InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Project Hope ❯ Chapter 12
Sorry I haven't updated but I've been so dragged down by school…who knew that 7th grade could by so incredible stressful. I also have a kendo test on soon to go up a level, so I have to work for that. That, homework, this essay contest I'm entering, my after-school curriculums, and sleeping, I don't have much time to sit down and type.
I know I sound like I'm making up a bunch of excuses but I'm really weighed down and starting to feel the pressure. Coming from a Korea I have to get all A's -at least 91- and I', trying hard to get into honors algebra next year. I'm really freaking out and wishing that I had a few minutes to just read or hang out like I used to…I'm sorry about not updating but please be patient.
I know that it seems that I dropped everything about Kagome's mother and dad but I didn't. They're just waiting for their turn.
Chapter 12
The sun began its slow descent and the blue sky changed to a blazing orange with streaks of cotton candy pink brushed unto the sky. Looking like a bright egg yolk, the sun slid down the sky. The tide seemed to yawn and its steady breathing quieted the waves to gentle rolls of water. The group lay on the blanket spread over the sand and were content to watch the sunset. Tired from the day of romping and playing, Shippou was sleeping and to Inuyasha's annoyance, his snoring was unbelievable.
Wide-eyed Inuyasha stared at the tiny kitsune. "For the love of god, shut him up!"
Kagome frowned and slapped at one of Inuyasha's ears. "Shh! He's asleep! If you wake him up I'll bury you in this sand and leave you to rot."
Defensively holding his insulted ear Inuyasha snapped loudly, "You could bury me
about as far down as you can throw me!"
Miroku chuckled in amusement and warned, "Don't test her Inuyasha. Get her mad and she could throw you to the other side of the moon."
Clogging Miroku on the head Inuyasha barked, "I'll toss you to the other side of the Milky Way if you don't shut up, monk."
Sango, who was sitting with Kagome between herself and Miroku (wonder why...
-_-;;) rolled her eyes. "Don't hesitate. I'd have done it years ago if he only he wouldn't touch me ever time I'm within six feet of him."
Rin giggled and nudged Sesshomaru. "Who needs cable when we have WWF right here?"
Shippou gave a loud snort and mumbled in his sleep. Kagome pressed her finger to her lip and gave Inuyasha a death glare.
Glaring right back Inuyasha hissed, "What!"
Shaking her head, Kagome sigh and leaned back against Kirara. She settled Shippou against her warm and furry belly and absent-mindedly stroked Shippou's hair. It was nice being here. So relaxing…She watched as tiny breathing holes in the sand for crabs bubbled with air.
Rin grinned as she watched Shippou and whispered, "Look at Shippou guys."
If only they'd had a camera. Inuyasha scrunched his nose in disgust and edged away. That damned fox had the hugest snot bubble. Sango's laugh came out as snorts from trying to hold it back.
"If we filled that up with helium he'd have a balloon attached to his face."
Oh, the pity.
The sun had set and the moon took its place. Night threw its dark cloak over the sea and covered the Hope in velvet darkness. The stars danced and shone, their light not at all dulled by the half-moon in her majestic prime. The forest, the ocean, the sky, everything seemed to breath and sleep under the watchful eye of the moon.
But of course, humans aren't that in tune with nature. Humans, demons or hanyous for that matter.
Inuyasha flattened his ears against his head, trying to block out the sound of Shippou's obnoxious thunder of a snore. Oblivious and out like a light, Shippou continued snoring like an ox. He even had drool trailing down his chubby face.
Kagome, Rin and Sango were all lying on their stomachs looking at Shippou. For some reason that Inuyasha took for madness, they found him "adorable" in his state.
Kagome smiled gently and cooed, "Isn't he so cute? Look at him!"
Sango petted his bushy red tail and sighed, "He's so sweet. He must look even cuter in his fox form. A baby fox."
Rin squealed in delight, "I'm a sucker for babies! Especially when they're as cute as Shippou!"
Sesshomaru sat there with that mono -expression while Inuyasha crossly snapped, "What's so cute about a drooling, snoring brat that blows snot bubbles big enough to make a hot air balloon?"
Miroku made a wise face and said, "It's in the nature of women to love small cuddly things. I'm may not be small but adorable yes. Which is why the ladies love me."
A vein in Inuyasha neck popped as he pushed Miroku's face into the sand. "Ass of a monk…you're about as cute as that old hag, Kaeda."
Sputtering sand Miroku corrected, "It's Kaede and don't speak of her in that tone. She may be old but she's the head honcho and she could knock you out with a couple of words."
