InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Sengoku Babies ❯ First Date?? ( Chapter 4 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: penpaninu 
An overheard conversation between schoolgirls leaves Kagome remembering her first date with Inuyasha... if you could call it that.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.18.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 301 | Status: Work In Progress
An overheard conversation between schoolgirls leaves Kagome remembering her first date with Inuyasha... if you could call it that.
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Fantasy | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.18.2008 | Pages: 4 | Words: 4.8K | Visits: 301 | Status: Work In Progress
I love doing these short Inuyasha stories, they're too much fun! In the predawn of getting up at 4 am, my lovely and I get to catch an hour of Inuyasha from 5 to 6 :P Second season reruns are lots of fun and oddly, the episodes set in the modern days inspire my writing more than anything else! They're what inspired Intended Mate, after all :P They really help me to see this boy with long white hair and feudal clothing strolling around downtown with a ballcap on his head.
This one came about solely from a scene where Kagome was talking to her schoolfriends on the sidewalk about Hojo. Then the opening scene kicked out in my head, taking Kagome from where my story leaves off in Inutaisho Legacy, listening to other schoolgirls talking about a boy. Her thoughts just poured out and I had to write them. Besides, Kagome as a mama is a really sexy image!
Dedicated in full to my fiancee/live-in-wife. I consider us married already since we legally cannot, but there you have it. Lovely, you're one of a kind and your sweet side is your best side. When we enjoy things like Inuyasha which we love, and a good breakfast, I am inspired to create scenes from my head once more. Should we go to an anime con as Kagome and Inuyasha or.... Sesshomaru and Inuyasha?? Readers, which would be more fun to see, Sessh kissing Yash in public, or Kagome and Inuyasha? :P
Dedicated in part to Inugrrrl! Ki, grrl, hope you take a gander at this, it's a punk break from Heir, but hopefully I'll write some at work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm terrible like that! Why oh why do I have to do more plot now? :P I'm in a very laschivious mood!
For all who read my stories and those who comment, this is for you also. Please share your thoughts, and review. Only takes one second and it really helps a writer, believe me!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all characters and likenesses of the show belong to Takahashi Rumiko, Shonen Sunday, Viz Media and whoever animated it in Japan.... I did a search on wikipedia just to refresh my memory but ah the mind, it goes... what a waste! :P None of them belong to me, however. Just to the wonderfully talented woman who invented them!
Sengoku Babies chapter four
"First Date??"
"I've seen Satoru watching you! He might ask you out..."
"Hee! That would be wonderful! If only..."
"Your first one, right? I wonder what would happen!"
Kagome looked over her shoulder at the trio of schoolgirls, a soft smile on her youthful face. She was still young at 21, with the face of eternal youth keeping even the dark circles of exhaustion from the shadows of her eyes. But compared to these teenagers, she felt ancient. The three girls clad in matching school uniforms leaned close across their table in the foodcourt, sharing greasy french fries that would not show an ounce of fat on their skinny bodies. Kagome watched them with an odd pang of longing until Megumi screeched, and pushed her sippy cup away.
"Maaa!" she insisted, watching Kagome with partially golden eyes. Kagome smiled and lifted her two year old daughter up against her chest and rocked her. She had been shopping for new clothing and odds and ends for her small family at the large mall downtown, and had stopped to enjoy a rare treat. In front of her, a paper cup with a fastfood logo sat importantly, its plastic straw crooked invitingly. Within lay the tastiest of frozen treats, the chocolate milkshake! Kagome smiled sadly and leaned forward with Megumi wondering over her shoulder, to take another sip.
She and her friends had loved coming to Wacdonalds to share junk food...
"Come on! Like you've had your first date!" another of the schoolgirls argued with her friends. Kagome cocked her head to listen and murmured softly to her wiggly daughter.
"I have! Kennichi walked with me through the park, all the way to my house..."
The girls erupted.
"That's not a real date! He didn't take you anywhere, he just walked WITH you home! He lives in the same building as you, Mayu!"
"So was a date! He even kissed me!"
"WHAT!"
"No way! Ahhh! Where??"
Where indeed? Kagome smiled with amusement and shook her head gently. There wasn't a place on her body that her Inuyasha's lips hadn't been and she was willing to bet her family shrine that this waif of a child had not even pressed her lips against this boy's. More as like her cheek was the only inch on her slender body that had felt the clumsy press of lips from her nervous classmate.
But to see this young girl toss her hair over one shoulder made you know she was trying to seem more adult than she was, and that SHE held all the secrets to boys and love than her friends did. Kagome sighed and patted her daughter's back. Megumi rocked against the warmth of her mother and hummed soft baby sighs. Kagome's heart turned over as always and she pressed her child close. The second child she had made with Inuyasha....
"Good luck, kid.... you're gonna need it," Kagome murmured softly and wished the young girl well. Not all advances into adulthood were flowery or beautiful, and this kid was in for a bumpy ride. But like as not, even though all she and Inuyasha had been through.... Kagome wouldn't have traded the hardships she had endured at his side for years of wistful dreaming and venturing.
Megumi shuffled in Kagome's arms and turned to reach for the stray fries littering the fastfood wrapper before her. Kagome smiled and held a couple to her child's lips. She was just old enough to start eating solids and was experimenting with anything she could get her hands on. Inuyasha loved to indulge his baby girl with all sorts of sweets, which always incited a ready argument from Kagome. Kagome smiled as watched Megumi chew, her eyes wide open in wonder. She loved to spoil their daughter too, but she didn't want Inuyasha to give in to her every whim.
"That's his job for me, right, 'Gumi?" Kagome giggled. Megumi burbed and gazed in wonder up into her mother's face. Then she grinned.
