Corona
By: The Hatter Theory
Chapter 11: My Name Is You(th)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha or any of it's characters, and I do not hold any rights Eco's song My Name is You(th). So please, for the love of the elder gods, don't sue me. Although, go listen to Eco's album, M(you)Sic. It is phenomenally beautiful. I can spin to the whole thing and even though I hurt by the end of it, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven. It's on youtube. GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!
The waitresses greeted Kouga and smiled cautiously at Inu Yasha, following Kouga's lead and greeting him when the off duty bartender gave a nod. They claimed a huge booth in the corner, Kagome wedged between Kouga and Sesshoumaru.
"Tabs on me tonight," Kouga announced, a wicked grin blooming on his face. "No one is going to be driving home, well, Kohaku is, because he's too young. Maybe we can cram everyone into Sango's car," He chortled. Inu Yasha snorted in disbelief.
"What? You and Kohaku in front, Sango in the back on Miroku's lap, Sesshoumaru in the middle, which would leave Kagome-" He stopped, the smirk widening when Sesshoumaru growled in the back of his throat. "Okay, Kagome in Sesshoumaru's lap and you in back."
"Why would I be stuck between everyone?" Inu Yasha snapped, looking indignant but failing when he began sniggering.
"You'd deserve it," Kouga retorted.
"I can always take a bus," Kagome began.
"No way. We're celebrating good and proper. You're going to call your mother right now and inform her you just got word you're receiving a full scholarship and you and Sango decided to celebrate, and that you won't be home tonight."
"I don't wan to lie to her, not now that I can finally be honest," Kagome snapped, still flushing from the man's earlier teasing.
"It's not. You are celebrating with Sango, and you won't be coming home tonight. See, perfect," Kouga reasoned, smiling wolfishly. Sesshoumaru watched Kagome's mouth open and then snap shut. Her hand dove into her pocket and she opened the phone. Everyone watched her intently.
"Hi mom, yeah I'm with the group." A pause. "The musics really loud, we're celebrating." Another pause. "I just found out I'm going to get a full scholarship, everyone wanted to celebrate instead of study." Pause. "I probably won't be home tonight, is that alright." Pause and a relieved smile. "Thanks mom. I will. I'll be home tomorrow."
She closed the phone and shot a snooty glare at Kouga, who whistled and clapped his hands together.
"Excellent! Now for the first round!"
Halfway through their drinks, all of which Kouga had ordered for them, the others showed up, pausing when they saw the two former enemies sitting together as if their fight had never happened.
"So," Sango began, sliding into the booth.
"I'm back!" Kouga sing songed. "But that's not the big thing we're here to celebrate! Kagome," He said, throwing everyone's attention to her.
"I'm getting a full scholarship, but they want me to have a physical activity of some sort. I can be honest with my mom," Kagome admitted in a small voice.
He watched them all congratulating her on her good luck as Kouga signaled for the waitress. The entire table was a mess of conversations and ideas. Once again he was drawn into it by Kagome, and he was surprised when the others began including him as well. The friendly atmosphere of the table encased them in a bubble, their own world as stories of the newly mended friendship's past sprang up, each anecdote more amusing than the last.
When another round was ordered, he hadn't intended to drink, but the glass was empty before he knew it. Voices grew louder as Inu Yasha and Kouga tried to outdo one another's stories. When Kouga challenged his half-brother to a drinking contest, he knew the night would be ending on a strange note.
"Pick the poison," Inu Yasha scoffed. Kouga signaled the waitress and ordered a bottle of whiskey and another round. Kagome's blue eyes narrowed worriedly.
"Okay guys, since this is officially my celebration," She announced. He noticed she slurred her words slightly, and her cheeks were an alluring shade of pink. "I make the rules. Since I don't want you two getting sick, we'll make it three shots."
"How is that even a contest?" Inu Yasha sputtered.
"Whoever drinks them the fastest," She retorted hotly. "I don't want anyone getting sick."
Both men grumbled but agreed, and she nodded once. Kouga shouted for six shot glasses to come with the bottle of whiskey, his words still perfectly clear. The waitress obeyed, bringing the next round first and then coming back with the shot glasses and bottle of whiskey. She waited patiently as Kouga poured the shots and gave her the bottle, smirking at her coworker and his friend, obviously amused.
