InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Identities ❯ Unexpected Visitors ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any characters associated with it. I just use them for my own amusement.

Acknowledgements: As always, gratitude to the lovely Fenikkusuken for a sterling beta job. And also, thanks to my reviewers: I'm glad you like the story so far!

 

*

 

On the first day of classes after the Golden Week vacation, Kagome watched in bemusement as an army of Shirokane campus cleaners menaced the students with a plethora of brooms and dusters.  Many examples of the university's prize antique collection, which were usually locked away, had been pulled out of their secure storage and were being polished and displayed to best advantage.  Ducking a flying duster, Kagome slipped on the newly waxed floor and narrowly avoided colliding with a plinth topped by a tastefully-lit display case containing what appeared to be Meiji-era hair ornaments.  Bowing repeatedly to an irate member of the University cleaning staff, the young woman escaped at speed out of the building and headed towards the picnic area. 

 

Yuka hailed her from across the quadrangle, huge earrings sparkling in the sunlight. On the other side of the table were two other young women, animatedly chatting over a pile of folders and bento boxes. When they heard Yuka, they both turned and waved cheerfully at the somewhat flustered medical student.

 

“Hi Kagome! Isn't it a beautiful day today?” Yuka chirped. “It almost makes up for classes restarting.”

 

Kagome slid onto the bench next to her, dropping her yellow bag on the paving stones after pulling out her own packed lunch. “Hi guys! What on earth is going on? Did someone put a hygiene scare on the campus or something?”

 

Three sets of dumbfounded expressions confronted her, before the pretty young woman across the table asked in mock-horror, “How can you not know?” Her reproachful head-shake set her sharp-edged hairstyle dancing.

 

“Here we go…” the fourth woman said reproachfully, “Now you've set Eri off!”

 

Yuka hid a giggle behind her hand, and Kagome good-naturedly batted at her arm before asking, “Know what?”

 

“The Taisho brothers are visiting tomorrow! They've decided to sponsor a program to fund a couple of disadvantaged students and wanted to nose around the University first,” Eri exclaimed enthusiastically.

 

“They're probably cruising for sorority good-time girls,” snorted the fourth woman, moving her law books aside and opening her bento.

 

“You're such a cynic, Ayumi,” Eri chided, before she grinned and added, “You're probably right, though.”

 

Kagome was suitably impressed. “Wow. The Taisho brothers? As in, disgustingly rich heirs to billions?” Hurrah! Rotting my brains by reading too many gossip magazines just paid off!

 

“Yep. And gorgeous. Just think; one relationship with them and you'd be made for life!” Eri winked.

 

Kagome laughed and shook her head. “You wouldn't!”

 

“I would. Hell, any woman with any brains would. I bet neither of them has ever been turned down in their lives. They've always got at least three women at any one time.”

 

“Well, I wouldn't `do' either of them,” Kagome declared.

 

The other three girls exchanged sceptical looks. “That,” Eri declared solemnly, “is because you have no sense of self-preservation.”

 

“You know, I've heard that before,” she said cheerfully as they all dissolved into giggles.

 

*

 

Kagome was asleep when her mattress dipped on one side. Half-roused, the young woman swatted at the offending weight. “Get off th' bed, Buyo. You're not allowed on here.” Her hand hit something solid, and entirely too large.

 

Ouch! That's… that's not Buyo…

 

Surprise pushed the young woman towards wakefulness and she cracked one eye open. There was a dark figure sitting hunched on the edge of her bed. Clumsily uncoordinated, Kagome let out a small shriek and scrabbled back against the wall as her brain caught up with the situation.

 

“It's me, Kagome.” Inuyasha's voice was low.

 

The girl relaxed a little in recognition. Glancing at the clock, she was appalled to see the digits reading `3:00 AM'. Rubbing her hands over her face, she mumbled, “What on earth are you doing here?”

 

Inuyasha sat slumped, his elbows resting on his knees. His ears were flat against his head, almost lost in his hair. In the dim light, his expression was haunted. “I need a friend,” he whispered hoarsely.

 

Worried, Kagome immediately leaned forward. “What happened?”

 

“Naraku's handiwork. Involved children. We didn't get there in time to stop all of it.”

 

“Oh Gods… I'm so sorry,” she gasped, pressing her hand against his back. “What can I do?”

