InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Entrapment: A 21st Century Adventure ❯ Needing a Break ( Chapter 13 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: King Baka 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Adventure / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.16.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 755 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Adventure / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.16.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.9K | Visits: 755 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I don’t own Inuyasha or any of the publicly known characters, plot, etc. I’m just renting them from Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, etc. I do own the plot of this story and any original characters I’ve created. I will make no money from this fic; I write for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment of my readers.
Needing a Break
Inuyasha trudged through the forest, scowling as he shifted the unwieldy cargo on his back for the umpteenth time. It wasn’t as though Kagome and their two bags were heavy for him, but they were awkward to carry on a back as narrow as his. At least she was asleep; she couldn’t bitch at him if she was unconscious.
But that wasn’t fair. He had been just as irritable lately, and perhaps even more vocal about it. It was a miracle she hadn’t used the rosary, though there had been a few close calls. Several unfortunate factors had conspired together to spoil their hitherto pleasant journey. Game had been scarce, meaning they had to subsist on a predominantly ninja and camp food diet, which had gotten old about two days ago. And it had been almost three days since they’d found a body of water larger than a stream. That meant no baths, which was a real problem because of all the hiking and sweating they were doing. Inuyasha was cranky because they smelled like unwashed fundoshi to his sensitive nose, and Kagome was annoyed because she knew she smelled and felt dirty to boot. And to top it all off, she had been having nightmares, which kept both of them up at night. Even when Inuyasha woke her, she would just fall back to sleep and start tossing and turning again. Feeling helpless in turn contributed to his bad mood, which then fed Kagome’s ill temper, which then made Inuyasha even more irritated—quite a vicious cycle.
She seemed to be sleeping soundly now, at least. Inuyasha was sympathetic; he wouldn’t want to have dreams about being tied to a chair and pumped full of drugs, as she had confided in him the first night it happened. This was a recurring dream, but later there had been several others that she’d only briefly described to him. He was damn curious about those too, but he wasn’t going to press her and get his head bitten off. Guilt kept him quiet too; he was partially responsible for the nightmares, he was sure. They had started soon after their moods had begun to sour, and he hoped they would end when their spirits rose again. It pissed him off to no end that he had been unable to find a way to pull them out of their rut.
But Kagome was at peace now, and that was something. She needed rest; there were dark circles under her eyes from lack of restful slumber. So maybe he would grumble that he couldn’t run as he wanted to, but he would make sure to do nothing that might wake her up.
He carried her carefully for several hours, treading lightly through the trees as mid-afternoon began to shift toward evening. Aside from the occasional squirrel darting into the bushes, he saw nothing of interest. It was as he was slowly ascending the side of a large hill that he first detected signs of something out of the ordinary. Those were not natural sounds in the distance, the audible products of human civilization reaching his ears when his own footballs were not obscuring them. Up until now, they had been avoiding settlements, but something told Inuyasha to make an exception in this case. A change of pace couldn’t hurt; maybe he could find Kagome something to cheer her up. And if it was a big city that looked too dangerous, he could always turn around and continue on his way.
Moving a little quicker now, Inuyasha hiked to the top of the slope and gazed out through a break in the foliage. What he saw caused a grin to slowly materialize on his features. It looked to be a small mountain community, built in a valley between two high peaks. He much preferred this type of town to the mammoth cities of lower elevations. The place was quieter, the air fresher, and he imagined the people were nicer. But by far the most intriguing aspect of the settlement stretched out before him was the squat complex of low buildings near the eastern edge of town. He could tell they were rather ornate from here, made of high-quality wood. It looked like a rich man’s mansion had been pulled out of the feudal era and deposited five hundred years in the future.
But there were certain oddities about it that convinced Inuyasha that this wasn’t a private residence. For one, there were dozens of people walking around, most wearing yukata. The rear of the complex was fenced off and dotted with strategically placed privacy screens, but he could see enough to know what was concealed. The steam rising from the secluded areas could mean only one thing—hot springs. Considering all the evidence, Inuyasha guessed quite confidently that this place was an inn. Kagome had said something awhile back about how people in her world took ‘vacations’ to get away from their lives for awhile. And if they had the same tastes that she did, a beautiful inn with natural hot springs would be a popular destination indeed. If the girl loved anything more than a steaming hot bath, he wasn’t aware of it.
And what better place to take a mini-vacation from their journey, and all the stress and anxiety which went along with it? They could get clean and relax at the same time, and maybe clear the sullen atmosphere hovering between them. And a square meal, prepared by professional cooks, would surely be better than anything they’d eaten in weeks. Overall, this was an easy decision to make; the complex was worth checking out. And if it turned out not to be an inn, they could just leave. Yoshida wasn’t likely to have anyone working for him in this tiny mountain community. And they were well disguised; his hair dye was starting to wear off a little bit, but only a few silvery wisps shone through. He hoped it could last until they got back to the feudal era, because he didn’t want to make Kagome redo it.
His one major concern was money; the place looked expensive. Kagome had said they had something like ‘thirty thousand yen’ left, whatever the hell that meant. He didn’t really care if they spent the lot on this place, they needed a break so badly. Would even that be enough though? Again, there was no harm in asking.
Decision made, Inuyasha set Kagome and the bags down long enough to put his baseball cap over his ears. She was so exhausted that she barely stirred, even as he picked her up again. Then he crested the hill and began descending the other side. In a half hour or so he was skirting the eastern side of town, hoping to emerge from the forest close to the inn to minimize their exposure. He did get some strange looks on the sidewalks and shoulders, but those were due to his burden and his apparent ease at bearing it. A normal human of his stature would at least be having some difficulty. But there were no gasps of astonishment or stares of recognition, so they most likely just assumed he was stronger than he looked. They probably got hikers coming into town sometimes; it was a beautiful area they lived in. No one recognized him for what he really was.
As he approached his destination, he spied a sign for “Peakside Village Ryokan” hanging above the entrance, confirming his assumption that the complex was an inn. As did the middle-aged woman who greeted him kindly as soon as he stepped into the genkan.
