she'd hit the roof."
Ayumi nodded, looking slightly perturbed.
"I can go alone," Kagome told her, not wanting to, but not wanting to subject Ayumi to that place either. Ayumi shook her head vehemently.
"Friends stick together."
Kagome would never admit how much that helped to calm the knot of anxiety in her stomach. It didn't completely banish it, but it eased it somewhat, making it easier to get on the bus when it came and find a seat and keeping her from jumping off when she saw that they were getting close. She had chosen one that was close to the DMV for a reason, wanting to get it over with quickly. But even in that short span of time her worry and nervousness multiplied easily, again and again until she was sure she was going to be sick.
When they stepped off, Kagome looked at the street signs, almost tempted to go in a different direction until Ayumi took her hand. Kagome could feel the sweat on her palms, but Ayumi didn't pull away, only followed as Kagome walked past other people for four blocks before turning onto the correct street.
The building itself was unassuming, and not nearly so dreary looking as the DMV building had been, but Kagome had looked forward to going into the DMV. She did not look forward to walking into this one.
"Come on, you said you had an appointment, right?"
"Y-Yeah," Kagome mumbled, following her friend inside. Once she walked in and the door closed behind her, she realized it didn't look any different than a normal doctor's office, although the sofa and comfy chairs from her own doctor's practice were missing, replaced with several hard plastic chairs sitting edge to edge with only a single low table covered in pamphlets and magazines.
Ayumi tugged at her hand again, leading her over to the desk.
"Hello, how can I help you?" The secretary asked, smiling softly at Kagome. She was as unlike the other woman Kagome had spoken to, the one at the DMV, as anyone could be. Her hair was short cropped, just short of shaggy, and a small stud glinted in her nose. But her clothing was professional, and Kagome couldn't help but feel slightly comforted by her understanding smile.
"Higurashi, I made an appointment," Kagome answered quietly.
The woman clicked at her computer, nodding once.
"The physical and medication request? And you filled out the questionnaire electronically this morning?"
"Yeah," Kagome said, thankful the woman hadn't made any oblique references.
"Do you have your records?"
Kagome nodded once, shrugging her shoulder to indicate her backpack. It had taken her all morning to catch her mother out of the house so she could go through the filing cabinet that had her medical records.
"I'll need them to give to the doctor. You're early, but we don't have any patients scheduled for another hour, so she should be with you soon."
Kagome shrugged her bag off and went through it, handing the secretary the folder, hand shaking.
"First time?" The woman asked. Kagome wished she had a name tag, woman seemed so disrespectful, considering the amount of genuine sympathy in her tone. She nodded once, tightly to answer.
"Don't worry, Dr. Hina is a wonderful physician. There are some pamphlets on the table to help you learn more about what kinds of medication there are, if you haven't done any research into it. If there are any that stand out as something you're curious about, you can take them back with you."
"Umm, they mentioned payment," Kagome murmured.
"That's done at the end. If you need, we can set up a payment system if you have identification with you."
Kagome nodded, almost saying she had just gotten hers that morning, but it felt like over sharing. The secretary nodded and gave her another encouraging smile before walking over to the door and walking through. Kagome could see a plain hallway, devoid of anything but painted walls and carpet, for a brief moment before the door closed.
"Come on, let's look through some of the pamphlets," Ayumi told her. Kagome nodded, walking on wooden legs over to the chairs sitting closest to the table and sat, looking at the array of folded, glossy advertisements.
"Kagome, you're not committing a sin by looking," Ayumi told her firmly. "You're being responsible."
"My mother would kill me if she found out."
"Kagome, if your mom finds out, I'm sure she'll be grateful that you're taking precautions. And it's not her life. Or her vagina," Ayumi added testily, making Kagome choke on her breath for a moment before she turned to look at her friend, who had a stern expression, one that brooked no argument.
"I don't even know where to start."
"Here's one on the pill. I know Yuka and Eri use it, I've seen them taking theirs before."
Kagome accepted the pamphlet, quickly scanning the scant amount of information provided. Most of it was medical warnings about who shouldn't take it (she met none of the criteria) and who should (which she did meet the criteria for). There was also a chart of effectiveness, and the results from tests looked promising.
Ayumi was going through others, blushing lightly as she read through them. Kagome continued reading through them, putting two more on the stack with the one for the pill after looking at diagrams for others and discarding them. Most of them required she insert them before sex, and she knew that if Kouga was in the mindset he had been in before, they would be useless. He simply wouldn't give her time to put them in or do whatever else she had to do.
"This one looks good," Ayumi commented as she leaned over to show Kagome the leaflet. "It says it's more effective than even the pill, and you only have to get it once every three years."
"I'll definitely ask about this one," She said, scanning the diagrams. While she didn't look forward to having something inserted under her skin, it was a far cry better than potentially missing a pill.
They both looked through the rest of the pamphlets, surprised when the door opened and Kagome's name was called.
"Do you need someone to go with you?" Ayumi asked quietly.