 

“Can I stay here tonight?" He hesitated for a moment, before adding, “I… look… I just want to be around you right now, `kay?”

 

Kagome's heart fluttered slightly at the awkward declaration. “Yes, of course. Give me a minute and I'll get the spare blankets…”

 

The bed shifted as he stood up. Kagome flopped back down for a moment and rolled over to face the wall as she stretched, half-listening as something flumped on the floor. I can sleep on the sofa again as he's so much bigger… urg, warming up cold blankets at 3:00am is just rubbish, plain and simple. I wonder if he's hungry as well? If I have to get up, might as well make the effort worthwhile. She was still drumming up the motivation to leave the warm bed when the covers were pulled back. “Eep!” A hard and seemingly naked male body was pressed up against her back, his arms wrapping tightly around her, her bottom pulled snugly into the cradle of his hips. Thrashing with maidenly panic at the unexpectedly compromising situation, despite the distraction of his warm breath on her neck, she yelped, “That wasn't what I meant!”

 

“Just sleep, Kagome, nothing else… please, I need this.” His voice was bone-weary.

 

The next few minutes were a lesson in stiff discomfort for the young woman as she contemplated escape in grim silence, wondering if she'd completely misjudged her sometime visitor and waiting for him to make an inappropriate move. However, he continued to do nothing but use her as a giant teddy bear, holding her tightly as he buried his face in the juncture between her shoulder and neck. His skin was clammy, and his body was wracked by tiny spasms; each tremor caused his arms to tighten briefly around her as he gulped in air. Kagome's brain helpfully poked her until she catalogued his list of physical reactions into a recognisable pattern. He's in shock. It must have been bad. Slowly, the young woman calmed as concern overrode her nervous reaction to the unusual situation. Wriggling a little to get properly comfortable, she discovered to her relief that he was wearing underwear, and finally relaxed. Alright, I can deal with this, but we're really going to have Words in the morning!

 

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked softly.

 

There was a long silence, but eventually, Inuyasha murmured, “I never quite get used to that fucker's shit, no matter how many years I've seen it. The way he picks on the weak, especially people who can't defend themselves, and destroys them from the inside out; I hate it. Sess, Kouga… hell, even the Kit… seem to just shake it off, but I can't. Sess says it's because I have weak blood.”

 

“Aren't you brothers?”

 

The vigilante gave a hollow, humourless laugh, “Half-brothers.”

 

He's never mentioned that before. Kagome absorbed the old bitterness without comment, and instead placed her hands on top of his and squeezed them comfortingly. He opened his fingers, and the young woman laced hers with his, her palms remaining pressed to the backs of his hands. There was silence for a while, but Inuyasha wasn't any more asleep than she was, judging by his irregular breathing and the way he kept shivering. “We could get up and play Hanafuda if you want to take your mind off things,” she suggested.

 

“No. Just… stay here. Please.”

 

“OK.”

 

The clock's glowing numbers flicked past with agonising slowness as the young woman concentrated all her senses on the man curled tightly around her. Eventually his body temperature warmed, and the awful shuddering stopped. His desperate embrace loosened slightly, and he relaxed against her back. OK, I should move now as he's coming out of it. This isn't really appropriate. As if picking up on her concerns, the vigilante tensed up and completely let go.

 

“D'you want me to leave?” he asked reluctantly. “I'll go if you want.”

 

Kagome pulled a face at the thought, surprisingly and completely unenthused at the idea despite her earlier panic. On the contrary, she was warm, happy and the tiny flickers that ran up her nerves whenever he moved had her wishing that morning would never come. After a minute of trying to convince herself of the impropriety of the situation, Kagome gave up. One night won't hurt… “No, don't go. Stay here.” She hesitated just the tiniest moment before adding, “Please.” Inuyasha rumbled approvingly, immediately and intimately wrapping himself back around the young woman. Oh well, if you're going to damn yourself, you may as well do it in style… Kagome snuggled further into the warm body at her back, twining one of her legs with his.

 

“By the way, who's Buyo?” he asked, nuzzling her nape.

 

“Hmmm? Buyo?” she drowsily replied. “My cat. My family took him when they went to Okinawa because I couldn't keep him here.”

 

“You thought I was a sodding cat? Should have known,” the vigilante grouched. “Bloody things. Not only do they meow and piss everywhere, they have nine bloody lives, each one more annoying than the last.”