"On my count," Kagome started. "Get set." A dramatic pause. "GO!" She shouted.
Glass slammed on the wood tabletop so hard it was a wonder it didn't break as the two raced, downing the shots as rapidly as they could. They tied, both wiping their mouths and smirking before realizing neither had officially won.
"A tie!" Sango announced, high fiving Kagome, both too tipsy to care that they were reaching over him. Both girls giggled as the two males began arguing who had finished first, both blustering but neither becoming truly angry.
Once again he was struck by the difference the woman by his side had made. Gatherings like this had certainly never occurred before, even when Kouga had been with the group. There was a carefree feeling to them, as if all of them were a normal group of friends, normal college students. No one had a past and the future was a thing of tomorrow. He felt caught up in the moment. Even if he didn't speak as much as the others, he felt like a genuine part of it. It hadn't mattered before, and he wasn't sure he wanted it to matter. But it was enough to give in to the urge to pretend for awhile.
A fourth round came, and Inu Yasha managed to draw him into a contest.
"Come on, all the guys with balls, except Kohaku, who has them but isn't old enough to throw them around yet," Inu Yasha announced, earning a chip thrown t him by Sango. "He can't drink. He's lucky, considering I challenge all the guys to a race. Whoever wins gets a kiss from their chosen lady."
"Not appropriate," Kagome laughed, too tipsy to be indignant.
"I don't mind," Sango announced cheekily. "Or are you scared?" She challenged.
In what he felt was a juvenile, high school moment, the table erupted into a chorus of 'Oooo's'.
"You know what, fine. I agree," She retorted hotly.
"So men, who wants to give it a go?"
He did not answer.
"Come on Sesshoumaru, scared?"
Another chorus of 'Oooo's'.
"I accept," He bit out.
Kouga called out to the waitress, who came over with a wide smile. The antics of the table had been the subject of amusement for most of the staff, everyone apparently glad to see their coworker reuniting with his friend.
"I would like you to inform Hiten that we require the four horsemen. Flaming."
The widening of the waitresses eyes did not bode well for him.
"Kohaku's the judge," Inu Yasha announced, his speech slurred. Kohaku nodded, smiling widely. Sango leaned across Miroku to whisper something in her brother's ear, and he was beginning to get nervous when the bartender came over with a platter filled with shot glasses and five liquor bottles.
"Out of my way!" He commanded imperiously. "I do not get get to do this often enough!" He smirked as he began fluidly setting up the glasses, pouring liquors so quickly none of them could tell what he was doing. He began setting up a second set when Kouga stopped him.
"It's just for us four," He informed the bartender. "A contest for a kiss."
"As long as it's with one of the ladies it sounds like a contest worth winning," The bartender laughed, pulling out a lighter.
"First one with his glass down wins," Kouga announced as the lighter touched the top glass and Hiten expertly tumbled it down. Each shot lit and they reached, blowing out the flames and tossing the liquors back. He slammed the shot glass down.
"Sesshoumaru and Miroku tie," Kohaku announced, earning guffawing laughter from the bartender as he collected the glasses and walked away, still laughing so hard the tray threatened to tip over.
"I know who I'm choosing," Miroku announced, waggling his eyebrows suggestively at Sango.
He felt like this had somehow been planned.
"Well Kagome, you gonna live up to your promise?" Inu Yasha hedged. Kagome's face was buried in her hands and she peeked from behind her fingers at his half brother before moving them away.
"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" Inu Yasha began chanting. Kouga joined, followed by Kohaku. Soon a waitress decided to join, and after a minute it felt like the entire bar was egging them on.
He'd been an idiot. Looking to his side, Kagome was blushing, blue eyes darting left and right, afraid to meet his own.
"It's just a kiss, right?" She finally asked, meeting his gaze. He nodded and leaned down, capturing her lips with his own. There was a burst of cheers and applauds as he plundered her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her drink mixing with the bitterness of his own.
He lost himself in the feel of her lips, dizzy and drowning. Feeling too hot all over, he dove deeper, hoping for cold relief as they continued. Dimly he recognized her hands gripping the front of his shirt and the feel of her hair between his fingers. He nipped her lower lip and she responded playfully, daringly.
When he pulled back, her glazed eyes and wide lips tempted him. Catcalls and cheers began filtering through the roar of blood in his ears.