"I'll be fine," Kagome said, although she wanted to ask her friend to come back. She knew the basics of what was about to happen, and she wouldn't subject Ayumi to that. Nodding and walking back, leaving her bag with Ayumi, she clutched the pamphlets to her chest and followed the doctor into a plain room with the medical bed she was used to seeing. Automatically hopping up onto it, she looked at the doctor, who was reading over her files.
"Hello Kagome, I'm Doctor Hina. Michiru tells me you're here for your first exam and for birth control," The woman said, taking a seat on a tall stool and smiling kindly.
"Yeah. I recently, um, I became active with my boyfriend."
"Your questionnaire said that you've had unprotected sex."
"Twice. It was an accident, we normally use it," She said, flushing under the woman's gaze and wondering if behind the serene, kindly face she was being judged for making such a huge mistake. "I want something in case it happens again."
"Accidents happen, the point is to be prepared for those times. First I'm going to have to ask you to give a sample of urine and then I'm going to take a blood sample, and we'll do the physical exam. One of the lab techs will go over your samples and we can go from there."
Kagome flushed, accepting the cup from the doctor and walking out of the room and across the hall, where the bathroom was. Quickly doing as she had been told, she put the cup on the ledge where a small, cabinet like door sat in the wall and washed her hands before going back, face burning. The doctor said nothing, seeming to notice her embarrassment as she closed the door.
Her vitals were taken, and then a blood sample, bright red in the overly white, sterile room. Doctor Hina gave her a paper dress from a cabinet and told her to put it on before leaving her alone to go give the tech the blood sample. Nervous, gut clenching, Kagome changed quickly and got back on the table, acutely aware of the cold air on her exposed back.
When Hina came back in, she sat and listened patiently as the procedure was described to her.
"Alright, lay back please, and put your feet in the stirrups."
What happened next made Kagome uncomfortable and vaguely ill, the feeling of having someone looking down there bad enough, but one the device moved into her she felt the nausea that had been roiling in her stomach double as dizziness made her vision swim.
But within minutes it was done, and the doctor removed the cold device, telling her it was alright to sit up, and that she would be back in another few minutes, allowing her time to dress.
And then a short eternity passed, one where she looked at the walls, wondering what was in the cabinets. When it moved from simple curiosity into horror at the imagined devices, Kagome grabbed the pamphlets from the counter and sat on the table again, staring down at the smiling faces of women, the bright blocked characters naming them glaring as they cut across the tops of their heads or their necks.
When the door opened again, she looked up, flushing as if she'd been caught staring at porn.
"Well, your samples indicate everything is normal. The results from your pap will be done within a few days, and we can call you or send them via mail, or both."
"Just a call," She mumbled, not wanting to chance that particular piece of mail being opened by anyone in her home. The doctor nodding in understanding, sitting on her stool and leaning back against the counter, legs and arms crossing.
"You're not pregnant, so we can look into birth control. Since you're saying it's a backup, in case another accident occurs, I take it you're not interested in ones you have to take in and out?"
"No ma'am," Kagome began, surprised when the woman chuckled.
"Hina is fine. Were there any that caught your attention?"
Kagome handed her the pamphlets, watching her face as Hina nodded thoughtfully.
"Which one seemed preferable to you?"
"The implant," Kagome answered honestly. "The charts suggest it was the most effective, and it's once every three years, so I wouldn't have to worry about forgetting."
"It is the more popular choice," Hina agreed, smiling softly. "And I reviewed your medical records, you are a prime candidate for it. The pill is the standard option, and the cheapest in the short term," The doctor said.
"But?" Kagome asked, sensing the word hanging in the air.
Hina went over the long term costs of both and the clinic's payment program, all with an air of sincere interest, as though she hadn't said it all a hundred or thousand times before, putting Kagome at ease. It sounded manageable, and she had brought money with her to pay for something, although she hadn't thought birth control would be so expensive. However, everything considered, the cost was cheap for three years of peace of mind.
"I would like to do the implant then."
"Alright," Hina agreed. "I can perform the procedure today. Michiru mentioned a friend with you, would you like her to come back? I know it can be a little frightening."
"I would like that," Kagome admitted shyly, feeling foolish for wanting support but terrified by the diagrams that she had seen in the pamphlet. Hina made a notation on the folder sitting on the counter and stood, excusing herself and leaving Kagome alone. A minute later Ayumi was walking in, blinking at the sudden brightness of the room compared to the somewhat dim hallway.
"Is everything alright? They said you needed me."
"I'm getting the implant. I'm a little nervous," Kagome admitted quietly. Ayumi walked over and, ignoring propriety, sat on the table next to Kagome and wrapped and arm around her shoulder.
"You'll be fine."
"What if it hurts?"
"You're really going to worry about it hurting?" Ayumi asked, making no effort to hide her surprise. "After some of the stories I've heard you're scared of a needle?"
Put in that context Kagome knew it sounded silly, but the last object she'd had in her body had been a jewel, and granted there was a definite difference, she wasn't quite sure how to feel about it.
