InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Beautiful Souls ❯ Endings and Beginnings ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: BrethlessM 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Hentai / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.31.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.6K | Visits: 781 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure / Hentai / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 07.31.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 7.6K | Visits: 781 | Status: Work In Progress
Miroku considered the need to interject himself between the kitsune and the hanyou. He watched as the two began their now familiar argument to the tune of ‘Kagome-likes-me-better.’ Inuyasha had returned early in the morning, only to announce that he would be going right back to attend their friend’s graduation ceremony. Of course, Shippou had complained that Inuyasha always got to go and Miroku began to wonder whether he should change the subject now, or wait to see how entertaining the fight would be. Inuyasha was grinning in a most evil way and the Houshi, always amused by his friends’ antics, decided to wait for the coming fight, when surprisingly, Shippou smiled.
“ That’s okay, Inuyasha. You can go to some boring old ceremony. I got to eat that whole cake... since no one else seemed to want any!” With a flick of his bushy red tail, Shippou quickly fled the scene, leaving a shocked hanyou sputtering in reply.
“Why you little.... Oi! Get back here and let me pound you!”
Jumping to his feet to give chase, Inuyasha was stopped by Sango who had just stepped out of Kaede’s hut, “ Okay, Inuyasha. It’s almost ready to go. All that’s left is for Miroku and Kaede to give it the finishing touches and we can box it up for you to take to her.” The entire group had been working on a special gift for Kagome, in honor of her graduation. Each member of their family had contributed in some way and now, after weeks of preparation, the gift was nearly complete.
Miroku rose to his feet and straightened his robes, “ I’ll join Kaede so that Inuyasha can be on his way.” Passing by the demon exterminator on his way into the hut, he reached out to caress her bottom while simultaneously ducking to avoid the anticipated Hiraikotsu. Laughing at the expression of outrage on Sango’s face, he hurriedly entered the hut, letting the shade drop behind him.
“ Damn lecher!” Inuyasha scowled after the houshi and turned to Shippou, who had felt it safe to venture nearer to the hanyou again, “ Don’t ever let me catch you doing that shit, ya got me?”
Sango laughed at the serious expression on Shippou’s face as he nodded in agreement. Turning to Inuyasha, Sango bit her lip, “I hope Kagome likes her gift. I’ve looked it over and it’s really a fine thing.”
Inuyasha grunted, “Keh. She’ll like it.”
“ Especially ‘cause it was made by us, huh Inuyasha?” Shippou yelped as Inuyasha’s fist came down on top of his head, “ Hey! What was that for?”
“ That’s for the cake,” Inuyasha grunted, “ Anyway, we’ll be back tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want to wait until then to give it to her?”
Sango frowned and shook her head, “No. I think that since today is her graduation, she should receive her gift today. Don’t you think?”
“ Besides,” Miroku added as he rejoined the group, “ this way, Kagome will know that she’s in our thoughts as well, even though we’re unable to attend.” The Monk nodded, “You’ll just have to act as our ambassador, Inuyasha.”
Frowning as though trying to decide whether or not he’d been insulted, Inuyasha shrugged, “Fine by me. I just thought you’d like to see her open it.” Standing, he walked over to the doorway and stuck his head inside, “ Is it ready yet, Kaede-baba(1)?”
“ In a minute, Inuyasha. Why don’t ye gather some more wood for me while ye are waiting? It’ll be done by then.”
“ I’ll join you,” Miroku fell into step beside Inuyasha and waited until they were out of range of the others, “ So, did you give your gift to Kagome?”
Shooting him a look, Inuyasha frowned, “ Don’t know what you’re talking about, Bouzu(2).”
“Come now, Inuyasha. You’ve been working on it almost every night for nearly a month. I admit, it took me a while to figure out what it was, but I finally managed to get my hands on one of the... early attempts. I must say, I didn’t know you were so creative,” Miroku smiled slyly, “ I’m sure she was thrilled. It’s a very touching gift.”
“ Keh. Nosy Monk.”
Miroku pretended not to notice the blush that tinted the hanyou’s face. Stopping, he turned to face his friend, “ Inuyasha... may I ask you a personal question?”
Warily, Inuyasha eyed him, “ Depends on what it is....”
“ Have you ever actually mentioned to Kagome that you love her?” Inuyasha started walking again, making Miroku run to catch up, “ I only ask because I see the question in Kagome’s eyes. It occurs to me that in three years, you’ve never once expressed your true feeling to her, and I know she hasn’t shared hers with you either. With the exception of that one kiss at Kayuga’s castle when she was trying to break that spell, no more than glances have passed between you. What is it that you’re waiting for?”
Inuyasha stopped walking and dropped his head without turning, “ Before I can.... Before.... I have to avenge Kikyou’s murder and repay the debt I owe her. I can’t promise anything to Kagome that I’m not even sure I’ll have in the end.”
Miroku sighed, started to speak, stopped, then sighed again, “Inuyasha.... Do not deny yourself your true chance at happiness in pursuit of that which is no more than a memory.” Laying a hand on the hanyou’s shoulder as he passed, Miroku began to gather some wood from the log pile, “Let’s finish this and return before Sango thinks we’ve forgotten our way.”
***************
Kagome stared at herself in her mother’s full-length bedroom mirror. As per custom, she wore the green and white school uniform that had become such a familiar part of her appearance. At first, she’d worn it in the Sengoku Jidai because it was simpler than changing after school. Plus, it gave her a sense of identity, serving as a reminder of who she really was, despite all the craziness that had developed in her life. Later she’d worn it because the villagers expected it of her. It was easier to approach the villagers with Kaede if she wore some sort of uniform they could identify her with. Wearing the usual Miko garments was out of the question as she wasn’t actually a trained priestess and also because she looked so much more like Kikyou when she did.
Realizing that this could be the last time she wore this outfit, Kagome scanned her appearance for signs of growth. She’d lost most of the baby fat in her body. Lean muscles had developed in their place from three years of intense physical activity. Her figure had filled out nicely into the shapely curves of a young woman and though her eyes seemed to hint at a maturity far beyond her years, they still maintained their bright sparkle.
Smiling at her reflection, she congratulated herself, “ Not too bad... considering all you’ve been through.” Taking a deep breath, she skipped down the stairs to join her family.
Everyone was ready to go... except Inuyasha. Dressed in a beautiful black suit that she was sure her mom had bought especially for him, he looked more handsome than she could have imagined. Instead of the usual baseball cap to hide his ears, her mother had gotten him one of the fedora style hats that she had heard Yuka say were all the rage in the city. Resting beside him on the couch, Kagome knew the hat would be much more to his liking. Inuyasha, however, was still grumbling about having to wear shoes and was taking his own sweet time putting them on.
“Inuyasha, I swear, if you make me late for my own graduation....” The threat died on Kagome’s lips as she saw his ears droop. Always a sucker for the ears, she knelt and helped him stick his feet into the Wingtips. “ You know, if you cut these toe nails, it’d be a lot more comfortable to wear shoes.”
“ Keh. I need ‘em,” Without explanation, Inuyasha stood up and went into the kitchen.
Shooting a curious look at her mother, who nodded with a smile, Kagome started to follow him, when he returned with a large box.
“ This is from all of us, back ho-... I mean, back in my time,” Placing the box on the coffee table, he stood back, waiting.
Kagome was touched. What could they possibly have gotten her? There was no way they could afford to spend money on something as unnecessary as a gift for her, and the gesture was truly unexpected. A scroll, made of Washi(3), sat on top of the box. Unrolling the paper, she recognized the precise printing of Miroku.
“ For all you’ve given us without asking in return. We send you our blessings on this most momentous day.”
It was signed by all of them; the signatures of Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kaede and two little paw prints from Shippou and Kirara. The note alone brought tears to her eyes as she turned to the mysterious box.
Pulling on the ribbon and lifting the lid, Kagome gasped at what was before her. It was a bow. The most finely crafted bow she’d ever seen. Much longer than her old one, yet not quite as long as the one she’d seen Kikyou use. The wood was a deep, dark color, covered by a bamboo laminate. Perfectly weighted, the weapon felt natural in Kagome’s hands. “It’s gorgeous,” She breathed, “ Where....”
Inuyasha grinned, “We made it. I cut the wood from a branch off of the Goshinboku(4). Sango shaped the bow, put on the laminate and strung it. Kaede and Miroku each blessed it for purity and protection. Oh, and here,” Reaching into the bottom of the box, he pulled out a full quiver of arrows, “ I sharpened the tips, Sango shaped the wood, and there was more blessing from Kaede and Miroku. Oh, yeah, and Shippou gathered the feathers,” He put his hands on his hips and smiled at her proudly, “We thought is was about time you had your own weapon instead of someone else’s leftovers. It’s name is Tatsujou(5).”
“Cane Dragon,” Smiling, Kagome stood and drew back on the string, testing the tension. Letting go, the cord sang.
“ You’ll have to try it out later or else we’re going to be late,” Mrs. Higurashi began ushering everyone outside.
