InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ En Famille ❯ Halloween prt.1 ( Chapter 10 )

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If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

- The Dalai Lama

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- Bzzz -

"Coming!"

Glancing outside at the rain that hadn't stopped since she got home, Kagome frowned and set down the pencil she'd been using, making her way around to the front door. (- Who would go out in this rain? -)

"Who is it?"

"Um, I'm the guy from Justine's? I've brought your costume!" A familiar male voice answered.

Opening the door with a gasp, Kagome gawked at the poor guy from the day before who'd ripped the lace off the top of the costume she'd chosen at a rental shop. His sweatshirt, scraggly already, was soaked and dripping onto the floor. His hat was soaked through and he pulled the costume's bag out from beneath his shirt with that same sheepish smile she'd seen at the shop.

"I made sure it stayed dry and it shouldn't be wrinkled," he handed the bag over and winced when his shirt dripped a little on her carpet.

"You brought it in this storm? Oh god you're soaking wet, come inside," Kagome tugged him in by his sleeve, wincing when he sneezed pathetically. "Poor thing, I have a sweatshirt you can borrow, hold on, would you mind taking off your shoes? Wow, the costume wasn't really all that urgent, I could have picked it up tomorrow."

"Oh no it was my fault you had to wait," the guy blushed, "I'll be ok, really, I can go home now, I'll throw on a different sweatshirt there."

Shaking her head, Kagome grabbed a towel off her dryer and tossed it over to him, "No way, at least let me make you some tea and toss your sweatshirt into the dryer. It'll only atke a few minutes, twenty at most, can you spare that since you're just going home?"

"You don't even know my name and you're inviting me to tea?" the guy asked. "Are you always this trusting? I could be a serial killer for all you know."

"Right, and a serial killer would likely blush and smile sheepishly like you do? I don't think so, and yeah, I'm usually pretty trusting I guess!" She came over and stuck out her hand, "The name's Kagome Higurashi, and you are?"

With a chuckle, he gave her a rather handsome smile and took her hand, "Rayne Peterson, yes I know, its raining outside but that's really my name."

"Rain?" Kagome quirked her head a little sideways.

With a nod he flipped out his wallet, "Really."

Glancing down at his liscence she grinned and shook her head, "I would have believed you anyways, that's an interesting name."

"Interesting? Its wierd," he said, putting his wallet away again.

"I think its kind of pretty," blushing, she shrugged and pulled at his sleeve, "So can I have your sweatshirt?"

"Have it?" Slipping it off, he handed it over and removed his hat too, "Thank you for being so nice yesterday, Justine nearly bit my head off once you left, I had to sew the tear myself."

"You sew?" leaving the dryer on, she led the way into the kitchen, "I'm sorry for the trouble, thanks though."

"Its no problem, I help mend the costumes all the time. That's why I'm working there, I'm an acting student, I needed some quick money though, this job's just until Halloween's over." Rayne shrugged, looking around her cozy apartment while she set the water to boil and pulled out some tea leaves. She had an old-fashioned japanese tea pot which she carefully set over the stove on a low flame.

"Hey that's a cool tea pot," he pointed at it.

Smiling, she gave a little shrug, "My family is originally Japanese, my grandparents moved here years ago. I've got family in Japan but I've only visited a few times."

"Do you speak Japanese fluently?" Rayne took a seat at her counter and picked up one of the tea cups that she set out.

"Chotto," Kagome laughed, "That means..."

"A little," he grinned, "I know some too."

"Hontoo?"

"Hontoo desu"

"Sugoi!"

Laughing at their simple conversation, they soon changed the subject to his past and were comparing horror stories about times in school when she realized the tea pot was all done. Looking up to her clock, she realized also that her dryer had stopped and that it had been well over an hour since he'd arrived. (- We've talked for more than an hour? -)

"Holy smokes, I hadn't noticed the time!" He sipped the last of his tea and helped clear up the table, "I have to clean up my part of the apartment before my roommate arrives in half an hour!"