"It'll be alright. You can squeeze my hand," Ayumi told her, taking her hand in her own and squeezing gently.
Hina walked back in, two slim boxes and a vial in hand. Kagome watched her wash her hands and put on gloves before opening the boxes and taking out two syringes, one that was normal and another one that made Kagome swallow convulsively.
"I need you to lie down and raise your arm over your head." Kagome complied, watching Ayumi walk to the other side of the table and take her hand. Cold shocked her system as her arm was swabbed.
"Now I'm going to inject a local anesthetic," She heard. Determined not to flinch, she stared up at the ceiling, feeling the pinch of the needle as it entered skin and the fluid pushing into her body. Within a moment the ordeal was over and Hina went and sat on her stool, closing the folder.
"Please don't move your arm. I'm going to give it a few minutes to numb up. So tell me about your boyfriend, or school," She tried.
"His names Kouga," Kagome murmured. "He's a mechanic that works on motorcycles."
"Bad boy huh?"
"Not really, he's really nice," Kagome defended. "We're going to work on a volunteer project he's helping to sponsor tomorrow."
"A volunteer project?"
"His garage and a few others pulled together to sponsor building a house for a habitat project."
"That sounds fun," Hina chuckled. "So a bad boy with a heart of gold."
"That's more like it," Ayumi agreed, giggling when Kagome shot her a wry look. "He fits the description pretty well Kagome, even you can't deny that. Maybe if he didn't curse so much."
"He-" Kagome started, then stopped, knowing that was one thing she couldn't deny.
"How does he feel about this?"
"He doesn't know yet, but he won't mind. We talked about it before, when the accidents happened. He was okay with me getting it."
"But he doesn't know you came today?"
"It was sort of last minute. I decided to do it after going to the DMV."
"The DMV?"
"My permit. He built me a motorcycle, and I've been learning to ride."
"Wow, must be serious if he built you a motorcycle," Hina replied, obviously impressed. "I'd kill for a guy to build me a birdhouse, much less a motorcycle," She added, chuckling. She got up and walked over, poking Kagome's arm experimentally. Kagome couldn't feel it, and told her, earning an approving nod before walking back over to the table and putting on a new set of gloves after removing the old and taking the monster syringe in hand.
Kagome watched it coming closer and squeezed Ayumi's hand, waiting for the pain.
But it didn't hurt as it was pushed in and worked under her skin. She could, in a very vague way, feel it sliding around beneath her flesh, heard an absurdly loud, startling click and then felt it sliding out. Hina pushed lightly against her arm and nodded again.
"You can feel it here, beneath the skin," She explained, letting Kagome touch her arm. Beneath the skin she felt a hard ridge and nodded, realizing that it was over.
"You need to keep the bandage and wrapping in place for twenty four hours, and the bandaid for at least three, or replace them after showering. The steristrips need to stay on for a week, but don't worry about replacing them if they fall off before that," Hina explained as she put two small steristrips of the implant and then a bandaid, followed by folded gauze and then a wrapping of it.
"It will be effective in seven days, and you might be sore for a week. If you notice any redness spreading or swelling, contact your physician, since you'll be having an allergic reaction, and we can't treat that here. If you need to remove it for any other reason, or at the end of three years, you can come back here."
"Thank you," Kagome told her, chancing a smile.
"Not so bad, was it?" Hina asked.
"No," Kagome admitted.
"Remember, you need another pap in six months. We can call to schedule if you need."
"Thanks," Kagome told her nodding as the woman dropped the syringes and gloves in a bright orange medical waste bin.
"No problem, I'm glad you're being responsible, that's what we're here for," Hina told her. "Michiru will be able to help you with your payment plan up front."
Both she and Ayumi walked up front, and Kagome was surprised when Michiru, she was glad to have a name, handed her the bookbag.
"It was sitting up here," The woman explained, smiling brightly. "Hina told me we'll need to work out a payment plan."
For the next five minutes Kagome went over her information, surprised when her initial fee only came out to a little over two thousand yen, which she had. Her brand new permit was copied into the file and put into a folder before being tucked into a drawer and locked away.
"Did you want to schedule your next appointment?"
"I'm fine for now. When I go to school I'll be out of town, so I don't know when exactly I'll be able to come," She admitted.
"That's fine. We'll give you a call to let you know the results in a few days."
And like that they were walking out into the sunlight, giving eachother surprised looks.
"I thought that was going to be a lot different," Kagome told Ayumi as they walked to the bus stop.
"Me too," Ayumi admitted. "I might go there if-"
"If what?" Kagome asked.
"If I get a boyfriend," Ayumi said, blushing and smiling as she said it. "The doctor seemed really nice."
"She was," Kagome laughed, realizing she had relaxed sometime during the whole process.
"Do you know where the garage is?" Ayumi asked suddenly.
"Not really," Kagome admitted.
"Think we could find it on the internet?"
