Corona
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 5: The Moth
Disclaimer: I do not own rights to Inu Yasha and it's related characters. I also do not own anything belonging to Gai Barone.
Stairs clear? Check. Living room? Check.
Kagome was just slipping into the foyer, bag held tightly to her chest when her mother's voice broke through the silence.
"Kagome, where are you going?" Nodoka asked in a gentle voice, oblivious to her daughter's sudden stiffening back.
"I was going to go meet Sesshoumaru for study group. His brother goes to school with us and he's bringing some of his friends," She hedged, smiling brightly. Inwardly she was praying the smell of fuel wasn't leaking through her bag.
"Oh, that's nice. You all know you can study here as well," Nodoka offered.
"It's a lot of people," Kagome murmured, running a hand through her hair, pulling several strands from her once neat bun.
"That'll be fine. Souta's been studying at his friend's house, so it's been empty here. Just let me know when so I can make enough for everyone," The older woman replied as she left Kagome in the foyer. Too eager to just get out, Kagome didn't even utter a farewell as she shoved her feet into her shoes and fled outside.
Once the morning sun was hitting her face, she began to breathe more easily.
Her mother's easy acceptance of Sesshoumaru and her lie made Kagome antsy. She wondered if she knew and was playing a head game with her, or if she had really fallen for her deception. Neither was an especially comfortable thought.
Sleep had not come easily. Last night had been spent at the bar with part of the pack, and it seemed her budding friendship with Sesshoumaru had reached the rest. Most had taken her explanation in stride, although Kujaku and Kouga both had been silent on the subject, their refusal to speak about it saying more than enough. The job offer hadn't come up either, and she had -wisely, she believed- refrained from saying anything about it.
Kujaku's silence had hurt though, more than she cared to admit. When Kagome had taken the bus back home, the other woman still too angry to drive her, it had been late and she had been intent on sleeping. But her friend's silence and nervousness about meeting the rest of the troupe had crowded her mind, making slumber impossible. The magnitude of the deception she was about to start, had already started, bore down on her.
When she finally had slept, it had been restless and filled with half remembered dreams of being left alone by everyone.
"Get a grip. It's just a week. It probably won't work out anyway," Kagome snapped impatiently as she walked down the stone steps to the street. The bus was already pulling up the the stop and she had to jog to catch it. The driver didn't even look at her as she deposited her change and took a seat towards the front.
'Will they like me? If they're anything like Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha, they're probably going to hate me. I don't know anything about actually performing,' She lamented inwardly, her thoughts only growing darker as the bus took her closer to the college campus. Each scenario she pictured was worse than the last, eventually ending with Sesshoumaru dismissing her presence entirely.
When her stop was called out, she jumped as of her seat had caught fire and hurried off, still clutching her bag like a lifeline. No one followed and the bus roared to life and took off, leaving her standing, feeling silly and childish.
"What ever made me think I could do this?" She demanded hotly, looking at the sky. Frustrated tears were already starting to sting her eyes.
"Because I said you can," A voice rumbled behind her. She jumped, bag dropping from her arms.
"Sesshoumaru! Kami, don't sneak up on people like that," She growled, bending to retrieve the abused canvas messenger bag her fans were stowed away in.
"Second thoughts?" He asked instead, already walking away. Rushing to catch up, she had to take two steps for every one of his long legged strides.
"You said everyone else has martial arts training. I don't have any. I've just been trained to dance like a girl," She sighed, the last word escaping with more force than the rest.
"I would not have asked if I had doubts," He replied simply, turning into the almost empty parking lot and getting into his car. On any other day one of the campus security guards would have given him a citation for parking on the teacher's deck, but there were only two other cars parked, all in the first row.
"We're running late," He said, turning the statement into a command to move faster. Kagome tossed her backpack, filled with the books Sesshoumaru had loaned her, into the back seat and held her messenger bag in her lap.
The drive was silent, and she instinctively reached for the radio before remembering that it didn't work. Feeling foolish, she leaned back in the seat and worried a loose thread on her messenger bag. Looking over to the driver, she saw him staring stoically ahead, face neutral as he navigated traffic.
It felt like a hundred years had passed before they finally pulled into the parking lot of the park he had taken her to before. As it was Sunday, there were dozens of children running through it, and the basketball court was filled with teenagers tossing a ball back and forth.
"Maybe this wasn't a good idea," She whimpered, scared to get out of the car.
"It is," He replied tonelessly as he got out. She heard the trunk open and him rummaging around in it. Inhaling deeply, she opened the door and forced herself out, almost stumbling as her mind argued with her legs.
She joined him at the back of the car and accepted the props he handed to her wordlessly. All were variations of swords, some heavier than others, and she had trouble remembering their names. When he slammed the trunk closed she forced a smile she didn't feel in the least.
"As I said, a terrible liar," He commented dryly as he began walking. Given no choice but to follow, she allowed him to lead her into the park. The area itself was small, and it wasn't long before she saw a group of people going through stretches, Inu Yasha easily recognizable by his long hair.
"Hey guys!" He greeted, stopping his stretches and walking over. Shooting a glare at his older brother, he relieved Kagome of her burden and nodded at the group.
"This is the troupe," He commented proudly. Everyone had stopped what they were doing to stare at the newcomer, and Kagome felt like a tiny bug under a glass lens.
"Go introduce yourself. They don't bite. Well, be careful of Miroku, he's a pervert," He warned before turning to his brother. Kagome could tell he wanted to talk to his brother in private and walked over to the troupe, suddenly feeling shy.
"Ignore him, I'm nothing like what he says," Miroku replied in a honeyed voice, sidling up to Kagome and smiling brightly. His hair was pulled into a short ponytail at the base of his head. She was about to say something when she felt something on her backside and went completely still. The sounds of growling carried over the noise of the children playing and suddenly a solid thunk echoed over the field.
"Stupid hentai," The female muttered, lowering a kendo stick, and Kagome was surprised to realize at least one of the voices growling belonged to the woman that almost towered over her. "I'm Sango, and he is a pervert. If he does anything inappropriate, hit him with something. There's plenty of variety to choose from, so it never gets boring."
The woman's bright smile and honest, dark brown eyes instantly relaxed the shy student, and she nodded, feeling much better. "I'm Kagome," She offered.
"This is my brother Kohaku," The taller woman offered, and the teenager, obviously as shy as she had felt a few minutes ago, waved back with a small smile. "It takes him awhile to get used to new people," Sango laughed.
"Is this everyone?" Kagome asked, looking at the motley assortment of performers. Or was it martial artists? Which could she could them without offending them? Would they all be as sensitive about it as Sesshoumaru?
