InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dashed Hopes ❯ Open-Mouthed Basses ( Chapter 9 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I was in a dark mood when I wrote this, but only made the chapter come out funnier than I thought it would. Writing is my stress relief. Enjoy and review!

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Disclaimer: Do I own Inuyasha? Nope, I don’t. Exciting, isn’t it?

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Dashed Hopes

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--- Last Chapter ---

Weakness disgusted him.

--- End of Last Chapter ---

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Chapter 9: Open-Mouth Basses

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“Wow.” Kagome gasped as she walked into her latest version of ‘home’.

Inuyasha smirked. She liked it, and that made him feel smug.

Kagome had to resist jumping up and down and squealing like a seven-year- old at the moment. The ‘castle’ definitely was beautiful. More than beautiful, it was gorgeous. Deep burgundy, navy, and gold rugs spread through out every room. Pedestals of vases and priceless works of art were scattered everywhere. There was several of each room, including the kitchen, and each one looked comfy and expensive at the same time.

And it had a giant surround sound system in a personal movie theater.

Sheer bliss.

Yep.

That was an understatement.

“Like it?” Inuyasha asked sarcastically at her dropped jaw.

Kagome rolled her eyes then glared at the young man playfully. “No. The color scheme is all wrong!”

Inuyasha chuckled. “Blame Sess then.”

Kagome gapped. “What?” Sesshoumaru may have better hair than a woman, better skin than a woman, but he sure as hell didn’t have the decorating sense of a woman.

No way did that guy design the décor.

Inuyasha burst out laughing at her impression of an open-mouthed bass. “Did you actually believe me? Kami, Kagome! Sess has his hands full enough.”

Kagome quickly snapped her mouth shut before it attracted flies. Cocking an eyebrow, she questioned, “With the company?”

Inuyasha bit the inside of his cheek. He’d have to tell her sooner or later, he realized. Of course, life seemed pleasing at the moment. But before his cover up could escape his open mouth, the reason came ramming into him.

“Uncle Inuyasha!” screamed a young girl with brown hair and an orange skirt and sweater on.

Inuyasha’s face brightened at the sight of the pest. Ruffling her hair lovingly, he greeted her, “Hey Rin.”

Kagome smiled at the sight of the sweet little girl, only slightly younger than her brother.

“Hello,” she cooed to the young girl.

“Hi,” Rin chirped spinning around to greet the new comer.

Inuyasha’s look of peace faded quickly. ‘Damn! When did that runt get that kind of hold on me? I must be losing it.’ Inuyasha shook his head and then rubbed the back of it embarrassingly. He didn’t like the thought of Kagome seeing him so soft. He didn’t like the thought of anyone seeing him soft.

Rin grasped Kagome’s hand and peered up and the young woman, grinning with a look of pure innocence. “Will you play with Rin now?”

Kagome beamed at the cute speech.

“Will you play with ME now,” corrected a cool voice as Sesshoumaru stepped into the entry hall.

“No, Lord Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin wants to play with her now, you can play with her later.” The young girl scolded the tall, elegant man in front of her.

Kagome burst out laughing at this and Inuyasha smirked. Sesshoumaru had to resist the urge to grin at her conclusion, but that wasn’t too hard to do for him.

Rin started to skip down the long halls pulling the still giggling Kagome after her. “Flowers!” she sang out as she piloted her way through the maze- like corridors of her home.

Sesshoumaru watched them go with calm eyes.

“Well that went well,” commented Inuyasha from beside him.

“I agree,” Sess replied before walking to his study to get some much-needed work done.

Shaking his head Inuyasha headed straight to the kitchen.

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“Mm, smells good.” Kagome murmured twenty minutes later as she followed her nose. Now she was tugging Rin.

Inuyasha looked up, mid-slurp of his Ramen. “Make your own,” he gurgled and broth ran down his chin.

Kagome pouted. She was hoping for an easy meal. Alas, she had to do some work. Opening one of the oak cabinets she located every kind of instant Ramen ever made on the face of the earth. Sighing she pulled down a beef packet and turned to the younger female to ask which she preferred.

“Shrimp!” Rin sang out as she sat across from Inu on a stool at the counter.

Kagome looked questionably at the shrugging Inuyasha. “Kid’s got strange taste,” he answered.

Kag laughed. “I like shrimp too! Is it really that odd of a flavor?”

Inu stared at the young woman for a second. “All Ramen is good Ramen. The flavor doesn’t matter.” He answered all knowing. “But shrimp’s an odd flavor for a nine year old to choose,” he added.

“Thank you, Mr. Philosophy,” Kag laughed as she heated the stove. Then she took a seat next to the man and crossed her arms over the counter and rested her head on them.

Falling asleep in a few seconds, Inuyasha was forced to finish making their Ramen.

Shaking her elbow he woke her up. “Dinner,” he stated, handing her the steaming bowl and a pair of chopsticks. Rin was already slurping down hers.

“Mm,” Kagome moaned, wiping sleep from her red eyes. “Thank you.”

Again Inu shrugged and sat down to wait for the females to finish their meal, oddly patient.

