InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Southern Fried Hanyou ❯ Four ( Chapter 4 )

Four

 

Kagome awoke and was grateful to find her head was a bit fuzzy but clear. She'd slept deeply and was almost refreshed.

 

She lost Hojo more than a year ago but she still slept on her side of the bed facing the wall. At first this position allowed her a few moments of blissful forgetting. She could pretend the other side of the bed wasn't empty. Now she was firmly grounded in the fact he was gone but at this point the habit was ingrained.

 

She slid from her cool sheets and padded barefoot to the bathroom. The tiny room was warm from the sun. She paused over the A/C vent and bathed in a refreshing stream of cool air.

 

Thank God for air conditioning! They never had that in Feudal Japan. Japan. Inuyasha! He's really here.

 

She quickly brushed her teeth and ran a brush through her hair. He's seen me at my morning worst so to hell with makeup!

 

Kagome pulled on the same pair of jeans from the night before. Then she remembered Inuyasha's sense of smell and decided to don fresh jeans and a cool, crisp white sleeveless shirt.

 

She paused by the bed and saw the comforter on Hojo's side held the impression of a human rear end. She glanced up and saw her bedroom door standing open. There was no sign of Kiki but then why would there be. Dogs always avoided Inuyasha or followed him from a safe distance.

 

She ran her hand down the bedding and knew he'd perched there and watched her while she slept. I should have known he'd do this. He used to stand sentry over us while we slept. It was silly to think he could have needed sleep after he spent 500 years in that sword.

 

 

Kagome peered into the kitchen and found it empty. Where in the hell has he gone? She'd been through every room in the house and it could only mean one thing. The roof!

 

She opened the French doors in the back of the kitchen and stepped out into the back yard. Not one leaf out of place. She sighed, retrieved a ladder from the storage shed and propped it against the back of the house. Kagome climbed up and looked out on the roof. Inuyasha perched on the highest point of the roof looking down on the neighborhood. He was stripped down to his linen shirt because of the heat.

 

“Bare legs and now bare arms. Kagome, why is it some part of you always has to be naked?” He spoke without turning towards her and she knew he'd been watching her haul the heavy ladder across the yard to the house. She ignored his tone and the baited comment.

 

“Good morning to you too. Aren't you worried someone might notice you up here?” She shimmied across the roof and sat beside him.

 

“No.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“Your people are weird. They wave at me as if we know each other. Look!” He pointed to a woman jogged past. She looked up and waved a friendly hand. I wonder what she thinks we are doing up here?

 

“Inuyasha she is being polite. Here it's considered rude if you don't waive or acknowledge your neighbors.”

 

“It's an invitation for trouble”. He grumbled.

 

Kagome put her hand under his chin and turned his face towards her.

 

“Why are you so grouchy? I thought you'd be happy to be freed from the Tetsusaiga?” Who did you leave behind Inuyasha? A wife? Children?

 

“This place is so foreign. Even the trees here aren't right. I turned on your television and it was gibberish.” Kagome dropped her hand from his face but he didn't turn away.

 

“I can teach you English just as you taught me archery.”

 

He gestured to the ghost moon that ever so faintly hovered in the bright blue morning sky. “Even the moon is not where it should be.”

 

“We are on the other side of the world so that is why the moon is in a different spot. Those are palm trees, we are near the ocean.”

 

“Kagome of course I can smell the ocean. But what is there to do here?”

 

“I guess you will have to find a new purpose. There isn't a battle here or a quest. Just … life.”

 

He gave a half grin and flashed his right fang. “Life huh? But what is life with out a good battle?”

 

That was a rhetorical but what will I do with him? I've brought a warrior into a world where people jog on treadmills for exercise!

 

“I guess it's up to me to show you then.” She smiled back.

 

“Is that a challenge skinny wench?”

 

“Bet your life on it you furry perv.” That got her a full grin.

 

Kagome stood up and stretched. “Let's go to the ocean, it's the perfect place to spend a Sunday morning.”

 

“Feh. Breakfast first. No wonder you are a stick. Your pantry is bare and you never fucking eat anything. What is wrong with you Kagome?”

 

She opened her mouth to ask him to back off the profanity when he swept her into his arms then leapt from the roof to the backyard. Her hair flew up around her face and she closed her eyes. It's almost as good as having my own set of wings. Inuyasha landed softy like a cat. Than he sat her down and went back into the house without her.

 

Kagome was breathless, than she remembered the ladder. Of course he would leave before I could ask him to put it away!

