InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Unexpected Ally ❯ Hit the Road, Already! ( Chapter 2 )

Unexpected Ally

disclaimer: YYH belongs to Yoshihiro Tagashi; IY belongs to Rumiko Takahashi; Unfortunately, I am neither one of them!

Chapter 2: Hit the Road, Already!

The sunlight was just beginning to fill the room when Inuyasha's nose started to twitch. His ears perked up as he took a couple deep sniffs, trying to determine what exactly had woke him. His stomach grumbled a little, as the smell of breakfast cooking woke him the rest of the way. He sat up and looked to his left to see Kagome was still asleep, hugging her pillow tightly. He debated whether he should wake her. The memory of her temper last night made him think better of it.

Instead, he made his way to the bathroom, careful to follow all the instructions he'd received on the proper use of indoor "plumbing" (whatever that was). Kagome had explained it all when he'd been in her time before, but he had forgotten most of it since the last time, and as Kagome wasn't speaking to him last night, her mother had had to refresh his memory. `Oh, yeah,' he thought sarcastically, as the memory of the flush demonstration flashed in his mind, `that was fun.' He frowned, mentally promising himself that that would never happen again, as he exited the bathroom, business done.

He padded back to Kagome's room, deciding to retrieve his haori before going downstairs. Once again fully dressed, he turned to leave, but took only two steps before turning back to, once again, look at Kagome. She looked so peaceful laying there in her pink-covered bed, he couldn't help but smile as he crept closer, thinking how deceptively fragile she looked while sleeping.

He knew better, of course, having been on the receiving end of more than a few of her slaps, not to mention her dreaded `word.' It may have been the knowledge of this, most of all, that caused his fascination in watching her sleep. He got to the side of her bed and kneeled down beside it, careful not to touch the bed, lest it move and wake her. He took a precautionary whiff, while listening to her breathing, making sure she was still thoroughly asleep. Satisfied, he gently laid his chin on the edge of the bed to watch her face as she dreamt. He wondered what she was dreaming of as her soft smile suddenly turned to a frown, hoping she wasn't being plagued by memories of past battles.

Inuyasha reached his hand towards Kagome's face, hoping to soothe the creases of the frown from her forehead and calm her. Before he could touch her, though, Kagome spoke in a dreamy tone.

"Inuyasha…" his hand stopped, hovering right beside her face, as he waited with bated breath for her to finish, "…Inuyasha, osuwari." The poor hanyou barely had time to move his hand to avoid smacking her as he fell to the floor with a sound `crash.' She had done it again. She had `sat' him in her sleep! This girl must get some sadistic pleasure from that power if she dreamed about it so often. He hadn't heard her talk in her sleep all night, but as soon as her dreams turn towards him eating dirt (or floor, as was the case now) her voice rang out, clear as can be!

Kagome woke at the sound of the crash and peered over her bed at the prostrate hanyou. "Inuyasha? What happened? Are you okay?" Kagome questioned, worriedly.

Inuyasha struggled against the spell, leaping to his feet as soon as he was able, and pointed an accusing finger at Kagome, "What the hell does it look like, wench?!! Do you always `sit' me in your sleep, or just when I'm around to hear it?!"

Kagome puzzled at the accusation, hearing him grumble something about "sadistic bitches" under his breath. Her telltale eyebrow twitched. "I should `it' you just for that, Inuyasha! What in the world are you talking about?!"

He glared at her, disbelieving, "What the hell do you mean `what am I talking about?' You think I threw myself to the floor, for my health?! You fucking `sat' me in your sleep again, bitch!"

Inuyasha gulped nervously, his ears flattening in expectation as he finally noticed the eyebrow. He knew it was coming, and nothing would stop it now.