“Good evening, sir, and welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Uh, no. Is that a problem?”
“Normally it would be. Fortunately, we still have rooms available this evening. May I show you—oh!” she exclaimed, noticing Kagome for the first time. “Would you like us to lay out a futon for the young lady?”
“No. How much does it cost to stay here?” he inquired, not wanting to go any further if they couldn’t afford it. Surprise briefly flitted across the woman’s visage before the pleasant smile returned. Evidently, most guests either knew the prices or weren’t too concerned about them.
“We have rooms for two starting at eleven thousand yen per person per night. We accept check or credit card if you prefer.” (1)
Inuyasha didn’t know what those things were, but he did understand the cost of the room. And more importantly, he could relate it to the amount of money they had. Eleven plus eleven was twenty-two, and if they had thirty ‘thousand yen,’ then they could afford to stay here one night and have eight ‘thousand yen’ left over. He suppressed a wry smirk. Back when his mother had taught him basic arithmetic, he had thought it was useless knowledge. Why would a hanyou ever need to do math? Now he was glad she’d put her foot down with him, and forced a little education into his stubborn head. He was confused about some things in this world, and slow to comprehend others, but he was not, nor would he ever be, stupid.
“Just let me set her down,” he told the hostess, jerking his head toward the pair of small couches in the lobby. “Give us a little while. We’ll come and get you.”
“Very well, sir,” the hostess answered, bowing. “Please remove your—er, please feel free to wear slippers while inside.”
Inuyasha preferred bare feet—a fact which had once again given the hostess pause—but he didn’t want to be rude, so he slipped into one of the pairs of slippers lining the step. They weren’t too uncomfortable. Next he strode over to the lobby and allowed Kagome to slide off his back onto one of the western-style couches, probably put there to make foreign tourists feel more at home. She stirred at the sudden change in position, and when he gently called her name, she brought her hands up to rub the sleep out of her eyes. When she opened them, she studied the wall in front of her lazily for a moment before bolting upright and shooting her gaze all over the room. Finally, her now slightly panicked eyes settled on her hanyou companion.
“Inuyasha, where are we?” she demanded in a whisper.
“In a ryokan.”
“A ryokan? Why on earth did you bring us to a ryokan?”
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, and Kagome recognized in his expression the hesitance he always wore when he acknowledge doing something nice.
“I thought…we’ve been getting on each other’s nerves lately, and you’ve been so tired…so I thought maybe it would help you relax.”
Kagome smiled genuinely for the first time in days. “That’s a nice thought, Inuyasha, but I don’t think we can afford it.”
“Yes we can! She said the cheapest room is eleven thousand per person per night.”
“Eleven—so that’s twenty-two thousand yen? That only leaves us about eight thousand left.”
“So?”
“So?! So we’d maybe have enough to spend one more night at a hotel.”
“Who cares? You said we’ll reach Tokyo in a few days, right?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Then what does it matter if we spend most of the money? What else are we going to do with it, bury it in the ground and see if it grows? We need a break, Kagome.”
Kagome’s reply died on her lips. If he had said ‘you need a break,’ then she would have come back with determination to tough it out, and told him not to worry about her. But he had said ‘we need a break,’ which did more than just include his own obvious fatigue in the equation. The ‘we’ also implicated their relationship, which had been strained recently to say the least. The constant movement, the lack of good food, the relentless anxiety, and just stress in general had finally reached overwhelming levels. But here was at least a temporary remedy for all of them, and perhaps an opportunity to reach some deeper issues, such as recurring nightmares and the alarming distance between them. Inuyasha was right; they did need a break.
With as close as they were to Tokyo, eight thousand yen would probably be enough to complete the journey. Inuyasha’s time of weakness would arrive a few nights from now, but they should be able to purchase a cheap hotel room for that. So why not splurge a little? They could both use more than a little R&R. And it was pretty touching that he had chosen a ryokan, knowing how much she loved hot springs. A thrill of excitement surged through her. After all this time, a hot bath! Yes! She would definitely have to do something special to make this up to him.
For now, she settled for a quick hug, aware that they were in the lobby of a public place. Inuyasha watched as she removed her shoes and carried them to the entrance, changing into slippers as she exchanged a few words with the hostess he had spoken to before. He could both see and smell her enthusiasm, and mentally patted himself on the back. This was probably one of his better ideas.
“I’m glad you decided to say,” the hostess said as she followed Kagome over. “Would you like some tea while you fill out a couple forms?”
“Um, sure,” Kagome replied, suddenly becoming nervous. She doubted the ryokan staff would check, but she still wasn’t comfortable giving out fake names. There was nothing for it, however, so she resurrected the identities she had given at the last hotel—Sato, Ichiro and Rumiko. If trouble arose, Inuyasha could get them out of there in a hurry, busting down a few doors or walls if need be.
The tea was delicious, with a woodsy, natural flavor. Even Inuyasha seemed to enjoy it. When they were both finished, a staff member took them on a short tour of the place. The main attraction was, of course, the system of outdoor hot springs behind the inn. Most were designated for one gender or the other, but there were also a few small, private springs for couples who wished to bathe together, away from other guests. All throughout this part of the tour, Kagome had to restrain herself from hopping up and down in anticipation.
Their room was cozy, but large enough to house the two of them comfortably. There was a small television, but Kagome doubted they would be using it much. When given the option of eating in their room or the communal dining area, it was a no-brainer to choose the peace and quiet of their room. She couldn’t ignore the romantic quality to a private meal either. Dinner would be served at six o’clock, about an hour from now. When their attendant bowed and made to leave, Kagome thought about offering her a tip; her mother had always done so the few times they had been to ryokan. But such a practice was neither common nor expected in Japan, and with the current state of their finances, it would probably be better to save their remaining yen for another day.
