InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hanyou of the Future ❯ Live for the Unexpected ( Chapter 12 )

AN: Thank you to Isis-Kitty for the beta job.

 

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Chapter Twelve: Live for the Unexpected

 

Hojo stared anxiously at the Higurashi front door, and he swallowed an uncomfortable lump in his throat before he knocked.

 

`It just can't be true. Higurashi has a boyfriend?' His mind was abuzz of all the school-girl gossip from school about this new boyfriend, and Hojo couldn't believe Higurashi wouldn't tell him about it. He had thought they were - something, at least. Although, she had been sick an awful lot, and only recently was she healthy and going back to school again.

 

He heard movement behind the door, and he puffed out his chest with determination. He had to settle the rumor once and for all, and he would come in person to confront her.

 

“Yes?” Higurashi's mother answered the door, smiling sweetly at him with large brown eyes. Hojo blushed, realizing the familial similarities between Kagome and her mother.

 

“Pardon me, Ma'am, I'm Hojo, one of your daughter's classmates,” Hojo said, a frog mysteriously lodged in his throat.

 

Mrs. Higurashi smiled. “Oh yes! You've been here before. Would you like to come in?”

 

“Um…Is Higurashi here?” he asked before stepping past the stoop. Mrs. Higurashi turned around and beamed at him.

 

“I'm sorry; Kagome is out with friends tonight.” Hojo felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. At least her mother didn't she say was with her boyfriend.

 

“Oh, I see,” Hojo said defeated. Mrs. Higurashi cocked her head to him, smile still in place.

 

“Would you like to leave her a message?” Mrs. Higurashi asked, watching his demeanor intently.

 

“Yes, I would appreciate that.” Hojo looked away, scratching his head out anxiety.

 

He didn't want to be rude, but he just had to know some tidbit of information about Kagome's supposed boyfriend. He wondered if her mother would offer him anything if he hinted about it.

 

“I apologize for my forwardness, Mrs. Higurashi. But I would like to know if Higurashi would like to go out with me sometime, now that she's feeling better and going back to school.”

 

“Oh, dear. I see,” Mrs. Higurashi said, putting a hand to her cheek and frowning. She looked off into space. “I'm sure Kagome would still love to keep you as a friend, Hojo-kun, but I'm afraid she's seeing someone right now.”

 

Hojo's eyes filled with intensity. “So it's true? I mean…” His voice trailed off, and his excitement waned. “The girls were right about Higurashi having a boyfriend.” He sighed, shoulders slumping dejectedly. 

 

Mrs. Higurashi treated him earnestly. “Kagome's been seeing Inuyasha for a long time. She met him at the hospital when she was sick,” Mrs. Higurashi explained. Hojo was afraid of that. Nothing was more romantic than meeting true love bedside during an illness. “He is a family friend that was raised by monks. Kagome's grandpa knew his foster father.”

 

“I see.” Hojo looked mournfully around the Higurashi household, and he realized he would miss the life and effervescence that Kagome brought to his days with her presence. He was the loser in this game, and by Mrs. Higurashi's expression, Kagome and her boyfriend seemed pretty serious.

 

`He's gorgeous too! Did you see that long blond hair? It's almost silver! And those light brown eyes! I haven't seen a Japanese man with that color of eyes for a long time!' Hojo remembered Yuka gushing about him at lunch time, and he overheard their conversation.

 

“Hojo-kun, are you alright?” Kagome's mom yanked him out of his thoughts and watched him with concern. “You seem pale.”

 

Hojo gave her a weak smile. “No, I'm fine, Mrs. Higurashi. I should probably get going. Sorry to trouble you.”

 

Mrs. Higurashi stepped back and frowned. Suddenly, her expression turned and her eyes lit up. Hojo had seen Kagome's eyes light up in a similar way. She asked him, “I know! Are you free for an hour? I already made dinner, but Grandpa and Souta are out tonight having dinner with some of Souta's soccer friends. I didn't plan on it, and I made all this food.” Hojo saw Mrs. Higurashi move closer to him excitedly, as if she wanted to keep a secret between them. “You wouldn't want to stay for dinner and help me eat it, would you?”

 

“Um…” Hojo backed off slightly at her forwardness. He couldn't help himself, and soon he became trapped in Kagome's mother's smile. He swallowed uncomfortably. Mrs. Higurashi was still pretty good-looking for her age, he thought. And he knew those kinds of thoughts were dangerous.

 

The truth was he didn't have any plans, so an impromptu meal wouldn't compromise his night.

 

“I suppose.” Hojo grinned sheepishly at her, a faint pink rising to his cheeks. “It would be awful if good food went to waste. What's on the menu?”

 

He laughed, and Mrs. Higurashi took his arm, directing him toward the kitchen. He almost bit his tongue when she pulled him forward, for he did not expect her boldness. However, the more time he spent time with her, the more her smile entranced him.

 

“We're having Tonkatsu tonight, so I hope you brought your appetite.” She giggled and picked up her chopsticks, saying a blessing for the food. Hojo came over to the table to sit with her and echoed her blessing. He took a bite of the fried pork and felt his taste buds cheer in victory.

