InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Soul Stealer ❯ Three - Back In Time ( Chapter 3 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Soul Stealer
Chapter Three - Back In Time
Chapter Three - Back In Time
“Inuyasha! What are you-?” Kagome began, but then stopped… she figured that whatever he was thinking, she might like it.
Kagome normally hated waking up in the morning. But not today. Not with her head firmly against Inuyasha's chest, listening to her boyfriend's beating heart - both their hair fanning out about them - black on white. She sighed and yawned, rubbing a hand up and down his torso, thinking: this is heaven.
Her bed sheet was dangling unusually low, which was ironic when she needed it to cover herself more than usual. She groped about with her left hand, discarding Inuyasha's chest and stomach, trying to find the sheet. There. Got it. She pulled it back up, over her bare body and Inuyasha's abdomen.
Again she sighed. Her room was bright with the early morning sunshine filtering through her bedroom window. Her door was still shut - and hopefully still locked. Kagome glanced at her mirror, which - due to the sun - was casting rainbows all around the room. There she saw her face.
She was tanned and a hot flush was covering both her cheeks. Her hair was dangling about her shoulders, dishevelled - the hairpins lying on the floor absently. Her dress was thrown over her desk chair, along with her jeans, a red fire-rat jacket, matching trousers and a white shirt. Kagome also noticed her underwear littering the floor and grimaced, turning away to look up at Inuyasha.
He was still asleep… and smiling, too. His ears were limp, like a dogs' when it's happy or relaxed. Kagome grinned and reached out a hand, fingers curling around one of his white bangs. She tweaked it playfully, but Inuyasha didn't wake up.
Kagome looked away, fingers instinctively playing with the fine strands of his hair. She wondered what time her family had gotten back last night… and then was consumed with panic. She let go of Inuyasha's hair and sat up, clambering out of bed.
If Mama finds out she'll kill me… Kagome thought, feeling bare and inhuman all of a sudden. She picked up her underwear and started to dress herself, feeling a headache coming on. It must have looked suspicious if my bedroom door was locked…
Kagome picked up last night's clothes and hung them up in the wardrobe. She hadn't worn them long… they could be worn again. And if she'd thrown them out to be washed, her mama would ask why she'd worn a dress if she'd been staying indoors.
The whole attempt at dressing up left Kagome feeling stupid now - all that hard work… and only to have it taken off immediately afterwards. Still, if she hadn't worn it, then maybe this wouldn't have happened…
Immediately her gaze turned towards Inuyasha. Idiot! Stop it, girl! He's asleep - just get changed and do what you gotta do. Kagome's inner voice whined, punishing her. She moved her lips in a manner that wasn't quite a smile, and picked out her light brown skirt from her wardrobe. Then she grabbed a plain white vest-top and started to dress.
Only when she was brushing her hair did Inuyasha wake up. “Mm?” he moaned, eyes opening, head tilted in her direction. It took him a moment to focus on Kagome, standing by her bedroom window (which was actually a door), brushing her hair. He mentally cursed. He'd wanted to wake up first… just to see her in her sleep, to see how peaceful she would look. He was robbed of that now.
“Morning,” he smiled limply, sitting up. He pulled the bed sheet up with him, covering himself. Kagome smiled back, turning to face him. She's dressed already? How long was I out? Inuyasha wondered.
Kagome walked back over to the bed. “Did you sleep okay?” she asked. Inuyasha nodded, looking around for his clothes. Last night he hadn't cared where he'd thrown them, so long as he was with Kagome and nothing would tear them apart. His eyes stumbled across them. Her desk.
Kagome coughed, trying to grab his attention. Inuyasha's eyes automatically locked with hers. “I'm going downstairs to see Mama. It might look strange if we go downstairs together.”
Inuyasha frowned. “We did once,”
“I know, but I didn't look guilty then and you were the one who slept, not me.” Kagome reassured. She stood up. “Just get changed, and be down soon - okay?”
“'Kay,” Inuyasha replied.
Kagome started to turn away when she remembered something. “Oh, I forgot…” and then she turned back, bending down so she could kiss him. He kissed her back, smiling slightly.
Then Kagome pulled away. “Be down soon.” She told him, unlocking her door and heading out to the hallway.
“I will.” Inuyasha promised, stepping out of the bed and reaching for his clothes. They both smiled, and then Kagome disappeared down the stairs, her bedroom door swinging shut. Inuyasha was all alone in Kagome's room, and he looked at the walls with distaste.
“Keh! Pink. I hate pink.” Funny. I don't think I've ever cared much before. He thought, putting on his trousers. I wonder why. He didn't know that it was because he was automatically making the shrine his home. So much for staying in the past…
“Kagome, why was your door locked this morning?” Mama asked, giving Kagome a look that meant `you can tell me anything'. Kagome didn't fall for it.
“I didn't like the idea of sleeping with it open when you weren't home… there are some weird people about, right? So I locked it in case someone… you know...”
“Oh. Well then, that's okay, dear.” Mama Higurashi smiled. “Did you sleep well, Inuyasha?” she asked the boy dressed in red who was sitting at the table. Inuyasha beamed back. “Very well, thanks. In fact…” he gave Kagome a cheeky smile. “I've never slept better.”
Kagome blushed and whipped away - keeping her face hidden whilst her heart pounded furiously. Her mother, oblivious, laughed - apparently flattered. She started up the frying pan, readying the fried-breakfast. She gave the pan a soaking of oil, sloshed it around and drained most of it away.