The instant the attendant closed the door behind her, Kagome squealed and rushed over to the drawer where their yukata were kept. She unfurled the garment, white fabric abounding with pink floral patterns. Then she snatched up the obi and ran into the bathroom to change. Inuyasha approached much more slowly, picking up his yukata with an uncertain glare. Long robes were something he had never gotten used to; they didn’t allow the freedom of movement he craved. He would take modern pants over these any day.
Kagome charged out of the bathroom, a dynamic bundle of energy. Inuyasha watched her as she bustled around the room, stuffing their bags and clothes into the closet. The yukata was not revealing at all, with hemline at the ankle and sleeves to mid-forearm. Still, she captivated him. Perhaps it was the childlike sparkle in her eyes which made her look so adorable, but there was also a heightened femininity in the waist-hugging, hourglass figure-revealing garment. Or maybe it was the way she seemed so carefree, so completely happy that enthralled him the most. Either way, he found that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. That is, until she turned to him with an impatient, puzzled look.
“Aren’t you going to change?” she demanded, apparently not noticing his perusal of her form.
“Do I have to?” he protested half-heartedly.
“Yes! Get your butt in there and put that yukata on!” she ordered, practically shoving him into the bathroom. Inuyasha thought about arguing on principle alone, but decided against it. Bossy, happy Kagome was much more fun to be around than tired, miserable Kagome. And hey, at least she was making him come with her, instead of just leaving him behind.
So he didn’t make any further complaints as Kagome told him to ‘hurry up in there,’ adjusted his yukata because he hadn’t done it right, and dragged him down to the hot springs. She left him at the men’s entrance, saying she would meet him back at the room before dinner. She was gone before he could muster a word in response, skipping down the path toward the women’s springs. Inuyasha sighed, suddenly feeling drained. Or was that disappointment? He spared a glance at the entrance to the nearest private spring, and the sign which labeled it as unoccupied. Then he shook his head of such foolish thoughts and went to take a bath.
Sinking into the steaming pool was a far better sensation than expected. He had never really enjoyed hot springs that much in the past, but this one hit the spot. After rinsing the layers of sweat and grime from his skin, he sat back and closed his eyes, simply listening to his surroundings. There were only a few men here right now, and even less talking. There was more conversation in the women’s section, which only he with his enhanced hearing could detect. He blushed as Kagome told another woman she was here with her ‘husband,’ so fluidly that it didn’t even seem like she was pretending. It was interesting to listen to her make up a life for them in response to harmless questions—small house in the forest, owned a ramen noodle shop in town, no kids yet but thinking about it, etc. He was glad, however, that she knew enough to keep her answers vague so as not to get trapped in the details.
It was over all too soon; people began getting out as dinnertime approached. Inuyasha got out and dried himself off quickly, and was waiting for Kagome when she exited the hot spring area. She seemed much calmer, but still carried too much stress for his liking. He felt the same way; it was nice to be clean, but that dip had not been that relaxing. Kagome had probably been able to unwind even less because of her conversation with that woman, though the stranger had been pleasant enough. Perhaps they would have to bathe again after dinner.
The meal was delicious, a traditional multi-course kaiseki ryori. They probably partook too much of the appetizers and sashimi, for they were full by the time they finished with the chawanmushi, fried tempura, and exquisitely grilled wagyu. But when the next course of rice and miso soup, both smelling divine, came out, they managed to find some room. And though their stomachs protested, they forced down a few wonderful fruit sorbets for desert, just to entertain their taste buds. (2)
“Whoa,” Kagome groaned, leaning back in her seat and feeling quite bloated. “That was almost worth the cost of staying here. I don’t remember the last time I ate like that!”
Inuyasha grunted contentedly. It was good to see her gorge herself; she had been losing a little weight recently with the lack of good meat in their diets. But this meal and breakfast the next morning should bump her back to a more healthy weight.
“I think I’m going to go lounge in the bath for awhile,” Kagome declared, wobbling briefly as she stood. “You coming?”
Another grunt from Inuyasha, this one in the affirmative. He had been too hungry to bother changing out of his yukata, so both of them were already dressed properly. She once again led him down to the springs, much more casually this time, but stopped so suddenly where the genders split off that he almost walked into her.
“Kagome?” he wondered, moving around to look at her. She was frowning slightly, and he could guess why. Even her human ears would be able to pick up the sounds of laughter coming from the women’s springs. Evidently a group of friends was having a good time. Normally such a thing wouldn’t bother Kagome; even if she didn’t join the conversation, hearing them laugh would bring a smile to her face. But she just didn’t feel like listening to all that tonight. She wanted peace and quiet, without having to talk or listen to any strangers. She longed for the tranquil hot springs of the feudal era, where one could fully unwind after a hard day. Unfortunately, it appeared the only way she was going to have a similar experience here was…
Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he saw her glance in the direction of the nearest private spring. He wasn’t too keen on bathing near all those people either, and the secluded pools seemed to be the natural solution. But was she really considering it? He had always known her to be very shy about her body, despite the short skirt she wore. The first time he had seen her naked, she had slammed a large rock down on his head. How had she lifted that demi-boulder, anyway? It was as though the outrage at being seen in the nude had given her superhuman strength for a fleeting, very painful moment. And now she was proposing to bathe with him?
She must have misinterpreted the surprised expression on his face, because she muttered “forget it” and started to sulk off to the women’s spring. Inuyasha’s hand on her wrist stopped her. This would not have been the case a few months or even weeks ago, but he was not opposed to bathing with her if it meant being able to relax. Nervous, and a bit agitated physically, but not opposed. But he couldn’t bring himself to actually say it in words, so instead he settled for pulling her off by her wrist. He glanced back only once to see her blushing hotly but smiling softly nonetheless.
The fist several springs they came to were being used, but the second to last one was unoccupied. Kagome barely managed to flip the sign over as Inuyasha dragged her down the path, seemingly walking faster as his feet got figuratively colder. Finally he stopped, and Kagome gasped as she drew up beside him. The spring was absolutely gorgeous; it, like the inn itself, appeared to have been torn straight from the feudal era. It was a rough circle about six feet in diameter, the perfect size for two people. And it was all theirs.
