InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Birthday Wishes ❯ the plan ( Chapter 2 )

The sun was setting by the time Miroku and Sango wandered back to the village, with grins plastered across their faces. The two walked hand in hand to Kaede's hut, except when a certain hand has wandering over Sango's backside. Slapping it away halfheartedly, the young demon huntress giggled and placed a kiss on Miroku's cheek. Shippou waved at the two figures walking up the path, rushing over to hop onto the monk's shoulder. "Hey guys! What took you so long?" Sango blushed a deep red, and Miroku chuckled. "I'll tell you when you're old enough to talk man to man, Shippou." The small fox demon peered curiously between his two companions, but seemed satisfied with the answer. Sango, now recovered from her slight embarrassment, asked where Inuyasha was. The kitsune shrugged. "I don't know. He left a while ago, but he told me to tell you that he had to talk to you about something, Miroku." The monk was about to question Shippou further, but as if in answer to his query, Inuyasha jumped from a nearby tree and landed in front of the group. "About damn time you two got here! Miroku, I need to talk to you. Now." Before Miroku had time to protest, Inuyasha had grabbed him by his robes and ran towards the forest. Poor Shippou, his footing roughly yanked from underneath him, tumbled to the ground, and landed with a hard thud. The demon huntress and the young demon stared after the two men, a little confused about their abrupt departure. Sighing, Sango picked up the bruised kitsune and turned to walk into the hut to help Kaede with the stew she was making. `I wonder what has Inuyasha so worked up?', she thought.

"Inuyasha, can we slow down a bit?" The monk was rapidly turning blue in the face. "You're choking me!" Inuyasha slowed to a jog, then to a walk. Finally deeming them a safe distance away from the others, he stopped next to a clearing in the forest. Releasing Miroku from his clawed grip, Inuyasha sat down on the forest floor, folding his arms across his chest. Gasping for breath, Miroku loosened the bunching fabric around his neck, and sat down near Inuyasha, "So, what is this all about?"

"Keh… I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think you, of all people, would understand, lecher." Miroku raised an eyebrow at this, but said nothing. Inuyasha continued, " I need help with something I'm planning for Kagome's birthday". Slowly a smirk played across the monk's lips as the realization dawned on him. "I see. And just what is my part in this, Inuyasha?" He was still grinning as the hanyou across from him grew slightly less comfortable. "Well…umm… goddamn it Miroku! Stop looking at me like that!" Miroku had leaned in towards Inuyasha and was listening intently, patiently waiting for the hanyou to admit what he was planning. The grin had never left the monk's lips. "Your only job in this is to keep Sango from suspecting anything, and to keep the damn runt away from Kagome when she gets back. If either of them gets wind of this, they'll spill to Kagome! And if that happens, I will personally make sure you regret it!" Inuyasha flexed his claws as if in warning, and Miroku's smile faded. Clearing his throat and once again donning the seriousness of a man of the cloth, Miroku stood and nodded his agreement. "I understand. When is this all to take place? And why didn't Kagome tell us her birthday was near?" Inuyasha filled him in as best he could on the walk back to the village.

In her own time, Kagome was just getting back from school. "Mom! I'm home! Souta? Gramps? Where is everybody?" She called for her family a few more times then gave up. "Must be out somewhere", she shrugged. Noticing her stomach was growling, Kagome went to the fridge and picked out something for an after-school snack. It was then that she noticed a note taped to the door handle. * Kagome: Went shopping! Be back late… make dinner for yourself! Love Mom, Gramps and Souta *

Sitting down at the table to eat her snack, Kagome pondered about the note. `I wonder why they all went together? Usually just Mom does the shopping, and that leaves at least either Souta or Gramps home after school. Oh well, why am I complaining? This means I have the whole house to myself for a change!' That changed her whole attitude, and she quickly finished her snack. Taking the stairs two at a time, Kagome quickly got a towel from the linen closet and proceeded to the bathroom. Turning on the faucet to the tub, Kagome reveled in the steam caused by the cascade of hot water. Adding a few foaming bath crystals and slipping out of her school uniform, Kagome stepped into the tub and slowly lowered herself into the scented water. A small moan escaped her lips as the heat of the water worked it's magic on her stiff muscles. Choosing just to soak rather than really clean herself, she sank lower into the bubbles. A few random thoughts floated through her mind, but she chased them away…until a thought surfaced about Inuyasha. Inuyasha, with his tall, lean physique and the hard lines of his body. Kagome allowed herself to dwell on this thought for a while, imagining herself in his strong arms; his sensuous mouth claiming hers. Feeling a swelling heat race through her, threatening to take control of her body, Kagome pushed the thought from her mind. `It will never happen,' Kagome sighed. `He doesn't think of me in that way.' Unplugging the drain and climbing from the tub, she dried off and wrapped the towel around herself. She walked into her room and was deciding on what to wear. A door opened and shut downstairs and caught her attention. "Hello? Mom? Are you guys home?", Kagome called out.

"Yes, sweetie! It's us! Do me a favor and grab the laundry from upstairs before you come down?", Kagome's mother replied, stalling for time. Souta and Gramps had a large object they were quickly trying to hide. Kagome collected the laundry from all the upstairs rooms before making her way downstairs. In the living room, Souta and Gramps had finished hiding Kagome's present just in time, and joined the girls in the kitchen.

"Well, I see you haven't had dinner yet, have you? Why don't I make u something now, Kagome?", her mother asked sweetly. "Thanks mom! I'd appreciate it!" The family settled into their usual spots at the table, telling eachother about their days.

Meanwhile, Sango and Shippou were told about the special day. "So you see, Kagome's birthday is tomorrow and we need to prepare something for her return!", Miroku explained. "Oh, how exciting!", said Sango. "I think I know just what she would like!" Sango pulled something out of a basket in the corner of Kaede's hut. In her hands she held a beautiful set of hair combs, carved from bone and adorned with delicately painted flowers. "They were given to me by a boy in my village. I never had use for them, but I'm sure Kagome would like them!" Miroku nodded and turned to Shippou, who was digging through his pockets. "Do you think Kagome would like these for her birthday?"

The little kitsune produced about a dozen sparkling rocks and shells from his pockets. "I'm sure she'd enjoy those very much, Shippou", Miroku replied. "In fact, why don't we go and pick some flowers tomorrow to add to her gift?" Shippou brightened and nodded his agreement.

Outside, Inuyasha was finalizing the details of his own surprise for Kagome. `I hope this shows her how much she means to me', he thought to himself.