“Are you going back today?” she asked, referring to the Sengoku Jidai. She cracked two eggs and dropped them into the pan, discarding the shells on the counter.
Kagome and Inuyasha both answered with the affirmative. Mama Higurashi replied with a nod of her head, and set her mind on cooking.
The front door slid open, filling the house with sound. The next instant, there was the pitter-patter of feet in the hallway. “I'm home!” came the juvenile call of Kagome's little brother, Sota. The next instant, he skidded into the kitchen, black hair standing on end. He'd rushed getting ready this morning - his shirt was not only inside out but also back-to-front. Kagome sniggered.
Sota smiled. “Morning, Inuyasha!” he cried once he'd located the hanyou sat at the table. “I left you listening to my music yesterday. How was it?” he piped up excitedly. He was upset when he realised that he couldn't sit next to him… Kagome dropped down into the seat on Inuyasha's left.
Inuyasha frowned, distastefully, at the memory of `those metal things' and folded his arms. “S'okay.” he replied, his tone clearly defining that it wasn't. Sota paid no attention. “Good!” he jeered, pulling a chair round so he could sit on the side of the table nearest to Inuyasha. “I've got more CDs if you want to listen-”
“No thanks,” Inuyasha cut in, ducking his head. Kagome laughed. “Sota, maybe you should go and change.” She told her brother, not at all upset that he hadn't paraded her with any `hellos' this morning. Sota looked down, saw that he looked like a fool in front of his most favourite person ever, and blushed furiously, turning on his heel and running upstairs.
“Here ya go! Breakfast is served!” Mama Higurashi announced, placing two plates of bacon and eggs in front of Inuyasha and Kagome. The two were famished and launched on their plates immediately - Inuyasha not caring that it wasn't ramen, for once.
The breakfast table was empty. Kagome was filling up her pack with pots of instant noodles, a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, her pots and pans, a lighter, and some other things for the trip. This time, Inuyasha was helping her and not grumbling about how much she took.
“Lighter?” Kagome asked.
“Check,” Inuyasha replied.
“Ramen?”
“Check,”
“Banda ges and medicine?”
“Check,”
“Check,” Inuyasha replied.
“Ramen?”
“Check,”
“Banda ges and medicine?”
“Check,”
And it went on like this until everything on the list was accounted for. Kagome's pack was shut (with some difficulty and a bit of strength on Inuyasha's part) and they were ready to go.
“Bye,” Kagome waved, kissing her mother on the cheek. Mama nodded, grinning.
“Kagome, I rang the school this morning. Apparently, your grade was fine, it wasn't a mix up.” She stopped and then laughed. “Looks like you're having a lucky couple of months!”
Kagome smiled in thanks, apparently satisfied, and then turned away. Mama Higurashi had to go through the same old feeling inside that she got every time her daughter went back in time. What if, this time, she doesn't come back?
When Kagome was saying goodbye to her grandpa, Mama took Inuyasha aside. A little flustered, the hanyou obeyed, looking slightly guilty and wondering whether she knew what had happened last night.
Mama looked pleadingly into his eyes. “Look after Kagome for me,” she whispered, practically begging. Inuyasha practically fell backwards in shock. After all this time, she hadn't once said something like that to him. It threw him off balance. Not that he had to be told to look after Kagome… he loved her too much for anything to happen to her. There. That word. The one word he couldn't say to her.Love. I love your daughter, Mrs Higurashi…
“I will,” he said, denying his true feelings yet again. He hadn't told Kagome that he loved her - not directly. He'd said, `I didn't say that I didn't love you' but that wasn't the same thing. Inuyasha felt uncomfortable suddenly and he looked down.
“Thank you,” Mama Higurashi smiled, going back in the house. Kagome's grandpa did the same. Then Inuyasha looked over at his new girlfriend and smiled.
“Ready?” he asked.
Kagome nodded. He walked over to her and took her hand, eyes dancing happily. Together, they stepped into the well house. Kagome hated the darkness of it, and gripped his arm. She knew she shouldn't be afraid - after all the things she'd been through - but she couldn't help it. The whole dampness of it… it was like it was just about to collapse…
This was where it all started. Just over a year ago. Kagome trembled as they appeared at the side of the well, after walking down the wooden steps. She placed her hands either side of the vertical tunnel, eyes following the path down. From here, you could see the bottom - except when the right people hit the floor they would pass through. Or in other words, Kagome and Inuyasha would.
Kagome took a deep breath.
“Ladies first,” Inuyasha smiled.
Kagome snorted. “Now you're being a gentleman?” she mused.
“Ladies first,” Inuyasha smiled.
Kagome snorted. “Now you're being a gentleman?” she mused.
Inuyasha shrugged, still grinning. “There's a first time for everything.”
Kagome smiled back… looked down into the square abyss… and jumped.
Kagome smiled back… looked down into the square abyss… and jumped.
Sota ran into the kitchen, looking smart and fully dressed - hair spiky at the front. But the kitchen was empty of the hanyou and his sister. He frowned. Mama and Grandpa were watching the news in the living room.
He ran in there, hands on hips. “Mama, where's Inuyasha and Kagome?” he asked, eyes wide. Mama looked up and smiled apologetically. “They already left, Sota. They were in a hurry to get back.”
“Oh,” Sota frowned, dropping down on the carpet. He looked down into his hand to see what he'd brought down. “And I thought Inuyasha would want to listen to my CDs…”