 

Kagome gave a sleepy laugh. “Should have guessed you'd dislike cats, Mr Dog Demon.”

 

“Keh.”

 

“Just so you know, I don't usually sleep in the same bed as my male friends,” Kagome mumbled as she drifted off.

 

The last thing she remembered hearing was a muttered, “I do know… but if you did, I'd have to rip their arms off.”

 

*

 

She woke up at one point before dawn to find herself sprawled comfortably over Inuyasha's chest as he lay on his back. Her thin t-shirt was rucked up under her arms, and one of his hands slowly stroked up and down her bare skin. Murmuring in appreciation, she pressed closer to him, sending slow sensual shivers through her body. His roving hand caressed her hip, his fingertips lightly brushing the edges of her panties. “This is nice. I should have more friends like you,” she half-purred, her fingers flexing against his velvet skin.

 

His answering growl vibrated through her body. “Don't you fucking dare, wench. I'd have to rip more than their arms off, and it would get really messy.”

 

*

 

He was gone by the time she woke up. Her bed seemed strangely empty without him and the window was, as ever, open. So much for The Talk we need to have! Remembering that she'd invited him to stay in her bed and the intimate position they'd ended up in had her flushing red with embarrassment. Then again, I'm not sure I could even face him, let alone have a Deep And Meaningful! Wryly shaking her head, Kagome headed into the shower, temporarily twisting her hair into a knot on her head to keep it out of the water. After dressing quickly, she was reaching for a pear when she noticed a piece of paper propped against the fruit bowl.

 

Had to go.

See you later.

Inuyasha

 

Kagome turned the note over in her in hands, admiring the beautiful, almost old-fashioned rows of kanji. I assumed that his handwriting would be rough, if practically non-existent, but he's obviously educated; curiouser and curiousier. I have to admit, I'd almost expected a paw print!

 

*

 

“Can you believe this sort of thing happening? I bet it was that Spider or that Youkai Pack.” Kagome's attention snapped towards the two people talking at the news stand as she passed them on her way towards the university. “It's horrendous. They should just string all of them up and get it over with.”

 

The young woman slowed down, craning her neck to scan at the newspaper headline, and the headline jumped out at her. “Gruesome Remains of Gangland Slaughter Found! Evidence of torture, mass murder and cannibalism in the Shinagawa district…”

 

Kagome swallowed, and continued on.

 

*

 

Tokyo University was in a positive frenzy due to the arrival of the billionaire heirs.

 

Members of the press were camped outside the main HongÅ campus entrance by the Akamon gate, snapping anyone that walked past as if they were besieging a red carpet gala. Kagome flinched as a camera went off in front of her face and quickly darted through the gate onto the grounds. To the young woman's surprise she was then stopped by a harassed member of the security staff, who politely demanded to see her student identification card. Displaying it for the first time in her entire university career, the medical student winced in sympathy for a staff far more used to visiting academics than famous celebrities, and who were very obviously struggling with the whole situation.

 

Inside, the campus was roiling with excitement. Every student it seemed, even those with a free day, had shown up with the result that the usually serene grounds had a crowded, claustrophobic atmosphere. Almost everyone was dressed to kill; the sheer numbers of short skirts, tight tops and perfectly coiffed hair around the eerily clean campus was enough to make the young woman feel she'd accidentally stepped into a film set. Looks like everyone had the same idea as Eri! At least the library is probably empty... the young woman thought hopefully as she wove her way through the crowds to get in a few hours' study before her lectures started.

 

The General Library's archway was empty of hopeful girls, but partially blocked by a crowd of official-looking types in suits. Some of the rather serious-looking men had earphones, and all were definitely on alert. They look like bodyguards. Curious, Kagome noticed Professor Nakamura, one of her favourite tutors, in the middle of the scrum, along with two tall men in well-cut suits, both with long black hair tied back at the napes of their necks. I bet that's the infamous duo… Eri'll spit I saw them first!

 

As she skirted round the group to reach the grey pillared walkway that led into the library, an errant breeze ruffled her hair. Three seconds later, both of the dark-haired men spun around and zeroed in on her. Oh my God. I can see why women fall at their feet. Matching pairs of piercing violet eyes stared intently, and Kagome involuntarily took a step back, suddenly feeling like a very small rabbit in front of two attractive but rapacious tigers.

