A Distant Promise – Mini-Chapter # 43
"Dating a hanyou?"
Her voice was strangely blank, while she said this. Satoshi squirmed uneasily, not used to dealing with temperamental women or relationship problems. Drawing strength from the kitsune, who calmly stood between the two of them, Satoshi continued at last. "Yes, that is how it seemed, at least. There were pictures of her in the bedroom where he is staying. Why else would someone have pictures of a girl in his bedroom?"
Quietly, Kagome felt her faith in Inuyasha splinter. It hadn't been very strong lately, anyway. Strangely though, the ending of a relationship did not hurt as much as she thought it would. In fact, she felt somewhat relieved.
If the girl that Inuyasha saw in the hallway was a hanyou, then for the first time, he could relate to someone on an equal level. It was like watching the disastrous relationship with Kikyou all over again – only this time, from the other side. What had Kikyou thought about Kagome stealing her lover away? She never wanted to be the 'other' woman doing what Kikyou had done to her. Furthermore, this girl actually seemed to like Inuyasha. And that was great! In the past, Kikyou had loved him, but she had never trusted or understood the dog-eared boy. This girl, however, might comprehend his life-experiences and marvel at them.
Guilt lingered in her chest, only it was not Inuyasha causing the problem anymore. She should never have allowed him to wish to be human, when he would have been happier as a half-demon. She should have stopped him! Kagome had always liked the hanyou version of Inuyasha, anyway.
On the other hand… maybe she was finding problems to obsess over. Technically, she had not forced Inuyasha to make a wish on the Shikon no Tama. They had agreed that he could make any wish, as long as it was pure and unselfish – as long as he had the right frame of mind. Wishing to become a human for Kikyou – that wish might not have worked, since the priestess was simply trying to settle down and be a 'normal woman' and Inuyasha was trying to please her. Selfishness during the wish might ruin it. But years later, Kagome had told him that if he wished to become a human, and it was not "for Kagome" or "for Kikyou" or even for himself… then maybe they could erase the self-interest behind the wish.
Poking her in the side, Shippo drew her out of her thoughts. "Are you okay?"
With a small smile, she nodded. "I was thinking," Kagome said slowly, "It would be really pathetic to keep chasing after Inuyasha at this point, wouldn't it?"
"Do you…" murmured the fox-demon uneasily, "Do you want to?"
Happiness filled her chest, as she firmly closed the door to the past. "Nope," announced Kagome, "I gave him today, because I wanted to allow him a chance to explain why he left the shrine. But he never did."
At her side, Shippo relaxed, leaning on the counter at the front desk in relief. "Well, then! I'm glad we could help you make this very important decision," chirped the kitsune.
Hands on her hips, the priestess returned her adoptive son's banter. "Oh?" inquired Kagome playfully, "How did you help? Satoshi might have helped, but you merely followed us around all day. Without telling me, by the way. That is called eavesdropping!"
A mock gasp met her words in reply, and Shippo stepped backward with one hand placed over his chest. "I was the unobtrusive chaperone," he protested, nimbly avoiding her accusation, "Ensuring that Inuyasha didn't try anything!"
At this, Kagome blushed and turned away. In the end, Inuyasha had been on his best behavior. She was the one who had kissed him, not the other way around. But it had been for comparison's sake, that's all! And she had been unnerved by her companion's pleasant, solicitous behavior. When she realized there was no passion behind the kiss, she had felt very foolish. Feelings of guilt and obligation did not inspire love.
"Yes, well. Um… You were a very good chaperone," decided Kagome finally. "Nothing happened."
In the blink of an eye, Shippo moved from teasing-mode to torturing-mode. As he turned to Satoshi, the inu-youkai pup could obviously tell a change had come over his guardian too. Satoshi put his hands up, claws facing forward, but the kitsune paid this threat no heed.
"Now. If Kagome is officially not dating Inuyasha," mused the fox-demon, crossing his arms over his chest, "Then the only one with relationship troubles is… Satoshi."
The blue-eyed priestess blinked in confusion, since she had almost forgotten about Sesshoumaru's son and his interest in a human girl overseas. That was the event that started all of this, though, wasn't it?
Continuing without a pause, Shippo purposefully deliberated out loud. "And the best way to solve that dilemma would be… to hook up Sesshoumaru and Kagome. Your father can't complain about you dating a human, if he is doing it too!"
Both listeners groaned, and Satoshi quickly moved to stand beside her. All things being equal, they needed to present a united front. After all, Shippo's matchmaking skills were NOT the best. He had recently tried (and failed) to reunite her with Inuyasha. Envisioning Shippo's methods for marrying off Sesshoumaru? Well, that would not be pretty. In fact, it would probably spell the end of his existence.
"That is none of your business, young man," scolded Kagome, waving one finger at him.
"Yea! Opposites don't really attract," the young dog-demon added, "That's just a proverb!"
Wide-eyed, Kagome faced Satoshi. Hey! Wait a minute! Did the boy seriously not think that they would make a cute couple? Even if she wasn't actually dating Sesshoumaru yet, she felt slightly miffed by this implication.
Seeing Kagome's surprise and disappointment, Shippo put one hand over his eyes and sighed. No one had shared the latest news with Satoshi, apparently. No, no. That should have been his job. But honestly, Shippo had forgotten to do it, because the situation with Inuyasha had seemed more important and immediate. And… and… Okay. Fine. He had wanted to irritate Satoshi for a while by mysteriously alluding to the information, before revealing it.
Before the kitsune could correct his young charge, however, another voice interrupted them. Both of Kagome's companions stiffened in shock, their faces turning pale and mortified.
"I don't know about that, Satoshi," Sesshoumaru said darkly, stepping through the doorway nearest the front door. He calmly slid sunglasses into his shirt pocket, while the youngest inu-youkai whimpered. "Japan seems to have attracted you from the opposite end of the Earth. Aren't your finals approaching?"
Simultaneously, all three of them wondered exactly how long the taiyoukai had been listening to the conversation.
