InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Final Bow ❯ ch 12 ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I dedicate this chapter to the anonymous reviewer known only as Merlin. I have made it my personal goal to embarrass you in public (you know what I mean!). Wish me luck.

Chapter 12

The next morning dawned with the ferocity of a hurricane. The raucous was enough to drag even Kagome from the iron grip that sleep had wrapped around her. It sounded like a construction site had suddenly sprung up in the front yard of Sesshoumaru's estate and they had no qualms about waking up the entire countryside.

Groaning irritably, she tried to pull the spare pillow over her head to dull the noise, she found it already occupied by another member of the house hold who was obviously also trying to escape such a rude early morning wake up call. A small tuft of chocolate brown hair was her only clue as to her beds new inhabitant.

She couldn't help but smile at the familiarity of it, or the warmth that seemed balloon up in her chest at the thought. Rin had taken to climbing into her bed in the mornings as of the last couple of weeks. More often than not Kagome would wake up with a face full of that sweet smelling baby fine hair when the child would snuggle as close as physically possible with out being completely on top of her.

Kagome basked in the snuggling; who could resist such a thing.

Somewhere deep down she knew she was getting attached to the child, and somewhere even deeper down, in a place she tried valiantly to ignore, she knew she was getting attached to her father as well. Not just some silly crush, no she was starting to get to know the subtleties and nuances that made up Takishima Sesshoumaru.

Of course he still managed to catch her off guard every once in a while.

Last night for instance. An unbidden tremor ran through her at the thought of what had transpired the night before, or more aptly, what could have transpired.

What was the deal with him licking her anyway? Not that she was complaining, the feel of his tongue on her skin was enough to turn her to jelly.

Strike that…just the thought of his tongue on her skin was enough to turn her to jelly. The actual act was enough to set her on fire in a house made of paper. A very reckless endeavor indeed, especially when the only water to extinguish that fire was from the tongue that ignited it to begin with.

Strangely enough - not to mention embarrassing - she was fairly certain he hadn't meant it to be a sensual act. Well, not at first anyway, but then his hand… and her shirt and…hmmm.

Even more unsettling, the pain was gone this morning and the bruise faded to a pale sickly yellow as opposed to the dark bluish - purple blotch it was last night. How exactly was that possible? His eyes glowing she could easily write off as a fluke - a trick of the light, but this…this really had no acceptable explanation. Super healing saliva? Yeah, right.

A soft sigh escaped her as she began to gently thread her fingers through Rin's sleep tousled hair, partially from frustration, partially from confusion.

What did she really want from him anyway? For some reason Sesshoumaru didn't seem the 'boyfriend' type, at least not in the traditional sense anyway. So what would all of this lead to?

At the rate they seemed to be going, all signs pointed to sex. But would she just be a passing fling? A fruitless conquest for a good lay? As enticing as the thought was, Kagome was simply not that sort of girl, regardless of how her body reacted to his touch. She would not be some idle plaything.

A righteous indignation took root, showing itself in the determined set of her jaw. She would just have to make him work for it.

Winning Kagome Higurashi would be no simple victory. With a mischievous smirk Kagome began to think of ways to snub him for thinking she would be `easy prey', completely ignoring the part of her conscience that kept nudging her with the fact that her accusations were completely baseless and unfounded.

It was of no account really. Isn't that what all men are after in the end anyway?

-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-

For Sesshoumaru, the new day started a scant two hours after it had ended. When his alarm went off at 6:30 he was half tempted to through it off the balcony into the pool.

Why not, he thought tetchily, Inuyasha had done it often enough that he had ordered a bulk supply of the cheap noise boxes.

Alas, better judgment won out in the end when he remembered exactly what day it was and what all had to be done.

When he stepped in his bathroom to shower he was immensely relieved to find that he was no longer covered in stripes and glowing like a poltergeist. Ok, well maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it still did nothing to explain away what had occurred the night before.

Hopefully Kagome didn't think he was completely insane.

A very Inuyasha-like snort escaped him as the droplets of warm water cascaded from the showerhead, plastering his platinum hair to his forehead. Rivulets skirted down the bridge of his nose, dripping onto his slightly parted lips.

