InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ All of Me ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

^**^

Chapter 4

^**^

Sango leaned against the wall, the rough stone feeling cool against her back. With a heavy sigh she closed her eyes, half-listening to the babble of students hanging out before classes began for the day. Two weeks in this school and people still avoided her like she had the plague. Sometimes she wanted to scream at the wariness in the eyes of teachers and students alike. She sighed again and went back to pretending that the snubbing and the whispering didn't bother her.

Maybe if she kept her eyes closed long enough, she would wake up and all of this would have been a dream. And everything would be back to the way it was before.

"Hey, Sango!" Her eyes snapped open at the cheerful shout. Kagome waved from the other side of the yard before threading her way among the students until she reached Sango.

"Hi, Kagome." Sango internally winced at how flat her voice sounded.

"Are you okay?" Kagome looked at Sango, concern darkening her brown eyes, and reached out to touch her arm.

Sango jerked away and cursed herself for the brief hurt that flared in the other girl's eyes. "I'm fine." She forced a laugh. "It's just this weather that gets me down."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Kagome nodded. Sango relaxed fractionally as Kagome bought the excuse. "Days of rain and overcast skies. And then there's the snow. Ugh." Kagome made a face.

Sango was saved from having to make any more conversation by the arrival of Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi.

"Where's your dog, Kagome?" Yuka asked.

"Demon? Home, I guess." Kagome made a vague motion in the general direction of the shrine.

"How did you convince him not to follow you?" Eri looked skeptical that Kagome's dog had stayed home for once like he was supposed to. Every day the dog showed up at the school, sometimes lurking, and sometimes openly. Everyone knew who the dog looked to and Kagome was told in no uncertain terms that either she controlled her pet or he would be taking a one-way trip to doggy prison.

Kagome's expression turned positively evil. "I just informed him that if he got me in trouble at school one more time, I would tie his cute little ears in a knot." She paused. "That would be after I dyed his fur bubblegum pink."

"And he listened to you?" Yuka sounded like she wasn't sure if she should believe Kagome or not.

"I think Demon is smarter than he looks. I don't know why, but I feel that insulting his masculinity would be the worst thing anybody could do to him. At least he stayed put when I left this morning."

"Whatever works, I guess." Ayumi shrugged indifferently.

Kagome's grin faded and she twisted to look over her shoulder into the copse of trees on the other side of the yard. Sango's scalp prickled and her breathing came quicker as she followed Kagome's gaze. Was there someone watching them?

"Why are you staring into the trees, Kagome?" Eri turned to peer into the shadows, before looking at Kagome with a puzzled glance. "Do you see something?"

Sango tensed as the sense of being watched grew stronger. She was about to urge her new friends to go inside when the feeling subsided.

Kagome shook her head as if coming out of a daze. "I must be imagining things," she muttered, half to herself. "That annoying dog is starting to make me paranoid."

"Did you say something, Kagome?" Ayumi looked up from digging in her backpack for some item.

"No, no, it was nothing." To Sango's ears, Kagome's voice sounded doubtful.

The morning bell suddenly rang, causing the yard to empty as if by magic. Ayumi frowned and tapped the watch on her wrist. "We'd better go. My mom would kill me if I got detention for being late."

Sango cast one more look at the trees before following the other girls into the building.

The shadowy figure watched the door swing shut before slipping away as silently as he had arrived.

^**^

The sullen, gray sky matched Sango's mood perfectly. Today for gym they ran around the track and the teachers timed how long it took them to complete a certain amount of laps. Sango normally enjoyed gym because it reminded her of happier times. But she made the mistake of completing their timed run not only faster than any of the girls, but also faster than any of the boys.

Now her standing at school was violent, antisocial freak.

The teachers were impressed and tried to talk her into trying out for the track team. At least she remembered to curb her abilities when it came to the gymnastics part of the class. Even if it went against everything she had been taught to deliberately stumble after a basic jump.

She was barely aware of Eri, Yuka, and Ayumi splitting off to head to their own houses, leaving only her and Kagome.

"I don't see why Kagome wants to hang around with her. She's too weird." Sango kept her eyes on the pavement, ignoring the whisper and the way it made her eyes sting with repressed tears.

