Corona
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 7: A Better Daze
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Inu Yasha. This is a fan work, and made for fun. Also, I don't own the right's to any of JPL's work. I'm just inspired by a beautiful song.
It was Wednesday when she was braiding Sesshoumaru's hair that she found out that Shippou and Koharu would be able to see her in the afternoon. He explained to her that they'd have to go to the apartment and get the multiple costumes she'd be wearing for the photos. At the mention of being photographed and taped for the website her stomach bottomed out and her fingers fumbled the braid.
"You will do fine," He assured, never looking up from his laptop. A text document was open and she peered over his shoulder, confused by the wording almost immediately.
"What's that?" She asked, desperate to change the topic.
"A paper for my international business law class," He answered almost absentmindedly as his fingers flew over the keyboard.
"Miroku mentioned you and Inu Yasha were both going for business degrees," She recalled as she bound the bottom of the braid and tugged it to let him know she was done.
"Hnn," He answered.
"Fine, be that way," She chuckled as she grabbed her bag. His pale eyes were focused on the laptop and she was tempted to ruffle his hair before leaving.
"Be at the car at two, you'll be going through simple routines with the others before we go to the field."
"Wha-why?" She stammered, almost dropping her bookbag.
"We need pictures of you with everyone," He explained, still not looking at her.
Tension created an anxious knot in her stomach and her fingers tightened on the bag strap as she fled the library.
Kagome wasn't sure what to make of Koharu. When Inu Yasha had described the girl, he had never mentioned eye searing bright colors or complete ignorance of the idea of personal space. Even Sesshoumaru tolerated her little advances on his bubble as she traced her fingers over his braid.
"You should let me give you guys my new treatment," She told them, bouncing energetically. "It's amazing, and I know you love pampering your hair!"
Kagome couldn't look away from the girls bright green lipstick or neon blue eyeshadow. Her bright pink clothing was more than her sensitive eyes could tolerate.
"You, I know what we're going to do with you!" Koharu sing-songed. "Go get into your first costume."
"Where am I supposed to change?" Kagome asked, looking around the empty field. It was Shippou's choice location, and the grass still hadn't begun growing in. The photographer still hadn't shown up, and the sun was beginning to set.
"Just use the car," Koharu mumbled, not looking at her while she began setting up her makeup case on the back of Sango's car.
"Everyone will see," Kagome hissed.
"They're all setting everything else up, you don't have anything to worry about," Sango assured her. "If you need help with anything, let me know. The ties can be a bit confusing the first time."
With growing trepidation Kagome got into the back of Sango's -recently cleaned- car. The costume was simple enough, she hoped. The regular white haori was easy enough even though the material was rough and scratchy. The midnight blue hakama were another story. After twisting, turning, and contorting herself in every way possible, she realized there was no way she was going to be able to pull the pants on and tuck the haori in without standing.
Cracking open the car door, she looked up at Sango beseechingly.
"I have to stand to do this," She admitted in a small voice.
Sango surprised her by turning and cupping her hands over her mouth.
"If any of you looks over here Kagome gets to brain you with a weapon of her choice!"
The males all stopped what they were doing to turn and look at the women.
"Thanks," Kagome grumbled. "Now they know I'm changing. Wonderful."
"You'll be fine, the haori covers everything important," Sango assured her as she got out. The long shirt did fall to mid thigh, and Kagome thanked her ancestors for having such elaborate clothing. Pulling the pants up her legs was the easy part, and tucking the haori in correctly proved no problem.
"How the hell do you tie these?" Se asked.
"Didn't you grow up on a shrine?" Sango asked sceptically.
"Yeah, but mom didn't want me wasting time with it. Souta's the one that will inherit."
"Got to love our culture. Men get everything," Sango grumbled as she helped Kagome tie the hakama tightly high on her waist.
"Aren't the sleeves a little long for fire?" Kagome asked.