"Damn, wish I'd won," Kouga mock pouted, earning a punch in the arm from Inu Yasha. Kagome made a choked noise and he followed her gaze to see Sango and Miroku still locked at the lips, Sango halfway in Miroku's lap.
"Don't they need air?" She asked.
"Breathing through the nose helps," Inu Yasha snorted. "Maybe you can get someone to help you with that."
"It was just a kiss," Kagome but out defensively.
"Okay, then how about you kiss me that way," He challenged.
"No!"
"See!"
Sango and Miroku broke apart and glared at their bickering friends before Sango realized her position.
"Oh god," She gasped, pushing away from him and sliding back onto the seat. "Sorry," She muttered. "Alcohol."
He rolled his eyes. They weren't nearly as discreet as they thought they were. However he was grateful for the sudden shift of focus as the others smirked at the couple.
"You know, I have an idea," Kouga announced.
"Wonderful," Inu Yasha drawled.
"Shut up shithead. I think we should get something to commemorate the group and tonight. After all, drinking parties are about bonding. And I think we should mark this special occasion."
"How could it get any more special?" Inu Yasha snickered. "Sesshoumaru pulled the stick out of his ass."
"There is a tattoo parlor just down the street. I think we should all get one."
There was a great, resounding silence at the table. Obviously the bartender was drunk, he had to be to make such a suggestion. Tattoos were not for normal people, and certainly not for people like him.
"I would like that," Kagome stated, breaking the silence, surprising everybody. "Even if you guys don't get one, I want a physical reminder of tonight, and of you guys, all of this."
Sango nodded. "Me too."
"I'm game," Miroku stated.
"Me too."
"Well hell, why not?" Inu Yasha asked. "Who knows where we'll be in twenty years. This way we can always look back and remember that we were young and stupid once."
All eyes swung to him. For a moment he considered telling them all they were fools. That a tattoo was a stupid, childish way of remembering anything. That he wouldn't want to remember any of his hellish experience as a poor student.
"I agree."
Where had that come from? Those were not the words he had intended to say. But Kagome's cheer broke out, spurring a group hoorah that, while he didn't take part in it, he couldn't help but be affected by. Solidarity. Friendship. It was a night to be normal, even if that included being foolish.
"So what should we get?" Sango asked.
"Pictures of our props?" Kouga suggested.
"Nah, too boring," Inu Yasha rebutted. Kohaku surprised them all by raising his hand, calling for silence.
"I have something on my computer that might work," He informed them, his voice stronger, more confident than before. Sango tossed him her keys, shrugging when everyone looked to her after he left.
"Waitress, another round!" Kouga called out. "It's a night to be young and dumb and-"
"Do not finish that statement," Sango laughed, throwing another chip at Kouga's head. Kohaku came back and sat his laptop down, making sure the drinks were away from it before clicking a program.
"I've been studying hanzi, the base of our language," He informed them quietly. Everyone listened, only nodding their thanks when their drinks came. "It's similar, but different enough to make it, well," He paused, looking for the right words.
"Ours?" Kagome asked, and he nodded, smiling his agreement.
"I have a program that I've been using to study it with. We can choose a base character, something that will mark us as a group, and add another character, personalizing it."
The group was silent.
"Kohaku that is the-" Inu Yasha started, then broke into a smile. "Best idea! What should our base word be?" He asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Miroku asked.
"If it's so obvious why don't you tell us?" Inu Yasha snapped mulishly.
"Fire. All of us use fire."
He did not want anything reading 'fire' tattooed on him. But the whole group seemed to agree, his opinion not being asked. It wasn't until Kagome put a hand on his shoulder that he realized he'd been staring angrily at his drink.
"If you don't want to, it's okay," She murmured. "I understand."
He doubted it.
The laptop was being passed around, the program simple enough for even a drunk Inu Yasha to understand. The others chattered, oblivious to the sober silence, excited by the prospect of doing something so forbidden and binding.
When the computer came to Kagome, she cast an apologetic glance at him before looking to the screen. On sight the program was easy enough to figure out. There was a spot for typing in a word. The character would appear with it's translation, and a column on the side brought up a list of words involving that character.
"I don't know what mine should be," She admitted quietly.
He reached over, hitting a few keys and then the enter button.
"Star," She murmured wistfully. When she looked up at him it was the equivalent of getting punched in the stomach.