“Are you sure about this, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked delicately.
“Keh,” he replied gruffly, turning his back and folding his arms over his chest. “I won’t peek. Can’t see anything under the water anyway. It’ll be fine. Unless you want to go be with all those noisy people?”
The response was a shuffling of robes which made his eyebrows twitch. He heard Kagome get in the spring, but he dared not turn around until she had verbally given him permission.
“Okay, Inuyasha, you can get in now.”
She was sitting at the far end of the spring, submerged up to her shoulders. Her raven hair floated around her, and her eyes were closed, obviously so he could undress. He was pleased, yet a little disappointed, to find that he had been right; he really couldn’t see anything more than an indistinct pale blur under the surface of the steaming water. Still, knowing that she was naked right in front of him sent a small thrill down his spine. He was glad she wouldn’t be able to see him either, lest he embarrass himself. He probably set a personal speed record in flinging off his clothes and hopping into the spring, but once the initial burning sensation wore off, he knew this was going to be marvelous. The hot water seemed to seep into his pores, combining with the tranquility in the air to draw the tension from his body.
“All set?” Kagome asked, wanting to open her eyes.
“Keh.”
“Well, that wasn’t so hard,” she declared happily.
“Keh.”
Kagome giggled. So he didn’t want to talk; that was fine with her. Shrugging her shoulders a bit, she leaned back against the sloped wall of the spring and heaved a contented sigh.
Neither of them knew how long they stayed in the spring, but both were lulled into a state of complete relaxation, despite the nearby nakedness of the other. Inuyasha got out first, after telling Kagome to close her eyes. She did so, but allowed herself a small peek at his backside as he emerged from the water. Kami, was there an ounce of fat on that lean, toned form? She felt her cheeks warm in a way that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. Inuyasha appeared not to notice her slight discomfiture, and she too exited the spring a few minutes later.
“Do you want to go back to the room?” Kagome asked when they reached the main path, hoping he would reply in the negative.
Inuyasha shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
Grinning, she grabbed his hand and led him toward the gardens and shopping area. The night was still young, and neither felt like sleeping just yet.
It was some time before Kagome realized they were still holding hands. She squeezed, and after a moment’s hesitation, Inuyasha squeezed back. Neither let go.
She awoke to the clattering of plates as breakfast was brought in. Inuyasha had already been up, and was now thanking the servers at the door. That was surprising in and of itself, but how could one not be in a good mood with those delightful aromas filling the room? Especially with the memories of the previous day still fresh in their minds. They had spent at least a couple hours walking among the artistically-groomed gardens, and the small, family owned shops. They hadn’t bought anything, but it was wonderful to do something a normal couple would do. They had even run into the woman Kagome had spoken to in the hot spring before dinner, who told them they looked positively adorable together, then proceeded to babble something about young love.
The next several minutes had been kind of awkward, but not in a bad way. Inuyasha hadn’t seemed upset at all by the comments or the pretending to be married, just a little embarrassed. So was she, truth be told. But his silence in that regard was encouraging when the old Inuyasha would undoubtedly have said something to hurt her feelings and ruin the evening. Even if his feelings hadn’t changed, his level of maturity certainly had. And perhaps, just perhaps, his feelings truly had changed after all.
Breakfast was as delicious as dinner, with grilled fish and eggs as the main course, complemented by salad, rice, and tea. At last it came time for them to check out, and both of them reluctantly made their way to the lobby, where they were served a last cup of tea while Kagome paid the bill. Their hosts bade them a warm goodbye, brightening even the guests who were disappointed about leaving. Kagome swore that if she ever had a chance to take a vacation in the modern era, Peakside Village Ryokan would be one of her stops.
The birds seemed to be cheering them on as they walked through the forest away from the small mountain community, with full bellies and contented hearts.
“Thank you, Inuyasha,” Kagome said sincerely. “That was a great idea.”
“K-keh!” Inuyasha stuttered, and Kagome knew the next words out of his mouth would be an attempt to deflect her gratitude. He was still not entirely comfortable acknowledging that he had done something nice for someone.
“I-it was nothing, wench. You paid for it.”
“It was our money, so we paid for it. And it was your idea in the first place. You could have just ignored that village, but instead you thought of me. That’s what I’m thanking you for.”
Inuyasha swallowed, turning away with reddening cheeks. Kagome smiled but said no more, satisfied that he’d gotten the message. The next few minutes passed in peaceful silence. Then, without warning, Inuyasha spun and tossed a shrieking Kagome into the air, catching her on his back and taking off.
“Inuyasha!” she cried breathlessly. “What are you doing?!”
“Keh! We lazed about all yesterday,” he replied with a smirk. “Gotta make up for lost time.”
Kagome shook her head and leaned into his back, forgoing the argument before it started. They had indeed taken a much needed break yesterday, so she shouldn’t be surprised that Inuyasha wanted to make twice as much progress today. He would push them hard; they would definitely be on the move until sundown. But somehow, she didn’t mind.
Taking newfound joy in an activity which had seemed mundane only two short days ago, she pressed her face to the wind and held on for the ride.
(1) $11,000 yen = $145. Apparently that’s on the low side of the spectrum for ryokan too. But if they’re as nice as they’re rumored to be, and you’re on vacation, then I guess you don’t really care.
(2) Food translations for dinner:
kaiseki ryori = traditional Japanese multi-course haute cuisine
sashimi = raw fish with radish, sauce, and wasabi
chawanmushi = egg custard with bits of chicken, seafood, and vegetables
fried tempura = deep fried seafood and vegetables
wagyu = prime Japanese beef
A/N – A big thank you to japan-guide.com, who put all the information I could possibly need about traditional Japanese ryokan in a concise and easy-to-read format. URL here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2029.html
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Needing a Break
Inuyasha trudged through the forest, scowling as he shifted the unwieldy cargo on his back for the umpteenth time. It wasn’t as though Kagome and their two bags were heavy for him, but they were awkward to carry on a back as narrow as his. At least she was asleep; she couldn’t bitch at him if she was unconscious.