"Everything is made from flame retardant material. It's heavier and doesn't feel great, but it's safe," Sango murmured as she finished the last knot. Kagome nodded, feeling better about what she was wearing immediately.
Koharu took over immediately, pulling Kagome's hair back into a tight bun and tying it off. Next Kagome submitted to a base being slathered on her face, and then a thick layer of white makeup over everything, including her eyebrows.
"I'm thinking something simple," Koharu mumbled, sorting through her box. Her hands were light on Kagome's face as she directed Sango to hold a bright flashlight behind her shoulder.
It was strange, being unable to see what was going on, but she submitted willfully to everything, Sango making approving noises now and again, and giving suggestions when Koharu paused. It wasn't long before Koharu was finished and stepped back, nodding once.
"This will do for this outfit. Best to keep it simple."
"It looks good," Sango agreed.
"II wish I could see," Kagome laughed. "Thank you, Koharu."
"No problem. I get copies of everything Shippou takes and add them to my portfolio. Someday I'm going to do movie makeup," She confided as Sango walked away. "Just wait until you all have a big gig, Sesshoumaru lets me go wild."
Kagome wasn't sure she wanted to see the girl 'go wild' given her already strange attire and makeup choices. But she laughed anyway and told her she looked forward to it while she walked towards the group. The photographer, an enthusiastic teenager Kohaku's age with bright red hair and freckles, had shown up while she had a flashlight blinding her.
"Hello," She greeted. He looked up and stopped, green eyes widening almost comically.
"Wow!" The teenager breathed. "You're the new girl?"
"Yup," Kagome answered evenly despite her sudden nervousness. Rubbing her sweaty palms on the rough material of her hakama she walked over and extended her hand. "My name's Kagome."
"I'm Shippou. I go to school with Kohaku. It's good to meet you," He returned, smiling warmly at her. "I've never seen anyone using fire fans before, can't wait to see what you can do."
"Thanks. I'm a little nervous, this seems so official," She answered weakly.
"Don't be nervous. If you want, I've got some blooper videos I can show you sometime."
"I'd like that," She admitted. "Any of Sesshoumaru?"
Shippou shrugged, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"None you'd want to see," He mumbled. Kagome peered at him anxiously, wondering if she'd said something to upset the photographer, but unable to figure out what.
"Kagome, get your ass over, here, we're ready!" Inu Yasha shouted.
Still worried she'd done something, she had to tear herself from the suddenly silent figure next to her and walked into the field.
"You'll be doing the routine with Sesshoumaru first," Inu Yasha informed her. Sesshoumaru was already shaking the excess fuel from a metal sword that had a blackened strip of kevlar running down it's length. Unlike her, his face was plain white and his hair was bound in a tight braid. She accepted her fan from Miroku before watching him light it.
The feeling she had before her first burn returned, and the fire flickering at the end of her fan didn't help as she got into position across from Sesshoumaru.
"I'm going to vomit butterflies," She muttered as she waited for Shippou's go ahead.
"Be sure to do it on camera," Her opponent responded stonily, the fire from his modified katana casting strange shadows over his face.
"I'm ready!" Shippou shouted from behind his camera.
"Follow my lead," Sesshoumaru commanded. He moved forward at half speed, and Kagome allowed him to lead the dance. Despite the chill spring air they both began to sweat beneath their rough haori. She concentrated fiercely on his face, determined to do well. He seemed to approve, because he didn't correct her.
He didn't trip her at the end, merely stepped back and nodded.
"After Miroku fight Sango, and then you'll change costumes," He instructed before moving away. Kohaku was waiting with a damp towel and helped Sesshoumaru put the fire out. Miroku came up, his staff lit at both ends. Their routine was so simple that she had been able to easily memorize it. Most of it was circling and jumping at each other, bringing the fire around their bodies to look good for the camera.
