InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Friday's Child ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2:

 

As expected the Viscount's Parthian shot prostrated his mother, but she soon recovered under the tender ministrations of her brother and the solemn reminder that her son was not present to see her discomfort and the grief caused to her 'delicate' constitution by his unnecessarily rude action.

 

She confided in her brother that she had a terrible premotion that Inuyasha will bring home some vulgar, low born trash, if only to spite her .In answer to that Lord Hitoshi had tenderly slapped her hand and assured her that it would not happen. A person who was as enamored with the Beauty as his son claimed to be would not even look at another female .He pointed out that Inuyasha was since childhood a rash boy, and that many of his words never meant anything, but that they were uttered in moments of anger and promptly forgotten later on.

 

At this assurance Lady Tashio gave a tremulous smile and thanked her brother for supporting her in her fragile state to which Lord Hitoshi smiled wider than before and said that it was his solemn duty to do so.

 

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Inuyasha was in a decidedly foul mood when he exited from the manor and he took out his anger by riding along the narrow country lanes at a breakneck speed. A solitary page hung perilously to the back of his carriage .It was not unusual since he was the only page in the viscount's employ. There had been several pages who had come before him but none lasted long .The viscount had an amazing knack of overturning his vehicles when he was in a foul mood and since the viscount fell into these moods at an alarming rate, no page had sufficient disregard of his life and limb to remain in his service for long.

 

Shippo however was an exception .He had succeeded in lasting a full three years in his Lordship's service. Their tryst had begun rather unusually. Shippo had since childhood passed through several orphanages and found he being trained to be a jockey. But he was promptly banished from the stables due to his irreparable habit of taking glittering objects, mainly watches, without the permission of the owner .In other words he was a compulsive thief.

 

Thus penniless once more, he had attempted his luck at stealing the viscount's purse just as he was exiting from a club only to find himself held by the collar with a pair of amber eyes staring angrily at him. Just as the viscount was threatening to escort him to the nearest roundhouse, the viscount's favorite horse on account of its temperamental similarity with its master, decided to take offence of a tired old horse that was sluggishly pulling a hackney cart along.

 

It made its displeasure known by rearing on both legs and promptly knocking the page who was restraining it off his feet .In the general confusion caused by the enraged horse, the cursing hackney cart driver, the screaming ladies and the curious onlookers, the Viscount had forgotten all about Shippo. Shippo however, did not slip away in the ensuing madness .He stayed behind and caught the reins of the horse chastising it in gentle uncouth terms .The horse recognizing in this scruffy teen a master promptly settled down and acted as docile as ever.

 

Inuyasha was pleasantly surprised at how easily Shippo could subdue his foul tempered friend promptly employed him as a page in his service on the spot, totally forgetting the shady circumstances that had brought the boy to his notice .To Shippo, Inuyasha appeared at that moment in an heavenly light, wings and all.

 

Though Shippo was ready to do almost anything for his idol, it had done nothing to rectify his thieving manners. The viscount was blissfully unaware of this, until his friends pointed out that it was difficult to be intimate with a man whose page forked their purses at first possible notice. Inuyasha assured his friends that he would look into the matter, which he did, by thrashing Shippo soundly, and ordering him to hand over the stolen articles.

 

Shippo did not mind the thrashing so much as the frown on his beloved idol's face and promptly turned out the stolen goods with a tearful promise never to repeat his mistake. There were occasional lapses on his part even now and then however, and the Viscount's friends were resigned to that fact by now .All they did was inform Inuyasha about their missing articles and have him retrieve the said articles from Shippo.

 

Now he hung at the back of the curricle and quite cheerfully informed Inuyasha that unless they wished to be overturned perhaps his Lordship should negotiate the next rather sharp turn at amore sedate pace. His tone indicated that he would gladly suffer from a broken limb if that should give his Lordship any joy. Inuyasha however had worked out most of his anger and took the curve at a mere canter.

 

They were passing by the estate of the Honorable Mr.Musou when Shippo remarked.

 

"My Lord, there is a female waving at you.”

 

The Viscount turned around to see a girl sitting on the low brick wall that lined the edge of the property and waving at him eagerly .She was a very young lady stuffed in a gown at least three sizes larger than her and a rather used brown cloak that was hooked over one shoulder .She twirled a rather crumpled handkerchief in her hands .Her were red rimmed and there were tear stains on her cheeks. Inuyasha upon recognizing this damsel reined in his horses.

 

Inuyasha smiled "Hello wench.”

 

The girl saw nothing amiss in this address and smiled rather wistfully at Inuyasha "Hello Inuyasha.”

 

"So what's wrong?"

 

"Everything!"Kagome responded in a despairing voice.

 

Inuyasha's sharp eyes had caught notice of the tearstains on the girl's rosy cheeks .He frowned. Whenever he thought of Kagome, which was not very often, he remembered her fondly. In his graceless teens he had employed her willing services for numerous menial errands like carrying the basket when he went shooting, fetching the ball, holding the bucket of glue when he painted his tutor's seat expertly .He scolded her, bullied her, lost her temper with her, forced her to join those sports which terrified her..But he let her trot at his footsteps and allowed no one else to tease or bully her.

 

Her situation was not a happy one .She was an orphan who was living largely on the charity of her aunt Lady Musou. She shared lessons with her three cousins Yuka, Eri and Ayumi and their oversized dresses .In return she ran their countless errands and bore the burnt of their frequent loss of temper which Lady Musou constantly reminded her was small repayment for their kindness to her.

