InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Ain't Forgotten Easily ❯ Kagome HAS a life...sorta ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

Kagome yawned, stretching her arms above her head so that a small amount of stomach flesh was revealed. Inu-Yasha only caught it out of the corner of his eye before she lowered them again.

“Hey, Fang, I think it's about time we headed home.”

“That's fine with me. Let's go find Sadie and/or Myli—”

“My name herrre is Cat, morrron, and she is Evil Mistrrress. We do not use outside names in herrre, is that perrrfectly clearrr?” Myli had popped up in front of him.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. What's with the purring?”

“Don't ask.” She cleared her throat. “Now, why do you need to find her?”

“She said she needed us to come talk to her before we left, and it's about eleven-thirty now.” Kagome, something new in the air making her a little lightheaded, leaned against Inu-Yasha. “Do you know where she is?”

“Well…yeah, but…she's a little busy at the moment.”

Inu-Yasha shook his head. “I'm not even going to ask. We'll just talk to her some other time, but right now we need to get Kagome back home.”

As he spoke the schoolgirl dozed off on his side, legs giving out from underneath her and causing him to have to lean down and catch her. He could smell whatever it was in the air that had got her, though it didn't seem to affect his nose like it did a human's. Odd, he thought.

Myli took one look at her and nodded. “All right. Let's go.”

She led the way from the noisy club, pausing to tell Kagura to inform the Evil Mistress that she had gone to drop off Miko and Fang if asked.

The wind sorceress nodded, casting an odd look at the back of Inu-Yasha's head as he disappeared out the door. I still get a weird feeling off of him…

***

Seeing as Inu-Yasha didn't know how to drive and Kagome was out, the two hanyous had to search her for her keys. They found them hanging on her belt, wedged between her and Inu-Yasha.

The drive back to the Higurashi manor was made in silence, Inu-Yasha almost nodding off but forcing himself to remain awake.

“Last stop,” Myli announced, pulling up to the garage. Inu-Yasha opened the door and somehow managed to maneuver Kagome and himself out, carrying her bridal-style into the house.

“I don't think the Higurashis would mind you staying one night as long as you don't steal anything,” he said to Myli. “There are a bunch of guest rooms this way—”

“No, I'll go sleep in a tree outside. It's what I usually do.” She disappeared out the door, leaving him to awkwardly lock it behind her.

It finally struck him just how tired he was. Figuring her parents were already asleep, he headed into the west wing towards Kagome's room.

The instant he set her down on the bed he realized he was not going to make it back to his own bedroom before he dropped. Sighing, he pulled his hair out of its ponytail and collapsed at the foot of her bed.

***

Something tickled his nose. He snorted, mentally telling it he wanted to remain asleep. However, it insisted, irritating him into finally sneezing and opening his eyes.

Myli sat on the footboard, her tail hovering above his head and a huge grin plastered on her face.

“You're so cute, curled up like a doggy at the end of the bed!”

“Feh.” He sat up and looked over, not surprised to see that Kagome was still out—but startled that she had shifted positions to lie beside him.

“Anyway, I had to wake you up. Myoga wants to speak with you.”

“Myoga? He's here again?”

“You are the first ghost to lose your power in a very long time, Inu-Yasha. That's something the Keepers of Spirits would be very interested in, no?”

“Yeah, I guess.” He stood and stretched, wincing as his back popped. “Ow.”

“Come on. He's waiting out in the hall so we won't disturb Kagome.” Myli lightly jumped off the headboard.

“All right.” The inu trailed the neko outside, where a tiny speck immediately affixed itself to his face. Whack!

“Nice…to see you…too…Master Inu-Yasha…” Myoga landed on the ground and popped back into 3D. “However, we have no such time for courtesies. It has come to our attention that the ghosts of youkai have been growing more active lately, and several have disappeared after going into solid states. The odd thing is—” He eyed Inu-Yasha apprehensively. “This started the night after I spoke to you, and we have reason to suspect you because a tip came to us that you have the Shikon jewel. Is this true?”

“Not me, exactly…” Inu-Yasha gestured to the door. “Kagome is the reincarnation of Kikyo, and the job of finding the shards was sorta shoved onto her.”

“You're attempting to find the shards of the Shikon after five hundred years?!” Myoga yelped, hopping up and grabbing the end of Inu-Yasha's nose. “You're crazy! They could have been taken clear across the world by now!”

“Doesn't mean we can't try, Myoga.”

Myoga sighed. “Very well. However, I must speak to my colleagues.”

“Why?”

“Because I will need to travel with you. You wouldn't have known it, but some of the youkai you have been killing are ghosts themselves.”

