InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ Swing Therapy and the Fairy Queen ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11 - Swing Therapy & The Fairy Queen

 

 

It had taken him a couple of minutes but finally Shippo had thought of a good excuse to get her out of the house for a while. Thankfully she hadn't been paying attention to him at all, still completely focused on one of her many obsessions, Ninja Warrior. “Hey, Kagome?”

 

“Hmm?” she asked without removing her eyes from the screen. “Ouch! That was great! Did you see that, Shippo? He fell right on the edge of the balance bridge. I bet that hurts like a mother fucker!”

 

Shippo rolled his eyes. “I'm sure it hurt. Kagome? Do you wanna get some fresh air? Maybe go for a walk?”

 

She turned her head this time and met his eyes. “Why?”

 

The kitsune tried to hide his nervousness. Kagome could read him like a book and now she wanted to know why he wanted to get her out of the house? He had to come up with a good reason or a great distraction or he was in deep shit. Stalling for time he shrugged his shoulders, though it just wasn't the same upside down. “I just thought it would be fun, just the two of us. Maybe we could go to the park. We could play on the swings,” he said, his voice making it sound like he was offering her a billion dollars. He knew how she felt about the swings.

 

It took her less than ten seconds to turn off the television and flip off the couch to her feet. “Alright! Let's go!”

 

Shippo laughed at her excitement. “It's kinda cold outside. Come on. I wanna grab a sweatshirt for you.”

 

“Yes, Mommy,” she teased. “You know I'm a big girl. I can dress myself now.”

 

“That may be but I'm not gonna be the one who takes you out in the cold and gets you sick. They'd kick my ass!”

 

She sighed. “Yeah, you're probably right.” Kagome hopped up the steps two at a time, her pigtails bouncing like springs. She waited at the top of the flight of stairs for Shippo to catch up and he led her into his room. “Shippo! Your room is a mess!”

 

“Huh?” he said intelligently as he pulled his head out of his closet, followed by his arm, his hand holding a red hooded sweatshirt. “Here, put it on.”

 

“Bossy much?”

 

“Are those pants gonna be warm enough? Maybe you should put your jeans on.”

 

“You know, this is an awful lot of trouble just to get some fresh air.”

 

“Did you forget about the swings?” he asked while lifting a brow, his tail twitching in amusement. She had already forgotten, but his reminder had her out of his room and in Bankotsu's in seconds. When she came out she had yesterday's jeans on and his hoodie on over her other shirt.

 

“Okay. I'm ready. We should tell the guys we're leaving though. Where are they anyway? I didn't see them come inside.”

 

“And that's because you were too busy cheering on your ninjas. I bet they're in their rooms.”

 

Kagome nodded and made her way to Miroku's purple door first. “Hey, Miroku? You dead in there?” She laughed when she heard a hollered `Yes,' from inside the room. The miko opened the door and looked at her friend spread out on the bed, all floppy and lifeless. He'd even gone so far as to stick his tongue out and to the side. “And the award for most realistic `pretending to be dead' goes to… drumroll please,” she paused for dramatic effect before finishing. “…not you!” She giggled as she hopped on the bed beside him. She leaned over his face, getting extra close before reaching out and poking his tongue, making him break character and laugh. “See? I knew you weren't dead!” she teased.

 

“Yes, well you are the expert. Is there something I can do for you my love?”

 

“Just wanted to tell you Shippo and I are going to the park. Didn't want you to wonder where we disappeared to.”

 

Miroku gave Shippo a thumbs up behind Kagome's back before nodding at her. “Alright. Are you going to tell Inuyasha too or do you wish for me to relay the message?”

 

Kagome looked like she was thinking about it for a moment before deciding. “I'll go tell him too. That way he can't whine about it.” She stood up and started to walk towards the door.

 

“Try not to break your neck, alright?”

 

Kagome twirled around and stuck her tongue out at him before disappearing through the doorway, closing his door behind her. She crossed the hall, Shippo at her side, before knocking on her hanyou's bright red door. Inuyasha whipped the door open and looked ready to yell until he saw her.

 

“Kagome! Hey, do you know where my bandana is?”

 

She peered past him into his room, laughing as she saw the disarray that his desperate search had left in its wake. She pushed past him and walked to his bed. There, tied around the top right post of his four poster bed, was the `missing' bandana he'd been looking everywhere for, well, obviously not everywhere.

 

“You tied it there the last time you wore it so you wouldn't lose it. I guess that didn't work out so great for ya, did it?”

 

“What would I do without you, wench?”

 

“I'd vote you'd look for things a hell of a lot longer before finding them,” she joked. “Anyway, Shippo and I are going to the park. We'll be back in a while.”

