InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dream a Little Dream of Me ❯ Rice and Beans ( Chapter 5 )

A/N: Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! The internet's been down for a week. Shorter than I'd like it to be, but I just need to get something up! Lame, I know, but that's my life.

 

Inu-Kaglover: thanx so much for your encouragement, great to have you around, and good to know someone's kicking my butt so I keep myself updating! Haha.

 

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Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will.

 

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Chapter 5: Rice and Beans

 

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Kagome was right.

 

With Miroku there Sango had been making a speedy recovery. Her skin was returning to its normal color and she was beginning to get that pregnant glow again. She was gaining weight and looking healthier for her now 7 month pregnancy.

 

But most importantly, the sparkle was back in her eye.

 

Sango had always been very sensitive to losing those close to her - not surprising after losing her entire family and village to a youkai attack.

 

Kagome shuddered to think what would have happened if her village had not taken Sango in. She wouldn't have her best friend, her surrogate sister. Miroku never would have been tamed and settled down…Sango brought a lot together.

 

She had almost been broken by being separated from her soul mate, but now that Miroku was back she had a new lease on life and she was certainly taking advantage of it. She threw herself into loving Miroku and the kids in the orphanage.

 

There was one little girl, especially, who Sango had become very close with. Kirara, a neko youkai, had been very quiet and withdrawn previously, even around the other children.

 

Kagome thought she vaguely resembled Sango in that respect

 

But she and Kirara had formed a special bond now, and the young girl was beginning to open up. She was even tentative friends with Kagome, Shippo, and Miroku. It was impossible to see Sango around now without Kirara following around behind her.

 

Even Inuyasha was giving a grudging respect to the ningen woman who was so strong. The two seemed to have some kind of understanding now.

 

Inuyasha even often turned a blind eye when Miroku left his spot in the fields to work by his wife in the orphanage. She was far enough along in her pregnancy that she wasn't allowed to work in the fields anymore.

 

Kagome swore she had seen Inuyasha get in trouble for it, but he didn't seem to care and just kept allowing it anyhow.

 

Still, Kagome couldn't be quite sure. She definitely got a strong feeling about it and what was going on, which seemed to happen quite often with things regarding Inuyasha.

 

Still, when youkai spoke with him they spoke in the youkai language.

 

That was something Kagome had been unprepared for. She knew that each type of youkai had their own language with which they could talk to their own pack, but the village seemed to have formed a new dialect out of necessity, one that incorporated bits and pieces of all the pack languages represented here.

 

So basically Kagome couldn't understand a bloody thing the youkai said when they talked to each other.

 

She was one of those that just so hated being out of the loop, but what could she do about it here?

 

She sighed and looked back down at her lap. Currently she was sitting with Yumi and Shippo sorting and husking the rice.

 

Shippo of course didn't have to work being so young, but he hung on Kagome wherever she went - the little guy sure was attached! But he'd gotten so fidgety just sitting there and wanted to help Kagome that he started working too.

 

At that moment Shippo decided to shove some of the rice into his mouth. The little kit was always hungry! But he'd forgotten about the fact that it wasn't cooked.

 

Kagome looked down as his face started to turn red and had to stifle her laughter. She picked Shippo up and patted him on the back as he sputtered and turned an ever brighter shade of embarrassed red realizing Kagome had noticed his mistake as well.

 

As soon as the tyke was alright Kagome set him down, but not before cuddling him in a tight hug. Kagome knew she should be mad at him, but she just couldn't help it - he was so danged cute!

 

Looking at him she had to push down her giggling once again - she couldn't embarrass Shippo like that. Thankfully at that moment a voice cut through.

 

“Shippo? Oh, Shippo, there you are! Come on now - lunch!” cried a large lizard youkai.

 

One of the neighboring youkai moms made lunch for the orphans once a week. It was a great pick me up for the kids.

 

Kagome shook her head. It never ceased to amaze her. In the animal world, and even in the youkai world outside of this place, lizard and fox were always enemies. But this village sure did take care of its own.

 

Shippo quickly scampered off toward the lizard-youkai mom and turned around to shoot Kagome a swift smile and a wave goodbye.

 

Kagome held her breath until Shippo was just out of sight and then let go in peals of laughter. Yumi looked at her like she'd just lost her mind, but Kagome just quieted down to intermittent giggles.