“Is that a bad thing?” Myli asked.

“Yes. He's throwing things out of balance. When a ghost that still has power is killed while solid, the power is released into the surrounding environment. Ghosts like Master Inu-Yasha—though there are no others currently—draw that power into themselves to replenish their own. Along with his natural restocking, Master Inu-Yasha has been absorbing power from those that he killed. As of right now, his year-long sentence has not only been cut down by a month of normal healing, but two more months because of all the power he soaked up.”

“So I've only got nine months left?!”

“Indeed.” The flea nodded solemnly. “As I said, though, you cannot keep on like this. Other things draw on that power as well, Master Inu-Yasha, and you are releasing so much of it…”

“Got it, got it.”

“Good. Now, if you'll excuse me.” Myoga launched himself from Inu-Yasha's nose and bounced off Myli's chest before fleeing down the hall. The cat hissed at him and pounced, smashing the flea into the marble.

Just as well. Inu-Yasha had remembered something he wanted to ask Myoga. He leaned down and peeled the flat flea off the floor.

“What is it?” he asked after puffing back up.

Inu-Yasha gestured for Myli to leave. Taking the hint, she vanished back into Kagome's bedroom.

“Listen, I don't know if this has anything to do with my being a ghost or not, but…” He leaned down so that his face was closer to the K.o.S. “Kagome and I…the first day I came back, we entered into this weird fantasy thing…and it happened again just the other day…”

Myoga didn't look shocked. “The girl you pulled up the cliff? She is a miko, correct?”

“Yeah…”

“Then it's simple. Your—”

“What's simple?” asked a yawning Kagome, having just appeared from her room.

“Apparently, the reason for our little `problem,'” Inu-Yasha replied dryly.

“Really?” She stared at the flea. “What is it then?”

“It seems that when he saved your life, Kagome, that he bonded his spirit to yours.”

There was silence for a moment. Then, “That's it?”

“Yes. You were in close proximity and saved her using your spirit, and, as she is a miko, your auras easily blended.”

“Wouldn't that purify me?” Inu-Yasha asked.

“If I remember correctly, you were due to turn into a human…”

“Oh. Less youki, more human aura.”

“Exactly.” Myoga stood. “Now, I really have to be going.”

“Go.” Inu-Yasha blew the tiny flea off his hand, causing him to depart down the hall.

“Shouldn't you have asked if there was some way to…keep them from happening?” Kagome asked, noticing she was still in her previous night's outfit and making a face.

“No. If our auras are connected, there's no way to break it besides death or my returning to spirit form.”

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Great.”

“Could be worse,” he said, setting off down the hall. “You could be stuck with Sesshoumaru.”

Kagome twitched.

***Skip ahead to Friday***

Kagome stood next to a trio of chattering girls, wondering again why she had decided to befriend them other than the fact that she had no other friends here.

“Well, Kagome?” the one called Yuka asked, looking over her shoulder.

“What?” she asked, not having paid any attention to their conversation.

“Do you want to go with us to the mall? They're opening a new clothing store!”

Sighing inwardly, Kagome shrugged. “Sure, I guess. I just have to call my mom first.”

“And if we're lucky, maybe Hojo will be there,” Eri added in slyly.

Kagome rolled her eyes as Eri and Yuka burst into giggles. Hojo went to her school, and those two had been relentless in trying to push them together ever since they found out that she had met him before. He wasn't helping by asking her out at every opportune moment. Did he forget about my `boyfriend?'

Ayumi saw her and sidled over so that they could talk without the other two overhearing. “You don't really want to see him, do you?”

“How'd you guess?” Okay, so Ayumi wasn't that bad. She had straighter priorities than the other two. With them it was boys, boys, clothes, more boys, clothes to attract boys, oh, wait, was I supposed to be doing schoolwork? Ayumi was study, stare at a couple of cute guys, make sure everything was done, and let's go shopping when done.

“They can be a handful sometimes.” Ayumi smiled. “When they get set on something they have to see it through.”

“Can't we get them to set up you and Hojo? I know you at least like him.” Kagome dug through her backpack until she produced her cell phone, bought by her mother for the weeks when she went shard-hunting. She quickly dialed and explained to her mother that she was going to hang out with her friends for a little while, but would be back before eight. Komiko said it was all right.

“Okay, let's get going,” Kagome said, stowing away her phone again.

The other two finally managing to stop their giggling—good, it was starting to grate on Kagome's nerves—and the four girls headed out to Eri's car. She lived just past Kagome's house, so that was her transport home.

***

Within an hour Kagome was bored stiff. She normally liked clothes shopping, but all they had done since arrriving was wander around, supposedly looking for hot guys. However, she knew it was just a pretense for Yuka and Eri to try and find Hojo.

