InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Some people need a push ❯ birthday surprise ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: A Birthday Surprise
Stopped for camp, Japan
Feudal Era, Monday, Day 11

“Why are we doing my hair again?” Kagome twisted around, trying to look at Sango.

“Don't move. Because it's your birthday. There, all done.” Sango pinned Kagome's hair up with an air of finality. Her hair formed a crown on her head now, with more than half of it cascading down her back and onto her shoulders.

“Why this hair style? I mean, it's so… I dunno, serious.”

“Because it looks good on you, and it'll go great with this outfit. Once again,” Sango said before Kagome could ask the reason, “because it's your birthday. Miroku screwed last year up, so we aren't going to give him a chance to mess it up. You're going to look nice, have a good time, and thank us all profusely in the morning. Now, let me see how you look.”

Kagome stood up and started to mentally appraise her. If Inuyasha doesn't recognize her, it won't be surprising. The only thing that tells is her outfit. She looks like a completely different person like this.

“So? Do I pass?”

“Yeah, you pass. You look great, Kagome.”

“Does that mean I usually look awful?” Kagome smiled. Sango knew she was joking.

“Just so awful. Come on, let's go.” Sango reached into her belt pouch and pressed the button on the piece of wood Jan gave her. She had left her comb inconspicuously under a bush, and knew exactly what to tell Kagome to keep her moving.

I hope this works, she thought.

~*~*~

“And hold the flowers…” Inuyasha held the flowers out to Jan, pretending she was Kagome. He held the stems lightly with one hand, and cushioned the flower part with his other hand, holding the flowers at a slight angle. He moved them to an upright position as he held them out, until he was holding them by the stems.

“Good. Now, remember, when you meet her, just say happy birthday and hand her the flowers. If she just stares at you, tell her she looks nice. Don't mention her shoes or body, or how she smells, just her clothes or hair. Don't proclaim an undying love, either. Don't act like Koga does when he's courting her, but don't act like an ass, either. If she keeps staring at you, gently take her arm and lead her to the table, or ask if she's hungry, or ask if she wants to eat. Try not to be rude or too blunt in the way you act; you're playing gentleman tonight. Don't mention Kikyo at all if you can help it, and try to steer the conversation away from her if Kagome brings her up. Subtly, though. Don't push the conversation, but don't let the silence get uncomfortable or to where you're both brooding. If you need to start the conversation up, ask her about her childhood, how her archery is going, or something else that's fairly neutral. If you can't figure out what to ask, figure out a way to loosen the tension, like talk about when you were a kid - but use a happy memory. Don't gobble the food, but don't pick at it. Try not to talk with your mouth full; if she's talking, don't eat - be attentive to her. If you guys are eating, don't try to start a conversation unless she's the one to start it.

“Try to relax around her, show her that you're not all steel and rock. You need to wear your heart on your sleeve, for once - figuratively speaking, of course - and let her get to know the vulnerable part of you. Be honest, but don't just out and belt that you love her on sight. I already said that, but it needs to be said. If you get uncertain or begin to think it's a bad idea, just think about how you'd feel if Koga got her.”

A loud beep,, almost a wail, let out in the cave they were in. Inuyasha jumped, and pulled out the Tetsusaiga in a quick, fluid motion.

“Put it away, Silver. It's just to tell me to get your ass over to where the site is. Come on.” Jan pulled Inuyasha into the light, where there was a slight circle drawn in the earth around them. She made as if to appraise him, while awakening the inclusion spell she had set dormant earlier. “You look great. Hold your lunch!” That was the only warning she gave him when she invoked the traveling spell.

In a flash, they were where they needed to be. Inuyasha looked a little green, but, besides that, he was fine. “It's the anticipation that gets you the most. Perk up, here they come… No! Don't go out there now! Sango's going to leave Kagome… see? Now, you go around that way, and wait for Kagome. Try to keep her from running away; approach quietly, but don't sneak up on her. Don't run at her, but don't go at a snail's crawl, either. Basically, hurry, but don't rush up to her. Oh, before I go,” Jan said with a small smile, “she doesn't know anything about this. Remember, Koga!”