By the time Sango came forward with her sword, Kagome was sweating profusely beneath her clothing and all she wanted to do was strip down and run naked through the cold. Sango seemed to take pity on her, and they took the routine more quickly than had been planned. It was just as well, because the fire had burned through the fuel on the fan and was dimming, finally going out with a particularly quick swing.
"Go get some water, I'll help you change in a minute," Sango advised as she and Kagome set their props on cinder blocks Miroku had brought. Kagome nodded, more than ready to get out of the heavy, uncomfortable cloth and into something different. Sending a quick prayer to the heavens, she grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler and chugged a quarter of it down in the first pull, heedless of her makeup.
"Having fun yet?" Shippou asked as he walked over. Kagome gasped after pulling her lips from the bottle, dragging in air and exhaling heavily.
"I knew it would be work, but I never thought about doing stuff like this," She admitted. "It's fun though, in a way. I get to dress up and play with fire," She finished with a chuckle.
"Well, Sesshoumaru wants you to change costumes and makeup, and then you're just going to mess around with your fans so I can get some solo pictures," Shippou told her. "But you looked really awesome. I can tell the pictures are going to be a hit. I might even use them for my final," He added.
"You're a photography student?"
"Yup. When I heard from Kohaku that they were starting a troupe and setting up a website, I offered to do the photography for free as long as they let me follow them around. My teacher wants me to broaden my scope, but I have yet to fail a project."
"It's amazing how many people this is helping," Kagome sighed.
"Yeah. Sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to get all weird. Sesshoumaru doesn't mess up," Shippou commented.
"He seems too much a perfectionist to mess up in front of people," Kagome commented before tipping the water bottle back again.
"So you two a couple?" Shippou asked slyly, eyes narrowed and a smirk on his lips. Kagome choked and spat water out while the mischievous teenager thumped her back hard.
"Why would you ask that?" Kagome demanded.
"Just Sango talking," Shippou replied breezily. "I have my answer so it's all good."
"What answer is that?" Kagome ground out, wiping her face with her hands and groaning when she realized she'd smeared her makeup.
"No worries, Koharu was going to redo it anyway, for the next set of pictures," He laughed before walking back towards his equipment. Kagome watched him go and capped her water bottle, stalking towards Sango's car.
"Sango," Kagome began.
"Oh good, we need to hurry. Koharu is doing Sesshoumaru's makeup while she waits for you," Sango said, grabbing a wet towel and scrubbing Kagome's face before she could say anything. Kagome sputtered and tried to pull away, but Sango held her chin and wiped her skin clean.
"We don't want to get any on the costumes," Sango explained. "Come with me, this is going to take some teamwork," She said, grabbing a bundle and tugging Kagome's arm.
"Sango-" Kagome started again.
"Get out of those, hurry up. Koharu's got to get home soon," Sango urged, already working on the hakama ties. Kagome helped her and cautiously looked around before allowing them to drop to the ground. Cool air hit her legs and for a moment she thought she was in heaven. The haori came next and she took a moment to savor the cool air hitting her mostly naked skin.
"Bra next," Sango instructed.
"What?" Kagome gasped, looking down at her plain white bra.
"We're putting you in a sarashi," Sango murmured. Slightly mollified, Kagome removed her bra and allowed Sango to begin winding the long strip of cloth around her torso, covering her breasts and ribcage.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to other people seeing me naked," Kagome muttered, grateful when her breasts were covered despite the discomfort. The cloth itself pressed her chest down and it was a new, uncomfortable sensation.
"Never had a boyfriend?" Sango asked as she wound tighter and tighter.
"No," Kagome admitted. "No time."
The sarashi finished, Sango held out a pair of green hakama. Kagome stepped into them and allowed Sango to tie the knots. Due to the darkness, she wasn't able to see what the other woman was doing and vowed to learn how to tie them herself at the next opportunity.