"In the first column, it has it combined with the character for fire," He pointed out, growing uncomfortable under such intense regard.
"It translates to shooting star," She chirped, anxiety melting away completely to be replaced with pure delight. "It's perfect. Thank you," She murmured, leaning against him. The smile didn't fade, and it was that smile and the depth of her gratitude that spurred his next action. He slid the computer in front of himself and stared at the screen.
The characters were slightly fuzzy which only proved that he had imbibed more than he should have. Any ideas he might have had fled.
"Can I try?" She asked timidly. He leaned back, away from the screen. Casting a brief glance around him he saw the others caught up in their own conversation, giving at least the illusion of semi privacy. Her fingers tapped on the keys thoughtfully. She clicked on related words, and then stopped, pulling back.
"I think this one fits," She said before sliding the computer back to him.
Duan. Wrought, forged, to discipline.
He nodded, unable to form words. She saved the image under his name and then closed the laptop before handing it to Sango, who passed it to Kohaku. Everyone finished their drinks as he combined the characters and saved the new files for the tattoo artists to look at. Kouga handed a credit card to the passing waitress and she came back, got his signature and left again.
"You guys ready for this?" Kouga shouted, throwing his fists in the air.
No. Yes. Probably. Not. Maybe.
"Wait, where are we getting these?" Sango asked as they began sliding out of the booth two at a time, one from each side. He was pleased to see that the others wobbled slightly while he felt perfectly fine. The only person more sober than him was Kohaku.
"On our arms," Inu Yasha crowed as they stampeded out, following Kouga's lead.
"Our chests," Miroku suggested, earning a swat from Sango.
"No way," She laughed. "Not baring my chest for anyone."
"Not even me?" He pouted.
"Only if you're good," She laughed as they poured into the cool night air.
They trailed behind.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked.
"Are you?" He replied, allowing her to lean against him for balance.
"Even if we grow apart someday, I know I'll always remember this. When I'm old and wrinkled, I'll show it to my grandchildren and tell them about how I was clumsy enough to bump into first one man, and then another, both of whom turned out to be brothers."
"Is that all?" He murmured, relaxing into her gentle cadence as they strolled down the sidewalk.
"No. I'll tell them how one brother made an offer I couldn't help but accept, and how it changed my life, how he freed me."
"And then tell them one night we drank and listened to some idiot's wonderful idea and got a tattoo," Me remarked dryly as the others poured into the tattoo parlor.
"I will," She promised as they stepped inside.
Kouga explained what they wanted, Kohaku opened his laptop and the man sitting at the desk yelled for the artists. Three men entered the seating area and listened, smiling approvingly when they heard what the group wanted.
"Do we have anything scheduled?" One asked. The clerk shook his head, muttering something about the hour.
"So where are you guys getting these?" The other asked.
"Back of the neck, where it meets the spine," Kouga answered.
Kagome opened her mouth to protest, but stopped. She would just have to be careful around her mother. Sketches were drawn up and fed through a scanner, then sized. It moved so quickly she hardly had time to think about it as the others were being led away.
Sango was taken, and she chose Miroku to go with her. The artist decided to cut down on time and took the printout of Miroku's chosen design as well. Kagome wanted to ask Sango if she could go with her instead, but stopped, seeing the love in Sango's gaze as the couple walked back into a room, the door shutting behind them quietly.
"Miss, I can do yours," The tattoo artist with bright green hair offered politely. She glanced around, suddenly unsure.
"I'll go with her," Sesshoumaru rumbled, and she couldn't keep from hugging him gratefully. The artist nodded and accepted the two sketches, presenting them for a quick check to make sure they were the correct ones. Both nodded and followed him to the back. The room was small, almost claustrophobic, with only one chair.
"You'll need to remove your shirt miss," He said. His back was turned to counter built into the wall when he said this, so he missed the panicked look that flashed in her eyes. "Straddle the chair and lean over the back."
She cast a desperate look at Sesshoumaru, who only turned away, giving her the illusion of privacy. Growing hot she hurriedly pulled her shirt off and straddled the chair as she'd been instructed.
"It's safe," She whispered, grateful her hair was hiding her face. When he crouched down, entering her field of vision, she saw concerned gold eyes. His hand came up, and offering, and she accepted it, holding it tightly.