"What are you planning?" Kagome asked.
"Lunch."
"We could call-"
"A surprise lunch," Ayumi laughed.
They got on the bus and chattered excitedly, already planning to take their helmets and jackets to surprise the youkai and hopefully go riding with them. Changing buses twice, they almost skipped to Ayumi's house, running upstairs to race one another to the computer.
Ayumi got to it first, pulling up the internet browser while Kagome put her medical records and the aftercare sheet for her implant on the small desk, taking care to slide the aftercare sheet and billing information into the folder before shoving their helmets into her bookbag, not caring in the least that they created awkward, unsightly bulges in it.
"Does this sound right?" Ayumi asked, reading out an address. "It says it's owned by Yuuma."
"Is there a diner called Denyo's in the area?" Kagome asked, peering over her friend's shoulder as the information was typed in.
"Less than a mile away."
"Then that's it. Come on," Kagome urged, suddenly impatient. Ayumi nodded, following her downstairs and back outside, calling out a quick goodbye to her mother as the door slammed shut behind them.
"You think they'll be happy?" Ayumi asked as they waited for the bus.
"I bet they will. After all that complaining about the order they're working on, they'll probably want a break, and when they find out about the permits I'm sure they'll be excited. Especially yours, since they had no idea," Kagome told her confidently.
"I hope so. You don't think they'll feel I'm being too presumptuous, do you?"
Kagome couldn't stop herself from making a disbelieving sound as they got on the bus and put change in the slot.
"If anything they'll probably do cartwheels. I'll bet they offer to teach you the minute they see that."
"You really think so? I don't want to impose on them."
"Pack, remember? Besides, I'm positive they wouldn't think it's imposing," Kagome promised as the bus began to move, jolting them slightly.
It took two buses to get to the train station and another after that to get to the area the garage was located, one Kagome noticed was mostly warehouses and small businesses Taking Ayumi's hand, they looked around, and Ayumi spotted the street sign immediately. They did have to walk several blocks before they found it, the rolling doors all open and the sounds of machinery coming from within.
Walking in, Kagome immediately noticed Kouga in a jumpsuit working on a motorcycle bigger than even his, a mask over his face as he worked, although he was only using a wrench of some sort. The machine sounds were coming from the workbenches where Ginta and Hakkaku worked several feet away from eachother, Ginta on something bigger, Hakkaku leaning in to carefully handle what it was he was working on. They were also wearing masks and had on thick ear protectors.
"This is where they work?" Ayumi asked, eyes wide. Kagome nodded and tugged on her hand, pulling her forward and into the garage. Kouga looked up, quickly setting the wrench in the toolbox next to him and walking over to them, pulling off his mask as he went.
"Hey," He smiled, immediately moving to hug Kagome. She raised her arms up to circle his neck, noticing for the first time a pain in her arm where the implant was as she rested it against him. Smiling despite the soreness, which had only been faint before, she kissed him soundly, smiling when he pulled away.
"You guys have been busy," She observed.
"The asshole took his services elsewhere, since having to wait annoyed him."
"Wait?"
"I get the chroming done elsewhere and assemble here," He explained. "Since he didn't tell me what he wanted immediately, and the guy I work with got another order in, he would have had to wait a bit longer. Screw him though," Kouga laughed. "I'm working on something for Taki."
"That's for Taki?" Kagome asked, eyes widening.
"Yup, hoping to work around her foot. She still rides, but it's a hassle, so we modify them for her. This just needed some adjusting."
"She rides that?" Kagome asked, still staring at the monstrous bike.
"Taki likes 'em big," He chuckled, walking over to the toolbox and pulling out a couple of small bolts, then throwing them at Ginta and Hakkaku, hitting both their heads.
They looked ready to protest until they saw her and Ayumi, immediately putting their tools down and pulling off the ear protection and striding over.
"Hey, didn't expect to see you guys!" Ginta said, smiling widely.
"Good thing too, I'm starved."
"You ate a huge breakfast," Ayumi sputtered.
"Growing boy," He joked, rubbing his stomach through the jumpsuit.
"Out maybe," Ayumi snorted.
"Come on lamebrains, the girls have decided to save us from work, let's not disappoint," Kouga laughed, walking inside. Kagome followed, surprised when everyone else did as they began climbing the stairs to Kouga's apartment. Once she got inside she understood why, seeing the clothes laying haphazardly on the couch.
"Be out in a sec," Kouga told her, walking for his room. Ginta and Hakkaku followed, grabbing their clothes.
"They weren't wearing anything under that?" Ayumi whispered, coloring.
"Guess not," Kagome mumbled, flushing as she imagined Kouga with the jumpsuit hanging around his waist. Unable to get the picture out of her head, she crossed her arms and tried to will her blush away, noticing that Ayumi couldn't stop the red spreading from her cheeks to her whole face either.
"They're all really comfortable with eachother," Ayumi murmured as a loud thump sounded and laughter echoed on the other side of the door.
"They grew up together."