The taste of her skin, warm and sweet, was vivid; he was actually startled by how quickly his body responded to just the memory. The feel of warm, soft ivory skin beneath his hands, contrasting with the cool silk of her top was enough to make him groan miserably with want.

Had he ever felt this way about another woman? He couldn't recall. And through it all, his mind kept repeating a single question. Did she think enough of him to let him get his hands on her like that again? Or had he scared her off with his unaccountable behavior?

Since when did he care what other people thought of him?

Since Kagome, he supposed, but it was a bit unnerving to think that she'd already wormed her way under his skin in such a short amount of time.

O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O -O

“We're heading back this afternoon.”

“Really? That's wonderful darling.” Mrs. Higurashi's voice chimed in delight over the phone. “I've certainly missed our Sunday afternoon tea. Are you free this weekend? Even movie stars have to spare a few minutes for their poor old mothers every now and again.”

A pang of guilt seared through her middle, she really hadn't called as often as she should have. She felt an awful wash of homesickness at her mother's words. “Of course mama.” She coiled the springy phone cord around her little finger as many times as she could, then unwound it and started again. Why did she opt for a cordless phone again? The cord was way fun. “I've missed you too- and you're not old mama.”

“Aaaaa, yes I've trained you quite well.” She said with an amused sort of thoughtfulness. “I'm not old, just distinguished.”

Kagome sighed affectionately, “Yes mama, very distinguished.”

“Watch it.” She warned, but there was no real malice behind it, then sighed wistfully “But really, you must be having so much fun.”

“I guess...” she admitted grudgingly.

“Oh come now,” her mother chided gently, “just because I'm stuck here doesn't mean that I don't want everyone else to have fun. If I cant live vicariously though my daughter what good is it to have one with such an interesting life?”

“Mama, it's really not so grand as you're making it out to be. I mean the estate is beautiful and all, and the view is unbelievable, but we're working eight and ten hours a day and training like we're going to war. You wouldn't believe some of the exercises they make us do.”

“It sounds lovely, and you shouldn't begrudge yourself something so good for you. It will make you strong.”

Another wash of guilt; she was going to drown in it today for sure. Her mother had been confined to a wheel chair for the last year due to her failing health. She knew better than to apologize though. That was the last thing her mother wanted.

“I know, and it does. But I'm just saying that it's not all glitz and glamour. Its a lot of hard work and memorizing things and learning things.” Her mother waited patiently, knowing the build up for what it was instinctively. “But we were fitted for our costumes a yesterday!”

“Really! How exciting! You'll have to tell me all about it when you come over. But tell me - has the slayer given into the monks advances yet or is she still playing hard to get?”

Kagome giggled. “Mama, they're actors playing a monk and a slayer.

“Oh it doesn't matter. Indulge an old woman, our phone conversations have gotten better than my afternoon soaps lately.”

“You're not old, mama.” Kagome reiterated in affectionate exasperation while batting at the sea foam green tassel of the cushion on the antique style couch in the drawing room, “and no: she's still holing out, but I think he's finally wearing her down.”

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- 0-0-0-

“Kagome! Kagome! She's Rin's bestest friend! Kagome! Kagome!”

“Do you think we'll be back by dinner?” Sango, who had jumped into their car at the last moment to avoid the grabby - and by grabby we mean more grabby than usual - Miroku, who had stood up with his body half hanging out of the sun roof in front of them with his arms spread wide and a look of mock betrayal on his face.

She ran a hand through her long ponytail, wincing when she caught a snag and trying her best to not let the very loud, very excited bundle of mountain dew induced energy sitting between them get to her. It was a valiant effort, but Jaken was an evil little toad of a man, and Rin would not be ignored.

“I don't know,” Kagome yelled back, a tired look overcoming her face when Rin upped her `Ode to Kagome' a notch to compensate. “Why?”

“Kagome! Kagome! Kagooooooome! She's so pretty and so smart…and what rhymes with smart?”

“That's easy Rin.” Inuyasha interrupted with a grin, “F- ”

“HEART!” Sango and Kagome yelled at the same time, both sending the completely unabashed young man their own version of the evil eye.