"So why fire star?" The artist asked. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth, suddenly too clumsy to form words.
"She is the star born on the earth's surface," Sesshoumaru rumbled.
All of her reservations faded away, and she squeezed his hand, feeling strangely weepy. The needle touched her skin and it took all of her will not to flinch. Her grip tightened, and Sesshoumaru bore it all. The needle was a dull pricking into her skin at first, then the area, instead of numbing, became super sensitive. For a moment Kagome wondered if the man was cutting her with a dull scalpel.
A whimper escaped, and Sesshoumaru's hand fell away. Desperately her hand grasped for it, stopping when he parted her hair.
"You have played with fire and endured my lessons. A needle is nothing," He intoned, hand brushing through her hair. His pale eyes were hypnotic, drawing her in. The pricking sensation faded until it was as dim as the noise the machine made. Flecks of gold grew bigger, and she fell into them, warmth spreading through her, her whole body feeling heavy and hot, his fingers searing her scalp.
"All done," The man behind her announced. "See, wasn't so bad, was it?"
Bad? She hardly remembered getting it!
"How does it look?" She asked shyly. Sesshoumaru stood and took the artist's former position. Super aware of his gaze on her back, bare of anything but the bra strap, she tried not to shiver.
"It suits you," He replied. A bandage was placed over the new tattoo and taped down securely. Her shirt came into her view and she shrugged into it, still feeling slightly dazed. Once she was out of her seat, Sesshoumaru was sliding into it, mimicking her pose.
"You have the most gorgeous hair," The man sighed, cooing as he moved to push the thick mass out of the way. Kagome intercepted him, knowing Sesshoumaru would not appreciate the stranger playing with his hair. The artist pouted and then shrugged. Kagome wondered if he liked men, then shrugged as carelessly as the artist had. What business was it of hers?
"I do not need support," Sesshoumaru told her. It was a command to move back.
"Maybe I just want to cuddle," She teased, her hands running through the loose white mane. Despite it's chemical torture, it was still soft to the touch, and she savored the feel of it between her fingers. When he said nothing further, she continued massaging his scalp.
"So what does this one mean?" The man asked as he moved the machine to Sesshoumaru's neck.
"Fire wrought," She said when her friend said nothing.
"Fire wrought?"
Sesshoumaru still said nothing, so she answered for him. "The fire tested him, and he came out stronger. Tempered."
Silence reigned after that, the buzzing of the tattoo machine growing louder and louder. In awe, she watched the lines appearing on his skin, stark against the pale flesh. Occasionally their tattooist would spray the area and wipe it, then begin adding more ink, filling in the lines. Somewhere along the way she had leaned forward, and his head rested against her stomach. Shock trilled through her when he turned his face up to her belly and nuzzled it.
Even though everyone else was getting a similar tattoo, it felt like they were sharing another experience that was just theirs. Briefly she thought about telling her grandchildren that, and shook her head, chuckling lightly.
"Almost finished tough guy," The man said, spraying his neck again and twisting to get more ink on his needle. Kagome's eyes were drawn to the design, a mess of black smears covering it. Only a small corner remained, and within seconds the whole of it was finished and the area was wiped clean. The characters were amazingly vivid and crisp, standing out from his skin like dark beacons.
"It's beautiful," She murmured.
"Alright, all done. Come back for touch ups in a month," He commanded as he taped a bandage down and then left the room, stretching his arms over his head and announcing the completion of his task.
Sesshoumaru nodded, not moving otherwise. A stampede sounded, and two curios faces filled the door. Startled, she jerked back, hands untangling from his hair.
"Aww, did you need her to hold your hand?" Inu Yasha mocked. Sesshoumaru stood fluidly, and Kagome tried to look anywhere but his chest. And his stomach. And that line of hair that kept drawing her eyes no matter how valiantly she resisted.
"Nah, she was taking advantage of him while he couldn't move," Kouga answered impishly.
"You guys are so immature," Kagome snapped waspishly while Sesshoumaru donned his shirt, careful to avoid the bandage.
"We just got matching tattoos. I don't think you get much more immature," Kouga laughed as he and Inu Yasha walked away. Rolling her eyes heavenward, she wondered when boys grew up. Sesshoumaru walked out, and she moved in step behind him until they hit the waiting area before getting closer, leaning on him again.