But that wasn’t fair. He had been just as irritable lately, and perhaps even more vocal about it. It was a miracle she hadn’t used the rosary, though there had been a few close calls. Several unfortunate factors had conspired together to spoil their hitherto pleasant journey. Game had been scarce, meaning they had to subsist on a predominantly ninja and camp food diet, which had gotten old about two days ago. And it had been almost three days since they’d found a body of water larger than a stream. That meant no baths, which was a real problem because of all the hiking and sweating they were doing. Inuyasha was cranky because they smelled like unwashed fundoshi to his sensitive nose, and Kagome was annoyed because she knew she smelled and felt dirty to boot. And to top it all off, she had been having nightmares, which kept both of them up at night. Even when Inuyasha woke her, she would just fall back to sleep and start tossing and turning again. Feeling helpless in turn contributed to his bad mood, which then fed Kagome’s ill temper, which then made Inuyasha even more irritated—quite a vicious cycle.
She seemed to be sleeping soundly now, at least. Inuyasha was sympathetic; he wouldn’t want to have dreams about being tied to a chair and pumped full of drugs, as she had confided in him the first night it happened. This was a recurring dream, but later there had been several others that she’d only briefly described to him. He was damn curious about those too, but he wasn’t going to press her and get his head bitten off. Guilt kept him quiet too; he was partially responsible for the nightmares, he was sure. They had started soon after their moods had begun to sour, and he hoped they would end when their spirits rose again. It pissed him off to no end that he had been unable to find a way to pull them out of their rut.
But Kagome was at peace now, and that was something. She needed rest; there were dark circles under her eyes from lack of restful slumber. So maybe he would grumble that he couldn’t run as he wanted to, but he would make sure to do nothing that might wake her up.
He carried her carefully for several hours, treading lightly through the trees as mid-afternoon began to shift toward evening. Aside from the occasional squirrel darting into the bushes, he saw nothing of interest. It was as he was slowly ascending the side of a large hill that he first detected signs of something out of the ordinary. Those were not natural sounds in the distance, the audible products of human civilization reaching his ears when his own footballs were not obscuring them. Up until now, they had been avoiding settlements, but something told Inuyasha to make an exception in this case. A change of pace couldn’t hurt; maybe he could find Kagome something to cheer her up. And if it was a big city that looked too dangerous, he could always turn around and continue on his way.
Moving a little quicker now, Inuyasha hiked to the top of the slope and gazed out through a break in the foliage. What he saw caused a grin to slowly materialize on his features. It looked to be a small mountain community, built in a valley between two high peaks. He much preferred this type of town to the mammoth cities of lower elevations. The place was quieter, the air fresher, and he imagined the people were nicer. But by far the most intriguing aspect of the settlement stretched out before him was the squat complex of low buildings near the eastern edge of town. He could tell they were rather ornate from here, made of high-quality wood. It looked like a rich man’s mansion had been pulled out of the feudal era and deposited five hundred years in the future.
But there were certain oddities about it that convinced Inuyasha that this wasn’t a private residence. For one, there were dozens of people walking around, most wearing yukata. The rear of the complex was fenced off and dotted with strategically placed privacy screens, but he could see enough to know what was concealed. The steam rising from the secluded areas could mean only one thing—hot springs. Considering all the evidence, Inuyasha guessed quite confidently that this place was an inn. Kagome had said something awhile back about how people in her world took ‘vacations’ to get away from their lives for awhile. And if they had the same tastes that she did, a beautiful inn with natural hot springs would be a popular destination indeed. If the girl loved anything more than a steaming hot bath, he wasn’t aware of it.
And what better place to take a mini-vacation from their journey, and all the stress and anxiety which went along with it? They could get clean and relax at the same time, and maybe clear the sullen atmosphere hovering between them. And a square meal, prepared by professional cooks, would surely be better than anything they’d eaten in weeks. Overall, this was an easy decision to make; the complex was worth checking out. And if it turned out not to be an inn, they could just leave. Yoshida wasn’t likely to have anyone working for him in this tiny mountain community. And they were well disguised; his hair dye was starting to wear off a little bit, but only a few silvery wisps shone through. He hoped it could last until they got back to the feudal era, because he didn’t want to make Kagome redo it.
His one major concern was money; the place looked expensive. Kagome had said they had something like ‘thirty thousand yen’ left, whatever the hell that meant. He didn’t really care if they spent the lot on this place, they needed a break so badly. Would even that be enough though? Again, there was no harm in asking.
Decision made, Inuyasha set Kagome and the bags down long enough to put his baseball cap over his ears. She was so exhausted that she barely stirred, even as he picked her up again. Then he crested the hill and began descending the other side. In a half hour or so he was skirting the eastern side of town, hoping to emerge from the forest close to the inn to minimize their exposure. He did get some strange looks on the sidewalks and shoulders, but those were due to his burden and his apparent ease at bearing it. A normal human of his stature would at least be having some difficulty. But there were no gasps of astonishment or stares of recognition, so they most likely just assumed he was stronger than he looked. They probably got hikers coming into town sometimes; it was a beautiful area they lived in. No one recognized him for what he really was.
As he approached his destination, he spied a sign for “Peakside Village Ryokan” hanging above the entrance, confirming his assumption that the complex was an inn. As did the middle-aged woman who greeted him kindly as soon as he stepped into the genkan.
“Good evening, sir, and welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
“Uh, no. Is that a problem?”
“Normally it would be. Fortunately, we still have rooms available this evening. May I show you—oh!” she exclaimed, noticing Kagome for the first time. “Would you like us to lay out a futon for the young lady?”
