InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Come What May ( Chapter 12 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: hedgehogmadhatter 
She turned her face towards me and I stumbled at the sight of it.
JANE!
She smile and ran a hand through her unruly short blonde hair while I was regaining my balance. “Oh I remember you… from Christmas dinner right? Be careful, the melting snow is slick on this pavement.”
She had no memory of crying on my bed. Her eyes gave nothing away. As far as she knew this was only the second time we’d ever met.
Hey she was looking pretty good for a dead chick.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.20.2006 | Updated On: 01.22.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 546 | Status: Completed
She turned her face towards me and I stumbled at the sight of it.
JANE!
She smile and ran a hand through her unruly short blonde hair while I was regaining my balance. “Oh I remember you… from Christmas dinner right? Be careful, the melting snow is slick on this pavement.”
She had no memory of crying on my bed. Her eyes gave nothing away. As far as she knew this was only the second time we’d ever met.
Hey she was looking pretty good for a dead chick.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Comedy / Hentai / Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 01.20.2006 | Updated On: 01.22.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.1K | Visits: 546 | Status: Completed
Chapter Twelve
Come What May
Sango was forever telling me that exercise would change my whole outlook on life. She was right in ways she never imagined.
“It's good for what ails you. It'll clear you head and once the adrenaline kicks in, there's nothing like it.”
Well to be brutally honest I am a bit on the skinny side and my head was already too clear. It could use some mucking up. So I've never been big on working out. The gym is a meat market and sweating… unless under the right circumstances is rarely attractive. And those communal showers, with someone else's hair clogging the drain?
Plus my favorite pairs of shoes were never meant to do any real work, as my stunt on the book store ladder proved.
But I had the afternoon off and I abhor daytime Television. After wearing a path in my carpet from pacing in front of my couch; I decided no matter how skinny a girl is her ass could always use work. So I pulled on my trusty sneakers and planned to hit the track at the park. If I had my I-Pod blasting in my ears than it was fun and not work. At least that was the lie I was telling myself.
I was tying my sneakers while Sushi watched. I think I scared him when I started dancing round the apartment. Poor fishy, look who he was stuck with for an owner.
I checked my clock and saw I had a full three hours before my salon appointment. Okay I admit it. I'd gone all girly and was getting the works. Hair cut, style, pedicure, manicure, you name it.
Course it's hard to find a good salon who will manicure my claws. They aren't quite weapons but for some reason manicurists don't always believe me. I'd thought about bringing this the A.C.L.U.'s attention but those people can be more trouble than they are worth.
Perhaps I was going a bit far considering I wasn't even sure if he was what I wanted.
Okay better rephrase that. Considering I wasn't sure that I was what he wanted in the long term. Sesshomaru obviously appreciated the freedom of his single life and he'd never really complimented me or shown any real interest…besides sex.
There was what he said the last time I saw him at the bookstore. `I know you sell yourself short by working here.'
Was that really a compliment or just the truth? Perhaps he just didn't believe in false flattery.
Though people like to say that honesty is refreshing, is it really? I mean do I really want a man who'll look at me in the morning and actually say, `Gee dear, you look like hell'?
But that song he was playing when I found him in his room… now that was real. He was locked away in his private realm and was not playing it for my benefit. It meant something to him.
And then there was Rin.
Rin's existence said more about the King of Standoff-ish than any book or manifesto. The fact that the Taiyokai kept a human girl under his roof, catered to her whims and was obviously reading up on girls' schools, I'd seen the brochures on the floor of his bedroom, was beyond remarkable.
And he suffered through kid's movies with her. It was priceless. If he could accept a human child than perhaps I had a shot. Well that is until he finds out I am a death magnet. Then I am sure that housekeeper will be more than happy to show me the door.
Why was he asking me out?
I mean I'm cute and all but I'm hardly the next Angelina Jolie. And thank the Gods for that. Besides being a first class home wrecker I think the woman might also be nuts.