Inuyasha scoffed, "That ancient witch couldn't do shit to me. I'd rip her to shreds before her old butt even knew she was being attacked."
A fist came out of nowhere and connected with Inuyasha's head. Flaming, Kagome towered over him and she hissed, "Inuyasha! I swear if I had my bow and arrow, I'd shoot you in that fat ego of yours! Kaede has forgotten more about battle and combat than you could hope to learn in five lifetimes!"
Inuyasha was pretty much seeing birds and stars going around his head. "Damn…are you trying to give me a concussion?!"
Kagome punched him again. "That's the idea."
Rin pulled Kagome away and sighed, "Wouldn't it be nice if we went to the mountains?"
Miroku blinked, "The mountains?"
Rubbing the numerous bumps on his Inuyasha scowled, "Shippou's snoring would start and avalanche and kill us all."
Flames seemed to burst from Kagome as she bopped Inuyasha on the head. "Shut up."
~*~
The next morning
Everyone sat at the table. Inuyasha was still sulking over the bumps on his head and Kagome was cheerful as usual. Rin yawned and pushed her chair back. Rubbing her eyes she said, "I'm going to see what we have to eat."
Sesshomaru watched Rin go to the kitchen and remembered the lemon pastry that he'd eaten on his tour. When would he get to taste those again? Rin came out of the kitchen with a hopeless face.
"We're out of food."
Miroku frowned. "What do you mean? There has to be something."
Shaking her head Rin replied, "No. There's nothing except for green beans and broccoli. No chips, no soda, nothing."
Kagome puffed her cheeks, let the air out and sighed, "I guess we have to go shopping."
Miroku shook his head. "I can't go. I have a house to go purify of evil spirits."
Sango nodded and apologetically said, "I promised to help Mrs. Hondo with her house cleaning today. That old lady would break her back doing it by herself.""
Kagome looked over at Rin for help. But she shook her head. "Sorry Kagome. I'm helping out with priestess classes and Sesshomaru's coming, too."
Kagome sighed. Shippou had a play date with Joy and he wouldn't have been much help either. Miroku intelligently said, "Inuyasha, why don't you help Kagome? You don't have anything to do?"
Inuyasha crossed his arms and defiantly said, "I could think of a thousand things I could do if it would keep from going with that terror."
Kagome narrowed her eyes and snapped, "I wouldn't want to go with you even if you offered to pay for the food." She ran her hand over her face then slammed them down on the table angrily and continued, "I don't even know why you're getting free food! Everyone here does something to earn their share! Maybe we should give you some work to do instead of rotting your brain with that television."
Finding the idea of having to work for food rather scary, Inuyasha countered, "I'm not your fucking slave! And what the hell does Sesshomaru to get his grub?"
Kagome was just about ready to let the two-headed dog of hell loose on Inuyasha's back. "You don't know it because you're too lazy to ask but Sesshomaru has been helping with a lot of stuff! He's been going to the demons' school where we teach children to gain more control over their powers and helping out! That's a hell of a lot more than your lazy butt's been doing."
So much for catching her off guard…
Miroku, Sango and the rest of the group watched, their heads turning to stare at one, then the other. It was like watching a tennis match. Sesshomaru remarked in an annoyed manner,
"I believe that those two couldn't get through one day together."
Rin grinned and put her chin in her hand. "Put those two together on an island and I guarantee there will only be one left."
As Inuyasha hollered something at the fuming Kagome, Sango shook her head. "One would probably eat the other and use the bones as firewood."
Rin frowned. "Can you use bones for firewood?"
Sesshomaru cleared his throat. There were some times this girl was really pitiful. Pitiful in an expectable way…but still pitiful. (This is pathetic…but can you use bones for firewood? -_-:: )
Miroku raised his timidly and asked, "Have you come to a compromise?"
Inuyasha gave a frustrated growl and shouted, "Fine! I'll go! Are you happy you goddamned Nazi?"
Kagome stood up with such force her chair flew back and clattered loudly to the floor. "Oh of course! I'm ecstatic! I get to go grocery shopping with the son of Satan!"
Not to be outdone Inuyasha pushed his chair back with just as much, if not more energy and yelled, "Let's go before I change my mind and move out!"
Miroku shrank in his chair and gulped. `Thank goodness Sango isn't violent.' That theory was proved wrong about four seconds later just when Miroku's hand "accidentally" stroked Sango's bottom. Inuyasha flinched at the sharp sound of flesh slapping flesh and stomped outside.