She was stopped by a hand on her wrist. Startled out of her melancholy thoughts, Sango instinctively jerked her arm free. Training took over as she settled into a slight crouch, reaching automatically for something that wasn't there.

"What is wrong with you?" Kagome's irritated voice, shadowed with concern, made her aware of her surroundings again. Trying to make it look natural, she straightened and turned the reach into a somewhat awkward smoothing of her short school skirt.

"I'm fine, Kagome. Why do you ask?"

"You've been acting weird all day. If I didn't know better, I would swear that you were expecting a fight. You can't solve all of your problems by fighting, you know."

--FLASHBACK--

"Run, Sango! Get out of here while you can!" The crackling of the flames licked along the shingles. A window exploded outward into razor- sharp shards of molten glass.

"No, Father! I won't leave you! Let me help!" Roiling clouds of black smoke billowed up from the burning house. Her small hands scrubbed away tears as the acrid smoke stung her eyes.

"You mustgo! If he finds the information he seeks then all will be lost! I must stay to help our friends and family!" Strong arms pulled her into a rough hug. "Remember your duty! And know that I am so proud of you!"

Sango tried to follow, but the intense heat drove her back. She searched the burning wreckage for a familiar form.

"Father! Father!"

--END FLASHBACK--

"Sango, are you okay?" She came back to herself to find Kagome gripping her arms and shaking her gently.

"I'm fine." Her words came out more harshly than intended. Sango took several deep, steadying breaths, trying to anchor herself in the here and now. Everything was fine. What was in the past should remain in the past.

She half turned to apologize to Kagome for her snappy temper and walked into someone. Her reflexes were good enough to prevent her from falling. Arms came around her as the person attempted to steady her. Sango felt her face turning red as she registered hands on a certain part of her anatomy, and it wasn't with embarrassment.

"PERVERT!" She yelled. Miroku didn't duck fast enough and reeled back a few steps sporting a bright red handprint on his cheek.

"Is that any way to greet a friend, lovely Sango," Miroku whined, rubbing the tender flesh.

"I am not your friend," Sango growled. "My friends do not have the habit of grabbing my ass."

Miroku opened his mouth to defend himself, but stopped when he got a good look at the expression on her face. He blinked nervously.

"How are you today, Lady Kagome?" He turned to the other girl, obviously not willing to challenge Sango's uncertain temper.

"Fine." Kagome kept her eyes on Miroku's hands, but he seemed content to behave himself for now. He bent over to pick up the staff he had dropped when he grabbed Sango.

"What are you up to?" Sango demanded.

"What makes you think I'm up to anything?" Miroku attempted to look innocent. Sango didn't buy it for an instant. Finally, he looked away and coughed to clear his throat. "I thought that we could get to know each other."

"And why would I want to do that?" Sango crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the monk.

"Come on, Lady Sango." Miroku's voice turned wheedling. "I'm really a very nice guy once you get to know me."

"I know more about you than I want to." Sango retorted.

"I'm very complex," Miroku pressed. "Just one date, and if you still think I'm totally repulsive then I will never bother you again." He smiled charmingly. "I'll have you know that 'no' is not in my vocabulary. I can be very persistent until I get the answer I want."

"What do you think, Kagome?" Sango ignored Miroku for the moment in favor of getting an opinion from her friend.

Kagome looked flustered to be the sudden focus of their attention. "Well, one date couldn't hurt, I guess. But I don't think you should be alone with him."

"All right." Sango turned back to Miroku. "I'll go out with you on one condition."

Miroku wore a confident smirk that said he knew she couldn't resist him forever. Sango restrained herself from smacking him just for being so damned annoying. "Anything for you, Lady Sango. And what would that condition be?"

"Find a date for Kagome. She'll be coming with us."

Kagome spluttered in shock. "Me?" she squeaked.

Miroku's look turned speculative. He stared at Kagome as if sizing her up. "No problem. I have the perfect guy for Lady Kagome."

Kagome tried to protest, but Sango was already nodding. "Acceptable. When and where?"

Miroku was already walking away, but he turned around to answer Sango. She didn't know how he managed to keep walking and not bump into anything. "Saturday night. At the arcade after sunset. You won't regret it, lovely Sango."