Ayumi slowed to walk next to Kagome. “Ready to ditch `em?” she asked quietly.

Kagome nodded, and on the count of three she and Ayumi detoured into a store. Yuka and Eri continued walking, never even noticing that their friends had disappeared.

“Whew. Thanks, Ayumi.” Kagome turned around.

“How may I help you two ladies?” asked a nice-looking young woman. Kagome went red when she saw that it was Victoria's Secret that they had sought refuge in.

“Eek!” Ayumi yelped, and both girls dashed out of the store, leaving a confused employee in their wake. They hid behind one of the carts in the center of the hall since their other friends weren't out of sight just yet.

“That was embarrassing,” Kagome muttered, trying to force her blush down as she examined the jewelry on the cart. Ayumi nodded, keeping an eye on Yuka and Eri until they went around a corner.

“All clear,” she announced. “So, where do you want to go?”

“I dunno.” Kagome ran her fingers over a crystal dragon pendant. “Pretty…”

“I agree.” The voice caused Kagome to shriek and jump. “Hi.”

“Sadie!” the schoolgirl gasped out. “You scared me!”

The half-devil blinked, her eyes a bright blue today. “I did?” She smirked. “And even when I didn't mean to! Two points!”

“You're odd, did you know that?” Kagome stepped back. “Sadie, this is Ayumi. Ayumi, this is Sadie—” She was interrupted by a squeak from her school friend.

“You're that club owner that all the Goths at school talk about!” she said, taking a step back. “They say you're majorly evil!”

Sadie stepped out from behind the cart and spread her arms. “Do I look evil to you?”

Ayumi took but a few seconds to process the bright blue shirt and blue jeans. “No…”

“Right. I only play evil on the weekends. Eh, Kagome?” She smirked again.

“Heh…” A sweatdrop formed on the back of Kagome's head at Ayumi's look. “Yeah. Well, anyway, nice seeing you, Sadie. We'll just be going now.”

“Hold it.” Sadie caught her wrist before she could get far. She pressed an envelope into Kagome's hand, then let go. “Give that to Inu-Yasha, would you?”

“Uh, sure. Bye.” Kagome ran, Ayumi following after her.

***

“So, how do you know her?” Ayumi asked as they walked into one of those rare fun shops with all kinds of odd clothing.

“I—I met her best friend about two weeks ago, and then she dragged me to Sadie's club.” She shuddered as she started flipping through one of the racks, throwing the occasional piece of clothing on a chair behind her.

“You've been in her club?” Ayumi's jaw dropped, and she stopped rifling through a bin of odd accessories for a moment. “All the Goths at school complain about how they can't get in because they're too young!”

Kagome gulped, desperately wanting to change the subject away from Sadie and her freaky club. “Perks to knowing her friend, I guess. Anyway, you seem to know the Goths pretty well. Other friends, I daresay?”

Ayumi sighed and started going through the bin again. “Only when I can get away from Eri and Yuka. They hate the Goths, saying they're bad for our image.”

“What image?” Kagome gathered up the pile of clothes she had been collecting. “Come on, let's go try these on.”

Ayumi followed her back to the dressing rooms, taking half of the stack. They walked into stalls next to one another so they could continue talking.

“The image that they're convinced they have. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that they're both preppy wannabes. Probably why they latched onto you so quickly.”

“Me? Why me?” Kagome shed her t-shirt and jeans and pulled on a pale green peasant's blouse, a black bodice, and dark green bell-bottoms. “You ready?”

“Just a sec…yeah.”

“Three…two…one!” Both of them appeared at the same time, and Kagome burst into giggles at Ayumi's wardrobe: neon rainbow short-shorts and a hot pink halter.

Ayumi, however, did not laugh. “You know, Kagome, you actually look good in that.”

“I do?” She walked over to the mirror. “Dang, I thought I looked goofy.” She grinned, and pushed her hair up. “Yeah, I could do this. Who knew?”

She let it drop and walked back to her dressing room. Ayumi had already gone back into hers, and they continued their conversation.

“They picked you because, well, the announcement that you were a noble. That makes you instant real prep bait. They thought you would boost other people's opinions of them by hanging out with us.”

“You've gotta be kidding me.” Kagome pulled on a bright purple tube top and a lime green miniskirt. She walked out to wait for Ayumi, laughing at herself in the mirror. “That's the only reason you guys came up to me?”

“No, I came because you looked lost.” The door opened and Ayumi, in a tight, leopard-print, long-sleeved shirt with a black vest over it and baggy blue jeans with roses embroidered into the legs, walked out. “I felt sorry for you.”

