InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Center ❯ The Way Home ( Chapter 2 )

[ A/N: haha, I bet you all thought Inuyasha was going to take advantage of Kagome's job, didn't you? Didn't you!? Muahahaha. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter! Lots of love. ]

[Chapter two - The Way Home

That night, Kagome lay in a soft, if somewhat small, bed. She wore one of Sango's long night shirts and a pair of her socks. After Inuyasha had gone to bed, the four servants had stayed awake, getting to know each other and helping to clean the kitchen. It turned out to be a fairly easy job when they all pitched in. A smile crossed her pretty lips as she thought about her first glimpse of life at Inuyasha's. She had asked Sango if there was anything special she was supposed to call Inuyasha. That was when it was explained, though rather hesitantly, that Inuyasha was a hanyou. He felt terrible treating humans poorly and that's why he never made them call him anything special and he paid them so well.

Kagome sighed and rolled over to face the wall. She had told her mother that she might be out all night, but she couldn't help but worry. She had never been away from them for so long. She didn't trust the demons. She would think about them coming to her door, knocking and then shooting her family, claiming they were searching for terrorists or rioters. It had been known to happen. With a frown, Kagome rolled over again, this time she came nose to nose with the little kitsune demon known as Shippou.

"Eep!" Kagome jumped.

"Sh! Please keep quiet Kagome." The child whispered. Sango moaned and rolled over. Kagome had nearly forgotten that she now shared a room with her new friend and co-worker.

"What's wrong Shippou?" Kagome whispered and sat up. She rubbed her eyes even though she wasn't really that tired.

"Kagome…" Shippou's eyes shifted uneasily. "Kagome, I had a bad dream. Can I sleep with you?" He gave her his best puppy eyes. It worked like a charm.

"Aw, of course you can Shippou." She scooted over to make room for the tiny demon. It would be like sleeping with a stuffed animal.

Kagome smiled as he snuggled in next to her. There was no way she could have resisted that adorable face of her. She draped the covers back over them and wrapped her arm snugly around his middle. Kagome sighed once again and pulled the warm blankets up to her chin. She lay like that for some minutes, even after Shippou was fast asleep and still she couldn't sleep. That's when Kagome made a late night trip to the kitchen.

All the lights were out and Kagome stumbled around for fifteen minutes before she finally stumbled across the tell tale open archway to the kitchen. Kagome smiled and blindly reached for the light switch. With a click, the lights burned on and a loud yelp came from the other end of the kitchen. Kagome blinked her eyes a few times before she could see again. There, at the other end of the kitchen, in all his half naked glory was Inuyasha. He had his arms over his eyes, a fork in one hand and a bowl of instant Raman in the other. Kagome was more then a little stunned before she remembered to be embarrassed. Blushing profusely, Kagome turned away, hiding her face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't know anyone was in here!" Kagome chewed her lip. What if he kicked her out because she was wandering around his house at night and she practically blinded him, not to mention saw him in nothing but a pair of flannel pajama pants!? What if he thought she was stealing something!? Kagome began to get very nervous.

"It's alright, don't worry about it," her employer grunter. Kagome thought he sounded mad. She chewed her lip harder until the pain forced her to stop.

"You're not mad?" She asked timidly. She really didn't want to get fired and then have to go and continue her work as a hooker. That would be horrible. Kagome thought of it as being worse then a nightmare.

"Yes, I'm not mad. Now what are you doing up so late? Shouldn't you be asleep in bed or something?" He sounded a little annoyed but at least he wasn't firing her.

"I could ask you the same thing." Kagome said. She didn't want to make him mad, but she had a thing about people prying into her business. She hated it.

"Yes you could, but you didn't. Now tell me, what do you want?" Kagome heard him put his bowl of instant Raman down on the counter. She didn't see because her back was still turned, but he crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter, examining the long night shirt that went down past her knees.

"Well… Not that it's any of your business, but I can't sleep. I thought I'd get something to eat and maybe a cup of warm milk before I go and try to sleep again." Kagome glared at the wall, imagining it was Inuyasha, but then of course, it turned into the half dressed hanyou and her blush returned full force.