 

“Ah, Miss Higurashi! Come here!” Professor Nakamura cheerfully beckoned. She swallowed nervously and obeyed, smiling politely even though her fingers were white where they gripped the strap of her yellow bag. The crowd reluctantly parted to let her through, and the young woman flushed, feeling somewhat underdressed and out of place. “This is one of my stars within the Medical Faculty,” he beamed. “Ryutaro and Sha Taisho, may I introduce Miss Kagome Higurashi?”

 

As both brothers towered over her, the young woman bowed deeply. “Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.” After a moment's pause, both politely returned her greeting.

 

The elder brother… that's Ryutaro, I think… closely scrutinized her face. “You look rather familiar, Miss Higurashi. Have we met before?” The younger brother gave the elder a narrow-eyed look, but said nothing.

 

“I don't think so, sir. I'm sure I would have remembered,” she quickly replied.

 

He inclined his head, before adding conversationally, “Interesting scent you're wearing.”

 

As Kagome puzzled, since she hadn't worn any perfume that day, Sha frowned briefly at his sibling before giving her a charming smile. “Don't worry, Ms Higurashi. He's just kidding about.”

 

The young woman blinked at his smile. There's something awfully familiar about that…. “It's… fine. I'll tell the supermarket that their house brand of shower gel caught your interest; I'm sure they'll be flattered. Um, anyway, I should be going because I'm sure you have lots of people to meet.”

 

Ryutaro foiled her escape attempt with an elegant gesture. “None as interesting as you, I'm sure, Miss Higurashi. Perhaps you would like to ask about the sponsorship programme?”

 

Kagome just managed not to wince as her professor nodded enthusiastically and gave her a thumbs-up from behind the Taishos' backs. “No, thank you. I'm sure that you'll have a lot of better-qualified people asking you for one of the places, so I don't want to take up more of your time. Good luck with your day; I hope you find what you're looking for.” Bobbing her head, she backed away as quickly as decently possible. The crowd flooded back around the brothers, cutting off the rather rattled young woman. As she darted up the Library's stairs and pushed open the heavy door, her eyes were drawn back to Sha Taisho. As if they were somehow connected, he met her gaze, and suddenly smiled just for her. I know you. I'm sure I do…

 

Escaping that intense look and the odd flutters it caused in her heart, she missed Ryutaro Taisho's laconic comment of, “Interesting choice, little brother…”

 

*

 

The day was dominated by the Taishos; it didn't matter where Kagome went, in class or out, she couldn't avoid the gushing over the handsome brothers. They were the main topic of conversations that centred on how to approach them, how to speak to them, what cars they were driving, and most importantly for some people, what they could do for you. Women fluttered while men muttered jealously, and jockeying for placement in the sponsorship programme was cut-throat. Kagome did her best to turn a deaf ear, but couldn't help curling her lip at the bets being made on who would sleep with either or both of the brothers at a party at the Taisho mansion that night.

 

Later that day, when she checked her mail in the University's small post room, she was bemused by an anonymous gold-edged invitation to the Taisho party, wryly wondering how Eri managed to get hold of these things.

 

I'm feeling a little sorry for them, because everyone views them as either a meal ticket or a chance for fifteen minutes of fame. Ruefully amused at herself, she shook her head as she dropped the invite into the bin. But only a little. It's hard to really pity someone who spends more in one day than your entire yearly allowance!

 

*

 

At some point that night, Kagome vaguely heard the window creak open just enough to pull her out of sleep. The young woman purposely kept her eyes closed and muttered “You'd better be Inuyasha, I'm sleeping, and I don't even want to know the time.” She heard a warm chuckle before the mattress dipped and a solid body crawled into bed next to her. Out of familiarity from the night before, Kagome rolled over to settle her head on his shoulder, draping her arm across his chest and her leg over his to press snugly against his side. The vigilante wrapped his arms around her, leaning his cheek against her hair, enveloping the girl with a sense of warm, sensual protection. “You know, we shouldn't be doing this,” she murmured sleepily, “But since you're here you can stay. Although we really should have a Talk in the morning.”

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“So what's your reason this time?” she asked, not really needing to know the answer.

 

“How about I like being around you?” His voice was gentle, and he stroked her hair until she fell back asleep.

