Ton Up
By: The Hatter Theory
Disclaimer: I don't own the right to Inu Yasha.
AN: The reviews have been amazing. Thank you guys so much. No lemons in this chapter, so no censoring. See you next week.
Kagome felt someone shaking her, heard voices whispering and a long feminine groan, one that had not come from her throat. Opening her eyes, she saw Ayumi first, burying her face into a pillow. The next thing she noticed was that Ayumi was being rocked, a clawed hand on her shoulder, and that she was getting the same treatment.
"Not yet," Ayumi whimpered, clenching her eyelids tightly together and pulling the pillow closer.
"We need to get ready," Ginta's voice whispered.
"Come on Kagome," Kouga's voice told her. "If you want breakfast you need to get up, or else you'll starve until lunch."
"Ayumi," Hakkaku whispered, voice a bit more forceful than Ginta's had been. "Wake up."
"Five more minutes," Ayumi groaned, clutching the pillow even tighter and hiding her face in it. Kagome giggled, wondering in a very dazed way, still too sleepy to actually worry, how her friend was breathing.
"Ayumi," She whispered, getting closer. "If you don't get up, I'll tell them about that trick your mom uses."
A single angry, brown eye peeked from the pillow, opening narrowly and not entirely without a hint of anger.
"That's low Kagome," Ayumu growled.
"It works," She said through a yawn, pushing herself up and looking down at the curled ball that was her normally sweet, quiet friend. Ayumi was notorious for being difficult to wake up, and it was the one time of the day she was not sweet or quiet. In fact, her mother had likened her to a bear through her middle and high school days.
And she still hadn't uncurled.
"Fine," Kagome sighed, standing up and grabbing the bottom of the blanket, giving it a sharp tug. Ayumi clung before losing the battle, exposing her body to the chill.
"Mean Kagome," Ayumi whined, pushing herself up and glaring at her.
"At least it wasn't frozen marbles."
"Kagome!"
"What? It's what your mom had to do."
"Frozen marbles?" Ginta asked as Ayumi got up and stretched, another yawn turning into a highpitched squeak before she walked into the bathroom.
"Put them in the freezer and then in the morning, if she refuses to get up, put them under the covers. She can't roll away from them. Her mom has three or four bags that she's used, and Ayumi's room has marbles everywhere," Kagome giggled lightly. "Every once in awhile we'd have a marble hunt to take a break from studying for finals."
"She's worse than you," Kouga chuckled, walking in from the kitchen with two steaming mugs in hand. Kagome accepted it gratefully, taking a small sip before she cringed.
"What is this?" She sputtered.
"Coffee," Kouga told her, brow raised.
"It's like oil," She told him, staring down at the cup before looking back up at him.
"Good coffee is," Ginta told her, walking into the kitchen, presumably to make himself a mug as well.
"So what's this I heard about breakfast?" Kagome asked before taking another sip.
"We can grab something on the way, we need to hurry though," Kouga told her. Kagome nodded, opting to set her coffee on the table that had been moved after she had fallen asleep. Obviously the youkai had chosen to let her and Ayumi stay where they were, only shifting them on the futon they'd been sitting on and moving the coffee table to move the others around it, curling around them again. It was the strangest sleeping arrangement Kagome had ever been a part of, but not unpleasant or embarrassing. If anything she couldn't help but feel it was sweet, how the youkai were looking after her and her friend.
"I'm going to go change," She told them, grabbing the bag Ayumi had packed and heading for the bedroom. It wasn't lost on her that there was only one bedroom, and that all signs pointed to the fact that Ginta and Hakkaku shared it. Given their ease with sleeping next to one another and showering together, she didn't find it strange that they shared a room.
Ayumi knocked and came in a moment later, quickly changing. She was still yawning when Kagome threw one of the plain shirts at her.
"I'm not sure I'll ever get used to waking up in a pile of people," Ayumi said through another yawn as she tugged the shirt on. "It's nice, but strange. Especially since it's guys."
"At least they're not trying to pile on top of you," Kagome pointed out as she put on socks.
"True," Ayumi said, smiling sheepishly. "That would get heavy."
They shoved their pajamas in the bag and walked out, the guys tipping their mugs back and murmuring amongst themselves, speaking in the growls and grumbles that reminded her of the past.