Another thump followed by more laughter.
"What do you think they're doing?" Ayumi asked.
"A man dance?" Kagome suggested, jumping when something thumped loudly against the door.
"Towel popping, like in those movies where they show the guy's locker room?"
"We are not towel popping," Ginta called out.
"I forgot they could hear so well," Ayumi muttered.
"We're not doing a man dance either!" Hakkaku shouted.
"I bet they're smacking each other on the butts or something," Kagome whispered as lowly as she could in Ayumi's ear.
"I heard that!" Kouga shouted. "If you want your ass-"
"Kouga don't you dare!" Kagome shouted back.
"Kami, shit!" Kouga muttered, opening the door and rubbing his ear. "Lower the decibel range."
Kagome blushed hotly, crossing her arms and flinching when the sore spot flared with another ache.
"You alright?" He asked, closing the short distance between them. "That's the second time you've done that."
Kagome was wearing the jacket Hayate had given her, so she knew Kouga couldn't see the bandages, hadn't wanted him to until he explained it.
"We can go on ahead. You mentioned a diner, right?" Ayumi asked, nodding to the two youkai watching Kouga and Kagome.
"Yeah, sounds good," Kagome murmured, blushing when she realized everyone but Ayumi was staring at her. Being the center of attention, very concerned attention, made her want to crawl into a hole and hide. The embarrassment from her visit with the doctor returned, making her shuffle her feet as Ayumi accepted the backpack and pulled her helmet out.
"Come on guys," Ayumi urged the other two ookami, closing the door after they walked down the stairs slowly.
"What's wrong?"
"I-" She started, then shrugged and took the jacket off. Tossing it on the couch behind her she raised her arm.
"What the hell happened?" Kouga asked, staring at the bandage. "I don't smell blood, at least not much."
Kagome plopped onto the couch, puffing air at her bangs as he sat next to her.
"I went to the clinic today."
"Clinic? For a doctor?"
"For a physical checkup and-" She stopped again, knowing the word would stutter out. Already embarrassed enough, she tried to force the word out.
"And?"
"I got the implant," She burst out, the words soft and plosive, quickly said.
"Implant? What sort of implant?"
"A birth control implant."
"In your arm?" He asked, blinking obliquely, obviously confused. She nodded, once, leaning forward and bracing her arms on her knees.
"They did a physical and then I looked at different kinds. This one seemed like the best option."
"An implant?" He asked again, still bemusement etching his features.
"It more effective than the pill. It's a little sore though. Doctor Hina warned me it would be." Kagome realized she was speaking with an almost clinical detachment, her mortification making it almost breathless as the words hit the air.
"Why didn't you tell me before you went?" He asked softly. Kagome looked up at him, surprised that he seemed almost hurt. "I would have gone with you."
"I decided to do it, spur of the moment and everything. I knew mom would flip if I talked to her about it, so I went to the clinic. I'm a student, so my fees aren't too high, and we worked out a payment plan," She explained.
"I'll pay the rest. I wish you'd told me beforehand," He sighed. "I'm glad you did it," He explained quickly when she gave him a blank look, unsure of what he was trying to say. "I just don't want you to do something like that alone. And since I'm part of it, I mean," He faltered, coloring.
"Ayumi was with me during the insert. It wasn't bad or anything, I got a numbing shot. I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"It's fine," He told her, putting an arm over her shoulder. "I do want to pay for the rest. If I had better control, it wouldn't be an issue."
"Will you stop that?" Kagome sighed. "It's your nature. If it was a problem, I would tell you. It's not though. It took less than a minute to get the solution. So stop beating yourself up over it."
"I just don't want you to-"
"Get annoyed that I can't even jump my boyfriend?" She tried joking, guilt immediately settling in following it when his eyes widened. It wasn't something to laugh about, but the seriousness of the conversation was beginning to worry her. She had hoped that Kouga had accepted what had happened, but apparently he hadn't.
"Kouga, I'm sorry, that was a mean joke, I didn't-I'm sorry," She said again, sighing heavily. "I don't understand what you went through, but I don't mind it. You forget that I'm used to youkai. What you did, it was nothing like Inu Yasha breaking the seal on his youkai blood and killing people."
"I could have," Kouga snapped.
"But you didn't. When I told you I wanted to leave, you listened. You didn't try to hurt me, you knew me," She reminded him. "And if getting me all sweaty and covered in your scent is the way to soothe what was brought to the surface, sex is a better way that doing something else, like a normal wolf would."
Kouga choked on a laugh, easing the tension in the room. Leaning against him, she wove her fingers through his, hoping that whatever had been bothering had at least lessened, to some extent.
"I don't like scaring you," He admitted.
"At first I was," She said softly. "And then I realized you were still you. And then-" She stopped flushing as she remembered what had happened that night.
A low sigh echoed through the small room and Kagome looked over to Kouga, who was staring back at her.
"You've turned into a pervert," He muttered, moving to nuzzle her.