Sango scowled and shouted after him, "Keep those wandering hands in check and I won't have to make you regret ever meeting me."

Finally, Kagome was able to interject a comment. "Why did you agree to go out with him? And why did you drag me into it?"

Sango shrugged. She stared in the direction of the departing monk. "I've dealt with his kind before. This is the quickest and least painful way."

Kagome frowned. "Don't you think going on a date with him will only encourage him?"

"Maybe." Sango shrugged again. "But like I said, I've dealt with his kind before and I can handle him."

"Isn't that your house?" Kagome seized on the opportunity to change the subject and pointed to the large building set a ways off the main road. A woman stood on the front porch, briskly wielding a broom in the fight against falling leaves. She looked up, shading her eyes against the rays of the sun.

"Sango, it's about time you got home," the woman's cheerful voice called. "We were starting to get worried. Thought you might have gotten into a spot of trouble again."

"Who's that?" Kagome whispered. "Is that your mother?" Sango hunched her shoulders and didn't answer. Kagome followed her up the wooden stairs leading to the porch, too curious now to leave even though Sango was obviously uncomfortable.

"Is this a friend of yours?" The woman leaned the broom against the side of the house and walked forward to clasp Kagome's hands in a firm grip. "See, I told you that you would make a friend. You just need to relax and be yourself. What's your name, dear?"

It took a moment for Kagome to realize that the woman had asked her a question. "It's Kagome, ma'am." She tried without success to free her hands from the woman's hold.

"I'm sorry I was late, Mrs. Suri." Sango pulled Kagome back, her voice low and soft.

Mrs. Suri put her hands on her hips and mock-glared at Sango. "Now what did I tell you, young lady?"

A slight shudder ran through Sango's body. Only Kagome seemed to notice it as Sango continued to withdraw farther into herself. "Sorry, Mom," she mumbled.

Mrs. Suri beamed. "That's much better." She turned back to Kagome. "We've been trying to help Sango fit in. To help her deal with her loss."

"Loss?" Kagome echoed and then could have kicked herself as she remembered the look in Sango's eyes whenever family was mentioned.

"The poor dear lost everyone in a terrible fire two years ago." Mrs. Suri reached out and patted Sango on the shoulder with what she thought was a comforting gesture. "We're afraid she's been rather traumatized. Used to claim that the fire was deliberate. Of course, the investigation proved that the cause was faulty wiring. I think that Sango understands that now."

From the look on Sango's face, Kagome felt that she did not believe one word. She was just better at hiding her convictions.

"No one else survived?" She forced the question out, horror warring with pity in her voice.

"Just Sango." Mrs. Suri sighed and turned another fond look on her charge.

"And Kohaku." Sango's voice was so soft that Kagome almost didn't hear it.

"Now, dear," Mrs. Suri began in the voice of someone who has said the same thing more times than she wants, "you must accept that your little brother is dead."

"Nobody ever found a body," Sango insisted, meeting and holding Mrs. Suri's eyes with her own.

Mrs. Suri's voice took on an impatient edge. "You must stop telling yourself these stories. No wonder you can't make any friends."

"Kohaku's alive! I know it!" After that last little outburst, Sango brushed past Mrs. Suri without even a goodbye to Kagome. The door slammed shut behind her as she disappeared into the house.

Mrs. Suri stared after her, a surprised expression on her face. "I don't know what's gotten into that girl. And after everything my husband and I have done for her. Taking her into our family and treating her like our own. You'd think she would show a bit more gratitude." She grabbed her broom and began to sweep the porch with short, angry strokes.

Kagome backed up with a hurried goodbye, turned, and fled down the stairs. Suddenly she couldn't wait to be home.

"So long, dear," Mrs. Suri called after her. "Don't be a stranger."

^**^

Inuyasha, or Demon as he was currently called, waited impatiently at the top of the steps leading to the shrine. It didn't bother him that the old man went out of his way to stand a few feet away about once an hour and chant his silly incantations -- as long as the chanting wasn't accompanied by those worthless ofudas.

He resisted the urge to go charging down the stairs, and confined himself to checking the position of the sun once again. Watching the clock, he had learned, was not practical. His eyes focused differently than they did when he was human and made trying to puzzle out numbers or letters too damn time consuming.

