InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Stars Never Fall ❯ To the Carnival We Go ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

The Stars Never Fall : by fukaimori-inu

Chapter 6 - To the Carnival We Go

Inuyasha's feet touched down in the now-covered well. Smelling the breeze that was blowing into the shrine's building, he picked up all of her families scents but Kagome's. "Huh?" He quickly slid open the door and stepped into the fading sun's rays. "Good, she's still home," he said as her scent filled his nose. He jumped to the balcony outside of her window and pushed the window open. "She's asleep!" he said incredulously." It's not even dark out!" He looked to the girl who had brought him to this time. Kagome was asleep, her head resting on her arms, propped upon the opened algebra book. "I tried to tell her those spells would do something strange to people." Shaking his head, he easily lifted the sleeping teenager and carried her bridal style to her bed. Blushing, he said "she must have been really tired. This usually wakes her up." With one hand he pulled the covers down and placed Kagome on the bed. He tucked the covers underneath her chin and brushed a strand of hair from her face. He pulled his hand back as if he had been burned when he realized what he was doing. `But she's so calm and assured when she sleeps. It's as if she doesn't think anything could harm her when she sleeps. She knows that I'll protect her from anything. Whoa! Where did that come from! I shouldn't be saying that. I love Kikyou! Don't I? Feh, stupid girl for making me feel this way.' He looked back at Kagome who was now faintly smiling. `I wonder what she's dreaming about.'

"……yasha….."

"Huh? She's dreaming about me?" A grin spread across his face. "I'll be back tomorrow, Kagome." With that, he crawled onto the balcony, closing the window behind him.

Back inside the room, Kagome was finishing her dream.

"…….why did you go to her, Inuyasha? Why?........." the smile turned to a frown.

Kagome sat up strait, clutching the blankets to her. "What was I dreaming about?" she wondered. "And how did I get to bed?"

(A/N: this is the night before Kagome goes on the bike trip; when Inuyasha first goes through the well…..she doesn't remember the dream when she wakes up the next morning)

* * * * * * * * * *

"I can't believe that we forgot about the carnival! This was such a good idea, Ayumi," Yuka said, leading the group to the nearing festival. They could see the tips of the rides drawing closer with each rotation of the pedals. "There it is!"

"Wow. This is ever better than last years festival! There are a lot more rides," Eri noted as the teenagers pulled into the parking lot. Hojou found a bike rack and soon the bikes were secured, not to be taken anywhere.

Well, let's go!" Kagome was bursting with excitement. She had missed the carnival last year, occupied with fighting a water demon who had two shards. They all went to the ticket window and each bought five ride tickets. "What should we do first?" There was a seemingly endless array of activities: games, food, a Ferris wheel, go carts, bumper cars……

"Let's go on the Ferris wheel. That way we can see everything there is to do." Everyone agreed with Hojou's suggestion and dashed off to join the growing line at the Ferris wheel. After a brief waiting time, the line began to move and people filed into the waiting seats. Yuka, Eri and Ayumi claimed one basket, leaving Kagome with Hojou. Eri just grinned and waved, but Ayumi shot Kagome a sympathetic smile.

`At least someone understands that I don't like him. I wish Yuka and Eri would stop trying to set us up.' She looked at Hojou who was smiling broadly and waving back to Eri. `Poor Hojou. He just doesn't get it!' The ride jolted to a start and Kagome was thrown out of her thoughts. "Oww," she said, rubbing her sore head that had just hit the hard backing of the seat..

"Are you alright?" a concerned Hojou asked.

"I'm fine." The remaining ride to the top was uneventful. The wheel slowed to a stop and the pair turned to the side of the basket. "Wow, look at all this stuff!"

"It's great, isn't it? Too bad you couldn't come last year. We had a lot of fun. But your asthma was really bad that day."

*gulp*

`Jii-chan…….' "Yeah, too bad." The ride continued and Kagome and Hojou finished the ride in silence. "Who's up for bumper cars?" The building had caught her attention when she was up in the air. Besides, what better way for her to get back at her friends for leaving her with Hojou. They were going to pay…….She took off in the direction of the cars and beat her friends to the line. They followed, panting as if they had just run a mile.

"Kagome, how *pant* did you *pant* learn to run *pant* that fast?" Eri clutched the line bar with the last word.