 

*

 

Kagome surfaced to the feel of Inuyasha's clawed fingers gently sliding up the now-bare side of her body. Sighing appreciatively, she invitingly arched into his hand, and in response, he explored the soft curve of her hip before moving back up to her shoulder blade. Half-asleep, she hummed contentedly, snuggling closer. His hand hit material, and the stroke moved downwards again. The girl huffed, irritated at the half-caress. Reaching back, she tugged fruitlessly at the annoying impedance, sleepy and uncoordinated.

 

“'Kagome?”

 

“W'nt off.”

 

There was a choking noise that may or may not have been a certain vigilante. “Sure?”

 

“Mmm-hmm.” There was a soft ripping sound and then the bothersome thing was gone from her back. Kagome pushed the remains out from between them as well, cuddling closer to Inuyasha's warm body, wearing only her panties. “S'better.”

 

His fingers stroked from the nape of her neck all the way down to the top of her buttocks. “Yeah, it is wench,” he agreed as she drifted back off. “Just don't kill me in the morning.”

 

*

 

Kagome woke alone.

 

He did it again! We're never going to have That Talk! Growling lightly in frustration, the girl sat up and immediately went into a state of complete mortification at her state of undress. Oh no, I asked him to strip me as well! What must he think? Grabbing the discarded tee-shirt from where it was crumpled next to her pillow, she pulled it over her head. It promptly fell off again into her lap, and she stared at the fraying edges of the sliced-open back. Well, that explains how it came off so easily!

 

*

 

After a long shower, Kagome sat barefoot and cross-legged on the rug cradling a cup of coffee. Eyeing the demon-dog design and sighing heavily, she wondered how Inuyasha viewed their relationship. That's the second night he's slept in my bed, and he's seen me with pretty much nothing on. He leaves me gifts, he makes me smile, and he teaches me stupid card games… if it was any other situation, I'd say we were a `couple'.

 

But then again… Running her fingers through the thick pile, she considered the inherent difficulties in being involved with a masked crime-fighter. It isn't as if I can take a disguised vigilante home to meet my mother, for a start. I've never seen him without the `youkai' make up, or even outside of my bedsit, apart from the night I found him… and that doesn't seem right. We're isolated in a little compartment, and I'll bet that the other Youkai Pack members don't even know I exist. Chewing over her thoughts, she uncomfortably came to the conclusion that theirs wasn't exactly a healthy relationship, if it was a relationship at all. He's threatened physical violence to anyone else I might decide to be involved with, too.

 

I don't even know his real name.

 

He's never kissed me.

 

We really need that talk.

 

*

 

The next day, Kagome headed through the Akamon gate to the HongÅ campus for her lunch date with Ayumi. Grimacing at the newspaper cuttings already plastered all over the kiosk from yesterday's celebrity visit, she was deeply grateful that she'd mostly avoided the cameras. Wait… is that Rumiko from our biochemistry class draped over Sha Taisho?

 

Stepping back from the grainy image, she resumed her course to the canteen, but then noticed a child sitting alone on a nearby bench. The tiny girl was very pale, with pure white hair almost blending into her equally pale skin; it was only the near-black eyes that showed she wasn't a true albino. Her expression was oddly blank as she toyed with an elaborately-framed mirror on her lap. What on earth is a child that young doing unsupervised on campus? Kagome slowed as she carefully observed the small girl, and then made a decision. Altering her path towards the bench, she crouched down in front of the pale girl. “Hey there… are you lost?”

 

The girl glanced at her with a decidedly uninterested gaze and flatly replied, “No.”

 

“Where are your parents?”

 

“I don't have any.” The expressionless statement felt wrong coming from child who couldn't have been more than about five.

 

“Well, what are you doing?”

 

“Watching people,” the girl whispered, the mirror glinting with fractional movements of her tiny hands. “Looking for lost things. Maybe it's you we're looking for? He'd like your face… but maybe not. So I won't say anything about you. Yet.”

 

Stunned speechless and slightly unnerved, Kagome sat on her heels before her common sense kicked in. It's just a confused little girl… right? “Well, you shouldn't really be here by yourself. Let me help you; I can take you to the administration offices and we'll find your guardians,” the young woman offered with her most appealing smile as she held out her hand.

 

The girl shook her head. “I'm busy now, but you should go. You wouldn't want him to see you.”