"Think I'll ever be able to speak that?" Kagome asked as Kouga passed her.
"Dunno," He admitted. "We were born as wolves, it took me forever to learn human speech."
"You were born as wolves?" Kagome asked, surprised.
"Story for later," He told her as Ginta and Hakkaku followed him into the room and the door shut. Kagome looked to Ayumi, who looked as surprised as she felt.
"They were born as wolves?" Ayumi whispered, eyes wide. She was obviously awake after that tidbit, and even Kagome was having trouble grasping it.
"I wonder how they gained their human forms," She murmured, going to put on her shoes. "I guess it makes sense, I remember a lot of the pack following him looking like wolves."
"You think the wolf populations becoming extinct was really ookami taking human forms permanently?" Ayami asked her quietly.
"Maybe," Kagome said, turning the problem over in her head. And if that was true, what about other extinct animal populations? Had they really disappeared, or had they been youkai and merely taken human form for safety?
The door opened and the youkai filed out, all in jeans that had seen better days, grease stains and frayed holes in the knees, and plain cotton shirts and work boots. All of them looked slightly uncomfortable, as if they had been discussing something they hadn't liked or worse, Kagome wondered if what she and Ayumi had said had been heard and it made them feel that way. Remembering the history Kouga had given her, she wondered if the idea of the other wolves discomfited him, or if that split had been a cause of the wolf population vanishing into the ether.
"Come on guys," Kouga told them. "We've still got to grab some breakfast."
She and Ayumi followed silently, ignoring the helmets and jackets on the table and going ahead of the youkai to the parking lot where the truck waited. Once inside with the youkai, Kagome almost wished she was in the backseat next to Ayumi, the silence was so oppressive. It certainly wasn't the almost playful atmosphere they'd woken to less than half an hour before, and the tension was seeping into them, stiffening their bodies as Kouga pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road.
It was still dark outside, and Kagome looked around, trying to figure out where the sun would be coming up from. It would be the first sunrise they had all shared together, and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to share it with them. A selfish part of her liked having something between just her and Kouga. In the next moment she reminded herself that the three youkai probably shared everything, they'd had centuries together, centuries she suddenly envied.
A hand settled on her own, making her jump at the sudden, unexpected contact. Looking over to Kouga, she saw him tilt his head towards his window with a small smile. She looked past him and saw the first beginnings on light beginning to peek over the buildings. Turning quickly to see if the others were watching, she noticed that Ginta and Hakkaku, seated on either side of Ayumi, were leaning against her, eyes closed.
They were all snoring softly.
Her anxiety washed away at the sight, her mind content with the quasi privacy afforded by their slumber and the feeling that she and Ayumi had, in a tangle of events she hadn't expected in the least, become true pack.
Squeezing Kouga's hand gently, she watched the light begin to creep over the buildings as he navigated through the city and pulled into a small gas station that had a restaurant attached. Leaving the others to their relative peace -Ginta's snoring had gotten slightly louder- she went in with Kouga and waited patiently with him while he ordered several biscuit sandwiches and coffees. This time when the cups came, she took one for her and another for Ayumi and mixed cream and sugar in before putting the lids back on, ignoring Kouga's amused smirk.
When they got back in, all three people in the back seat came to life, the smell of breakfast wafting through the truck too strong to ignore. Kagome passed back coffee cups and took a few biscuits from the bag before passing the rest back.
"You said other garages were helping to sponsor the house," She mentioned as they ate.
"Three other shops. We're going to help put up the framing and subflooring today, the foundation is already done. Contractors will put the roof on without us, they don't want us screwing that up, and I'm not particularly keen on roofing anyway," He told her through a mouthful. He swallowed quickly and took a long sip from his coffee. "We'll go back to help with putting up sheetrock and priming, easy stuff. They'll have all the wiring and plumbing done by then, since that isn't something they want amateurs messing around with."
"You guys work with electricity all the time."
"On bikes, not for houses. Two completely different animals," Hakkaku answered from the back seat, as Kouga was finishing his biscuit in another huge bite.
"We'd probably do something that would set the house on fire the minute it was turned on," Ginta added.
"So it's just hammering and carrying stuff around, that sort of thing. Pretty simple stuff."