"Heh," she agreed and rubbed a chubby fist against her sticky mouth. Kagome took a rag out of her diaper bag and gently rubbed her face. Then she made the task of collecting everything up and storing it in the gigantic shoulder bag. Sippy cup, rag, baby snacks, went into the diaper bag. Then she collected shopping bags with small boy's and baby clothing, one of Megumi's toys and her bear, and then the baby herself, and stowed them in her stroller.
Kagome buckled Megumi in and laid her seat back so she could nap if she wanted and collected her purse. Men and boys still oogled her, especially the curves two children gave her. Her round breasts strained her sweater and even the trio of giggling schoolgirls watched her with a note of admiration as she pushed the stroller out of the foodcourt. She still was beautiful, even with the obvious displays of man and children that held her far at bay from everyone. Inuyasha's ring glinted on her left hand and even though he was at home working in the shrine, she could feel his protection swept over her. If he were here now, he would be glowering at one and all for looking, even if Kagome was his and only his.
Kagome smiled and walked on, her wide hips swaying with her natural graceful gait. She was no schoolgirl anymore, not even as young as the other women her age. But she had to admit.... she had matured and blossomed quite wonderfully. They both had, she had to admit.
Even though Inuyasha or she still had their nit-picking fights, they had toned their impatience down alot with the addition of two quarter demon children. Inutaro and Megumi had their work cut out for them in this modern world, and Inuyasha knew he had alot to teach them on how to live, and how to fit in this world of steel and humans.
It was so much easier in the far feudal past.... to walk with or interact with demons or partial demons...
"Ma! Maaaa!" Megumi crowed importantly from the stroller. Kagome peered around the front to see her baby girl wriggling as they passed a pet store. Puppies perked their ears up at the quarter inu child and barked loudly. Kagome giggled as her daughter craned her neck, salt-and-pepper hair falling into her eyes and began to bark back in earnest.
"You silly baby! I think you made a friend," Kagome commented. Megumi barked and panted up at Kagome. Then she yawned widely. The wizened young woman set to pushing her progeny down the streets towards home. Shy young school couples mingled in a nearby park and their bashful wistfulness made her heart strain with the complicated memories of youth a few years removed.
"First date, huh? I wonder if Inuyasha and I ever had one... hmm, I think we did," Kagome murmured, her eyes softening. "Did you know we were always on the hunt, Megumi? I don't think your papa knew what a 'date' was."
"Pffffmmmmm," Megumi burbled and chewed on the ear of her teddy bear. Her darkened eyes fluttered and gently she drifted to sleep. Kagome sighed and strolled along. It had been so long since she had strolled along grassy hills with her beloved....
*** *
Six years ago~~
"Hurry up, Kagome! We gotta find some more shards!"
"I'm comin', Inuyasha! What's the big hurry??"
"Wench, it's yer damn fault the Jewel was shattered to begin with! Now hurry it up!"
"Or what, Inuyasha? What you gonna do??"
"I'm gonna carry you under one arm like a sack if you don't hurry! Now hurry up!"
"Oh yeah?? OSUWARI!"
"Yiiipe!"
A dustcloud gathered over the horizon as Inuyasha thumped face first into the dirt, again and again as he and Kagome continued griping at each other. Inuyasha struggled to lift his neck under the weight of her accusations and glowered at her, his eyes crossed.
"Dammit, woman, yer hurtin' me!" he complained in a rare moment. Kagome faltered, seeing a large welt forming on his creamy brow and felt a pang of pity for the pale boy.
"Inuyasha, I didn't mean..." she began when Inuyasha took her hesitation to his advantage.
"HA! Fell for it, didn't ya?" he crowed as he leaped twenty feet away.
"OSUWARI!" Kagome screamed, the double syllable carrying across the wind to the beads and Inuyasha screamed as he was tugged in mid-leap back down by the harsh gravity of Kagome's subjugation.
The back-and-forth arguing was not a good side to their involuntary relationship. It had started with an accidental fall into the past and seeing a beautiful boy with strange ears pinned asleep to a tree, like some male Sleeping Beauty awaiting a kiss from a maid. THAT stupid thought of Kagome's had changed when he awoke and proved his tongue was bitter instead of sweet, pummeling her with insults and accusations. They had been teamed up by event, not by choice. Inuyasha wanted the Shikon Jewel and Kagome felt it her responsibility to form the broken pieces into it's original shape again.
They hadn't trusted each other. Kagome was in tears to think he hated her just because he could. What had she done to him in the first place? It wasn't her fault she had been born with the jewel inside her! He should have been grateful she had removed the arrow (never ask how she had managed THAT) that pierced him to the younger Goshinboku. Instead, he had tried to attack her! If not for old Kaede and a handy set of beads, she would have been eating dirt instead of him.
They WERE getting along more and more, weren't they? Kagome had to wonder. While Inuyasha demanded more and more of her time to search for the shards, was it due to some kind of buried affection than duty? He even knew the way to her time and house and could visit her any time they could see each other. 'He could even sneak into my bedroom late at night,' Kagome flushed at the thought.
Yes, sometimes there was the flicker of softness across his smooth features before he chose to frown his impatience at the world. He swore he would protect her. He leered as if jealous when other men gave her a single look that was not casual. He even carried her on his back when circumstance allowed! At those times, Kagome was sure he could feel all of her shyness quivering in her thighs as she gripped his back and waist from behind. Her small hands she kept pressed to his shoulders to try and keep some modesty between his back and her then small breasts.
How she longed to explore these burgeoning emotions! Was this what a crush in school would feel like, this pain in her chest everytime his golden eyes looked to her? Would his lips, parted to reveal slightly sharp teeth, want to press against hers? Would his eyes ever glaze in love and passion, answering the heat inside her when the sun stretched time to a crawl and they had a moment to breathe, to WONDER?
