InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The More Things Stay The Same ❯ Stalker! ( Chapter 5 )

It was the second day. She had promised everyone she would be back in one week, and Inuyasha, keeping his word to Miroku had followed her shortly. He was a bit concerned that Kagome, used to him by now, would notice that he was shadowing her steps. But once she had arrived in modern Tokyo, she relaxed and became quite apparently oblivious to her surroundings, relaxed into the role of any other Japanese 11th grade girl. This was in stark contrast to her first year traveling Sengoku Jidai, separated from her classmates, her entire life centered around Inuyasha and the Shikon. Now she seemed to balance the two lives on a seesaw, swinging between them on demand.

 

Inuyasha first appeared late into the night her first day home. He hadn't been to her home in at least several months, but nothing had changed. That night he had stayed out of sight, save for the hour or two that he watched her sleeping through the window. The first day he spent on her roof, listening to the machinations of a twenty first century household, well out of sight. This morning, he had followed her to school at a respectable distance, taking the path of trees and rooftops, then sat in a tree as he observed her beginning her classes for the day. When Inuyasha was confidant she was safe in her classroom, he returned to what should be her now empty house for some… “reconnaissance.”

 

He was right. Kagome's mother had gone out shopping for the day, Souta had gone to his own school, and Kagome's grandfather was out playing Mah Jong at the senior center.

He entered the back door, which he found unlocked, as it always was. His glance turned to the kitchen first. He hadn't eaten in at least a day, and he could be sure there was plenty of ninja food in there, but he opted not to waste his time with his stomach. He took the stairs two at a time, walked swiftly to Kagome's room, entered, and slid the door closed behind him.

 

He didn't know why he was here. It was completely against his plan of keeping an eye on Kagome, but he hadn't been inside this room in so long, the idea of spending a period of time here, uninterrupted, was too tempting to pass up.

 

He ran his clawed fingertips over her desk, he picked up a cup that had some pencils in it, studied it and put it back down. The room had changed little. There was a different comforter on her bed, and matching blue curtains on her window. The smells were all the same. For a moment he forgot himself, laid down on her bed and buried his face in her pillow, fully drinking in the essence of Kagome. He rolled onto his back and stared up a the ceiling, marveling that he was now looking at the very ceiling that Kagome looked at before she fell asleep. He let his eyes shut and a few moments later jolted himself out of semi-conciousness. He hadn't quite fallen asleep, but it was too close a call for him, he simply could not have Kagome coming home and finding him there. He forced himself to sit up, and his eyes fell on items on top of a wheeled nightstand next to her bed. There was a small jewelry box, he flipped the lid open to see what was inside. Earrings, some pendants, a couple brooches, but the diamond fang ring wasn't there. His gaze shifted to the stack of books next to it. There were a couple of Shoujo Manga, a paperback novel, and on the bottom of the stack, a glossy book that resembled the catalog Miroku had shared with him. Boring. All of it. The smells were much more interesting. He found himself considering going through her closet, let his gaze slide that direction, and was shocked to see another set of eyes looking back at him. On Kagome's closet door, there was a large glossy picture of a young man without a shirt!

 

“What the fuck??” The image was of a bishounen, with wispy black hair falling over his eyes of indeterminate color. He was very thin, with an angular face, and was posed in a very non-threatening way, with a hand rested behind his head, looking like he was apologizing for something.

 

Inuyasha wondered if that was the kind of guy Kagome liked, and it occurred to him that the image bore no resemblance whatsoever to himself. He turned to the full length mirror that was hung on the wall opposite the poster, and studied his own features. His long white hair, his ears, his fangs, his hands, his claws, his dirty bare feet. He pulled up the sleeve of his haori and studied his forearm. The man in the picture appeared to have no muscle tone at all. Inuyasha noted his own triceps and wondered if Kagome found his muscles freakish if this image was the measure by which she judged the fitness of a man. However this man looked impossibly weak, perhaps even spineless. Miroku had….. hell, Shippo had more muscle-tone. Inuyasha found while he was trying to study himself that his sleeves kept falling in the way, and innovated a simple solution… removing them. While he was at it, he decided he might as well get a good look at his chest too, since he never had the opportunity in Sengoku Jidai to use a looking glass, and if he did, he wouldn't have risked Miroku or Shippo ever catching him preening.