"Go get your makeup fixed," Sango instructed. Kagome paused, feeling self conscious of going back to the group in just the pants and sarashi. But her chest was covered, the bindings themselves going halfway down her torso before stopping. It was akin to a tube top, and though she'd never worn one of those either, she'd seen plenty of girls who had.
"No more revealing than a bikini," She muttered to herself as she walked over to Koharu. Sesshoumaru had already finished his makeup, and was somewhere in the darkness. Koharu grabbed her and Sango came up to hold the flashlight again.
"I'd like to do some quick braids instead of a bun for this," Koharu muttered, taking Kagome's hair out of it's bun. In her rush, she wasn't nearly as gentle as she had been before.
"If there's not enough time-" Kagome began as another section of hair was pulled tight and braided.
"Shippou had an awesome idea for some photos," Koharu stated. "We've got time."
"Shippou?" Kagome asked, wincing when another section of hair was pulled.
"Sesshoumaru wanted you to just play with your fans, but when Shippou found out Sesshoumaru knew some moves, he wanted pictures of the both of you together with them," Sango explained.
"Are you guys done yet?" Inu Yasha shouted.
"I'm the one with a date, so shut up!" Koharu shouted angrily, not even looking over her shoulder. Kagome's ears were ringing from the volume of the girl's high pitched voice and her head swam strangely for a second.
"Just a few more," Koharu muttered. Feeling slightly victimized, Kagome knew she was lying, only half of her hair was done.
Sesshoumaru was waiting, enjoying the feel of the cool air on his skin. The hakama he wore were heavy enough, but his haori had been almost unbearable. At least able to shed the haori, he savored the light breeze that cooled the sweat that clung to his skin.
It was Shippou's insistence that he look thus, and Koharu had braided his hair in long, thick braids down his back. His makeup was minimal, white with some other color forming a simple pattern of some sort on it. It had only taken her a few minutes to do the makeup, but she had been working on his hair for almost fifteen minutes. Shrugging indifferently, he checked checked the props while he waited. In the cool air they had quickly lost their heat and would be ready to put in the car when he and Kagome were done.
"Done!" A voice called out. He looked over to the car where a flashlight shone at Kagome's hidden form. For a minute it looked like Koharu and Sango were arguing with the girl. Then he heard their raised voices and began walking over. Shippou waved him off and he paused, feeling as if he were being left out of something important.
A minute later a defeated looking Kagome was walking from the group, her shoulders slumping. In the darkness he could only tell that she was unhappy.
"Oi, come on bastard, let's get these lit," Inu Yasha barked, already flicking the fans to free them of excess fluid. Still confused about the newest member's sudden reticence, he walked over to his half brother and accepted the fans. Turning to hand one to Kagome, he almost dropped both when he saw what she was wearing and what Koharu had done to her.
"No one ever told me I'd be doing this," She muttered sullenly, still not looking up from the ground.
"I was unaware that this was what Shippou had suggested," He bit out, trying not to look at her exposed shoulders or the lines of her collarbones.
"You weren't?" She asked, look up, surprised. Her eyes widened and despite the makeup he would swear she was blushing.
Her braided hair exposed more of her flesh to the moon and for a moment his breath caught in his throat. She had beautiful shoulders, and a gorgeous neck. And despite her breasts being bound, her curves still swelled and dipped gently. The sarashi ended a few inches above her belly button, and he had the strangest urge to touch the flesh of her stomach and see if it was a soft as it looked.
"No," He rumbled, holding a fan out.
She accepted it, looking slightly better, although she wouldn't directly at him, and he wondered if she felt too exposed.
"Are you comfortable doing this?" He asked.
"Yes," She squeaked, then cleared her throat. "I've worn a bikini before, and this actually covers more," She explained, slightly breathless.
He tried not to picture her in a bikini. Or naked. Both times he failed and barely managed to keep from growling when a smirking Inu Yasha came forward to light the fans. Fire flared up, lighting their faces and casting shadows everywhere.