Stretching and reaching for the ceiling, Kagome yawned. “Time to get Souta and Shippou.”

Rin’s eyes brightened. “Who are they?” She loved the idea of more kids around. Lord Sesshoumaru-sama was not the most fun person in the world.

“My brother and son,” Kagome told her.

Looking up with her naturally curious eyes, Rin asked innocently, “And where’s their daddy? Can’t have a family without a daddy to take care of you!”

The two adults winced and Inu watched Kagome worriedly.

Kagome gaped at the child’s forwardness.

‘Looks like a fish,’ Inuyasha noted at the back of his mind. ‘But which one?’

“He’s busy,” she replied curtly. Then putting on a fake smile, she didn’t want to scare the girl, Kagome asked, “Want to come along?”

“Sure!” Rin chirped, oblivious to the hurt in Kagome’s eyes.

Inuyasha watched her stand up slowly, “Where’s Mr. Youkai’s office?”

Inuyasha reminded her, “You’re gonna be here for awhile. Might as well call him Sesshoumaru.”

Kagome looked a bit uncomfortable at the thought. “I’ll see.”

“Rin can show you where to find him,” Inuyasha nodded to the young girl hanging on Kag.

“Yep, yep! Rin can!”

Kagome nodded and silently followed Rin. Reaching up to lightly knock on the door, Rin just burst through. Kag winced.

“-Er- Sesshoumaru?”

Sesshoumaru looked up at her hesitant voice and nodded for her to continue.

“May Rin come with me to pick up my family?”

The man seemed to be thinking deeply. Kagome got the impression that he was very protective of the little female hanging off of her arm. He nodded. “Rin, behave.” He commanded gently, but sternly.

“‘Course!” the little girl replied.

Kagome had the sudden urge to reassure the man. “I’ll take good care of her and won’t let her out of my sight.”

Sesshoumaru looked up and nodded his understanding. Kagome could see something shining in his eyes that she felt she understood.

‘This cheerful little girl means the world to this stern man. And by the way Rin calls him with such respect, she must feel the same way. Just like me and Shippou,’ she continued, having no idea how she had been able to figure it out so quickly.

But of course, she had always been a real people person.

Taking Rin’s hand she led her out to the car, knowing that Sesshoumaru would more than likely stop at nothing to keep her safe.

‘At least he has some feeling.’

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“Does she still have it?” a cold voice asked.

“I’m sure she does. She was always bright, I doubt she would have just thrown it out.” A dry, female voice answered.

“But do you have proof?” the cold voice growled.

The female on the other side of the phone winced. “No.”

“Then get it,” he replied warningly. “I want to make sure.”

“Yes ‘Master’,” the woman sneered.

‘I swear I’ll hate all men after this!’

“Good.”

Then a dark laughing filled her ears and she quickly snapped her cell phone shut.

‘Kagome, you better have kept it safe. It’s your last chance, your lifeline.’

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Kagome shivered uncontrollably in her bed that night. Twisting and turning and ripping the sheets, a cold sweat drenched her body.

Visions of men, dark smirks, and low, dangerous words flashed before her closed eyes.

And pink.

Always flashes of pink just in the corner of her eyes.

And his laugh, that dark chuckle of his when he thinks he succeeded.

Kagome called out in fright and anger in her troubled sleep.

“Kagome?” Inuyasha whispered as he pushed open her shut door. Her room was just next to his and through the wall he had heard the commotion.

“NO!” Kagome whispered fervently in her sleep. “You can’t have it!”

Inuyasha’s concern and curiosity got the best of him. Plus his sleep- clouded mind didn’t register his actions all that well at the moment.

He crawled in next to the scared, ebony haired woman, and gently untangled the sheets from around her thrashing form. Sighing, he cradled the still- sleeping girl in his arms. If she didn’t stop moving around so much she, or he, could get pretty hurt.

Kagome instantly calmed at the comforting gesture and slowed her movements. Now flashes of ebony silky hair and lavender eyes forced their way into her mind too.

“What can’t he have?” Inuyasha cooed gently in her ear. He really wanted to know. “Souta? Shippou? You?”

Kagome just grabbed hold of his shirt and twisted the material in her closed fist. “Please Inuyasha. He can’t have it, he can’t get it.” She whimpered.

He looked at the sleeping girl and then Inuyasha decided that that was the best he’d get out of her and began to tuck her back into bed. She still clung to the one friendly form in her mind, but slowly everything else disappeared and allowed her to let him leave.

‘At least I can get some sleep now.’ Inuyasha thought as he backed out of the room running a hand through his long black hair and closing his sleep sore eyes.

Of course he couldn’t, though.

Questions started to clutter his confused mind. He had always slightly wondered what had finally forced Kagome to get enough sense in her to run, but had never felt like asking. What was it? Was it Naraku who couldn’t have it, or someone else? Was Kagome keeping a dangerous secret from him and his friends, people who wanted to help her?

He didn’t know.

But he swore he would soon find out.

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Deep in the dark, from between folds of wrapped velvet, in a closed drawer, a small item shined pink for a brief instant.