The card read like a follow up to our words in his living room but above all Sesshomaru is a business man and he's had over a hundred years to perfect his trade. Maybe he wanted to know how I'd found out about that nanny.
If he'd figured me out then perhaps he thought a direct confrontation would scare me away. He wouldn't be too far from the truth. I am a fast packer and with my skuzzy step father's connections could find a new job in another city in mere seconds. It would only cost me my pride and a pint of precious blood.
Then there was always the possibility that he really did off the nanny and wanted to get to me before the cops did. Still after seeing him with Rin, I couldn't vision him killing a servant.
Maybe it was an accident?
Just a quick fall down some long steps…
Okay I've just got to stop this!
Mostly likely he still had the same intentions as he'd had in his house. Me. Flat on my back. Would that be so terrible?
Sex is a great diversion and afterwards I usually sleep better than I do alone but I hate sharing myself. It puts me at some risk.
Sushi's fishy nose was almost pressed against the glass of his bowl. No doubt he was wondering why I was just standing here. Oh well the fish had a point. Too much thinking is dangerous.
I plucked my I-Pod from the counter, pulled on a jacket and hit the street.
_-_-_-_
I had my ear buds in and was jogging… okay walking briskly to the latest U2 song. The sun was out, the birds were singing and squirrels were out doing whatever it is that they do. The day was perfect.
Brown patches of grass shone through the light covering of snow still left over from that storm we had the other day. I pulled my coat closer to me and tried to pick up the pace. Where was that adrenaline rush Sango had promised me?
Maybe it was near that hotdog vendor. I decided to find out and was on my over the for a taste of Hot Dogma, the stand run by a local church, when I spotted a familiar dark haired little miss testing out her training wheels.
Rin was so busy concentrating on staying on the path and keeping her tires out of the snow she didn't notice me.
A new nanny stood watch over her. She wore a long scarf that blew behind her in the light wind and one of those pull down knit caps.
Rin spotted me and peddled over. “Kagura! I can ride all by myself!”
I laughed, “I see that.”
“When are you coming back?”
I shrugged, “I don't know.” Kiddo if your demon daddy is a killer then I ain't ever coming back.
She chastised me and waved a red mitten in my general direction, “Make it soon. Sesshomaru-sama is grumpy.”
I raised my brows, “He's grumpy? Really? How can you tell?” And why did she think seeing me would change his disposition?
The nanny overheard our words. As she walked over I made out her light laughter, “That is a fair question. You can never tell with that one.”
She turned her face towards me and I stumbled at the sight of it.
JANE!
She smile and ran a hand through her unruly short blonde hair while I was regaining my balance. “Oh I remember you… from Christmas dinner right? Be careful, the melting snow is slick on this pavement.”
She had no memory of crying on my bed. Her eyes gave nothing away. As far as she knew this was only the second time we'd ever met.
Hey she was looking pretty good for a dead chick.
Goddamn it!
What the hell was going on? Had Revelations come so soon? I was having a quick everyone Jesus is coming, look busy moment of blind panic.
I cleared my throat, “Yeah, that's right. I'm Kagura.”
She held out a gloved hand and I accepted, “Jane. Pleased to meet you.”
“Umm. Yeah me too.” Her grip was good too. “So I heard you weren't…feeling well the other day?”
Jane blushed, “Does everyone know about that?”
I pushed politely, “About what?” Yeah, coming back from the dead is headline news! All the news that's fit to tell and that includes you, Nanny Frankenstein.
She confessed, “I'm deathly allergic to peanuts and while I was reading I had a left over Christmas sugar cookie.”
“It's good for what ails you. It'll clear you head and once the adrenaline kicks in, there's nothing like it.”
Well to be brutally honest I am a bit on the skinny side and my head was already too clear. It could use some mucking up. So I've never been big on working out. The gym is a meat market and sweating… unless under the right circumstances is rarely attractive. And those communal showers, with someone else's hair clogging the drain?