Jan stepped away from him, and disappeared. Inuyasha frowned, then turned around to meet Kagome. He watched her face when she saw the table with the dinner on it. What she really saw first were the candles, because it had begun to get a dark. She looked confused, gazing around at the surrounding landscape.

Inuyasha walked halfway to her, then stopped, not sure what to do. “Try to keep her from running away; approach quietly, but don't sneak up on her. Don't run at her, but don't go at a snail's crawl, either. Basically, hurry, but don't rush up to her,” Inuyasha heard Jan's voice say.

Better do this, then.

Stopped for camp, Japan
Feudal Era, Monday, Day 11

“Oh, I left that comb back at the lake,” Sango said to Kagome.

“Let's go back and get it.”

“No, you go on ahead. Inuyasha's probably taking roll by now. He'll freak if you're not there.”

“You're probably right. I hate it when he does that.”

“He's just worried about you, you know. You mean a lot to him.”

“Yeah. I guess that with out me, he wouldn't be able to find the jewel shards - especially with Kikyo gone.”

“That's not what I meant, Kagome.” Sango bit her tongue to keep from giving away the surprise part of the surprise dinner. The tone in Kagome's voice was bitter when she talked about Kikyo; Sango had noticed it before, but it hurt double now, knowing why and knowing she couldn't console her friend. Kagome was like a sister to her, and she wished she could ease some of her pain. It should be eased by the end of the night, though.

“You go back. I'll go and report to the captain.” Kagome smiled, but Sango could tell she was just fronting the happy.

“Okay. See ya!” Sango fairly jogged back to the lake as soon she was out of Kagome's sight, then sighed when she saw Jan.

“Hey, flustered lady. Whatcha worried about?” Jan tilted her head to one side, as if considering Sango from a different angle.

“Nothing.”

“Liar. It's from what you and or Kagome said before you left her. As I told Silver - that's Inuyasha - I can smell a front a while away. I smelled the front she put up to seem happy, and the front you put up in reply.”

Sango stared at her. Gaped was more like it, actually. She wondered how she figured that out. She knew where Jan would be hiding with Inuyasha, and that you almost couldn't see the people on the road from that vantage point. “How did you know that?”

“I told you, I can smell it. I'm really good at recognizing other's emotions, and when they're hiding or masking them. I'm empathic, I guess.”

“Empathic? Do you have any idea how much danger you could be in around anyone evil?” Sango looked at Jan like she was crazy.

“I have shields that would take a year to break through. I had started building up walls since before I was five. I learned how to bind them and strengthen them when I was twelve. I learned how to seal them so only I could take them down when I was fifteen. Trust me, I have everything under control with this stuff.”

“If you're sure, then I'll leave it alone. When we meet up with Sesshomaru, though, you need to have him make sure that your shields are as good as you think they are.”

“If it will make you feel better, then fine. I agree to talk with this person about my shielding.” Jan smiled, then it faded from her face. “Now, we have some `observing' to do with the two lover birds. Let's get to it!”

Secluded glade, Japan
Feudal Era, Monday, Day 11

Kagome was perplexed. She didn't know why there was a table set in the middle of the forest at dusk, why it had lit candles on it, or why the food there was steaming hot. She felt like she was missing something.

Looking around, there was no one around who could have left it there. There was no sign that there had been anyone there - for the exception of the table, cushions, blanket spread across the grass, and things on top of the table. The only signs there had been anyone there earlier were these things.

She started to feel uncomfortable. I wish Inuyasha were here. At least I wouldn't feel so vulnerable, then. Of course, I'd be tortured by not being able to tell him how I feel, and from seeing him with Kikyo every time I looked at him, but at least I'd feel safe. If she wasn't so nice, I could very easily hate Kikyo.

“Kagome?” Inuyasha's voice interrupted the girl's thoughts.

“Inuyasha! What are you doing here?” Kagome asked. She was a little unsettled by his sudden appearance; it was as if she had called to him with her thoughts.

“I, uh, wanted to wish you happy birthday…” Inuyasha trailed off, then held up the flowers belatedly.

Kagome gaped at him. Inuyasha, giving her flowers? She didn't even realize he knew it was her birthday.

