InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Present Perfect ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi

 

CHECK OUT THE SKETCH OF INUYASHA'S HOUSE UNDER FANART—called “Inuhouse.”

 

 

Chapter 5:

 

 

Making up made their fight almost worth it—almost. Then Susan showed up at their door to offer them a ride to campus. He wondered which of their friends had given her their address, so he could kill him.

 

While Kagome answered the knock on the door, Inuyasha scrambled to get the stupid bandana over his ears. He'd known it was Susan, of course, by her scent, but he wisely let Kagome find out that tidbit of information by herself.

 

Kagome's lips tightened briefly, but she put on a smile and invited Susan inside. “You didn't have to do that,” she said, once Susan explained why she was there.

 

“Oh, it's no trouble at all,” replied Susan. “I have to go right by here on my way to class anyway.”

 

Kagome doubted that. Their street was off the main road. Still, now that Susan was here, they might as well get dressed and ride in with her. Kagome was glad she was wearing one of Inuyasha's t-shirts for pajamas. She wanted to be very sure that Susan got the hint.

 

Susan looked around their apartment curiously while she waited for them to get ready. There weren't a lot of personal items in the living room. She picked up a small photo frame of an old man, a woman, and a little boy. Other than that one, there were no other pictures. The couch had a few cushions out of place, so she busied herself straightening them out until she realized that Inuyasha was standing right behind her, watching her. “Sorry,” she said. “Restless hands. Are you ready?”

 

Kagome came out of the bedroom and took Inuyasha's hand. “We're ready,” she replied.

 

Inuyasha would have rather taken Kagome to school his way. Susan had motioned for him to get in the front, but Kagome gave him a look, and slid in first, so that all three of them were in the front seat. It was uncomfortable, and not just because he was squashed.

 

 

Fenn had taken Inuyasha's homework assignment seriously and somehow wangled himself a job as assistant director on this semester's theatre production so he could be near Jen. Fenn was the most social of the new world youkai. Once he had got over the shock of realizing Inuyasha's human friends knew what he was, he kind of enjoyed the attention. During the winter break, he had hung out at Mr. Rinks' community theatre practices just so he could spend time talking to Jen. Her wealth of information on all things supernatural, ridiculous as most of it was, intrigued him. In among the myths and legends she constantly spouted, he found trace mentions of his kind. It seemed there was precedent for this human-youkai relationship thing. Not that he felt any attraction for the human girl, no. Not like Inuyasha had with Kagome, anyway. Jenn was human and he—wasn't. But it would be untrue to say he didn't enjoy her company.

 

Jen didn't mind at all. She still thought of Fenn as an elf, and he let her keep her fantasies. She wasn't that far off, anyway. He wasn't nearly as violent as Inuyasha or that deadly brother of his. He tended to be more of a trickster. He was a spirit of the lowlands, of watery dark places. Not evil, no not that. But he had a wicked sense of humor. And he didn't like to fight unless he was provoked, severely provoked. Like now.

 

“I meant you should find new humans, not my humans,” snapped Inuyasha, who had sniffed out Fenn as he passed the theatre building. It was early, and none of the students were there yet.

 

“She's not your human,” objected Fenn, who didn't rely on scent like the inu-youkai.

 

“Yes, she is,” Inuyasha insisted. “They all are. They're under my protection. Find another one.”

 

Find another one? Who did he think he was? Fenn's aura flared to match his temper. Inuyasha picked up on his anger immediately, dog that he was, and growled in return. “Keep away from her,” he cautioned Fenn. “She doesn't understand what you really are.”

 

“I don't think so,” Fenn replied. “She likes me.” He grinned mischievously. “I haven't done anything you haven't done.”

 

Inuyasha lunged at him, ready to tear his head from his shoulders and not even sure why. He just knew he wasn't going to let any youkai harm his humans, even if those youkai were under his protection too.

 

Just then Jen rushed up and pushed Inuyasha with both hands. He didn't budge although she continued to pound her fists against his chest. “Leave him alone!” she shouted, “Just leave him alone!”

