Girl Problems
A short note before I begin this chapter. When I said that Kagome’s midterms were during the fall, it was technically incorrect. In Japan, school goes from April to March of the next year, and a short one-month or so summer vacation. And the midterms are usually before summer vacation. But for the sake of my fic, it’s after summer vacation. That’s all.
Now back to Lucky Seven:
Chapter 28
It was a perfectly sunny afternoon in the Sengoku Jidai. Inuyasha grabbed Kagome’s arm with one hand and pulled her out of the well in no time at all. The two said nothing to each other.
With Kagome’s yellow supply bag over his shoulder, Inuyasha walked calmly toward the direction of Kaede’s village. His eyes shifted to Kagome once in a while, only to see her looking down on the ground, deep in thought. It was the same silent forest as that morning.
The couple walked on in silence, but sooner of later, they had to crack.
“Inuyasha…”
“Kagome…”
They both blushed as they started to talk at the same time. Kagome tugged on her uniform, it felt like she was in a cheesy romance movie. But then again, who doesn’t like cheesy?
“So… umm… they’re probably not expecting me back so soon.”
“No, they’re not. They thought you’d at least be out ‘till the next moon.” Inuyasha dug his feet into the ground. They’ve both stopped walking. The scenery was perfect, but why neither of them is able to say anything?
“Oh, is that so?” Kagome hit herself mentally, wow, can I get any lamer?
“Yea… yup…” Damn it, when did things get so difficult between us? Just talk like you normally do, idiot! “So… do you wanna go rest somewhere and make them worry a little longer… wench?”
Kagome knew that he added the last part for the sake of normality, and to show her appreciation, she smiled and agreed. So they changed course and set out for the Goshinboku, their favorite place to chat.
Once they’re at the ancient sacred tree, they’ve found that making conversation wasn’t as easy as they thought. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Inuyasha punched the trunk of the old tree and grunted. “This is stupid.”
Inuyasha didn’t look at her, and his words weren’t really directing at anything in particular. But Kagome knew what he meant.
“Yeah, you’re right, this is stupid.” Kagome nodded, “I mean, we’ve known each other for six months now. We’ve even faced death together…”
“Yea, and not to mention the countless times we’ve seen each other naked…” Inuyasha continued. He cast a side-glance at Kagome, knowing very well that she would blush and smile at that comment.
“Yea, totally,” Kagome’s 20th century slang slipped out, “so it’s stupid that we can’t even talk normally with each other.”
“Exactly.” The two caught each other’s glaze, and they both froze. The way their eyes pierced through the other person, as though they can see each other’s soul, their deepest desires. And at that moment, their deepest desire was a tad too obvious.
In truth, they both knew why had made them so tongue-tied all of a sudden. It wasn’t the whole Ayumi-chan and Hojo-kun misunderstanding. It was that scene from the hospital. The confession Inuyasha made to her, and how they almost kissed.
Kagome’s cheeks flushed crimson as she thought back to that intimate moment. If only the Tessaiga had waited another second to pulsate, then they would’ve kissed.
“Umm… so… how do you feel right now?” Inuyasha broke the ice.
Kagome replied without thinking, “I’m pretty happy”. Then she realized that Inuyasha was asking about her health. “I mean… pretty good, yea, I’m fine now.” Her blush didn’t die down.
Inuyasha gazed at her with an understanding smile. “Yea, I’m pretty happy too.” He smiled when he saw her looking at him with a surprised expression. “C’mon, let’s go back; I don’t think the monk and them can handle Shippo’s crying anymore.”
Kagome nodded and turned to walk away. The autumn wind blew over her hair, carrying her scent over to the hanyou behind her.
That smell again… It didn’t take Inuyasha long to realize that it was the same scent that he smelled from a few days ago in Kagome’s house. It’s… from Kagome! Inuyasha’s eyes opened wide. But that’s not her scent, not exactly. It’s somewhat different. What’s going on here?
“Inuyasha, you coming?” Kagome turned as she didn’t see Inuyasha walking behind her.
“Umm… yea, sorry.” Inuyasha went to catch, but with all the questions in his mind, he almost tripped on a root stem.
It didn’t take them long to reach Kaede’s hut, and before they even entered, they heard wails and cries.
“But Kagome-neechan hasn’t come back yet, I don’t wanna go!” Rin’s squeaky voice reached Kagome and Inuyasha’s ears.
Shippo’s voice followed. “Go away, she doesn’t want to go with you!”
“Oi oi, what’s going on in here?” Inuyasha raised the hut’s straw door and poked his head inside. Kagome’s head followed.