"It's your fault," She murmured, the words brushing over his lips as she turned and tilted her head. It was an awkward kiss given their position, and craving the contact, she shifted until she was facing him, one leg thrown over his. Teeth clicked together unpleasantly, making her pull back and run her tongue over her own, eyes pinned on him.
"Kagome, I know you want to make me feel better, but-"
"But what?" She asked, leaning forward again.
"I don't need this sort of thing, alright? Don't- Not for me."
Seeing the hesitation and wariness in his expression, Kagome sighed, pulling herself up so that she was straddling his lap. Threading her hands into his hair, she ignored that she was mussing his ponytail, lightly scratching his scalp and leaning down so that her nose rested lightly against his.
"You're right, we don't need it," She told him. "But we both like it. I am doing this for you, in part," She told him, sensing more than seeing his mouth open to speak. "But I'm doing it for me too."
Feeling like anything but a seductive, worldly woman, she tilted her head, kissed his cheek, moved to his jaw.
"I like feeling this closeness with you," She murmured, hands dropping to the hem of his shirt and moving underneath to feel the warmth of his skin. Strong hands settled on her hips, inched up under her shirt slowly to rest on her waist as she kissed along the line of his jaw and down to his neck, lips barely brushing the surface. Her hands traveled higher, laying flat as she reveled in the feeling of his muscles tensing beneath her palms.
"It doesn't always have to be gentle or slow, I won't break," She promised, tongue darting out to touch the sensitive spot below his ear. "As long as it's you."
"Kagome, you sure about this?" He asked, looking up at her.
"I will always be sure about us."
When they walked into the diner, they saw Ayumi wave from the corner and walked over. Ginta and Hakkaku both stared at them, expressions pole axed as they sat down.
"Wow."
"What?" Ayumi asked.
"Say one word," Kagome mumbled as she sat down next to Ayumi. "And I will make sure you regret it."
"Might be worth it," Ginta told her.
"What's the worst she'd do?" Hakkaku asked.
"Play with what's left of you after I beat the shit out of you," Kouga growled.
"Not our fault you can't shower after an afternoon romp."
"Damnit Ginta," Kagome muttered, covering her face with her hands. The waitress walked over, and Kagome hoped the woman hadn't heard that part of the conversation.
Kouga called her by name, and Kagome and he both ordered their drinks before she was walking away again.
"Seriously. Why do you guys hate showers so much?" Hakkaku asked.
"One more word and I'll tell Ayumi that we're not showing the surprise," Kagome threatened.
"That's mean," Ayumi whined softly. "I've been waiting since we got here."
"Surprise?" Kouga asked, looking completely lost.
"We went somewhere else today," Kagome said, smiling shyly.
"Now?" Ayumi asked. Kagome nodded and reached in her back pocket while Ayumi pulled her id booklet from her purse. They both slid the permits onto the table at the same time, smiling widely.
"This is awesome!" Ginta shouted, a grin stretching his lips wide.
"Both of you?" Hakkaku asked, looking as excited as Ginta, eyes flicking from Ayumi and Kagome to the permits on the table.
"Two women on bikes, kami help us," Kouga joked, shrugging when Kagome stuck her tongue out at him.
"I was hoping," Ayumi murmured, flushing brightly. "That maybe I could learn with Kagome, if it's not too much trouble. I don't want to impose or take up any time-"
"No, it's fine," Hakkaku started.
"We'd love to teach you," Ginta finished, almost bouncing in his seat.
"Told you," Kagome said, looking at Ayumi and giggling.
"You look like you're about to explode in this picture," Kouga observed, picking up the permit.
"It's awful," Kagome sighed, still unable to shake her smile.
"It is pretty bad," He agreed, earning an exasperated huff.
"You really shouldn't talk about your girlfriend that way," Ginta told him.
"Especially when yours is worse," Hakkaku added.
"Really?" Kagome asked, eyes wide.
"It's bad, he had helmet hair and everything that day."
"It's not my fault the DMV decided to pick the most obnoxious asshole on the planet to work the damn counter," Kouga growled.
"I'd like to see it," Kagome quipped, putting her elbows on the table and propping her chin on her hands, giving him what she hoped were doe eyes. Obviously fake, facetious ones.
"Fine," Kouga grumbled, shifting and pulling his wallet out.
"You too guys," Ayumi told Ginta and Hakkaku.
Three licenses joined the permits on the table.
"You both had helmet hair," Kagome snickered, looking down at the pictures.
"Nah, Ginta tried gelling his hair that day," Kouga snorted. "Damn near fainted from the fumes in his helmet."
"No better than Hakkaku shaving off his mohawk," Ginta retorted.
"Please don't ever shave your head again," Ayumi murmured. "That looks terrible. Even a mohawk would be better."
"I wanted my hair to grow out evenly," Hakkaku defended, blushing. "I'm not going to do it again."
Kagome was still looking at the dour expression on Kouga's face, surprised fangs weren't showing for all the irritation in his eyes.