Kagome nodded, wondering if it really would be that simple as they drove into the suburbs, obviously a poorer section of them, but still suburbs, where simple, small houses dotted an out of the way street. When she began to notice more and more motorcycles parked along the side, some like Kouga's and some that were completely different, she began looking for the building site.
They parked and got out, following Kouga as he led them another block to where a large group of people had gathered. Kagome noticed a truck filled with lumber and a table with papers held down by smaller pieces of lumber.
"Yuuma!" A voice called out. Kagome walked with Kouga and the rest of the group over to a small group, the person that had called out an older man with a long beard.
"Hey Hoshiro," Kouga greeted.
"And who are these two stunning young flowers?" The older man asked, eyeing Kagome and Ayumi, his smile so ridiculous it immediately set her at ease. Kagome smiled brightly, nodding a greeting.
"This is Kagome, my girlfriend, and Ayumi. Guys, this is Hoshiro, he's the one who told me about the program. And watch out, he likes beautiful women almost as much as he loves his bike."
"I'm hurt," Hoshiro said, shaking Kagome's hand but looking at Kouga. "I could never love anything as much as I love Shina."
"Shina?" Kagome asked, releasing his hand.
"His newest bike. He said that about the last two, so don't believe anything he says," Kouga laughed. Kagome nodded, surprised by his ease with the group as introductions were made. Kagome noticed that only a few other women had come, most of the group being male, and a great deal of them older and more grizzled looking.
Only a few minutes later someone called out for them all to pay attention, and Kagome listened carefully as they went over the plans for the day. It didn't sound like much, she realized. Putting in the giant flat boards on a frame already built on the foundation, and putting together and nailing the supports for the walls.
However, in less than an hour she felt like she was dying. Her arm, which had been even more sore than the day before, protested and ached, demanding she rest as she carried lumber back and forth, taking it from the truck to the area where they were operating two huge saws, and then to be nailed together, keeping directions straight in her head.
Ayumi worked with her, but the youkai had been recruited to help nail down the subflooring. Determined not to show how tired she was, and how much her arm hurt, she continued until she was told that they were done for the moment and to go work on the wall supports.
Hammering proved harder than she thought. She and Ayumi both bent at least a quarter of the nails and were forced to pull them out before putting in new ones. The only comfort was that several other people working on the frames seemed to be doing the same thing. Sweaty and hot, she lost track of time, only taking notice of anything around her when they finished one of the frames and men came and carried them off.
By the time one of the contractors shouted out, in a loud booming voice, that lunch was there, her whole body ached, but she felt like she could keep going. Ignoring it in favor of her stomach, she walked over to the tables set up with Ayumi and grabbed a wrapped burger, not caring if she got something she normally wouldn't eat.
Kouga took one look at her and tugged at her hand, pulling her over to the house itself and sitting down on the subflooring. Kagome noticed most of the group was doing something similar, forming small groups that she assumed were most likely based off of the garage they worked in. Ginta and Hakkaku laughed when Ayumi groaned and laid back, claiming to not even be hungry.
"It's hard work," Kouga agreed. "But it's worth it. The older woman over there," He said, nodding at a small group of women, one of them obviously very old. "This is for her and her family. Her husband died years ago, and she lived with her kids. They died in a car accident and she was left with the grandchildren, but no job or savings really, and it's more difficult for the elderly to find work. She'll work for the program, probably clerical work of some kind, to help pay for food, but the house and the land are hers."
Kagome had known, in a very abstract way, that they were building a house for someone, but it hadn't really sunk in what she was doing it for until she saw the woman, who was smiling gratefully and eating her burger.
"It's good that these programs exist," Kagome murmured quietly.
"Yup. Kouga's got a soft heart," Ginta agreed.
"Helps sponsor one every few months, this is the second this year," Hakkaku added, crumpling the wrapper for his burger and taking a long pull from his water bottle.
"I bet that would earn me brownie points with your mom," Kouga said, voice thoughtful. "Maybe you could invite your family for the next one."
"I might be in school," Kagome murmured. "But it couldn't hurt. Besides, it's not like I can't come back for a day or two."
"More than that," Kouga said, smiling.
