InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Feel Like Makin' Love ❯ Echoes from the Past ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15

 

 

Echoes from the Past

 

 

The classroom was filled with teenagers - girls in their sailor uniforms and boys in their suits. At the front of the class, the teacher pointed to words on the blackboard. Everyone listened and watched attentively, except for one student. She had been absent quite a bit, and even though she was there now, it was questionable whether she was really all there.

 

The sound of the teacher's voice, droning on and on in a foreign language, became so much background noise to Kagome. Head in hand, she doodled in her notebook, and reminisced about all the pictures Shippo used to draw. How he would annoy InuYasha with them! A vague smile crossed her lips, but she almost did not notice that the doodle began to change. Before she knew it, the drawing of her hanyou had jagged marks on his cheeks, and his fangs had grown as long and sharp as sushi knives. Frowning at what she had done, Kagome furiously scratched it out, InuYasha's face disappearing behind jagged black lines.

 

“Higurashi Kagome,” the teacher called.

 

The girl to whom that name belonged had thrown down her pen and hung her head in her hands. There was no classroom anymore, just her mind traveling down paths leading to events that happened 500 years before. Images and feelings flickered in and out, and she did not hear him.

 

“Psst, Kagome,” Eri stage whispered to her friend in the seat next to her. “Stop day-dreaming - the teacher is calling you!”

 

“I see you, Higurashi, but are you here?” The teacher drawled, raising an eyebrow.

 

Eri reached over and gave Kagome a nudge, and the arm that supported her head fell away. She sat up with a start, her face flaming.

 

“Yes, sorry, Mr. Hikari,” Kagome stuttered.

 

“Hmmm…I will let this slide this one time because the note from your Jii-chan says you just got over rheumatic fever,” Mr. Hikari said. “Now, come over here and read this sentence, and then write the answer in English.”

 

Gulping nervously, Kagome stood up and tried to make sense of the words on the board as she approached. Damn, she should have spent less time on math and more on English last night! And less time thinking about him…

 

~*~

 

 

 

 

 

InuYasha stood at the door to Emiko's room, one side of his mouth turned down as he thought about what he accidentally overheard. He did not have long to ponder, as the door swung open and he was face to face with a startled Emiko. Her green eyes looked damp, and her small mouth made a perfect circle in surprise. She raised a hand delicately to her chest as she regained her composure.

 

“Oh, InuYasha, I'm sorry,” Emiko said. “How long were you waiting for me?”

 

InuYasha shrugged. “Not long. I just came to ask you where I could get something to eat in this place.”

 

“We have a private dining hall for those who stay at the Safehouse,” Emiko said, slipping on a pair of house sandals. “Please, follow me.”

 

Nodding, InuYasha moved aside to let Emiko out, and they walked to the elevators. He hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans, wishing he was wearing his obi so he could bring Tessaiga along. It felt weird not having it at his side. They got in the elevator, and he gave Emiko a sidelong glance, wondering about her phone call. He had the feeling he should know who this Kitomaru was, especially since he seemed to be important to his new friend. Perhaps he was her boyfriend?

 

Emiko felt InuYasha looking at her, and tried not to show her discomfort suppressing her ki. It was obvious he had heard some of her phone conversation, and was curious. Well, if they were going to have a friendship built on trust, she should really just talk to him about it. Who knew, maybe he could help her…

 

Clasping her hands before her, Emiko looked at the elevator floor as the lighted buttons flickered with their descent. “InuYasha, may I ask you if you overheard my conversation?”

 

“Uh, yeah,” InuYasha mumbled. “I didn't mean to do it, but these damn Inu ears of mine pick up everything.”

 

The doors slid open, and InuYasha followed Emiko out and to the right. They walked down the corridor, to an arched entrance to a cozy dining hall.

 

“That's okay, you had no reason to know I would be on the phone,” Emiko said, and smiled at him. “I was talking to…a friend who I don't get to see very often.”

 

They sat down at a small table with a white tablecloth. A crystal vase of fresh pink lilies was the only item on it. InuYasha sat facing the doorway (old habits died hard), and Emiko sat next to him.

 

“I thought I recognized your friend's name,” InuYasha said. “It's bugging me that I can't place it.”

 

“Actually, you've met him,” Emiko said, her eyes downcast and her cheeks coloring prettily. “He's your nephew…Kitomaru.”