"Yeah. Our lineup's been going through some changes lately. We're the core group though," Miroku offered from behind her. Kagome turned, hand immediately going to cover her bottom. The other man rubbed the back of his head -where he'd been struck by the kendo stick, she assumed- and laughed weakly.
"So what's the plan today?" Sango asked, and Kagome saw Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha had joined them.
"You and Kohaku will be fighting Miroku. We're going to work with Kagome today," Inu Yasha answered gruffly. Kagome assumed it was normal, because the others walked off and began stretching again. Inu Yasha dropped the practice swords and moved off to do his own stretches. Kagome began moving her body as she had been taught two days prior, twisting and contorting to warm up.
When she was finished, she was surprised when Sesshoumaru tossed two normal tessen at her.
"You will practice with those to save your props. Just one today," He told her, grabbing a practice sword from the pile. It was one of the heavier wooden ones, and fear trilled through her.
"We're going to be sparring?" She squeaked. He shook his head and his lips thinned into a frown.
"We're going to take you through a routine," Inu Yasha answered. "It'll look like sparring once you've got it down, but for now we're going in slow motion, no worries," He laughed. He began moving behind her, making her distinctly uncomfortable.
"What are you doing?" She snapped hotly, jumping away from him when his hands rested on her forearms and his back pressed against her.
"You don't know what you're doing, someone's got to show you," He snapped back. "Not like I want to be here," He muttered angrily.
"Inu Yasha," Sesshoumaru rumbled. He was glaring at his half brother, pale hazel eyes almost gold as the sun struck them.
"What? I'm just-"
The wooden practice sword flew through the air, and for a moment Kagome was scared it was going to hit her face. A rough, tan hand grabbed it effortlessly, and she turned back to Inu Yasha, who was glaring at his brother, loathing twisting his mouth into a grimace.
"Alright. You should have just done this to begin with," He huffed impatiently before moving away from Kagome as Sesshoumaru walked towards her. Confused, she looked to Sesshoumaru and was shocked when he moved behind her.
"I will show you what to do," He rumbled, right hand on her shoulder and suddenly spinning her around to face Inu Yasha. His hand moved to her forearm, almost touching her wrist, and his unbound hair began to spill over her shoulders. With barely any space between them, he began rumbling commands as Inu Yasha started to move.
"Step forward," He bit out. She followed his direction, and Inu Yasha brought the sword up. Sesshoumaru moved her arm, guiding it's movements.
It was an awkward, clumsy mockery of a sparring session, only made moreso by Kagome's awareness of the male at her back, pressing into her. Determined to at least pretend she didn't feel the solid warmth of his chest or her bottom nestled snugly the tops of his thighs, she focused on moving the fan as he commanded.
"This is going to take forever," Inu Yasha grumbled sullenly. Kagome flushed guiltily, wondering if Sesshoumaru was already rethinking his decision. Maybe at the end of the week he'd be the one to tell her she had no place with the troupe.
"Keep going," Sesshoumaru barked.
Her fan popped as it opened and closed, loud bursts of sound in contrapoint to her heavy breathing.
Step forward. Lunge. No, right foot first. Bring your arm straight down, it's going sideways. No, the fan needs to open this way.
The critiques were endless, and she was beginning to understand what Kujaku had meant when she said Sesshoumaru could suck the joy out of using her fans. By the time they had gone through the routine, half an hour had already passed and she was sweating furiously, completely oblivious as to how intimately she was pressed to her instructor.
"Again," Sesshoumaru instructed. Inu Yasha looked ready to protest, but Kagome nodded, eyes hard with determination. He sighed and moved back into position. The start was easier now that she didn't feel so awkward, and she gained confidence when she began watching Inu Yasha's movements and moving to counter them, Sesshoumaru guiding her silently. This time there were no commands, no orders.
She could feel her movements becoming smoother, and when she fumbled, Sesshoumaru's hold on her arm tightened momentarily, guiding it to the proper place. Inu Yasha kept his movements slow and unhurried, and by the time they were halfway through, she had limited her mistakes to one for every three or four moves.
When they finished, even Inu Yasha looked slightly impressed.
"Again."
He was a slave driver. Wanting a break, she almost turned to look up at him but he made a warning noise in his throat and his knee came up to her butt, spurring her into motion.
His hand was lighter on her arm, and she made noticeably fewer mistakes.
"Again," he stated when they finished the third try.
"Water," She bit out, pulling away from him and stalking over to her bag.
"I've got some in the cooler," Sango offered, and Kagome was surprised to see that the other three had been watching them, sitting and sipping their water quietly as Sesshoumaru had guided her through the routine.
"You're picking up the moves really quickly," Inu Yasha commented as he moved over to a small cooler Kagome hadn't noticed before and opened it. He tossed a bottle over his shoulder and she barely caught the slick bottle as it slid through her fingers.
"I feel so gross," She groaned, plopping onto the ground unceremoniously. "I can't wait to get home and get a shower."
"Didn't Sesshoumaru tell you? We always bring a change of clothes and hit the public baths after practice," Sango said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Kagome could swear her eye began twitching.
"No, he didn't," She growled, craning her neck to look up at the impassive slave driver that, as if to mock her, hadn't even broken a sweat.
"I think I've got an extra set of pants, but I don't have another shirt," The woman offered with a half smile.
"I have an extra in my car."
"Good, you should at least help since you didn't even consider warning me," Kagome growled as she looked away, pouring some of the cold water into her palm and running her hand over her face. "It is always like this?"
"It gets worse," Inu Yasha chuckled darkly. "Just wait until you get the routine down. It speeds up. You think you're sweating now? Just wait until you face off with Sesshoumaru. Speaking of, you ready cripple?" Inu Yasha demanded. "Give Kagome a break, she's earned it."
Sesshoumaru said nothing, only grabbing one of the long, slender practice swords and moving back into the open field. Inu Yasha followed and Sango scooted closer to Kagome.
"Watch really closely, they're amazing," She suggested. Kagome eyes were glued to the two men as they faced one another, both inclining their heads. When they lunged forward, Kagome couldn't stop the gasp that escaped as the practice swords clattered in a series of thrusts and parries.
"They're so fast," She murmured. Inu Yasha executed a flip, avoiding a blow to his knees. Having seen plenty of kendo matches in her life, she knew the difference between real martial arts and what the half brothers were doing. Both were adding tricks and tumbles to make the match more flashy, and it was nothing short of spectacular.
Inu Yasha's sword flew out of his hand and he brought his fist to punch Sesshoumaru, only to be stopped when the butt of Sesshoumaru's practice blade thunked solidly into his forehead.