Plus my favorite pairs of shoes were never meant to do any real work, as my stunt on the book store ladder proved.
But I had the afternoon off and I abhor daytime Television. After wearing a path in my carpet from pacing in front of my couch; I decided no matter how skinny a girl is her ass could always use work. So I pulled on my trusty sneakers and planned to hit the track at the park. If I had my I-Pod blasting in my ears than it was fun and not work. At least that was the lie I was telling myself.
I was tying my sneakers while Sushi watched. I think I scared him when I started dancing round the apartment. Poor fishy, look who he was stuck with for an owner.
I checked my clock and saw I had a full three hours before my salon appointment. Okay I admit it. I'd gone all girly and was getting the works. Hair cut, style, pedicure, manicure, you name it.
Course it's hard to find a good salon who will manicure my claws. They aren't quite weapons but for some reason manicurists don't always believe me. I'd thought about bringing this the A.C.L.U.'s attention but those people can be more trouble than they are worth.
Perhaps I was going a bit far considering I wasn't even sure if he was what I wanted.
Okay better rephrase that. Considering I wasn't sure that I was what he wanted in the long term. Sesshomaru obviously appreciated the freedom of his single life and he'd never really complimented me or shown any real interest…besides sex.
There was what he said the last time I saw him at the bookstore. `I know you sell yourself short by working here.'
Was that really a compliment or just the truth? Perhaps he just didn't believe in false flattery.
Though people like to say that honesty is refreshing, is it really? I mean do I really want a man who'll look at me in the morning and actually say, `Gee dear, you look like hell'?
But that song he was playing when I found him in his room… now that was real. He was locked away in his private realm and was not playing it for my benefit. It meant something to him.
And then there was Rin.
Rin's existence said more about the King of Standoff-ish than any book or manifesto. The fact that the Taiyokai kept a human girl under his roof, catered to her whims and was obviously reading up on girls' schools, I'd seen the brochures on the floor of his bedroom, was beyond remarkable.
And he suffered through kid's movies with her. It was priceless. If he could accept a human child than perhaps I had a shot. Well that is until he finds out I am a death magnet. Then I am sure that housekeeper will be more than happy to show me the door.
Why was he asking me out?
I mean I'm cute and all but I'm hardly the next Angelina Jolie. And thank the Gods for that. Besides being a first class home wrecker I think the woman might also be nuts.
The card read like a follow up to our words in his living room but above all Sesshomaru is a business man and he's had over a hundred years to perfect his trade. Maybe he wanted to know how I'd found out about that nanny.
If he'd figured me out then perhaps he thought a direct confrontation would scare me away. He wouldn't be too far from the truth. I am a fast packer and with my skuzzy step father's connections could find a new job in another city in mere seconds. It would only cost me my pride and a pint of precious blood.
Then there was always the possibility that he really did off the nanny and wanted to get to me before the cops did. Still after seeing him with Rin, I couldn't vision him killing a servant.
Maybe it was an accident?
Just a quick fall down some long steps…
Okay I've just got to stop this!
Mostly likely he still had the same intentions as he'd had in his house. Me. Flat on my back. Would that be so terrible?
Sex is a great diversion and afterwards I usually sleep better than I do alone but I hate sharing myself. It puts me at some risk.
Sushi's fishy nose was almost pressed against the glass of his bowl. No doubt he was wondering why I was just standing here. Oh well the fish had a point. Too much thinking is dangerous.
I plucked my I-Pod from the counter, pulled on a jacket and hit the street.
_-_-_-_
I had my ear buds in and was jogging… okay walking briskly to the latest U2 song. The sun was out, the birds were singing and squirrels were out doing whatever it is that they do. The day was perfect.
Brown patches of grass shone through the light covering of snow still left over from that storm we had the other day. I pulled my coat closer to me and tried to pick up the pace. Where was that adrenaline rush Sango had promised me?