“Oh, thanks.” Kagome leaned back and inspected the other girl's garb. “You know, go find a better shirt and that could actually work.”

Ayumi quickly darted back into the dressing room, reappearing a few minutes later after replacing the leopard-print with a maroon long-sleeved shirt under the vest. “Better?”

“Much. It works for you, Ayumi; it really does.”

“Thanks.” She smiled. “Anyway, I have a few friends in the Goth clique, and they say I'm welcome whenever I'm ready to ditch Eri and Yuka.”

Kagome walked back into the dressing room. “You think they'd mind if I hung around you and them?”

Ayumi laughed. “Are you kidding? Just say you've met Sadie and you'll be their best friend in seconds.”

“I don't really want to make friends just because of that. How about I get to know them first and then surprise them that I know her?”

“That'd probably work.” They drifted off the subject, changing clothes for a while and finding a few outfits that each liked but mostly goofing off.

Ayumi had just opened her mouth to say something when they distinctly heard Eri's voice calling, “Kagome? Ayumi? Are you in here? Guys!”

“Uh-oh!” Kagome grabbed a pair of cat-eye sunglasses off a nearby rack and pushed them at Ayumi, grabbing herself a pair and then yanking two hats off of another shelf. “Go change!” she hissed, ushering the other girl into the dressing room before darting into the other.

“Kagome, Ayumi, is that you?” Eri had been joined by Yuka, and it sounded as if they were right outside.

Kagome pulled on a pair of skintight neon green shorts and an oversized tie-dyed shirt, pulling on the straw sun hat and neon blue sunglasses before walking out. She crossed to the mirror, careful not to make a sound and ignoring the two girls.

“That's not one of them. Ayumi wouldn't demean herself by wearing something like that, and I doubt Kagome would either.”

The other door opened, and Kagome watched in the mirror as the girl in a yellow-and-green-striped sundress, red beret, and sunglasses came over next to her.

“They're not here. Let's go, Yuka.”

“Wait…” Yuka started walking towards them, peering critically. Tiny little sweatdrops started to form on the backs of both girl's heads.

“Jen! Rachel!” A girl all in black and silver appeared from amidst the clothing and strode up to them, slinging her arms around Kagome and Ayumi's shoulders. “You two look like idiots!”

“It's not them,” Eri said, a note of disgust creeping into her voice. “Ayumi and Kagome would not lower themselves to hang around these people.”

“Ah, stuff a sock in it, wannabe!” Kagome and Ayumi's savior shouted, turning around. The two girls escaped back into the dressing rooms. “If I'm low, then you gotta be…jeez, I don't think they have a number low enough for you!”

A huff indicated Eri's annoyance, and moments later the sounds of two sets of footsteps could be heard leaving.

“You owe me, Ayumi,” said the girl outside.

“Yeah, I know, Sierra.” Ayumi, back to her normal clothes, walked out of the dressing rooms and started hanging up the clothes she wasn't planning on buying.

“By the way, who's she?” Sierra asked, pointing to Kagome. The girl froze, half-in, half-out of the room.

“Eh…my name's Kagome. I'm a friend of Eri,” she said nervously. Those spikes on Sierra's bracelet looked sharper than the ones on the collar she had been wearing last night…she gulped.

“Ah.” The other girl's face broke into a grin, making her seem a little less frightening. “By the way, I knew that. I've been standing in that aisle for a good part of your conversation. And don't worry, I won't tell anyone else that you know Sadie.”

“Uh…heh.” Kagome smiled sheepishly, returning clothes to where she had found them and keeping the ones she liked on a chair with Ayumi's. “I take it you're one of the Goth clique that we were talking about?”

“Yup.” Chains jangled as the girl walked past them. “Guess I'll see you two around. I abandoned everyone else when I saw you, Ayumi, and they'll be wondering where I am.”

“Talk to you later!” Ayumi waved from the register as Sierra joined a group of similar-looking teens. They all raised their hands in a wave, and Kagome felt compelled to hide behind Ayumi.

***

“Say, Kagome,” Ayumi said as they wandered through the movie store, “who is this Inu-Yasha character that Sadie said to give that envelope to?”

Kagome went red. “He's, uh, a guy who's living at my house.”

Her friend raised an eyebrow. “I take it he's not a relative. Kagome, do I sense a crush on this guy?”

Kagome laughed nervously. If only you knew… “If you saw him, you'd understand.”

“Ooh, is he cute?” Ayumi glanced at the collection of anime DVDs. “Darn, they don't have the next part of the series yet…”

“Is he cute?!” Kagome exclaimed. “He's past the point of drool-worthy; he's more like a god or something.” I can't believe I just said that about Inu-Yasha…!