"Bastard, it's for show, you don't actually have to hit me that hard," Inu Yasha snapped heatedly as he flipped backwards and to his sword, picking it up gracefully.
"Have they ever thought about doing choreography for movies?" Kagome asked, eyes still following the pair as they came together in a furious tangle.
"No," Miroku supplied "This is just to get them through school. Both are studying business. Once they get their degrees they'll probably leave this behind."
Kagome didn't want to think about how sad that was. They both were nothing short of showstopping, and they were good enough to work in movies, at least she thought so.
The fight ended, Sesshoumaru's foot on Inu Yasha's throat and sword pointed in his face.
"That was amazing," She breathed as they stood. Any other comments died in her throat when both men pulled off their shirts and tossed them aside. Swallowing thickly, she watched as they picked their swords back up and repeated the routine, insults flying as they repeated each step perfectly.
Sesshoumaru's sword was knocked into the air and he executed a neat, one handed backflip, catching it while it was still in midair. Once again she was reminded of something feline as his muscles rippled beneath his skin. Her fingertips began to itch and she wrapped both around the water bottle, grateful for something to hold onto as they continued.
"Want to practice some sword forms with me," Sango offered, giggling when Kagome jumped and upset the water bottle in her lap, spilling it all over her legs.
"S-sure," Kagome muttered, embarrassed to be caught staring at the half naked male. Standing and stretching, her legs already voiced their protest as she followed Sango to lowed down the small field and caught a kendo stick as it flew at her.
"I'm not as mean as Sesshoumaru is, no worries," Sango told her. "Just do what I do."
Glad for the distraction, Kagome latched onto the other woman's instructions like a lifeline. Sango's teaching style was definitely different from Sesshoumaru's, and it was with quiet encouragement that Kagome got through the first two forms.
After a time, Kagome noticed the sounds had changed, and distracted, turned to see all four males, shirtless and fighting with such intensity that she would have sworn they meant to hurt one another.
"Show offs," Sango muttered. "One man gets shirtless and all of a sudden all of them have to bare their chests."
"Don't forget pounding their fists on them and screaming," Kagome giggled.
"So, anything going on between you and Sesshoumaru? I didn't want to ask in front of any of them," She explained.
"No!" Kagome shouted, then quieted. "No, he's just my teacher," She finished in a mumble.
"That you can't stop staring at," Sango snorted.
"There's nothing going on," Kagome defended. Sango laughed and clapped a hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"I should warn you now, there's a no dating policy for the troupe. After Inu Yasha slept with Ayame, things got really unstable for awhile so Sesshoumaru instated the rule."
"Was Ayame part of the troupe?" Kagome asked, but Sango shook her head.
"No, but Inu Yasha's girlfriend Kikyo was. She and Kouga both split, so did a couple of the others, couldn't handle the drama. We're all that's left. I'm glad you decided to give it a try," Sango sighed, walking back to the cooler. Kagome followed and accepted another bottle of water gratefully, drinking from it so quickly some ran down her chin, tracing a cool path down her neck.
"So why a one week trial? Inu Yasha mentioned something about it," Sango asked.
"My mom doesn't want me doing anything like this," Kagome admitted, not wanting to think about her mother. "She wants me to focus more on school."
"Do you get good grades?"
"Yeah, I almost always rank in the top three. She just wants me to succeed and sees this as a distraction."
"Well, as long as you get good grades it shouldn't be a problem, right?" Sango asked, brows furrowed.
"As long as she doesn't find out," Kagome corrected. "She thinks Sesshoumaru is my study buddy."
Sango choked on her water and Kagome thumped her back, worried she'd said something stupid.
"Study buddy? Sesshoumaru? I know he takes school seriously, but study buddy?"
"Her words, not mine," Kagome groaned. "Sesshoumaru says it's not a lie since he's teaching me tessenjutsu. He also offered to help me with my actual schoolwork. I still feel pretty bad though."
"Hey," Sango said, tone prompting Kagome to look over at her. "Everyone needs something to keep them sane. My mom died when I was little and my dad died two years ago, leaving Kohaku and I with almost nothing. If I didn't have this, I would probably have gone crazy, Kohaku too. I go to school and this helps pay rent, but it also makes me happy."
"I didn't know," Kagome murmured. Sango shrugged indifferently, although Kagome could tell it bothered her.
"Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru were disowned by their dad. Miroku's mom ran off when he was little, and his dad's pretty useless. We lucked out when Sesshoumaru decided to start a troupe. It's decent pay for doing something we love."
Kagome was struck by the woman's sincerity, and for a moment she wondered if she could actually belong with them. All of them had devoted so much of themselves to the troupe, and she wouldn't be able to, not if she wanted to live up to her mother's expectations.
"I'm not putting you down," Sango said, interrupting her thoughts. "What I'm trying to say is, this is our escape from real life. Sure, it's turning it into showmanship, but we have an excuse to keep up with our training. I was ready to give up on kendo before Inu Yasha called offering me a shot at it. And the flashy stuff isn't so bad. Everyone has learned a lot since starting."
"I'm scared I won't be able to give my all," Kagome admitted in a small voice.
"You already are. The first time Sesshoumaru put me through a routine, I gave up halfway through. Even now I still take longer to memorize one than you do."
"I'm sure that's not true," Kagome rebutted.
"Oh, it is," Sango snorted, then shrugged. "It's just how people are. You're learning really quickly, and you're dealing with Sesshoumaru. If that's not giving it your all, I'm scared of what is."
The banging and clattering of wooden practice weapons stopped and the group of males walked over to them, most of them wiping their faces with their shirts. Sesshoumaru however, did no such thing. Kagome tried not to gape as he got closer, bending her neck to let her loose hair fall over her face. She could make him out from the corner of her eye, and immediately blushed and looked away, focusing on Sango.
His long hair had been plastered to his sweaty skin, forming whorls and paths along his chest, even trailing down to his stomach. His skin had been gleaming, contrasting sharply against the black locks. And she hadn't been able to resist looking lower, shocked to see a line of hair splitting the skin beneath his navel and trailing down into his pants.
When she looked up, Sango was eyeing her with an amused expression, eyebrow arched speculatively and a knowing smirk playing on her lips. Kagome smiled guiltily, mind replaying that thin line of dark hair leading into his pants.
"We're calling it a day," Inu Yasha announced, pulling the sweaty shirt back on. Aafraid to look behind her again, Kagome stood and nodded.
"Come on Kags," Sango urged. "You can ride with me. The menfolk can all ride together," Sango teased.
"Aw come on," Miroku whined. "All of us? The car-"
"It's just the four of you, you'll survive," Sango clipped.