The hut was completely stuffed with people and youkai. There was a tired old miko, an amused monk, a dazed youkai exterminator, a worried miko-in-training, a crying young girl, a bored cat youkai, an angry kitsune, and to finish it off, an annoyed Lord of the Western lands.
There wasn’t any more room for the two new comers.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to the door at Inuyasha’s sudden interruption.
“Kagome/Kagome-san/Kagome-chan/Kagome-sama/Kagome-neechan!” A whole variety of surprised greetings darted at the young miko, and everyone suddenly ran toward her, pushing her out of the hut unintentionally.
“Good, now Kagome’s fine and everyone’s out, I’ll be getting some rest.” Hosting four human and two youkai for the past few days was really trying on Kaede’s nerves. She immediately turned into her futon for an afternoon nap, no longer worrying about Sesshomaru, whom was standing barely a few feet away from her.
Sesshomaru followed the crowd out, just to keep an eye out for Rin… and someone else.
Once outside, everyone hugged Kagome and expressed how much they missed and worried about her.
Shippo and Rin were the most dramatic and the loudest of the bunch. Shippo jumped into her arms right away and started babbling, while Rin grabbed Kagome’s leg and wouldn’t let go until Haruko pried away her tiny arms.
Next come Sango and Miroku. After Sango hugged Kagome, Miroku was squeezing in for a feel. But not before Inuyasha pulled Kagome away and made a bump on the monk’s head.
“Step aside, Bouzo,” He said to Miroku, “and you’ll make it out in one piece.”
Miroku flashed one of his charming smiles and raised his arms as if to say “you win”.
Haruko had her arms busy with holding back Rin and Shippo, but she managed to shake Kagome’s hand.
While everyone was bombarding Kagome with interrogations, Inuyasha looked around say his half-brother standing not far away. His emotionless expression was sticking out so much that Inuyasha had a hard time keeping up a serious face. Finally Inuyasha walked over to Sesshomaru with one hand on Tessaiga and made sure that no one was within earshot.
“What the hell are you doing here, Sesshomaru?”
Sesshomaru didn’t even bother looking at the hanyou. “I’m only here to pick up Rin. She refused to go until your bitch came back.”
“Keh, Kagome’s back, so leave already.” Inuyasha wasn’t going to be any nicer to Sesshomaru if he refused to look at him directly.
Sesshomaru rolled his eyes at the hanyou. “Was she really injured, or is there something you didn’t want your companions to know?”
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. “What the hell are you talking about, bastard?”
“You’re the bastard here.” Sesshomaru was as calm as usual, “And it’s really useless to hide it, Inuyasha, I know what I smell.”
Inuyasha was about to turn. “Dunno what the fuck you’re talking about, waste of my time.”
“You probably pounced on her first chance you got.” This caught Inuyasha’s attention, his confused look hinted to Sesshomaru that he really knew nothing. “I know you smell it too, little brother, it’s just not as obvious to you.”
“Explain quickly, Sesshomaru, I don’t have time to deal with you.” Inuyasha growled, his half-brother was really getting on his nerves.
Sesshomaru scoffed, “I don’t believe this, your bitch is in heat and you didn’t even know?”
Inuyasha threatening pose relaxed as his eyes opened wide. “Wha…what? What are you talking about? Kagome can’t be…”
Sesshomaru almost laughed, just almost. “You haven’t smelled anything out of the ordinary from her?”
Inuyasha thought for a second. Those two times that he smelled that aroma in Kagome’s house, she was close to him. And just a few moments ago near the Goshinboku… “You mean… those were…” His cheeks fired up. “But there were just a few moments when it happened. The smell’s not on her all the time.”
Sesshomaru eyed Inuyasha with some disgust. “That you have your hanyou nose to blame. You can’t smell it all the time because your nose isn’t strong enough. You’ve only noticed it when the scent is strong, and that’s usually when your bitch is enticed.”
Enticed… The words rang through Inuyasha’s mind like an echo. Kagome was… enticed… by… me?! He blushed deeper. No longer noticing that his brother was still staring at him, Inuyasha stole a glance at the girl behind him, still chatting lively with their companions.
Inuyasha blushed to a degree that he didn’t think he was capable of. He turned back to face Sesshomaru. “And… wha… what did you mean by… *ahem* me pouncing on… her…?”
Sesshomaru couldn’t take it anymore. “You’re even more clueless than I thought. This is not a matter in which I’d like to speak to you with. Figure it out yourself.” He walked passed Inuyasha and faced the chatty group. “Rin, we’re going.”