"I forgot, wolves are notorious for getting lonely without someone to cuddle," She smirked. He rolled his eyes, but blushed nonetheless, crumpling up his own wrapper.
"Don't worry, there's always mutt piles," Ayumi added, giggling.
"Not as fun without you two," Ginta said.
"You guys are cuddly when you sleep."
"We are?" Kagome asked.
"You treat us like teddy bears," Kouga snorted. "I woke up last night to you pulling on my hair in your sleep."
"I did not," Kagome defended.
"You did, I heard him yelp," Hakkaku chortled.
"Oh like you can say anything?" Kouga growled. "I heard you grunting when Ayumi rolled over and smacked you."
"I didn't," Ayumi gasped, eyes wide in horror. "I'm so sorry," She added, looking at Hakkaku.
"It's not a problem. Better than Ginta kicking me."
"Can't help that I'm an active sleeper," Ginta defended, although he was smiling.
"Except for that time you got me in my balls," Hakkaku retorted.
"If anyone else heard this, they'd think you two were a couple," Kagome laughed.
"Not like you didn't when they showered together," Kouga reminded her.
"You thought-" Ginta asked, blushing vividly.
"That we," Hakkaku added, finger waggling back and forth between himself and Ginta.
"Well," Kagome defended, now blushing as well. "What would you think?"
"I sort of thought so too at first," Ayumi added, blushing.
"No way!" Hakkaku burst out.
"That's just-" Ginta was shaking his head back and forth, nose wrinkled.
"Logic," Kouga laughed, the sound loud as his whole body shook. Other groups looked over at them curiously, and Kagome felt like falling through the floor and curling up beneath the house, hopefully never to be seen or heard from again as Kouga continued laughing hysterically.
"What's wrong with him?" Kagome asked, staring at him.
"No idea," Ginta said flatly.
"He's finally snapped," Hakkaku added, his voice just as flat. Kouga righted himself, wiping his eyes and smiling.
"Oh come on," Kouga said, still grinning. "It's not like I said you were. It would just make sense from the perspective of someone who hasn't known you two as long as I have."
Neither of the ookami had anything to say to that, and it was only a minute later that the contractors were asking if everyone was done. People got up, some groaning and sniping about being too old while others poked fun at their moaning. Kagome herself felt old, the pain in her arm flaring up as she moved it.
The second part of the day turned out to be easier, mostly hammering and then being told to hold up the beam frames so they could be nailed in. She was able to hold three walls for the youkai, who were all working together. Kouga smiled up at her while she and Ayumi chattered idly with two of the other women holding the wall up. They were wives to two of the older bikers, making jokes and surprised that Kagome and Ayumi had gotten their permits. Kagome had the feeling that other women didn't try to learn riding so much as just riding behind their husbands, and felt a bit of pride, although she said nothing about it to the women.
When they were cleaning up the spare materials, she realized that Kouga had been right, and she and Ayumi both were so tired sleeping for a week sounded like a wonderful plan. When the contractors told them all it was over for the day, Kouga came over and hunched, and she pulled herself onto his back, clinging gratefully despite her aching body protesting the position. Ayumi was also being carried, holding fast to Ginta while they walked the block back to the truck.
"I take it a movie and dinner is a bad idea?" Kouga asked, chuckling lightly. The sound vibrated through him and into Kagome's body.
"Showers. Showers first. And then that if I don't kill myself in the shower," She told him firmly as he sat her down.
"Sounds like a plan," He agreed as he opened the door for her.
When they pulled out, several motorcycles were as well, and Kagome saw the women waving as they drove by, one arm wrapped around whoever was driving the bike.
"Is it strange for women to learn how to ride?" Kagome asked.
"For some kinds of bikers. There are plenty of female riders, but some people stick to stereotypes," Kouga told her.
"Stereotypes?" Kagome asked, confused.
"The male has the bike, the woman holds on. It's just how some guys work and the women go along with it."
"I don't understand that," Ayumi admitted quietly. "I think I'd rather learn how to ride than to hang on all the time."
"Some people just work differently. Like some people like the chopped up bikes with loud pipes and some like sport bikes. Just a matter of preference."
Kagome understood the concept, although she couldn't imagine having to hold on to Kouga forever, being designated to sit behind him.