 

There was silence while InuYasha stared at Emiko, baffled. She felt too shy to look back at him and just waited for his response. The mood was broken when the waiter arrived. He had on a crisp, white jacket and there was a towel over his arm. Emiko welcomed the distraction.

 

“Miss Emiko, what would you like this morning?” The waiter asked.

 

“One soft boiled egg and two pieces of wheat toast, please,” Emiko responded.

 

“And for you, sir?”

 

The mention of food had got InuYasha's attention, and his stomach kicked him eagerly to be filled. He looked into the waiter's expectant face, and stroked his chin a moment.

 

“I can order anything I want?” InuYasha asked.

 

“We can cook just about any item, but we serve only breakfast until 11 AM,” the waiter answered.

 

A big grin on his face, InuYasha gave him his order. The poor waiter had to take out his pad and pen quickly and write it all down. After reading the list back to make sure he had not missed anything, he bowed and went to the kitchen. Emiko regarded InuYasha dubiously, and he shrugged, crossing his arms.

 

“What, your Papa didn't tell you about my famous appetite?” InuYasha said, his golden eyes twinkling.

 

Chuckling, Emiko nodded. “He did tell me how the two of you used to fight over the snacks Kagome brought back.”

 

“Keh, Shippo knew better than to hog them to himself, although he always tried,” InuYasha said. “Now, are you going to tell me what is going on between you and my nephew?”

 

Emiko's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped open. My, but InuYasha was blunt…

 

~*~

 

The first day back at school after being in the Feudal Era was always hard on Kagome, but this time had been particularly brutal. As she walked home in the company of her friends, Kagome reflected that her brain felt like deep-fried, scrambled eggs. She was numb to the schoolgirl banter going on around her, and all she could think of was eating dinner, having a hot bath and falling into bed. But with all the work she had to catch up on, that would have to wait. She hugged her books tighter, and sighed.

 

“Hey, that guy in front of the steps to the Higurashi Shrine is looking at us,” Ayumi whispered.

 

“Yeah, you're right,” replied Yuka, slowing her steps and making the others follow suit. All but Kagome…

 

“I don't think he is looking at us,” said Eri as Kagome walked away from them in a fog. “I think he is looking at Kagome.”

 

Finally, she was home. Kagome turned to wave good-bye to her friends as she began to climb the stairs. Why were they looking at her so strangely?

 

“Feh, you just gonna walk by me, Kagome?”

 

That voice…Kagome looked around, face pale, as a strange man approached her, looking pissed. He looked familiar like…InuYasha on human night! Kami, it was him and he was in jeans and a T-shirt and had that cloaking device on! Quickly, she gave him a stern look and gestured for him to be quiet.

 

“It's okay, he is an old friend of my family,” Kagome called out to her friends, who stood there watching curiously. “Good-bye, see you tomorrow!”

 

The adrenaline that had shocked her system as soon as she realized it was InuYasha now galvanized her forward, and Kagome ran up the stairs. A seething InuYasha dashed after her. But Kagome did not stop until they were far enough away that her friends could not see or hear them anymore.

 

“What the hell was that all about, `Gome?” InuYasha barked.

 

“InuYasha, what were you thinking just approaching me like that in front of my friends!” Kagome hissed back.

 

“What's the problem?” InuYasha spat. “They met me before - they even liked me!”

 

“You baka, that was when you were a hanyou!” Kagome cried in frustration. “Not only are you not a hanyou anymore, but you are wearing that cloaking device!”

 

In a fit of temper, InuYasha growled and tore the cloaking device off his wrist, throwing it to the ground where it broke in several pieces, sparking a few times. The two of them stood there mutely, breathing hard as their rages calmed and stared at it.

 

“That is just great, InuYasha,” Kagome said wearily. “Now what are you going to do?”

 

InuYasha kicked at the pieces a moment, and sighed. Then he shrugged and looked up at Kagome rather sheepishly.

 

“Guess I can call Emiko and have her bring me another one,” he replied. “Aren't you happy to see me?”

 

Rolling her eyes, Kagome took InuYasha's hand and began to lead him to the house. Mollified for the moment, InuYasha held her hand tightly but carefully as they walked.

 

“Since you are here, you might as well stay for dinner,” Kagome said.

 

InuYasha smirked. `See, she loves me…I know she does…' he thought.