"Touchups in a month, be ready for us," Kouga said as they exited. Cheerful goodbyes followed them out the door as they walked back up the street.
"What now? It's only nine," Inu Yasha asked.
"I'm not really drunk anymore, are you?" Kouga asked.
"Food!" Kagome and Sango shouted in unison, surprising each other. Laughter rang out and they hit the bar again, ordering food and while Kouga and Inu Yasha bragged about their ink.
Of course more drinks were ordered, and the last thing she remembered was kissing Sesshoumaru and cuddling into his side, warm and content in the good natured chaos taking place around her.
The next morning she awoke stiff and with a headache that she knew, instinctively, should have killed her in her sleep. Groaning, she shifted once, surprised when an arm tightened around her. Three things hit her at once.
One, she was hungover. Not just a 'haha, I had one too many and my head's buzzing' sort of hangover, but the kind that made her feel like she'd eaten cotton and a carpenter had taken up residence in her skull. Two, she was cuddled up next to Sesshoumaru, who looked paler than normal and was fighting waking up, eyes clenched shut and brow furrowed. Three, she realized she had no idea where she was.
"Sesshoumaru," She hissed, trying not to flinch at the volume of her own voice as it echoed, nay, ricocheted around inside of her head mercilessly. "Wake up," She commanded, looking at the walls around her. They were on a futon. In a bedroom. The walls were devoid of anything that would give any hint as to where they were.
"What?" He groaned, eyes blinking rapidly, squinting against the light.
"Where are we?" She whispered, trying not to incite another game of echo pinball in her brain. She muttered a quick promise to the gods, hoping to make a deal. She'd never drink again, and they make the hangover go away, or at least mellow in intensity.
He responded by looking around curiously.
"I don't know," He finally answered. His next statement brought to the forefront how tangled up they were in the sheets and eachother. "We're clothed."
"So nothing happened. I mean, I don't feel like anything happened," She said, taking stock of 'down there'. Nothing hurt or felt strange like she had always heard it would. Their clothes were still on, only their shoes and socks missing. So everything was okay, right?
"Someone is cooking," Sesshoumaru said, untangling himself and standing. She followed his lead, creeping out into the hall and in the direction of voices and the smell of coffee.
"Morning," Sango said, dressed in a pair of boxers, male, Kagome noted, and a man's shirt. Not subtle in the least. Miroku was walking around in a pair of baggy pajama pants and nothing else, fiddling with some mugs. A tattoo stood out on the back of his next.
Everything from the night before came flooding back to her.
"Oh man," She groaned, understanding Sango's sudden ease around Sesshoumaru. After last night he'd be nothing less than a hypocrite if he even mentioned 'the rule' as she was coming to think of it.
"Coffee?" Miroku offered, a sly smile on his face as he held out two mugs. Kagome took hers and sipped it carefully. It was dark and bitter and the first sip dulled the noise in her head.
"Inu Yasha and Kouga are still passed out. We checked in on you guys to see if you wanted to get up for school. Both of you growled at us to get out. Figured an off day wouldn't kill you," Sango offered as she rolled an omelet up neatly.
She couldn't, wouldn't look at Sesshoumaru. For all she knew he could be furious. If she'd been in his position, she would be. He'd made the boundaries perfectly clear, and she'd blown past them. Alcohol or no, there was no excuse for violating a rule he felt was necessary.
"I'm going to get some air," She told them, fleeing for the front door and stepping out onto the landing. The steps were concrete and uncomfortable, but they were cool, which made her feel marginally more human as the chill crept into her flesh. The door opened and closed, and he was sitting next to her, his own mug of coffee steaming in his hand.
"I'm sorry for crossing the line last night," She muttered into the tense silence. After several minutes she was beginning to worry he'd tell her she was fired, no longer a part of the troupe.
"I never told you to stop," He informed her as quietly as she had apologized. "Although now those two have no reason to hide their relationship."
"You knew?" She asked, and was surprised by the chuckle that escaped.
"You are the only one I know that is worse at lying."
"Then, I mean, why did you say troupe members can't date? If you don't want to it's fine. Just don't use an excuse," She sighed, feeling exposed and vulnerable. Her headache was still throbbing painfully behind both temples, and her spit felt almost chewy.
"You are like them," He finally said, and she turned to him, confused. "I am not. You need something like that." The statement was punctuated by a sip of coffee.