 

He removed the fire rat robe, and then his thin linen undershirt. His arms, biceps, shoulders, neck, chest and abdomen were all sharply defined. His muscles didn't bulge unnaturally like a strong human would. His power was in underlying strength. It was in the things you couldn't see. Kagome should know that. He struck a pose identical to the bishie, and looked over his shoulder with a; “What now punk?” expression. Taking off his hakama to make full use of the full length mirror was an idea just beginning to manifest when Mrs. Higurashi slid open the door with a basket of laundry which she dropped in surprise.

 

Inuyasha's jaws flapped, but no sound came out. His eyebrow started to twitch. Kagome's mother left the upturned basket on the floor, and quickly slid the door closed behind her as she made a hasty exit.

 

Inuyasha, ever the chivalrous one, put all of his clothes back on and picked up all the laundry. Considerably humbled, he took the basket with him downstairs. He found Mrs. Higurashi in the kitchen boiling some tea. He set the basket on the dining table and waited for her to speak, as he, had nothing to say about his display.

 

She had her back to him. He wondered what judgement she would mete out being that “Oswari” was not an available option for her.

 

“Oolong tea Inuyasha?”

“Yes Kagome's mother.”

 

He was being so serious and formal. Mrs. Higurashi tried not to give herself away and burst out laughing. Of all the things she could have inadvertently walked in on, this was probably the least embarrassing or sordid possibility.

 

“You haven't been to this house in a long time Inuyasha. May I ask what brings you today?” at this she turned around and he was immeadiatly relaxed by the good natured and maternal smile she was wearing. He let out a sigh and sat down on one of the western styled chairs.

 

“Kagome has been getting in a lot of trouble lately… and one of our friends made me come and check up on her.”

“Yes, yes, I see” Mrs. Higurashi clucked as she poured the boiling water over leaves and brought the pot to the table along with two cups and a small plate of cookies. “Well, you should know that at this time of day, she is at school… in fact, we should finish our tea and you should go and keep an eye on her for the remainder of the afternoon.” She sighed. “It certainly does this mother's heart a world of good knowing that Kagome has a fine young man like you looking out for her Inuyasha.”

 

He nodded, drank his tea too fast, wolfed down the cookies and politely thanked her, before swishing out the door.

 

Mrs. Higurashi chuckled to herself again. “I thought that boy looked hungry!”

 

 

Inuyasha double-timed it to the high school, concerned that school might be getting out and not wanting Kagome to wander off before he got there. As he arrived the chime was just sounding for class change. He climbed the tree he was in that morning to peek inside of her classroom but found it empty. He began to panic and started looking for the door to the inside so he could look for her. He jumped onto the roof and was going to take the door in when he heard some girls yelling off to his left.

 

“Ich! Ni! San! ........... “Ich! Ni! San!”

 

Inuyasha crossed the roof for a better look, and saw several young girls about Kagome's age stretching and wearing white sweatshirts and short blue shorts exactly like the ones in Kagome's catalog. He then noticed the smell of Kagome's sweat. So she was still there.