 

 

_-_-_-_

When she was young Kagome never imagined she'd have to bathe her husband. But it came to that all too quickly with Hojo, who would never be her husband. At first she made a sexy game of it than gave up as his body shut down. Now she stood with her back to her bathroom door trying hard not to react to the sound of water sloshing over the rim of her overflowing bathtub. She managed to talk Inuyasha into letting her launder his kimono but he'd insisted on drawing his own bath. He was a grown hanyou and had his dignity.

 

Any minute now water will seep out from under this damned door. What the hell is he doing in there? Swimming? She placated her fears by shoving towels under the door and went to wash the kimono.

 

It was a flashback to the two years they'd spent together in her teens. Every time she went home she insisted on washing his robes. The first time she worried she might shrink them or fade the vivid red color. Later she was only concerned with getting the blood out.

 

Kagome turned the washer to large load, cold water and tossed in the heavy kimono. She kept his linen under garments separate. Kiki wandered up to her and whined.

 

“Smitten aren't ya girl” She asked in Japanese.

 

The dog cocked her golden head giving Kagome a questioning look.

 

“Don't be too hard on yourself. It happens to the best of us.” She bent down and scratched between Kiki's ears. “Come on its breakfast time.”

 

Kiki understood the word for breakfast whether it was spoken in English or Japanese. She did her best excited happy dance while wagging her tail and clicking her nails against the floor tiles.

 

_-_-_-_

 

Kagome originally intended to shop at Wallmart. However when she pulled up in the crowded parking lot it was obviously a bad idea. Inuyasha was calm and quiet but it seemed unfair to expose him to a mob. He was dressed in jeans and an old Guns N' Roses tee-shirt of Hojo's. He wore a beach bum kaki hat over his ears and his hair was tied back. There was no disguising his teeth, claws or eyes but she decided to let it go. After all she'd seen stranger fully human people at Wallmart many times before.

 

He sat in silence as she pulled out of the parking lot and drove fifteen minutes to a tiny Piggly Wiggly on Johns Island. The store was older, the staff more polite and it wasn't as crowded.

 

Inuyasha had been to stores before but not one like this. He laughed at the name which didn't translate into Japanese all that well.

 

They made it into the store and through the automatic doors without incident. Inuyasha was intrigued by them but he worked to maintain an air of disinterest. His eyes rounded at the sight of the aisles and seemingly endless rows of food.

 

I'd forgotten. He's known hunger. The store must be overwhelming. It's much bigger than the tiny market we visited back home.

 

They ran into a colleague of Kagome's by the paper towels. She introduced Inuyasha by name to Jack Cagle who immediately offered his hand. Kagome explained the language barrier.

 

I hate this! Jack thinks he is slow or stupid because most Japanese people speak at least some English.

 

Inuyasha cleverly hid his claws by clasping his hands behind his back and giving a polite bow. Charmed Jack responded in kind.

 

“What a gracious guest you have Kagome. Are you related?”

 

That's Southern for, are ya living in sin with this ignorant stranger? Keh! There is no peace here. Monday everyone will think he is the reason I stay home every weekend….

 

She blushed. …and now they would be right.

 

”Oh no Jack, Inuyasha is an old friend from a remote providence of Japan. We spent summers together when we were children.”

 

“Inuyasha, hmmm. Is he named for the Japanese medieval folk hero? I've had the privilege of sitting in on some of your lectures and the tales of Inuyasha who seeks the Shikon no Tama are wonderful. ”

 

Ah so my Japanese history class is quite the attraction. Inuyasha is so pissed that we are talking about him and the Shikon no Tama. Lucky for Jack the Tetsusaiga is home on my dining room table.

 

Jack leaned in and put his hand on Kagome's bare arm. She saw Inuyasha frown and rock back on his heels.

 

Thirteen years or thirty years but he is still jealous.

 

“Flattery will get you nowhere Jack. In this case though his name is mere coincidence. It's a family name.” She smiled down at the short man.

 

“Yes but its funny because I was so intrigued by your lecture I did a little research on my own and learned the tale mentions a girl Kagome. I know ya'll were hounded about that back home in Japan!”

 

What? Is he really smart or just really dense?

 

Kagome humored him with polite laughter. “Yes we get that allot. He is really sick of it so I'd appreciate it you kept that to yourself.”

 

“But of course!”

 

“It was lovely seeing you but we have a lot of shopping left. See ya Monday!” Kagome looped her arm through Inuyasha's and gave Jack a quick waive before zipping away to the next aisle.

 

“Keh, what an ass.”

 

Inuyasha's tone said it all, Kagome answered without even glancing up.

 

“Yes but you handled him really well. Charleston isn't as big as Tokyo and we will often run into people I know.”