Carefully placing the bow back inside it’s box Kagome stepped around the table and took Inuyasha’s hand, “ Thank-you.”
“Keh.”
*****************
The ceremony was painfully long. Sitting slumped in his chair next to Souta, Inuyasha stopped struggling to stay awake. He really didn’t understand much of what was going on. There was a lot of singing, some people were crying and others spoke into what looked like a club but made their voices really loud. The only time Inuyasha actually paid attention was when he heard ‘Higurashi, Kagome,’ called out and he clapped along with her family as Kagome stood up in a row far in front of him.
After some more singing and crying, the ceremony ended and Inuyasha followed everyone out into the courtyard. He looking around, trying to spot Kagome among the mob of people, “Where is she?”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, “All the students return to their homeroom to get the actual diploma. She should be coming out after that,” Spying another familiar face, Kagome’s mom turned to offer the other parent her congratulations.
Inuyasha noticed the sudden stream of girls dressed like Kagome coming out through a set of double doors. The crowd pressed forward, eager to find their loved ones and making it impossible for the increasingly irate hanyou to see. Straining to keep a hold on his temper, Inuyasha suddenly spotted Kagome and her friends off to the side of the courtyard. With a glance at Kagome’s family, Inuyasha headed through the throng towards the quartet of endlessly hugging girls. Before he could reach them, Inuyasha noticed another boy approach Kagome and congratulate her.
“ Congratulations to you too, Houjou!” Kagome answered, smiling warmly.
Inuyasha frowned, remembering the name from the night before. This was the guy Kagome’s friends had been urging her to ‘date’. Whatever that meant, he was sure it wasn’t anything her wanted her doing. The boy was tall, though not as tall as Inuyasha. He looked rather ordinary but the hanyou didn’t miss the way Kagome’s friends were eyeing the two. Inuyasha felt his hands curl, cutting his palms with his claws. ‘I could take this guy out, easy,’ he thought to himself. Kagome had said she wasn’t interested in this Houjou, so why was she still smiling at him?
He was instantly reminded of Kouga, the leader of the Wolf Youkai Tribe back in his time. That wimpy wolf insisted on calling Kagome ‘his woman’ and showed up every once in a while to see her and annoy the shit out of Inuyasha. Each time the hanyou decided that the time to kill the mangy bastard had come, Kagome would ‘Osuwari’ him and let Kouga get away. She always insisted the feelings were one-sided, but she played the same act with Kouga that she seemed to be playing with this Houjou guy now. Hardly containing the fury that bubbled up inside him, Inuyasha stormed towards her as Houjou was speaking.
“Higurashi..., I was wondering if you’d come with me to the dance tonight?”
Kagome smiled slightly. “Thanks Houjou, that’s very kind, bu...”
Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome protectively and reached a hand for where Tetsusaiga would have been, had he been allowed to wear it today, “ She’s not going anywhere with you. Got that?”
Houjou flinched backward and tried to look around this sudden new opponent, “Ka-gome?”
Pushing Inuyasha slightly to one side, Kagome stepped around her growling protector. Shooting him a warning glance, she turned back to Houjou as her three friends stood by, eyes wide, “As I was saying, thanks Houjou but I can’t go with you tonight.”
Houjou nodded, looking more downcast than usual, “ I didn’t realize you already had a date. I’m sorry.”
Kagome winced at the hurt in his voice, “ It’s not tha-“
”That’s right, she’s going with me. Any more questions, bastard?” Inuyasha pulled an open-mouthed Kagome to his side, daring the boy to speak again.
Houjou opened and closed his mouth. He seemed at a loss for words at the turn the conversation had taken. Clearing his throat and shaking his head, he finally seemed to locate his voice. “ No. My apologies. Congratulations again, Kagome.” Without a backward glance, Houjou fled as quickly as possible.
“ You too... Houjou,” Kagome called in a fading voice after the retreating figure. Turning to her friends with an obviously fake smile, Kagome cheerfully asked, “Would you excuse us, please?” Turning, she grabbed one of the lapels on Inuyasha’s jacket and dragged him back inside the school building.
Eri stared after them. “Wow. That was....”
“Yeah.” Yuka watched the two figures retreat down the hall and enter the homeroom before the double doors of the school closed, blocking her view, “Did anyone else find that incredibly...”
“Exciting?” Ayumi’s eyes glowed with romantic ideas, “All the times she described it, I never really pictured anything quite so....”
“I know.” Eri nodded, “It’s a bit much but... I can see why she loves him.” All three girls nodded, still staring at the doors.
“Plus, he’s really gorgeous,” Yuka jumped as a hand fell on her shoulder. “Oh! Gashi(6), Higurashi-san. Kagome just went back inside with Inuyasha.”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled, “ Arigato, girls. We’ll just wait out here then.”
***********************
“Osuwari!̶ 1; Kagome had hardly let the door to her homeroom swing shut before giving Inuyasha the ‘sitting’ of his life. “Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!” With each proclamation of that hated word, the hanyou sunk a little further into the floor, praying that whatever shoddy material the building was made of would hold.
“ Bitch..............” Inuyasha struggled against the subjugation spell as Kagome sat down in one of the seats, her back to him. Finally able to move again, Inuyasha took a step towards her before he recognized the scent of Kagome’s tears. ‘She’s crying? Did she really want to go to this ‘dance’ thing with that guy?’ Dropping into a crouch, Inuyasha felt stunned. If she really did like this guy, maybe she deserved to be with someone who could give her the things he couldn’t. ‘She should be with someone from her own time. I just went and fucked that up for her, didn’t I?’
“ You didn’t have to be so mean to him, Inuyasha,” Kagome wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t answer her. A million thoughts were crowding into her head, but the only thing that Kagome could focus on was the look in Inuyasha’s eyes when he’s confronted Houjou. ‘It was the same look he had when he found out that Naraku carried Onigumo’s feelings for Kikyou.’
As hard as she tried to forget that day - the day she had discovered Inuyasha and Kikyou together beneath the Sacred Tree - it seemed to be burned into her memory. Kikyou had told him that the reason Naraku was unable to kill her was due to the fact that Onigumo’s heart remained in the evil half-demon’s body. Onigumo, the heavily burned thief, who had sold himself to countless demons in order to regain a body with which to gain possession of both the Shikon no Tama and Kikyou, had been the beginning of Naraku. After gaining possession of Onigumo, Naraku had tricked Inuyasha and Kikyou into betraying each other, trying to separate them and taint the Jewel with malice. When Inuyasha realized that Naraku himself must harbor feelings for the dead priestess, he had sworn to protect her.
‘That didn’t have anything to do with me at all, did it? He was remembering Kikyou. Will I ever be out from his first love’s shadow?’ Standing up, she hesitated to face him, “ We don’t... you don’t have to take me to the dance if you really don’t want to. I’d... understand.”
Not knowing which answer she’d want to hear, Inuyasha stared at her back. She’d stopped crying but still seemed sad. ‘I already said I was taking her in front of all her friends. If I don’t take her now she’ll be even more embarrassed. Maybe that Houjou will be there and she can apologize, tell him it was all my fault and make up with him. She deserves whatever will make her happy. As long as she’s happy, I don’t care what happens to me.’ Standing, he placed a hand on her shoulder, “So... what is this dance thing, anyway?”
*******************
Kagome stood in front of her mother’s mirror... for the second time that day. Only this time, she was holding a dress up in front of her. ‘This is ridiculous. It’s going to be a disaster! Why am I doing this?’ Going back to her own room, Kagome sighed and took the dress off of it’s hanger, placing it on her bed. For some unknown reason, Inuyasha actually seemed to want to go to the dance. She’d tried to tell him that he didn’t have to but now that he’d agreed, he seemed determined. So after graduation, Kagome had taken herself for some retail therapy.
It was the first dress she’d seen upon entering the store, and no matter how hard she’d tried, she couldn’t talk herself out of getting it. It was by far, the most beautiful dress she’d ever owned. The dress was strapless, meeting in a ‘v’ just below her shoulder blades in back. It was form fitting down to her hips, where it flared out, creating the slightest bell shape. Most importantly, it was a vibrant red. Delicate silver beading covered the bodice before fanning out to the side, across her stomach like a spider’s web. Two or three strands of beads waved down to the bottom of the dress.
With no idea that she’d be going tonight, Kagome had given no thought to her hair. Settling on an elegant ponytail, she firmly secured it higher up on her head than usual, so that her hair still hung down her back, but showed off the back of the elegant dress. Finishing off the effect, she tied a red ribbon around the base of the ponytail, letting the ends hang down her with her hair.
After her bath earlier, she’d taken the time to paint her finger and toe nails silver and now she stepped into a pair of silver high heels that perfectly matched both her purse and the beading on her dress. ‘As long as we’re doing this, I might as well give him something to remember.’
Finishing with just a hint of make-up, Kagome looked more ready than she felt. ‘Kami... please don’t let this be a disaster!’ Taking one last, deep breath, Kagome headed for the living room, feeling like a prisoner headed for the gallows.
