InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Ashes and Dust ❯ An Interesting Day ( Chapter 4 )

I do not own Inuyasha and Co.

Chapter 4

An Interesting Day

The next morning, the doorbell rang. Kagome moaned and rolled to her left side. She heard Inuyasha's voice greet her mother at the front door. She didn't want to wake up just yet; she was way too tired still, even though she'd had a full night's rest.

She was catching onto where she left off in her dream when a soft knock sounded from her door.

“Kagome.” Her mother opened the door a crack.

She moaned again. “What…”

“Inuyasha's here. When you need to come down for breakfast, go ahead and yell from the stairs, okay?”

Kagome sighed when she heard her mother's soft footsteps sound down the stairs. She adjusted the pillow under her head slightly and nodded off back into her dream.

While the beauty slept upstairs, Mrs. Higurashi found the young man relaxing in the living room before the TV, making himself right at home. She smiled and made her way down the hall into the kitchen. She grabbed a small dish and laid some cookies on it.

“Would you like something to drink?” She asked aloud.

“Whattaya have?”

“Milk, Ramune, Calico, Aloe Vera…”

“Ramune, please.”

She set a bottle and the dish of cookies on the table in front of him. He looked up at her with a smile. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” She went back into the kitchen a moment and then joined him with a mug of tea.

“Ninja Warrior, eh?”

“Yep, I aim to beat Ninja Warrior next year.” He easily opened the bottle of Ramune and took a swig.

“So, I'm guessing that is what you're working out toward?” She grabbed a cookie.

“Yeah, I need to build up my strength and agility for both competitions. When I'm not lifting weights, I'm usually rock climbing at the Kaya Gym downtown, and monkeying around on their indoor jungle gym equipment. The training regimen is harsh, but it'll be worth it.”

“Well, good luck to you. Let us know when you'll be competing and we'll be there to cheer you on.” She took a sip of her hot tea.

~*~

Meanwhile, Kagome's alarm went off, causing an annoyed groan to escape her lips. She rolled over and slapped her hand down on the dual bell alarm clock on her night stand. She huffed and stared at the white ceiling. “I don't know why I still have my alarm set, I don't have a meeting today…”

After a few minutes of blinking and rubbing her eyes, she finally sat up and swung her legs off the bed to the floor. The skin on her ankle was bothering her. The bandage bunched up in her sleep. She lifted the leg to rest the injured ankle beside her on the bed and took the wrapping off gingerly.

A she drew in a hiss over the pain, and realized she needed help after all. She called out for help, hoping her mom would come to re-wrap her ankle. She heard someone briskly and loudly ascend the steps, and put her hands over her face. The door opened sharply.

“You okay, Kagome?”

She let her hands drop down to her lap in shock. “What's wrong? Is your ankle hurting?”

He knelt down before her and examined her swollen ankle. She hissed in pain as he slightly lifted the wounded appendage to see how bad the swelling was.

“Yeah, it's still badly swollen. Here, I'll re-wrap it for you, and take you downstairs where you can put it on ice and have something to eat.”

“Inuyasha…”

“Hmm?” He looked up at her from wrapping the ankle.

“Um… I didn't expect you to come up here into my room…”

He stopped wrapping long enough to process what she'd said. “I told you I would help you. You can't even as much as stand lightly on this foot, or you'll injure it more. I'll be here as much as you need me. Seeing how swollen and painful it is, you really did a number on it.” He went back to his work.

She lowered her gaze and silently watched his hands wrap the fabric around her ankle. The tension from the fabric lessened the pain and helped give her more support. The slight wrinkle that had spread across her forehead above her eye brows softened.

“There, all done. How does it feel?” He looked up to see her face more relaxed.

“Much better, thank you.”

“Good. Now, let's get you downstairs.” He scooted closer and leaned in with his arms outstretched as if to embrace her.

She leaned away. “What are you doing?”

“I'm going to carry you.”

“You seriously don't have to, Inuyasha. If I don't at least make the effort to do it myself, I will lose whatever confidence I have.”

He shook his head, and stood up while leaning forward. He stepped to her side and just slipped his left hand behind her back and his right under her legs so fast, she was only able to gasp before she was lifted securely into his muscular arms once again.

“I told you…!”

“Just relax, or you're only going to cause yourself more pain.” He made eye contact with her to let her know he was serious.

She swallowed as he held her gaze. “That's a good girl.”

He sidestepped through her bedroom door and then slowly, carefully, made his way down the stairs with the 110 pound woman nestled in his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Her left hand felt the soft, firm skin. For a moment, she thought about him lifting weights in his backyard that day; how his slick skin shined in the sunlight, and how taught his skin looked over the bulging muscles…

“Well, here we are,” he said as he set her down onto the cushions she rested on the day before.