"Umm………." `Well you see, I've actually been fighting demons these past few years, and have had to run away more times than I can count and a crazy half-demon pushes us to walk unreasonable amounts each day and…….' "I've just tried to stay in shape when I haven't been sick." Her friends accepted this lame lie quickly enough as Kagome breathed a sigh of relief. They had soon recovered and were ready to go. Their turn came and each of them piled into separate cars, much to Kagome's relief. The cars were activated and the war began. Kagome was the undeclared champ. She attacked everyone in range. By the end of the game, they had been hit so many times that they lost count. She was about to go after Yuka again when the ride ended and her car lost its power. "What's wrong? Can't take a little competition?" she taunted. Laughing, she led the way out of the ride and into the fresh air.

"Lets take a break from the rides," Eri suggested. Everyone but Kagome nodded their heads vigorously.

"Ok then. I saw some neat little stores when we first came in. Lets go shopping!" Ayumi said. Hojou groaned, but followed as the girls led him into the first shop they came to. Luckily for him it was a candy store. Jars or sweets lined the shelves of the little shop.

`I bet Shippou would love some of theses. I'll have to take some back for him.' Kagome found a jar filled with Jolly Ranchers and picked out several cherry and watermelon candies. She passed over all the chocolates remembering her last experience with chocolate in the feudal era…………

*flash back*

"Did you bring me something, Kagome? Please please please?" Shippou begged. Kagome smiled down at the young kitsune.

"Of course I did! But you'll have to be careful. It can get pretty messy and sticky, ok?" Shippou nodded his head vigorously and jumped down from his place in Kagome's arms. Following her to her oversized yellow backpack, he held out his hands and closed his eyes. "Here you go!"

Shippou opened his eyes to find a strange dark brown bar in his hands. "What's this?" he asked.

"It's called a chocolate bar. You eat it. Go on, try a little bit," Kagome encouraged. Shippou hesitantly nibbled a corner of the chocolate. His eyes lit up and he quickly stuffed the rest of the bar into his mouth.

"Yummy! That was really good! Do you have anymore?" Shippou asked hopefully. Kagome nodded and pointed to a rather large bag sitting, opened, by her backpack.

"But, you aren't allowed to have anymore until after dinner. If you eat too much of it, you'll get sick. I wouldn't want that to happen. Do you promise not to eat any more of it right now?"

"I promise," Shippou said. Kagome smiled at him and walked off to talk to Sango. She was so busy catching up with her best friend that she didn't even notice a little fox tip-toeing to her bag and swiping the bag of chocolates.

Inuyasha's return from his hunt was announced with several cries from both him and Shippou.

"Come back here, you little runt!"

"Nah nah nah! You can't catch me!" Shippou taunted, sticking his tongue out at Inuyasha. Inuyasha pounced at him, but Shippou leaped out of the way just in time.

"What's giving you all of this extra energy!" Inuyasha yelled.

`Oh no,' Kagome thought. `Shippou must have eaten more chocolate and the sugar made him hyper!' Thinking fast, Kagome did the only thing she could to subdue Inuyasha long enough to grab Shippou. "Sit boy!" she yelled.

"Come back here -gah! Umph" Inuyasha slammed face first into the ground, pulled down by the prayer beads around his neck. Kagome picked up a bouncing Shippou and looked at him sternly.

"Shippou, did you eat the chocolate even though I told you were not allowed to have anymore until after dinner?" She looked straight at him, not even blinking. He squirmed under her gaze.

"I only had a few more…….." he admitted.

"Even though I told you that you weren't allowed to have any?" Kagome continued. Shippou sadly nodded his head, looking down at the ground. "I see." Kagome sighed. "Well, I'm going to have to punish you Shippou. The candy makes you hyper and you ate it even though I told you not to. You aren't allowed to sleep in my sleeping bag for three nights, and I am not going to bring you any more chocolate. Do you understand?" Shippou sniffled and nodded his head. "Ok then. I need to start making dinner. Why don't you go and get me some more fire wood?" She placed Shippou down and began to set up for their meal.

*end flashback*

Kagome sighed as she remembered how upset Shippou had been that night.

"Is everything alright, Kagome?" Hojou asked.

"Huh?" Kagome's head shot up at the sound of her name. "Yeah, everything's fine. Thanks for asking Hojou." Hojou nodded and continued browsing through the candy store.

`I guess I'll have to be careful when I think about my adventures. I don't need to make them more suspicious. It's bad enough I miss so much school!'

Kagome brought her candies up to the front and paid for everything. Walking outside, she was met by her friends who were anxious to continue their adventures at the festival.