"Your hair looks like you were making out with an electrical socket," She commented dryly.
"Ha-ha," He muttered, taking the license and putting it back in his wallet and sliding that into his pocket.
The waitress came back and took their orders, leaving them to discuss learning how to ride a motorcycle, something all of them latched onto. By the time food came, Kouga was arguing with Ginta and Hakkaku, groaning when they mentioned going to Taki's that afternoon for armor similar to Kagome's.
"Can we at least wait until her bike is finished. She might be nicer," Kouga sighed, absentmindedly eating a fry. "Or better yet, without me?"
"Make her mad?" Kagome asked, staring at him with a smile.
"She's already demanding we come for dinner. I've only been back a few days, and we're going to be working on the house tomorrow. If we go to Taki's we'll be there late. Happens every time. We need to be there at seven."
"What about tomorrow after the building project?" Ginta asked.
"We might be useful, but they won't," Kouga said, shrugging when both Kagome and Ayumi glared at him. "What?" He demanded. "You're going to be busting ass, and unlike us, you don't have unlimited stamina or strength. Do you really want to deal with Taki when you're sore and tired?"
"He's got a point," Hakkaku sighed.
"I guess not," Kagome admitted. "Still-"
"Give it a few days. The permits aren't going anywhere, and neither is Taki. That old bat will outlive us all."
"She's human," Kagome pointed out quietly.
"Doesn't matter," Ginta snorted.
"Death is afraid of Taki," Hakkaku agreed.
"Maybe a few days is a good idea," Ayumi said, paling considerably. Kagome sighed, wanting to hit all three males over the head and barely restraining herself.
"You're scaring Ayumi guys," She pointed out flatly. "Look, Taki is rough around the edges like the guys, but she's a good person. Don't worry."
"I'm not," Ayumi stuttered, although the lie was obvious.
"You want us to lie?" Kouga asked.
"You're making her out to sound like some monster that eats small children and breathes fire," Kagome snapped. "She's a bit short with people, but she obviously cares about you and she gave me the armor for no reason I can explain other than she was being nice. So however short she is with people, she's still nice."
Kouga opened his mouth, as if to rebut her statement, then closed it abruptly.
"Lover's spat?" Ginta asked, eyes wide.
"Their first one maybe?" Hakkaku added.
"No, I just can't think of anything to throw against that, since she's right," Kouga grumbled. "Smart asses."
Kagome preened, she really couldn't help herself, sticking out her tongue when Kouga rolled his eyes and muttered something too low for her to hear. Ginta and Hakkaku however, both choked on their drinks.
"So about tomorrow," Ayumi began, breaking the silence that had descended.
"We can pick you guys up, it'll be early," Kouga sighed, leaning back in his seat. "And you need to be ready to go when we get there."
"Or they could crash with us," Hakkaku offered.
"That way we're all in one place and can just go. We'd all get more sleep too."
"I dunno," Kouga began.
"It makes sense," Ayumi agreed.
"I don't want Kagome's mom trying to murder me," Kouga sighed.
"I can take care of it," Kagome told him, shrugging it off. He looked doubtful, but she only shrugged again, not wanting to admit she would just tell her mother she was staying with Ayumi, which wouldn't technically be a lie, just a lack of details.
"Fair enough," Kouga said. "What about you?"
"My parents won't mind, they know I was planning on working on the project, I can just tell them it will be simpler to start from one place in the morning. We'll need to get some clothes though."
"The guys can take you, I need to finish Taki's bike."
"What about the-"
"I can finish where you left off," Kouga told him. "I'll meet up with you at the apartment."
"Sounds like a plan," Kagome told them. "I can grab my bag from the shop and pack-"
"Ayumi can take your bag, you're staying," He growled, although there was no anger to it, merely command.
"I am?"
"You're the one who wanted to learn more. Seems like a good time to start."
"Learning, sure," Hakkaku said, words exaggerated and reminding Kagome far too much of Yuka for a moment.
"She'll still be learning," Ginta started.
"You guys are impossible," Ayumi huffed, cutting Ginta's statement off.
"Keep going and I'll tell Taki it was you guys that hooked Mikon up with Shoko."
"What?" Ginta stuttered, paling so much that his tan looked whitewashed.
"Shoko?" Kagome asked, surprised by the utter horror on Ginta and Hakkaku's faces.
"Crazy," Hakkaku shuddered.
"Nuts."
"She was fucking deranged," Kouga added. "Ran her car into his bike when he broke up with her."
"She did what?" Ayumi gasped.
"After dating for two weeks."
"People do that?" Kagome asked.
"Crazy people," Kouga snorted. "Which is why they won't keep going on. Not unless they want Taki trying to run them over," He added as he got up and walked over to the counter to pay their bill. Kagome got up and grabbed their helmets, looking to Ayumi, who was still blushing from the innuendo.
"Do you mind if I borrowed some clothes?" Kagome asked.
"It's fine," Ayumi said, hugging her helmet. "Is everything alright now though?"