“Mm, wish I could meet him.” Ayumi winked.

“You wanna come stay over tonight?” Kagome asked out of the blue. Whoops.

“Your mom wouldn't mind?”

“No.” Inu-Yasha will, though; we won't be able to set off until she's gone. Kagome made a face. I don't care! I have a friend, I'm entitled to invite her over! Screw him! It won't kill us to have her over for a while!

Ayumi was watching Kagome argue silently with herself amusedly. When the schoolgirl finally noticed, she chuckled edgily. “Sorry. Here, I'll call my mom and see if it's all right.”

“And I'll call mine.” Ayumi reached into her pocket and produced a Barbie pink cell phone. “Ugh, I have got to get a different color. Yuka gave this to me, so I didn't take it off to be nice, but…yuck.”

“We'll run by the phone store before we head out,” Kagome said right as her mother picked up. “Hi, Mom. Can one of my friends stay over tonight?”

“Sure, honey, if it's fine with her parents.”

“She's asking right now. Hold on.” Kagome pressed the mouthpiece against her shoulder and waited until Ayumi gave her the thumbs-up signal. She brought the phone back up to her ear. “She's good to go. Oh, and Mom?”

“Hm?”

“Can you come pick us up?”

“Sure thing. Be waiting out front.”

“Gotcha. See you in a little while.” Kagome hit the End button and stowed the phone back where it belonged. Ayumi was grinning at her.

“What say we meet her in new outfits?”

“Okay! There's bathrooms by the phone store.” Kagome took off. “Race you!”

“Not fair!” Ayumi tore off after her. “Hey! You got a head start! Kagome!”

***

Inu-Yasha was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling and wondering when Kagome was going to get home, when there was a knock on the door. He sniffed, catching only Komiko's scent. “Come on in.”

She poked her head in and smiled at him. “I'm sorry to bother you, Inu-Yasha, but I'm running out to pick up Kagome. Can you watch the boys until I get back? They're playing hide and seek in the south wing, and Shippo ended up lost once already.”

“Sure.” He sat up.

“And I'm afraid I have to ask you to put on your bandanna. Kagome's bringing a friend home with her.”

He leaned over and picked it up off the dresser, tying it around his head as he walked out the door.

“Thank you.”

***

Inu-Yasha stared out the window, watching the dark clouds roll closer. He mentally counted, shouting every tenth number, unsure of how the little brats had roped him into playing, but here he was, promising not to use his nose.

Just as he reached fifty, he saw Komiko's car pull into the driveway. He had a few minutes before they reached the house, but it would take him that long to collect Sota and Shippo. This house was just too damn big!

So, he took the easy way out. “Brats! Your mother's back!”

A thump came from one of the rooms, and down the hall he saw a doorway open and spill Sota out with a bunch of linens.

The human child spent the next couple of minutes stuffing them back in, but there was still no sign nor scent of Shippo.

Inu-Yasha glanced back out the window and saw that the clouds had come in faster than he'd thought they would and were now flashing.

“Shit,” he muttered. Lightning.

“Shippo!” he shouted as loud as he could. No answer—wait.

Inu-Yasha strained his ears, holding up a hand to keep Sota quiet. “Shippo?”

“I'm stuck!” came the far-off answer. “I got up and now I can't get back down!”

“I'm coming!” Inu-Yasha turned to Sota. “Go wait by the front door, okay?”

“Okay.” Sota went left while the hanyou went the opposite direction, following Shippo's shouting.

He passed a window just as lightning hit a tree not too far off, and the rumble soon echoed through the house. Swearing to himself, Inu-Yasha picked up the pace.

“Shippo!” he called.

“In here!” cried the kit's terrified voice. He opened the door next to him and groaned.

The library. So many places for the stupid kid to hide.

“Up here!” Inu-Yasha looked up and saw Shippo huddled on top of a bookcase.

“How'd you manage that?” he asked, starting the climb up the massive mahogany bookcase. Thunder boomed through the house again, and Shippo yelped and ducked down. Inu-Yasha sighed and made a giant leap, landing next to the kitsune.

“There was a stack of books, but they fell,” he squeaked, latching onto Inu-Yasha's shirt. The inu-hanyou hopped down and headed out, comforting the young kitsune with a continuous reassuring growl. Shippo dozed off quickly.

He rounded the last corner and headed for the front hall. A loud burst of giggling and Sota's protests reached his ears, and he knew he was in for a long night.

***

A/n: Not much, just the standard…

^_^ Review please! I love all of you that review because it means you haven't lost faith in me!

…Yet… -.-`````````