“Thanks…” Kagome reached out and took the flowers from his hand numbly. Why? Does this mean he cares for me, or did he just want to make a gesture? If he cares for me, is it like a sister or a friend, or as more than that? If he loves me, it's probably because I'm Kikyo's reincarnation. What if that's not it, though?

Her heart was beating quickly. She wondered at it; how could she feel so calm when her heart was pounding so wildly?

The two stood staring at each other. Inuyasha was eager for and dreading what she would say. Kagome stood frozen, too shocked to do or say anything.

The silence became awkward quickly. Kagome felt a blush rising to her face. Inuyasha remembered what Jan had said. “If she just stares at you, tell her she looks nice. Don't mention her shoes or body, or how she smells, just her clothes or hair. Don't proclaim an undying love, either… If she keeps staring at you, gently take her arm and lead her to the table, or ask if she's hungry, or ask if she wants to eat. Try not to be rude or too blunt in the way you act; you're playing gentleman tonight.”

He tried to get up the courage to compliment her, ask her to dine with him, do anything except stand and stare. Not even images of Koga kissing her hand could force him into action. He was frozen like a deer sensing a predator near; he couldn't have moved to save his life.

Kagome was the one to break the silence. “How did you know to find me here?”

This time, it was Inuyasha who felt blood rushing to his face. He bowed his head, and replied, “Jan and her cousins set this up. Sango helped, too.” He waited for her to rebuke him or reject him, but there was silence that followed his words. He lifted his eyes and looked at her from behind his bangs; it was a view familiar to him, for he often looked at her so she couldn't see him looking.

“The table, then. It's for us, I suppose?”

He looked up. “Yeah. They said you'd like a dinner like this.”

“We should probably eat, then.”

Kagome's thoughts were in a jumble. She couldn't decide on whether Inuyasha was there as company or protector. It never occurred to her that he might be there as a date.

Stopped for camp, Japan
Feudal Era, Monday, Day 11

“How long have they been standing there?”

“My count is about seven minutes.”

“Three more, and I get the bet!”

“Inuyasha looks like he's about to talk, though.”

“Inuyasha's too scared to say anything yet. It'll be up to Kagome to break the silence.”

The girls had taken bets on how long it would take Inuyasha and Kagome to stop staring and do something, and who broke the silence. Sango said that Inuyasha would break the silence, as did Amelia, but Maria and Jan said it would be Kagome. They were keeping track with a scrying bowl that

“Inuyasha's too scared to talk much right now. He thinks that, despite everything we've told him, Kagome is about to tell him to go to hell.”

“Hey, the Kagomes win, and eight minutes, which is closer to Jan's seven. Sixty percent of the pot goes to Jan.”

Jan scrambled for the pot. She picked out sixty percent of the weight, and gave the rest to Maria. Maria looked through it, her disappointed face turning to one of happiness as she found everything she would have claimed first, anyway.

“Hey, girls, what are you doing?” Miroku walked over to where they were congregated, then looked into the bowl. “Is that Kagome and Inuyasha?”

“Yeah. We set up a dinner for them. We're just spying. Nothing better to do, you know.”

“So that's what you were planning?”

“Uh huh.”

“Hmmm. Why didn't you just tell me?”

“Because last year, you told her all about her surprise.” Sango spoke as if reprimanding a small child, and Miroku blushed.

“It was a mistake. An honest mistake anyone could make. Must you torment me like this?” He had moved closer to Sango, and he spoke softly. Jan sensed that this was not wholly about keeping secrets, but was distracted before she could delve into it.

“My Lord, we will not reach the meeting place until Inuyasha. The human child slows us. Should we not leave her with a farmer's family and continue on without her?” A high voice came from outside the cave.

“I will not leave Rin, Jaken. She is my responsibility, and I will not abandon her for the sake of a few hours' extra to a traveling day.”

“But, but, my Lord! Surely you must see that she is a liability! Lord Sesshomaru, augh!” There was a strange sound then, as if something particularly squishy had been stepped on or squashed.

“Sesshomaru? As in Silver's brother?” Jan inquired of Sango.

“One and the same. Jaken is his servant, and Rin is a human girl he fosters. I don't know why he cares for her, but I do know he is cold, and emotionless.”

Jan was quiet for a moment, then whispered, “He is not as emotionless as you think. Not anywhere near it.”