InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Something to Protect ❯ Dinner for Four (or more) ( Chapter 4 )

 

Disclaimer: Of course I do not own Inuyasha. If I did you would be the first to know. And thank you to my lovely reviewer, ThirdDemonKags.

 

Chapter 3: Dinner for Four (or more)

 

“Eh?!”

 

Jessica felt her eye twitch slightly as she held her cell phone up against her ear, Paige having just finished speaking only moments before.

 

“Are you serious?”

 

Her friend let out a sigh, irritated. “Nooo… I'm making this up as I go along. Of course I'm serious!”

 

Jessica gave a weary sigh and sank down onto the couch, ignoring the curse that came from the kitchen, where Inuyasha was, once again working on the Takahashi file. Her free hand lifted to push a few red flyaways out of her face and linger on her forehead, applying a bit of pressure to relieve a pounding headache. Her slender fingers rubbed slowly, and she winced a bit as the headache worsened suddenly, but soon began to ease up as she massaged her head.

 

“So what are our options, then?” she asked in a tired voice. Paige was silent for a long moment, and her voice was hard when she spoke. “We're out of options.”

 

Jessica's hand dropped and her headache throbbed.

 

“I figured you'd say that.”

 

~*~*~

 

The next day dawned warm and sunny, but Inuyasha kept telling Jessica to take a jacket because he could smell rain coming later. The previous night he hadn't bothered to go home, but had crashed on Jessica's couch and woken up to the smell of bacon and eggs sizzling in the morning.

 

Now, it was nearing three and the two were headed over to Kouga and Ayame's place, as intended. Inuyasha hadn't bothered to conceal his youkai appearance, seeing as not only was it a lazy Sunday with no one really out at this time, but it would only be Kouga and Ayame there anyways.

 

Jessica, whom was holding a warm dish of fresh fudge brownies to take, was looking frantically for her other shoe and cursing because they were already running behind. She and Inuyasha had gotten into a row over whether or not she should wear a windbreaker because of the temperature (resulting in him insisting she did, and Jessica blatantly ignoring him.) Now she expertly balanced the plate in one hand and groped around under her bed with the other, yanking her missing shoe out and slipping it on, hobbling and stomping toward the door.

 

Scowling, she looked at her watch. “Dangit, we're going to miss the subway.” She groused, flashing Inuyasha a glare. He growled slightly and before she knew what was happening she was being scooped up and was suddenly leaping through the air, being carried bridal style by a certain impatient hanyou whom even decided to skip the subway and head straight to Kouga's.

 

When Ayame Ookami opened the front door, it was to find a very annoyed pair of friends standing on her porch. Jessica's red hair was a frizz, her knitted hat flopped to one side, and she was gripping the covered dish rather tightly with one hand. Inuyasha looked rather cramped for an odd reason, with a forced smile on his face. Closer inspection would prove that Jessica wasn't holding onto his arm for only balance purposes, but she was also pinching him rather hard. Ayame let out a wide smile and enveloped both of them in a hug, and immediately Jessica let go of Inuyasha and returned the hug.

 

Ayame giggled, leading Jessica inside, leaving Inuyasha to follow inside, now possessing the brownies that Jessica had previously handed him. “Kouga!” the female wolf youkai called, smiling over at Jessica. “They're here!”

 

There was a rush of wind, and soon the modernized, yet still recognizable form of Kouga appeared in front of them. Inuyasha scowled and set the plate down on the arm of the couch, cracking his knuckles, just in case.

 

“Jessica!” he exclaimed, grasping her elbows and leaning forward to kiss her cheek. She chuckled and responded in kind. “Hi, Kouga!” she said happily, and Inuyasha tensed at the way her eyes sparkled. Why was it that all his female companions were always friends with Kouga?

 

Smiling down at her, the wolf youkai gave a wink and his gaze shifted to Inuyasha. He smirked. “Hey, mutt-face. How come you didn't take your woman's hat and jacket, hmm?”

 

Inuyasha and Jessica both blushed darkly and averted their eyes. Inuyasha snorted, even through his embarrassment and reached forward to help his friend out of her jacket. She smiled up at him a bit. “Thanks.” She said with a wink, amusement flashing in her eyes. He took her hat as well and hung them up on the coat rack. “Keh.” He sniffed, and turned around, crossing his arms.