"Now that wasn't so hard was it?" Inuyasha teased. He smirked and uncrossed his arms, fetching a mug from a cabinet.

Kagome couldn't help herself any longer; she turned around, arms crossed and an indignant expression on her face. She tried not to admire his toned and perfectly sculpted chest and his firm abs, but it was harder then it might sound.

"So… Why can't you sleep?" Inuyasha asked as he reached into the fridge for the milk.

"Why do you care? Shouldn't you be asleep? I mean, you have to get up so early and all." Kagome said that last part sarcastically. She knew she wouldn't have to worry about getting up to late because she always woke for work at about three or four in the morning. And she wasn't about to tell her gorgeous employer that she couldn't sleep because she had never slept in a new bed before.

"You're avoiding the question. Why can't you sleep?" He poured the milk into the mug and placed it expertly in the microwave. Kagome wasn't exactly sure how that thing worked, but she'd heard enough stories to guess.

"Just can't. That's all," Kagome stuck her nose in the air, but it came right back down when Inuyasha pushed the start button on the microwave and Kagome nearly jumped a foot in the air as it whizzed and hummed. Inuyasha laughed.

"Haven't you ever seen a microwave before?" He finished his chuckling and began searching through the cupboards.

"Well… I've heard of them, but I've never actually seen them, let alone seen them used." Kagome curiously walked over to the microwave and watched as her mug spin around in the bright light.

Inuyasha pulled a plastic bag of cookies out from the back of one of the cupboards and began rifling through it. That was when Kagome had the biggest fright of her life. The light suddenly went out on the microwave and then it made an ear-piercing screechy sound. It beeped once, twice, three times before it was silent. But the house wasn't silent. Far from it. Inuyasha had cracked up. He was laughing so hard tears actually ran down his cheeks. Kagome's eyes had widened, she had shrieked, jumped at least two feet in the air, fallen on her ass and then crawled behind Inuyasha where she now sat with her hands covering her ears and her eyes tightly shut. And all Inuyasha could do was laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh some more.

Once Inuyasha could breathe properly (nearly) again, he tapped Kagome on the shoulder. She jumped back another foot and then tentatively opened one eye. All she saw was Inuyasha, flat on his ass, laughing it up, tears nearly falling from his eyes. Kagome just crossed her arms and huffed, but she couldn't keep up the annoyed act up for long and in next to no time she was laughing along with him.

The pair laughed hysterically on the floor until Miroku, Sango and Shippou all woke up and came to see what the problem was.

Things were explained and soon everyone was gathered around the kitchen on stools drinking warm milk and eating cookies. It was nice to have everyone around, talking and eating. Kagome hoped this would happen more often. It was nearing two in the morning when everyone had finished, Shippou was asleep at the table and Kagome felt warm and comfortable again. Sango carried Shippou off to bed and Miroku followed eagerly, examining Sango's behind in her small little boy's shorts and loose t-shirt.

"So Kagome, think you can sleep now?" Inuyasha asked once hey were t he only ones left in the kitchen.

Kagome shrugged. She hadn't really thought about going back to sleep, only enjoyed the time with her new friends. "I guess so…" She said tentatively.

"Well if you need anything I guess you know where I am." He smiled and walked out of the kitchen.

"Guess so…" Kagome mumbled to herself then thought, again out loud: "Wait… I don't know where he is."

Kagome stayed in the kitchen for a long while before she fell asleep at the counter. She stayed there, arms cradling her head on the hard countertop until Miroku came in, yawning and stretching at seven in the morning. He was shocked to see a sleepy Kagome sitting up from her sleeping position on the counter.

"Kagome? What are you doing in here? Didn't you go to bed?" His eyebrows were raised slightly in a sleepy question.

Kagome only blinked at his for a minute, eyes clouded with sleep. She wiped the sides of her face incase she had been drooling and then blinked the sleep from her eyes. "Miroku? What time is it? I didn't sleep in did I?"