 

He paused to sniff a box of gelatin powder. “This box reeks of bone marrow…what is this stuff?” He peered down at the strange English writing and threw down the box in disgust.

 

“Damn it Kagome! I cannot live here like this. No one speaks our language and the writing is fucked up.” He flattened his ears against his head and his hat fell down on his forehead.

 

Kagome bent down to retrieve the box and was reminded of the times she'd done the very same thing thirteen years ago in a very short skirt.

 

“I know you are upset. I am sorry I brought you here but Inuyasha I couldn't leave you in the Tetsusaiga. There is no way back else I would gladly help you leave.”

 

She reached out to him and righted his hat on his head concealing his ears. Inuyasha put his hand on her arm to stop her from taking her hand back.

 

“No. I am not sorry to be here, I missed you.”

 

Kagome smiled. Inuyasha the man, thank you for that white lie. But you cannot hide your pain from me.

 

“I have ordered you something that will teach you English. I don't know how long we will be here and it will make things easier.”

 

He straightened his spine and glared down at the offensive gelatin desert box. “I've slain a dragon. I defeated Naraku. I've been banished twice and always come back. This will a piece of cake!”

 

“Good. Now we are almost to the ramen noodle aisle…”

 

His face lit up and he left her standing alone by the shopping cart. No doubt he would find his beloved noodles by scent alone and alarm some old woman in the process. Kagome held the gelatin box and studied its silly English name and the picture of an ice cream dish piled high with unnatural wobbly green Jell-o cubes.

 

Inuyasha. How many times will I give you my heart? I am so stupid. We have nothing in common and things are just as they were.

 

Even so he didn't deserve to stay in that sword forever. But what if that is his fate? To be bound to a sacred object, but I keep running defense against fate and this is my punishment, reaping what I've sown. To love what I shouldn't and to be where I'm not wanted. Can he forgive me for interfering? Until yesterday he knew nothing of his separation from his time or loved ones. Today he is awake and vulnerable to pain.

 

“Lady! What's your damage? Move your cart! Some of us are trying to shop here!” Her head jerked up.

 

A large bald man with a boisterous New York accent loomed over her. She pushed her cart away and ignored him. She heard an elderly woman hiss under her breath as she passed. “He's not just visiting…damned Yankee.”

 

Inuyasha found Kagome by the meat counter; his arms piled high with Ramen noodle containers of all shapes and sizes. He unceremoniously dropped them into the cart. She heard his stomach give an audible growl.

 

“Inuyasha man cannot live on Ramen alone. I am getting us some steaks and fish too.”

 

He nodded and plucked a bag of fresh vegetables from the cart and gave them a suspicious sniff.

 

“I don't recognize half of these but they smell okay.”

 

“I found a daikon for you.” She handed him what looked like a giant white radish. He examined it then tossed it back into the cart.

 

“Everything here is so big.”

 

“Heh-heh, it's the miracle of modern farming.”

 

“If you say so…”

 

Kagome spotted the New Yorker and saw he was waiting behind them in line for the butcher. Wonderful.

 

Inuyasha dug through the cart and pulled out the items Kagome found in the Japanese international food aisle. He was older than some of the food but still recognized the writing and was scrutinizing each box. She smiled at the sight of his happy face.

 

“See, that's Miso soup, it's like ramen without the noodles, and rice noodles, sushi rice…”

 

“Hey lady! Don't you EVER pay attention? The goddamned line is moving without you?” I don't have to look up to know who said that.

 

Kagome saw Inuyasha's ears move under the hat. He turned slowly to face the man and answered him in English with a strong New York accent. “Hey buddy ya got a problem with that?”

 

Kagome nearly fell over. How in the hell?

 

Inuyasha gave the man a full on hanyou grin bearing every sharp tooth in his head. The man ducked his head and glanced away. That's the last we will hear from him.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked in fast Japanese. “How did you do that?”

 

A slow smug smile lit his face. “I saw him in the noodle aisle and heard him say the same thing to someone smaller than him. So I figured it would work on him.”

 

Hmm? Maybe there is a place for Inuyasha in my world after all.

 

_-_-_-_

Inuyasha carried in the groceries while Kagome started cooking. He was strong enough to carry everything in a single trip and when he was done he put on the kettle to heat water for his ramen. He slurped a cup of noodles while Kagome prepared a real meal of salad and sea scallops. She watched him devour the noodles and knew he'd have no trouble with a salad, an entrée and no doubt a generous helping of dessert.

 

Kagome set the table and put out her wine glasses. They were an early wedding gift from Hojo. Until today she'd kept them put away in the box they came in. Now it seemed silly to never use them.