 

Jessica suppressed a chuckle at him, and was about to say something, when there was a loud shout and suddenly two short beings came pounding down the stairs. “Auntie Jessie! Uncle Inu!” they cried, and a big smile swept over Jessica's face as she knelt down to meet the two rambunctious children. Toyotomi, (playfully called Tomo by his loved ones) Kouga and Ayame's youngest son, was the split image of his father, complete with a dark ebony ponytail at the back of his head. Standing proudly at six years old, he was the first to barrel into Jessica's arms. His sister, Masumi wasn't too far behind her brother, her red curls springing in time with each bound of her tiny little four year old feet.

 

Inuyasha looked on with a hidden smile and Jessica hugged the two children, one arm around each. She'd taken to them almost immediately when they had first met, and they to she. Jessica was laughing lightly as Tomo told her a carefully thought out story of how his caterpillar had turned into a butterfly just two days ago. Jessica watched the boy's enthusiasm with bright eyes, nodded and looking extremely interested. Inuyasha chuckled inwardly. Kami, there was no end to the depth of this woman's heart.

 

Feeling a small tug on his baggy jeans, Inuyasha turned his attention down to the small little redhead smiling up at him. “Uncle Inu.” She stated purposefully. He couldn't help but grin and swept her up into a bear hug, making her squeal with laughter. Now it was Jessica's turn to smile fondly at him, before picking up a still rambling Tomo and carrying him into the large dining room behind Kouga and Ayame. Inuyasha followed suit with little Masumi cradled in his arms.

 

“Sit down, make yourself at home.” Ayame encouraged, and Jessica smiled brightly at her, looking to Inuyasha. She was a bit surprised to see that Inuyasha had already done so, and she stifled a giggle at the sheepish look he flashed her. She set Tomo down on the ground beside her and he scrambled into a chair, hastily holding on to the empty one beside it. “Sit here!” he exclaimed and she chuckled lightly, sitting down between Tomo and Kouga, whom was already seated. Kouga patted her knee and gave her a friendly smile, which she returned, and Inuyasha growled at him. Jessica rolled her eyes as Ayame entered from the kitchen, carrying several steaming plates of filet mignon, vegetables and potatoes. Jessica eyed the plates hungrily and almost as soon as the female wolf youkai set down the plates everyone launched for the food.

 

“Oh, Ayame you are the best!” Jessica cooed as she filled her plate with a reasonable amount of food. Ayame smiled graciously as she cut up the food for her children, respectively.

 

“And I love her for it.” Kouga declared with a wink, and everyone chuckled as even Masumi noticed her mother's light blush.

 

 

~*~*~

 

Dinner went reasonably well, besides the fact that it contained a miniature food fight between the Ookami siblings and a snarling match between Kouga and Inuyasha, which ended in their respective redheaded companions whacking them upside the head to shut them up. After dinner, Inuyasha and Kouga headed outside with the kids, while Ayame and Jessica lingered behind to do the dishes.

 

Sinking her hands into warm and soapy water, Jessica scrubbed gently yet thoroughly over Ayame's best china plates, while her friend dried them as they were handed to her and put them away.

“So how's it going at the hospital?” Ayame asked as Jessica rinsed a glass and handed it to her. The young woman smiled. “Tiring, but rewarding.” she answered honestly. Feeling bad for keeping the part about her father to herself, the surgeon pushed the thoughts out of her mind and resolved to tell Ayame all about it once she had it figured out herself. The youkai looked her, smelling the exhaustion and sadness on her, but didn't push the matter. The two were friends, and Ayame knew when she was ready, Jessica would talk.

 

The two redheads finished up the dishes and, after Jessica dried off her hands, they walked out onto the back porch, chatting amiably, to join the men and children.

 

Kouga sat on a lawn chair underneath their large canopy, with Masumi on his lap and together they were reciting the ABC's, a feat she'd recently been proud to master. Jessica' bright grey eyes swept over the large yard and soon rested on her hanyou friend. He was walking innocently under Tomo's tree house, the wolf youkai boy in a pouncing position just about Inuyasha's head. Jessica and Ayame watched in amusement as Tomo sprung and caught Inuyasha around the neck. The mighty hanyou flashed Jessica a small smile, before allowing the six year old to take him down. He may only have a small cub pouncing around on him, but with the fuss Inuyasha made you'd think he was getting attack by the biggest youkai in the universe.