Maybe it was near that hotdog vendor. I decided to find out and was on my over the for a taste of Hot Dogma, the stand run by a local church, when I spotted a familiar dark haired little miss testing out her training wheels.
Rin was so busy concentrating on staying on the path and keeping her tires out of the snow she didn't notice me.
A new nanny stood watch over her. She wore a long scarf that blew behind her in the light wind and one of those pull down knit caps.
Rin spotted me and peddled over. “Kagura! I can ride all by myself!”
I laughed, “I see that.”
“When are you coming back?”
I shrugged, “I don't know.” Kiddo if your demon daddy is a killer then I ain't ever coming back.
She chastised me and waved a red mitten in my general direction, “Make it soon. Sesshomaru-sama is grumpy.”
I raised my brows, “He's grumpy? Really? How can you tell?” And why did she think seeing me would change his disposition?
The nanny overheard our words. As she walked over I made out her light laughter, “That is a fair question. You can never tell with that one.”
She turned her face towards me and I stumbled at the sight of it.
JANE!
She smile and ran a hand through her unruly short blonde hair while I was regaining my balance. “Oh I remember you… from Christmas dinner right? Be careful, the melting snow is slick on this pavement.”
She had no memory of crying on my bed. Her eyes gave nothing away. As far as she knew this was only the second time we'd ever met.
Hey she was looking pretty good for a dead chick.
Goddamn it!
What the hell was going on? Had Revelations come so soon? I was having a quick everyone Jesus is coming, look busy moment of blind panic.
I cleared my throat, “Yeah, that's right. I'm Kagura.”
She held out a gloved hand and I accepted, “Jane. Pleased to meet you.”
“Umm. Yeah me too.” Her grip was good too. “So I heard you weren't…feeling well the other day?”
Jane blushed, “Does everyone know about that?”
I pushed politely, “About what?” Yeah, coming back from the dead is headline news! All the news that's fit to tell and that includes you, Nanny Frankenstein.
She confessed, “I'm deathly allergic to peanuts and while I was reading I had a left over Christmas sugar cookie.”
Jane sighed and shook her head, “It must have been made in a factory that also handles peanuts. My throat swelled shut and I was suffocating.”
She looked away to check on Rin and I could feel the giddy relief of still being alive pouring off of her. “I guess Lord Sesshomaru was checking on Rin and heard me. He called 911 and after a few shots and an over night stay… here I am!”
Jane spread her arms and twirled. Now that she'd mentioned it. I noticed her face was blotchy and still puffy. Still…not bad for a dead chick.
But two days ago she was dead. I mean tomb stone, Monty Python Parrott sketch dead. At no time did I ever consider I might be mistaken. There was no way.
Even if she was doing a whatcha-ma-call it…astral projection while she was chocking then she would've been choking for well over twenty minutes before Sesshomaru got to her. No one can hold their breath that long. Unless she was the devil, and if that was on her resume I doubted she would be watching Rin. Sesshomaru struck me as a background checker.
Something was rotten in Denmark.
She looked away to check on Rin and I could feel the giddy relief of still being alive pouring off of her. “I guess Lord Sesshomaru was checking on Rin and heard me. He called 911 and after a few shots and an over night stay… here I am!”
Jane spread her arms and twirled. Now that she'd mentioned it. I noticed her face was blotchy and still puffy. Still…not bad for a dead chick.
But two days ago she was dead. I mean tomb stone, Monty Python Parrott sketch dead. At no time did I ever consider I might be mistaken. There was no way.
Even if she was doing a whatcha-ma-call it…astral projection while she was chocking then she would've been choking for well over twenty minutes before Sesshomaru got to her. No one can hold their breath that long. Unless she was the devil, and if that was on her resume I doubted she would be watching Rin. Sesshomaru struck me as a background checker.
Something was rotten in Denmark.