 

She was just soooooo glad that Inuyasha hadn't been around. He would've made fun of Shippo, who would've turned around and mocked Inuyasha right back. She really didn't know what it was with those two. She was just glad she didn't have to break up a fight today.

 

Yumi's words jerked Kagome out of her musings.

 

“Your little furball friend just ruined half the rice we husked! Now we have to do it all again, and you're laughing?!” she said with a `hmph'.

 

“I'm sorry Yumi; I didn't know it upset you that much. But Shippo is just a kid still. It's not like he meant to mess up anything,” defended Kagome.

 

“Oh yeah? And how do you know that? No wait - don't tell me - it's because you're friends, right? Is that it?”

 

Kagome nodded.

 

“Well wake up Kagome!” snapped Yumi. “The youkai don't care about us. They use us as laborers, that's all! They must have a few of them act nice to keep our spirits up just enough so we don't kill ourselves or spill their precious secret. And what's so precious about it anyhow? Are there any safe human villages? No! We have - had - to worry about youkai attacks all the time, so what makes them so special that they get to be safe?”

 

Kagome stared at her friend wide-eyed. She didn't know what to say. “Yu…Yumi…” she stammered. “I've never heard you talk like this before.”

 

Yumi turned to Kagome, as if she'd momentarily forgotten she was there. She smiled wistfully. “Hey, I'm just sick of this place sometimes, that's all. But don't worry about it Kagome, I'm fine. I was just venting.”

 

Kagome didn't know what else to say so she just walked over to Yumi and gave her a fierce hug. “It's all going to be alright Yumi - especially while we all have each other. Speaking of which, I'm gonna go check on Sango real quick and see how she's doing. She's independent enough that I hope Miroku's doting and lechery aren't too much right now!”

 

Kagome laughed a good laugh and Yumi even giggled too, all the uneasiness of the previous moment forgotten.

 

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Kagome headed out toward Sango and Miroku's room. Yes, they had separate rooms now that Miroku was here, for propriety's sake. Kagome did want to sleep after all! As Kagome got closer she heard screaming. She recognized Sango's voice and bolted toward the sound, her heart racing a mile a minute.

 

Her anxiety kicked into full gear. What's happening to her? Is she in pain? Is anyone with her? Why did I leave her?!

 

Rounding the corner Kagome saw a large hectic group moving around behind the screen to Sango's room, but her view was quickly blocked off as she ran into Inuyasha's chest. He grabbed both of her wrists as she struggled to get around him.

 

“Let me go!” she screamed at him. “I have to get to Sango!”

 

“No can do,” he stated simply.

 

Kagome winced as Sango let out another horrific scream.

 

She knew he easily overpowered her, but she didn't care. She continued to fight against him with all her might anyhow. “What are they doing to her?!” she yelled, her panic turning to anger. “I have to help her!”

 

It was Inuyasha's turn to be angry now. “What do you mean `doing to her' bitch? They're helping her - she's giving birth!”

 

Kagome immediately stopped struggling as his words sunk in. “Giving birth?” she whispered, smiling as tiny tears started to trickle down her face. “Wait,” she said stronger, “giving birth! But she can't do that - she's still only 7 months pregnant!”

 

“Well apparently this is what happens to ningens who don't take care of themselves while they are pregnant,” he snapped at her.

 

“But Miroku came back…she's getting better…”

 

“Too little, too late,” Inuyasha replied.

 

At this Kagome started her struggle again in full. “So why are you still holding me! Let me go see Sango!”

 

Inuyasha tightened his grip on Kagome's wrists. “You are not allowed to go in there. Too much commotion, bad things could happen. Besides, there's too many people in there as it is. You'd just be in the way.”

 

“But I can help!” Kagome cried. “In case you don't remember, Sango's human and human births can be very dangerous, especially premature ones!”

 

He growled deeply at her, lowering his face precariously close to hers. “I do remember. Don't you forget who you're talking to wench. My mother was human, and she survived my birth.” He glared at her angrily a moment longer and then looked away.

 

“I'm sorry,” she breathed. “But all the more reason to let me go in! Your mother may have been stronger than Sango. Sango could have complications - she may need healing.”

 

“Your point?” he questioned.

 

“I'm a mik--” Kagome's voice was cut off as Inuyasha's hand firmly clasped over her mouth. The feral growl he emitted convinced Kagome not to fight him at the moment.