Sesshoumaru, who had been trying to go over semantics about the set development with his brother, rubbed at the bridge of his nose in a pained fashion.

“and…” Rin began again, though somewhat quieter. For now. “…She's got a heart. She's Kagome! Rin's favorite Kagome!”

Inuyasha sniggered, Sesshoumaru ignored, Sango rolled her eyes, and Kagome turned slightly pink.

“I've been craving Hiri - oto's for weeks now. If I don't get some good Oden soon I'm going to crack.” Sango told Kagome with a grin over the bouncy brown head that seemed to be in perpetual motion today.

“Ohhh! I love oden!” Kagome grinned. She could feel herself beginning to salivate. Mmmm….Oden…

“We can go together!” Sango said giddily. “Girls night out!”

“Kagome! Kagooooommmmme! KAGOME!” Rin chanted at the top of her lungs.

The warning signs were all there - the white knuckled tapping on his laptop keyboard, the tell tale clenching in his jaw, and Inuyasha's almost anticipatory grin - luckily Kagome read them all immediately. Papa Sess was about to blow a gasket.

“Ok, Rin.” She said quickly, sharing a nervous glance with Sango, who also picked up on the palatable irritation floating around the small interior of the car. “How about we play a game?”

“KAG - game?” Her little cheeks were red, whether from the exertion of singing at the top of her lungs or the caffeine pumping through her system, putting her normal exuberance into overdrive.

“Yeah.” Sango picked up easily. “It's a special game.”

“The best ever.” Kagome supplemented eagerly.

“A quiet game.”

“Awww. That's not a game!” Rin called them on it cold, a shrewd look in her little brown eyes. “That's just what grown ups say when they want you to be quiet.”

Everyone was stunned into silence, except Inuyasha who snorted in amusement, but quickly stamped it down as Sesshoumaru's hand twitched. He was the closest after all, should the uptight young man decide to lash out that was.

“Ok.” Kagome conceded finally. She sent a sly grin at the bristling object of her current night time fantasies. “We can sing… Kag-”

“Don't . you . Dare.” Sesshoumaru's voice was firm and unwavering and seemed to hold the unspoken `or else' like an axe ready to drop.

Kagome's brow rose at the challenge.

“Eh - hehehe - how about we color?” Sango jumped in quickly, before Kagome decided to test her boundaries right then and there.

There were only two ways things like that ended: in a knock down drag out scream fest…or in bed.

Neither option was suitable for the PG rating on Rin's eyes and ears - and she wasn't interested herself.

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- 0-0-0-0-

“Ahhhh!” Kagome stretched loudly as she stepped out of the car in front of the studio. “It's good to be out of that car!”

“It's good to be home.” Sango cajoled happily, even going so far as to give Miroku a return squeeze when he rushed over and spun her in his arms with complaints that he had missed her and that Kouga had drooled on him in his sleep.

It didn't take long for everyone to trickle off, Sesshoumaru had issued a general good evening to the group before striding off through the studio compound toward his car, sleeping Rin in his arms. Her caffeine high took a nosedive about thirty minutes outside of Tokyo and she crashed mid sentence, falling over into a dead sleep.

Kagome had been so startled that she'd checked the child's breathing. It just wasn't normal to pass out asleep like that. Then again, the girl had used up enough energy in the few hours ride to power a city block for a year.

Of course Sesshoumaru hadn't spared two words for her the entire trip. Whether that was because he was so engrossed in his work, or because he was miffed at her from earlier she didn't know.

Or, she supposed, it could be that he was feeling awkward about the night before. That thought made her grin. The great, immovable Sesshoumaru Takashima rendered speechless by a little tongue action.

Whoa! Stop that train right there little missy, she scolded as a flush crept up her cheeks. Since when was she such a pervert? This was all Miroku's fault for sure; Sango was right, he really was contagious!

Bags piled neatly at her side, Kagome waited for Sango to reappear so they could do their girls night out thing.

And waited.

…

…and waited.

Finally Sango's modest blue compact pulled out of the studio gates and stopped next to her.

“Hey Kagome, I'm really sorry for this, but can we post - pone our girls night for another time?”