 

She was protecting Fenn? From him? If it wasn't so laughable, he would have been insulted. As it was, he let her push him away. Fenn grinned at him from over her shoulder. Fine, they could have each other. He was just trying to keep Jen safe.

 

“I can take care of myself,” Jen said. “I know what Fenn is. I'm not worried.”

 

Fenn gave a triumphant smile. Inuyasha scowled. “Whatever.” He was late for class, anyway. Without a backward glance, Inuyasha took off.

 

 

Sesshomaru was gone, he still didn't know if he and Kagome would ever be able to go back home to his time again, and now his own youkai were giving him grief. For once it would be a relief to sit in class and zone out. It was an art class, and he passed the time drawing pictures of what he wanted his new house to look like. Every now and then the teacher would pass by and give him so-called constructive criticism. He had to restrain himself from growling. It was turning into a spectacular day.

 

Instead of going home between classes, Inuyasha decided to go for a run to clear his head. Kagome had another class, so he had about an hour and a half to himself. He put it to good use, even though it wasn't as comfortable running in his modern clothes. Kagome hadn't bought him any of the soft kind like Sesshomaru and Mr. Rinks wore—sweats, they were called. He didn't see why not. They would be more comfortable than what he had on. He'd ask her about it when he got home.

 

He didn't have any specific destination in mind—just away. As he passed the little bridge between the classroom buildings and the dorms, Inuyasha sensed a faint presence. His youkai from the mountain. Wordlessly, he invited them to join him and they streamed in behind him, more spirit than substance. He was still confined to his physical form. He hadn't thought to ask Kagome to remove the necklace. He didn't mind today, however. He wanted to feel the wind in his face. Together, they sprinted towards the open fields ahead.

 

He ended up back at his forest, at the top of the cleared mountain. Sesshomaru had started the process, then left it up to him to follow up with the actual building. There was no reason to wait. He stared at the view from the cliff, imagining where their bedroom would be, where he would place the hot tub, how happy Kagome would be to have a hot tub.

 

The little youkai crept around him; even Valynne was back. He smiled at them, and told them about his house, and asked them to bear with it through the construction. It would be worth it, in the end. He thought he got through to them. At least Valynne was nodding. It was late, and he needed to get back. “Stay here?” he asked them. “I promise I will come back soon.”

 

Kagome would be upset. He was supposed to meet her at the cafeteria right about now. He hadn't intended to go so far. It was the perfect end to this perfect day. He put on an extra burst of speed and raced through the darkening woods. He made it to the cafeteria just as Kagome was coming out, a wrapped plate in her hands.

 

“Inuyasha,” she said with surprise.

 

“Kagome, I'm sorry,” he said, “I missed dinner.”

 

“Is everything all right?” she asked, concern in her voice. She handed him the plate. “I saved you some.”

 

“Yeah, everything's all right,” said Inuyasha. She wasn't mad. Maybe today wasn't such a waste after all. “Can we just go home?”

 

He knelt down so she could get on his back. She held the plate uncertainly, until he finally took it from her, tilted it up, and wolfed down the contents. He stuck the empty plate on the low wall outside the cafeteria. Someone would find it there eventually.

 

It felt even better to be running with Kagome on his back. She didn't question anymore that he might let some silly human see them. She trusted him. At home, he let her slide down but then he twisted around so that they were facing each other. He encircled her in his arms and held her, silently, just to feel her, to be with her. She made him whole.

 

“Inuyasha?” she asked. “Are you sure you're all right?”

 

“Yeah,” he murmured into her hair. “I missed you.”

 

Kagome's eyes twinkled, and she reached up to tug on the restraining beads around his neck. But she only said, “You could have called me on your cell.”

 

It wasn't that kind of missing, and she knew it. She let Inuyasha sweep her into their bedroom, and they continued where they had left off that morning. Their bond was stronger than all the Susans in the world.