"I need to grab that shirt from Sesshoumaru's car," Kagome interrupted timidly, afraid to get between the pair. Obviously there was a subtext there she wasn't getting, and she was reluctant to butt in.
"Come on guys," Inu Yasha sighed, gathering the practice swords. Sango carried her own and grabbed the cooler.
"Do not forget your fans," Sesshoumaru rumbled. Kagome turned to thank him and stopped when she saw him shrugging into his shirt. That dark line trailing into his pants was still visible and she thanked the gods that his face was still inside his shirt.
"I won't," She stammered, bending to grab her bag and the fans sitting on top of it. When she was standing again, she noticed Sango still smirking at her. Flushing brightly she forced herself to walk at a sedate pace beside the others, half listening as they chattered about ways to spice up their routines.
'No shirts,' She muttered inwardly, repressing a groan that was building in her throat.
"Hey, grab my stuff Miroku," Inu Yasha barked out as the others split off towards another spot in the parking lot.
"That was a good first day," Inu Yasha said. Kagome nodded. Sesshoumaru opened his trunk and pulled out a small duffel bag. He pinned it between his knee and the car and unzipped it,sorting through it for a second while Inu Yasha dumped the practice swords into the trunk. When he pulled out a white shirt and tossed it to her, she accepted it gratefully.
"Thanks," She squeaked, flushing brightly when his gaze swung to her. Nodding once she shot off, not even waiting for answer. Miroku and Kohaku were already on their way over and she waved once, not trusting her voice to say anything.
Sango's car was in the same shape Sesshoumaru's was. It was not a great car, and at least ten years old. But it worked well and when Kagome got in she saw that the floors were covered in candy wrappers and soda bottles.
"Kohaku and Miroku and I all share the car, so it gets messy," Sango apologized.
"It's no problem. A friend of mine's is much worse, and she smokes in hers too," Kagome admitted as she slid in and closed the door. Sango pulled out and began driving. Kagome looked behind them and saw Sesshoumaru's car following.
"So, nothing there huh?" Sango teased. "You sure? I could have sworn your eyes were going to pop out of your head for a moment there."
Kagome tried to answer. In fact, several pithy things ran through her head and she had picked one. But nothing was coming out.
"Thought so. It's not a problem. It would be good for him to get a girlfriend," Sango reasoned.
"He'd never-" Kagome started, earning a snort from Sango. "It doesn't matter anyway. He's the one that instated the rule about no dating," She finally countered.
Sango seemed to sober at her comment and Kagome repressed a sigh.
"You and Miroku, right?" She guessed.
"Are you going to tell him?" Sango bit out, suddenly suspicious.
"Why should I? I can understand Sesshoumaru being worried about the dynamics in the troupe, but you guys don't act like a couple while your practicing. Although, if your boyfriend grabs my butt again, I'm going to bludgeon him with something heavy," She added thoughtfully.
"Miroku's always been a pervert, but he doesn't do it unless he's around Sesshoumaru these days. We don't want Sesshoumaru getting suspicious, you know?"
"I understand," Kagome sighed. "I'm still going to hit him."
"Wouldn't ask for any less," Sango chuckled.
The rest of the drive, short as it was, consisted of telling each other about themselves, going over their classes and favorite bands. Sango didn't own a television because she hated them, something that relieved Kagome because she never watched tv shows. Kagome still had no idea what she was going to declare as her major, Sango had already set her sights on going into veterinary sciences.
"You're so sure of yourself," Kagome sighed, unable to keep from envying the other woman.
"I'm lucky," Sango agreed. "I've wanted to work with animals since before I could remember."
"I did too at one point," Kagome laughed.
"Most little girls do," Sango countered, laughing with her.
"I don't know. I've just been working so hard to succeed that I have no idea what to succeed at. So far everything's been easy. Study, take the test, get into a good school. Besides fans, I really have no idea what I'm good at."
"You still have a few months to think about it, and it's not like you can't change it later on," Sango offered helpfully as they got out of her car and walked into the bathhouse. They heard the slam of multiple doors and Sango looked over her shoulder.
"No peeking hentai," She called out.
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Miroku replied cheerily
The girls paid for their entrance and towels, then walked to the women's side, both heading for the cubbies where they could store their things. Sango seemed completely at ease with undressing, and Kagome supposed she visited public baths often. Her own home had a western bathtub and shower, so she hadn't been inside a sento in years. Trying not to feel self conscious, she stripped quickly and walked hurriedly to the showers.
Luckily there weren't that many women present, and the showers were deserted. Thanking Sango profusely for sharing her soap and shampoo, Kagome bathed quickly, glad to be free of the sweat that had dried and clung to her body and clothes, making her feel sticky.
When they slipped into the hot waters of the bath, Kagome was positive she had reached Nirvana.
"Oh kami, this is exactly what I needed," She groaned, slipping further down along the tile and allowing the heat to begin forcibly relax her muscles.
"Sesshoumaru has that affect," Sango snickered. Kagome flicked water at the other woman and leaned her head back against the edge of the tub.
"Sango?" Kagome asked, wondering if she was about to stick her foot in her mouth.
"What is it?"
Several minutes passed in silence and Kagome shook her head.
"Nothing," Kagome sighed, closing her eyes and trying to forget her curiosity.
"Is it about his arm?" Sango finally murmured. Blue eyes shot open and Kagome felt her skin flush guiltily.
"It doesn't matter," She started, but was stopped by Sango shrugging.
"It's natural to be curious. I know Sesshoumaru refuses to talk about it, and Inu Yasha won't mention it besides calling him a cripple. I think it's because he feels responsible for it in a way."
"Responsible?" Kagome gasped, moving back up the edge of the tub and leaning against it. Automatically her knees came to her chest and she hugged them tightly. She knew the brothers disliked each other, but Inu Yasha wouldn't do something to harm Sesshoumaru, especially not something that could have easily cost him his life.
"Not like that," Sango assured. "It was back when we first started up. Naraku, one of the other performers, was okay at first. Kind of strange, but he had a lot of good ideas for gimmicks, ways to attract more attention. Adding fire to the mix was his idea, and it really helped boost profits."
Kagome saw Sango turned inward, and wondered if she had made a mistake asking the woman.
"Naraku had a thing for Kikyo, he didn't make much of a secret of it either. He and Inu Yasha came really close to killing each other for awhile. We got hired for this huge dinner, some corporate big wig or another. Inu Yasha and Naraku were supposed to fight, but Inu Yasha was too angry, said he might actually get violent with Naraku, so Sesshoumaru stepped in. He was the only one that knew the routine."