"No you didn't. You only slept on my spotless countertop! Now how will you ever repay me?" He gave her a lecherous grin. Kagome only banged her head back down on the table. It was too early for such things.

Sango walked into the kitchen yawning, wearing the same boy shorts and t-shirt she had been wearing earlier. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, strands of hair loose around her head. The second she walked in, Miroku's grin grew wider as he examined her long and well shaped legs. Kagome only groaned and shifted to a more comfortable position.

"Has she been like that all night?" Sango asked Miroku quietly. He nodded and Sango frowned. Even though she hadn't known Kagome long, Sango thought of her as a very close friend. It worried her to see Kagome in such a state of exhaustion.

They left Kagome the way she was until they had both finished their breakfast. They knew Shippou would be up soon and they also knew he wouldn't give Kagome a break from his constant chatter and whining. For the sake of Kagome's health, Sango and Miroku sent her off down the hall, telling her to go back to bed and if she felt like it on her way, to wake up Inuyasha.

Kagome stumbled blindly down the hall, yawning and crashing into things all the way. She opened the first door she came to and decided that even if it was a bathroom she would sleep there until she got so uncomfortable she had to move. She never even noticed the sleeping hanyou as she collapsed onto his bed, yawning and everything.

The startled hanyou in question blinked open his heavy amber eyes and angrily examined the exhausted girl sleeping half on him and half on his enormous bed. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and examined the sleeping Kagome again. She was face down, her stomach over his, her knee brought up near his hip and her night shirt riding up near her ass. I could wake up to this every morning, Inuyasha thought as he restrained his hands from pulling up her that one more inch. Ack! I'm not the pervert that's Miroku! What's wrong with me?

Inuyasha sighed deeply and rolled out of bed. He was tired, but he knew that if he fell asleep again, he wouldn't wake up. With a yawn, Inuyasha straitened Kagome under the covers in his bed. Inuyasha took one more lingering look at Kagome before slapping himself on the forehead and muttering something about `damn wenches' and `stupid women'. That's when he left to go and eat his breakfast.

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It was ten o'clock when Kagome woke up again. She was comfortable and she felt as if she were sleeping on a cloud. She sighed and rolled over, pulling the soft blankets up to her chin. Kagome yawned and that's when it hit her. She paused mid yawn and sat bolt upright. What time was it? Where was she? Where was everyone else? Kagome's mind was reeling. She was so confused and yet, refreshed.

Stumbling outside of the room, Kagome looked around. The hall was bright and it was completely silent. Maybe I'm dreaming, Kagome thought as she slowly wandered down a hallway.

"EEK HENTAI!"

"Sango! No, don't! I'm sorry! ACK!"

BANG

BANG

…

THWACK

Kagome blinked twice. Then again, maybe I'm not. She smiled to herself.

Finding the kitchen, Kagome walked in to see Sango calmly sipping coffee and reading while Miroku lay, unconscious, on the cold floor. Kagome couldn't help the grin that decided to plaster itself on her face.

"Morning everyone," Kagome said calmly as she sat on a stool at the counter.

Sango smiled brightly. "Good morning Kagome! I'm so glad you're finally awake!"

Kagome, smile still in place, looked over Sango's shoulder. "What are you reading?"

Sango quickly closed her novel and hid it under the counter, a blush staining her cheeks. She covered her mouth and coughed lightly. "Nothing."

Miroku, groaning, sat up on the floor. "Mmuhmm. In answer to your question, Kagome: She's reading a captivating-"

BANG

And again Miroku took up his position on the floor. Kagome sweat dropped. That's when she noticed the absence of one young fox demon; Shippou.

"Hey, Sango, where's Shippou?"

"Oh, he went with Inuyasha. When ever Inuyasha is meeting with someone important or wants to look rich or powerful or something he brings Shippou as his `assistant'." Sango took another sip of her coffee and went back to reading what ever it was she was reading.

Kagome looked around the kitchen and then back to her new friend, that's when she noticed that she was the only one not dressed. Kagome was about to excuse herself when another thought struck her: she had nothing to wear.