"Want to go through the forms?" She offered.
"Hn," Was all he could manage as they moved to the center of the field and posed.
They took the forms slowly first, and then a second time more quickly,getting lost in the rhythm inherent in the movements. Shippou ran up to them looking apologetic as he shattered their peace, causing her to falter and him to stop and glare.
"Can you guys move more closely together. Do some tricks, whatever. I want dynamic shots," He told them, running off before they could answer.
"Bossy, isn't he?" Kagome chuckled as they stepped more closely together.
"He does the photography for free," He replied, eyes catching the glint of sweat on her chest.
"Want to do some tosses?"
That she didn't ask if he could, but if he wanted to, did not go unnoticed. He nodded and they began tossing the fans in the air. Sometimes he would toss one to her and she would flip them and juggle them, then toss another back. The peace gone, he felt like a circus performer once again, and could not get lost in the movements.
"Dynamic shots!" Shippou shouted.
"Cheeky little-"
"I think he means something like your first burn," Sesshoumaru interrupted.
Kagome paused and for a moment he was at a loss. With the face paint it was difficult to tell if she was happy or hesitant.
"Do you want to? You didn't seem to like it," She murmured, still waving her fan back and forth.
He tossed the fan to her and moved back, nodding.
When she began moving, it was slow at first, and he there was a twinge of regret when he realized he might have begun training the wildness out of her. Then somewhere inside of her, a dam broke and she began jumping and spinning. He could still see his influence, but whatever it was that she had been holding back came to the forefront.
It wasn't controlled or trained or even particularly graceful. But it was beautiful. The fans spun around her, and she moved so quickly it looked like she was winding a maelstrom around herself, fire and smoke leaving bright trails around her body, encasing her form as she moved. Catlike, she moved and bent fluidly, body becoming more and more like the fire itself, undulating and flickering in the light surrounding her.
Inu Yasha broke his concentration when he ran up with one of the fire swords, grinning broadly.
"When was the last time you just went with it?" He asked, thrusting the flaming sword into his hands before running off. Looking down at the prop for a moment, he reasoned that it would be a waste of fuel if he did nothing.
Emulating her wildness, he began leaping and jumping and circling around her, feeling strangely lightheaded when she noticed him and began twirling around him, her fans sweeping on either side of his body before retreating. Blood roared in his ears as he tossed the sword into the air and executed a perfect flip, catching it and sweeping and arc around her as he contorted his body.
They began circling one another, leaping and jumping on nimble feet. He would push, she would pull, and sometimes they would crash against one another, the fire joining and flaring even brighter, almost blinding them. In the sphere of smoke and light, he looked forward to the infinitesimal seconds where they came together, her face strangely beautiful framed by the flames.
Her fans dimmed and she slapped them shut, killing the fire. The sword was already beginning to dim and he guessed that it hadn't been soaked very long at all. Spinning it quickly, the flames dimmed and then went out, trailing smoke in the air.
"That was amazing!" Shippou shouted, his voice seeming to come from far away, barely heard over their heavy breathing and her light gasps.
"That was beautiful," She murmured at last, eyes reflecting the moonlight, bright orbs staring at him from behind a mask of white.
"You did very well," He replied, unable to tell her how unearthly she had looked as she had lost herself to passion. For a minute it had felt as if their private, separate worlds had collided and combined, and the feeling was still too deep to think on, much less speak of.
"Guys, that was just, wow," Inu Yasha said as he ran up with a damp towel held between his hands. Kagome dropped her fans into it and Sesshoumaru set the sword in the makeshift hammock.
"Thanks," Kagome sighed. "I feel like I'll never sleep again," She laughed breathlessly.
"Come on, this deserves a beer," Inu Yasha told them, walking away. For a moment it looked as if Kagome was going to say something, then stopped and smiled brightly.