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Kagome stood walking around the kitchen of the Youkai castle in her silky, green nightgown. Her long ebony waves hung down her back as she paced back and forth.

Light had started to creep in through the many tall windows, and she felt the rest of the house would gladly accept a Saturday morning home cooked meal.

Kag was actually a pretty good cook.

Taking out as many supplies as she could, the blue-eyed woman began to cook a mouth-watering meal, with more choices than necessary. Pancakes, waffles, sausage links, sausage patties, bacon, omelets, scrambled eggs, toast with honey, English muffins, orange juice, and milk.

“Mm,” mumbled three half asleep children as they wandered into the great smelling kitchen.

The scent of the perfect breakfast even awoke the stubborn Inuyasha and pulled the workaholic Sesshoumaru from his office.

“Let’s eat!” chirped Kagome as she finished setting the table.

Rin, who had taken an immediate liking to Kagome, and Shippou, who just adored his mother, sat on either side of the cook. Souta slouched next to Shippou and Inuyasha sat next Rin. And ‘Lord’ Sesshoumaru sat at the head of the table, directly across from Kag.

Let’s just say, they had a very satisfying first meal together.

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Naraku fiddled with the framed photograph of Kagome that was sitting on his desk.

“Have you been taking care of the special item Kagome?”

Naraku scowled and slammed the frame against the opposite wall of his office.

It was that item that had taken her away from him! It was that item that had made her angry with him and him with her! It was that item that had driven her crazy enough to leave the one man that had sworn to keep her forever!

It was that item that he’d soon have back in possession. Along with Kagome, that is.

“I’ll get you back Kagome! I’ll do anything to have you by my side again!”

Naraku’s face darkened and his crimson eyes took on an evil spark.

“No one will have you Kagome, if I can’t!”

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Kouga squirmed in his bed. ‘Damn bedsores hurt!’

Sighing he turned to look out at the sapphire sky. ‘Just like Kagome’s eyes.’

Kouga had always been a hopeless romantic when it came to Kagome. One thing was for sure: if she ever got out of this mess, he’d make her his. Shower her with gifts and flowers and never allow her to be unhappy again!

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“Damn it Kagome!” Inuyasha growled.

“YES!” Kagome yelled out triumphantly.

“NO!” Inuyasha screeched and leaned off of the couch to stare pathetically at the big screen TV. “No,” he whimpered. He turned back to the smug looking Kagome who promptly held out her hand.

“Pay up!”

“NO WAY!” Inuyasha yelled.

Souta, Shippou, Rin, and even Sesshoumaru watched with interest from the sidelines.

“Told you,” Souta told Inuyasha sympathetically.

Kagome giggled. “I was queen of the video games back in Kyoto! No one ever beat me! Not even the king!”

Inuyasha pouted. “Do I have to?”

“YES!” came four shouts: three from children and one from an irritated adult.

Inuyasha whimpered and knelt before Kagome on the carpet. Looking up with the puppy face securely in place, he silently pleaded.

Kagome chuckled. “Inuyasha!”

Rolling his eyes, Inuyasha removed her socks and sighed. ‘Here it goes!’ and started to rub the feet of the smiling Kagome.

“I love foot rubs, especially when I earn them.” She sighed as she leaned back into the comfy couch.

Inuyasha scowled, but kept on massaging. ‘At least this isn’t all bad. Her feet don’t have reek at all!’

Inuyasha silently cheered at the fact that Kagome was a very clean person and finished his betted hour long foot rub.

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Sango smirked as she sat, sipping her coffee at the front desk at SHA.

“I wonder when Inu will be thick headed enough to offer to play Kagome at PS2.” She giggled at the hilarious defeat he’d face.

Talking with Kagome had made her find out that Kagome had to be the best video game player in all of Japan.

Inuyasha would just have to find out the hard way, she concluded.

‘I hope she betted the foot rub. That would have been entertaining.’

Sighing, Sango put on her friendly smile for the newest addition at the SHA as she walked through the door.

“Excuse me?” the petite brunette, asked Sango cheerfully.

“Yeah?” Sango asked. ‘Guess she’s not an addition.’

The girl grinned. “I’m looking for a ‘Sango Taijai’.”

“That’s me.” Sango said cautiously.

“Good. I was hoping you could point me in the direction of my fiancé. I remember him saying that you were one of his best friends.”

Sango face faulted. The only best friends she had that were male were Inuyasha and Miroku. ‘Inuyasha has a fiancée?’ she asked herself, amused.

The girl beamed. “I need to talk to Miroku Houshi as soon as possible!” she announced to the suddenly pale woman in front of her.

Sango tried to gulp in air as she heard the statement. But soon, everything went black.

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Now for the questions still to be answered:

Why did Kagome run away? (Yep, still unanswered!) What item is so important to Kagome and Naraku? Would said item happen to be in Kagome’s drawer? Who is the young girl who claims to be Houshi-sama’s fiancée? Why would Sango care so deeply? And where, pray tell, did Kagome learn to impersonate an open-mouthed bass?

Feel free to guess at these questions. Some are easy to figure out, some are soon to be answered, and some you might have to wait awhile.