 

Inuyasha turned to Shippo who was leaning in the doorway. “Try to keep her from pulling at least the stupidest of her little `tricks', would ya runt? Last time she sprained her ankle and I had to carry her heavy ass home.” He let out a yip of surprise when Kagome's hand connected with the back of his head.

 

“I'm not that heavy! If you really thought so you'd stop tossing me over your damn shoulder all the time!” Inuyasha merely smirked at her and she found herself backing away slowly. “Nuh Uh! No, not this time,” she said as she brushed past Shippo and broke into a run. Inuyasha had her in less than a second, using his demon speed as an advantage to catch the attempted escapee. She squealed as she found herself over his shoulder once again. Letting out a sigh she let her body relax. “At least Miroku's not around to smack my ass. You know, he does that every time!”

 

“It's not my fault you have a perfectly smackable little tushie,” Miroku said from behind her.

 

“Damn it!” she growled. “Don't you dare.” She squealed again as Inuyasha tossed her in the air and caught her bridal style, thus protecting her `tushie' from the pervert. “You know, I can walk, Mr. `I had to carry her heavy ass home'!”

 

“You ever think that maybe I just like carrying ya?”

 

“Once in a blue moon. No, you do it cuz you love to irritate me.”

 

“I think it's a little bit of both,” Shippo chimed in. “Come on. We ought to get going.”

 

“Or what? The precious swings will all be spoken for?” Inuyasha said sarcastically.

 

“No,” Miroku said in a warning tone. “But we don't want her to get there too late. You know she needs to get in a minimum of two hours on the swings before she'll leave and we don't want our little girl out too late now do we?”

 

Inuyasha got the hint and took a few more steps down the hall. He tightened his grip slightly and Kagome braced herself, knowing what was coming next. The hanyou hopped down the flight of stairs in one shot, landing as gently as if he'd only stepped off the bottom step. He let go of her legs, letting her body swing to an upright position. Once he was sure she wasn't going to fall he leaned in and kissed her forehead. “Be careful, wench. No trapeze acts this time.”

 

Kagome let out an exaggerated sigh. “Yes Mother. Damn, you all sound like a bunch of chicks!” With that said Kagome stomped her way to the front door, throwing it open and stomping out.

 

“Good idea runt. This'll keep her busy for a while. But if it starts getting late or too cold for her bring her back.”

 

“I'm not stupid you know, Inuyasha! I can take care of her too,” Shippo said angrily. They never trusted him with her like they did with each other. Sure, he'd known her for the shortest amount of time but that didn't mean he loved her any less. The kitsune looked an awful lot like a certain miko as he stomped out the door as well.

 

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and Miroku closed the front door after giving them a quick wave. “Alright, so while we wait for Bank and Jak we should start sorting through some of that stuff so we can figure out what to do with it all.”

 

“Or we could just carry it all to the attic instead. Cuz what you said sounded an awful lot like cleaning.”

 

Miroku sighed and ran his hand over his face. “How about I sort through and throw out what we don't want and you can carry the things we want to keep to the attic? Does that sound better?”

 

“You don't have to talk to me like I'm a fucking kid!” Inuyasha said before turning and heading towards the basement door.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Bankotsu really really wanted to reach over and smack his brother upside the head. He loved Jak of course, but sometimes he was just too much to take for any length of time. He was convinced that Jakotsu made a point to be as flamboyant as possible in his presence. There was no way that he seriously acted like this all the time. It didn't matter to him that his brother was gay. He'd suspected it years before he'd come out to their family and friends. No, it was the ridiculous behavior and that voice, that `let's see just how unnaturally high I can make my voice sound in an attempt to make your ears bleed' voice.

 

“I swear to god, Jak! If you don't stop singing like that I'm going to pull this car over and make you ride in the trunk!”

 

“You wouldn't,” Jakotsu gasped, dramatically clutching his chest like he'd been shot or stabbed or something equally painful. “I can't believe how mean you can be little brother. How has Kagome survived all these years?”

 

“Easily,” Bank said while rolling his eyes. “Kagome doesn't think it's funny to give me a headache.” Jak made a face at him. “Alright, so maybe she does sometimes but I think you're just trying to drive me insane.”

 

“I think you crossed that bridge a long time ago. And I wasn't the one driving.”

 

“Kagome doesn't make me half as crazy as you do. But the two of you together, now that I have to admit is scary.”

 

“You know, I don't think I've ever thanked her for what she did for me.”

 

“She knows, Jak. She always knows.”

 

“The girl is an angel. A little off the wall, but still an angel.”

 

Bankotsu was laughing so hard he almost had to pull over to make sure they didn't end up in a ditch. “Did you just say that Kagome's a little off the wall? Hello? Jak? Have you met yourself?”