They opted to go back to Ginta and Hakkaku's apartment, and she and Ayumi took turns showering before dressing in the clothes Ayumi had packed, simple jeans and shirts. The youkai took turns bathing while she and Ayumi lounged on the futons and dozed lightly, exhausted from their day.
"Want us to go grab food and a movie?" Kouga asked quietly. Kagome nodded sleepily, not protesting when one of the ookami threw a blanket over her and Ayumi. Ayumi's only response was to hug her pillow more tightly and shift closer to Ayumi. Kagome realized the ookami had been right, Ayumi at least, was a cuddler. As the front door closed, Ayumi had moved closer and was snoring again.
She gave in and closed her eyes, curling against her friend and dozing again.
It only felt like two or three minutes had passed when she heard the front door open and opened her eyes. Ayumi had indeed used her as a teddy bear, cuddling up to her and throwing an arm over her, but Kagome was just as disconcerted by the fact that she had a leg thrown over her friend's and was cuddling her back. She had intended to doze, but she knew she had to have hit a deep sleep not to remember shifting around.
The camera flashed and Kagome tilted her head, growling at Ginta.
"You two are adorable," Ginta said, smirking as he took another picture.
"I'm going to murder you," She threatened, untangling herself from Ayumi and stretching before getting up. Kouga was smirking at her, opening his mouth and then shutting it quickly.
"No comments from the peanut gallery?" Kagome asked.
"I'd get hit with reikon, and I'm not really in the mood," He answered cheerily, smirk firmly in place.
"I think I'm too tired. My arm is killing me," She muttered.
"Let me check it," Kouga demanded.
"It's normal-"
"Let me check it," He demanded. Kagome saw his expression firm, worry casting his eyes an odd gray, completely different from their normal carefree steel blue. Shrugging once she waited for him to set the bags on the table and followed him into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.
"They can hear," She pointed out.
"Do you not want them to know?" Kouga asked, brows knit together.
"No, it's not that. I didn't know if you, I mean. Crap, this is embarrassing," She admitted. "I feel like I got caught smoking in the bathroom or something."
Kouga smiled at her comment, shaking his head and sitting on the bed. Kagome sat next to him and pulled up her shirtsleeve, waiting patiently for him to pull the bandaid off. It wasn't difficult, her shower having loosened the hold of the glue, but he made an unhappy sound as he did.
"What?" She asked quietly.
"It's bruised, really bruised."
"Is it red and swollen?"
"No, just bruised. I can see the ridge though, a line along the tape."
"That's the implant. I need to put another bandaid on it after I clean it really quick."
"I think there's a first aid kit in the truck if the guys don't have one. I'll go get it."
"I can-"
"I can get it Kagome, stay here."
He didn't use her name often, and him saying it drove the command home, making her sit dumbly while he walked out of the room and for the front door. She didn't even move to close the door to the bedroom, although she wished she had when Ayumi leaned against the frame, looking as worried as Kouga had.
"Is everything alright?"
"It's just bruised, but I think it freaked Kouga out," Kagome murmured.
"He's just worried about you. We don't like the idea of pack hurt," Ginta told her, peeking behind Ayumi.
"Wow, what did that?" Hakkaku asked, eyes widening. "What's that thing?"
"Under your skin," Ginta clarified.
Kagome ran her right hand over her face, wishing the bruise wasn't so visible and that they implant didn't stick out from her skin like a sore thumb. Groaning, she looked for words to explain what it was. Despite that, it felt like her tongue was tying itself in knots trying to force them out when she did grasp them.
"It's birth control," She finally told them, flushing heatedly.
"In your arm?" Ginta asked, blinking dumbly.
"It's an implant that releases the medication," She explained, feeling her face and chest burn with embarrassment.
"Oh, so you figured it out. Good," Hakkaku said, nodding firmly.
"Kouga was worried."
"Although I think cubs running around would be fun," Hakkaku sniggered.
"Not for awhile," Ginta rebutted.
"Are we really discussing this?" Kouga's voice growled from behind the group, who parted instantly to let him through.
"You two would make cute cubs," Hakkaku informed him smartly.
"They would be cute. Blue eyes, maybe those puppy ears like Inu Yasha had, only black."
"Puppy ears?" Ayumi asked, eyes widening with almost childish delight. "And a tail?"