 

Mrs. Higurashi was a really good cook!

 

He glanced over at her, and she was watching him anxiously.

 

“Well? How is it?”

 

“Mmm, this is wonderful, Mrs. Higurashi.” Hojo smiled at her. “Thank you so much for inviting me!”

 

“Eat up!” She laughed at him, and they continued to eat their meal in a relaxed, contented atmosphere.

 

Before Mrs. Higurashi could take another bite, she looked up from her dinner momentarily as a phone rang. Hojo noticed it wasn't her home phone, but the ring was from a cell phone instead. He wondered if someone was calling with an emergency.

 

Mrs. Higurashi excused herself with a polite smile and took the phone into the next room. Hojo could barely make out what she was saying but eavesdropped anyway.

 

“I understand. So you're sending someone over?” Mrs. Higurashi paused to listen to the response. She smiled a different smile than her more typical, joyous smile. It was a grin that held a lot of mystery. “I'm not worried, and neither should you be. Don't worry; I'm confident that it is safe. Goodbye then.”

 

Then, Mrs. Higurashi turned her full attention back her guest as if the call was easily forgettable.

--

 

As Kagome had to ward off the third offer of alcohol, Riho bemoaned in annoyance at her naïveté, and Takeda sighed in exasperation.

 

“Girl, you are so not fun,” he said, wiggling his finger at her. Inuyasha gave him a dangerous look. Before the hanyou could retort, Takeda's phone rang again. Inuyasha watched him look down at the number, and then his lips pursed in aggravation.

 

“Will you excuse me? I have to take this to somewhere I can hear,” Takeda said sweetly, yet the look on Inuyasha's face indicated he was happy to get rid of him. Takeda turned to Riho. “Don't let these lovebirds out of your sight okay?” He turned a seductive glance at Inuyasha, whose stomach rolled at the sight. “I have so many plans for them!”

 

“'Kay!” Riho cooed back, and the duo gave each other obnoxious air kisses before Takeda wandered off.

 

Kagome gave Inuyasha a sideways glance and when Riho wasn't looking, Kagome nodded her head to the large, colorful drink in front of her. Riho sipped it happily, glancing back at Kagome and Inuyasha and moving in her seat to the beat of the energetic dance music.

 

“Isn't this place great?” Riho gushed, and Kagome rolled her eyes. She turned her attention back at Inuyasha, and she could tell he received her signal.

 

Not a moment too soon, Inuyasha moved a clumsy elbow and knocked the colorful and expensive drink into Riho's lap. She squealed loudly, blotting the drink hastily with nearby napkins.

 

“You clumsy oaf! This a Vera Wang ensemble! How dare you!” she continued to scream at him, but Inuyasha only gave her a quick, gruff apology which only incensed her further. She stomped off to the bathroom, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha alone.

 

“Phew!” Kagome sighed in relief, and Inuyasha anxiously looked around for Takeda, hoping they could ditch both of them.

 

Inuyasha asked quickly, “Do you want to get out of here?” Kagome nodded.

 

“I have a feeling we should go back to the shrine right now,” Kagome suggested. Inuyasha shook his head.

 

“No, we need to go after that limo.” Inuyasha made a noise of annoyance, and Kagome watched his ears flatten against his head. The music was obviously unnerving him.

 

“Let's leave this fucking place.” He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her swiftly through the sea of dancers. They moved out an exit door and found themselves back in an alley.

 

“Oh, thank goodness!” Kagome exclaimed, taking a breather as she leaned against the brick wall of the building. “I really can't stand those two. They are so annoying!”

 

“Well, now we don't have to deal with those assholes,” Inuyasha said. “If we find the limo driver, we can follow him back to the source.” Inuyasha clenched his fist, and his eyes gleamed ready for a fight. Kagome realized that her era still hadn't tamed him.

 

Kagome sighed again, and she looked to the sky. “You know, Inuyasha,” she said in a low voice. “I really don't want to deal with this again. I'm sick of fighting. Aren't you? I mean, the fight with Naraku was so long and full of darkness.” She turned to him with honest eyes. “I don't know if I can go through it again.”

 

“Hey, hey, it's alright.” He moved over to her, and he came close to her face. He took her hands, and leaned his forehead against hers lovingly. “I'll always protect you, Kagome. No one is ever going to touch you, ever. You're safe.”

 

“I know,” Kagome whispered, smiling and nuzzling her forehead against his in return. “That's what makes you wonderful, Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha said nothing, and Kagome could feel his hot breath against her cheek. They had precious little time alone together, especially after getting mixed up in the whirlwind of these odd situations. Kagome had hoped once they defeated Naraku, they would finally get time alone - and then maybe their relationship could finally grow.

 

“Kagome…” Inuyasha said her name, and his tone sent shivers down her body. She moved her hands and snaked them around his neck, pulling him forward. His lips were millimeters from hers.

 

“We probably should go,” Kagome whispered, but her heart was screaming at her to defy those words. Lightly, she planted a soft kiss on Inuyasha's lips.

 

With a fierce growl, Inuyasha captured her lips with his, diving his tongue into her mouth and lapping up her taste. Kagome moaned and cooed, her sounds vibrating against the inner walls of his mouth.