“Sure. Is everything ok?”

“Yeah, I think so.” Sango sighed, but she sounded worried. “My brother just called all upset. I think his girlfriend may have cheated on him or something, but he needs me tonight.” Sigh. “I think he's the only one I'd even consider passing up Hiri - oto's oden for.”

“That's fine. I understand completely. I really need to get unpacked anyway, and I'm sure my apartment has a two-inch layer of dust anyway. I'll see you tomorrow though, right?”

“You got it chicky baby!” Sango flashed a grin and asked if she needed a ride home before pulling off, but Kagome decided a taxi was the way to go. That way Sango could go ahead and get to her brother. She knew she'd want to get there in a hurry had their positions been reversed.

Unfortunately all the cabs seemed to be avoiding White Dog Studio's like the plague. She was just about to go inside and call when a car pulled out of the studio gates and stopped next to her.

At first, looking at the sleek black vehicle with the shiny mirror tinted windows, Kagome thought it was Sesshoumaru and approached the car with a big grin. The back window lowered slowly and Kagome still may have thought it was Sesshoumaru in the dark car sitting back in the deepening shadows of twilight until he spoke.

“Do you need a ride, miko?”

Kagome recoiled as if she'd been bitten.

“N-no. Thank you, but I'm fine.”

“Don't be foolish. It's too dangerous to be out here alone at night. Especially for one so precious as you. We wouldn't want anything to happen.”

“Really. I already called…”

Something loud, obnoxious, and incredibly fast zipped up between them so fast that Kagome's eyes began to water.

Yes, it was Inuyasha. On a motorcycle no less. She stumbled backwards in surprise, tripping over her suitcase and landing hard on the sidewalk with a pained squeak.

“Hey. Get outta here scum bag.” Inuyasha ordered gruffly, kicking the side of the limo with his heavy black boot.

Naraku scowled, but rolled up his window and drove away with an angry screech of his tires.

“Need a lift?” Inuyasha asked with a lopsided grin.

Kagome felt herself smile, her body relaxing in relief as he leaned over to pull her up off the ground. “But what about my suitcase?”

“Aw, come on. You really need all that sh…”

“Yes. I do.” She told him seriously. “These are all my worldly possessions. You can't expect me to just leave them behind.”

He gaped like a fish. “Wha - I - sor -”

Kagome giggled. “Just kidding. But I don't want to just leave my stuff on the side walk.”

“You're a brat, you know that?” He asked, and she stuck her tongue out at him. “Don't offer unless you intend to deliver.” He smirked with a toss of his braid.

Kagome blushed. “You've been spending too much time with Miroku too!”

“Keh. You wanna ride or not.”

“Yeah. I guess I do.”

-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0- 0-0-0-0-

Kagome had never ridden on a motorcycle before, suffice to say it would have been more enjoyable if she hadn't been clinging to Inuyasha for dear life with one hand while precariously trying to balance her suitcase behind her with the other.

You'd think he'd have at least taken it a little easy with her on the back.

“Here we are.” Kagome said in a singsong voice when the key clicked in the lock and the door swung open. “Home sweet home.”

“Keh. You actually live in this crap hole?”

Kagome sighed. Such a charmer, this one. “Yes Inuyasha, dear. Besides, I happen to like my crap hole, thanks very much.”

He snorted amusedly, but quickly sobered when she shot him a quelling glare, holding his hands up to mollify her.

“Not all of us had the luxury of outrageously rich father growing up.” She said absently as fond eyes swept over the second hand furnishings. They were exactly as she remembered them: ragtag and worn, but hers all the same.

“Or a father period.” She added wistfully, a touch of bitterness lacing her words as she swept into the kitchen and pulled the kettle from the cabinet, rinsed it and set it on the stove to make tea.

“What, your dad die or something?” He asked the question so tactlessly that Kagome laughed.

“If we were only so lucky.”

“Ouch.” He picked up the lid on the cookie jar, completely unfettered by the fact that he hadn't asked nor been invited. Usually it would have irritated Kagome, but Inuyasha was just that way. “So what happened?” he asked pulling out a wrapped oatmeal pie cookie that had to be at least six months old or more.