Stepping into the room, Kagome stopped... and stared. Inuyasha was standing in the middle of the room, looking distinctly uncomfortable. He wore the same suit he’d worn to the graduation ceremony, but beneath the jacket he now had on a red satin vest and tie. A perfect red rose was attached to his lapel and a red handkerchief was displayed in the breast pocket.
“Mama, how did you...”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled from the kitchen doorway, “ I didn’t. They were your fathers. The vest fit Inuyasha perfectly. Looks like I made the right choice. Somehow, red just seemed right for him.” Pulling Kagome into a hug, she added, “You look beautiful, Kagome.”
Inuyasha stared at Kagome, forgetting to blink. He’d never seen anything so amazing in all his life. The moment she’d entered the room, wearing his colors.... Inuyasha felt his eyes and mouth go dry before he realized that everyone was staring at him.
Swallowing to moisten his mouth, Inuyasha managed to grate out, “This is for you,” as he handed her a clear, plastic box containing another red rose that matched his own. Kagome’s mother had picked out the flowers herself while Kagome was dress shopping. Trying to remember the few, simple instructions she’d given him on how to attach the ‘cor-sage,’ Inuyasha attempted to place the rose on Kagome’s wrist without injury.
“You look good,” He offered in a low voice as he fumbled with the ribbon.
“So do you.” Kagome managed. She was finding it hard to think with him standing so close. Forcing herself to focus on her wrist, she suddenly noticed the bracelet Houjou had given her for her birthday. Jerking back from Inuyasha just as he managed to finish his task, Kagome covered the bracelet with her hand and turned towards the stairs, “I, um, forgot my wrap!” Trying not to fall in her heels, Kagome took the stairs two at a time.
Frowning, Inuyasha stared at his hands. ‘Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. She can’t even stand to have me touch her.’ Looking up, he realized that Kagome’s mom must have sensed something was wrong because she was watching him. Before he could think of something to say, she came to him and gave him a hug.
“ Take care of my daughter, Inuyasha. I know you’d never let anything bad happen to her,” Stepping back to adjust the rose in his lapel, she added, “ Kagome knows that too.” With a wink and a quick kiss on the cheek, Mrs. Higurashi disappeared back into the kitchen.
Kagome returned, carrying a long piece of see-thru material, “I’m all ready!” She announced brightly.
Staring at the material that she was now wrapping around her shoulders, Inuyasha grunted, “What the hell is that?”
For a moment, Kagome didn’t seem to understand what he meant, “This? It’s a wrap. It’s... sort of like a jacket... to keep you warm when you’re dressed up.”
Inuyasha snorted, “ That flimsy little thing is to keep you warm? You’d be lucky not to catch something, bitch!”
Kagome’s face began to match her dress when her grandfather appeared in the doorway, “Just a minute! You can’t leave before I’ve taken a few pictures!”
Inuyasha thought he’d never appreciate the old man more than at that moment. Kagome seemed to have forgotten his comments as she groaned to hurry Jii-Chan along.
Souta ran into the room, eyes wide, “Wow, you guys look awesome! Kagome, mom sent me to tell you you’re gonna be late if you don’t get a move on.”
Reminding herself to thank her mother later, Kagome said good-bye to Jii-Chan and Souta and headed for the front door. Grabbing her mother’s keys from the hook, she shouted a good-bye to her mother as she pushed Inuyasha outside.
No roads led directly to the shrine, or the house in which Kagome and her family lived. Down a small incline and at the top of the main road sat the garage where the family car was parked. Opening the car door, she unlocked the passenger side and motioned for Inuyasha to get in.
“ Oi!”
Kagome sighed and stood to look at Inuyasha over the roof of the car, “What now?”
“You’re driving?”
“ Ye-es, I’ve had my license for more than a year now!” Kagome was getting impatient, “Look, do you trust me, or don’t you?”
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment before getting in. Kagome shut her door and put the keys in the ignition.
“Oi.”
“Yes?”
“ ;Do this for me.”
Kagome turned to see Inuyasha pulling on the seatbelt. The few times she’d managed to get him into a car before, he’d refused to be buckled in, insisting that he safe enough. Giving the hanyou a dirty look, Kagome made sure the strap was just a little too tight, “Feel better?” Glaring, she made her way to the school, hoping that the whole night didn’t progress the same way.
Inuyasha frowned, realizing that Kagome hadn’t understood his intention at all. He hated being strapped in by the thing she called a seatbelt. If anything were to happen, he’d be stuck there, unable to react and that was not a situation the hanyou had ever been comfortable with. ‘Baka,’ he thought to himself. ‘Instead of showing her that you trust her enough to wear the damn thing, you pissed her off.’
*****************
The cafeteria didn’t look the same. Colored streamers were everywhere. Balloons covered the tables and were pushed into the corners as more and more people began to dance. Since only the graduates were allowed to come, the event was small, but exciting nonetheless. Despite her irritation at Inuyasha, Kagome found herself becoming a little bit giddy upon entering the room. People she’d seen for years in the same uniforms were now wearing beautiful dresses and stunning tuxedos. Special lights had been set up, giving the cafeteria a golden hue.
Squeezing Inuyasha’s arm, Kagome laughed, “Isn’t this exciting?”
“Keh.”
Remembering that she was still mad at him, Kagome glared, “You really didn’t have to do this you know. I wasn’t planning on coming anyway.”
“Kagome!” From across the room, Ayumi called out to her. Running over, the girl practically beamed in her blue gown, “You look stunning! Hello, Inuyasha. How dashing!”
“Hey.”
Taking her hand, Ayumi began pulling Kagome to the other side of the dance floor, “Eri and Yuka are over here. We’ve been waiting for you to come!”
Making sure Inuyasha was following, Kagome asked, “ Where’s Kiyoshi?”
Ayumi blushed and giggled, “He’s getting some punch.”
“Kagome!” The twin voices of Yuka and Eri reached her. Both girls looked beautiful. Eri’s rust colored satin gown set off the red tones in her black hair and Yuka’s violet tulle was cut so that she looked almost like a ballerina.
Kagome noticed that the girls were eyeing her and Inuyasha and suddenly remembered this afternoon when she’d stormed off to yell at the hanyou, “ Um... you all remember Inuyasha, right? Inuyasha, Yuka, Eri and Ayumi.”
Inuyasha nodded as each girl said hello to him. ‘Not one of them compares to Kagome.’ He thought, somewhat proudly as three boys joined them.
“ We just claimed an empty table,” A tall boy with ears that stood out slightly, took Ayumi’s arm and led the way to a nearby table where drinks had been placed for everyone.
Inuyasha watched as the three other boys pulled out a chair for their date to sit in. Copying their action, Inuyasha pulled back the chair in front of him and nodded at Kagome to sit down.
Giving Inuyasha a funny look, Kagome sat down next to Yuka as Inuyasha took the seat next to her. The girls took up much of the evening, chatting about plans now that graduation was over. The boys seemed to alternate between pretending to listen to the girls, watching the people dancing, and very briefly, talking amongst themselves. For once, Inuyasha seemed to fit in as he sat in silence.
Inuyasha seemed to be thinking about something. Kagome, who hadn’t really be able to keep up with the girls conversation anyway, was just about to ask him if he wanted to leave when Eri squealed, “ Ooh, I love this song! It’s by Aikawa Nanase!”
Inuyasha found himself listening to the words being sung.
Bokura wa dokomade ikou / Let’s go as far as we can.
Futari no mirai ima sasurette / Now our future together is wandering
Bokura wa tabi wo tsuzukeru / So we continue our journey.
Eien no arika owarinai yumi / The dream that will last through infinity.
Konote wo hanasazu oikakete ketai zutto / I want to hold your hand and follow you forever(7).
Inuyasha wasn’t sure what came over him, but he stood up “Oi.”
Kagome looked up as Inuyasha took her hand and gently pulled so that she would stand. Without looking at her, Inuyasha led her onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her. As they slowly started moving to the rhythm of the music, Kagome heart skipped a beat, “ How do you know how to do this?”
Inuyasha chuckled softly and whispered in her ear, “What do you think I’ve been doing all night, bitch? It’s not that hard. Plus, your mom gave me a quick lesson while you were dressing.”
Kagome closed her eyes as his breath tickled her ear. If he talked anymore, her legs would fold up on her. Resting her head on his chest, she let herself be led until the song’s end. As the music stopped, Kagome opened her eyes and looked up, “ Thanks.”
“Keh.” As Inuyasha led Kagome back to the table, he suddenly spotted Houjou sitting in a darkened corner, staring at him. “ Bathroom,” he muttered in Kagome’s direction and headed for the door with the figure of a human male on it. Checking to make sure Kagome wasn’t watching him, Inuyasha took a quick turn and approached the boy.
Houjou jumped to his feet as the hanyou drew nearer. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, he seemed to be searching for something to say before finally settling on, “I’m sorry.”
