InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ With Meaning ❯ Invitations ( Chapter 7 )

I had to write and post this in protest to all my professors at my college. How dare they think I have no life? Lol.

Anyway, I am seriously in crunch time and am locking up the plot bunnies until mid-December. Consider this my last flailing fare well *pouts in corner* - at least until next time I decide I can stick it to the man and refuse to do my homework!

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Kuwabara smiled at the delicate place settings, wondering how much effort she put into making the fluffy rice that sat nicely at his left. The smell of soup was accompanied by the heavy meaty scent of kushikatsu, tempura, and gyoza. He grinned at the three okazu spread out traditionally, and he couldn't wait to nibble on the pickles- Kagome sure knew how to say thank you with a meal.

He rubbed his hands together as they set to eating the feast spread before them, Shippou's joyful commentary a welcome entertainment as the quad fell into eating and merrymaking.

He grinned at the kid as he whole heartedly chewed and smiled and tried not to talk with his mouth full.

Kuwabara laughed and patted him on his back when he choked; his eyes wide and teary but grin fighting to overcome his stuffed cheeks.

“Shippou-chan really, no one's going to take your food.”

The boy blushed at his mother's scolding, his body swaying with his stuffed swallow before he was grinning sheepishly at her and tilting his head at an impossibly cute angle.

Kagome laughed and reached out to tweak his nose. Kuwabara laughing an echo as the boy wrinkled it and sneezed.

“Now be good and finish your dinner, it's getting late.”

Shippou pouted but obediently stuffed his mouth, his chopsticks held between his lips as he sent a fantastically impish look to the two guests. Kuwabara choked on his gyoza and covered his mouth as he laughed, looking at Kagome's wide eyes and bewildered expression as she blinked and tried not to join in the laughter just for the fun of it.

He calmed down and wiped his mouth as he carefully observed her confused humor and then the final exasperated shake of her head.

“Sorry,” he said sheepishly, unable to hinder the grin taking over his face. Shippou was too precious. “Your son just seems to make me laugh.”

Kagome smiled broadly; her eyes twinkling as her cheeks flushed proudly. Shippou blushed and looked down at his empty plate. “Shippou-chan is adorable, isn't he?” She winked at her son when he quickly glanced up; but then her countenance shifted and her smile softened into a tender expression of her pride. “He's the light of my life- I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have him.”

Shippou brightened; his amazed face vulnerable and soft as he smiled and stood to walk around the table corner to her side. She pulled him into her lap without much thought, tenderly running her fingers through his auburn hair. Kuwabara swallowed and tried not to interrupt as his soul rose and his heart fluttered.

Thanks to Kurama's tea and the time he'd gotten to settle down- his powers were at their usual level. Experiencing the combination of souls he was in the presence of now was a difficult task because it made him want to shout out to the world about how special and priceless they were.

It affected him that much.

Without the buzz and annoyance of other souls and emotions pressing in upon him he was able to more clearly distinguish the perfect childishness of Shippou and the strange but welcome and more cunning match in Kurama. And Kagome…he drew in a fortifying breath as he watched her soul envelop her son - even if he wasn't, because her soul had claimed him and loved him and nurtured him - with such cautious warmth.

There was an aspect to Kagome's soul that affected him- a delicate feature he couldn't exactly define. He didn't understand if it was her wholly loving nature, which colored and shaped her soul to something grand that would have been unbelievable if he hadn't been seeing it for himself; or if it was the way her spirit rose to work in concert with those around her, soothing and encouraging with delicate wisps of emotion and comfort.

Kuwabara swallowed as he watched the child fall asleep in her lap.

The murmuring conversation of Kurama and Kagome slowly lulled him from his stunned musings, their calm voices a balm over his unease. He felt like he had been intruding- but he usually felt like that. So he bore it and started to listen in with the hopes of joining their conversation and ridding himself of the feeling.

As soon as his focus alighted, Kagome seemed to sense it and made a point of drawing him in- his wide eyes regarded her as a slow smile overtook his lips.

She had bothered to understand.

“So, Kuwabara-san. I hear you're at the college- it must be strange. I never went there myself- didn't have the grades for it.”

He choked out an unbelieving laugh, watching her blush. “I don't believe that.”

“Neither do I.” Kurama intoned smoothly, his green eyes cunning and humored as they watched the woman fidget with her hands and smooth out the table cloth.

She tittered out a nervous laugh- “I missed a lot of school with absences.” She smiled ruefully and then turned to him. “What are you studying?”

He flinched; catching Kurama's flaring eyes of encouragement before he straightened. “I'm studying anthropology with a minor in sociology.”