Kagome grinned when he opened it with out a second though, but decided not to mention it. He made an odd face at the first bite, but just shrugged and shoved the rest of the thing in his mouth in one bite.

“Tea bags ok? I'm all out of leaves.”

“Like I care.” Though it was much more muffled and messy since his mouth was still stuffed with partially chewed cookie, some of which dribbled onto his chin.

Kagome tossed him a napkin with a good-natured roll of her eyes. Dealing with Inuyasha wasn't that much different that dealing with Rin after all, only he wouldn't need help going to the potty.

Hopefully.

“So…you're dad.” The dark haired young man prompted when he finally managed to swallow the gummy cookie.

“He left. I was young, maybe five or almost. Mom was pregnant with Sota, my younger brother and he just decided he didn't want to do the `family thing' anymore and took off. Haven't heard from him since.”

“Bastard.” Inuyasha grunted, gratefully accepting the mug she passed him.

Kagome grinned and took a cautious sip of her tea. Ah, it was good to be home, no matter how humble. “You've got that right. Wasn't long after that Mom got sick.”

“Sick?”

“Yeah. Cancer. She's in remission now thankfully, but we racked up a fortune in medical bills.” She smiled then, amazing him that she could look so happy in the midst of such a sad tale. “But we have so much to be thankful for. She's much better now and with the money I'll make from the film I can pay off her bills so she wont have to worry so much and gramps can finally retire.” She grinned wickedly. “Maybe I'll by him a moped.”

Inuyasha studied her thoughtfully, raising his cup to his lips for the first time.

“Bleh!” he shivered repulsed as he forced the tea down his throat. “What the hell kind of girlie crap is this?”

Kagome giggled innocently. “What? You don't like my raspberry zinger?”

“Keh. You got any real tea?”

“Nope.” Kagome grinned unrepentantly as he scowled and slung back the rest of the tea.

“Uuuahhh. That is some nasty stuff.” He grinned. “You should make some for Sess. Tomorrow morning, in place of his coffee.”

Kagome laughed light heartedly, laughing harder at the face he made when she refilled his cup.

“So what's going on between you and the giant talking ass?”

“Excuse me?” Kagome sputtered, nearly choking on her tea. Inuyasha grinned wickedly.

“Sesshoumaru. You know any other giant talkin-”

“Ah - no…I mean nothing.” She spluttered going red. “I mean…I don't really know. He's so hard to read sometimes.” She sighed and slumped down to rest her chin on the wiggly old table that separated them. “And he's not an…he's just very…Sesshoumaru.”

“Keh.”

Kagome giggled lazily, turning her cup in circles on the scrubbed surface. “I just don't know what he's thinking. One minute he's kissing me, then he just about ignores Naraku's man handling, but then he's all - uhm,” she cleared her throat, “with the tongue and all…”

“Shit Kagome! I do not want to hear about that!” He spluttered, turning fairly red himself.

Kagome let an embarrassed giggle slip from her throat. “Sorry. But then he just sort of walks away … and he didn't talk to me today at all.” She sighed. “It's just stupid, the whole thing; the flirting, going out to dinner. Dating in general is stupid.”

“Amen.” Inuyasha seconded lifting his mug in the air. “Straight to the sex. That's the better way. Ow!”

The balled up paper napkin didn't hurt when it bounced off his head, but he'd made her laugh - which was what he was aiming for anyway. Without thinking he downed the contents of his mug, making an awful face as it raced over his palate.

Kagome laughed again. “If you hate it so much why are you still drinking it?”

“You got anything else?” It was less of a question and more of a challenge.

“Well, no actually.”

He gave a smug sort of look before taking another grimacing swig of tea. “Hey,” he began seriously, “has Naraku been bothering you much, like tonight?”

“He…he's just strange. It kind of creeps me out, but he hasn't done anything.” Except bruise the hell out of her side. “Not really anyway.”

“You tell me if he tries anything.” He looked into her eyes gravely. “I mean it. If he so much as looks at you funny I want to know.”

Kagome smiled warmly at him, making him turn away with a bit of a flush rising on his cheeks. “I will.” She grinned. “More tea?”