 

Inuyasha sniffed her glass of wine and she wasn't surprised when he found a cold bottle of beer more to his liking. They sat over an American meal of salad and grilled scallops eating with chop sticks as Inuyasha had scoffed at the forks.

 

Well his manners haven't improved, that's for sure. At this thought she saw him glance up and for a brief moment seem embarrassed. Then he was thoughtful.

 

“Kagome, what do you doing here by yourself?”

 

“I teach history at a local college.”

 

“Japanese history?”

 

She looked down at her wine glass. “Yes.”

 

“The Cagle man at the Pig store, he'd heard of me. Do you talk about us and the quest?”

 

Unexplainable embarrassment burned her face. “Yes but I am really continuing Miroku's work. He made detailed scrolls describing our journey. They are obscure but very good.”

 

“Hojo found my Tetsusaiga for you?”

 

She nodded.

 

“You never really left us did you Kagome?”

 

“No. But how could I? I knew no other girls who'd traveled through time. It was an extraordinary life changing event.”

 

He snorted. “You should be married with brats.”

 

“I almost was but it wasn't meant to be.” She paused. “I've released you from the sacred tree and now the sword. I wonder what that means?”

 

He laughed. “That you are too nosy for your own damned good.”

 

“Who did you leave behind this time Inuyasha?” She tried to hide how much his answer would mean to her.

 

“Graves and a bitchy half brother,” he muttered.

 

“Weren't you ever married? Any children?”

 

“No. I am a half breed. Sesshomaru forbid it. That's why we fought but even once I defeated him it would have been difficult.”

 

“I'm sorry…”

 

Inuyasha stood from his chair and leaned across the small kitchen table.

 

“No Kagome!” he ordered.

 

“What?!” she spat back.

 

“You want what you shouldn't.”

 

She leapt to her feet and railed back at him just as she had as a girl. “Why? This is a second chance. A new beginning!”

 

“I've already seen enough of your world to know babies with sharp teeth or dog ears aren't normal. All of my beginnings ended the day Kikyo pinned me to the tree with her sacred arrow.”

 

“And what will become of you? Kikyo is gone. I am her reincarnation but just that. Not her. You want me to put you back in the sword so some other woman will find you?

 

“My blood brought you forth. Think about that! So in the future who is to say it won't keep happening again and again. Except next time it will be my reincarnation, another woman who isn't me but is! Maybe our souls will keep finding each other and you will always push me away.”

 

This was the part where she would turn run and jump back down the well and hide out in her modern home. But this time there was no well or hiding place. Kagome stood her ground.

 

He glared at her.

 

“That changes nothing.”

 

“Really? So what do I do with you then? Tell me Inuyasha. What do you want?” She sat back down and drained her wine glass.

 

His clawed hand snatched the glass away from her.

 

“I want you to have a clear head.”

 

“Go to hell.”

 

“I see. You would hide me here in your world. What am I then, a pet?”

 

She smiled wickedly. “Bad dog.”

 

He bit back a growl and sighed.

 

“Kagome, does the jewel exist here?”

 

She looked up at him incredulously. “It has always been about the Shikon no Tama.”

 

“Yeah it has.”

 

“Well I don't have it.”

 

“Yes you do.”

 

 

“So what? You just told me you don't fit in here and now you want to use the jewel to do what? Become full yokai? We are running in circles.”

 

He said nothing so she filled in her own blanks.

 

“You want me to send you back to the time you were sealed into the sword. I guess we can try.”

 

He stepped up beside her and squatted down to rest on his haunches.

 

“No. I don't want to go back. Everyone is gone. It was violent and dark. Graves and war. I don't miss them.”

 

“What then?”

 

“I'd like to become human.”

 

She was speechless then skeptical.

 

“Why?”

 

“As a human I can die a mortal death and never be sealed away again.”

 

She felt the edges of her heart begin to crumble and close off from the world.

 

“How do we do it?”

 

He stood. “I think the Tetsusaiga is the key.”

 

“Okay but we do this in the backyard, not in my house.”

 

_-_-_-_

It was night and the moon rode high in the sky bathing them in her light. Kagome sat in a lawn chair watching Inuyasha examine the Tetsusaiga. Her head was disappointingly clear. She longed for a glass of wine but did not want to listen to Inuyasha's wrath.

 

The Tetsusaiga recognized its owner and warmed to his touch. Inuyasha spun around the yard brandishing the ridiculously huge, phallic sword. At first he tried waiving it at her but this accomplished nothing and she'd retreated to her comfy lawn chair.

 

I wonder what he expects of me. The jewel might be inside me. Does he intend to cut it out? Considering how often he has saved me that seems unlikely.

 

“Kagome, come here.”