These were the thoughts of a 15 year old schoolgirl as she first began to know her Inuyasha. They had both been so young.... Kagome in years, Inuyasha in maturity.
But a first date? Kagome wondered if the first time his golden eyes had fluttered open, bound against the tree could have been a date. It certainly was a piercing moment. Or the first time she had made him a bentou lunch?
Kagome could still remember the endless serenity of that afternoon so long ago, in her relationship to him and the present year! She had cooked intently, cut sausages and fish and rolled rice balls in seaweed paper with youthful care. Mama had been close at hand with a soft suggestion or two that Kagome was glad to take. And she had wrapped each bentou beautifully in soft linen, a delicate bow capping each masterpiece. How she had labored to show him some kindness so he would stop fighting with her! And hopefully, then he would begin to like her....
Kagome had climbed out of the BoneEater's Well carrying her treasures in a department store shopping bag. The paper straps were clenched in her fingers tightly as she walked through wavering grass looking for Inuyasha. The sun had been high, the cicadas had been singing, the time, perfect.
Inuyasha had been pouting in a tree, or whatever it was he did in his spare time, when she finally found him. Gently cajouling did not help his attitude. So she had been forced to compete in a screaming match that was becoming a regular routine for them. Kagome didn't want to "sit" him just yet, then he would never try her delecious homemade bentou! Inuyasha finally sat down on her spread picnic blanket, admitting that they needed their strength to continue the hunt today.
Kagome let it be and had unwrapped one square box, and lifted the top for him. Inuyasha held out one palm carefully, and had peered inside as if to find insects instead of rice and fish. He squinted, studied her careful arrangements and demanded an explanation.
"What the heck is this! Is this how you make fish in your time, Kagome? It smells kinda funny!"
Kagome had felt an embarrassing flush creep up her neck mixed with humilated rage. How dare he insult her hard efforts!
"It's just fish and rice, Inuyasha! Just like you eat here! We just season it more and make it look better!"
"This ain't no fashion show, Kagome! It's just lunch. Why go to all that trouble to put some food in your belly, huh?" Inuyasha wondered, pinching his claws around the chopsticks she had offered. Kagome felt the humiliation eat her like the constant rejection he showed and slammed her chopsticks onto the top of her bentou.
"You're so damn impossible! Just SIT, boy! OSUWARI! OSUWARI!" Kagome screamed her pain and Inuyasha was slammed face first into his own lunch.
"Wah!" he sputtered as rice flew up around his mouth, and into his throat. "Kagome!"
"Go sit on a tack!" Kagome gave back, inciting another thud into the carefully prepared lunches. She pushed off the blanket and dashed off, cursing herself for her dampening eyes and loss of temper. She hadn't meant for things to go this badly! Grass upturned beneath her shoes as she jogged away, and when she was safely away, Kagome lifted a hand to her eyes and wiped small tears away.
"You stupid.... stupid! Stupid Inuyasha!" Kagome gave a shuddery sigh and hugged her elbows. She gave a partial sob and looked up into the leafy bowers of a nearby tree. This past world was so beautiful and peaceful.... if she could get Inuyasha to shut his big mouth for one second! "Stupid.... now who's stupid..."
Now she had gone and lost her temper again and sat him a few dozen times. He didn't like loud women, had gone and said so. He must have liked demure girls, like.... Kikyo. She was once, and would always, be serene and humble, smooth and quiet. And he hated her now. She would never gain Inuyasha's tender affections because she reminded him of her!
The dreaded "her", the shadow that lay across the both of them, even as they traveled together, fought together, ate together. Kagome hated her! But she had BEEN her. In her past life, she had yearned to love Inuyasha as she surely felt so for him now. The Shikon Jewel tied their destinies together yet again in her next life, even though she was socially free to pursue him.
And he didn't want her, all the same!
Back at the abandoned picnic, Inuyasha picked his face out of fish and rice, grumbling to himself all the while. His heart tugged all the way down to his bare toes as he went over the play-by-play of their latest fight. He was always so hard on her, he had to remember, she was a woman and needed his protection. Not just that..... she was alone too, as hopelessly alone as he had always been, and he knew she cared for him.
"If she only knew..." Inuyasha mumbled, licking his upper teeth clean of mashed rice. Involuntarily, he swallowed some and he stopped in amazement. "That damned woman... it really IS good."
Now he felt sheepish and a huge fool. If she only knew.... how his heart yearned for what everyone else had and he didn't... He was always messing things up! Inuyasha carefully ate everything that was left in his bentou and picked up the shiny plastic box. He clumsily tied the linen across the top and cursed under his breath as it would up looking pathetic compared to Kagome's knot.
"Here goes... it'll have to do!" Inuyasha mumbled. He stopped on his search for her, and stooped to pick something up.
It didn't take long to find her. Kagome had gone only a short distance, and sat trying to hide from the world beneath a copse of trees.
"Hey," Inuyasha mumbled, stopping beside her shoulder. Kagome rubbed her wrist across one eye and his heart sank again. Was she crying? Did he do that to her?.... "I... uh.... "
"What now, Inuyasha? Come to get me so we can get started?" Kagome asked in a wavering voice. Inuyasha's ears lay flat against his head. She was trying so hard to sound tough and brave, so he wouldn't lay into her. He felt like a jerk and was glad to lean low and hold his hand out.
"Y-yeah.... Guess I did. Uhm, here.... it was really good," were all he said. Kagome looked down, astonished, at the clumsily wrapped bentou box. As Inuyasha walked back to collect her knapsack and blanket, her fingers carressed the flower laid across the top.
****
"Some first date, huh, Megumi?" Kagome laughed. Megumi was fast asleep. Kagome gently nudged the stroller into the walkway leading up to a nursery school.