Way rotten.
I said with honest sincerity, “I'm so glad to hear you're okay. It must've been frightening.”
“It was but I was only choking for maybe a few seconds. The hospital was the worst. And some good has come of this.”
Really?
I said with honest sincerity, “I'm so glad to hear you're okay. It must've been frightening.”
“It was but I was only choking for maybe a few seconds. The hospital was the worst. And some good has come of this.”
Really?
And would that good thing just happen to be that you CAME BACK FROM THE FREAKING DEAD?But the shouting was only in my head, my voice was calm. “What's that?”
She smiled enthusiastically, “We're petitioning the government for stricter food labeling standards.”
I nodded, “That's great!”
She asked, “Please don't mention this to Rin, I don't want to worry her.”
She smiled enthusiastically, “We're petitioning the government for stricter food labeling standards.”
I nodded, “That's great!”
She asked, “Please don't mention this to Rin, I don't want to worry her.”
Well if she was a zombie than she was a considerate zombie. It my experience the dead tended to be a bit selfish, which is understandable as they are after all dead.
Okay done. But I had to ask, “Sesshomaru told me he was born here, so assuming he's a US citizen, so why do you call him Lord? American's aren't so hot on royal titles.”
She shrugged, “It's just part of the Taiyokai tradition. It's not like it's printed on his checks.”
“Oh” I felt my face burn with my ignorance.
I hope he never expects me to call him Lord. He could kiss my butt first.
Wait?
Okay done. But I had to ask, “Sesshomaru told me he was born here, so assuming he's a US citizen, so why do you call him Lord? American's aren't so hot on royal titles.”
She shrugged, “It's just part of the Taiyokai tradition. It's not like it's printed on his checks.”
“Oh” I felt my face burn with my ignorance.
I hope he never expects me to call him Lord. He could kiss my butt first.
Wait?
What had Sesshomaru done to his nanny? Why the hell was she here with me in the cold winter sun instead of lounging about in a hospital morgue?
Forget sex, this means war. He has a secret that kicks the hell out of mine and I am going to find out what it is if it kills me… or him. I could really go either way. That's how bad I needed to know.
Suddenly I wanted to be anywhere but standing in front of the formerly dead nanny. She was nice enough and in another dimension we might even have been friends. But to me she would always be what she was two days ago. Dead.
I pointed at some random jogger behind me. “Hey it's been cool and all but I gotta run. My…friend is leaving me.”
Jane squinted in the bright afternoon sun, “I didn't realize you were with someone.”
Rin jumped off her bike and hugged me around my leg. I fought the urge to shake it just for fun and patted the top of her head. “Okay little leach, leggo.”
Forget sex, this means war. He has a secret that kicks the hell out of mine and I am going to find out what it is if it kills me… or him. I could really go either way. That's how bad I needed to know.
Suddenly I wanted to be anywhere but standing in front of the formerly dead nanny. She was nice enough and in another dimension we might even have been friends. But to me she would always be what she was two days ago. Dead.
I pointed at some random jogger behind me. “Hey it's been cool and all but I gotta run. My…friend is leaving me.”
Jane squinted in the bright afternoon sun, “I didn't realize you were with someone.”
Rin jumped off her bike and hugged me around my leg. I fought the urge to shake it just for fun and patted the top of her head. “Okay little leach, leggo.”
She shook her head, “Not until you promise to come visit us.”
“Okay you have my solemn word that I Kagura will come visit you Rin.”
This seemed to satisfy her and she let Jane pull her free from my leg. Jane laughed as I walked away. “Bye! Have a safe run. And be careful, you never know whose out in this park anymore.”
Yeah well, I'd like to think I'm the worst nightmare of those things that go bump in the night…or in this case the early afternoon.
_-_-_-_
Once I was out of their sight my knees gave way and I slumped across the park bench. My stomach churned with uncertainty, fear and hope.