Inuyasha concealed himself behind a large tree once he hit ground and watched the goings on. She appeared to be standing in a line, waiting for a turn to run on the road in the middle of the field. She was talking to another girl standing next to her, and laughing. Inuyasha watched several boys running around the road while a middle aged man blew a whistle at them. It was ridiculous. They appeared to be running for no apparent reason, and what was more, they did it badly. Most of them hardly picked up their feet, and the two or three fatter or weaker boys, lagged behind, hardly coming out of a walk. It occurred to Inuyasha's predatory instincts that those would be the first to be killed and eaten by a youkai. Perhaps these young men were being displayed to the girls so that they could watch for suitable partners? Humans in this time certainly did stranger things. He bristled and growled. Two more girls in Kagome's line shot out from a white line, apparently racing, which was a game Shippo was fond of playing with other children. The girls passed two white lines where there was another herd of girls, some cheering, some uninterested. When they passed a yellow line, they slowed, apparently the race was over. They stopped to catch their breath. The boy herd had also apparently finished running, they came to a stop near Inuyasha's position and began milling around. A few more rounds of girls raced. Kagome kicked a rock with her shoe. Finally it was her turn. She got into position and began running when the sensei shouted “go!” The muscles in Kagome's legs were strong from frequent use, and her arms pumped up and down in effective propulsion. Unlike most of the young men and women here, she knew what it was to run like you meant it. The other girl's arms and legs were flailing side to side like a wounded deer, and Kagome pulled away rapidly. The race was over before Kagome's opponent had hardly begun. Someone Kagome knew handed her a towel which she dabbed at her forehead and then set down on a bleacher. She picked up a bottle of water, took a good drink, and splashed a little on her face.

 

“Who's that? I don't think I've seen her before… is she new?”

“No, she sits behind us, her name is Higurashi.”

“Higurashi? The one that all the teachers called at role for the first semester but was never here?”

“Yeah apparently she has a lot of stuff to keep her out of school. I heard that freshman year she was sick all the time, but she just seems to have an arrangement where she comes to school when she wants now.”

“Damn! How does she manage that?”

“Her family has a shrine, and-“

“Oh , she's from that Higurashi family?”

“Don't interrupt me. Anyway, yes. That family. The word these days is that she misses a lot of school for her miko duties.”

“Is she going out with anyone?”

“I knew a guy that was sweet on her in Junior High, but I don't think she's gone out with anyone since then.”

“A shrine maiden with no time for school or guys…. That's hot. Look at those legs, and her breasts are almost as big as that American in class 2.”

“Hey, I'm gonna get a drink, you want something?”

“No, I'm good. “

“Try to control your feelings for Higurashi till I can get back to laugh at you?”

“Not likely.”

 

Inuyasha's blood was on fire. However big an asshole Kouga was, he didn't take Kagome quite that lightly. The offensive boy leaned on the other side of Inuyasha's tree. Inuyasha listened and waited for the other boy to leave, then reached around and punched the young man in the eye. He fell back into the tree clutching his face, and knocked himself out. Inuyasha ducked behind the bleachers before anyone noticed him. Shortly the boy's companion came back.

 

“Dude! I asked you to wait!! Now I missed seeing her kick your ass!”

 

Another chime sounded and all the students went inside the school. Inuyasha found some bushes outside the front door of the high school to hide behind and wait for Kagome to start walking home. While he was out there he saw another man, perhaps thirty, also hiding behind the bushes and making quick peeks with binoculars to see if the students were coming out. The Hanyou wondered who this man was waiting for. A sister perhaps? Forgetting himself, Inuyasha called out to him.

 

“Oi! Do you know when school gets over?”

 

The man panicked and made a run for it. Inuyasha was puzzled for a minute, but quickly dismissed it. After what seemed like forever, another set of chimes sounded, and uniformed students poured out the front doors, some of them still pulling on their outdoor shoes. After a few minutes, Kagome emerged and started off alone for the shrine. He followed her quietly for a couple of city blocks before he dropped down on the street beside her and swept her book-bag away from her and onto his own shoulder.

 

“Inuyasha?? What are you doing here?”

“Walking you home, what does it look like?” Kagome's heart fluttered a little.

“I mean, why aren't you in Sengoku Jidai?”

“Oh that… Miroku and Sango made me come check on you.”

“Is that all.”