She eyed him as he took his seat across from her and grabbed a cookie while his eyes focused on the television to his left. Her mom peeked through the kitchen entryway.

“What would you like for breakfast, Kagome?”

“Eggs with cheese and toast.”

Her mom's smiling face disappeared from around the corner. She silently watched the beginning of Ninja Warrior with Inuyasha. He was so enthralled in the episode that it seemed as if he forgot where he was.

She moved her good foot under the table, and noticed her crutches were left there the night before. She grabbed them and set them upright.

Inuyasha looked over and set the cookie down. “What are you doing?” He stood and went around the table.

“I want to sit in the kitchen and talk with mom a bit while she makes my breakfast.” She tried to get onto her knees.

“Here, let me help you up.”

At that moment, she felt his rock hard chest against her back through the cotton. She gasped at how easily he lifted her and set her on the good ankle. He lifted her arms onto the crutches and walked behind her as she made her way into the kitchen.

He pulled out a chair for her and she sidestepped in front of it. He was about to help her into the tall bar chair when she slapped his hands away. “I can sit myself into the chair, thank you.”

He watched her effortlessly lower her bottom into the chair and set the crutches aside. Once she was settled, he went back into the living room and continued watching the show.

“Mom, are you going to be home today?”

“Yes, for a little bit, and then I will need to go shopping for groceries a little later on. Why?”

“Could you take Inuyasha with you?”

The woman laughed. “Why should I? I don't think I'll need him.” She poured the mixed eggs and cheese into the hot skillet.

“Well, I can't go anywhere, and I would like to have some peace for a while. Maybe even sleep a bit more.”

“You mean you want some independence, right?” She turned her head to smile at her daughter over her shoulder.

“Is that so bad?”

“No, but I don't want you killing yourself trying to get up and down the stairs on your own, sweetheart. So, I think I'll leave him here with you if you need him.” She went back to cooking Kagome's eggs.

Kagome sighed in frustration.

“That smells wonderful, Mrs. Higurashi.” Kagome looked up to her left to see he'd just appeared in the doorway.

“Oh, thank you. Would you like some as well? I have plenty of eggs. How many would you like me to make? How would you like `em?”

“Oh, three, sunny side up. Could I have some toast as well?”

“Sure, I can do that for you. Would you like some juice or milk or anything? I noticed you'd finished your Ramune.”

“Juice will be fine. Thanks, Mrs. H.” He smiled and made eye contact with Kagome as he left the room.

She slapped her hands on her face as her elbows rested on the table. She knew what was next; her mother will leave for the whole afternoon and she'll have to deal with him the whole time… alone… The thought of that made her nervous more than anything.

As an independent person, she never liked being waited on and doted over. It bothered her immensely. She sighed and closed her eyes as she leaned back into the chair and laid her left hand on the table. The sounds of the eggs sizzling in the skillet calmed her. She tried to let her stressed mind unwind with the smell of the eggs and cheese her mother cooked. Her mouth began to salivate, and her stomach growled as well.

“How much longer mom?”

“Almost done with yours, dear. Did you want something to drink?”

“Yeah, Milk.”

Her mother scooped the eggs onto Kagome's plate and set the empty skillet on a cool burner. She grabbed a cup and poured the milk into the clear plastic cup. She closed the glass bottle and set it back in the door of the fridge as Kagome's toast popped up in the toaster.

She set up her plate, and poured her a tall glass of milk. She set them on the table in front of her. Kagome took a sip and smiled at the thick and creamy taste of the enriched liquid washing down the over-abundance of saliva.

“Thank you, Mom, this look great!” She grabbed her chopsticks and picked up a piece of sweet and cheesy egg.

“You're welcome, sweetie.” She cracked another couple eggs into the skillet.

After a few minutes, Inuyasha suddenly appeared before Kagome at the table with an expectant look on his face. “That smells wonderful, Mrs. H.” He drooled.

Kagome snorted as she took a bite of her toast.

“What?”

“Oh, nothing… It's just… You act as if you've never had a home cooked meal before or something.” She smiled as she chewed.

The look on his face turned serious. “First of all, please don't talk with your mouth full--that's just plain gross. Second of all, Kaede does the cooking by me, and she's really old, if you catch my drift. I tend to use the microwave more, and I have a water cooler that dispenses hot water into my cups of instant ramen, which is what I'm eating more than anything else. So, yes, it's been years since someone's cooked me a decent meal. As far as cooking a meal, I only know a couple simple dishes.”