You could almost see the smoke coming out of Kagome's ears as she stormed to her room. She slammed the door shut so hard the walls shook and her clock fell to the floor. Throwing the closet door open, Kagome yanked her clothes about. Slipping on a light spring dress she sighed. (I don't really have a strict clothing order -western or Japanese- so if you guys have a preference, tell me and I'll use it from now on. For now I'll combine the two) She was going to give herself a stroke for nothing.
No amount of yelling was going to drill manners into Inuyasha's skull. Kagome surveyed her outfit. Her dress was a faded sky blue- so light it could hardly be called blue- and reached just under her knees. The dress had two-inch sleeves and a square collar. Kagome grinned. It was funny how trying to look nice could take your mind off of things. She tied her hair back loosely with a blue slightly darker than her dress to match the lace on her hem. Quickly putting on sandals, and snatching up her bag, she hurried down and out to where Inuyasha was waiting for her.
Kagome was surprised to find that nobody was on the porch. Stepping lightly down the stone steps, Kagome's dress fluttered around her and her hair rippled in its loose bindings. (If the hair is confusing think of her tying her hair half-way down.) She skipped down the path glancing this way and that.
"Inuyasha, where are you?"
She stopped when a gruff voice barked, "What the hell are you shouting for? I'm right here."
Kagome flipped her hair of her shoulder and looked up, shielding her eyes. Inuyasha was sitting a branch of a tree, with the blue-jay from the other day sitting on his shoulder. He looked almost embarrassed to have been caught with a bird.
Kagome smiled and called up, "Where's the pretty girl?" Meaning the female bird.
Inuyasha gestured with his eyes and Kagome followed, but from her current angle, she couldn't see squat. Kagome set her bag on the grass and grabbed a low branch. Inuyasha peered down as Kagome pulled herself slowly up the tree.
"What're you doing?"
Kagome set her foot on a branch and cheerfully replied, "I'm coming up! What does it look like?"
Kagome heaved unto the branch that Inuyasha was sitting on and swung her legs back and forth. She noticed Inuyasha was staring away from her with a sour look on his face.
Trying to make eye-contact, Kagome asked, "Hey…are you still mad?"
Completely ignoring her, Inuyasha seemed to find the nearby leaf much more interesting. Kagome's temper sparked and she crossed her arms. She said angrily, "I think you owe me an apology,"
Inuyasha gave a soft snort but other than that he made no move to look at her or say sorry. Furrowing her brows in annoyance, Kagome mumbled, "I'm sorry."
Kagome frowned when there was no reply but decided to let it go at that. The bird that had been perched on Inuyasha's shoulder flew off and glided over Kagome's head and landed next to a nest.
Kagome gasped when she saw the female lying in the nest, eggs visible under her plump belly. She looked at her mate then Kagome and whistled happily. Kagome face brightened and she gasped in delight. "Oh, sweetie! You didn't tell me that you'd laid your eggs! You're going to be a mother soon! And you're going to be a father!""
Kagome scooted down the branch and stroked her head lovingly. Inuyasha stuck his tongue out at her. What kind of apology was that? He watched in annoyance as she continued to talk to birds, totally forgotten that he was there. She had a short attention span, that was obvious. Kagome continued to sweetly speak to the birds and ignore Inuyasha's presence until Inuyasha got tired of it. Untangling his long hair from the branches, he jumped down, lightly landing on his feet. He straightened and began walking down the path.
When he didn't hear any footsteps following him, he turned and with a tart expression snapped, "Well are you coming or have you decided to become a bird?"
Kagome made an unattractive face and yelled down, "I'm coming! Wait a second!" Kagome twisted her body so she was hanging off the branch awkwardly, holding herself up with her arms. The bark biting into her bare arms, Kagome winched and tried to lower herself to the next branch. Inuyasha watched impatiently, rolling his eyes and huffing.
Kagome jumped smoothly to the ground -maybe not as gracefully as Inuyasha but it was a nice landing anyhow. Inuyasha turned and walked briskly down the path and out the gate. Kagome brushed herself off and went trotting after him. She knew he didn't have the slightest clue which way to go. She brushed past him and took a sharp left, heading for the town market place. She began making a mental list of the things she should buy. Eggs, milk, fruits, vegetables, chicken, meat, rice, fish, snacks, drinks, and oh so much more.
Her feet began to ache and Kagome slowed down. A sweet and kind scent drifted into her nose and she blinked I surprise. She hadn't noticed in her musings that the cherry blossom trees had started blooming. The round tops were a brilliant pink, full of plump blossoms. In the light breeze a few were floating gently down, appearing to be snowflakes, drifting down to the peaceful river that ran by the path.
