InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Strike a Pose ❯ Operation ‘We’re Doing This Because We Care’ ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14: Operation `We're Doing This Because We Care'.

Kagome, Sesshoumaru and Sango sat down to watch as Kikyo and Inuyasha posed on set. They were modelling Kagome's newest design an amazing evening dress that literally smouldered when it was worn. The director had decided a Spanish theme would be perfect and Inuyasha and Kikyo were know in a Tango hold stood atop a table one would expect to find on a Spanish side street.

“They look so good together” Sango commented

“Yeah” Kagome nodded “plus, Kikyo is actually happier these days” she smiled a soft smile

Sesshoumaru was still there with them, but was against actively participating in this ridiculous conversation.

“They'd make a fine couple” Sango commented “they compliment each other”

“Yeah,” Kagome sighed “but I can't really see it happening, Inuyasha is too shy and Kikyo is too reserved”

“Inuyasha is shy?” Sango asked raising a brow “he cussed at me just today for accidentally touching his precious ears”

Sesshoumaru interjected “He is all bluster”

“Exactly” Kagome nodded at him “it's a defence mechanism of sorts”

Sango nodded sagely “So in other words we need to give them a little push”

Kagome sniggered “Yeah, a little push”

The two women swapped identical calculating looks and Sesshoumaru took time to thanks the gods that he was not the Hanyou. He didn't want to know what these women were capable of.

***

“So you want to go out tonight?” Kagome, sprawled across Kikyo's bed, enquired innocently.

“Hm?” Kikyo looked up from the copies she was looking over and raised a brow

“I just wondered if you wanted to go out and watch a movie.” She shrugged “I even managed to convince Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru to go”

That part was a tiny white lie. She had coaxed Sesshoumaru into manipulating Inuyasha to go.

“Which movie?” Kikyo asked

“Anything that doesn't have Hojo in it” Kagome replied flippantly and Kikyo laughed

“Why not?”

Kagome smiled evilly into her pillow, where Kikyo couldn't see it.

The plan was in motion and hopefully it would not be the ridiculous failure Sesshoumaru had predicted it to be, sometimes he could be a real pessimist.

“There is a rather large flaw to your `brilliant plan'” Sesshoumaru commented as he and Kagome separated from Inuyasha and Kikyo to buy popcorn.

“And what might that be?” she asked as she took umbrage against his insinuation that her plan was flawed.

“They will not be alone” he pointed out “they are private creatures, for something emotional to unfold there would need to be a modicum of privacy”

She gave him a look like he had grown a second head “You're actually right!” she exclaimed

“I usually am” he muttered dryly. “Besides, your idea seemed like it stemmed from a shoujo manga”

She glowered at him “And what do you propose we do?”

“It is simple” he smirked wickedly and left her to find Inuyasha. It would seem as if he was helping her plans along for the sake of his brother, and while on some level he did want his brother to be happy, she hadn't considered the fact that if Kikyo and Inuyasha were alone, she would also be alone with him.

“Inuyasha” he caught his half-brother's attention

“What?”

“I believe that you carry a certain affection for the older Miko?” his voice brooked no argument

Inuyasha blushed but still managed a jerky nod

“Good,” Sesshoumaru smirked wider “then tell her that I have an aversion to movies due to the loud noises and my sensitive hearing and that I have coerced Kagome into leaving with me” he noted that the elder Miko was returning from the bathroom “have fun little brother”

Inuyasha watched, flabbergasted, as his half brother dissolved into the crowd. There was no way in hell he could have just helped was there?

***

Kagome grinned at Sesshoumaru as he approached her “You did it!”

“Of course” he replied loftily

She rolled her eyes “I hope it goes well for them” she sighed wistfully

“You are a meddler; this would have come about of its own course”

She shrugged “Why not let them be happier for longer, no time like the present”

“Indeed”

The group of giggling girls that Sesshoumaru had spotted in his peripheral vision were pressing ever closer. He rolled his eyes as one of them timidly approached him.

“Excuse me, are you a model?” she asked softly

Sesshoumaru had wanted to dismiss them haughtily, but they weren't as awful as some of the girls that stalked him.