Sango's hands were fists in the water, and Kagome reached to to grab one, rubbing the knuckles as Sango continued, voice growing hoarse.
"One minute they were fighting, and the next something happened. Sesshoumaru's arm seemed to burst into flame. Until Miroku rushed up on stage and tried to douse it the crowd thought it was intentional. There had to be some sort of fuel on the gauntlet, because it took him three or for minutes to put the fire out.
"Sesshoumaru was just quiet, but his eyes were so wide, and he was biting his lip, blood running down his chin. Miroku tried to get the gauntlet off, but it was too hot and burned him. At some point the idiots watching called for an ambulance. By the time one arrived, Sesshoumaru had gone into some sort of shock. He was calm, answering questions like it was nothing. They cut away from the costume, but the gauntlet was made of leather and chainmail with padding underneath."
Sango looked ready to be ill and Kagome squeezed her hand.
"You don't have to do this. I'm sorry I made you remember something so awful," She murmurred guiltily. But Sango was shaking her head and inhaled, the exhale halting as a shudder ran through her body.
"I haven't talked about it to anyone. Not even Miroku," Sango admitted in a firm voice. "They finally got the gauntlet cut away. The padding had fully burned, and there were spots where it had melted, which was our first clue. Cotton wouldn't have burned like that, not unless someone had soaked it in something. But when they pulled it away," Here the woman paused, voice choking on the next words for a moment before forcing them out like a jet of hot steam. "Flesh was coming with it. The whole time he was so quiet, watching them as if it was someone else's arm.
"They stopped when they realized how bad the burns were and got him to the hospital. The doctors said there was no way he would ever use it again and that there was a good chance it would do nothing but cause him pain. He told them to cut it off."
Kagome gasped, eyes widening in horror as she imagined Sesshoumaru looking at his arm and then telling some faceless doctor to take it.
"The burns had gotten above his elbow, but higher up they weren't as severe, that's why he's got those weird scars on the, the-" She stopped, and Kagome guessed -correctly- that the other woman couldn't refer to what was left of the mangled limb.
"I'm so sorry," Kagome whispered. "I shouldn't have asked. I didn't mean to make you go through all of that again." Tears were stinging her eyes and coursing down her cheeks, making it hard to see Sango. The other woman was trembling, her hand clenching even more tightly.
"I've never been so scared in my life. I saw Miroku trying to put it out and screaming when it burned him. I feel so awful because I was so worried about him and he wasn't even the one on fire," Sango sobbed, tears escaping. Ignoring bath etiquette and the stares they were receiving, she moved to put an arm around Sango's shoulder and squeezed tightly.
"It's okay. You don't have to feel bad for being worried about the one you love. It was one of those crazy situations where you don't know what's going on. It's normal and perfectly fine that you worried about Miroku," Kagome assured her, making small shushing noises as Sango cried herself out.
She was almost grateful for the woman's breakdown, because those honest brown eyes weren't looking at her and her own tears. The idea of what happened, the images Sango's description evoked made her stomach churn dangerously, and had it not been for the fist sized lump in her throat she would be afraid of vomiting.
Eventually Sango sniffed hard and pulled away, bloodshot eyes meeting Kagome's.
"Thanks. I haven't been able to talk about it to anyone, and it's just been sitting there. Every time Miroku touches me I can't help but feel the burned patch of his skin and I just feel so guilty. I froze. We had prepared for something like that, but when it happened-"
"Hey, accidents happen, okay? You got scared, and in your place, I'm not sure if I'd be able to do any differently. I can't imagine how frightening it was to even watch," She admitted.
"I still don't think it was an accident," Sango hissed bitterly. "I think that bastard wanted to hurt Inu Yasha. Cotton burns, it doesn't melt. The padding was melted on the inside, and the cotton hadn't burned away around it. It had to be cotton wrapped on something, and it had to have been soaked in fuel. We tried finding the bastard, but he just vanished. The police wrote it off as an accident. If I ever see him again I'm going to kill him," She muttered.
Kagome wasn't sure she could blame her. Unable to clear her head of the images, she shook it and hugged herself tightly.
"I think I'm going to go back to the shower. I just need-"
"Cold?" Sango asked, finishing her sentence. Kagome nodded tightly. "Me too."
Both women got out of the bath and padded silently to the showers. Neither touched the hot water knobs, instead letting freezing cold water pour over their skin.
When the women walked out of the bathhouse, Sesshoumaru could tell something had changed. It wasn't that he suspected an altercation, because Sango had her arm thrown over Kagome's shoulder and both women looked like they were depending on the other to hold her up. The loaned pants were too long for Kagome and drug the ground as she shuffled next to Sango. His white shirt was too big for her everywhere, although her breasts tinted it and he was surprised to see she wasn't wearing a bra. It would have been an enticing sight had it not been for her red nose and bloodshot eyes.
"Everything alright girls?" Miroku asked. Sango nodded, and sneezed once.
"Just telling stories," The taller woman remarked.
"You still want to grab a bite to eat? If you're not feeling up to it-" Inu Yasha started.
"No, we're fine. Aren't we Kags?"
Kagome nodded weakly, eyes still focused on the ground.
"Girl stuff," She mumbled.
He did not want to know. Anything that could cause such a reaction in not only the novice martial artist but a woman he had seen endure severe physical discomfort was not something he needed to hear. Ignoring the sniffs and sneezes, he got into his car and waited. Miroku and Kohaku joined Sango in hers, and Inu Yasha got in the front seat of his car. Kagome slid in silently, pulling her knees to her chest as if she were cold.
"What the hell happened?" Inu Yasha demanded harshly, glaring back at Kagome.
"We talked."
"I got that. What about? I've never seen her act like that," He snapped.
"Nothing," Kagome protested weakly, arms tightening around her knees.
"Didn't look like 'nothing' to me," He argued.
"You can ask her," Kagome offered. "It was really personal, and I don't want to tell her secret."
Inu Yasha turned back and faced forward, crossing his arms angrily over his chest. Sesshoumaru glanced in the rear view mirror, glimpsing her staring out the window blankly, her mind focused inward. The short ride to the restaurant was silent, something that he normally would have enjoyed. However his half brother was projecting his anger and suspicion so forcefully that it was a palpable thing, and the onna's sadness was pulsing dourly in the back seat, rubbing against his consciousness unpleasantly.
Once they reached the restaurant, Inu Yasha got out and slammed the door behind him, shaking the whole car. Resolving not to ask, he got out and walked away from the vehicle. Inu Yasha was already over at Sango's heap, finger pointing wildly in Kagome's general direction.
