Just a little piece of nothingness (plot mover) for you guys. Didn't seem like enough for this to be a long awaited chapter. So I'm giving it to you way early. Enjoy
She followed the aroma that had caused her to emerge from her room in the first place, food. She ventured out of her room for dinner. Hoping to be able to at least choke down some bread. She wandered the halls of the penthouse. It was grossly extravagant but she was no longer surprised or impressed.
Kagome had spent the rest of the day in her room, practicing centralizing her powers to her hands. She felt exhausted, but at least she did something. It was better than crying. She had to keep working towards keeping her dream from coming true. Just in case it was real, she wanted to be ready. She finally stumbled upon the dining room. The food was set out on the table but no one else was there. Kagome looked around. It looked as if they had already eaten. She shrugged before sitting at the only plate left at the head of the table.
She looked over all the meat and vegetables and felt her stomach turn at the thought, she found some bread and pulled the whole basket towards her. The bread was warm and melted in her mouth. When she didn't immediately try to throw it up Kagome took a big satisfying bite.
She felt Sesshomaru coming before she saw him. He entered through a doorway opposite of the way she had come, and approached the table in that slow manner she had come accustomed.
"You're getting stronger."
Kagome continued to eat. Though she could feel his eyes on her. Watching as she raised the bread to her lips.
"The stronger you get the more food you'll be able to eat so it is in your best interest to practice."
"Good to know."
She didn't mean to sound clipped but she was exhausted and hungry. She was not in the mood for any company, especially his. The nervousness he invoked in her was beginning to rear its head. There was a moment of silence.
"Breakfast is served at 8."
Sesshomaru didn't linger before moving on, and just as quickly and silently as he came, he was gone. Kagome finished her meal in silence.
Kagome woke early the next morning. She dressed in the clothes provided for her. Kagome pulled on tights, leather boots a purple skirt and turquoise shirt that hung off one shoulder. The sky outside was dark with clouds, while the ground was white with snow. Kagome found her way to the breakfast area where everyone was already seated. She sat at the head of the table opposite Sesshomaru and watched as everyone dug in. She picked at a plain waffle, all the bread from late last night was ruining her appetite.
Inuyasha and Miroku ate with their familiar vigor and Kagome laughed at them. Her eyes connected with Sango, and the laughter died on her lips.
You always die.
Kagome looked away. She put her half eaten waffle down and stood, hitting Inuyasha on the shoulder lightly.
"Come with me, I want to go outside."
Inuyasha smiled, gulping down his orange juice as he stood. Sango stood as well.
"I have to go with you."
Kagome gave her a sharp look, "I'll have Inuyasha with me. It's fine, right Sesshomaru?"
Sesshomaru nodded absently.
Sango sank down in her seat.
Kagome turned her back and left. Inuyasha followed behind her.
"So where do you want to go?"
"I want to practice my powers, but I doubt there's a place to do that in the city."
"Well, if you don't mind a long car ride, there is a place Sesshomaru and I used to spar."
Kagome smiled, "Let's do it."
THe walked through the main lobby to the street. Inuyasha parked in a lot down the street, apparently, the penthouse he could get on board with, but not valet. The air was crisp as they walked briskly. People pushed past and around them, Kagome couldn't keep the smile from her face. She felt so small and insignificant. Not like the savior of the human world, not like the girl whose father abused her and is trying to kill her. She felt cold. She felt alive. She felt like herself. Or who she might have been if her life had been different. Kagome decided pretending for a few minutes couldn't hurt. Inuyasha was too far ahead of her, people kept pushing between them. She saw him look back, and work his way back to her.
"Come on, idiot, you can't get lost here. Sesshomaru would kill me." Inuyasha said as he grabbed her hand.
And now she felt nervous.
They reached the car quickly with Inuyasha in front navigating the crowds. It was parked in a paid long term lot. A bright red Lamborghini Gallardo's lights blinked as Inuyasha unlocked the door. They separated as they approached the car, going to their respective sides.
Inuyasha didn't lie. It was a long car ride. They didn't get out of the city till about 10, and didn't reach their destination till about noon. But they passed the time alternating between laughing and telling stories. With a few moments of comfortable silence sprinkled in.
The road was heavily wooded, and beautiful. Occasional rays of sunshine escaped the clouds and filtered through the trees, highlighting the falling snow. Inuyasha let the car coast off the road, and slowed to a stop.
They both climbed out of the car. Kagome shivered, upon being back in the cold. Inuyasha rounded the car before stopping to kneel in front of her.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Come on. It'll be faster if I just carry you." Inuyasha said, turning to look at her.
Kagome hesitated.
Inuyasha stood up in a huff, "Fine if you want to be cold for the next hour then we'll walk."
"Alright. Just don't drop me."
Her shivering was starting to make her teeth rattle, and she slowly hooked her arms around Inuyasha's neck. She felt a blush rising to the surface of her already flushed face, as his hands wrapped around the underside of her thigh and boosted her up.
"I would hold on tighter than that Kagome."
Kagome smiled at the back of his head, before squeezing tighter, pulling her arms tight across his throat.
"Better?"
Inuyasha choked out a laugh before she loosened her took a few steps, before he began to run. Kagome's hair whipped behind her, as he picked up speed. Trees were whizzing by and Kagome felt a bubbly pit of nervousness forcing a giggle from her.
"Alright, Kagome, hold on."
Kagome eagerly gripped tighter, burying her face into his back. She felt his muscles coil and release beneath her.
She felt weightless. Kagome peeked her head up before the feeling of falling hit her. Kagome clenched even tighter, in a hold not much looser than before. She felt him hit the ground again, not even pausing as he absorbed the impact.
"Okay, this time we're staying up."
Kagome braced herself. She felt him leap again and eagerly looked up. They had completely cleared the tree line and Kagome could see the snow dusted evergreens and the naked trees temporarily clothed in ice. She had never been closer to the sky and she reached her arm out as if to touch it. She felt the familiar sinking sensation and quickly withdrew her hand. Kagome laughed. She had never felt this free, this weightless. Inuyasha pushed off of a tree branch, throwing them even higher this time.
Kagome rested her head on Inuyasha's shoulder and studied his profile, a small smile on her face.
Inuyasha looked at her, "What?"
Kagome's smile grew so big she was sure her cheeks would hurt later, "Inuyasha, this is beautiful. You're so lucky to be able to fly like this."
Inuyasha turned his head away from her quickly murmuring under his breath that he was only jumping.
Inuyasha took one last giant leap before landing at the edge of a clearing. Kagome held her breath as they came towards the ground. Afraid she might accidentally bite her tongue off or something else crazy. But the impact wasn't as jarring as she expected. Inuyasha rose to his full height and let go of Kagome's legs and she slowly dropped herself on her feet. It was nothing more than an empty clearing.
"Have you learned more than how to glow?" Inuyasha asked jokingly.
Kagome's hand started glowing with a ball of lilac light.
"So…no?" Inuyasha laughed.
Kagome pulled her arm back, her hand clutching the glowing ball of light and she threw it. It flew from her hand before landing several yards away. Snow around it melted and as they got closer they could see where she had almost scorched the earth.
Inuyasha's laughter died on his lips and It was Kagome's turn to smirk in satisfaction.
The idea that maybe she could throw it came to her as she practiced forming balls of different size. But she had no way to practice. That much energy could easily destroy something. If that worked, maybe her other idea would work as well. Kagome faced away from Inuyasha as she conjured another ball this time, she willed it away from her hand and it flew before striking a tree. The tree fell to perfectly intact pieces.
Inuyasha smirked before taking off his jacket.
"Alright. Now, that was worth the drive."