She saw her four year old son before he saw them. He was running with other boys and girls his age, yelling and throwing a ball around. His shoulder-length white hair was flying with his movements, his ears hidden beneath a ball cap. Kagome smiled softly as he jerked to a stop, and clapped one chubby hand on top of his hat to keep it from flying off.
Inuyasha had taught him to be very careful about letting other people see his ears, after all. He didn't want his boy to be ostracized as he had been as a child....
"Inutaro! Hi!" she called, not finding it hard to slip into 'mommy mode.' The short boy looked around, his golden irises gleaming. His small nose worked a few times before he clapped a finger to it so the other kids wouldn't notice and he grinned widely.
"MAMA!" Inutaro yelled joyously. The other kids watched enviously as he ran over and wrapped his arms enthusiastically around Kagome's long legs, burying his face into her skirt. "You're here!"
"And Megumi-chan," Kagome added. Inutaro peered into the stroller and carefully patted his little sister's side.
"Gumi's tired, huh, Mama?" Inutaro asked sweetly. Kagome nodded and smoothed her palm over her son's round cheek.
"So is Mama. Shall we go home, baby?"
"Kay!" Inutaro agreed. He ran into the building to grab his jacket off his kiddie hook and Kagome bowed to the teacher, stopping to exchange a few words. Inutaro was a good child and eager to interact with other kids of the school. He would do just fine, even with his exotic looks.
Firmly holding her son's hand, Kagome watched after his steps behind the stroller. Luckily Ojii-chan was sweeping the bottom steps leading up to Higurashi Shrine so he helped lift Megumi's stroller up. Inutaro held onto his great-grandfather's hakama leg and got a lift all the way up. He giggled as they went.
"Where's Papa, Ojii-chan?" Inutaro asked as they got to the top step. He looked around but Inuyasha wasn't anywhere on the grounds.
Ojii-chan snuffed. "Probably lazing about. He's too tired these days! What's wrong with him, Kagome?"
"He's just fine, 'Jii-chan. Don't backbite him in front of the children," Kagome warned. Her grandfather slouched his shoulders and sighed.
"Of course, child."
"Look, there's Papa now!" Inutaro called. Kagome brightened and pushed the stroller closer to the house. Inuyasha was leaned up against the entry of the house, his head lolled back, mouth agape. He was fast asleep, only his white under haori covering his upper torso. As usual, his legs were a mystery in his billowy red hakama. His bare feet toed the air as he shifted in his sleep.
Kagome smiled as she laid loving eyes over her man. He had come a long way from the loud, blustering boy she had let free from the Goshinboku. His muscles were more pronounced though he was still slim as a reed. He had grown sweet, attentive and loving. With enough passion for three people, Kagome was pleased to know. As Inutaro carefully poked his father in the cheek, Kagome smiled and lifted Megumi from her stroller. More than enough passion with these two children...
"Muh! Hey! Whoa, Taro, what you doing back already?" Inuyasha asked, dizzily looking around. His arm swept around his son, making him giggle before his golden gaze settled along the round curves of his wife. His Kagome stood before him, their second baby sleeping nestled in her arms. The wisp of a schoolgirl, with a finger always pointed in his face and a snappy comeback on her lips flashed before his eyes, before blossoming out into this young mother with gently curving globes of flesh.
"Kagome...." Inuyasha murmured in greeting, feeling their years together crescendo to this one quiet moment. Kagome smiled, meeting his gaze, feeling the same way.
"Hi, love," she murmured. Megumi shifted and cried out in her sleep. Inuyasha was up on his feet in a moment, looking down into his daughter's face.
"Man, we make good-looking kids, Kagome," Inuyasha as usual, stated what was on his mind. Inutaro hugged his neck and giggled, not getting the implication. Kagome's cheeks flushed red but she held his gaze knowingly.
"That comes with lots of practice, doesn't it? You're never content until you have it perfect."
"Man, I'm getting it now!" Inuyasha pretended to complain and bent to kiss Megumi's soft brow. "She is a sweet thing, though..."
Kagome smiled as they made their way into the house's kitchen, Inutaro running around happily after being set on his feet. As Kagome bustled around with Megumi, she knew Inuyasha was standing there watching. He had that odd look of arousal and love in his eyes that she was blessed to know.
"See, your sweet side is your best side. You can make good things happen," Kagome agreed. Megumi was set into her baby carrier, and Kagome gathered up into two wiry-strong arms.
"I know I made this happen," Inuyasha murmured, settling his nose against Kagome's. She twined her arms around his neck and let him lean her back. "I didn't let myself stay afraid."
"I'm glad we did," Kagome agreed, remembering their first time. "I wouldn't have known how you felt about me if not."
"I would have told you, Kagome," Inuyasha laid his mouth against hers softly. Not too much, Inutaro was still zooming around. "One day..."
"I think it was our first date that did it, more than anything until we went for it," Kagome said, kissing his cheek.
"First... date? Huh?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome pressed her lips to his. Inuyasha's passion lurched as her curves pressed against his hips and chest.
"The bentou lunch I made. Remember? We had a fight and you picked a flower to give to me on top of it..."
"I wanted to cheer you up. I never had done anything like that before..." Inuyasha confessed.
Kagome wound her arms around his neck and smiled. "Oh, Inuyasha.... I love you."
"Love you too, wife," he grinned.
"Mama, Papa! I wanna watch Yugi-oh!" Inutaro charged into the kitchen to interrupt their embrace. "C'n you turn it on?"
Inuyasha sighed and let go of his delecious mate. He let Inutaro take his hand and lead him to the living room. "Okay, okay, pup! I'll put on your show, already."
Kagome smiled, her heart full from the sight they made. "Inuyasha!"
"Yes, 'Gome?" he asked, stopping in the doorway. Kagome met his golden gaze.