 

“No, I don't believe I have. No one's been so kind as to introduce me to that stud, though I've heard good things”

 

Now Bankotsu did actually pull over. He ended up in a coughing fit, almost choking in an attempt to breathe. Finally he calmed enough to suck in gasps of air. “You didn't… just call yourself… a stud?!”

 

“Just shut up and drive,” Jak said while pouting, making sure to stick his bottom lip out just like Kagome'd taught him.

The rest of the ride home was silent, but not because either was upset. Jak didn't want to make them have an accident because he couldn't control his rapier wit and Bankotsu was just enjoying the quiet. As they drove past the park near their house Bank smiled and pointed, slowing down so his brother could see. There, in what had to be Shippo's red hoodie, hung Kagome. She'd improved upon her swing tricks over the years and this one was her favorite. She was upside down, the chains wrapped around her legs twice to keep her secure, and her hands hanging over her head, fingertips and the tips of her pigtails brushing the ground. She hung limply, giving the appearance that someone had strung her up that way, and Shippo was giving her a gentle push every now and then to keep the swing moving.

 

“She's going to fall on her head!” Jak screeched much louder than necessary. Shippo looked up, having recognized the voice he caught with his demon hearing, and waved at the two in the car.

 

“If she was going to fall on her head she'd have done it a long time ago. Hell, we should hang a swing from the ceiling in her new room. She'd absolutely shit if she had a swing in her bedroom.” He pulled away from the park after waving at the kitsune. Thankfully Kagome hadn't noticed their presence. The longer she was gone the better so they could at least get the planning stage done as soon as possible.

 

He had no idea how he was going to keep her from wanting to go back to her house, even if it was just to grab some things. She couldn't find out she was being evicted, not until they had her room ready. She was too sweet for her own good and no matter how many times they tried to tell her they liked spending money on her she refused to allow it.

 

She'd even tried to make Inuyasha return the gift he'd given her for Christmas one year because she thought it was too expensive. They'd actually ended up almost screaming at each other before the hanyou could make her promise to keep it. To make sure he knew that she appreciated the gift she wasn't allowed to return, Kagome wore it constantly. It was a silver charm bracelet, though he'd ordered it long enough for her ankle. When he'd first give it to her it only had a couple of charms on it, but since then Inuyasha bought her another for every holiday and birthday he could manage to make her accept a gift on. Her left ankle jingled slightly as she walked, the sound always making Inuyasha smile.

 

The park had been only three blocks from their house so the last of the trip was quick, Jakotsu spending the time thinking about Bank's swing idea. He was determined to find a way to do it. Kagome deserved the best and even though he wasn't in her immediate circle of friends, Jak was determined to make sure she got it. When they pulled into the driveway, Bankotsu had to open the passenger door and poke at his older brother to draw his attention back to the real world.

 

“Come one. Let's get inside and see what you think. I know you're the man, though I use the term loosely, for the job.” Jak huffed before getting out of the car, the brothers making their way to the front door. When they stepped inside, the house was silent. Peering into the kitchen and the living room, Bankotsu found himself wondering where in the hell Miroku and Inuyasha were. They'd almost made it to the basement door when Inuyasha came up the last few steps, his arms loaded with boxes so much that it was unclear as to whether he could see anything at all.

 

It was quickly determined that no, he couldn't see, when Jakotsu spoke. “There you are my adorable inu! Oh how I've missed you and your adorable ears! Come to Mama!” he said while opening his arms dramatically.

 

Inuyasha tensed; everything he was carrying flying out of his arms and crashing to the floor. “Fuck! Why do you always have to fuckin' do that, Jak? You scared the shit out of me! You can just put down the arms, cuz I ain't huggin' ya. And the ears are off limits! Ya got that? No touching the ears!”

 

Jak pouted. “But you let Kags touch them!”

 

Inuyasha growled. “Kagome is allowed to touch them because she's gentle, I trust her not to pinch or pull, and she didn't say how much she wished she could cut them off and take them home with her the first time she saw them! Who was it that said that? I can't quite… oh, I remember. It was you!”

 

“It's not my fault your ears are so adorably edible. You just don't know how to share, selfish puppy.”

 

Inuyasha turned and looked at Bankotsu who was merely watching and grinning. “Did he/she/it over there honestly just imply that I should share my ears?”

 

Bank started to laugh and Inuyasha punched him in the shoulder. “Alright, alright. Jak, leave Inuyasha's ears alone. Inuyasha, where were you going with all this?”

 

“Attic,” he grumbled as he gathered everything that had spilled everywhere so he could continue his journey. “The perv's downstairs. He's sorting and I'm carryin'.” Without another word, the hanyou was gone, this time carrying half of what he'd had before. He didn't want to have to pick it all up again if he ended up dropping it.

 

“Come on. Let's go see the space Miss Decorator.”