Where is she? Demon growled, drawing a suspicious look from the old man who happened to be passing by again. It was lucky that he didn't stop to chant this time. The dog, not possessed of an incredible store of patience in the first place, probably would have given into his baser instincts and bitten him.

Stupid girl and her stupid rules. She threatened to dye his fur pink if he followed her to school again! Pink, of all things! Somehow, when she was glaring into his eyes and slapping that bottle of hair dye against her thigh, he didn't doubt that she would carry through with her threat. He wasn't entirely sure if a dye job would transfer over to his human form, but decided against taking any chances.

Miroku agreed to keep an eye on her. He'd probably do anything to be able to be near enough to ogle a bunch of teenage girls in those short skirts all of them wore. At least he didn't ask why. It was hard enough to keep his dignity as a dog; he didn't want to spend days or weeks looking like some rich lady's pampered poodle, complete with hair bows and dyed fur.

He pricked his ears at the sound of feet on the sidewalk. Many people walked by at all hours of the day, but he knew Kagome's step beyond a shadow of a doubt. Kagome trudged up the stairs, wearing a thoughtful expression on her face. Demon let out a low growl as he caught a whiff of the monk. The scent was faint, which reassured Demon that at least Miroku hadn't touched her. It would be a lot stronger if he had. And then he would have to bite his lecherous friend.

She neared the top of the stairs, and he cursed himself for being so distracted with her scent that he was still lying there looking like a faithful lapdog waiting for his mistress to come home. All he cared about was getting her to kiss him on the next new moon and finally breaking the curse. And then he would be free and Kagome could run in front of all the trucks she wanted to.

"Hi, Mom. I'm home." Kagome opened the front door, pausing in the entryway to remove her shoes. Demon carefully stretched and indulged in a good long scratch before rising to all four paws and meandering in the general direction of the door.

Checking to be sure no one was watching, he reared up against the door and scrabbled with his front paws at the smooth handle until there was a click and the door popped open. Faint conversation came from the direction of the kitchen where Kagome was most likely getting an after-school snack.

"That's wonderful, dear. I told you all that studying would pay off." Mrs. Higurashi's voice drifted out to Demon's ears.

"Yeah. But I still have to do better if I want to get into a good school. Hey, Mom, is it okay if I go out on Saturday night?" Demon's ears flipped forward at those words and he started to creep closer in order to hear better. One of the rules that had been quickly drilled into him was that he was not allowed in the kitchen. Grandpa complained about dog hair in the food and everyone else agreed. Demon grumbled to himself. The stupid cat was allowed in the kitchen, and nobody complained about the blizzard of cat hairs that the fat animal shed everywhere he went.

"It's okay with me as long as your homework is done before then. Who's the lucky guy?"

"Hey, Demon!" Demon almost fell over as Souta came barreling around a corner and tackled him. He bit back a growl. Kagome's little brother was the only one who really wanted him here. If he started growling at the brat or threatening to bite him, then he could kiss his chances with Kagome goodbye. It would be ten times harder to get close to the girl if he was no longer living in her house.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, boy! Do you want to play fetch? My friend Satoru has a book on dog training and he offered to help. You're a smart dog and I bet you'll learn to roll over and play dead in no time at all!"

Demon ignored the brat's rambling and tried to focus on the conversation taking place in the kitchen. Did Kagome already have a boyfriend? No. If she did, then he would have been able to smell another boy's scent all over her. The only scents on her were the kinds that happened with casual contact, nothing intimate. And Miroku would have told him. That was not the type of thing you could keep secret for long.

"... and he asked Sango out." Shit! He had already missed something. "Sango said that she would go only if I came too. We're meeting at the arcade Saturday night. I don't know who my date is yet."

"It sounds like fun, dear. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time."

Kagome left then to go upstairs and start her homework and Demon suffered himself to be led away by Souta. Satoru was waiting outside for them with a large book all about training your dog.

"The first thing we'll do," Satoru announced, "is teach him how to shake hands."

Demon rolled his eyes as the two brats began discussing the best way to train him. At least these lessons were being held on the same side of the house as Kagome's window. With a bit of maneuvering, he was able to keep an eye on the square of light that marked her bedroom and even glimpse her once or twice as she moved around. What he wouldn't give for a pair of binoculars. Not that he would ever dream of peeking or anything! He wasn't Miroku for gods' sakes! He just wanted to make sure she wasn't doing anything that she wasn't supposed to be doing.