Kagome sighed. This was one of her favorite places in her favorite time of the year. It was so calming and reassuring, walking down this path, clear blue sky, gentle flowers floating on the breeze and the trickling of the small stream to top it all off.
Those blossoms, all beautiful: some possessing that perfect, heart-breaking beauty, others lovelier in their imperfectness. Softer than rose petals, their fragrance more delightful than the most expensive brands of perfume, these innocent cherry blossoms held more wisdom than books could ever carry.
Kagome leaned against the trunk of the tree for a moment and her face softened as she gazed at the stream with pink blossoms flowerets dancing along with its steady flow. She almost started when Inuyasha came beside her. His gruff expression didn't change and he shook his head. Turning on his heel he continued down the path, not looking once at the scene nature offered to him.
~*~
The streets were crowded with people pushing and shoving to get around. People calling out in loud voices, "Fresh fish!" or "Juicy tomatoes!"
Kagome slipped through the crowd, dragging Inuyasha with her, trying to keep her unprotected feet from being unceremoniously stomped on. She switched the heavy bag she was carrying to her other hand and flexed her tired wrist. Shooting an accusing glare at Inuyasha she asked, "Aren't you supposed to be helping carry the stuff?"
Inuyasha shrugged. "I'm carrying this aren't I?" This being a box biscuits which he was eating. Kagome sighed and pushed into a small grocery store. The cool air hit her in the face and she picked up a basket.
Walking up and down the rows Kagome picked up biscuits for Kirara and Shippou, pancake mix, rice, fish, meat wrapped up, salt, oils, fruit and anything else she saw fit. She called over her shoulder, "If there's anything you want to buy tell me." She changed her mind and called, "Anything that's edible, under five bucks, and not something you can use to kill somebody."
Inuyasha pretended to laugh. "Har, har, har."
He scanned the shelves, occasionally picking up a box of chocolates or crackers. He followed Kagome to the register and dropped his pickings on the moving table. He waited silently as the clerk scanned the items and dropped them into a plastic bag. Kagome paid and shoved the bag into Inuyasha's arms.
"You carry it. My arms are already full."
Before he could complain, Kagome turned on her heels and walked out the door. Slinging the bag over his shoulder, Inuyasha grumbled and followed. This had to be the most time wasting thing he had ever done. He lazily dragged his feet after Kagome as she walked briskly down the sidewalk, trying not to get trampled on. Many people stopped and respectfully greeted her, others bowed.
Inuyasha's nose twitched and shook from all the different smells. The market place was bursting with food, clothes and energy. Hand-made, bags, shoes, food, purses, wallets, spoons, everything you could think of was here.
There were artist advertising their skill with ink paintings, scrolls or portraits of war heroes and beautiful damsels. Inuyasha's eyes perked up with interest when he saw a large stand with weapons. Trying not to lose sight of the shop he grabbed Kagome's arm and stopped her.
With a surprised expression she inquired, "What?"
Inuyasha looking awake for the first time since they got here, pulled her through the crowd, pushing past people toward the shop. Kagome yelped when a particularly rounded man eating a peach pressed down on her foot. She quickly limped after Inuyasha and huffed.
Inuyasha was bending over a table, looking excitedly at the many types of instruments of destruction laid out before him. He ran his fingers over an expertly crated dagger, with a handle made of silver. There were long swords, bows and arrows, knives, staffs, daggers, whips, darts, throwing stars, miniature fire explosives, chains with knives on the end (like that thing Kohaku uses) and many more. Kagome was impressed with all of the different types if weapons there were and with the craftsmanship. Theses were fine swords…
Inuyasha looked around with awe. An old man walked up to them from behind the tables. He was skinny and wrinkled with a mass of white hair pulled in a ponytail. He stared at them with eyes that seemed way to large for his head and had pointed ears.
"I am Toutousai, the owner of this shop and the maker of these weapons. Is there something you want?"
Inuyasha looked at him down his nose and said dismissively, "Nope, just taking a look at the junk."
Quicker than the eye could see, Toutousai swung his staff and brought it down on Inuyasha's head. Inuyasha got off the ground and yelled with a huge bump on his head, "What the fuck was that for, old jiji?!" (I think jiji is a rude way of saying old man.)
Toutousai hit him again and announced, "These weapons are not `junk' but pieces of work famous all over the world. I won't tolerate you calling them anything else."