 

“That's Ms. Decorator to you!”

 

Miroku merely smiled as he heard the quarrelling two coming down the stairs.

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

Kagome had finally flipped right side up and was actually swinging like god, or whoever invented the swing at least, intended. Shippo sat on the one beside her, just listening.

 

“…I didn't get to sleep last night `til the morning came around… if I get home before daylight, just might get some sleep tonight… but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine… Got two reasons why I cry away each lonely night… Set out running but I take my time, a friend of the devil is a friend of mine, if I get home before daylight, I just might get some sleep, tonight…”

 

He knew what the singing meant. She was nervous or upset about something. He let her sing for a while, knowing it made her feel better, before speaking up. “Kagome? Are you alright?”

 

She let out a sigh before turning to look at him. “I'm fine. It's just… I need to go back to my house, at least to get some stuff. I don't think Bank would mind if I stayed over again tonight, especially since I refuse to sleep on that bed or touch any part of the bedding either. But I need my own clothes and I've got a couple chapters I need to read for class Monday too. I just really really don't wanna go back there, like ever if I could manage it.”

 

Shippo held back his smirk, knowing that she never had to go back there, that she would be with them instead, right where she belonged. “I understand that. The whole place would make my skin crawl just knowing what happened in there. Not enough bleach in the world. Don't worry about it right now. You just swing and relax. I'm gonna go make a call.”

 

“And who're you gonna call?” she asked curiously.

 

“That's for me to know and you to find out.”

 

“You suck,” Kagome said in a pouty tone before turning herself around and around, twisting the chains up as far as she could before letting go and letting the swing spin like crazy. Shippo shook his head at her silliness before pulling out his phone and calling Bankotsu. He would know what to do.

 

Bank looked at his phone for a moment before answering it. “Shippo? Is everything alright?” he asked, his tone worried.

 

“Everything's fine. Kagome is fine. It's just that she wants to go and get some clothes and her books. Well, she really doesn't want to go, but she said she needs to. I guess she's got some reading to do for one of her classes. She's planning on staying the night tonight, said she really doesn't ever wanna go back but that she'll have to.”

 

Bankotsu frowned for a moment before making a decision. “Tell her I'll go and get her some clothes and all her textbooks. And tell her I want her to stay for at least a week since it'll take us a while to get her a new bed. Whatever you do, don't let her go over there or even near it. There's furniture all over the lawn.”

 

“I'll do my best. If I can't stop her I'll call you again and you can talk to her.”

 

“Alright, Shippo. I'm sure you can manage.” Bank flipped his phone closed before turning to his brother and his friends, Inuyasha having returned from his trip to the attic. “I've gotta go over and get some clothes and books for Kagome. Jak, can you stay here and see what you can think up? There's a pad of paper and a pen on the kitchen table.” Jakotsu nodded his agreement before hopping up the stairs, his mind already overflowing with ideas for Kagome's new room. “Inuyasha, can you keep taking things to the attic since she's not here?” The hanyou grunted his agreement before grabbing another pile of things that needed to be moved. Once Inuyasha was gone Bank turned to Miroku. “You wanna come with? It'll go faster if someone helps me.”

 

“Sure,” Miroku said with a smirk. “I call the panty drawer!”

 

Bankotsu shook his head and smiled. The two headed upstairs, only to come across Inuyasha and Jakotsu actually talking amicably. It was quite possibly the first time ever!

 

“Your fruity brother's got a damn good idea.”

 

“Oh? Dear `fruity' brother, please grace us with your brilliance, and I don't mean your clothes. Really, where do you even find that color?”

 

Jakotsu shot a glare at both of them before speaking. “I think it would be a good idea to put in a bathroom for her. That way she doesn't have to go up two flights of stairs in the middle of the night. Besides, girls need a lot of room for their stuff, and privacy too.”

 

“And we know she can't get that over here,” Inuyasha growled.

 

“What does he mean?” Bank asked Miroku, knowing Inuyasha wasn't going to elaborate.

 

“This morning when Kagome was in the shower, Inuyasha and Shippo were both in the room but neither noticed that Sesshoumaru had walked in too. Not until he saw Kagome naked that is.”

 

“He what?” Bankotsu asked, this time a halfway decent growl escaping him.

 

“That's not the best part. I'll tell you on the way,” Miroku said while walking towards the front door.

 

“You mean you're leaving me alone with him? her? Whatever, you can't leave me alone with Jak!” His protests were met only with laughter before the front door closed. “Fuck! Keep your hands to yourself. I gotta call my dad again; see if he minds the bathroom and if he knows someone to do it for us.”

 

“You make your call, sweetheart. I'll be downstairs figuring out how to make the basement fabulous,” Jakotsu said before twirling on the ball of his foot and heading back downstairs.

 

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

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