“No. How much does it cost to stay here?” he inquired, not wanting to go any further if they couldn’t afford it. Surprise briefly flitted across the woman’s visage before the pleasant smile returned. Evidently, most guests either knew the prices or weren’t too concerned about them.
“We have rooms for two starting at eleven thousand yen per person per night. We accept check or credit card if you prefer.” (1)
Inuyasha didn’t know what those things were, but he did understand the cost of the room. And more importantly, he could relate it to the amount of money they had. Eleven plus eleven was twenty-two, and if they had thirty ‘thousand yen,’ then they could afford to stay here one night and have eight ‘thousand yen’ left over. He suppressed a wry smirk. Back when his mother had taught him basic arithmetic, he had thought it was useless knowledge. Why would a hanyou ever need to do math? Now he was glad she’d put her foot down with him, and forced a little education into his stubborn head. He was confused about some things in this world, and slow to comprehend others, but he was not, nor would he ever be, stupid.
“Just let me set her down,” he told the hostess, jerking his head toward the pair of small couches in the lobby. “Give us a little while. We’ll come and get you.”
“Very well, sir,” the hostess answered, bowing. “Please remove your—er, please feel free to wear slippers while inside.”
Inuyasha preferred bare feet—a fact which had once again given the hostess pause—but he didn’t want to be rude, so he slipped into one of the pairs of slippers lining the step. They weren’t too uncomfortable. Next he strode over to the lobby and allowed Kagome to slide off his back onto one of the western-style couches, probably put there to make foreign tourists feel more at home. She stirred at the sudden change in position, and when he gently called her name, she brought her hands up to rub the sleep out of her eyes. When she opened them, she studied the wall in front of her lazily for a moment before bolting upright and shooting her gaze all over the room. Finally, her now slightly panicked eyes settled on her hanyou companion.
“Inuyasha, where are we?” she demanded in a whisper.
“In a ryokan.”
“A ryokan? Why on earth did you bring us to a ryokan?”
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, and Kagome recognized in his expression the hesitance he always wore when he acknowledge doing something nice.
“I thought…we’ve been getting on each other’s nerves lately, and you’ve been so tired…so I thought maybe it would help you relax.”
Kagome smiled genuinely for the first time in days. “That’s a nice thought, Inuyasha, but I don’t think we can afford it.”
“Yes we can! She said the cheapest room is eleven thousand per person per night.”
“Eleven—so that’s twenty-two thousand yen? That only leaves us about eight thousand left.”
“So?”
“So?! So we’d maybe have enough to spend one more night at a hotel.”
“Who cares? You said we’ll reach Tokyo in a few days, right?”
“Well, yeah, but—”
“Then what does it matter if we spend most of the money? What else are we going to do with it, bury it in the ground and see if it grows? We need a break, Kagome.”
Kagome’s reply died on her lips. If he had said ‘you need a break,’ then she would have come back with determination to tough it out, and told him not to worry about her. But he had said ‘we need a break,’ which did more than just include his own obvious fatigue in the equation. The ‘we’ also implicated their relationship, which had been strained recently to say the least. The constant movement, the lack of good food, the relentless anxiety, and just stress in general had finally reached overwhelming levels. But here was at least a temporary remedy for all of them, and perhaps an opportunity to reach some deeper issues, such as recurring nightmares and the alarming distance between them. Inuyasha was right; they did need a break.
With as close as they were to Tokyo, eight thousand yen would probably be enough to complete the journey. Inuyasha’s time of weakness would arrive a few nights from now, but they should be able to purchase a cheap hotel room for that. So why not splurge a little? They could both use more than a little R&R. And it was pretty touching that he had chosen a ryokan, knowing how much she loved hot springs. A thrill of excitement surged through her. After all this time, a hot bath! Yes! She would definitely have to do something special to make this up to him.
For now, she settled for a quick hug, aware that they were in the lobby of a public place. Inuyasha watched as she removed her shoes and carried them to the entrance, changing into slippers as she exchanged a few words with the hostess he had spoken to before. He could both see and smell her enthusiasm, and mentally patted himself on the back. This was probably one of his better ideas.
“I’m glad you decided to say,” the hostess said as she followed Kagome over. “Would you like some tea while you fill out a couple forms?”
“Um, sure,” Kagome replied, suddenly becoming nervous. She doubted the ryokan staff would check, but she still wasn’t comfortable giving out fake names. There was nothing for it, however, so she resurrected the identities she had given at the last hotel—Sato, Ichiro and Rumiko. If trouble arose, Inuyasha could get them out of there in a hurry, busting down a few doors or walls if need be.
The tea was delicious, with a woodsy, natural flavor. Even Inuyasha seemed to enjoy it. When they were both finished, a staff member took them on a short tour of the place. The main attraction was, of course, the system of outdoor hot springs behind the inn. Most were designated for one gender or the other, but there were also a few small, private springs for couples who wished to bathe together, away from other guests. All throughout this part of the tour, Kagome had to restrain herself from hopping up and down in anticipation.
Their room was cozy, but large enough to house the two of them comfortably. There was a small television, but Kagome doubted they would be using it much. When given the option of eating in their room or the communal dining area, it was a no-brainer to choose the peace and quiet of their room. She couldn’t ignore the romantic quality to a private meal either. Dinner would be served at six o’clock, about an hour from now. When their attendant bowed and made to leave, Kagome thought about offering her a tip; her mother had always done so the few times they had been to ryokan. But such a practice was neither common nor expected in Japan, and with the current state of their finances, it would probably be better to save their remaining yen for another day.
The instant the attendant closed the door behind her, Kagome squealed and rushed over to the drawer where their yukata were kept. She unfurled the garment, white fabric abounding with pink floral patterns. Then she snatched up the obi and ran into the bathroom to change. Inuyasha approached much more slowly, picking up his yukata with an uncertain glare. Long robes were something he had never gotten used to; they didn’t allow the freedom of movement he craved. He would take modern pants over these any day.