 

That's the second reference to a `him'. Why does this whole thing give me the creeps? “Okay. Just be careful,” she cautioned. Shaking her head over the strange girl, she walked towards the canteen, and had the great luck to run into a couple of university security guards coming out of a side path. Bowing to catch their attention, she waited until the older, portly uniformed man returned her greeting.

 

“Mornin', Miss. Can I help you?”

 

“Good morning! Yes please… there seems to be a lost child on the bench back there, and I'm a bit worried about her,” Kagome pointed behind her.

 

Glancing in the direction indicated, he bemusedly repeated, “A lost child?”

 

“Yes, dressed in white with white…” Kagome turned around to point properly and her voice trailed off. The bench was empty. There was no sign of the girl. But… how could she have disappeared so quickly? She was only there a minute ago! Ignoring the chills down her spine, Kagome bobbed her head in apology. “Never mind. Sorry to have bothered you.”

 

*

 

Ayumi was waiting in the canteen, a napkin already protecting her smart ensemble from any stray rice grains from her bento box and a precisely-stacked pile of books at her elbow. Kagome slid onto the empty chair across from her friend with a welcoming smile.

 

“Hey, Kagome; you're late as usual!” the law student greeted cheerfully.

 

“Not my fault!” the young woman protested, “There was a lost child at the Akamon Gate entrance and I was trying to help find her guardians.”

 

Ayumi raised her eyebrows in surprise. “A child wandering on campus? Did you get it sorted?”

 

“No, she vanished before we could help.”

 

Noticing Kagome's pensive expression, the law student remarked comfortingly, “I'm sure she'll be fine, so don't worry; nothing bad ever happens on campus. Now, if she'd arrived in the middle of Typhoon Taisho yesterday, I'd be more worried!”

 

“You're probably right. It's just a couple of really strange things have happened in the last few months and I keep drawing all sorts of ridiculous conclusions about everything,” Kagome admitted.

 

“That is from reading too much about the Youkai Pack,” reprimanded Ayumi, “especially with the Shinagawa Massacre the night before last. Did you see the news reports on it?”

 

Kagome nodded reluctantly. “I read about it in the Library yesterday.”

 

“The initial information is … beyond words. This is one that's going to go in the law annuals and the police are up in arms. They think that there were even more victims than the fourteen bodies they found.”

 

Both girls were silent, staring into their bento boxes. Kagome swallowed, remembering Inuyasha's comment. “We didn't get there in time to stop all of it.”

 

“Anyway, onto cheerier subjects,” Ayumi said briskly. “Did you know Eri managed to wangle her way into the Taisho party?”

 

Kagome shook her head. “I guessed she must've because she left an official invitation for me in the post room.”

 

Ayumi gave her friend a queer look, “There weren't official invitations, Kagome. You just got your name written on a list which they checked off at the mansion.”

 

“Really?” The young woman paused, her rice-laden chopsticks hovering in midair. “It's a good thing I didn't go, then, or I'd have been turned away at the door.”

 

Ayumi shrugged and continued, “Apparently, the guests of honour skipped out early, so no-one won any of the bag-the-bachelor bets. Still, it was supposedly an awesome party, and Eri's going on a date on Friday with one of the Chemistry post-docs she met there. I don't think I've seen her this infatuated before!”

 

Kagome grinned at the idea of a smitten Eri. “Maybe she'll stop trying to set us up with people once she's in a stable relationship. I always thought there was some displacement going on there.”

 

“Which reminds me, how are you doing in the relationship stakes? Taken the dashing Hojo up on his offer yet?”

 

Kagome pulled a face. “I just don't know if I feel that way about him, and it's not really a good time.”

 

“You were thinking about him as a potential a few months back; I assumed he hadn't gotten around to asking you out.” Ayumi scrutinised the girl who was desperately trying to avoid her eye, before an impish grin crossed her face. “Why, Kagome, are you seeing someone else?”

 

“No. Well, not exactly...” Damn! Not only am I rubbish at lying, but I don't have a poker face either!

 

“What? I knew it! Tell me everything!” The enthusiastic demand almost stopped all noise in the canteen and caused plenty of craned necks.

 

Kagome slouched in her seat, her cheeks bright red. “There's a possibility that it might become something, but it's complicated. And no, I'm not talking about it yet.”

 

Ayumi laughed. “I'm so getting it out of you as soon as possible!”

 

*