 

In one rapid, blurred movement Inuyasha grabbed Kagome and bounded into her room. He slammed the door shut and dropped her down on her futon. She turned to glare at him for his unceremonious treatment of her but was met with a look much more fierce than her own.

 

They stayed like that a moment, their silence etched against all the noise and commotion coming from the next room that echoed like a dull roar in their ears.

 

Suddenly Kagome noticed that Inuyasha was dangerously close. “Bitch, you really want to die, don't you?” he whispered, the fierceness never leaving his voice.

 

She continued to glare at him. “Of course I don't want to die, baka!”

 

His hand was firmly against her mouth again, effectively preventing her from speaking. “Then stop being so stupid,” he said directly into her ear, receiving yet another vicious look from her. Inuyasha was glad he still had her mouth covered as she was obviously trying to state her comeback.

 

“Shhhh!” he hissed, shaking her gently. “First of all, have you lost all sense? There's a horde of youkai in the next room. The only reason we can even whisper right now is hoping they're too occupied with helping and moving Sango to listen closely to us. But it's still taking a chance. Second, you must really have a death wish girl to say aloud what you were just about to say. These youkai would eat you alive if they knew what you were - and you know it.”

 

He paused to pull back from her hear and look her in the face. “So if I move my hand will you be quiet now?”

 

She nodded shakily, nervous at hose close he was to her right now.

 

He slowly removed his hand from her mouth but didn't back away at all, waiting for her to speak. The thing was, with Inuyasha so close Kagome was suddenly finding that difficult, her mouth felt like cotton. Finally she sputtered, “So…so what about Sango?”

 

“What do you mean `What about Sango?' Were you listening to what I just said? What about you?”

 

“What about me?” Kagome replied. }Probably not the time or the place to talk about it, besides I don't really care. No - wait,” she interjected at the look on Inuyasha's face, “I mean I care, thank you for your help really and I will be more careful, but I'm just more worried about Sango right now. I mean, that is what started this whole thing after all, right?”

 

“Okay, okay,” he said. “They're moving her to the birthing chamber. And you--” he added as Kagome started to get up “—are staying right here.” He gently but firmly pushed down on her shoulder to keep her seated on the futon.

 

Kagome sighted, frustrated, running her fingers through her hair. She dazed off and wondered if Inuyasha's hair would feel the same in her fingers, or if it would be rougher like dog fur. She quickly had to resist the temptation to reach out and find out for herself. Little did she know that Inuyasha was having to fight the exact same urge at the moment.

 

Kagome spoke, as if just to distract herself from her thoughts. “Fine,” she said, “I'll stay here.”

 

Inuyasha looked up at her surprised. He hadn't expected her to give in. Actually, he thought he'd have to guard her closely all day. He quirked an eye at her, an annoying, but not entirely unpleasant thought.

 

Quickly shaking his head to clear it, he stood to leave but felt a sudden resistance. Looking down he saw Kagome tugging on the sleeves of his red haori.

 

“Just one question before you go,” she said. Now just how to phrase this, she thought sardonically.

 

“Why did you stop me from saying - well, why did you help me? Why would you care?”

 

Inuyasha looked down at her stricken. He couldn't believe she'd be so bold as to ask that. Didn't she know that most normal people never openly addressed these things? How the hell was he supposed to answer?! Especially when he wasn't even sure what the answer was?

 

“I'd get in trouble for letting you live as long as I already have,” he blurted out. He inwardly flinched. Get in trouble? Fuck that. Like he'd care. Hell, if he couldn't buy that line himself he didn't have much of a chance of her buying it, which he could tell she didn't from the look she gave him.

 

“So then why have you let me live this long?” she questioned him right back.

 

“Feh, you're a clutz. It'd be pointless to die for your own stupidity,” he spit out without thinking about it.

 

Kagome was crestfallen. He pitied her? He didn't think she could take care of herself competently? As she saw Inuyasha turn to walk away she got angry at herself as she could feel the beginning of tears welling up in her eyes. Why should she care if he pitied her? Why could it make her this upset?

 

While she was stewing in her own thoughts, the questions pouring out of her, Inuyasha was left with only one thought racing through his own mind.

 

As he left, the disheartened look on her face clearly pressed on his mind, he kept repeating to himself “Baka…baka…baka…baka…baka…”