Inuyasha covered his head and yelped, "Stop that or I'll rip you apart!"
Kagome slapped him on the back of his head and quickly bowed to Toutousai. "I'm so sorry! Toutousai-san, (Is that right? Is saying -san a respectful thing?) how have you been?"
Inuyasha looked at Kagome in shock and incredulously asked, "You know this old fart?"
Kagome made a face and shook her head warningly. "Don't be so disrespectful and yes I know him! Toutousai-san is the one who created bows for Sango, Rin and me."
Inuyasha glanced at Toutousai and blandly thought, `That old gas-bag is the one that made those bows?'
Toutousai nodded and said, "Those are the best bows I've ever carved."
Kagome smiled and gratefully said, "Yes, they're the most beautiful bows anywhere."
Toutousai looked proud then asked, "So are you here to buy something?"
Inuyasha stood a little farther away from that staff and Kagome asked, "Inuyasha, did you want something? These are probably the best swords you'll ever come across." She smiled and said, "I'll get it as a gift."
Inuyasha looked at her in surprise and didn't say anything for a moment. He gave a curt nod and cautiously walked up to the table, keeping an eye on that staff. His eyes scanned the table. Suddenly he felt his eyes being drawn to a sword hanging on the wall. It's scabbard looked old and the handle, too but Inuyasha gazed at it.
Toutousai followed his gaze and nodded. "A nice choice. That is Tetsusaiga, one of my finest swords ever. It can slay a hundred attackers with one swing."
Inuyasha and Kagome's eyes widened with shock. A hundred! Inuyasha frowned and demanded, "Let me see it."
Toutousai scuttled over to the wall and gently took the sword down. Carrying like glass, he handed it to Inuyasha. "I should warn you, the sword chooses its master. Draw it from its sheath and let's see if it takes a liking to you."
Inuyasha grabbed the handle and felt a surge through his arm. In one powerful movement, he pulled the sword from its casing. For a moment it was an old and chipped piece of metal. The next, the sword seemed to pulse powerfully and with a giant surge of strength, it transformed into a giant blade that looked like a fang.
The blade glistened and vibrated with power and the edge was dangerously sharp. Inuyasha's eyes traveled its length and smirked at Toutousai's expression.
His round eyes were even larger and his mouth wide enough to catch flies. Kagome was staring at the blade in shock. It was huge! Toutousai managed to close his jaws and exclaimed, "The Tetsusaiga has found its master!"
Inuyasha's smirk slipped when he heard Toutousai mumble, "A bad choice…but oh well. My fine blade going to an idiot like him."
Inuyasha brought his fist down unto the old man's head and huffed, "Kagome, you heard the man."
Kagome smiled, impressed and said, "Wow. It's a gift."
Kagome bought another sword, paid Toutousai and jogged after Inuyasha. Inuyasha slid his new companion into his belt and grinned.
~*~
"We're home!"
Kagome and Inuyasha flopped down on the couch as everyone crowded around them. Sesshomaru eyed Inuyasha's hip and asked coldly,
"I see you've bought a sword."
Inuyasha crossed his arms and smirked again. "Yeah and you'd better watch out."
Inuyasha drew Tetsusaiga and Shippou yelped in surprise as it changed. Sango grinned and exclaimed, "Toutousai's work, isn't it! Only he could make something like that!"
Kagome nodded and snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah! Sesshomaru I got you something!"
She bent down and picked up a bundle, unwrapping it to show another sword, looking newer than Inuyasha's and just as impressive. Kagome winked and said, "In case he tries to jump you with his new sword you can use this."
Sesshomaru looked about as surprised as he could, which wasn't much. He nodded a thanks and took the sword. Drawing it, he revealed a blade perfect, with dark silver patterns running up and down the handle. Sesshomaru ran his hand down the blade with satisfaction.
Kagome shyly asked, "Do you like it?"
Sesshomaru nodded and replied, "It is a fine sword."
Kagome happily grinned and clapped her hands. "I have stuff for everyone so let's go to the kitchen! You can look at them while I get the food."
Kagome looked around for the food and stopped. Turning like a bull she hissed dangerously at Inuyasha who was trying to creep away, "Inuyasha! Don't you dare ay you forgot the food at Toutousai's!"
A/N I don't know when I'll update again but no worries, I wont torture you. ^_^ I know it seems like there are a lot of filler chapters, but the action is coming soon so keep your eyes peeled.
A/N- I'm sorry once again for the updating problem…My outline for this chapter is changing a little…but don't worry, we'll