"Osuwari! OSUWARI!! O-SU-WA-RI!!! There, at least that time, I got to enjoy it!!" Kagome huffed as she stomped out of the room, heading for the bathroom. Inuyasha wisely waited until she was out of earshot before…

"I knew it! Fucking sadistic bitch…" he grumbled into his indentation in the floor.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mama peeked into the room just as Inuyasha was, once again, picking himself up from the ground. She forced down a giggle as she realized what the yelling she'd heard from downstairs must've been. The poor boy… he just always seemed to get himself into trouble with her Kagome. `Oh well,' she thought to herself, `no need to make it worse by bringing it up. I'll just act like I don't know anything happened.' She put on a pleasant smile.

"Oh, good, Inuyasha," she began cheerfully, stepping into the room with an armful of empty luggage, "you're up! Breakfast is ready, why don't you come down? There's lots to do today, and we need to get started. It's almost 7 already!" She set the luggage on her daughter's bed before turning and leaving the room.

`Oh yeah…' the hanyou mused to himself, `breakfast. That's why I woke up in the first place. How'd I get so sidetracked…' He smirked. He knew how. But, damn, if it wouldn't have been less painful to just go downstairs in the first place!

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

By the time Kagome dressed and came down to the kitchen, Inuyasha was on his third rolled omelet, having had two bowlfuls of miso soup and one bowl of rice already. He didn't care much for the pickled vegetables, and the natto was pretty much vile with his heightened senses. Kagome, however, treated the spread table to a look of utter pleasure, as she sat in her usual chair at the breakfast table. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been able to eat such a feast for breakfast!

Within a few minutes, the other members of the household were seated at the table as well. Buyo made his appearance, too, rubbing against legs and complaining to be fed as well. Souta snuck the cat part of his egg as Mama got up to fill the cat dish, to which Buyo purred gratefully, while licking the last bit of egg from the boy's fingers. Grandpa Higurashi ate quickly, and excused himself from the table to sweep the shrine and open for visitors.

As Mama began clearing away the breakfast things, she told the rest of the family of the plans for the day. Their fellow vacationers were to arrive around 11, giving them time to eat lunch together before starting on the four hour drive. She had reserved the van they would use with her credit card, since Kikugawa-san had reserved the cabin (though all three mothers were paying their equal shares, per child, for the vacation). However, Juri would be picking the van up on her way to the shrine, as she needed to show her license and sign for the insurance. Mama Higurashi had planned on helping Kagome and Souta pack until then, but had realized a crucial point that neither her daughter, nor her friend from the past, seemed to: Inuyasha would be spending a week in their modern era and only had the clothes on his back! Therefore, she had come to the discerning conclusion that, while her children packed, shopping was in order for the boy.

"I've left a list of things to pack, Kagome, just so you two don't forget the important things," Mama said, pointing to the paper stuck to the refrigerator door with a cat magnet. "I'll take Inuyasha to get some clothes and things while you and Souta pack your things. We should be back in time for me to help you pack the cooler and beach things, though, and then I'll get lunch ready for us all. Grandpa will be busy in the shrine visitor's center, so he probably won't be back to bug you for your stories while you're trying to pack," she smiled pleasantly, squeezing her eyes shut momentarily with her smile (like so: ^______^). "Kagome, do you think you could try to find something for Inuyasha to wear to the mall? There may be something that fits him in the boxes of your father's clothes in my closet…" she trailed off.

Kagome understood, "Sure, mama, it's okay. I can do it." She hugged her mother reassuringly, pecking her on the cheek before setting off to her task.

She found an old, red baseball team-logo T-shirt and a pair of dark grey sweats, thinking they would be the easiest to get him in, no matter the size difference. Her father had been shorter than Inuyasha, and slightly bigger around, but the sweats had been long on him and had a drawstring waist. It took a little longer to find suitable shoes, since her father had had only one pair of sandals, and they were in the bottom of the box full of shoes, which had been the box on the bottom of the pile, as it was the heaviest. It would be worth it, though, if she could actually get the barefoot boy into the contraptions.