 

She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his head forward as he pushed her hard against the brick wall. She wanted so desperately to feel his ears, but she was prevented by his bandana, and opted not to risk exposing him. Her pelvis bucked into him - heady, ready and expecting more of his touch. Inuyasha drove a hand below, lifting up her leg and caressing her thigh upward toward the heat under her short skirt. Kagome moaned as she felt his clawed fingers lightly and cautiously trace over her damp panties, moving past the material and pushing a soft knuckle against her entrance.

 

“Ungh,” she cried, releasing his mouth as Inuyasha trailed soft kisses down her jaw line. He continued to rub his knuckle against her, slowly and tortuously.

 

Her scent was overwhelming him, and as he made her wet, his lower regions screamed to take her, hardening and poking against her in his rising excitement.

 

“Kagome…” He whispered her name throatily, and Kagome thought it was the most beautiful voice she's ever heard.

 

“Please, Inuyasha,” she begged, moving her hips and taking in more of his knuckle as he pushed past the skin.

 

“Oh gods,” he moaned, and he put a hand in his pants, nudging past the constricting material of modern clothes and pulling down the zipper. He grabbed himself, hardened and seeping with premature excitement. He rubbed himself as she bucked against him, and he cried in her hair. He turned to rub his nose against the shell of her ear. “Are you sure?”

 

“Yes, please, just…”

 

He squeezed his hardened arousal once again, gritting his teeth, ready to tear himself from the zippered pants.

 

As he was about to hike up her hips and push inside her, the door at the exit creaked open.

 

Inuyasha's eyes widened, and he quickly let himself go, shielding Kagome against him. He zipped up his pants and looked over his shoulder to the intruder. Kagome's hands left his shoulders and fiddled with her skirt, anxiously trying to regain her composure in front of their sudden visitor.

 

“There you two are!” Riho's expression was different than her usual confident sneer. Inuyasha and Kagome looked at her curiously; the woman actually appeared worried.

 

“Hey! Get out of here! Can't you see we we're busy?” Inuyasha yelled at her, but Riho's panicked demeanor didn't change.

 

“What's wrong, Riho-san?” Kagome asked concerned.

 

“It's Takeda-sensei!” she cried worriedly. “He was taken away by gangsters! I went to go look for him, and he was being pushed outside the club, and they forced him inside a black van!” Riho turned to Inuyasha and grabbed his sleeve. She looked at him desperately. “Please, you have to help him! After what you did to save him last time, they're surely going to kill him!”

 

“Look, I don't care what happens to that jerk anymore!” Inuyasha said, pushing her off. Kagome looked at him ruefully. “It was his own fault he got involved with those people. I'm not about to go around helping anymore stupid humans. Find yourself someone else!”

 

“Inuyasha…”

 

Inuyasha snarled at Kagome, hoping to deter her from having to help them anymore. “No! These two have been nothing but trouble since we've met them! Now all I want to do is keep you safe and finally get some time alone with you! I don't want to deal with any more strangers! It's bad enough these humans know my secret! I wish they would just leave us alone,” he ranted, and he turned away from Riho and grabbed Kagome's hand.

 

Before they could leave, Riho cried aguishly behind them. “Please, you have to help. These aren't just about helping humans anymore! The people that took him away were demon thugs! There's no way a normal person could help him!”

 

Inuyasha stopped in his tracks, and Kagome turned around with a gasp.

 

“Did you say demons? Here at this club?” Inuyasha asked her. Riho nodded to him, tears streaming down her face.

 

Inuyasha turned to Kagome. “We were right. We did sense demons here.”

 

“We have to help Oogami-san. His life is still in danger, and if we go after him, we'll find out more about the demons in this era.” Kagome met his gaze with worry yet defiance. “What if these demon mobsters are the ones trying to hone in on me? Inuyasha, we have to find out!”

 

Inuyasha nodded, yet he let go of Kagome's hand. “But you stay here. I'll fight these demons and get that jerk back on my own.”

 

“But Inuyasha!” Kagome protested, but Inuyasha shook his head.

 

“I said I would protect you. I don't know what these modern demons are like, so I won't put you in danger anymore. Go straight home and make sure everything is okay at the shrine.” He gave her a stern look, hoping she knew what he meant. He didn't want to mention the jewel in front of Riho.

 

Kagome nodded. “I understand. Be careful, Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha gave her one hard look before leaning down and leaving her with the memory of a heated kiss. He whispered against her lips, “We'll finish that later.” And he bounded off toward the front of the club as Riho and Kagome watched him in the distance.

 

Suddenly, Kagome froze, and she felt Riho creeping up closer behind her. She squealed as Riho's hand came around her mouth, and suddenly, she smelled something strong and felt her surroundings fade into darkness.

 

“I'm sorry, Kagome-chan,” Riho said, as Kagome slumped against her. She tossed the rag full of chloroform aside, and looked over her shoulder.

 

A man came out of the shadows and put Kagome's body over his shoulder. Riho watched his back as she followed him toward the front, shame and sorrow storming in her eyes.

 

TBC…