"It's fine," Kagome told her, offering an equally shy smile. "I'll see you later?"
"See you later," Ayumi promised as they walked out into the sunlight.
She watched as Ayumi got on behind Hakkaku and pulled on her helmet, waving as they pulled out of the parking lot. Kouga walked out a second later, accepting his helmet with a smile.
"Ready to learn about breaks?" He asked, enthusiasm obvious as he straddled the motorcycle.
"Sure," Kagome laughed, his mood infectious as she pulled herself up behind him.
By the time Kouga had finished working on the breaks, which he had modified for Taki's disability, Kagome's head was swimming with information. The simple modification Kouga had made to Taki's break to move it to the handlebars hadn't been simple at all, at least to her, and when she followed him up the stairs to Ginta and Hakkaku's apartment, she was still intimidated by the fact that she could only remember half of what Kouga had taught her that day.
When they walked in, Kouga didn't knock, just used a key from his wallet, Ayumi, Ginta and Hakkaku were going over the riding book Kouga had gotten for her.
"Hey guys. Tell me there is dinner," Kouga sighed, putting his helmet next to the three already on the table in the small dining area and then shrugging off his jacket, draping it over the back of a chair. Kagome followed suit, toeing off her shoes and padding over to the 'living room' which was distinguished only by the futon mattresses on the floor around a large square coffee table.
"Figured we'd order pizza," Ginta told him.
"We were waiting for you guys."
Kouga groaned as he walked into the kitchen and called out two different names, growling loudly when both youkai called out different names. Kagome giggled, sitting next to Ayumi and looking at the book that was open on the table.
"Did you two have fun?" Ginta asked slyly.
"I got to learn about breaks today," Kagome answered honestly.
"Or lack of them?" Hakkaku asked before a shoe came out of nowhere and hit him, knocking him backward. The next hit Ginta head on, literally, thumping onto the futon next to him.
"Is it normal for them to do that?" Ayumi asked, blinking several times, as if she wasn't sure she had seen what she thought she had.
"Maybe. They can be really abusive," Kagome noted in a dry tone.
"Just wait assholes, the minute either of you even so much as think of asking-"
"Kouga," Kagome said, warning in her voice. Kouga stopped immediately, head popping out of the kitchen, frown firmly in place.
"What, so they can harass me and you about our sex life and I can't return the favor?"
"You'll be making some poor girl as embarrassed as I am now. I'd be angry. Remember how you said you'd never piss me off?"
"Fine," He muttered, flipping open his phone and dialing a number. Kagome turned back to the book, rolling her eyes and huffing as Ginta and Hakkaku straightened, both rubbing their heads and groaning plaintively.
"Serves you both right for embarrassing Kagome," Ayumi told them, voice tight.
"It is so good to have another girl in this group," Kagome told her firmly.
"Wonderful. Two women to pms together with," Hakkaku sighed.
"One of them a miko," Ginta added.
Kagome and Ayumi each smacked one of them on their heads, muttering about insensitive males. Ayumi got up and grabbed her bag, Kagome following as they walked to the bathroom, small, but not as small as Kouga's, and changing into the pajamas Ayumi had packed.
"It could be worse," Kagome sighed.
"How?" Ayumi asked.
"Could be Yuka and Eri," She chuckled.
They walked back out, surprised to see two very forlorn looking youkai staring back at them with wide blue eyes, reminding Kagome immediately of the term 'puppy dog eyes'. She didn't think they would appreciate the sentiment though.
"We're sorry for being-"
"Crass and insensitive," Hakkaku finished.
Kagome looked at them both, feeling like she'd been kicked in the gut.
"Stop, I feel like I just ran over your bikes," Kagome groaned, sitting down between them. Ayumi sat next to her, looking like Kagome felt.
"Don't fall for it girls, they're good at this. Centuries of practice to keep their mom from kicking their ass."
"You guys are brothers?" Ayumi asked, the topic change making Kagome's brain stutter for a moment before she realized what had been said.
"Sort of," Ginta said.
"My mother shortly died giving birth to me. I nursed with Ginta," Hakkaku explained.
"Oh, I didn't know," Ayumi said, switching from looking at one to the other. "That explains why you're both so close."
"Brothers," Ginta agreed.
The topic shifted from there, both of them talking about their own memories of the pack and meeting Kouga for the first time when their pack combined with his. Kagome found out that the two youkai had taken an instant dislike to their future pack leader, and the feeling had been mutual. What had started as dislike had turned into an all out war until they'd annoyed the pack so much that their fathers had knocked sense into them in a very literal sense and told them to get along, or else. What the or else had been was never explained, and Kagome figured that not even Kouga knew. It was the vague, shadowy 'or else' that every parent gave their child sooner or later, regardless of species.
They were still telling stories when she felt Ayumi lean against her, and when she began to slump onto the table, careful to avoid the plates of pizza. A small, friendly argument broke out about something from a hunting party they'd assembled, and that was the last thing she remembered hearing.