It took quite a bit of coaxing and arguing, before Inuyasha finally gave in to the torturous foot entrapments. He had saved himself, just in time, from a `sitting', and he knew it. He'd count himself lucky, for now, that it was just his feet that would suffer. Stuffing the red ball cap that Kagome provided him over his ears, he began to follow Mama out the door, when Kagome called to him.

"Wait, Inuyasha! I have to cast the concealment spell on you."

"Keh, what for? Not like it does any good. I've still gotta wear this `cap' thing, so why waste the time and energy it takes you?" Inuyasha folded his arms in his usual manner, immediately lamenting the loss of his abundant sleeves, as he closed his eyes and stuck his nose up haughtily.

Kagome narrowed her eyes at his manner, but realized he was showing his concern for her, also. "Inuyasha, I still think it's safer if I do it. You never know, there could be other people out there that have some awareness, also. We don't need to risk a scene while you're out with mama. Plus, how will I get better if you don't let me practice?"

She led (well, okay, mostly dragged) him back inside, closing the shoji, so as not to be seen by possible shrine visitors. Kagome kept him right by the door so he wouldn't have to take his shoes off to slip into the house slippers, effectively avoiding another inevitable shoe fight with the hanyou.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus her spiritual ki towards the spell, envisioning her intended outcome as she spoke the words of the spell. A faint, pink glow momentarily engulfed him, then faded in the blink of an eye, as his youki and most of his scent were masked. Neither could be quite sure that was the effect it had had, as they were both too closely linked to the spell to be affected by it. They both assumed, though, since the spell had been cast the same as it had many times during her practice, that it had the same effect this time.

Kagome followed Inuyasha out to say goodbye to her mother. Inuyasha looked at the car apprehensively, having heard Mama Higurashi say she would `drive', remembering Kagome's unease over the activity the night before. Oblivious, the older woman opened the passenger door for the hanyou.

"Okay, Inuyasha, you just sit in here like you would on a chair, and I'll do the rest."

Kagome, however, thought better of this idea, "Maybe you should start the car first, Mama, and give him a little demonstration so he doesn't try to shred it from the inside!" Her voice had a giggle behind it as she saw the suspicious look on Inuyasha's face, indicating that was just what he had been contemplating. Mama nodded, shutting the door she had opened and walking around the car to get in the driver's seat on the right.

Kagome turned to Inuyasha, "This will be loud, but it's not going to hurt her or us."

As Mama started the car, Inuyasha flinched and flattened his ears against the sound. Instinctively, he reached to his hip, but found Tetsusaiga missing, having forgotten to retrieve it from his futon in Kagome's room. Recovering from this realization in a split-second, he leapt towards the monster, claws bared.

"Osuwari!" Inuyasha got a faceful of concrete as the spell brought him down less than a meter from the car. Kagome walked over to her friend, shaking her head slightly in pity as she knelt beside him. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha, but I did tell you," she admonished. He knew she was right, but that didn't make the concrete `sit' any better.

Once he regained his composure, he was instructed on how to open the car doors, buckle his seatbelt, and general behavior of a car (in hopes that he would not attempt another attack). Kagome retrieved Inuyasha's neglected sword, at his request, and performed the concealment spell on it before taking it out to him.

With the spell in place, the scabbard and sword would remain invisible as long as Tetsusaiga was sheathed. As with the concealment spell she'd put on him moments earlier, however, both Kagome and Inuyasha were not affected by the spell on the sword. Kagome, because she'd cast the spell, and Inuyasha, because the sword was connected to him through his and his father's fangs. They knew for sure the spell had worked this time, though, as Mama Higurashi seemed confused as Inuyasha seemingly mimed fastening a sword to his side.

Once these tasks were completed, Inuyasha proceeded to expertly open his own car door, suffering only minor entanglement with the seatbelt before getting it right on the second try. They set off on their endeavor, leaving Kagome behind, waving and praying that there would be no further incidents without her there to settle him.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The morning did pass without too much incident. Inuyasha behaved himself in the car, and Mama opted not to turn on the radio, just for good measure. At the shopping center, he scowled at the surging throngs of ningen shoppers, but followed Higurashi-san nonetheless. He had a certain respect for mothers in general, and Kagome's mom was one to be reckoned with, if her daughter was any indication.