"Give me your full attention later," she suggested. Inuyasha's lids drooped sexily and he almost licked his lip. His full attention almost pitched to full notice in a moment's instant.
"Anytime, anyplace, anywhere," he drawled and blew a kiss. Inutaro grabbed his hand again and Inuyasha smiled benevolently, going to spend time with his small son.
Kagome rocked Megumi and went about to making dinner. She had gotten alot better since her bentou recipe, after all.
End for now
penpaninu 8/18/08
Like it? Hate it? Send a review! I love hearing what ya have to say ^_^
This one came about solely from a scene where Kagome was talking to her schoolfriends on the sidewalk about Hojo. Then the opening scene kicked out in my head, taking Kagome from where my story leaves off in Inutaisho Legacy, listening to other schoolgirls talking about a boy. Her thoughts just poured out and I had to write them. Besides, Kagome as a mama is a really sexy image!
Dedicated in full to my fiancee/live-in-wife. I consider us married already since we legally cannot, but there you have it. Lovely, you're one of a kind and your sweet side is your best side. When we enjoy things like Inuyasha which we love, and a good breakfast, I am inspired to create scenes from my head once more. Should we go to an anime con as Kagome and Inuyasha or.... Sesshomaru and Inuyasha?? Readers, which would be more fun to see, Sessh kissing Yash in public, or Kagome and Inuyasha? :P
Dedicated in part to Inugrrrl! Ki, grrl, hope you take a gander at this, it's a punk break from Heir, but hopefully I'll write some at work tomorrow. Yeah, I'm terrible like that! Why oh why do I have to do more plot now? :P I'm in a very laschivious mood!
For all who read my stories and those who comment, this is for you also. Please share your thoughts, and review. Only takes one second and it really helps a writer, believe me!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all characters and likenesses of the show belong to Takahashi Rumiko, Shonen Sunday, Viz Media and whoever animated it in Japan.... I did a search on wikipedia just to refresh my memory but ah the mind, it goes... what a waste! :P None of them belong to me, however. Just to the wonderfully talented woman who invented them!
Sengoku Babies chapter four
"First Date??"
"I've seen Satoru watching you! He might ask you out..."
"Hee! That would be wonderful! If only..."
"Your first one, right? I wonder what would happen!"
Kagome looked over her shoulder at the trio of schoolgirls, a soft smile on her youthful face. She was still young at 21, with the face of eternal youth keeping even the dark circles of exhaustion from the shadows of her eyes. But compared to these teenagers, she felt ancient. The three girls clad in matching school uniforms leaned close across their table in the foodcourt, sharing greasy french fries that would not show an ounce of fat on their skinny bodies. Kagome watched them with an odd pang of longing until Megumi screeched, and pushed her sippy cup away.
"Maaa!" she insisted, watching Kagome with partially golden eyes. Kagome smiled and lifted her two year old daughter up against her chest and rocked her. She had been shopping for new clothing and odds and ends for her small family at the large mall downtown, and had stopped to enjoy a rare treat. In front of her, a paper cup with a fastfood logo sat importantly, its plastic straw crooked invitingly. Within lay the tastiest of frozen treats, the chocolate milkshake! Kagome smiled sadly and leaned forward with Megumi wondering over her shoulder, to take another sip.
She and her friends had loved coming to Wacdonalds to share junk food...
"Come on! Like you've had your first date!" another of the schoolgirls argued with her friends. Kagome cocked her head to listen and murmured softly to her wiggly daughter.
"I have! Kennichi walked with me through the park, all the way to my house..."
The girls erupted.
"That's not a real date! He didn't take you anywhere, he just walked WITH you home! He lives in the same building as you, Mayu!"
"So was a date! He even kissed me!"
"WHAT!"
"No way! Ahhh! Where??"
Where indeed? Kagome smiled with amusement and shook her head gently. There wasn't a place on her body that her Inuyasha's lips hadn't been and she was willing to bet her family shrine that this waif of a child had not even pressed her lips against this boy's. More as like her cheek was the only inch on her slender body that had felt the clumsy press of lips from her nervous classmate.
But to see this young girl toss her hair over one shoulder made you know she was trying to seem more adult than she was, and that SHE held all the secrets to boys and love than her friends did. Kagome sighed and patted her daughter's back. Megumi rocked against the warmth of her mother and hummed soft baby sighs. Kagome's heart turned over as always and she pressed her child close. The second child she had made with Inuyasha....
"Good luck, kid.... you're gonna need it," Kagome murmured softly and wished the young girl well. Not all advances into adulthood were flowery or beautiful, and this kid was in for a bumpy ride. But like as not, even though all she and Inuyasha had been through.... Kagome wouldn't have traded the hardships she had endured at his side for years of wistful dreaming and venturing.
Megumi shuffled in Kagome's arms and turned to reach for the stray fries littering the fastfood wrapper before her. Kagome smiled and held a couple to her child's lips. She was just old enough to start eating solids and was experimenting with anything she could get her hands on. Inuyasha loved to indulge his baby girl with all sorts of sweets, which always incited a ready argument from Kagome. Kagome smiled as watched Megumi chew, her eyes wide open in wonder. She loved to spoil their daughter too, but she didn't want Inuyasha to give in to her every whim.
"That's his job for me, right, 'Gumi?" Kagome giggled. Megumi burbed and gazed in wonder up into her mother's face. Then she grinned.
"Heh," she agreed and rubbed a chubby fist against her sticky mouth. Kagome took a rag out of her diaper bag and gently rubbed her face. Then she made the task of collecting everything up and storing it in the gigantic shoulder bag. Sippy cup, rag, baby snacks, went into the diaper bag. Then she collected shopping bags with small boy's and baby clothing, one of Megumi's toys and her bear, and then the baby herself, and stowed them in her stroller.