“But Sesshomaru-sama, Kagome-neechan just came back, can’t I stay a little longer?” Rin was again on the verge of tears. She had her arms around Kagome’s legs and wouldn’t let go as though her life depended on it.
“Rin.” Sesshomaru’s tone was stern. “Your kimono has been finished. We’re leaving.”
Rin couldn’t hold in back anymore. She wailed on top of her lungs. Just when Kagome was about to interrupted, Haruko stepped forward. She put her hands on Rin’s shoulder and squeezed lightly. She whispered to the girl, “don’t cry, Rin-chan, we’ll ask Sesshomaru-sama nicely, okay?”
Rin sniffed and nodded, and Haruko took her hand and walked closer to the youkai lord. “Sesshomaru, why not let Rin-chan stay a while longer? She was having so much fun here with us, and we love her company.” Haruko smiled at him brightly, “besides, with her here, you can handle your business much more quickly, and it’ll put her out of harm’s way, ne, Sesshomaru?”
Haruko gave Rin a huge hug, and Rin hugged her back, both of them flashed Sesshomaru their “innocent” smiles. How can any man or youkai resist them now?
Sesshomaru groaned, but not very loudly. He let out an unpleasant growl and began to walk away. Rin squealed happily and ran over to hug Sesshomaru’s legs. The youkai word roughly patted Rin’s head. After the girl let go, he disappeared in a flash, but not before turning around to give Haruko one his deadly gazes. And it shocked him to no extend to find Haruko grinning at his stare, when most people would’ve fainted from fear already.
After the whole ordeal was over, Haruko turned around and found everyone staring at her in absolute shock, especially Inuyasha, who was almost choking.
“You… called him by his name, smiled at him, made him give up his goal…and you’re… still alive!!!” Inuyasha gasped as soon as soon as Sesshomaru was gone.
Haruko blinked. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Haruko-san, you are brave.” Shippo was also gazing at the girl open mouthed.
Haruko shook her head. “No, Shippo-chan, you stood up against him back in the hut too.”
Shippo sat down on the ground with a thump. “But I was using Miroku as a shield and wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Sango, Miroku, Kagome, and Inuyasha all nodded in unison.
Haruko turned to look at the direction to which Sesshomaru disappeared to. She mumbled to herself. “But he’s not scary at all… not anymore.”
Miroku shook the shock off. “Let’s sit down and have a chat. I’m still a little skeptical about how the Shikon shards and Tessaiga was able to heal Kagome-sama. Explain it more clearly, and maybe we’ll figure out an explanation.”
Sango started to walk back inside. “I’ll bring out some clean mats to sit on.” Then she turned to the monk, “Miroku-sama, can you give me a hand?”
“Certainly, my dear Sango.” Miroku took the chance and made a grab for Sango’s back.
“Not that kind of hand, Miroku-sama.” Sango seemed to have seen it coming. She blocked it efficiently and shoved him away. “Never mind, Kagome-chan, can you help me?”
Kagome nodded and went inside with the exterminator. Once inside, Kagome grabbed Sango’s arm and whispered, “Sango-chan, did something happened between you and Miroku?”
Sango immediately blushed at the thought of what happened a few nights ago. The place where Miroku kissed her seemed to be burning. “No, Kagome-chan, what makes you say that?”
Kagome smirked devilishly. “You called him ‘Miroku-sama’ instead of ‘Houshi-sama’, something must’ve happened while we weren’t here.”
Sango blushed more, “Kagome-chan… I… we… I’ll tell you another time…”
Kagome grinned like the Christmas Grinch. “Fine, tonight, I’ll meet you at the river.”
Sango groaned lightly to herself. “Fine, but you’ll have to tell me what you and Inuyasha were fighting about. He wouldn’t say a thing to any of us.”
Kagome smiled and ran outside with some mats, “deal.”
*****~~~~~*****
(Switching to Sesshomaru’s point of view…)
She grinned. Even after I just gave her my most fierce stare, she grinned. Who is this girl? And more importantly, why did I allow her to have her way?
I shouldn’t worry over that too much. After all, I was about to give in when Rin started to cry. That miko girl was just lucky.
But that grin, it bothers me too much. Why did she grin when other human would’ve died from fear already?
I hesitated again. I should’ve killed her on the spot. She called me by my name, without an honorable suffix, and in front of my bastard brother. And she smiled at me more than once. No one smiles at me except for Rin.
I’ve just noticed it; she and Rin have the same smile. Standing next to each other, the two almost look like sisters. Still, I shouldn’t have hesitated; I should’ve killed her right away…
But I didn’t. Just like how I didn’t kill Rin. But she’s not Rin, she’s something else…
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