Inuyasha snorted. He hated guys like this. All talk and no action. He’d heard Kagome’s friends talk about how popular this Houjou was but the moment someone challenged him, he folded.
Inuyasha couldn’t see what Kagome saw in him but he wanted to do something to make her happy. “If you want to dance with her, she’s over there.”
Houjou flinched, then stared, wide eyed, “Um... what?”
“You heard me. I think I might’ve fucked things up for her and you and I just want to see her happy.” Turning and heading for the bathroom, he wasn’t sure what the little wimp would do. Before walking through the door, he turned and saw Houjou asking to talk to Kagome. ‘Doesn’t waste any time, does he?’
Staring at his reflection, Inuyasha tried telling himself that he didn’t care. Remembering the feel of her head against his chest while they’d dance caused a feeling deep down inside him that he’d never felt before. ‘Our lives are 500 years apart. Did you really think she’d want to stay in your time? Living in the dirt? She deserves better then that.’ As he turned to leave, the door opened and the three boys who were Yuka, Eri and Ayumi’s dates entered.
The boys stared at him for a moment before one of them, Ken, if Inuyasha remember the pathetic human’s name correctly, spoke, “Hey. Um. We were wondering. That is, we saw you dancing with Kagome and we wanted to ask you... um, could you... teach us?”
***************
Kagome was a little surprised when Houjou asked if he could talk to her alone. Knowing that Inuyasha would flip if he saw them, Kagome agreed, but only if he made it quick. Following him to the nearest corner, she wanted to say something first, “ Houjou, I wanted to apologize for Inuyasha...”
Houjou interrupted, “ It’s okay, he explained everything.”
Kagome thought she had to have heard wrong, “Who... did what?”
Houjou smiled, “That Inuyasha guy. He just told me that he felt bad for messing things up between us and that I should ask you to dance. He must have realized that we have feelings for each other and decided to back off.”
Kagome was floored. This was definitely not something Inuyasha would do, “Are you sure we’re talking about the same person? Light colored hair? Bad tempered?”
Houjou smiled shyly and nodded, “That’s the guy. Listen, Higurashi, I would be most honored if you’d let me dance with you,” He laughed, “ Seeing as it’s okay.”
Kagome sighed. For whatever reason, Inuyasha must have said something to Houjou for him to be so bold, “ Houjou... thanks, but... I should have told you before, but I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I just don’t... feel the same way. I’m really sorry...” she continued, seeing his crestfallen expression, “ You’re a great guy and someday some girl’s gonna be very lucky, but... I’m not her.” Smiling sadly, Kagome noticed Inuyasha watching from near the bathroom, “I’ve gotta go, Houjou.” Walking away, she tried to ignore the thought that she might’ve just broken the poor boy’s heart.
Passing the table, she said a quick good- bye to her friends, just as their dates returned and asked them to dance. Approaching Inuyasha, she noticed that he was smiling as the guys and their dates took to the dance floor. His smile faded when he noticed her coming and he stepped forward to meet her, “ Let’s go.” She said.
Inuyasha followed without asking. They got back into the car and Kagome pulled out of the parking lot, heading away from her house. The two rode in silence and Inuyasha tried desperately to guess what she was thinking. Taking a left turn, Kagome pulled into the Aoyama Bochi(8).
“ The cemetery?”
Kagome nodded, putting the car into park and turning off the ignition. Getting out and indicating for Inuyasha to follow, the two made their way among the graves. A party seemed to be in progress. Loud laughter and off-key singing drifted to them over the rows of dead. Inuyasha recognized the smell of sake and the more earthy smell of ale from the large crowd of revelers. Not understanding, he continued to follow, stopping only when Kagome knelt near a wall and touched the name on the headstone in front of her.
“This is my daddy. I haven’t been to see him in a while. Somehow, it didn’t seem necessary since he’s always with me in spirit, but tonight....” Looking up at Inuyasha, she followed his gaze to the celebrating crowd, “ It’s hanami(9). They have it in your time too. This cemetery is one of the best places in Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms in bloom,” Hoisting herself up to sit on the wall, she patted the space beside her, asking Inuyasha to join her, “Cherry blossoms don’t last very long. It’s supposed to remind us of our own time on earth. Well, us humans anyway. I guess the cemetery is the perfect spot for that.”
Looking down at her hands, Kagome waited a moment before continuing, “Why did you tell Houjou to ask me to dance?”
Inuyasha looked at her before turning his focus to the ground, “I thought that’s what you wanted.... to dance with him. You were so upset this afternoon, I thought....”
Kagome turned to him, “ I don’t have feelings for Houjou. I told you that last night. I don’t understand why you would do something like that. It just isn’t like you.”
Inuyasha’s head jerked up. “What, I’m too... insensitive? Too stupid? What, the fucking half-breed is so dumb he doesn’t even know what nice is? Which is it, bitch?”
Kagome matched his anger with her own, “I meant that your usually so... over-bearing! You try to kill Kouga just for looking at me! Now all of a sudden you’re trying to give me away? Are you that tired of being reminded that I’m not Kikyou?” Jumping down off the wall, Kagome couldn’t stop the tears from running down her cheeks.
Inuyasha jumped off the wall to follow her, “What the fuck does Kikyou have to do with this, bitch? I just want to make you happy, dammit!”
“ You DO make me happy, dammit!” Stopping, she turned to him with a sob, “Just being near you makes me happy, okay?” Unable to believe she’d said that out loud, Kagome turned again, intending to run until her legs couldn’t carry her anymore.
Before she could take a step, Inuyasha grabbed her from behind and spun her towards him. With a low growl, he pulled her to his chest, amber eyes raking over her face. Kagome couldn’t move, couldn’t breath, couldn’t think, as she felt his mouth close over hers. A low moan escaped her as he pulled her even more tightly against him. Gasping as she felt his fangs gently nibble at her lip, he took that as an opportunity to dart his tongue into her mouth, meeting hers and teasing it mercilessly.
Kagome’s knees gave out and she would have fallen if Inuyasha’s arms hadn’t been around her. Submitting herself to the onslaught of his lips she filled her hands with his hair, crying out softly as waves of emotion battered her senseless. With a groan, Inuyasha finally pulled away and stared into her eyes. The gentle expression on his face was one she’d seen only once in a while... when it was just the two of them, alone together. Not daring to hope that his eyes held any deeper meaning, she closed her own, struggling to regain her equilibrium.
Inuyasha lifted a hand to Kagome’s face, wiping away the tears that still remained on her cheeks. “I hate it when you cry,” He whispered softly, feeling her shiver. Certain that she could stand, he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders, “Let’s get you home before you freeze.”
Kagome smiled and followed him, not bothering to mention that she wasn’t shivering because she was cold. She actually felt very, very warm.
************************************************************ ******************
Chapter Glossary:
1. Kaede-baba - In Japanese, older women are respectfully referred to as ‘baa-chan’, or ‘obaa-chan’, which means ‘grandmother’. Our dear Inuyasha does not have a tendency to be respectful to older people. Baba is similar to jii-jii... he’s calling her an old hag. We all know he cares, though... right?
2. Bouzu - This is a disrespectful term for a Buddhist priest.
3. Washi - ‘wa’ means Japanese and ‘shi’ means paper. This is a handmade paper made from the long inner fibers from three different plants. It’s still considered an art form today.
4. Goshinboku - Better known in the anime as The Sacred Tree. This is the tree in front of the well shrine in Kagome’s time, and is also the tree that Kikyou pinned Inuyasha to. I believe it has been translated as ‘Old God Tree’ as well.
5. Tatsujou - ‘Tatsu’ refers generally to all dragons. ‘Jou’ means cane. Together, it’s Cane Dragon.
6. Gashi - Japanese for ‘Congratulations.’
7. The song by Aikawa Nanase - Did anyone catch it? If you happen to be able to see the DVD’s released in Japan or download the episodes, you just might have! Unless you’re watching [adult swim] (no, I don’t own them either), Inuyasha has an opening song as well as a closing one. The song lyrics are from the opening credits of episodes 65 ~ 95. Confession: I’ve never actually heard this song! I chose it for the lyrics. I really hope you can slow dance to it.... Otherwise, let’s just all pretend....
8. Aoyama Bochi - An actual cemetery in Tokyo, and ironically, every season people gather here to party among the new cherry blossoms with lots of beer and karaoke!
9. Hanami - Literally, ‘flower viewing’. From the end of March to the beginning of April, the cherry blossoms are in bloom. This tradition started in the Heian Period, from 794 ~ 1185 (www.japan-zone.com).
A/N: Almost all of the characters in this story are brought to you through the genius of Rumiko Takahashi, and the letters A, G and O. I don’t own the characters, they own me.
General notes about this chapter.... Some of you may be wondering, ‘Wait... if it’s March, how come Kagome’s graduating?’ The school year is different in Japan, and actually does end in March. I did a lot of research for the actual graduation ceremony, so it’s actually fairly accurate. Of course, now that I’ve bragged about that, I also should admit that the chances of a high school having a “prom” are pretty slim... but I really wanted to do it! As for the camping trip in the last chapter, Japanese High Schools do take overnight field trips... just maybe not camping. Oh well... can’t be a stickler for detail all the time!