"I'm still new to the dating thing, I'll admit that," She offered. "I don't know what I need. I probably won't for a long time, and I'm good with that. But now, here, since you started teaching me, I've had this crush-thing on you." It had sounded so good in her head, but halfway through she'd begun tripping over her words and trying to figure out what to say next.
"What I'm saying is, I like you. I know it sounds kind of silly, but I'm still new at this. I like hanging out with you, learning from you. And kissing you isn't half bad either," She admitted with a small smile. "And if I'm not what you need or want right now, that's fine. I would rather you tell me that than use an excuse."
"For being new to relationships, you view them very maturely," He told her.
"Mom's addicted to soaps, and I hate them. I don't understand why people emulate them, so much unnecessary angst." It was the truth, although it came out lightly enough that it only sounded half serious.
"I am attracted to you," He admitted slowly. "But I would not be the kind of partner a normal girl would want."
"I don't think a lot about my life is normal," She laughed. "How about we do what we've been doing since we met, only with more kissing and some cuddling if you're good."
His brow quirked at her tease.
"And if I'm bad?" He replied archly, then sobered, as if realizing he'd taken one step too far.
"We'll deal with that when it happens."
His mug grated on the concrete as he sat it down, and she allowed him to take hers next. Then he gripped her chin firmly and tilted her head up, his mouth moving down to claim hers. She flinched back, and his eyes widened.
"Not to ruin a perfectly romantic moment, but we both have breath comparable to roadkill," She apologized, smiling weakly. For a moment he looked like he was going to be offended, then decided not to. Instead he threw back his head and laughed, the first real laugh she'd ever heard from him. Instantly she decided that she liked it, and she'd have to find ways to hear it more often.
When they walked back inside, they were greeted enthusiastically by Sango and Miroku, both of whom began cheering when Kagome blushed furiously. The cheering woke up Kouga and Inu Yasha, groans and commands for quiet coming from beneath the blankets in the living room. Kohaku shuffled out, also in pajama pants and shirtless, rubbing his eyes.
"Why do you look so tired, you didn't even drink last night," Kagome said as she began setting the table at Sango's request.
"Noise," He muttered, throwing a glare at the kitchen. She followed his line of sight and saw Sango and Miroku cuddling as she cooked. Then a blush lit her cheeks.
"And it hits her," A groggy voice said. She turned, laughing at the picture the two friends made. Kouga's dark brown hair stood out everywhere, the ponytail holder only holding a quarter of the hair it had the night before, and Inu Yasha's was a tangled mass of white. Both, normally tan, were extremely pale and looked slightly nauseous.
"What happened last night?" Inu Yasha moaned as he sat down.
Kagome smiled impishly.
"There was another drinking contest. Losers had to make out," She informed them smartly as she sat the last plate down.
"Who lost?" They asked in unison.
"You two," She said, almost skipping into the kitchen, smiling at the mischief she'd made. Both men were shouting and accusing one another immediately, then denying it had ever happened.
"You're awful," Miroku chuckled, sly smile still plastered on his face. Unable to hold it back anymore, she beamed as the two began bickering. Sango was slicing two rolled omelets and Miroku took out the extra mugs of coffee for the two newest additions to the table. Taking the bowl of rice out after Sango exited, they sat everything down on the table.
The argument abruptly stopped when she kissed Sesshoumaru's cheek.
"Now that those two are quiet, we can eat," She announced cheerily.
"Holy shit, it worked!" Inu Yasha shouted, then flinched, hands clutching his head.
"What worked?" Kagome asked conversationally, although she had a good idea as to what he was talking about. Despite her alcohol intake, she still had a clear memory of the night before, and it wasn't lost on her that the troupe had taken every opportunity to get her and Sesshoumaru to kiss.
"Nothing," Kouga muttered, shoving a slice of omelet into his mouth.
"You are all very poor liars," Sesshoumaru murmured as he served Kagome and then himself.
"You two are the ones that kept acting like you weren't interested when all of us could see you were stupid for each other," Inu Yasha bit out before tipping back his mug and chugging the coffee down.
"You know, maybe he's right," Kagome sighed, then turned to Sesshoumaru. "I'm madly in love with you. Ever since you came into my life I can't stop thinking of you, needing you," She breathed dramatically, hands cupping his face.