Kagome charged out of the bathroom, a dynamic bundle of energy. Inuyasha watched her as she bustled around the room, stuffing their bags and clothes into the closet. The yukata was not revealing at all, with hemline at the ankle and sleeves to mid-forearm. Still, she captivated him. Perhaps it was the childlike sparkle in her eyes which made her look so adorable, but there was also a heightened femininity in the waist-hugging, hourglass figure-revealing garment. Or maybe it was the way she seemed so carefree, so completely happy that enthralled him the most. Either way, he found that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. That is, until she turned to him with an impatient, puzzled look.
“Aren’t you going to change?” she demanded, apparently not noticing his perusal of her form.
“Do I have to?” he protested half-heartedly.
“Yes! Get your butt in there and put that yukata on!” she ordered, practically shoving him into the bathroom. Inuyasha thought about arguing on principle alone, but decided against it. Bossy, happy Kagome was much more fun to be around than tired, miserable Kagome. And hey, at least she was making him come with her, instead of just leaving him behind.
So he didn’t make any further complaints as Kagome told him to ‘hurry up in there,’ adjusted his yukata because he hadn’t done it right, and dragged him down to the hot springs. She left him at the men’s entrance, saying she would meet him back at the room before dinner. She was gone before he could muster a word in response, skipping down the path toward the women’s springs. Inuyasha sighed, suddenly feeling drained. Or was that disappointment? He spared a glance at the entrance to the nearest private spring, and the sign which labeled it as unoccupied. Then he shook his head of such foolish thoughts and went to take a bath.
Sinking into the steaming pool was a far better sensation than expected. He had never really enjoyed hot springs that much in the past, but this one hit the spot. After rinsing the layers of sweat and grime from his skin, he sat back and closed his eyes, simply listening to his surroundings. There were only a few men here right now, and even less talking. There was more conversation in the women’s section, which only he with his enhanced hearing could detect. He blushed as Kagome told another woman she was here with her ‘husband,’ so fluidly that it didn’t even seem like she was pretending. It was interesting to listen to her make up a life for them in response to harmless questions—small house in the forest, owned a ramen noodle shop in town, no kids yet but thinking about it, etc. He was glad, however, that she knew enough to keep her answers vague so as not to get trapped in the details.
It was over all too soon; people began getting out as dinnertime approached. Inuyasha got out and dried himself off quickly, and was waiting for Kagome when she exited the hot spring area. She seemed much calmer, but still carried too much stress for his liking. He felt the same way; it was nice to be clean, but that dip had not been that relaxing. Kagome had probably been able to unwind even less because of her conversation with that woman, though the stranger had been pleasant enough. Perhaps they would have to bathe again after dinner.
The meal was delicious, a traditional multi-course kaiseki ryori. They probably partook too much of the appetizers and sashimi, for they were full by the time they finished with the chawanmushi, fried tempura, and exquisitely grilled wagyu. But when the next course of rice and miso soup, both smelling divine, came out, they managed to find some room. And though their stomachs protested, they forced down a few wonderful fruit sorbets for desert, just to entertain their taste buds. (2)
“Whoa,” Kagome groaned, leaning back in her seat and feeling quite bloated. “That was almost worth the cost of staying here. I don’t remember the last time I ate like that!”
Inuyasha grunted contentedly. It was good to see her gorge herself; she had been losing a little weight recently with the lack of good meat in their diets. But this meal and breakfast the next morning should bump her back to a more healthy weight.
“I think I’m going to go lounge in the bath for awhile,” Kagome declared, wobbling briefly as she stood. “You coming?”
Another grunt from Inuyasha, this one in the affirmative. He had been too hungry to bother changing out of his yukata, so both of them were already dressed properly. She once again led him down to the springs, much more casually this time, but stopped so suddenly where the genders split off that he almost walked into her.
“Kagome?” he wondered, moving around to look at her. She was frowning slightly, and he could guess why. Even her human ears would be able to pick up the sounds of laughter coming from the women’s springs. Evidently a group of friends was having a good time. Normally such a thing wouldn’t bother Kagome; even if she didn’t join the conversation, hearing them laugh would bring a smile to her face. But she just didn’t feel like listening to all that tonight. She wanted peace and quiet, without having to talk or listen to any strangers. She longed for the tranquil hot springs of the feudal era, where one could fully unwind after a hard day. Unfortunately, it appeared the only way she was going to have a similar experience here was…
Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he saw her glance in the direction of the nearest private spring. He wasn’t too keen on bathing near all those people either, and the secluded pools seemed to be the natural solution. But was she really considering it? He had always known her to be very shy about her body, despite the short skirt she wore. The first time he had seen her naked, she had slammed a large rock down on his head. How had she lifted that demi-boulder, anyway? It was as though the outrage at being seen in the nude had given her superhuman strength for a fleeting, very painful moment. And now she was proposing to bathe with him?
She must have misinterpreted the surprised expression on his face, because she muttered “forget it” and started to sulk off to the women’s spring. Inuyasha’s hand on her wrist stopped her. This would not have been the case a few months or even weeks ago, but he was not opposed to bathing with her if it meant being able to relax. Nervous, and a bit agitated physically, but not opposed. But he couldn’t bring himself to actually say it in words, so instead he settled for pulling her off by her wrist. He glanced back only once to see her blushing hotly but smiling softly nonetheless.
The fist several springs they came to were being used, but the second to last one was unoccupied. Kagome barely managed to flip the sign over as Inuyasha dragged her down the path, seemingly walking faster as his feet got figuratively colder. Finally he stopped, and Kagome gasped as she drew up beside him. The spring was absolutely gorgeous; it, like the inn itself, appeared to have been torn straight from the feudal era. It was a rough circle about six feet in diameter, the perfect size for two people. And it was all theirs.
“Are you sure about this, Inuyasha?” Kagome asked delicately.
“Keh,” he replied gruffly, turning his back and folding his arms over his chest. “I won’t peek. Can’t see anything under the water anyway. It’ll be fine. Unless you want to go be with all those noisy people?”