They went to a few stores, and, though it took a bit of persuasion, finally ended up with a nice-sized wardrobe for the hanyou. Mama bought several pairs of shorts and T-shirts, a couple pairs of sweats, two pairs of swimming trunks, two beach towels, and a properly sized pair of wide, open-toed sandals (the latter of which were put on right away, as the shoes he had worn there were far too small). Inuyasha had huffed at the suggestion to get a couple pairs of jeans, being used to the freedom-of-movement his hakama afforded him, and quite insistent he would not abide such torture if he was already expected to wear the supplied footwear on a regular basis.

Mama had just chuckled and moved on to the sleepwear department of the store they had been in. There, she picked him up a couple pairs of cotton pajamas, and, going by the size of those, also got a few packages of boxers for him. She knew he was probably still wearing his fundoshi, but that just wouldn't cut it for a week on the beach. When she explained what the shorts were for, he had blushed furiously, and snatched them quickly from her hands as they made their way to the cash register.

On their way back to the shrine, they stopped off at a drugstore to get some shower things for Inuyasha. Mama didn't think he would want to use the sakura-scented bodywash, shampoo, or conditioner she normally bought for her daughter. Finding some more manly-scented products, and managing to find a conditioner suitable to Inuyasha's hair length and thickness, Mama then helped him pick out an antiperspirant. He sniffed at the connotation that he had an offending odor, sorely reminded of a certain ookami's many barbs, but tried not to take it as an insult when it was explained that most people in this time used the stuff-even Kagome. Shopping finally complete, they arrived back home ten minutes before 11.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mama had just finished setting out lunch, which she had already mostly prepared while cooking breakfast earlier that morning, when Juri arrived with the van. Kikugawa-san was right behind her with Aki and Haru, and Hino-san was close behind them with Satoru. All made polite conversation in the living room as they waited for Kagome and Inuyasha to join them for the meal. After pleasant introductions to the addition to their group (Kagome was almost in awe of Inuyasha's tolerance of the formalities of bowing and such), they finally headed into the breakfast area for an informal lunch.

Mama served hiyashi chuka and a variety of onigiri, along with cold tofu and dipping sauces. Especially for Inuyasha, since he had cooperated with her insistence of trying on clothes, she prepared 3 packages of his favorite instant ramen. He also had a few onigiri and a couple cans of the lemon soft drink Kagome usually brought back to the Sengoku Jidai with her. The meal was eaten quickly, and with little conversation other than by the mothers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

The van was packed tight with various-sized luggage, beach bags, two coolers, a few bags of groceries, two schoolbook-filled backpacks (courtesy of the two girls) and, ultimately, 7 beach-bound children of varying ages. Juri was given a purse of extra money for her and her brothers to use on food and souvenirs. Satoru and Souta's money was given to Kagome along with hers. Hino-san took the opportunity to personally thank Kagome for her help, both with Mayu, before, and now Satoru. Kikugawa-san and Higurashi-san both went over the map with Juri for probably the 20th time, and her mother also provided her with a cell phone in case of an emergency on the road. Finally, the overprotective hens quit their pecking, giving their children permission to go.

"Kami-sama, let's hit the road, already!" Juri exclaimed as they finally pulled away from the shrine.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Elsewhere in Tokyo, a small D-class youkai was lurking in an alley, peering out cautiously for his chance to fully escape into Ningenkai. Just as he was about to make a mad dash…

"Going somewhere?" A voice called from behind him, a smirk firmly fixed on the speaker's face. Before the Makai-escapee could have a second thought, Yuusuke shot his Spirit Gun, obliterating it completely.

"You realize, of course, that that was at least triple the strength needed to take him down, don't you?" A calm, even voice asked conversationally.