I hated not understanding what was going on. My abilities were changing and I feared that they were letting in more than just the dead. What had visited me if it wasn't Jane?
The hope was that maybe I prevented her death. Perhaps it was a vision and not a ghost after all.
My head began to pound and the daylight became so intense I pressed my head between my knees and squeezed trying to block out the pain. I'd gotten too upset and was now paying the price. The last time this happened, I was puking up blood and incapacitated for a week.
Once I was out of their sight my knees gave way and I slumped across the park bench. My stomach churned with uncertainty, fear and hope.
I hated not understanding what was going on. My abilities were changing and I feared that they were letting in more than just the dead. What had visited me if it wasn't Jane?
The hope was that maybe I prevented her death. Perhaps it was a vision and not a ghost after all.
My head began to pound and the daylight became so intense I pressed my head between my knees and squeezed trying to block out the pain. I'd gotten too upset and was now paying the price. The last time this happened, I was puking up blood and incapacitated for a week.
The first time I'd fallen ill like this was also the fist time I saw one of them.
I guess they have a million names but I think of them as Goblins.
They are living shadows, with dark squat bodies; somewhat of a cross between E.T. and one of those Star Wars sand people. They seem to have hoods but it's really hard to say, their features are blurred. I'm certain they are a race of their own. I don't think a person could turn into a goblin but I'm sure there are a few like Hitler and that Roman Emperor Caligula who came pretty close.
The sickest thing is the way they feed of human emotions. I have no proof this is what they are doing but they are attracted to death, chaos, disaster and evil.
One infamous day in September four years ago, I saw them swarming in the streets rubbing their rotten little shadow claw hands together. I spent the whole day under the bed with a migraine so wretched the tiniest bit of light was torture.
I guess they have a million names but I think of them as Goblins.
They are living shadows, with dark squat bodies; somewhat of a cross between E.T. and one of those Star Wars sand people. They seem to have hoods but it's really hard to say, their features are blurred. I'm certain they are a race of their own. I don't think a person could turn into a goblin but I'm sure there are a few like Hitler and that Roman Emperor Caligula who came pretty close.
The sickest thing is the way they feed of human emotions. I have no proof this is what they are doing but they are attracted to death, chaos, disaster and evil.
One infamous day in September four years ago, I saw them swarming in the streets rubbing their rotten little shadow claw hands together. I spent the whole day under the bed with a migraine so wretched the tiniest bit of light was torture.
Two days later I crawled out from under the bed, switched on the TV and saw what had become of our beloved city.
Today though, the park and my day so far were both goblin free. I was just freaking out. If I could find a way to breathe and relax I could over come this.
I sat up with my eyes closed breathing deeply through my nose and mouth.
I began counting to one hundred in my head.
Today though, the park and my day so far were both goblin free. I was just freaking out. If I could find a way to breathe and relax I could over come this.
I sat up with my eyes closed breathing deeply through my nose and mouth.
I began counting to one hundred in my head.
I was up to sixty five before I was able to open my eyes.
Okay Jane was just a normal mortal. She wasn't a goblin or anything… else. So then missing puzzle piece had to lay with me or Sesshomaru.
If it was all me then I had to find a way to stop the wall I kept up between myself and the darkness from crumbling. I'd spent my whole life patching the holes and wasn't to give in.
If Sesshomaru was behind Jane's death and or resurrection then it didn't matter. If he was connected to those shadow fiends then I had to know and I was willing to do anything to find out: come what may.
_-_-_-_
Notes:
Yeah, yeah I know. This chapter is a bit on the dark side.
If you don't know who Hitler was, well you should.
If you don't know who Caligula was…well I don't know if you want to. Let's just say he was a freak of major proportions in the league of Nero but maybe a bit more (if that's possible) twisted.
From the Devil's Dictionary:
Excess: In morals, an indulgence that enforces by appropriate penalties the law of moderation.
Egotist: A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me.