He smirked. "This Sesshoumaru is a perfect specimen of manhood."
There was a complete silence at the table, followed shortly by gagging noises.
"So, did we really make out?" Kouga finally asked. "I need to know what to be prepared for when I go to work."
"Totally did," Sango clipped before going back to her rice.
"My memory is somewhat fuzzy after that fifth round, but I'm fairly certain you did," Miroku confirmed. Kohaku merely nodded from behind his mug and Sesshoumaru was perfectly still.
"Man," Inu Yasha wailed. "I kissed the asshole!"
"You? We were at my job, and I kissed you," Kouga snapped before covering his face with both hands. "I'm never drinking again."
"Hah!" Kagome scoffed. "That'll be the day. And you two didn't make out, stop whining, you're making my headache worse."
Both males sputtered and cursed and snarled, but stopped when he leveled a glare in the direction, amusement fading into annoyance. Somewhere a phone began going off, and Kagome jumped, excusing herself quickly.
Through the thin walls he could hear her speaking to someone, although he couldn't tell who. It sounded like she was setting up a meeting. There was a loud groan and an apology, then laughter. When she came back out she was smiling.
"The foundation was just setting up an appointment to get the papers together and go over everything," She informed them brightly. Everyone nodded, the reason for their celebration resurfacing from their hangovers.
"I can loan you some clothes," Sango offered. "At least to get you home."
"It's the day after tomorrow," Kagome said, shrugging.
"You still need something to wear," Sango pointed out. "You slept in those."
"It would be nice," Kagome admitted. "A shower too, maybe?"
"Ladies first. We bathed this morning, so they can battle it out for the hot water," Sango smirked. "Unless of course, you want to shower with someone," She added, her smile eerily similar to Miroku's.
"I'm fine," Kagome squeaked. "Just show me where the towels are and we're golden."
Both women left the table, heading into the back room to find some clothes for her to wear after she'd bathed. Four sets of male eyes focused on him.
"Don't do anything to hurt Kagome or I get first dibs on making you a corpse," Kouga growled.
"She is still rather innocent," Miroku began, trying to phrase it gently.
"Kagome's one of the good girls, a real one. Don't treat her like you treated the other women," Inu Yasha warned.
Kohaku said nothing, and Sesshoumaru only nodded before setting down his chopsticks.
"It is our own affair," He informed, then finished his coffee, thinking of a time in the near future where, if she even lasted that long, he'd be telling her goodbye. But her own words had convinced him that it would be okay. Amazingly levelheaded for a female, especially for one so new to men, her assurance that she was okay with now instead of forever had decided him on the matter. If there was a break, when -he corrected himself- there was a break, both would be mature about it, and it wouldn't affect the troupe.
"Just don't be a douchebag," Kouga warned before going back to his breakfast.
The table was silent until Sango came back and sat down. Minutes later the shower started and he resisted the urge to leave the table and join his new partner in the stall.
"So does anyone else's tattoo itch?" Sango asked, breaking the silence. Normal conversation resumed, although he didn't take part in it. When Kagome emerged, she was wearing a baseball jersey and loose fitting khaki shorts.
While Inu Yasha and Kouga argued about who was going to go next, he caught Miroku mouthing 'hall closet' and nodded, making good his escape and leaving Kagome behind.
"Nice hickey," He heard and paused.
"Hickey?" Kagome shouted, alarmed. "Where?"
Opting for flight, he closed the door to the bathroom behind him firmly.
A/N: Fluff? Okay kind of. I can see both Kagome and Sesshoumaru being very levelheaded about relationships, you know, before they actually get in one. Then all bets are off.
So the song for this chapter is Eco ft. Eller Van Buuren, My Name Is You(th), from the album M(you)Sic. Spinning to the song itself makes me feel like my feet are exactly two inches off of the ground(Tom Robbins fans will get it).
The program Kohaku uses is based off of a program I used to completely, utterly procrastinate early on in the series (third chapter, I've been planning that far ahead). It's called Hanzi Master, and it is awesome. It works pretty much in the way I wrote it in the story. It took me forever to figure out Sesshoumaru's tattoo, because I figured after getting set on fire, having fire (huo) tattooed on you probably wouldn't seem like the best idea even when you're drunk. Maybe especially when you're drunk.
Reviews will restore my sanity. Please?