Kagome buckled Megumi in and laid her seat back so she could nap if she wanted and collected her purse. Men and boys still oogled her, especially the curves two children gave her. Her round breasts strained her sweater and even the trio of giggling schoolgirls watched her with a note of admiration as she pushed the stroller out of the foodcourt. She still was beautiful, even with the obvious displays of man and children that held her far at bay from everyone. Inuyasha's ring glinted on her left hand and even though he was at home working in the shrine, she could feel his protection swept over her. If he were here now, he would be glowering at one and all for looking, even if Kagome was his and only his.
Kagome smiled and walked on, her wide hips swaying with her natural graceful gait. She was no schoolgirl anymore, not even as young as the other women her age. But she had to admit.... she had matured and blossomed quite wonderfully. They both had, she had to admit.
Even though Inuyasha or she still had their nit-picking fights, they had toned their impatience down alot with the addition of two quarter demon children. Inutaro and Megumi had their work cut out for them in this modern world, and Inuyasha knew he had alot to teach them on how to live, and how to fit in this world of steel and humans.
It was so much easier in the far feudal past.... to walk with or interact with demons or partial demons...
"Ma! Maaaa!" Megumi crowed importantly from the stroller. Kagome peered around the front to see her baby girl wriggling as they passed a pet store. Puppies perked their ears up at the quarter inu child and barked loudly. Kagome giggled as her daughter craned her neck, salt-and-pepper hair falling into her eyes and began to bark back in earnest.
"You silly baby! I think you made a friend," Kagome commented. Megumi barked and panted up at Kagome. Then she yawned widely. The wizened young woman set to pushing her progeny down the streets towards home. Shy young school couples mingled in a nearby park and their bashful wistfulness made her heart strain with the complicated memories of youth a few years removed.
"First date, huh? I wonder if Inuyasha and I ever had one... hmm, I think we did," Kagome murmured, her eyes softening. "Did you know we were always on the hunt, Megumi? I don't think your papa knew what a 'date' was."
"Pffffmmmmm," Megumi burbled and chewed on the ear of her teddy bear. Her darkened eyes fluttered and gently she drifted to sleep. Kagome sighed and strolled along. It had been so long since she had strolled along grassy hills with her beloved....
*** *
Six years ago~~
"Hurry up, Kagome! We gotta find some more shards!"
"I'm comin', Inuyasha! What's the big hurry??"
"Wench, it's yer damn fault the Jewel was shattered to begin with! Now hurry it up!"
"Or what, Inuyasha? What you gonna do??"
"I'm gonna carry you under one arm like a sack if you don't hurry! Now hurry up!"
"Oh yeah?? OSUWARI!"
"Yiiipe!"
A dustcloud gathered over the horizon as Inuyasha thumped face first into the dirt, again and again as he and Kagome continued griping at each other. Inuyasha struggled to lift his neck under the weight of her accusations and glowered at her, his eyes crossed.
"Dammit, woman, yer hurtin' me!" he complained in a rare moment. Kagome faltered, seeing a large welt forming on his creamy brow and felt a pang of pity for the pale boy.
"Inuyasha, I didn't mean..." she began when Inuyasha took her hesitation to his advantage.
"HA! Fell for it, didn't ya?" he crowed as he leaped twenty feet away.
"OSUWARI!" Kagome screamed, the double syllable carrying across the wind to the beads and Inuyasha screamed as he was tugged in mid-leap back down by the harsh gravity of Kagome's subjugation.
The back-and-forth arguing was not a good side to their involuntary relationship. It had started with an accidental fall into the past and seeing a beautiful boy with strange ears pinned asleep to a tree, like some male Sleeping Beauty awaiting a kiss from a maid. THAT stupid thought of Kagome's had changed when he awoke and proved his tongue was bitter instead of sweet, pummeling her with insults and accusations. They had been teamed up by event, not by choice. Inuyasha wanted the Shikon Jewel and Kagome felt it her responsibility to form the broken pieces into it's original shape again.
They hadn't trusted each other. Kagome was in tears to think he hated her just because he could. What had she done to him in the first place? It wasn't her fault she had been born with the jewel inside her! He should have been grateful she had removed the arrow (never ask how she had managed THAT) that pierced him to the younger Goshinboku. Instead, he had tried to attack her! If not for old Kaede and a handy set of beads, she would have been eating dirt instead of him.
They WERE getting along more and more, weren't they? Kagome had to wonder. While Inuyasha demanded more and more of her time to search for the shards, was it due to some kind of buried affection than duty? He even knew the way to her time and house and could visit her any time they could see each other. 'He could even sneak into my bedroom late at night,' Kagome flushed at the thought.
Yes, sometimes there was the flicker of softness across his smooth features before he chose to frown his impatience at the world. He swore he would protect her. He leered as if jealous when other men gave her a single look that was not casual. He even carried her on his back when circumstance allowed! At those times, Kagome was sure he could feel all of her shyness quivering in her thighs as she gripped his back and waist from behind. Her small hands she kept pressed to his shoulders to try and keep some modesty between his back and her then small breasts.
How she longed to explore these burgeoning emotions! Was this what a crush in school would feel like, this pain in her chest everytime his golden eyes looked to her? Would his lips, parted to reveal slightly sharp teeth, want to press against hers? Would his eyes ever glaze in love and passion, answering the heat inside her when the sun stretched time to a crawl and they had a moment to breathe, to WONDER?
These were the thoughts of a 15 year old schoolgirl as she first began to know her Inuyasha. They had both been so young.... Kagome in years, Inuyasha in maturity.
But a first date? Kagome wondered if the first time his golden eyes had fluttered open, bound against the tree could have been a date. It certainly was a piercing moment. Or the first time she had made him a bentou lunch?