“Oh…” She looked down to her plate of food and continued to eat in silence.

“Really, Inuyasha? Kaede doesn't cook?”

“Nope, I refuse to let her anywhere near the gas stove. With her forgetfulness, I'm worried she'll burn the house down.”

“Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Hun.” She carefully scooped his eggs off the skillet one by one onto his plate.

“Naw, it's not too much of a problem, but ramen can get boring after years of eating nothing but that. So, I decided to eat out at least twice a week to change it up a bit. I buy nothing but microwaveable dinners for her, or frozen meat that she can cook in the microwave since that appliance will only be on for a short period of time, and shuts off. That way, I know she's not getting into trouble.”

“Wow. Well, while you're here helping Kagome, you're more than welcome to eat with us. Kagome and I are wonderful cooks.” Kagome's mother winked with a smile.

“It's no big deal, really. But I appreciate it when you're able. I also drink half my meals to bulk up at the gym. Ya know, protein shakes and all.”

She set the two pieces of buttered toast he asked for on his plate. “Well, you're our neighbor, and if there's anything you need, let us know.”

She set up a cup of tea to steep. Inuyasha continued complimenting her mother the while he ate. Kagome felt as if they forgot she was even there. She finished her meal, and just sipped at her tall glass of milk silently. It seemed as if she'd gained a brother or something.

She set her empty glass on the table and watched his face; he was very expressive. Suddenly, he looked at her funny.

“Earth to Kags!” He snapped his fingers in her face and she snapped out of the trance.

“Whaa…”

“You okay?”

“Huh?” She looked away and realized time had passed.

“You were staring at me with a strange look on your face.”

“I was?” She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. Suddenly she swayed a bit and moaned.

“Here, I'll take you back upstairs to rest some more.” He was up out of his seat and set his hands on her shoulders when she slapped them away.

“No! I'm fine, really!” She grabbed the crutches and slid her butt from the chair. Her good foot slipped and she began to fall.

“No you're not.”

He caught her again, swooped her in his arms and without question just carried her from the kitchen up the stairs, and into her room.

He laid her on the bed and grabbed the covers to lay them over her.

“This sucks!” She moaned in protest. She looked at him and he stopped to acknowledge her.

“Don't you have a life or something to tend to other than me? Seriously.”

He sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. “My family is well-off, and I bought that home next door with barely enough to be called pocket change to me. My parents are both gone, and my ass of a half-brother lives in another prefecture on his own estate, and he could care less whether I live or die. I've known Old Kaede for years, and now that she's getting older, she's all I got, and she'll be in a nursing home soon. “

“Wow… I'm sorry, I didn't know.”

“It's no big deal, honestly.” He tapped her hand with his and stood.

“What do you do? All I've seen you do is work out. Do you have a job or anything?”

“Don't really need one, but I do have goals. I plan to beat Ninja Warrior. Least, that's my newest goal. I've done everything else, and none of it's made me happy.”

“And helping me does?”

“And what if it does?”

Kagome looked away.

“Look, you're hurt because of me. I wasn't paying attention. Plus, it's a change of pace too. Why not be there for someone who can't help themselves?”

Her eyes shot to his in annoyance. “I can take care of myself. I have to learn to rely on myself.”

“And why is that? What's wrong with accepting someone's help?”

“I live alone, and I like it that way.”

“Uh, look around you, Kags. You don't live alone, you did live alone. There's nothing wrong with that.”

She clinched her eyes shut, and waved her hand in the air. “Just, leave me alone, okay? Just go! Get outta my room!”

“All right, I'll be downstairs if you need me.” He quickly made his way to the door. “Get some sleep, you'll heal faster.” He descended the stairs.

Kagome remained silent until he reached the first floor. She covered her eyes wither her hands in frustration, and moaned. She wished she could sleep the rest of the time it took to heal and wake when she no longer needed help. She'd always been independent, and never thought about what it would be like to accept help. Even as a child she was precocious, and complained whenever her mother tried to help her with things. After a while, her mother decided to just sit back and watch, and give instruction as needed.

Sota was the opposite; he needed help most of the time, and took up most of her mother's energy. Kagome didn't want to add to that. After her father died in the Tokyo catastrophic passenger train wreck when she was nine, Kagome wanted to lessen the load on her mom. And now that Inuyasha's here, he's trying to break that habit.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, Kagome slipped into dreamland and rested for a few hours.

~*~

Kagome moaned as she rolled over, her left arm extended and her hand suddenly touched something rounded. She raised her hand and lifted her head to see it was dusk, and a head jutted up at the side of her bed. She sat up with a gasp and noticed Inuyasha's red bandana was what she felt. She sat still for a few moments and heard the soft even breaths he took. Evidently, he'd fallen asleep next to her bed.