“ That’s okay, Inuyasha. You can go to some boring old ceremony. I got to eat that whole cake... since no one else seemed to want any!” With a flick of his bushy red tail, Shippou quickly fled the scene, leaving a shocked hanyou sputtering in reply.
“Why you little.... Oi! Get back here and let me pound you!”
Jumping to his feet to give chase, Inuyasha was stopped by Sango who had just stepped out of Kaede’s hut, “ Okay, Inuyasha. It’s almost ready to go. All that’s left is for Miroku and Kaede to give it the finishing touches and we can box it up for you to take to her.” The entire group had been working on a special gift for Kagome, in honor of her graduation. Each member of their family had contributed in some way and now, after weeks of preparation, the gift was nearly complete.
Miroku rose to his feet and straightened his robes, “ I’ll join Kaede so that Inuyasha can be on his way.” Passing by the demon exterminator on his way into the hut, he reached out to caress her bottom while simultaneously ducking to avoid the anticipated Hiraikotsu. Laughing at the expression of outrage on Sango’s face, he hurriedly entered the hut, letting the shade drop behind him.
“ Damn lecher!” Inuyasha scowled after the houshi and turned to Shippou, who had felt it safe to venture nearer to the hanyou again, “ Don’t ever let me catch you doing that shit, ya got me?”
Sango laughed at the serious expression on Shippou’s face as he nodded in agreement. Turning to Inuyasha, Sango bit her lip, “I hope Kagome likes her gift. I’ve looked it over and it’s really a fine thing.”
Inuyasha grunted, “Keh. She’ll like it.”
“ Especially ‘cause it was made by us, huh Inuyasha?” Shippou yelped as Inuyasha’s fist came down on top of his head, “ Hey! What was that for?”
“ That’s for the cake,” Inuyasha grunted, “ Anyway, we’ll be back tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t want to wait until then to give it to her?”
Sango frowned and shook her head, “No. I think that since today is her graduation, she should receive her gift today. Don’t you think?”
“ Besides,” Miroku added as he rejoined the group, “ this way, Kagome will know that she’s in our thoughts as well, even though we’re unable to attend.” The Monk nodded, “You’ll just have to act as our ambassador, Inuyasha.”
Frowning as though trying to decide whether or not he’d been insulted, Inuyasha shrugged, “Fine by me. I just thought you’d like to see her open it.” Standing, he walked over to the doorway and stuck his head inside, “ Is it ready yet, Kaede-baba(1)?”
“ In a minute, Inuyasha. Why don’t ye gather some more wood for me while ye are waiting? It’ll be done by then.”
“ I’ll join you,” Miroku fell into step beside Inuyasha and waited until they were out of range of the others, “ So, did you give your gift to Kagome?”
Shooting him a look, Inuyasha frowned, “ Don’t know what you’re talking about, Bouzu(2).”
“Come now, Inuyasha. You’ve been working on it almost every night for nearly a month. I admit, it took me a while to figure out what it was, but I finally managed to get my hands on one of the... early attempts. I must say, I didn’t know you were so creative,” Miroku smiled slyly, “ I’m sure she was thrilled. It’s a very touching gift.”
“ Keh. Nosy Monk.”
Miroku pretended not to notice the blush that tinted the hanyou’s face. Stopping, he turned to face his friend, “ Inuyasha... may I ask you a personal question?”
Warily, Inuyasha eyed him, “ Depends on what it is....”
“ Have you ever actually mentioned to Kagome that you love her?” Inuyasha started walking again, making Miroku run to catch up, “ I only ask because I see the question in Kagome’s eyes. It occurs to me that in three years, you’ve never once expressed your true feeling to her, and I know she hasn’t shared hers with you either. With the exception of that one kiss at Kayuga’s castle when she was trying to break that spell, no more than glances have passed between you. What is it that you’re waiting for?”
Inuyasha stopped walking and dropped his head without turning, “ Before I can.... Before.... I have to avenge Kikyou’s murder and repay the debt I owe her. I can’t promise anything to Kagome that I’m not even sure I’ll have in the end.”
Miroku sighed, started to speak, stopped, then sighed again, “Inuyasha.... Do not deny yourself your true chance at happiness in pursuit of that which is no more than a memory.” Laying a hand on the hanyou’s shoulder as he passed, Miroku began to gather some wood from the log pile, “Let’s finish this and return before Sango thinks we’ve forgotten our way.”
***************
Kagome stared at herself in her mother’s full-length bedroom mirror. As per custom, she wore the green and white school uniform that had become such a familiar part of her appearance. At first, she’d worn it in the Sengoku Jidai because it was simpler than changing after school. Plus, it gave her a sense of identity, serving as a reminder of who she really was, despite all the craziness that had developed in her life. Later she’d worn it because the villagers expected it of her. It was easier to approach the villagers with Kaede if she wore some sort of uniform they could identify her with. Wearing the usual Miko garments was out of the question as she wasn’t actually a trained priestess and also because she looked so much more like Kikyou when she did.
Realizing that this could be the last time she wore this outfit, Kagome scanned her appearance for signs of growth. She’d lost most of the baby fat in her body. Lean muscles had developed in their place from three years of intense physical activity. Her figure had filled out nicely into the shapely curves of a young woman and though her eyes seemed to hint at a maturity far beyond her years, they still maintained their bright sparkle.
Smiling at her reflection, she congratulated herself, “ Not too bad... considering all you’ve been through.” Taking a deep breath, she skipped down the stairs to join her family.
Everyone was ready to go... except Inuyasha. Dressed in a beautiful black suit that she was sure her mom had bought especially for him, he looked more handsome than she could have imagined. Instead of the usual baseball cap to hide his ears, her mother had gotten him one of the fedora style hats that she had heard Yuka say were all the rage in the city. Resting beside him on the couch, Kagome knew the hat would be much more to his liking. Inuyasha, however, was still grumbling about having to wear shoes and was taking his own sweet time putting them on.
“Inuyasha, I swear, if you make me late for my own graduation....” The threat died on Kagome’s lips as she saw his ears droop. Always a sucker for the ears, she knelt and helped him stick his feet into the Wingtips. “ You know, if you cut these toe nails, it’d be a lot more comfortable to wear shoes.”
“ Keh. I need ‘em,” Without explanation, Inuyasha stood up and went into the kitchen.
Shooting a curious look at her mother, who nodded with a smile, Kagome started to follow him, when he returned with a large box.
“ This is from all of us, back ho-... I mean, back in my time,” Placing the box on the coffee table, he stood back, waiting.
Kagome was touched. What could they possibly have gotten her? There was no way they could afford to spend money on something as unnecessary as a gift for her, and the gesture was truly unexpected. A scroll, made of Washi(3), sat on top of the box. Unrolling the paper, she recognized the precise printing of Miroku.
“ For all you’ve given us without asking in return. We send you our blessings on this most momentous day.”
It was signed by all of them; the signatures of Sango, Miroku, Inuyasha, Kaede and two little paw prints from Shippou and Kirara. The note alone brought tears to her eyes as she turned to the mysterious box.
Pulling on the ribbon and lifting the lid, Kagome gasped at what was before her. It was a bow. The most finely crafted bow she’d ever seen. Much longer than her old one, yet not quite as long as the one she’d seen Kikyou use. The wood was a deep, dark color, covered by a bamboo laminate. Perfectly weighted, the weapon felt natural in Kagome’s hands. “It’s gorgeous,” She breathed, “ Where....”
Inuyasha grinned, “We made it. I cut the wood from a branch off of the Goshinboku(4). Sango shaped the bow, put on the laminate and strung it. Kaede and Miroku each blessed it for purity and protection. Oh, and here,” Reaching into the bottom of the box, he pulled out a full quiver of arrows, “ I sharpened the tips, Sango shaped the wood, and there was more blessing from Kaede and Miroku. Oh, yeah, and Shippou gathered the feathers,” He put his hands on his hips and smiled at her proudly, “We thought is was about time you had your own weapon instead of someone else’s leftovers. It’s name is Tatsujou(5).”
“Cane Dragon,” Smiling, Kagome stood and drew back on the string, testing the tension. Letting go, the cord sang.
“ You’ll have to try it out later or else we’re going to be late,” Mrs. Higurashi began ushering everyone outside.
Carefully placing the bow back inside it’s box Kagome stepped around the table and took Inuyasha’s hand, “ Thank-you.”
“Keh.”
*****************
The ceremony was painfully long. Sitting slumped in his chair next to Souta, Inuyasha stopped struggling to stay awake. He really didn’t understand much of what was going on. There was a lot of singing, some people were crying and others spoke into what looked like a club but made their voices really loud. The only time Inuyasha actually paid attention was when he heard ‘Higurashi, Kagome,’ called out and he clapped along with her family as Kagome stood up in a row far in front of him.