Within seconds his hand dropped as Miroku explained something. Whatever it was, it took the wind out of his half brother. Visibly slumping, Inu Yasha came back over, shaking his head and pinching the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath.
"I'll meet you guys inside," He said as he headed back for the car where Kagome still sat blankly. Sesshoumaru gave a one shouldered shrug, looking only long enough to see Inu Yasha open the back door and crouch in front of it looking apologetic and tired.
He walked inside, following closely behind the others. All of them looked vaguely weary, as if the short car ride had been a ten hour drive. A waitress showed them to a booth and sat them.
Without Inu Yasha present, none of the others seemed inclined to talk. Or perhaps it was the mood. They sat in uncomfortable silence for several minutes, waiting for their drinks. When Inu Yasha showed up, he was almost grateful. Almost. Kagome still looked as if she had been crying, but she smiled tremulously at everyone before taking a seat next to him.
"So, routines. Ideas. Anything," Inu Yasha muttered.
"Can you guys tell me more about what each of you do?" Kagome asked. "I saw Miroku using a staff and Sango and Kohaku using swords, but Sango mentioned tricks."
All at once the group started talking, laughing forcefully, falsely, as they latched onto the conversation like drowning men.
"It's not practical as a weapon, but I can use buugeng, it's sort of, well," Sango started, then stopped, unable to explain. "I can show you Thursday if you'd like," She offered.
"That would be awesome," Kagome answered enthusiastically. "Kujaku was explaining them to me, although I've never seen anyone use it."
"I use kama and a rope dart," Kohaku said, earning stunned looks from Miroku and Sango both. "Miroku and I have been working on a routine with them."
That was news to him, although he held back from saying anything when Kagome's eyes began to shine.
"Could you explain it?"
Like that, the tangible darkness that had been hovering vanished, and everyone relaxed. He watched in awe as Kagome drug everyone into the conversation, even attempting to pull him in again and again despite his resistance until someone had an idea for a new routine.
Perhaps because she was not a martial artist she brought new ideas to the table, quite literally. Inu Yasha's idea morphed into something bigger before his very eyes, and he was surprised to be offering his own suggestions from time to time. Food was ordered and came, consumed absentmindedly as everyone chattered excitedly around him.
Lunches, indeed, any of their training sessions, had never been like this. He only attended the traditional lunch after because he paid and wrote the costs off as part of their business expenses. But now he felt drawn in, almost content as ideas flew back and forth.
"I think it would be beautiful if we set it up with the chain around Kohaku's wrists to start with, like a prisoner. He can swing them to unwind it and pull a few tricks as he does. It gives a solid start to it, you know? Like a prisoner being presented and breaking free," Kagome offered up, and everyone latched onto the idea with enthusiasm. Kohaku nodded, blushing even as he smiled.
More theatrics. He knew he was moving further away from what he loved and turning it into something he would probably end up hating, but it was business, and it wasn't for much longer. And, despite his own worries, her ideas had merit. The only stumbling block was the fact that she didn't know what each person was capable of, and she had no ideas concerning herself.
"What about you?" Kohaku asked, voicing his thought.
"I don't know. I'm not that good, and even so, I have no idea how to incorporate a fan into that."
"You and Kohaku are of a size," Sesshoumaru observed. "With the proper costuming and masks, one would hardly no the different. Have the capture scene be fought with a fan."
"Uh, no offense Sesshoumaru, but Kagome has boobs," Inu Yasha pointed out. "Kohaku doesn't."
"Pervert," Kagome sputtered, smiling gratefully when Sango reached across the booth and smacked the long haired student.
He had noticed. In the chill air of the restaurant he was having a problem not noticing.
"A sarashi," He quipped.
"What about their hair? Kagome's is a lot longer and darker," Sango commented.
"A scarf or bandanna. If I braid it tightly enough, I can pin it to my head and hide it under a scarf. No one will ever know the difference, and warriors did wear them, didn't they?" Kagome told them, smiling when the others nodded. "Although I don't know about the costume idea. I mean, wouldn't armor be heavy?"
"We don't use real armor you idiot," Inu Yasha snapped, still angry about being smacked. Miroku made an indignant noise, choking on it as Sesshoumaru's hand shot up and behind Kagome to whack Inu Yasha solidly on the back of his head.
"What the fuck was that for?"
"She is still new and does not know our methods. Speaking to her in such a manner will discourage questions," He replied tonelessly before taking a sip of his drink.
"You didn't have to hit so fucking hard."
"Language, imbecile," Sesshoumaru reminded him. Inu Yasha looked around and saw several tables of people staring at the large booth with disapproval or barely disguised curiosity.
"I'm sorry," The younger brother muttered, glowering across Kagome at his older brother. "So does this mean you'll stick with us?"
The table went silent and all eyes focused on the woman sitting next to him. He allowed himself to watch her as he awaited her answer. For a moment she seemed to battle with herself, then smiled at everyone and shrugged helplessly.
"I'm in," She breathed.
The others all gave a loud cheer, but he settled for an approving nod, one she caught and returned.
"This is so not fair," Kagome whined. "Everyone else got to go home and relax."
"You do not have the experience they do," He retorted as he watched her go through another form. She was on the fifth form and doing well. Her body hadn't forgotten the movements she had been putting it through every day, although every time her mind got involved she seemed to mentally stumble and forget what to do next.
"But my legs hurt. I can't bring them up that high when they're sore."
"Just do it," Inu Yasha called from his room. "If you don't, he'll just make you regret it later."
"Jerk," Kagome muttered.
"Bring your leg up as high as you can," He commanded sharply. Her leg came up to a little over her waist and he knew she wasn't even trying. Tired of her constant moaning and whining and sniping, he moved over to her and grabbed her slim ankle and pulled up.
Not expecting the move, she fell back, arms flailing as she tried to hold her balance. He let go of the ankle and watched her fall back, landing on her back with a loud thump.
"What was that for?" She demanded.
"I do not accept halfhearted attempts. Get up."
"We've been doing this for hours. Let's just call it a night," She cajoled.
"Get up."
"Might as well do what he says," Inu Yasha's voice advised through the walls. Grunting, Kagome pulled herself to her feet.
"Bring your leg up."
She lifted her leg, tilting her body back for balance. He wrapped his hand around her foot, surprised at how small it was. He began lifting it slowly, allowing her time to correct her posture as he continued lifting it by infinitesimal increments.
When he had her foot to his chest, he stopped and held it there.
"This hurts," She sighed.
He wanted to say too bad, but kept silent, knowing he'd been tormenting her all evening. And she had taken it, which surprised him. Even the bastard would have given in and left.
"How long do I have to do this?"