She had to go to the bathroom after all the sleeping she'd done, and she didn't want to wake him since he seemed so peaceful. She slipped the covers over to her side, and slid her body down the bed. She looked for her crutches and didn't see them anywhere. She slapped the heel of her hand on her right thigh in frustration.

She then thought she'd just hop along the walls to the bathroom and not wake him- the ultimate way to show him she didn't need him. When she got to the edge of the bed, she set her good foot down and grabbed onto the door jamb to lift herself up.

After she'd made it, she hopped lightly out the door and down the hall into the bathroom, huffing along the way. She closed the door to the bathroom and did her business.

When she finished, she made her way to the door and opened it to find him standing there looking at her. “You made it this far, but I bet your good leg hurts now, right?”

The wrinkle between her eyes reappeared again as she slapped him and tried to get past him. He grabbed her from behind and swung her around into her arms once again. She slapped him and complained the whole way back to bed. She nearly smacked his bandanna off, causing him to throw her onto the bed.

“Now, that was not nice, Kagome!” He complained as he stepped from the bedroom and into the hall to fix his bandanna in the mirror.

“Serves you right! You never ask me IF I want help, you just pick me up and walk away with me! I'm not some teddy bear you can cuddle and hug, I'm a woman with feelings, jerk!”

“Oh yeah? Well what about hitting me over the head? Totally uncalled for!” He entered the room once again.

“And what about sleeping in my room, huh? Talk about creepy! How do I know you didn't fondle me or look down my pajamas while I was visiting another world?!”

“C'mon! I like ya, but not enough to fondle ya in your sleep!”

“Oh, really?” Silence filled the room, as they locked eyes for what felt like an eternity.

After a few moments, their eyes softened, and Inuyasha looked away. “I guess you're right. I'll be downstairs.” He left the room and shut the door.

Kagome sat on her bed, staring off into space where he was standing. “Did he just say what I thought he said?”

The words sank in for a few moments, the look on his face evident that he meant what he said. “He likes me?”

Her gaze shot to the door, and she immediately felt bad for treating him like she did. She flopped back onto her bed. Her head hit the pillow and her eyes stared at the white ceiling.

~*~

“I thought you went home when I didn't see you after I got back from shopping.” Kagome's mother pointed out when the silver hunk reached the first floor.

“Oh no, I was checking up on her, and I just conked on the floor beside her bed. Of course, she freaked when I caught her in the hall bathroom without her crutches. She had a fit when I carried her back to her room, so I set her down on the bed and left.”

“It sounded like there was quite a confrontation with her.”

“Why is it she's so damned independent?” He took a seat in the nearest tall stool at the table as the woman cooked dinner.

“Well, after her father died when she was nine, she decided to help me out, and tried her best not to accept help from me since her little brother was just a toddler at that time. Since then, she's been prideful about her independence and it takes a lot to contend with her when she's like this.” She cut some vegetables to put in a broth.

“However, I think this is good for her because she gets to see that it's okay now to need help from others. So, don't run just yet. She'll soften up sooner or later.”

Inuyasha leaned back in the chair and laid his hands over his face in frustration. He couldn't believe he said that to her. The look on her face slowly turned to realization of what he said, and he took that as his cue to leave the room. He didn't mean to express his feelings so soon, but she egged him to say something like that. It's obvious that trust hasn't formed between them yet. He thought about laying off a bit and not being so hard on her from then on. He hoped she would warm up to him and eventually allow a friendship to form.

He couldn't get over the fact that she accused him of being a sleep fondler. Kikyo was the last woman he touched, and he hadn't felt anything for any woman since, until now. When she nearly hit the pavement the other day, he felt terrible, and wanted nothing more than to be there for her since it was his fault she was hurt.

Also, for the first time in many years, he met a woman who was not only independent, but also quite fiery. She reminded him of the woman he loved and lost, only a bit feistier. `Hmm, maybe Kikyo isn't the only woman I'll ever love.'

“Inuyasha, could you go upstairs and let Kagome know that dinner's ready?”

He let his hands drop to his lap and got up from his chair to go see the woman he just stumped. As he ascended the steps, he noticed the door had stayed shut. He quietly walked up to the closed door and listened. He heard a few sniffles, and closed his eyes. He softly knocked on the door.

“Whattaya want?”

“Dinner's ready. Can I come in?”

“Okay…”

He opened the door and saw her lying on the bed staring at the ceiling. He walked to the side of the bed and put his hands in his pockets.