"It's still pouring out there," Kagome went to fetch his sweatshirt and grabbed up her extra umbrella on the way back, "Here you go, it'll be one less thing to do if you don't have to dry your clothes when you get home."

"Oh I couldn't," he pushed back the umbrella, throwing on the sweatshirt easily, "I'm really forgetful and I might not bring it back."

"Take it to work," she offered, "I'm only renting the costume, so I can get it back from you when I drop it off again."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course, take it!" Slipping it into his hands, she opened the front door for him and held out her hand, "Well thanks again for dropping it off for me, that was really sweet of you."

"Thank you for the tea, it was really good," Rayne smiled, "And for the laundry service."

"No prob, see you around?"

"Sure! I'll be at Justine's but maybe we'll run into one another some time," He stepped out of her apartment, jumping when a car honked down below one of the hallway's open windows. He grinned bashfully again and dashed off towards the elevators. "Have fun at your Halloween party!"

"Have fun at the shop! Watch out for Justine's wrath!"

"I'll try!"

(- Poor kid, he's a total klutz! -)

Laughing as he slid on the slippery floor, she shook her head and closed her door. (- Now what was I doing before he arrived? Oh wait, my costume! How in the heck am I supposed to put it on alone? -) Heading into her room, she opened the bag and gasped, "Oh wow, he did something to make it look even better!"

Rushing into her room, she was trying it on when her phone rang. It was Sango asking if she was going to dress up and if she'd be riding home with her.

"That'd be great thanks!"

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"Wasn't Kagome supposed to come tonight?"

Inuyasha, dressed as a dashing version of the Phantom of the Opera, searched the area where the company Halloween party was being held. She'd gone to get her costume with that Jak guy a few days ago and she'd said she'd be there, but it was late and there was no sign of her, she wasn't one of those impunctual women either.

"I think so, wait a sec, is that... her?"

Kouga pointed to the front arch where a knockout was walking down. Wearing an emerald corset with a short skirt that was tattered and showed off her legs, her ample chest shimmered in the lights and her eyes remained hidden behind an emerald-studded mask. She handed a gentleman her invitation with a smile, revealing full white teeth and bringing their attention back to her pouty red lips, which made them look back down at her cleavage and legs again. She wore silver opera gloves and shimmery silver heels, her legs, thanks to the skirt's cut, looked both sleek and endless.

"Can't be Kagome, she would never wear something like that," Inuyasha grinned, "Not that I'd mind seeing her dressed that sexy of course, just not in public."

"Hey guys, either of you seen Kagome yet?" Sango hobbled over then, "I really need some company."

"Nope, we're too busy drooling at the sexy woman flirting with your husband," Kouga pointed over to the babe by Sesshomaru.

"The hussy!" Sango gasped, "The both of them! Why I should... oh my god! Kagome?!"

Hearing her name, said girl turned and smiled at her awestruck best friend and the two guys beside her. "Sango! I was just asking about your whearabouts!"

Coming over with a cheerful bounce in her step, she giggled at the guys' expressions. "Don't tell me I look that bad!"

"What are you wearing?!" Inuyasha removed his cape and tossed it around her shoulders, leaving him ain a poofy white shirt and tight black pants.

"Nice pants Inu," grinning, she shrugged off the cape, "I'm a fairy, not tinkerbell because she's a bitch in the story, but a farie. See the wings?" She pointed at her back where a pair of very thin wings were clipped to the corsette. "You should have seen Kaede's eyes bug out when I asked her to clip them on, and Trev!"

"Trev? Your doorman?" Sango asked, still staring at her friend.

Kagome nodded, "Poor thing nearly blew a gaskett."

"I'm sure!" Kouga scanned her from head to foot again, "Damn Kagome, that is..."

"Jaken's work," Miroku joined them then, coming to slide an arm around her waist, "Someone's looking fine."