After some more singing and crying, the ceremony ended and Inuyasha followed everyone out into the courtyard. He looking around, trying to spot Kagome among the mob of people, “Where is she?”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, “All the students return to their homeroom to get the actual diploma. She should be coming out after that,” Spying another familiar face, Kagome’s mom turned to offer the other parent her congratulations.
Inuyasha noticed the sudden stream of girls dressed like Kagome coming out through a set of double doors. The crowd pressed forward, eager to find their loved ones and making it impossible for the increasingly irate hanyou to see. Straining to keep a hold on his temper, Inuyasha suddenly spotted Kagome and her friends off to the side of the courtyard. With a glance at Kagome’s family, Inuyasha headed through the throng towards the quartet of endlessly hugging girls. Before he could reach them, Inuyasha noticed another boy approach Kagome and congratulate her.
“ Congratulations to you too, Houjou!” Kagome answered, smiling warmly.
Inuyasha frowned, remembering the name from the night before. This was the guy Kagome’s friends had been urging her to ‘date’. Whatever that meant, he was sure it wasn’t anything her wanted her doing. The boy was tall, though not as tall as Inuyasha. He looked rather ordinary but the hanyou didn’t miss the way Kagome’s friends were eyeing the two. Inuyasha felt his hands curl, cutting his palms with his claws. ‘I could take this guy out, easy,’ he thought to himself. Kagome had said she wasn’t interested in this Houjou, so why was she still smiling at him?
He was instantly reminded of Kouga, the leader of the Wolf Youkai Tribe back in his time. That wimpy wolf insisted on calling Kagome ‘his woman’ and showed up every once in a while to see her and annoy the shit out of Inuyasha. Each time the hanyou decided that the time to kill the mangy bastard had come, Kagome would ‘Osuwari’ him and let Kouga get away. She always insisted the feelings were one-sided, but she played the same act with Kouga that she seemed to be playing with this Houjou guy now. Hardly containing the fury that bubbled up inside him, Inuyasha stormed towards her as Houjou was speaking.
“Higurashi..., I was wondering if you’d come with me to the dance tonight?”
Kagome smiled slightly. “Thanks Houjou, that’s very kind, bu...”
Inuyasha stepped in front of Kagome protectively and reached a hand for where Tetsusaiga would have been, had he been allowed to wear it today, “ She’s not going anywhere with you. Got that?”
Houjou flinched backward and tried to look around this sudden new opponent, “Ka-gome?”
Pushing Inuyasha slightly to one side, Kagome stepped around her growling protector. Shooting him a warning glance, she turned back to Houjou as her three friends stood by, eyes wide, “As I was saying, thanks Houjou but I can’t go with you tonight.”
Houjou nodded, looking more downcast than usual, “ I didn’t realize you already had a date. I’m sorry.”
Kagome winced at the hurt in his voice, “ It’s not tha-“
”That’s right, she’s going with me. Any more questions, bastard?” Inuyasha pulled an open-mouthed Kagome to his side, daring the boy to speak again.
Houjou opened and closed his mouth. He seemed at a loss for words at the turn the conversation had taken. Clearing his throat and shaking his head, he finally seemed to locate his voice. “ No. My apologies. Congratulations again, Kagome.” Without a backward glance, Houjou fled as quickly as possible.
“ You too... Houjou,” Kagome called in a fading voice after the retreating figure. Turning to her friends with an obviously fake smile, Kagome cheerfully asked, “Would you excuse us, please?” Turning, she grabbed one of the lapels on Inuyasha’s jacket and dragged him back inside the school building.
Eri stared after them. “Wow. That was....”
“Yeah.” Yuka watched the two figures retreat down the hall and enter the homeroom before the double doors of the school closed, blocking her view, “Did anyone else find that incredibly...”
“Exciting?” Ayumi’s eyes glowed with romantic ideas, “All the times she described it, I never really pictured anything quite so....”
“I know.” Eri nodded, “It’s a bit much but... I can see why she loves him.” All three girls nodded, still staring at the doors.
“Plus, he’s really gorgeous,” Yuka jumped as a hand fell on her shoulder. “Oh! Gashi(6), Higurashi-san. Kagome just went back inside with Inuyasha.”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled, “ Arigato, girls. We’ll just wait out here then.”
***********************
“Osuwari!̶ 1; Kagome had hardly let the door to her homeroom swing shut before giving Inuyasha the ‘sitting’ of his life. “Osuwari, osuwari, osuwari, osuwari!” With each proclamation of that hated word, the hanyou sunk a little further into the floor, praying that whatever shoddy material the building was made of would hold.
“ Bitch..............” Inuyasha struggled against the subjugation spell as Kagome sat down in one of the seats, her back to him. Finally able to move again, Inuyasha took a step towards her before he recognized the scent of Kagome’s tears. ‘She’s crying? Did she really want to go to this ‘dance’ thing with that guy?’ Dropping into a crouch, Inuyasha felt stunned. If she really did like this guy, maybe she deserved to be with someone who could give her the things he couldn’t. ‘She should be with someone from her own time. I just went and fucked that up for her, didn’t I?’
“ You didn’t have to be so mean to him, Inuyasha,” Kagome wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She wasn’t surprised when he didn’t answer her. A million thoughts were crowding into her head, but the only thing that Kagome could focus on was the look in Inuyasha’s eyes when he’s confronted Houjou. ‘It was the same look he had when he found out that Naraku carried Onigumo’s feelings for Kikyou.’
As hard as she tried to forget that day - the day she had discovered Inuyasha and Kikyou together beneath the Sacred Tree - it seemed to be burned into her memory. Kikyou had told him that the reason Naraku was unable to kill her was due to the fact that Onigumo’s heart remained in the evil half-demon’s body. Onigumo, the heavily burned thief, who had sold himself to countless demons in order to regain a body with which to gain possession of both the Shikon no Tama and Kikyou, had been the beginning of Naraku. After gaining possession of Onigumo, Naraku had tricked Inuyasha and Kikyou into betraying each other, trying to separate them and taint the Jewel with malice. When Inuyasha realized that Naraku himself must harbor feelings for the dead priestess, he had sworn to protect her.
‘That didn’t have anything to do with me at all, did it? He was remembering Kikyou. Will I ever be out from his first love’s shadow?’ Standing up, she hesitated to face him, “ We don’t... you don’t have to take me to the dance if you really don’t want to. I’d... understand.”
Not knowing which answer she’d want to hear, Inuyasha stared at her back. She’d stopped crying but still seemed sad. ‘I already said I was taking her in front of all her friends. If I don’t take her now she’ll be even more embarrassed. Maybe that Houjou will be there and she can apologize, tell him it was all my fault and make up with him. She deserves whatever will make her happy. As long as she’s happy, I don’t care what happens to me.’ Standing, he placed a hand on her shoulder, “So... what is this dance thing, anyway?”
*******************
Kagome stood in front of her mother’s mirror... for the second time that day. Only this time, she was holding a dress up in front of her. ‘This is ridiculous. It’s going to be a disaster! Why am I doing this?’ Going back to her own room, Kagome sighed and took the dress off of it’s hanger, placing it on her bed. For some unknown reason, Inuyasha actually seemed to want to go to the dance. She’d tried to tell him that he didn’t have to but now that he’d agreed, he seemed determined. So after graduation, Kagome had taken herself for some retail therapy.
It was the first dress she’d seen upon entering the store, and no matter how hard she’d tried, she couldn’t talk herself out of getting it. It was by far, the most beautiful dress she’d ever owned. The dress was strapless, meeting in a ‘v’ just below her shoulder blades in back. It was form fitting down to her hips, where it flared out, creating the slightest bell shape. Most importantly, it was a vibrant red. Delicate silver beading covered the bodice before fanning out to the side, across her stomach like a spider’s web. Two or three strands of beads waved down to the bottom of the dress.
With no idea that she’d be going tonight, Kagome had given no thought to her hair. Settling on an elegant ponytail, she firmly secured it higher up on her head than usual, so that her hair still hung down her back, but showed off the back of the elegant dress. Finishing off the effect, she tied a red ribbon around the base of the ponytail, letting the ends hang down her with her hair.
After her bath earlier, she’d taken the time to paint her finger and toe nails silver and now she stepped into a pair of silver high heels that perfectly matched both her purse and the beading on her dress. ‘As long as we’re doing this, I might as well give him something to remember.’
Finishing with just a hint of make-up, Kagome looked more ready than she felt. ‘Kami... please don’t let this be a disaster!’ Taking one last, deep breath, Kagome headed for the living room, feeling like a prisoner headed for the gallows.
Stepping into the room, Kagome stopped... and stared. Inuyasha was standing in the middle of the room, looking distinctly uncomfortable. He wore the same suit he’d worn to the graduation ceremony, but beneath the jacket he now had on a red satin vest and tie. A perfect red rose was attached to his lapel and a red handkerchief was displayed in the breast pocket.
“Mama, how did you...”