Her eyes averted to his. “Well?”

“Well what?” He asked.

“Aren't you going to just pick me up and forcefully take me down the stairs in your iron-clad arms like you have been doing all this time?”

He looked at his feet for a moment and then locked eyes with her as he replied with, “No.” He sat down on the bed beside her and just fidgeted with his finger nails.

“Then what do you want?”

He looked to her. “I'm sorry if I upset or hurt you with what I said earlier.”

She guffawed and propped herself up on her elbows. “Are you the Inuyasha I've been dealing with all this time? What happened to you? First you're all gruff and an ass and now you're apologizing? What on earth?”

“I spoke with your mom about it and she told me why you are acting this way. And now, I understand. I'm sorry about the loss of your father.”

Her eyes teared up and averted back to the ceiling. “Please don't bring that up again.”

“I won't. I just wanted to let ya know that I now understand.” He stood up, turned toward her and reached his hand out to her.

She reached out and took his hand. He helped her sit up and he then reached behind her with his left arm and under her knees with his right arm. Once she wrapped her arms around his neck, he lifted her to him and then carefully carried her out the door and sown the stairs to the table in the kitchen. He set her gently in the chair she was in earlier and took the seat across from her.

At that moment, Kagome's mother placed a plateful of vegetables and also a hotplate in the middle of the table. Inuyasha eyed Kagome and noticed she seemed to shut herself inside, and was barely moving. His face grew sullen as he realized he'd brought pain up from deep within her heart.

“I'm sorry…” He whispered across the table before her mother brought more food to the table.

Her hurting eyes rose to meet his worried gold irises. They continued eyeing each other until her mother laid the beef pot before them, sizzling with hot water and cooked slices of beef.

“Eat!” The elder woman exclaimed with a smile and she reached into the boiling water with a pair of large wooden chopsticks.

Inuyasha broke eye contact first. “Wow, Mrs. Higurashi, this smells and looks so delicious!”

“Thank you; I do this dish every now and then.” She smiled. “Kagome, come on, dig in.”

Kagome looked down and picked up her dish and then watched them pick out the slices of beef. Inuyasha grabbed her plate, and served her a few slices of the tender and moist beef.

Once she had a bite of the meat Kagome's eyes softened, and life seemed to fill her face and her appetite. Inuyasha noticed the transformation and smiled as he chewed the succulent meat.

After dinner ended, and Kagome took a couple pain pills and asked to watch some television from a better angle. Inuyasha carried her into the living room, set a cushion beside him and helped her down upon it.

After about a half hour of silence, Inuyasha suddenly felt her head fall onto his right shoulder. He looked over and saw she had passed out. He smiled and then slowly lifted her legs onto his lap and braced her back with his right arm and his left under her knees. He got up and walked her back upstairs and into her bed.

On his way down the stairs, Kagome's mother came around the corner. “Oh, is she sleeping upstairs?”

“Yeah, she's out like a light. Did you need anything?”

“Oh, no, I just wondered why I came out and didn't see either of you at the table.”

“Yeah, the pain meds kicked in a little too quickly, so instead of letting her get a crick in her neck, I carried her up to bed.”

“Okay, thank you.” She smiled. “So we'll see you tomorrow then?”

Inuyasha turned and glanced up the stairs a moment and then at his feet. “Well, Yeah, I guess.”

“Something wrong?”

“Well, I guess I got her a little upset earlier. I mentioned that I spoke with you about her father and…”

“Oh, okay. Yeah, I should've told you not to bring it up. She gets all broken up about it. When it happened, she was mute and nearly lifeless for about a day or so. It scared me, but whenever food is set in front of her, she broke out of it enough to be alive. She took it pretty hard, and apparently she still does.”

“I apologize.”

“Oh, no, don't worry about it. You didn't know, so I don't blame you.”

“I apologized to her and she told me not to bring it up again. I feel really bad. I've never seen her so lifeless like that. Like she just burrowed herself into a little can or something and disappeared within herself.”

“Yeah, I know. At first I thought about taking her to a therapist about it, but she refused, and I never brought it up again. She's fine otherwise.”

Inuyasha shrugged. “Well, I'm gonna head out now. I'll let you guys know when I'm coming, okay?”

“Sounds good, Hun. Take care, and have a good night.” She said as he slipped his feet into his sandals.

“You too, Mrs. H.” He replied and then exited through the front door.

He took his time in walking across the yard to his front door. He then looked up at one of Kagome's windows. After a few moments, he noticed the curtain moved slightly. He turned to continue watching and wondered if she'd woken and gotten out of bed to watch him leave.

“G'night Kagome.”