"Roku I'm so glad you're here! Sessh was telling me there's a scary maze set up! You wouldn't let him make me go all by myself would you? You know how bad I am with horror movies, I couldn't!" Kagome turned in his hold, "Walk me through?"

"Sure"

"What's your costume?" she suddenly asked, "Don't you wear those enough?"

"Surgeon," Miroku grimaced as he looked down at his bloodied outfit, "If only they knew this is real."

Cutting into their little converstain, Sango grabbed Kagome's hand and made her twirl, "Since when do you dress like that young lady?"

Kagome grinned, eyes sparkling with mischief, "Since two very hot guys told me to."

"Are you dating that guy?" Kouga asked suddenly.

Inuyasha cocked his head towards her in obvious interest. She sighed sadly, "Alas, no, Jak's taken, though he is hot and if he didn't have a boyfriend I just might try to reform him, but he's happily settled with Ban already. Oh you should see how they dance though! I never danced like that before, their hands were everywhere and the way they moved!"

Kagome laughed, seeing the shock on Sango's expression, "It was amazing, that whole night was just- wow."

Remembering their evening at the club, Miroku saw her flush and keep her eyes from meeting his, realizing she was still a bit embarrased about their quickie in the back room. Laughing too, he gave her side a poke, "You would never have recognized her sis, she was an animal!"

"Oh! I was the animal? You were the one who... who dared me to dance with them!" Kagome's cheeks flamed as she glared, having almost shouted that it was him who initiated the quickie in the alcove.

"Hey Kagome how about going into that maze?" Ayame joined them then, dressed as a cute and sexy little-red- riding hood. Having overheard that Kouga had a wolf costume, she'd rushed out to get something to go with it, pretending not to see any connection of course. Not that she needed to worry that she'd seem to obvious to him, the guy was too busy gawking at the fairy, much to their mutual dismay.

"I was just trying to convince Miroku to walk through with me, I couldn't possibly go by myself," Kagome answered, "I'm such a fraidy-cat!"

"I'll escort you!" Both Inuyasha and Kouga offered.

Seeing the dimming of Ayame's eyes, Kagome smiled and drew her arm through the girl's, "How about we go in the middle and the guys can be our protectors, since Roku's not coming, Inu can be on my left and Kouga will be on your right!"

"Sounds good!" Ayame beamed again, squeezing her hand in silent thanks. Kouga and Inuyasha accepted quickly and Miroku frowned, not wanting to miss out on the maze.

"There's three actually," Sango corrected them, "The one right there with egyptian and other ancient ruines and after that one there's a cemetery/forest one, and the last one is in a house/mental institution. They follow one after another and end up bringing you back to this area, so Miroku can come and you can switch guys at each one."

"Great! So we'll start with Miroku between us, Inu holding my other hand and Kouga holding yours." Kagome offered Ayame. "You and Kouga lead the first time, then we'll switch places and I'll be in front and then we'll switch back again at the third one. Is that ok? I don't really like leading."

"That's fine, but I'd rather be beside Kouga during the woods one," Ayame whispered the last part while the guys chatted.

Nodding, Kagome pretended to think the plan through, "Just follow me and I'll make sure we both get who we want and how we want to go."

"I'm to be left all alone I suppose," Sango rolled her eyes but smiled at them anyways, "I'll go pester my hubby while you have your fun."

"Are you sure?" Miroku asked, "I could stay."

"No no, Kagome's giving me those pleading eyes to say no and I really do want to talk to Sessh, you go on ahead," with a shoo-ing motion, she waved them off and turned away, glad to see her husband was glancing her way and holding out his arm for her.

Once she'd reached his side, the others headed off to the entrance of the maze. Kagome walked beside Inuyasha asking quietly so as not to be overheard, "Inu would you mind if Kouga starts off in the middle?"

"Not really, any specific reason for it?" Inuyasha replied just as softly.