Silence. He focused on a spot on the wall over her shoulder
"Sesshoumaru," She whined. He moved back and dropped her foot.
"Try it now."
"Fine, sadist," She muttered mutinously, eyes narrowed and mouth pulled into a frown.
She stepped forward, brought her leg up in a kick, keeping her foot high as she turned, her fan snapping open. Her foot came down, the fan clicked shut.
"I did it," She said in wonder, eyes widening.
"Congratulations, only took you an hour," A voice called through the walls.
"Shut up Inu Yasha," She shouted, then turned back to Sesshoumaru. "Thank you."
"It is enough for tonight," He replied tonelessly, nodding once. She looked ready to jump up and down, and he wasn't entirely sure how she managed to contain it.
"Want to celebrate?" She asked, voice breathless with excitement.
"And you called me a pervert?" Inu Yasha shouted.
"I-you," She sputtered, face turning bright red. He watched, amused, a she stomped down the hall and slammed open Inu Yasha's door. Her body disappeared into the room, while Inu Yasha yelled about privacy and nosy women before the shouts abruptly turning into girlish screams. Unable to resist, he walked to the door and only barely managed to hold in his laughter.
Kagome had Inu Yasha pinned beneath her, her legs straddling his back while she held two long, thick wefts of his hair in her hands like reins.
"Say it," She chuckled darkly.
"Fuck you, get off of me!" The man beneath her yelped.
"Say it," She demanded, tugging on his hair.
"Sesshoumaru get her the hell off of me!"
"I would do as she says little brother," He advised, only just barely able to keep the mirth from his voice.
"Fuck. Mercy, mercy!" Inu Yasha screeched.
"That's not iii-it," Kagome sing songed.
"What? What the hell am I supposed to say?" He sputtered angrily.
"I am a bigger pervert than Miroku and Kagome-sama-"
"Kagome-sama?" Was the angry reply, a screech tearing itself from his throat when she tugged on his hair again.
"Kagome-sama is a kind, forgiving, innocent woman."
"No way!"
Her hands tightened and the squirming body beneath her twitched. Sesshoumaru watched the whole thing feeling more than a little vindicated.
"I am a bigger pervert than Miroku," Inu Yasha began mumbling.
"And?" Kagome demanded.
"And you're worse than the both of us combined!" Inu Yasha shouted as he found leverage and bucked her off, wincing when her hands yanked and then let go of his hair. "Seriously, what the hell?" Inu Yasha demanded as he lunged from the room and into the hall past Sesshoumaru. He was rubbing his scalp gently with both hands as if checking for bald spots.
"You jerk! I meant ice cream or dango or something. Not, not-that!" She muttered, standing and stalking past the both of them. "Unlike you, I'm still a virgin! I don't go around sleeping with random people!"
"What?" Inu Yasha stammered, eyes widening. "Aren't you twenty?"
"What of it?" She challenged hotly. "You know my situation, mom doesn't approve of me having a boyfriend and I'll be damned if I sleep with someone to just get rid of it."
"Oh, I, uh-You know, maybe you and Sesshoumaru should go for dango or ice cream or what the fuck ever. I'm sorry I said that shit, okay?"
"You often put your foot in your mouth," Sesshoumaru observed.
"Shut up," Inu Yasha growled as he stomped back into his room and slammed the door shut.
"What a jerk! Is your father an asshole too?" Kagome demanded, then immediately slapped her hands over her mouth, blue eyes widening almost comically. "I'm sorry. Don't answer that, okay? I don't know what's wrong with me," She groaned.
"You've had a long day," Sesshoumaru offered, giving her an easy out.
"Yes. A huge, amazingly exhausting day. But I still want something sweet. My treat. Dango or ice cream?"
"It is your accomplishment," He began, watching her slip her shoes on.
"Yeah, but I wouldn't have gotten it if you hadn't out-stubborned me," She chirped happily, waiting for him as he pushed his feet into his sneakers. Fairly certain that wasn't a word, he didn't bother to correct her.
"Ice cream will be quicker," He sighed. "There is a parlor close by."
"Awesome, see? Not so hard, was it?" She teased as they walked out. He watched her movements carefully and saw her knees shaking ominously. He led her to the elevator and pushed the button. When nothing happened for several minutes he gave up and turned to her.
She looked exhausted despite her enthusiasm.
Suppressing a sigh, he turned and hunched.
"What are you doing?"
"I will carry you. Doubtless you will fall otherwise."
"But-"
"Do you doubt my ability?" He demanded sharply. He could practically hear her protests, but was gratified when she said nothing, choosing instead to push his hair over his shoulder. When she scrambled up him, he refrained from saying anything. Her legs locked around his waist and her hands trembled as they clung to his shoulders.
"You don't have to do this," She sighed. "I can make the stairs perfectly well on my own."
He made a derisive noise in his throat and began walking. She barely weighed anything at all, and he was able to take the steps with ease.
"Why do you always leave your hair down?" She asked when he had reached the third floor.
"It is too much of a bother to try putting it up," He grudgingly admitted.
She shifted around on his back, and he was afraid of dropping her for a moment as she gathered the thick mass of his hair and started to fiddle with it.
"What are you doing?" He asked, pausing before taking another step.
"Two seconds," She murmured as she continued whatever it was she was doing. In a minute, a solid braid was draped over his shoulder and hanging down his chest.
"I didn't want to accidentally yank it or anything," She offered before wrapped her arms loosely around his neck. "Plus it's absolutely gorgeous. Asian people have such beautiful hair," She sighed.
"I was under the impression you are Japanese," He counted, beginning to walk down the steps.
"Half, my dad was from England originally. His parents came over for one reason or another, mom doesn't really talk about it. They didn't approve of him marrying her. I don't remember ever meeting them, although mom says they came to the hospital when I was born."
He remembered her saying Japanese culture was only half hers, but he'd forgotten she'd mentioned her father's origin. It explained the waves in her hair and pale skin. And her eyes. Blue eyes that cycled through the spectrum of shades with her moods.
"Why do you and Inu Yasha grow your hair out?" She finally asked.
He hesitated, but figured it couldn't hurt to tell her. She didn't know his family or anything about them, and probably never would.
"My father wears his long. It was his way of flaunting power."
"Flaunting power?" She asked, tone curious and nothing more.
"He is a businessman. Most frown on his choice, but he is important enough they have to take him seriously." At least that's what he'd always thought. Surely there could be no other reason for it. Not with the sort of looks and comments it spurred. She said nothing more, and he wondered why she wasn't asking more questions. Her arms tightened for a moment and then relaxed.
"Sango said your father disowned you," She murmured.