Kagome could still remember the endless serenity of that afternoon so long ago, in her relationship to him and the present year! She had cooked intently, cut sausages and fish and rolled rice balls in seaweed paper with youthful care. Mama had been close at hand with a soft suggestion or two that Kagome was glad to take. And she had wrapped each bentou beautifully in soft linen, a delicate bow capping each masterpiece. How she had labored to show him some kindness so he would stop fighting with her! And hopefully, then he would begin to like her....
Kagome had climbed out of the BoneEater's Well carrying her treasures in a department store shopping bag. The paper straps were clenched in her fingers tightly as she walked through wavering grass looking for Inuyasha. The sun had been high, the cicadas had been singing, the time, perfect.
Inuyasha had been pouting in a tree, or whatever it was he did in his spare time, when she finally found him. Gently cajouling did not help his attitude. So she had been forced to compete in a screaming match that was becoming a regular routine for them. Kagome didn't want to "sit" him just yet, then he would never try her delecious homemade bentou! Inuyasha finally sat down on her spread picnic blanket, admitting that they needed their strength to continue the hunt today.
Kagome let it be and had unwrapped one square box, and lifted the top for him. Inuyasha held out one palm carefully, and had peered inside as if to find insects instead of rice and fish. He squinted, studied her careful arrangements and demanded an explanation.
"What the heck is this! Is this how you make fish in your time, Kagome? It smells kinda funny!"
Kagome had felt an embarrassing flush creep up her neck mixed with humilated rage. How dare he insult her hard efforts!
"It's just fish and rice, Inuyasha! Just like you eat here! We just season it more and make it look better!"
"This ain't no fashion show, Kagome! It's just lunch. Why go to all that trouble to put some food in your belly, huh?" Inuyasha wondered, pinching his claws around the chopsticks she had offered. Kagome felt the humiliation eat her like the constant rejection he showed and slammed her chopsticks onto the top of her bentou.
"You're so damn impossible! Just SIT, boy! OSUWARI! OSUWARI!" Kagome screamed her pain and Inuyasha was slammed face first into his own lunch.
"Wah!" he sputtered as rice flew up around his mouth, and into his throat. "Kagome!"
"Go sit on a tack!" Kagome gave back, inciting another thud into the carefully prepared lunches. She pushed off the blanket and dashed off, cursing herself for her dampening eyes and loss of temper. She hadn't meant for things to go this badly! Grass upturned beneath her shoes as she jogged away, and when she was safely away, Kagome lifted a hand to her eyes and wiped small tears away.
"You stupid.... stupid! Stupid Inuyasha!" Kagome gave a shuddery sigh and hugged her elbows. She gave a partial sob and looked up into the leafy bowers of a nearby tree. This past world was so beautiful and peaceful.... if she could get Inuyasha to shut his big mouth for one second! "Stupid.... now who's stupid..."
Now she had gone and lost her temper again and sat him a few dozen times. He didn't like loud women, had gone and said so. He must have liked demure girls, like.... Kikyo. She was once, and would always, be serene and humble, smooth and quiet. And he hated her now. She would never gain Inuyasha's tender affections because she reminded him of her!
The dreaded "her", the shadow that lay across the both of them, even as they traveled together, fought together, ate together. Kagome hated her! But she had BEEN her. In her past life, she had yearned to love Inuyasha as she surely felt so for him now. The Shikon Jewel tied their destinies together yet again in her next life, even though she was socially free to pursue him.
And he didn't want her, all the same!
Back at the abandoned picnic, Inuyasha picked his face out of fish and rice, grumbling to himself all the while. His heart tugged all the way down to his bare toes as he went over the play-by-play of their latest fight. He was always so hard on her, he had to remember, she was a woman and needed his protection. Not just that..... she was alone too, as hopelessly alone as he had always been, and he knew she cared for him.
"If she only knew..." Inuyasha mumbled, licking his upper teeth clean of mashed rice. Involuntarily, he swallowed some and he stopped in amazement. "That damned woman... it really IS good."
Now he felt sheepish and a huge fool. If she only knew.... how his heart yearned for what everyone else had and he didn't... He was always messing things up! Inuyasha carefully ate everything that was left in his bentou and picked up the shiny plastic box. He clumsily tied the linen across the top and cursed under his breath as it would up looking pathetic compared to Kagome's knot.
"Here goes... it'll have to do!" Inuyasha mumbled. He stopped on his search for her, and stooped to pick something up.
It didn't take long to find her. Kagome had gone only a short distance, and sat trying to hide from the world beneath a copse of trees.
"Hey," Inuyasha mumbled, stopping beside her shoulder. Kagome rubbed her wrist across one eye and his heart sank again. Was she crying? Did he do that to her?.... "I... uh.... "
"What now, Inuyasha? Come to get me so we can get started?" Kagome asked in a wavering voice. Inuyasha's ears lay flat against his head. She was trying so hard to sound tough and brave, so he wouldn't lay into her. He felt like a jerk and was glad to lean low and hold his hand out.
"Y-yeah.... Guess I did. Uhm, here.... it was really good," were all he said. Kagome looked down, astonished, at the clumsily wrapped bentou box. As Inuyasha walked back to collect her knapsack and blanket, her fingers carressed the flower laid across the top.
****
"Some first date, huh, Megumi?" Kagome laughed. Megumi was fast asleep. Kagome gently nudged the stroller into the walkway leading up to a nursery school.
She saw her four year old son before he saw them. He was running with other boys and girls his age, yelling and throwing a ball around. His shoulder-length white hair was flying with his movements, his ears hidden beneath a ball cap. Kagome smiled softly as he jerked to a stop, and clapped one chubby hand on top of his hat to keep it from flying off.
Inuyasha had taught him to be very careful about letting other people see his ears, after all. He didn't want his boy to be ostracized as he had been as a child....