"Well Ayame's not dressed as little-red for no reason and it'd be more suiting if she held his hand during the forest maze. She'll be closer to the back and can pretend to be even more afraid and maybe..."

"The idiot will notice her," he grinned, glancing over at his pal, "I like it, you know, you have a very devious mind sometimes."

"Yep, I know," standing in line, she shivered and smiled when he shared his cape with her, mindful of her small wings.

Miroku watched but didn't comment, feeling the chill in the air and knowing she only viewed Inuyasha as a dear friend. Once they finally reached the entrance, they lined up as she directed, Miroku in front, followed by Ayame, Kouga, herself and Inuyasha at the end. Smiling at the handsome phanthom, Kagome squeezed his hand, "You know the back's the scariest sometimes."

"That's why we're taking the last spot, to keep you girls protected," he winked, "Don't worry about the silly gouls, just leave them to us."

"My heroes," she giggled, tightening her hold on their hands as their small group was allowed in. Following them through the catacombs, she shrieked when a mummy jumped out to grab her, jumping again when a blast of cold air was shot at her back. The first maze wasn't too bad and they made it through without much trouble. Switching positions for the second one at the small area where they had to wait for another group to go in first, this time Kagome and Inuyasha led, with Miroku in the middle and Ayame with Kouga in the back.

Their progress in this one was much slower, as they had to join with another party of four and go through a cemetary, in which a very creepy Jason stalked the group and Carrie's hand scared the heck out of Kagome on the way out by suddenly popping out of the ground and grabbing her leg. With a terrified scream, she fell back against Miroku, who quickly caught her as she wrenched her leg away from the cold hand. Shaking, she had him wrap an arm around her waist and Inuyasha step back so she could grab onto his shoulders instead of his hand, keeping herself securely protected by them both- and Kouga left to defend poor Ayame.

To the girl's luck, one of the scarier scenes in the forest maze included the scene from the well, a movie that had terrified her horribly not long ago, a fact that she was surprised by his remembering. Holding her tight, he kept his arms around her trembling form as they walked past the wooden structure, steering her away when a child dressed as Samara climbed out and stalked towards them. Since the small scenes were usually closed up and they were left there for a minute or two at a time, all four girls in the group, the other two from the one's they'd had to join, were given plenty of reason to scream.

Seeming to sense Ayame's sheer terror however, Samara came especially close to her, reaching out a wet hand to touch her back when she turned and buried herself against the man holding her. "Will you back the fuck off already! You've done your job now leave her alone!"

At the rage in his voice, Kagome forgot her own terror and watched with a bright smile when he rubbed the wet spot on the girl's back and whispered soothing words to her. A gong sounded, the sign that the door was being opened for them to continue, and they eagerly rushed out of the room, forming the mandatory single line as they went through the thin hallway between scenes.

Finally they were entering the last maze, switching places one last time, Kouga in front with Ayame, Inuyasha in the middle and Kagome and Miroku in the back. At first the silly haunted house was not frightening, but then things changed as they passed through the living room into a bathroom. It was rather simple, a single bathtub with a white shower curtain, large mirror, creepy lightbulb hanging above and a small chest near the wall. After the door closed, they all watched the chest to see what would come out and jumped as the shower curtain crinkled open. Remembering the woman in the Shinning's bath tub, Kagome turned her head and screamed when she saw the clown from 'IT' stood behind Miroku and was about to reach for her hand.

They were led from that room to a bedroom, this one with the little girl from the excorcist tied to the bed, tossing and turning and telling them off. When she suddenly sprang free and ran amuck, the group split up and Kagome ended up much like Ayame had, only in Miroku's arms instead. Following through to the insane asylum, which had been added to the house, they went through the kitchen there, a padded room where they were locked in pitch black and touched by god-knew-what, and finally a morgue. Being a doctor, Miroku was unimpressed by the room, but Kagome and the others were majorly creeped out. Still trembling from the previous room, Kagome was warning them not to touch any of the platic-covered 'bodies' when Miroku and Inuyasha stepped forward to see a particular one hanging from the ceiling nearby, leaving her on her own for a few seconds.