"Oh my god," Kagome groaned, wishing she'd never brought it up. "Please stop right now before I zap all of you."
"I'm human, wouldn't work on me," Ayumi giggled.
"This does," Kouga growled, closing the door in the faces of their grinning friends. He turned to Kagome, first aid kit in hand, and sat on the bed, bouncing her slightly as he opened it and took out small packets of alcohol wipes and a bandaid.
"Sorry," She mumbled, still flushing.
"Not your fault. They just need to lay off shit."
"They asked what it was-"
"Which should have been enough of a clue to not talk about cubs."
"I should have just told them it was personal," She sighed.
"I thought you knew that personal doesn't seem to exist in pack," Kouga snorted, although the frustration seemed to leave him with the sound, the reminder of pack easing his own tension.
"I suppose not. It's a lot different than what I'm used to."
"I know, it's why I've been trying to get them to lay off a bit. I'm still surprised you and Ayumi didn't freak out when you woke up this morning."
"Why would we?" Kagome asked, confused. "We did the same thing the night before."
"We had reason that time, this time we just all passed out."
"As long as no one tries to have sex while we're all sleeping like that, I don't really mind. I don't think Ayumi does either, although she sleeps deeply enough I'm pretty sure you guys could snore the alphabet and she wouldn't notice."
Kouga laughed at her statement, opening one of the packets and wiping her arm. She flinched at the sting, but his touch was light, the pad wiping only enough to clean instead of bearing down on the bruise. He opened the next packet and repeated rubbing it lightly before opening the bandaid and putting it over the steristrips.
"You pushed it today," He murmured when she put her arm down.
"It was worth it though," She told him, leaning forward to give him a kiss. "Thank you."
"Silly human," He told her, smiling despite it. "Come on, grub and a movie."
"Pointless guy flick?" She asked as they got up.
"Well, the guys actually tried to get a movie with you two in mind, but they didn't believe me when I said you watched action flicks too."
"I feel like I should be concerned," She giggled. Kouga made a disgusted sound, his lip curling in distaste when he walked back out and the others had already moved the table back in place, the cartons of take out organized in the middle with plates and chopsticks. Ginta was working the television, putting a tape in the VCR with a smile.
"I think they secretly love chick flicks and watch them when I'm not around," Kouga muttered, sitting down. Kagome sat next to him, eyes on the television.
"You can't be serious," She asked the second the title faded into existence on the screen.
"I told you," Kouga muttered, although Kagome wasn't sure if it was directed at her or the two ookami who were blushing a very vivid pink beneath their tans.
"We asked the guy what girls would like," Ginta tried.
"This is-" Ayumi started.
"Too girly," Kagome said when her friend trailed off.
"Oh," Hakkaku murmured.
"The effort is nice," Kagome added hurriedly.
"But we're not really into these sorts of films, and I don't see why you guys should be forced to watch them and all of us cringing while trying to eat dinner," Ayumi finished.
"What else did you get?"
Hakkaku named two more titles, and Kagome was sure all three youkai were pleasantly surprised when she and Ayumi said the title of the comedy they'd picked at the same time. It wasn't the action flick Kouga had apparently picked, but it wasn't the romantic drama that the clerk had suggested.
Dinner went on as expected, filled with laughter and food sharing. Kouga complained about the chopsticks and threatened to eat with his fingers, stopping only when she threatened to feed him like a child. The movie ended and the action flick went in, minutes later filling the room with the sounds of explosions and bad one liners that Kagome and Ayumi couldn't help but laugh at.
And when the time came to clear the table she and her friend did dishes while the youkai prepared the living room to sleep in. After changing and laying down for the night, Kagome accepted that it was a strange sleeping arrangement, but a comforting one. After a day working together, laughing together, she was happy to finish the movie out pressed close to Kouga, eyes drifting shut even as Ayumi was snoring lightly.
Her last thought was that it would be lonely, sleeping alone again, and that she didn't want to do it if she could help it.
AN: There are two extinct subspecies of wolves that were native to Japan, the Honshu wolf and the Hokkaido (Ezo) wolf.
I've done some work with Habitat for Humanity, and it is totally a chance to see how incompetent people are with power tools. Also, a really awesome time.
See you guys next week.