The response was a shuffling of robes which made his eyebrows twitch. He heard Kagome get in the spring, but he dared not turn around until she had verbally given him permission.
“Okay, Inuyasha, you can get in now.”
She was sitting at the far end of the spring, submerged up to her shoulders. Her raven hair floated around her, and her eyes were closed, obviously so he could undress. He was pleased, yet a little disappointed, to find that he had been right; he really couldn’t see anything more than an indistinct pale blur under the surface of the steaming water. Still, knowing that she was naked right in front of him sent a small thrill down his spine. He was glad she wouldn’t be able to see him either, lest he embarrass himself. He probably set a personal speed record in flinging off his clothes and hopping into the spring, but once the initial burning sensation wore off, he knew this was going to be marvelous. The hot water seemed to seep into his pores, combining with the tranquility in the air to draw the tension from his body.
“All set?” Kagome asked, wanting to open her eyes.
“Keh.”
“Well, that wasn’t so hard,” she declared happily.
“Keh.”
Kagome giggled. So he didn’t want to talk; that was fine with her. Shrugging her shoulders a bit, she leaned back against the sloped wall of the spring and heaved a contented sigh.
Neither of them knew how long they stayed in the spring, but both were lulled into a state of complete relaxation, despite the nearby nakedness of the other. Inuyasha got out first, after telling Kagome to close her eyes. She did so, but allowed herself a small peek at his backside as he emerged from the water. Kami, was there an ounce of fat on that lean, toned form? She felt her cheeks warm in a way that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. Inuyasha appeared not to notice her slight discomfiture, and she too exited the spring a few minutes later.
“Do you want to go back to the room?” Kagome asked when they reached the main path, hoping he would reply in the negative.
Inuyasha shrugged. “Whatever you want.”
Grinning, she grabbed his hand and led him toward the gardens and shopping area. The night was still young, and neither felt like sleeping just yet.
It was some time before Kagome realized they were still holding hands. She squeezed, and after a moment’s hesitation, Inuyasha squeezed back. Neither let go.
* * *
The next morning, Kagome felt as though she was being carried back to wakefulness on an enchanted carpet. A long slumber without nightmares was a magnificent thing. It was early, judging by the weak light shining through the curtains. Inuyasha still slept soundly on his futon, the rise and fall of his chest slow and deep. She beamed, glad she had been able to persuade him to sleep on proper bedding instead of propped against the wall. She watched him for a few moments, then rolled over and dozed off again. She awoke to the clattering of plates as breakfast was brought in. Inuyasha had already been up, and was now thanking the servers at the door. That was surprising in and of itself, but how could one not be in a good mood with those delightful aromas filling the room? Especially with the memories of the previous day still fresh in their minds. They had spent at least a couple hours walking among the artistically-groomed gardens, and the small, family owned shops. They hadn’t bought anything, but it was wonderful to do something a normal couple would do. They had even run into the woman Kagome had spoken to in the hot spring before dinner, who told them they looked positively adorable together, then proceeded to babble something about young love.
The next several minutes had been kind of awkward, but not in a bad way. Inuyasha hadn’t seemed upset at all by the comments or the pretending to be married, just a little embarrassed. So was she, truth be told. But his silence in that regard was encouraging when the old Inuyasha would undoubtedly have said something to hurt her feelings and ruin the evening. Even if his feelings hadn’t changed, his level of maturity certainly had. And perhaps, just perhaps, his feelings truly had changed after all.
Breakfast was as delicious as dinner, with grilled fish and eggs as the main course, complemented by salad, rice, and tea. At last it came time for them to check out, and both of them reluctantly made their way to the lobby, where they were served a last cup of tea while Kagome paid the bill. Their hosts bade them a warm goodbye, brightening even the guests who were disappointed about leaving. Kagome swore that if she ever had a chance to take a vacation in the modern era, Peakside Village Ryokan would be one of her stops.
The birds seemed to be cheering them on as they walked through the forest away from the small mountain community, with full bellies and contented hearts.
“Thank you, Inuyasha,” Kagome said sincerely. “That was a great idea.”
“K-keh!” Inuyasha stuttered, and Kagome knew the next words out of his mouth would be an attempt to deflect her gratitude. He was still not entirely comfortable acknowledging that he had done something nice for someone.
“I-it was nothing, wench. You paid for it.”
“It was our money, so we paid for it. And it was your idea in the first place. You could have just ignored that village, but instead you thought of me. That’s what I’m thanking you for.”
Inuyasha swallowed, turning away with reddening cheeks. Kagome smiled but said no more, satisfied that he’d gotten the message. The next few minutes passed in peaceful silence. Then, without warning, Inuyasha spun and tossed a shrieking Kagome into the air, catching her on his back and taking off.
“Inuyasha!” she cried breathlessly. “What are you doing?!”
“Keh! We lazed about all yesterday,” he replied with a smirk. “Gotta make up for lost time.”
Kagome shook her head and leaned into his back, forgoing the argument before it started. They had indeed taken a much needed break yesterday, so she shouldn’t be surprised that Inuyasha wanted to make twice as much progress today. He would push them hard; they would definitely be on the move until sundown. But somehow, she didn’t mind.
Taking newfound joy in an activity which had seemed mundane only two short days ago, she pressed her face to the wind and held on for the ride.
(1) $11,000 yen = $145. Apparently that’s on the low side of the spectrum for ryokan too. But if they’re as nice as they’re rumored to be, and you’re on vacation, then I guess you don’t really care.
(2) Food translations for dinner:
kaiseki ryori = traditional Japanese multi-course haute cuisine
sashimi = raw fish with radish, sauce, and wasabi
chawanmushi = egg custard with bits of chicken, seafood, and vegetables
fried tempura = deep fried seafood and vegetables
wagyu = prime Japanese beef
A/N – A big thank you to japan-guide.com, who put all the information I could possibly need about traditional Japanese ryokan in a concise and easy-to-read format. URL here: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2029.html
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