"Demon, sit!" Souta commanded.

"He's already sitting," Satoru pointed out.

"Well that was easy." Souta peered over his friend's shoulder at the next set of instructions. "What's next?"

The next thirty minutes was an equal blend of frustrating and hilarious for Demon.

"Like this, Demon. Roll over!" Souta demonstrated rolling over again. Mrs. Higurashi wasn't going to be too happy about the grass stains on his shirt.

"He's not watching, Souta."

"Let's try this one again. Play dead!" Souta pointed his finger at Satoru. The boy obediently fell over and closed his eyes, letting his tongue hang out of his mouth.

"I think he went to sleep." Satoru rolled over and climbed to his feet, joining his friend in staring at the apparently sleeping dog.

"It's getting late," Satoru finally decided. "I'd better get going. We can try some more tomorrow. Bye, Souta!" He waved cheerfully and headed for home.

"Dinnertime, Souta!"

"Coming, Mom!" Souta gathered up his dog training supplies, which included toys and treats, before going inside.

Demon cracked open one eye and sighed. He thought they'd never leave. And just in time, too. The sun was fast disappearing below the horizon. Heaving himself to his paws, Demon sauntered in the direction of the well house. This was the perfect place for his nightly transformations. The scents surrounding it told him that nobody ever came here except for the fat cat. He would be safe from discovery.

If he had looked up, he would have seen Kagome in the process of closing her window before heading down to dinner. The girl frowned as she watched the animal disappear inside the structure. Was that where he went every evening? Maybe she should go downstairs and check it out?

"Dinnertime, Kagome! I made oden!"

Oden? Thoughts of the dog's whereabouts fled at the mention of her favorite food. The stupid dog probably had a bone hidden in there. It wasn't important.

"I'll be right there!" Kagome slid the window shut and left her room. If she had stayed just a few seconds longer, she might have seen the sullen red glow that leaked out of the entrance to the well house and the man who left the same way the dog had entered a moment later.

^**^

Kagome felt stupid. She felt incredibly, should-be-anywhere-but-here, stupid. Why did she agree to do this in the first place?

"Face it Kagome," she muttered to herself. "You just never learned how to say no to a friend." She sighed and leaned down to adjust her sock. She just hoped that whoever Miroku conned into coming wouldn't be as much of a pervert as he was.

"Kagome?" The girl looked up at the sound of her name. Sango rushed forward to envelope her in a sudden hug. "Oh, thank you so much for coming. I know I shouldn't have put you on the spot like that. This really means a lot to me and--"

"It's okay," Kagome interrupted. Sango was verging on the point of babbling. She must be really nervous about her so-called date with Miroku. "We're friends. And friends help each other."

Sango drew back to study Kagome's face. Whatever she saw must have reassured her. She relaxed and smiled at her friend. "Yeah, we're friends."

"Who do you think Miroku will bring with him?" Kagome asked. The sun had already dipped below the horizon and she was tired of waiting. Why didn't boys ever show up to anything on time?

"I don't know." Sango shrugged and smoothed a wrinkle in the fabric of her slacks. She would be damned if she'd wear a skirt around Miroku. His hands wandered entirely too much and she refused to risk the temptation bare legs would probably give him. "If you're lucky, it will be somebody decent."

"Yeah." Kagome giggled. "I don't think I want to have to put up with another Miroku."

"Aw, ladies." A smooth voice slipped into their conversation. "It seems that you are right on time, a quality that I highly admire in my companions. And never fear, Lady Kagome, I didn't forget you. Allow me to present your date for the evening."

Kagome directed her attention to the figure standing beside the monk. Her eyes widened as they came in contact with molten gold.

"Inuyasha?"

^**^

I wonder how Kagome and Inuyasha will get along on their date. He only has a limited amount of time left. He'd better start acting nicer to Kagome if he wants her to ever kiss him.

Food for thought:

Did you know that dolphins are so intelligent that within only a few weeks of captivity, they can train Americans to stand at the very edge of the pool and throw them fish?