 

Inuyasha who liked Lady Musou's three daughters only degrees less than he liked his mother declared when he was fifteen years old, that they were brutes and they treated their little cousin like a dog. Therefore, he had no problem in ascertaining the cause of Kagome's grief. Sighing he flung aside the rug that covered his legs and alighted from the curricle with fluid grace.

 

He stood in front of Kagome and demanded, "Are those three cats troubling you again?"

 

"No "Kagome shook her head "I..I am going to be a governess Inuyasha!"

 

"What?"

 

"Yes. Auntie Nanami says that it is high time I..earn my own bread ..So..So "Kagome gave a wan smile "I am going to Bath to be a governess ."

 

"Nonsense ."Inuyasha snorted "None one goes to bath at this time of the year .And you are not going to be a governess .You are too young ."

 

"I will be seventeen in a fortnights time Inuyasha ."

 

"Feh .You are still too young ."

 

"So what should I do Inuyasha ?"Kagome asked "Marry the curate ?"

 

"What ?Why the hell will you marry the curate ?"Inuyasha was incredulous .

 

"He has offered for me you see ."Kagome said ,not without pride "Auntie Nanami says he behaved with the greatest propriety and I should be very honored ."

 

"Nonsense "Inuyasha took a seat beside Kagome "You will not marry the curate .Sounds like he is a dull dog ."

 

"He is "Kagome agreed reverently "And I don't want to marry him .I dare say he will be very kind to me ..But Inuyasha I want to enjoy my life only for a little while .."

 

"There problem solved ."

 

"But Auntie Nanami said that either I marry the curate or I go to Bath ."

 

"Don't keep harping about Bath "Inuyasha said irritatibly "Never could tolerate the place .By the way what do you know about being a governess ?"

 

"That's it Inuyasha .I didn't think that I knew anything .But Miss Sakura says that I will do very well . She runs a school in Bath to train young girls as myself .."

 

"Sakura ?you mean that pale faced bad tempered female that boxed my ears ..You will not go to Bath." Inuyasha declared imperiously, but not pointing out any alternative solution to Kagome's problem .

 

Kagome however seemed to not notice this minor detail ,because she responded meekly "All right Inuyasha ."

 

Inuyasha was quite pleased to make such a prompt solution to a pressing problem proceeded to put a friendly hand around Kagome's shoulders and give it a small squeeze "There aren't you glad I came . Now put those stupid ideas out of your head."

 

"Actually ,I was hoping that you would come ."

 

"Why ?"

 

"To wait on Ayame of course ."Kagome said with a guileless smile .

 

"Ayame” Inuyasha chuckled bitterly "Hah!"

 

"Inuyasha .."Kagome looked at Inuyasha's suddenly sour face "Would she not see you ?"

 

"Of course she saw me "Inuyasha said irritatibly ,some of his previous anger returning "But you would not believe what she did !"

 

"You mean to say that you offered for her and she refused you !"Kagome said incredulously” How could she ?"She could not understand how anybody could refuse anything to her perfect childhood idol .

 

"Yes "Inuyasha bristled with righteous rage upon finding a sympathizer to his cause "She called me a rake ..That from a girl I knew since childhood ."

 

"She didn't "Kagome was appalled "I dare say that she wasn't feeling very well .She was very sick you know ."

 

"It matters little "Inuyasha's expression extremely noble and tragic "My hopes are quite cut up ."

 

Kagome nodded sadly "Don't be sad .She will come to her senses ."

 

"No she won't .I am sure nothing would make her happier than to reduce me to a pathetic mess like Kouga .Very good fellow .Ever since he saw Ayame he was never the same . "

 

"That is terrible Inuyasha . I never thought that of Ayame .She is so pretty and well mannered ."

 

"Feh "Inuyasha snorted "Ayame really put me in a basket ."

 

"Inuyasha ."Kagome was struck by a sudden thought "Did Ayame somehow learn of your opera dancer ?"

 

"Opera dancer ?"Inuyasha brow creased into a frown "Who told you about such rubbish ?"

 

"Yuka told Eri because they had a fight ,something about figures .."

 

"Stupid girls ."

 

"Yes indeed .I thought so too .But if you don't have any opera dancer I will tell so to Ayame myself ."

 

"No you won't "Inuyasha exclaimed ,a tinge of expatriation in his voice "Every one has a fancy piece or two .It doesn't signify a bit ."

 

"It doesn't ?"

 

"No and never mention the word opera dancer again .Good girls aren't supposed to know about such stuff ."

 

"Okay "Kagome agreed readily "You know Inuyasha I think that you have not explained yourself properly to Ayame ."

 

"Enough of Ayame .She is and always will be the Incomparable .But one has to move on "Inuyasha frowned "It's just that I am a little short on cash now and my entire inheritance is tied up in a stupid trust until I get married .That'll never happen and I will be dishonored ."

 

He turned towards Kagome "Now ,don't go about repeating this ."

 

"No I truly won't Inuyasha "Kagome swore .

 

"Good girl .Now this trust isn't over till I am twenty five and that is still full five years away, meanwhile Hitoshi will remain stuck like a leech to my inheritance . I am beginning to understand why Fluffy cannot tolerate my mother's relatives ..but its neither here nor there .I am quite ruined .."

 

"No Inuyasha "Kagome pressed his hand gently "I am sure there is a way ."

 

She paused "So what will you do Inuyasha ?"

 

There was the light of battle in Inuyasha's eyes " I will do what I told my mother .Marry the first female I see."

 

Kagome giggled "Silly !that's me !"

 

Inuyasha frowned "There is no need to be so curst literal "Then his face cleared as he looked down at the heart shape countenance of Kagome's face ,his eyes lighting up "Dammit ! That is exactly what I will do !"

 

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