“AND…. After your mother made me tea she sent me to your school to fetch you.” An image panned though Kagome's mind of her mother telling Inuyasha to fetch.

“How did you know where I went to school? I've never shown you before, and there are a hundred schools in this district.”

“I uh….” Inuyasha floundered a bit. “…. Followed your scent, duh.”

“I see.” Was all Kagome could say.

They walked on in silence until they reached the temple steps.

“Almost like old times” Kagome thought. “This feels so natural, I almost find myself wanting to reach for his hand.”

 

They reached the top of the steps, and both of them looked toward the Goshinboku, each thinking their own thoughts.

 

Mrs. Higurashi interrupted the scene when she came out from locking up the temple store. “Oh good!! You're both back!! And not a moment too soon, I have chores for each of you! Kagome, I need your help with dinner, and Inuyasha, I need you to take the trash down to the curb. We usually have someone come round and do it for us, but Ujiko-san had other plans for this month.” She pointed at the two large cans at the side of the wall as she said thus, and swept Kagome off in one motion before Inuyasha was even aware of what was happening. He found himself alone with the cans, and many stairs. He shrugged and picked up one can under each arm and started down the stairs awkwardly. He got about ten steps down before he lost his footing with the bulky burden and dropped one of the cans; which fell open and rolled down the stairs, spilling an entire month of the Higurashi family's most offensive trash.

 

“Fuck.” Inuyasha muttered as he bent over to pick up the piece of garbage closest to him.

 

Afterwards, Kagome was still bustling in the kitchen with her mother, mixing this and that, both of them had aprons on and were talking about nothing, the way women are apt to do.

 

“Anything else need to be done?”

“Oh my no, but aren't you helpful Inuyasha all the same! Isn't he handy Kagome? Oh my but Inuyasha-kun, your robe has garbage on it! Oh please, give it to me and I'll wash it in the sink for you! Kagome, don't you have some large men's shirts you sleep in? would you go lay one out for Inuyasha? No no, just leave that there, I'll finish mixing it, and the rest will wait until you get back, now haiaku, haiaku! He's smelling up the kitchen with that old cat food he has on him!”

 

Inuyasha stood over by the doorway and put on his stoic face with his arms crossed. He certainly didn't feel very confidant smelling like month old cat food.

Kagome came down shortly and pulled her hair into a pony tail.

 

“There's a teeshirt up there that should fit you Inuyasha, it's by the bed” she said absently.

 

Inuyasha bowed out of the room and headed for the stairs.

“Maa, maa, such nice manners he has!”

 

Kagome made a funny choking sound, then said; “somehow Mom… I don't think having good manners is something Inuyasha has ever been accused of.”

 

Inuyasha reached Kagome's room and starting looking for this `teeshirt' they spoke of. He had heard the word “tee.” Kagome had said it was an English word for “cha,” but he wondered what something to wear would have to do with a cup of oolong. He started his search in the most logical place. Where Kagome kept her clothes.

 

He made a face at the Bishounen and slid open the closet, and peered inside. Nothing but a couple fancy dresses, some extra bedding, boxes and shoes. Next he pulled open the box nearest to him. Socks. No shirts. The next nearest clothing dispenser was the hamper. So, Inuyasha next explored that possibility. There were dirty uniforms, her jeans, that same flannel nightgown that still haunted him, a couple of lacy bras that were most interesting, stockings, but the item that made Inuyasha forget all else, were a pair of simple, black, panties. These must have been the pair Kagome was wearing in the cave. He held them up for closer inspection, they smelled slightly of him, so they had to be from that incident as that was the closest he could have been to them at any time in…. well ever. Inuyasha could smell the tension and fear in the sweat that was still on them, as well as something else… of course… his excitement, he had gotten very familiar with that recently… but… hers as well? It couldn't have been that. He held them up above his head and studied them.

 

“Inuyasha, I know you just came up here but I forgot something so if you just wait a second I…………………….”