“Hn” he nodded

“Cool” she murmured before bowing slightly and running back to her friends

“Poor little whippersnapper” Kagome smiled “you were surprisingly nice”

“I can be nice”

“You can?” her tone implied he couldn't.

He growled “I'll show you nice” he apprehended her wrist and dragged her after him as he pulled her towards.

“Kidnapping me isn't considered nice!” she reminded him as he weaved through the throngs of people with her dangling behind him. He ignored her statement and she wondered what he would do if she sat down, surely then he'd stop walking. Or just tow her along behind him on her but. She decided against sitting down.

“Where are we going?” she asked in confusion as he stole her away from the more populated areas of the city.

He stopped suddenly and she hit into his broad back.

“The underground?” she asked as she glanced around

“We need to catch a train” he sighed as he began walking with her again

“Where are we going?” she asked

“A place I have not been since I moved into the apartment” he allowed

“That really isn't that much information”

He ignored her.

The train was packed tight, as it was rush hour and the two companions had no seat. In fact, Kagome was crushed against a window whilst Sesshoumaru's arms pinned her there on either side of her head. She could tell he was uncomfortable at his close proximity to so many beings; both human and demon.

When the train pulled into their station Sesshoumaru wasted not time in ushering Kagome from the cramped space.

“You okay?” she asked as they walked along the streets to wherever he was taking them.

“Many being in an enclosed space” he shuddered “is not exactly pleasant to my nose”

“It smelt?” she asked

“I doubt even your nose missed the scent of urine” he wrinkled his nose in distaste

“Ew” she gave him a look “it was probably someone on the train because they're normally pretty okay”

“My argument still stands”

“Whatever, where are we going?” she questioned

“We are already here” he replied smirking at her expression

She blinked a few times in confusion before Sesshoumaru took hold of her shoulders and gently turned her around to face their destination.

“Huh?”

***

Kikyo watched wryly as Inuyasha shovelled popcorn into his mouth. She knew he didn't like salted popcorn and yet he was eating it like there was no tomorrow. If she didn't know better she'd swear he was nervous. Frowning she inspected the Hanyou's darkened profile; he did seem a bit on edge. She thought back to Kagome's bizarre proposition and narrowed her eyes. Was she being set up?

She glanced at Inuyasha again and smiled shrugging metaphorically. She was having fun and didn't want to ruin it. She was happier than she had been since Naraku had spun his web of lies about her.

Besides, it felt good to feel safe and relaxed in his company. She'd been feeling strange recently, like someone was watching her.

***

Kagome sat out on the platform and gazed at the targets laid out before her, he was still getting changed into the robes that were laid out for use.

She was dressed in the traditional hakama and haori of the Miko's due to the fact she was going to be getting in some practise, she hadn't known, however, that Sesshoumaru knew how.

He came out a few minutes later and she had to acquiesce that even if he didn't know how he sure knew how to look the part. He had braided his long silver hair so that it fell in a thick plait down his back and had donned dark blue hakama and a white haori, a long bow was slung over his left shoulder.

Yeah, that's right; Sesshoumaru's idea of being nice was archery.

Not that she had any problem with that, hell it was probably the only thing she could beat him at. She watched as he glided over the wooden floor towards her and allowed herself to wonder why he was so graceful? Was it a demon trait? Or was he just superbly elegant by fault?

“It's rude to stare”

Ah, that's right; he's an arrogant asshole as Inuyasha would put it.

“I'm not staring!” she bit out glaring at him

“Sure”

Not to mention self-possessed. She wondered what he'd look like with arrows sticking in him, a Sesshoumaru pincushion so to say. Noting he slightly deranged look in Kagome's eyes Sesshoumaru decided he best start and hope to distract her.

He took his familiar archers stance, though it had been a few months it was like putting on a favourite pair of old boots.

She snapped out of her sadistic fantasy in time to see Sesshoumaru release his first arrow with deadly accuracy. It hit the centre of the target so had the poor thing nearly toppled over.