"Inutaro! Hi!" she called, not finding it hard to slip into 'mommy mode.' The short boy looked around, his golden irises gleaming. His small nose worked a few times before he clapped a finger to it so the other kids wouldn't notice and he grinned widely.
"MAMA!" Inutaro yelled joyously. The other kids watched enviously as he ran over and wrapped his arms enthusiastically around Kagome's long legs, burying his face into her skirt. "You're here!"
"And Megumi-chan," Kagome added. Inutaro peered into the stroller and carefully patted his little sister's side.
"Gumi's tired, huh, Mama?" Inutaro asked sweetly. Kagome nodded and smoothed her palm over her son's round cheek.
"So is Mama. Shall we go home, baby?"
"Kay!" Inutaro agreed. He ran into the building to grab his jacket off his kiddie hook and Kagome bowed to the teacher, stopping to exchange a few words. Inutaro was a good child and eager to interact with other kids of the school. He would do just fine, even with his exotic looks.
Firmly holding her son's hand, Kagome watched after his steps behind the stroller. Luckily Ojii-chan was sweeping the bottom steps leading up to Higurashi Shrine so he helped lift Megumi's stroller up. Inutaro held onto his great-grandfather's hakama leg and got a lift all the way up. He giggled as they went.
"Where's Papa, Ojii-chan?" Inutaro asked as they got to the top step. He looked around but Inuyasha wasn't anywhere on the grounds.
Ojii-chan snuffed. "Probably lazing about. He's too tired these days! What's wrong with him, Kagome?"
"He's just fine, 'Jii-chan. Don't backbite him in front of the children," Kagome warned. Her grandfather slouched his shoulders and sighed.
"Of course, child."
"Look, there's Papa now!" Inutaro called. Kagome brightened and pushed the stroller closer to the house. Inuyasha was leaned up against the entry of the house, his head lolled back, mouth agape. He was fast asleep, only his white under haori covering his upper torso. As usual, his legs were a mystery in his billowy red hakama. His bare feet toed the air as he shifted in his sleep.
Kagome smiled as she laid loving eyes over her man. He had come a long way from the loud, blustering boy she had let free from the Goshinboku. His muscles were more pronounced though he was still slim as a reed. He had grown sweet, attentive and loving. With enough passion for three people, Kagome was pleased to know. As Inutaro carefully poked his father in the cheek, Kagome smiled and lifted Megumi from her stroller. More than enough passion with these two children...
"Muh! Hey! Whoa, Taro, what you doing back already?" Inuyasha asked, dizzily looking around. His arm swept around his son, making him giggle before his golden gaze settled along the round curves of his wife. His Kagome stood before him, their second baby sleeping nestled in her arms. The wisp of a schoolgirl, with a finger always pointed in his face and a snappy comeback on her lips flashed before his eyes, before blossoming out into this young mother with gently curving globes of flesh.
"Kagome...." Inuyasha murmured in greeting, feeling their years together crescendo to this one quiet moment. Kagome smiled, meeting his gaze, feeling the same way.
"Hi, love," she murmured. Megumi shifted and cried out in her sleep. Inuyasha was up on his feet in a moment, looking down into his daughter's face.
"Man, we make good-looking kids, Kagome," Inuyasha as usual, stated what was on his mind. Inutaro hugged his neck and giggled, not getting the implication. Kagome's cheeks flushed red but she held his gaze knowingly.
"That comes with lots of practice, doesn't it? You're never content until you have it perfect."
"Man, I'm getting it now!" Inuyasha pretended to complain and bent to kiss Megumi's soft brow. "She is a sweet thing, though..."
Kagome smiled as they made their way into the house's kitchen, Inutaro running around happily after being set on his feet. As Kagome bustled around with Megumi, she knew Inuyasha was standing there watching. He had that odd look of arousal and love in his eyes that she was blessed to know.
"See, your sweet side is your best side. You can make good things happen," Kagome agreed. Megumi was set into her baby carrier, and Kagome gathered up into two wiry-strong arms.
"I know I made this happen," Inuyasha murmured, settling his nose against Kagome's. She twined her arms around his neck and let him lean her back. "I didn't let myself stay afraid."
"I'm glad we did," Kagome agreed, remembering their first time. "I wouldn't have known how you felt about me if not."
"I would have told you, Kagome," Inuyasha laid his mouth against hers softly. Not too much, Inutaro was still zooming around. "One day..."
"I think it was our first date that did it, more than anything until we went for it," Kagome said, kissing his cheek.
"First... date? Huh?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome pressed her lips to his. Inuyasha's passion lurched as her curves pressed against his hips and chest.
"The bentou lunch I made. Remember? We had a fight and you picked a flower to give to me on top of it..."
"I wanted to cheer you up. I never had done anything like that before..." Inuyasha confessed.
Kagome wound her arms around his neck and smiled. "Oh, Inuyasha.... I love you."
"Love you too, wife," he grinned.
"Mama, Papa! I wanna watch Yugi-oh!" Inutaro charged into the kitchen to interrupt their embrace. "C'n you turn it on?"
Inuyasha sighed and let go of his delecious mate. He let Inutaro take his hand and lead him to the living room. "Okay, okay, pup! I'll put on your show, already."
Kagome smiled, her heart full from the sight they made. "Inuyasha!"
"Yes, 'Gome?" he asked, stopping in the doorway. Kagome met his golden gaze.
"Give me your full attention later," she suggested. Inuyasha's lids drooped sexily and he almost licked his lip. His full attention almost pitched to full notice in a moment's instant.
"Anytime, anyplace, anywhere," he drawled and blew a kiss. Inutaro grabbed his hand again and Inuyasha smiled benevolently, going to spend time with his small son.
Kagome rocked Megumi and went about to making dinner. She had gotten alot better since her bentou recipe, after all.
End for now
penpaninu 8/18/08
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