 

Jessica and Ayame exchanged happy glances and, as Ayame headed over to join her mate and daughter, Jessica made a show of gasping and running to her hanyou friend. “Inuyasha!” she cried out in mock terror. Two canine ears perked up and, as he turned to face her, Inuyasha gave a wink before collapsing on the ground. “J…. Jessica.” He panted. “I can't…go on…. I'm….sorry…”

 

Dramatically, golden eye slid closed as he fell limp. Jessica found it hard to keep a straight face as for added effect he let his tongue flop out of his mouth to one side. It's a bit of an overkill, don't you think?

 

Giving a howl in satisfaction, Tomo dashed over to Jessica and grabbed her around the waist. Giving a small “oh” of fake surprise, Jessica purposely fell backwards onto the soft grass. Looking up, she noticed she was face-to-face with a pair of bright blue eyes. “Oh no” she exclaimed, registering the snickers coming from Ayame and Kouga as she lay there, victim to a six year old's romping. “I guess this is it. Goodbye, cruel world.”

 

With that, Jessica also flopped down and the six year old grinned above her. Tomo cheered in victory and ran over to take down Kouga next.

 

Jessica's eyes slid open as she listened to the birds and the sounds of Kouga's great “defeat.” Suddenly, strong arms were around her and she found her feet planted on the ground. Looking up into his amber eyes, she smiled. “Too bad you were dead or you could've saved me.” She grinned, and turned to head back to the porch, when a clawed hand caught her wrist.

 

She turned briefly and grey met amber once again. His gaze was serious.

 

“I'll always save you.” He promised, and she smiled.

 

“I know.”

 

~*~*~

 

The four friends and two children sat together under the large canopy, watching the sun slip below the clouds. It was only about 7:30, but already the children had grown weary and Masumi had recently fallen asleep, curled up in her surrogate aunt's arms. Jessica stroked her red hair gently and Inuyasha and Kouga watched fondly, while Tomo curled on a chair by himself, his eyelids drooping. Just as they were basking in the comfortable silence, Jessica's pager beeped loudly. Checking it briefly, she sighed and stood up, looking apologetically at the entire Ookami family.

 

“I'm really sorry, I've got to go.” She said with a frown and gently handed the sleeping Masumi to her mother, hardly shifting the child at all. “I'll call you tomorrow.” She promised to Ayame, who nodded and briefly the friends clutched hands, and the Kouga stepped up to hug her. “You take care of yourself now.” He said with a smile, and she chuckled. “Don't you worry about me.”

 

He gave a wink and looked sternly at Inuyasha. “You watch out for her, got it?”

 

Inuyasha snorted and his arm went around her waist, yanking him to her side. Jessica gave them both a tolerant look but allowed herself to be possessed, briefly. “Of course I will, stinking wolf. Don't I always?”

 

Kouga gave a cocky smirk and Jessica rolled her eyes, shoving Inuyasha off. “Cut it out, you two. Let's go.”

 

~*~*~

 

It was nearly dark by the time Inuyasha landed on the roof of the hospital with Jessica on his back. Routinely, she slid off and the two headed down the stairs into the main lobby. Jessica didn't know whom she was supposed to meet, because there was no specific number of a certain doctor on her pager. A few people walked past her, but after letting the receptionist on call know she was here and no one came, Jessica was at a loss. “I don't get it, I-“

 

“JESS!!!”

 

Inuyasha watched curiously as his redheaded companion turned around and was swiftly grabbed up into an enormous giant crazy bear hug. Inuyasha blinked in surprise as the mysterious man set her back on her feet and she stared at him dumbly. “Rossi?” she asked, and he man flashed a grin. Inuyasha stared hard at him and suddenly his heartbeat increased tenfold. It… it couldn't be. He'd… he'd been dead for nearly 450 years…

 

“Miroku.” he murmured.

 

~*~*~

 

Haha. Sorry. =] Going to leave you there. I need some reviews before I update again, thanks!

~Siberia

 

Oh, P.S.- I know you're all wondering about Inu's backstory and Kagome's death and stuff like that, don't worry I have a special chapter dedicated entirely to that, in a flashback/nightmare. So… review, stay tuned, and enjoy! Loves!