Those few seconds were all it took though, and in the next instant a terrified scream filled the air, accompanied by the shuffling of a bag as one of the guys wrapped in one tried to grab her. With the bag making his hands slippery, he managed to pull her back, but his hold on her slipped and he ended up dropping her into a coffin that was supposed to have been set up for him. Falling with a heavy thud, Kagome's scream intensified as the lid came crashing down, spilling fake blood on her and effectively locking her in.

"Miroku! Help! Get me out! Get me out!" Kicking and clawing, she struggled in the darkness in a panic until her vision no longer mattered and her screams suddenly stopped.

Terrified by that more than anything, Miroku shouted at the worker who'd come over and was trying to open the coffin, searching his key ring for the right one. Spotting a bar nearby, he grabbed it up and pushed the man out of the way, jamming it into the space between the lid and the rest of the box. Cracking it open with the help of the guys, they shoved the top open and gasped at the view.

Kagome lay there, pale, bloodied, and unconscious.

"Damn it!" checking for a pulse, Miroku was relieved when her lashes fluttered at his touch and she woke up quickly enough from her faint. With a cry, she sat up and held out her arms, clinging tightly while he carried her out of the rest of the maze to where Sango sat, anxiously demanding to know what happened to her.

"Get her some water and bread for the shock," Kouga instructed Inuyasha, who quickly commplied, coming back moments later to hand her the food. She took a few sips of the water and a couple of bites of bread, but what she wanted to do was go home. Since Sango was tired as well, they both agreed to go early and that she'd spend the night so as not to get freaked out at home alone. After hugging them all good night, she helped Sango into the limo, assuring Sesshomaru that they would be just fine without him.

"We've got a chauffeur and its past one in the morning, I'm sure we'll make it home just fine," Sango gave him a quick good bye kiss before rolling into the car, "You enjoy with your employees and just make sure you get home no later than three!"

"Yes dear," with an exaggerated sigh, Sessh gave Kagome a wink and headed back to his guests.

"He can be really great you know?" Kagome yawned and removed her heels, smiling when her feet were released from their torture.

Sango agreed, "Nevermind Sessh though, since when do you wear skimpy costumes? Have you been holding out on me? Inu and Kouga were totally upset when you brought some guy called Jak the other day to the firm and said Miroku knows him? Did you meet in L.A?"

"Yes, Miroku presented us and yes again," Kagome shrugged, "He's sweet but nothing's gonna happen, he's back in D.C. and we are just friends!"

"Oh right, I forgot, you're just friends with every guy you know," Sango sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against the seat. "I worry about you somtimes Kags, you always were more of a homebody than I was, I would have thought you'd be the first to marry, not me."

"That's what Miroku said," Kagome replied quietly.

Shrugging, she decided to rest also, leaning back and absently toying with a pattern on the corsette. She did have a few guy friends, but that was normal, she was young and happy, and independent- so why had that comment stung? Its not like she was totally alone, she had Sango and Miroku.

Roku

Somehow her crazy scheme for a baby hadt taken a strange turn, first of all when he'd demanded they do it the right way, which led to them seeing each other a lot more often and the changes in their relationship. But she wasn't sure where they stood, were they still just friends? Were they a couple?

She knew she should ask- but it felt dangerous somehow, once said, words can't be taken back after all. What if she asked and he panicked and they ruined their friendship too? She couldn't even bear to think of it, so she'd rather just leave things be and see how they progressed on their own.

(- Better to let sleeping dogs lie right? -)

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Hey, ok this chapter was actually much longer and had to be cut down the middle, so you get two chapters in one day. I even neglected an english essay to bring you this so I hope you like it! :D

Smut's in part two! (Romantic, waffy smut - my fave.)