"He did not appreciate my brother and I fighting," He replied stonily, grateful to be reaching the bottom floor. He was going to drop her, sore muscles be damned. His father was one of the last things he wanted to talk about. But her arms were tightening and her legs were squeezing him more tightly. Even when his arm dropped away from her leg and he straightened his spine she clung to him.
"I'm sorry it happened. You're a good man, and you deserve better than that," She murmured.
"You know nothing about me."
"I know you carried me down the stairs so I wouldn't break my neck and that you drive me home so I don't get hurt walking alone," She countered, her words muffled as she buried her face in the crook of his neck.
She had to be a virgin. And completely innocent. Or else she was intentionally pressing her mouth against the most sensitive spot on his neck, which just wasn't possible.
Ice cream. Yes, something cold. Anything cold.
"Can you walk?" He asked, voice rougher than he intended.
She slid off of his back and came to the front of him ad took his hand between hers. When she finally looked up at him, he was taken aback by the tears filling her eyes and streaking down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry. I keep saying stupid things today and making people remember things they don't want," She sniffed.
"It is nothing," He replied gruffly, distinctly uncomfortable with her outburst. What was he supposed to do? Crying women had never been his forte, and he had never wanted to fix that. Shock lanced through him when she dropped his hand and moved to hug him, arms tight around his middle.
"It's not nothing," She retorted. "I keep putting my foot in my mouth with people I want to be friends with."
"It is not something that bothers me overmuch," He answered honestly. After all, in six more months, as long as the business wasn't ruined, he'd be back in his father's good graces, although he'd get his own apartment. A nice one. With a working elevator.
She pulled away and eyed him speculatively, obviously doubting his word.
"Do you still want ice cream?" He asked, hoping she would allow the topic change. She sniffled again and nodded, her arms dropping back to her sides. She followed his lead as he walked from the complex and onto the sidewalk. The silence was oppressive and he had a feeling she was waiting for him to say something.
"Thank you," He finally admitted.
"For what?" She snorted, obviously still angry with herself.
"Braiding my hair. It gets tedious dealing with it. I have considered cutting it off," He started.
"Oh please don't," She gasped. He looked over to her, pleased to see her self loathing replaced with utter shock.
"It is too much a hassle-"
"What days do you have school?" She demanded.
"Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," He answered, not understanding where she was going.
"Me too. I promise to pull it back for you at school and for practice if you promise not to cut it," She pleaded, bringing her hands up to her lips in mockery of a prayer.
It bothered him that he was actually considering her deal.
"And when schedules change at the end of the semester?"
"We'll figure it out. Please don't cut your hair, it's so pretty," She cajoled plaintively, her eyes reflecting the light of the streetlights and blinking signs around them.
"Do you really have school on those days?" He asked.
"Tuesdays too," She added, nodding. "Please?"
She was going to be the death of him, he was sure of it.
"I accept your terms," He mumbled, shocked when she flew forward and hugged him again.
"You won't regret it," She promised.
He already did.
Unable to undo his decision, especially since he had just pulled her from her own spiraling self loathing, they continued their walk to the parlor. Which was closed.
"This sucks," She sighed, staring at the darkness beyond the glass doors. He was just beginning to think there might be a god on his side when she visibly brightened and tugged on his hand, pulling him down the sidewalk. He followed, smirking when she stopped in front of a small convenience store.
"They always have at least some ice cream," She reasoned, pulling him inside. The clerk mumbled a hello that she returned brightly, tugging him along as she began perusing aisles. On the back wall a small freezer was decorated with ice cream logos and she opened it excitedly.
"Choices," She murmured, staring down at the plethora of prepacked cones and popsicles. He reached past her and grabbed an ice cream sandwich, and within seconds she had grabbed the same. He began to feel something like a puppy when she tugged his shirtsleeve and led him to the counter. The clerk didn't even look at them as he rang up the ice cream and took the woman's money. Change clattered on the counter and she scooped it up and shoved it carelessly in her pocket.
She had to be bi-polar. There was no other explanation for her sudden humming as they walked back outside. The wrapper tore under her hands and he watched as she swept her tongue up the long side of the middle.
He began expertly tearing open his own wrapper, noting she watched curiously.
"You know, if you grew your nails out a little, you could file them to points and make it easier to open stuff," She observed idly as he took a small bite of the outside layer of cake on one side. He scoffed, or tried to. It was difficult not to smirk when the point of her chin was dotted with vanilla ice cream.
"It would not be practical," He rumbled, watching her licking at the ice cream in the center. "Why did you get an ice cream sandwich when you only want the ice cream?" He mused aloud.
"Oh I'll eat the cookie," She assured him. "It's just a weird habit. If something's layered, I like eating the layers separately," She informed him blithely.
He decided not to tell her that how one ate supposedly reflected how they made love. He was having enough trouble dealing with the fact that the little snippet from his psychology class had popped into his mind at all. Shaking his head, he tried to ignore that he had been doing the same thing, only he was consuming the cookie first.
"I really like everyone," Kagome admitted. "I was scared they'd all hate me or think I wasn't good enough, but everyone's gone out of their way to make me feel welcome."
He nodded his agreement. Everyone had gone out of their way to make her feel welcome, and he wondered if they were as drawn to her strangeness as he was. Even Kohaku, notorious for being painfully shy of strangers, had spoken to her and been drawn into her conversation.
"When is your last class tomorrow?" He found himself asking.
"About two," She replied, beginning to peel the cookie away from what was left of the ice cream center.
"Mine ends at three," He offered.
"Is that an offer?" She teased, the limp chunk of cookie held between her teeth, a parody of her sticking her tongue out at him.
"Perhaps."
"You might get tired of me," She warned.
Somehow he doubted it.
"I can wait at the diner," She said at last.
"I'll pick you up there," He replied.
"Can't wait!"
A/N: This chapter's song is Gai Barone's The Moth (Ticon remix). I think it's an acquired taste, so if you like it, awesome. Oh, and the food bit, that was a randumb piece of knowledge imparted to me in psych class. I happen to think it's true, after some testing. Ahem.
Shitsuki-Sama and CreARTive, thank you both for your reviews and encouraging words. After coming back from Alchemy and finding out my mother's endoscopy results showed cancerous growths, my head was in a screwy place. The reviews have made me want to keep working on this.
CreARTive, thank you so much for your words. I was actually really worried no one would get what I was talking about, and I can't explain how incredibly happy it made me feel to know I conveyed the peace of burning well enough that another pyro got it and liked it.
After this chapter I will -hopefully- have a new beta for this story. I'm posting to dokuga for one and hopefully someone will take it up and rip it apart and help me make it a better piece.