Yuusuke looked over his shoulder at his friend, dropping his hands from their shooting position and flashing a toothy grin, "It was nice and flashy, though, wasn't it, Kurama?"

The crimson-locked boy turned his head to discreetly roll his eyes, "Well, we should probably meet up with the others. This is the fourth one we've come across since last night, and I'm sure we're not the only ones that have seen them. I'm surprised Koenma hasn't called us all in yet."

"Feh, toddler doesn't need to alert us to the presence of these punks. Even Kuwabara would've been able to handle them, if he were here. Still, it's a nice change of pace from how slow it's been lately. Last night was the first breach since school went on summer holiday two weeks ago. I wonder if Kuwabara's run into any of these things on his trip with Shizuru?"

Kurama shrugged his shoulders, his hands in his pockets, "I wouldn't be surprised. He and Shizuru would both be able to sense them, and Kuwabara wouldn't let those feelings go unchecked, especially with his sister with him."

"Oh, well… I guess if we're gonna gather everybody together, we should stop by his house and see if they're back yet. He said they'd be back in three days, and that would be today, but he didn't say what time."

Stepping out of the alley, the Reikai Tantei turned in the direction of their friend's home and… hit the road… to their destination.

End Chapter 2

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

A/N: As far as I can tell, Satoru and Mayu's mother isn't given a "first" name or a family name. I'm naming her Hino Natsumi (family name first) for this story. Also, in case anyone wonders, the names I chose for OC's in my story were chosen at random just because I liked the sound of them, not for any specific meaning (although they may have one).

Words First Appearing in Chapter Two:

miso soup (seemingly self-explanatory, but for the extra-inquisitive): a soup made from miso paste (bean paste made from a mixture of soybeans, malted rice, and salt that takes about 10 months to be ready to use); tofu and vegetables are usually added to the soup as well; this soup is a staple in Japanese homes, as most Japanese-style meals include a cup of miso soup

natto: fermented soybeans (definitely an acquired taste)

Kikugawa-san: just a note that I'm using this term, in this chapter, to refer to Juri, Aki and Haru's mother

hakama: the pants part of Inuyasha's outfit

fundoshi: traditional Japanese loincloth

ookami: wolf

hiyashi chuka: a Japanese dish for summer; essentially a cold ramen noodle salad prepared with other vegetables and ingredients (this is NOT made with instant ramen noodles)

onigiri: essentially, a type of Japanese "sandwich"; consists of rice ball stuffed with a certain "gu", which could be fish, umeboshi (pickled plums) or konbu (a type of tangled seaweed used in some Japanese dishes); this is then wrapped in dried seaweed and eaten

Ningenkai: human realm/world

Makai: demon realm/world

Reikai: spirit realm/world

Tantei: detective

A/N 2: Thanks to you readers that reviewed! I'm glad to have even a little bit of feedback.

RabidFangirl101: I'm glad you're eager for more of my story! I hope you stay with me because I AM going somewhere with this.

VoidPheonix: I'm very happy you liked the story, also! I'll try to update once a week, though occasionally it may be a little longer.

Sesshy81: Damn, I've got whips being cracked at me at ICAF and evil flying monkey armies on MediaMiner! I guess I should get on it!! ^____^ It may take a little while before it seems to get off the ground, but I just want to sufficiently set things up for the rest of the story. I do have pretty much the whole story planned out, though, so don't worry about whether it'll end up nowhere.

DeepBlue1: I appreciate every opportunity to evolve in my writing. If you have specific criticisms, I would love to hear them. That goes for everybody who reviews, as long as you don't just flat-out flame me.

To Anyone Who Wanted to Review but Couldn't: I know there were a couple, since they contacted me elsewhere, and to you guys I'm sorry. I do not have anonymous reviews blocked in my settings, and I've contacted MediaMiner about it, but who knows if I'll get a response anytime soon. Until then, you could always e-mail me a review if you really want to.

I think that's it for now, so… until next time!