"Thank you so much for that," She finally told him, moving forward to hug him. Belatedly, he realized how foolish it was to allow such a thing. Not only would it give the others of the group the wrong idea, but the feel of her sweaty skin pressed against his own was doing nothing to help slow his breathing.
When she finally pulled back, she didn't look at him, but took his hand in her own and tugged him towards the group.
"Come on!" She cajoled, bright laughter bubbling out of her, uncontrolled and warming.
Even though she'd changed Kagome could smell the smoke lingering in her still braided hair. The car ride to the apartment had been uneventful except for Inu Yasha begging money off of Sesshoumaru at the liquor store and Koharu's constant chatter.
None of it was enough to destroy the strange high Kagome was riding, and her hands trembled anytime she held them in front of her. Energy still throbbed beneath her skin, her blood feeling a hundred times warmer than it ever had.
Koharu, shrugging when Kagome asked about her date, mumbled something noncommittal as she texted on her phone and announced that it had been called off. Once they finally reached the complex, everyone had spilled out of the two cars, grabbing props and costumes, the motley assortment of laughing and giggling people creating enough of a ruckus to have tenants poking their heads out of their doors to glare as they filed up the stairs.
"Why can't you guys get a room on a lower floor?" Koharu whined.
"Cheaper rent," Inu Yasha snorted, rolling his eyes at the young woman. Kagome threw a sympathetic look in Koharu's direction before turning her attention back to Sango, who was throwing out ideas for a routine between the two of them.
By the time they reached the eighth floor, even Kagome felt a little shaky and when they spilled into the tiny apartment, she immediately made for the metal trunk and opened it, setting the bottles of fuel down carefully.
Everyone gathered around the small table, and Kagome opted for a seat next to Sesshoumaru, elbowing him when he threw her a dark look. Inu Yasha was opening and passing out bottles to everyone, and when Sesshoumaru glared, Kagome turned pleading blue eyes in his direction.
"Just one to celebrate your newest member?" She asked, over exaggerating her tone. "If you don't, I'll feel unwanted."
"Yeah, go on!" Inu Yasha commanded as Sesshoumaru took the bottle. It was the first of such celebrations that he had taken part in, and his whole demeanor reinforced the knowledge.
"I would like to make an announcement," Miroku said, raising up on his knees so his head was above everyone's. "I have received an offer for a gig, and at the new rates. Kagome's first official performance as one of us will be next Saturday."
Everyone cheered and raised their bottles but Sesshoumaru, who merely sipped off of his.
"So soon?" Kagome asked after everyone had quieted. "I mean, I just learned a routine."
"If we're lucky we get three gigs a week. Winter is a slow time, now that it's spring things will start picking up again," Inu Yasha explained, punctuating the statement with another pull from his bottle. "I think the most we've had in a week is five," He added thoughtfully.
"It was five," Sango agreed. "Kami, what hell that was."
"Is it really that bad?" Kagome breathed, eyes widening.
"It wasn't the amount so much as the gigs themselves," Miroku answered. "When we first started out it was hard enough because we hadn't accumulated a decent amount of costumes or routines."
Kagome nodded in understanding, taking another sip of her beer.
"When is this one scheduled?" Sesshoumaru rumbled.
"They want us from eleven to midnight," Miroku answered.
"Eleven to midnight?" Kagome gasped. Her mother would never believe a study group went that long!
"Say you're sleeping over at Sango's," Inu Yasha shrugged.
"Then I actually have to sleep there. I can't impose like that!"
"It'll be fine," Sango assured. "We've got some extra space."
Everyone seemed exceptionally blithe about the whole thing, but she couldn't shake the panic.
"My mom will want to meet your first, and even then she'll probably give me a hard time," She tried explaining.
"You said your mother wanted us to come for a study group," Sesshoumaru interrupted. "It would be an ideal time to do so."
"We don't even go to the same schools!"
"She is unaware of that."
She sat and contemplated it for several minutes before shrugging helplessly.