“Wai, sugoi ne? So you're interested in all that neat stuff. I must show you our shrine records- we have some wonderful references to the sengoku jidai.”

Kuwabara blinked and sat stunned, Kurama letting out a disbelieving snort from his seat as he spoke up- “Forgive him, not many understand his calling.”

Kagome's confused eyes became shrewd as she eyed the both of them… “They think he's only interested in sports, ne?” her face softened. “Everyone thought my brother was too small to be a sportsman- they thought he'd be a doctor.” Her smile turned proud and vindicated- “But now he's in the J-League.” Kuwabara smiled and leaned in, trying to catch the way her soul and emotions lit up her eyes and flashed out to his senses.

Kurama chuckled. “Good for him; society has a way of judging people.”

Kagome firmed her lips into a straight line and nodded, her eyes softening before they turned down to her son and she pushed her chin out in defiance. “Yes,” her voice came out soft, “society does do that.” She cleared her throat and moved to stand, the men staring up at her as she shifted her son carefully and smiled tightly. “I'll just go put Shippou-chan to bed. Excuse me.”

Kurama turned to him as soon as they lost sight of her back, his eyes almost feral with knowledge and a grin upon his lips. “She knows.”

Kuwabara swallowed and nodded his head lightly, his eyes fixed on the spot where Kagome had disappeared down the hall. “She does. Did you see the way she worried if Shippou would be judged?” He swallowed again and couldn't find it in him to say anything else- his soul was all tied up in the eloquence of her one glance.

He vaguely recognized Kurama nodding his head from his peripheral vision- “She understands, and I think she's worried things will happen because her son isn't of ningenkai and might not fit in- let alone be discovered.”

Kuwabara nodded his head and quietly watched as Kagome reentered the room, her backwards glance a fond expression in her son's direction.

She quietly went about gathering the trays and dishes- Kuwabara and Kurama both standing and moving to help her though she waved them off. Her amused countenance glanced at them as they set about cleaning up after the meal- the lingering smell of warm food filling their nostrils and their souls.

Their slow conversation was comfortable and unassuming- but the two men did all they could to make sure she didn't know they knew. Or maybe she already knew it was so.

Kuwabara shook his head and leaned against the counter. “So you're saying that you adopted him, it must be hard though.”

Kagome firmed up and looked away. “That's what they all say- but I don't need anyone to coddle me.” Her glare softened as she turned it to him from looking out the window. “We manage, and I don't want anyone to mess up what we have. I love Shippou too much to make him feel like I've replaced him.”

“It wasn't meant that way.” Kuwabara said quietly.

Kurama spoke up from standing against the doorjamb, “It was an observation of how hard it must be to work under their judging eyes…as we've seen. It wasn't that he was saying you needed someone to take care of you both. You do a very wonderful job.”

Kagome blinked and blushed, her eyes falling to the floor before she was looking back up at him and so contrite. “I'm sorry. I just…” she sighed and dropped her shoulders.

Kuwabara smiled. “S'alright. I think I'd blow my top after a while. Even your friends were after you.”

Kagome let out a small laugh, waving one of her hands in the air to dismiss it. “They've been up to that for years, since junior high. You get used to them.”

But you don't like exposing your son to them. Kuwabara thought heavily. Wondering at the woman who had gotten so used to being put down, even subtly, she simply stood under it all.

The conversation drifted back into its comfortable nuances, and Kuwabara settled under the welcoming air her house personified. He wanted to curl up on the couch and stay there a while.

As, slowly, they started trickling in the direction of the door Kagome smiled and leaned to one side, gazing at both of them with kind eyes. “I still think I need to say thank you.” She laughed. “My son, believe it or not, is very shy. You must be wonderful people.”

Kuwabara blushed, his eyes darting into the darkness in the direction he knew Shippou rested. “We're just people, Kagome-san.”

“Thank you anyway.” She said softly, with such a sincerity Kuwabara didn't bother objecting again.

“It was wonderful meeting him.” Kurama spoke quietly as he stood from putting on his shoes and moved to open the door. Kagome smiled at him, seeing them out and standing on her threshold as she watched them ready themselves to walk into the brisk air.

She hesitated, and both men noticed and turned to give her their attention. She smiled sheepishly and tilted her head. “You're welcome to come back- I think Shippou would like it. And I…well.” She looked away and then looked straight at them. “I found it very nice talking with you both.”

Kuwabara nodded.

“We'll be around.” Kurama said clearly, nodding his head farewell before he turned down the sidewalk and Kuwabara followed.

It was silent on their walk, but Kuwabara found he was preoccupied and unworried. Kagome settled his soul, and Kurama's continued and familiar presence was making him relax and enjoy the crispness of the night and the companionship he had found.