Mrs. Higurashi smiled from the kitchen doorway, “ I didn’t. They were your fathers. The vest fit Inuyasha perfectly. Looks like I made the right choice. Somehow, red just seemed right for him.” Pulling Kagome into a hug, she added, “You look beautiful, Kagome.”
Inuyasha stared at Kagome, forgetting to blink. He’d never seen anything so amazing in all his life. The moment she’d entered the room, wearing his colors.... Inuyasha felt his eyes and mouth go dry before he realized that everyone was staring at him.
Swallowing to moisten his mouth, Inuyasha managed to grate out, “This is for you,” as he handed her a clear, plastic box containing another red rose that matched his own. Kagome’s mother had picked out the flowers herself while Kagome was dress shopping. Trying to remember the few, simple instructions she’d given him on how to attach the ‘cor-sage,’ Inuyasha attempted to place the rose on Kagome’s wrist without injury.
“You look good,” He offered in a low voice as he fumbled with the ribbon.
“So do you.” Kagome managed. She was finding it hard to think with him standing so close. Forcing herself to focus on her wrist, she suddenly noticed the bracelet Houjou had given her for her birthday. Jerking back from Inuyasha just as he managed to finish his task, Kagome covered the bracelet with her hand and turned towards the stairs, “I, um, forgot my wrap!” Trying not to fall in her heels, Kagome took the stairs two at a time.
Frowning, Inuyasha stared at his hands. ‘Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. She can’t even stand to have me touch her.’ Looking up, he realized that Kagome’s mom must have sensed something was wrong because she was watching him. Before he could think of something to say, she came to him and gave him a hug.
“ Take care of my daughter, Inuyasha. I know you’d never let anything bad happen to her,” Stepping back to adjust the rose in his lapel, she added, “ Kagome knows that too.” With a wink and a quick kiss on the cheek, Mrs. Higurashi disappeared back into the kitchen.
Kagome returned, carrying a long piece of see-thru material, “I’m all ready!” She announced brightly.
Staring at the material that she was now wrapping around her shoulders, Inuyasha grunted, “What the hell is that?”
For a moment, Kagome didn’t seem to understand what he meant, “This? It’s a wrap. It’s... sort of like a jacket... to keep you warm when you’re dressed up.”
Inuyasha snorted, “ That flimsy little thing is to keep you warm? You’d be lucky not to catch something, bitch!”
Kagome’s face began to match her dress when her grandfather appeared in the doorway, “Just a minute! You can’t leave before I’ve taken a few pictures!”
Inuyasha thought he’d never appreciate the old man more than at that moment. Kagome seemed to have forgotten his comments as she groaned to hurry Jii-Chan along.
Souta ran into the room, eyes wide, “Wow, you guys look awesome! Kagome, mom sent me to tell you you’re gonna be late if you don’t get a move on.”
Reminding herself to thank her mother later, Kagome said good-bye to Jii-Chan and Souta and headed for the front door. Grabbing her mother’s keys from the hook, she shouted a good-bye to her mother as she pushed Inuyasha outside.
No roads led directly to the shrine, or the house in which Kagome and her family lived. Down a small incline and at the top of the main road sat the garage where the family car was parked. Opening the car door, she unlocked the passenger side and motioned for Inuyasha to get in.
“ Oi!”
Kagome sighed and stood to look at Inuyasha over the roof of the car, “What now?”
“You’re driving?”
“ Ye-es, I’ve had my license for more than a year now!” Kagome was getting impatient, “Look, do you trust me, or don’t you?”
Inuyasha stared at her for a moment before getting in. Kagome shut her door and put the keys in the ignition.
“Oi.”
“Yes?”
“ ;Do this for me.”
Kagome turned to see Inuyasha pulling on the seatbelt. The few times she’d managed to get him into a car before, he’d refused to be buckled in, insisting that he safe enough. Giving the hanyou a dirty look, Kagome made sure the strap was just a little too tight, “Feel better?” Glaring, she made her way to the school, hoping that the whole night didn’t progress the same way.
Inuyasha frowned, realizing that Kagome hadn’t understood his intention at all. He hated being strapped in by the thing she called a seatbelt. If anything were to happen, he’d be stuck there, unable to react and that was not a situation the hanyou had ever been comfortable with. ‘Baka,’ he thought to himself. ‘Instead of showing her that you trust her enough to wear the damn thing, you pissed her off.’
*****************
The cafeteria didn’t look the same. Colored streamers were everywhere. Balloons covered the tables and were pushed into the corners as more and more people began to dance. Since only the graduates were allowed to come, the event was small, but exciting nonetheless. Despite her irritation at Inuyasha, Kagome found herself becoming a little bit giddy upon entering the room. People she’d seen for years in the same uniforms were now wearing beautiful dresses and stunning tuxedos. Special lights had been set up, giving the cafeteria a golden hue.
Squeezing Inuyasha’s arm, Kagome laughed, “Isn’t this exciting?”
“Keh.”
Remembering that she was still mad at him, Kagome glared, “You really didn’t have to do this you know. I wasn’t planning on coming anyway.”
“Kagome!” From across the room, Ayumi called out to her. Running over, the girl practically beamed in her blue gown, “You look stunning! Hello, Inuyasha. How dashing!”
“Hey.”
Taking her hand, Ayumi began pulling Kagome to the other side of the dance floor, “Eri and Yuka are over here. We’ve been waiting for you to come!”
Making sure Inuyasha was following, Kagome asked, “ Where’s Kiyoshi?”
Ayumi blushed and giggled, “He’s getting some punch.”
“Kagome!” The twin voices of Yuka and Eri reached her. Both girls looked beautiful. Eri’s rust colored satin gown set off the red tones in her black hair and Yuka’s violet tulle was cut so that she looked almost like a ballerina.
Kagome noticed that the girls were eyeing her and Inuyasha and suddenly remembered this afternoon when she’d stormed off to yell at the hanyou, “ Um... you all remember Inuyasha, right? Inuyasha, Yuka, Eri and Ayumi.”
Inuyasha nodded as each girl said hello to him. ‘Not one of them compares to Kagome.’ He thought, somewhat proudly as three boys joined them.
“ We just claimed an empty table,” A tall boy with ears that stood out slightly, took Ayumi’s arm and led the way to a nearby table where drinks had been placed for everyone.
Inuyasha watched as the three other boys pulled out a chair for their date to sit in. Copying their action, Inuyasha pulled back the chair in front of him and nodded at Kagome to sit down.
Giving Inuyasha a funny look, Kagome sat down next to Yuka as Inuyasha took the seat next to her. The girls took up much of the evening, chatting about plans now that graduation was over. The boys seemed to alternate between pretending to listen to the girls, watching the people dancing, and very briefly, talking amongst themselves. For once, Inuyasha seemed to fit in as he sat in silence.
Inuyasha seemed to be thinking about something. Kagome, who hadn’t really be able to keep up with the girls conversation anyway, was just about to ask him if he wanted to leave when Eri squealed, “ Ooh, I love this song! It’s by Aikawa Nanase!”
Inuyasha found himself listening to the words being sung.
Bokura wa dokomade ikou / Let’s go as far as we can.
Futari no mirai ima sasurette / Now our future together is wandering
Bokura wa tabi wo tsuzukeru / So we continue our journey.
Eien no arika owarinai yumi / The dream that will last through infinity.
Konote wo hanasazu oikakete ketai zutto / I want to hold your hand and follow you forever(7).
Inuyasha wasn’t sure what came over him, but he stood up “Oi.”
Kagome looked up as Inuyasha took her hand and gently pulled so that she would stand. Without looking at her, Inuyasha led her onto the dance floor and wrapped his arms around her. As they slowly started moving to the rhythm of the music, Kagome heart skipped a beat, “ How do you know how to do this?”
Inuyasha chuckled softly and whispered in her ear, “What do you think I’ve been doing all night, bitch? It’s not that hard. Plus, your mom gave me a quick lesson while you were dressing.”
Kagome closed her eyes as his breath tickled her ear. If he talked anymore, her legs would fold up on her. Resting her head on his chest, she let herself be led until the song’s end. As the music stopped, Kagome opened her eyes and looked up, “ Thanks.”
“Keh.” As Inuyasha led Kagome back to the table, he suddenly spotted Houjou sitting in a darkened corner, staring at him. “ Bathroom,” he muttered in Kagome’s direction and headed for the door with the figure of a human male on it. Checking to make sure Kagome wasn’t watching him, Inuyasha took a quick turn and approached the boy.
Houjou jumped to his feet as the hanyou drew nearer. Opening and closing his mouth a few times, he seemed to be searching for something to say before finally settling on, “I’m sorry.”
Inuyasha snorted. He hated guys like this. All talk and no action. He’d heard Kagome’s friends talk about how popular this Houjou was but the moment someone challenged him, he folded.
Inuyasha couldn’t see what Kagome saw in him but he wanted to do something to make her happy. “If you want to dance with her, she’s over there.”