"How about we do it Friday?" Kagome asked.
"No good, we've got a gig," Inu Yasha rebutted. Surprised, she could only blink in confusion.
"It was arranged before you joined," Miroku explained. Kagome heaved a sigh of relief and took another sip of her beer.
"So Saturday morning?" Kagome tried. "We study for awhile, have lunch and then say Sango needs to be home for whatever," Kagome suggested. "So we go with her." Everyone agreed and Inu Yasha let out a loud whoop of excitement.
"This is going to be so awesome!"
"Speaking of your mother," Sesshoumaru interjected. "Perhaps it is time I took you home."
Kagome sighed and nodded before standing, reluctant to leave the happy group. Seeking an excuse, she looked to Sesshoumaru's beer and saw he'd barely touched it. Hers was almost gone and the alcohol mixed strangely with the lingering effects of her burn.
"We'll see you tomorrow for practice," Sango called out as she and Sesshoumaru began slipping their feet into their shoes. With a loud goodbye from the table still ringing in her ears she waved and called out her own farewell. Sesshoumaru, stoic as always, said nothing as they departed, closing the door behind him quietly.
"It's still strange, all of this," Kagome sighed as they began walking down the stairs. "Even after I met the pack, I never did anything like that," She admitted.
"We have never had such before," Came the calm reply.
"A celebration? Why not?"
The reply was a one shouldered shrug and she let out a frustrated groan.
"So when will I get to see the videos?" She tried.
"Shippou is very diligent. I should have copies for you on Friday or Saturday."
"It's cool, you know," She murmured, stretching her arms. "Everyone is getting an opportunity to do what they love and coming away with something."
He was silent until they reached the landing, and she tugged on one of the braids, stopping him.
"Need help getting these out?" She asked. He shook his head and she shrugged again, letting him be. Once they were in his car, she began taking her own braids out, surprised by how many Koharu had managed in such a short period of time.
The car ride was silent, but she was pleased to note it was not an uncomfortable silence. Instead, she was allowed to ride out the strange euphoria, a small smile still playing on her lips. The bright lights of the city passed by and she had the irrational urge to stick her tongue out at them.
When he dropped her off, she murmured a thank you and waved as she walked up the stone steps to her home. The lights were off almost everywhere except the living room, where her mother waited. The remaining vestiges of her high vanished like cobwebs being dusted away.
"Hello sweetie," Nodoka said, not looking up from her knitting.
"Hey mom. I'm sorry I'm so late. Inu Yasha is a complete dolt when it comes to chemistry, and since I had the class last year I helped him."
"It's fine sweetie." She still wasn't looking up form her knitting.
"I'm having a study group here Saturday morning," Kagome offered, glad her mother wasn't looking directly at her. But at her statement the woman's head swung up and her smile reached her brown eyes.
"That's good dear, who all will be coming?"
"Sesshoumaru, his brother Inu Yasha, Sango, and Miroku, maybe Sango's little brother, although I doubt it. He doesn't go to school with us. That's not too many, is it?"
If she wasn't specific, it wasn't exactly a lie, was it?
"That's fine dear. I'll make sure to prepare a big lunch."
Kagome nodded, not trusting her voice and walked upstairs, grateful to have avoided a confrontation. Her stomach still churned with the lie, guilt needling at her conscience.
Briefly she wondered if she would ever be allowed to use her fans without some doubt, some guilt overshadowing it.
A/N: This chapter's song is by JPL, A Better Daze (original mix). And I have totally stuck my tongue out at lights before, because I hate light pollution when I'm trying to burn. Also, a beer after a burn does make for some interesting side effects. Oh, the giddiness.
Thank you to everyone who wished well for my mom. She just had surgery and the outlook is pretty good.
And CreARTive, my friend didn't give up spinning, but she did stop going to her martial arts class, and it's something that always bothered me. I suppose this is me writing the sort of ending I wanted for that story.