"Umm… Sango?" Kagome said shyly.

"Mmhum?" Sango replied, still reading her captivating what ever.

"Sango… I haven't got anything to wear!" Kagome looked down. She supposed that she could always wear what she had worn the night before, but it was less then presentable.

"Oh, don't worry about it; I've got everything under control." Sango smiled reassuringly but Kagome still couldn't help but be nervous.

After a long pause in which Sango sipped more coffee, Miroku regained consciousness and Kagome became exceedingly uncomfortable just standing there in the silence, the phone rang. Everyone jumped at least a foot. It was a mad scrabble for Sango to get her hair done up and her dress on neatly before she answered.

As Sango pressed the answer button, holographic screen beamed out of the top of the device. It solidified and Sango curtsied, bowing her head low. "Inuyasha Takahashi's residence, how may I help you?"

"Get me Inuyasha." The voice on the demon on the screen demanded.

"I am terribly sorry, sir, but Master Inuyasha is not in. May I take a message?" Sango was extremely polite to whom ever it was on the screen.

"Humn… Yes, tell him Sesshoumaru called and if he wants to keep his body fully intact, he'll call me back the second he gets home." At this, the screen buzzed and then disappeared.

Sango righted herself and then smiled at Kagome. "Miroku, watch the phone and things, I had nearly forgotten that I was supposed to take Kagome out today!"

"Oh, come on Sango, do I have to?" Miroku whined. Sango glared at him and he shut up immediately.

"Come on Kagome, I have clothes for us to wear." Sango smiled at the still stunned Kagome and headed out of the kitchen.

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Kagome and Sago headed out of the apartment building. Kagome wore a green skirt that hung about midway down her calf and a long sleeved, white button down shirt. Her shoes were soft and slipper like and the jacket she wore over her shirt was a warm beige zip-up. Sango was in loose black pants with a pink t-shirt. Sango wore a purple and white coat much like Kagome's.

The girls walked swiftly with their heads directed toward the ground. Kagome was nervous and she could feel it every time a demon looked at her. She felt like their eyes were boring holes into her and there was nothing she could do to hide herself.

"Sango?" Kagome whispered once they had entered a market filled with humans. It was hidden in one of the back alleys off the road they had been walking on. Obviously the demons knew about it, but they let it continue mostly because they didn't want humans buying their food in their stores.

Sango looked at Kagome and raised one eyebrow in answer to her question.

"Sango, why are we here? I thought we were going to go visit my family and then get my occupation changed at the Center." Kagome shuddered at the thought of going back that horrible, dingy place where humans were handed the rest of their lives.

"Oh, we're going to buy some specials groceries for Miroku and some fabric for your new dress!" Sango smiled. She wasn't a particular fan of shopping, but she figured that if she had Kagome with her, maybe it wouldn't be so boring.

"Oh, okay!" Kagome smiled back. It was a small smile but at least she was smiling.

"So, Kagome, why don't you tell me something about yourself?" Sango said, trying to make conversation. She didn't really know anything about her new co-worker anyways.

"Oh, well… there isn't really much to tell. I was a factory worker since I was twelve and then my family started getting in money troubles as prices went up on everything so I went to get a new job and I believe you know the rest." Kagome shrugged as she and Sango lazily wandered through the market, examining everything from rice to cloth and jewelry.

Sango held up a length of fabric to Kagome's face and shook her head before putting it back and continuing with the conversation.

"Why don't you tell me about your family."

"Well…" Kagome thought about it. "I think the best way for you to know about them is to meet them." Kagome smiled and turned to look at another fabric.

[Chapter three - Preview

It's Kagome's first night on the street corner. She has no idea what she's doing. The street is quiet until a car pulls up. Kagome gets into the car but she finds out the driver wants something else from her and it's not something she thought would be asked of her on this job.

[ A/N: Sorry I didn't get to the human's yet, but I promise that'll be in the next chapter. XP I'll try to update faster, sorry about this, there's just so much going on right now XPXP love you guys! ]