Houjou flinched, then stared, wide eyed, “Um... what?”
“You heard me. I think I might’ve fucked things up for her and you and I just want to see her happy.” Turning and heading for the bathroom, he wasn’t sure what the little wimp would do. Before walking through the door, he turned and saw Houjou asking to talk to Kagome. ‘Doesn’t waste any time, does he?’
Staring at his reflection, Inuyasha tried telling himself that he didn’t care. Remembering the feel of her head against his chest while they’d dance caused a feeling deep down inside him that he’d never felt before. ‘Our lives are 500 years apart. Did you really think she’d want to stay in your time? Living in the dirt? She deserves better then that.’ As he turned to leave, the door opened and the three boys who were Yuka, Eri and Ayumi’s dates entered.
The boys stared at him for a moment before one of them, Ken, if Inuyasha remember the pathetic human’s name correctly, spoke, “Hey. Um. We were wondering. That is, we saw you dancing with Kagome and we wanted to ask you... um, could you... teach us?”
***************
Kagome was a little surprised when Houjou asked if he could talk to her alone. Knowing that Inuyasha would flip if he saw them, Kagome agreed, but only if he made it quick. Following him to the nearest corner, she wanted to say something first, “ Houjou, I wanted to apologize for Inuyasha...”
Houjou interrupted, “ It’s okay, he explained everything.”
Kagome thought she had to have heard wrong, “Who... did what?”
Houjou smiled, “That Inuyasha guy. He just told me that he felt bad for messing things up between us and that I should ask you to dance. He must have realized that we have feelings for each other and decided to back off.”
Kagome was floored. This was definitely not something Inuyasha would do, “Are you sure we’re talking about the same person? Light colored hair? Bad tempered?”
Houjou smiled shyly and nodded, “That’s the guy. Listen, Higurashi, I would be most honored if you’d let me dance with you,” He laughed, “ Seeing as it’s okay.”
Kagome sighed. For whatever reason, Inuyasha must have said something to Houjou for him to be so bold, “ Houjou... thanks, but... I should have told you before, but I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. I just don’t... feel the same way. I’m really sorry...” she continued, seeing his crestfallen expression, “ You’re a great guy and someday some girl’s gonna be very lucky, but... I’m not her.” Smiling sadly, Kagome noticed Inuyasha watching from near the bathroom, “I’ve gotta go, Houjou.” Walking away, she tried to ignore the thought that she might’ve just broken the poor boy’s heart.
Passing the table, she said a quick good- bye to her friends, just as their dates returned and asked them to dance. Approaching Inuyasha, she noticed that he was smiling as the guys and their dates took to the dance floor. His smile faded when he noticed her coming and he stepped forward to meet her, “ Let’s go.” She said.
Inuyasha followed without asking. They got back into the car and Kagome pulled out of the parking lot, heading away from her house. The two rode in silence and Inuyasha tried desperately to guess what she was thinking. Taking a left turn, Kagome pulled into the Aoyama Bochi(8).
“ The cemetery?”
Kagome nodded, putting the car into park and turning off the ignition. Getting out and indicating for Inuyasha to follow, the two made their way among the graves. A party seemed to be in progress. Loud laughter and off-key singing drifted to them over the rows of dead. Inuyasha recognized the smell of sake and the more earthy smell of ale from the large crowd of revelers. Not understanding, he continued to follow, stopping only when Kagome knelt near a wall and touched the name on the headstone in front of her.
“This is my daddy. I haven’t been to see him in a while. Somehow, it didn’t seem necessary since he’s always with me in spirit, but tonight....” Looking up at Inuyasha, she followed his gaze to the celebrating crowd, “ It’s hanami(9). They have it in your time too. This cemetery is one of the best places in Tokyo to see the cherry blossoms in bloom,” Hoisting herself up to sit on the wall, she patted the space beside her, asking Inuyasha to join her, “Cherry blossoms don’t last very long. It’s supposed to remind us of our own time on earth. Well, us humans anyway. I guess the cemetery is the perfect spot for that.”
Looking down at her hands, Kagome waited a moment before continuing, “Why did you tell Houjou to ask me to dance?”
Inuyasha looked at her before turning his focus to the ground, “I thought that’s what you wanted.... to dance with him. You were so upset this afternoon, I thought....”
Kagome turned to him, “ I don’t have feelings for Houjou. I told you that last night. I don’t understand why you would do something like that. It just isn’t like you.”
Inuyasha’s head jerked up. “What, I’m too... insensitive? Too stupid? What, the fucking half-breed is so dumb he doesn’t even know what nice is? Which is it, bitch?”
Kagome matched his anger with her own, “I meant that your usually so... over-bearing! You try to kill Kouga just for looking at me! Now all of a sudden you’re trying to give me away? Are you that tired of being reminded that I’m not Kikyou?” Jumping down off the wall, Kagome couldn’t stop the tears from running down her cheeks.
Inuyasha jumped off the wall to follow her, “What the fuck does Kikyou have to do with this, bitch? I just want to make you happy, dammit!”
“ You DO make me happy, dammit!” Stopping, she turned to him with a sob, “Just being near you makes me happy, okay?” Unable to believe she’d said that out loud, Kagome turned again, intending to run until her legs couldn’t carry her anymore.
Before she could take a step, Inuyasha grabbed her from behind and spun her towards him. With a low growl, he pulled her to his chest, amber eyes raking over her face. Kagome couldn’t move, couldn’t breath, couldn’t think, as she felt his mouth close over hers. A low moan escaped her as he pulled her even more tightly against him. Gasping as she felt his fangs gently nibble at her lip, he took that as an opportunity to dart his tongue into her mouth, meeting hers and teasing it mercilessly.
Kagome’s knees gave out and she would have fallen if Inuyasha’s arms hadn’t been around her. Submitting herself to the onslaught of his lips she filled her hands with his hair, crying out softly as waves of emotion battered her senseless. With a groan, Inuyasha finally pulled away and stared into her eyes. The gentle expression on his face was one she’d seen only once in a while... when it was just the two of them, alone together. Not daring to hope that his eyes held any deeper meaning, she closed her own, struggling to regain her equilibrium.
Inuyasha lifted a hand to Kagome’s face, wiping away the tears that still remained on her cheeks. “I hate it when you cry,” He whispered softly, feeling her shiver. Certain that she could stand, he removed his jacket and placed it around her shoulders, “Let’s get you home before you freeze.”
Kagome smiled and followed him, not bothering to mention that she wasn’t shivering because she was cold. She actually felt very, very warm.
************************************************************ ******************
Chapter Glossary:
1. Kaede-baba - In Japanese, older women are respectfully referred to as ‘baa-chan’, or ‘obaa-chan’, which means ‘grandmother’. Our dear Inuyasha does not have a tendency to be respectful to older people. Baba is similar to jii-jii... he’s calling her an old hag. We all know he cares, though... right?
2. Bouzu - This is a disrespectful term for a Buddhist priest.
3. Washi - ‘wa’ means Japanese and ‘shi’ means paper. This is a handmade paper made from the long inner fibers from three different plants. It’s still considered an art form today.
4. Goshinboku - Better known in the anime as The Sacred Tree. This is the tree in front of the well shrine in Kagome’s time, and is also the tree that Kikyou pinned Inuyasha to. I believe it has been translated as ‘Old God Tree’ as well.
5. Tatsujou - ‘Tatsu’ refers generally to all dragons. ‘Jou’ means cane. Together, it’s Cane Dragon.
6. Gashi - Japanese for ‘Congratulations.’
7. The song by Aikawa Nanase - Did anyone catch it? If you happen to be able to see the DVD’s released in Japan or download the episodes, you just might have! Unless you’re watching [adult swim] (no, I don’t own them either), Inuyasha has an opening song as well as a closing one. The song lyrics are from the opening credits of episodes 65 ~ 95. Confession: I’ve never actually heard this song! I chose it for the lyrics. I really hope you can slow dance to it.... Otherwise, let’s just all pretend....
8. Aoyama Bochi - An actual cemetery in Tokyo, and ironically, every season people gather here to party among the new cherry blossoms with lots of beer and karaoke!
9. Hanami - Literally, ‘flower viewing’. From the end of March to the beginning of April, the cherry blossoms are in bloom. This tradition started in the Heian Period, from 794 ~ 1185 (www.japan-zone.com).
A/N: Almost all of the characters in this story are brought to you through the genius of Rumiko Takahashi, and the letters A, G and O. I don’t own the characters, they own me.
General notes about this chapter.... Some of you may be wondering, ‘Wait... if it’s March, how come Kagome’s graduating?’ The school year is different in Japan, and actually does end in March. I did a lot of research for the actual graduation ceremony, so it’s actually fairly accurate. Of course, now that I’ve bragged about that, I also should admit that the chances of a high school having a “prom” are pretty slim... but I really wanted to do it! As for the camping trip in the last chapter, Japanese High Schools do take overnight field trips... just maybe not camping. Oh well... can’t be a stickler for detail all the time!