“So you do have some skill” Kagome conceded as she sprang from her seated position, stole an arrow from him and levelled her bow at the target. “I'm still better”

Her arrow whistled through the air and imbedded itself in the centre of the target that was spaced back from the first one. A greater distance and yet still accurate.

“Impressive” he drew the bow taught and released his second arrow once again hitting the next target with pinpoint accuracy. They went on like this until the targets had been filled and there was nothing lef to shoot at, at least that was what Kagome had believed.

Sesshoumaru drew another arrow and smirked at the incredulous look on her face.

“Now what?” she questioned “you start shooting at birds?”

“No” he shook his head “that leaf” he pointed at a large tree in the next field and let loose. She blinked in shock as he deftly pinned a leaf to a tree trunk with his arrow.

“Now that's just showing off” she folded her arms

He smirked “You give up?”

Her eyes flared with bleu fire at his words and she drew the bow strong taught and released. There was a clear whistling noise followed by a thunk as she hit an acorn from the same tree and crushed it against the tree's bark.

“Impressive” he nodded and ruffled her hair, smirking as she hissed at him.

“You concede defeat?” she asked

He grinned and deftly grabbing her wrist he brought her hand to his mouth ad brushed his lips across it. “I concede as my lady wishes”

She blushed a brilliant pink colour and he smirked. She threw her bow at him.

“Stop teasing me” she folded her arms and turned her back on the frustrating dog demon. He sighed and reached out to run one clawed finger along her back bone.

She let out a small noise of shock and jumped away from the contact. He chuckled and carefully slid his clawed hands across her shoulders and pulled her backwards into his chest. Softly his hand slid down her arms and linked with her hands, their fingers laced together. She leant her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes in contentment. He slowly inhaled along the length of her neck drowning in her scent; glancing up at the setting sun he placed a caste kiss over her collar bone.

“See, I can be nice” he whispered, his lips ghosting across her skin as he talked sending a delicious shiver down her spine.

“Mm” she agreed hazily.

He chuckled and nibbling on an ear lobe, regretfully he pulled away slightly “We should go, Kikyo and Inuyasha will worry”

Her foggy brain had a hard time caring what Inuyasha and Kikyo felt but as his presence receded and he dragged her away to change by her hand she snapped back to reality.

She kicked him in the shin “and why, might I ask, are you dragging me in to get changed with you”

He smirked “I thought I might as well take advantage of your dazed state”

She tried to hit him again and he merely ducked, grinning all the while.

They took the train back to the movies, this time the carriage was empty but Sesshoumaru still felt the need to stand so close he was almost breathing in her air. He drive her mad how affectionate he was in private and how distant he was in public.

They walked to the busy street outside the movie theatre and waited impatiently for their unsuspecting victims to emerge.

Emerge they did and Kagome could not help but grin hugely as Inuyasha gifted Kikyo with his jacket because of the cold. Sesshoumaru was about to call out to them when all of his breath left him at one, the Miko had just elbowed him in the stomach and gotten a bruised elbow for her trouble.

“Shh!” she hissed “wait to see if he has the nerve”

They both watched with interest as Inuyasha blushed and made small talk whilst Kikyo indulged him with a hopeful and expectant light in her eyes.

“He's gonna chicken out” Kagome fretted as she waved her hands in annoyance.

“Hn” Sesshoumaru glared at the boy as he shifted his weight from one foot to another and slowly became more uncomfortable.

“We have to do something!” she grabbed his arm and tugged on his sleeve

“Like?” he crooked a brow at her

“Use your demon mojo!” she commanded

He fought the urge to slam his head into the wall a few times in exasperation. Glancing around, he noticed a small child running in the direction of the Miko and the Hanyou and smirked in satisfaction. He carefully sent out a small wave of youki, causing the child to lose his balance. The boy fell over into Kikyo's legs, resulting in her falling onto Inuyasha's chest.

“Score one for the demon” Kagome noted and smirked when Inuyasha placed a chaste, timid kiss upon her sister's lips.

A/N: I don't own Inuyasha. Did you like it? Review and tell me! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, you guys keep me sane.