InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ This Wasn't In The Job Description ❯ Separation Anxiety ( Chapter 33 )

Chapter 33

 

Separation Anxiety

 

The portal was not going to give InuYasha and his friends a break. This time it opened up over Tokyo bay, in front of Odaiba's romantic waterfront park. As InuYasha popped into thin air over the water, he only had a few moments to look around, startled, before plummeting towards the water. Instinctively, Kagome pushed herself up higher on his back, and Kikyo took this moment of confusion to pull out of his grasp.

 

The scientist fell flailing out of InuYasha's arms and hit the water ahead of him. Although Kagome had lost her grasp of Sango's hand, this did not stop Sango from piling on top of Kagome as they went down, Miroku on top of her - and all on top of InuYasha's back.

 

Kirara had hissed and dove into Sango's blouse in an effort to keep dry.

 

“Oh, fuck!” was all InuYasha managed to say as the combined weight quickly pushed him under.

 

But the hanyou gave a mighty thrust, up and out of the water, sending Kagome, Sango and Miroku sailing out of the water before him. When InuYasha broke the surface, he reached out and pulled Kagome to him before she could go under again. Sango and Miroku were not so lucky, splashing back down into the water nearby.

 

As for Kikyo, she was already swimming for shore, determined to get away from them as quickly as possible. With smooth, strong strokes, she was soon far away.

 

“Not again,” Sango groaned as she tried to swing her wet hair out of her face while treading water, while Kirara's small head popped out of her blouse, looking forlorn.

 

“You okay?” said Miroku, sputtering a bit and shaking his head to get water out of his ears.

 

“Never better,” said Sango sarcastically, looking at him with a corner of her mouth turned down.

 

“Kagome, are you alright?” said InuYasha, who cradled her against his chest while she held on to his neck, trying to catch her breath.

 

“Yeah, I'll be fine,” Kagome gasped and tried to smile at him, but then started to cough.

 

“Looks like you swallowed too much water,” said InuYasha. “Get up on my back again while I swim us to shore.”

 

“Do you need any help, my dear Sango?” said Miroku, trying his best to look solicitous.

 

“From you?” said Sango. “Not on your life, let's just get going.”

 

They headed for shore, InuYasha in the lead with Sango and Miroku not too far behind. As he swam, Kagome held tightly to his back, just grateful this time, as she stopped coughing, that she had not lost her possessions. Also, at least it was a warm, sunny day.

 

People stared as the four of them climbed out of the water, fully dressed and carrying assorted weapons. They drew away from them muttering as they stood up, dripping wet on the sand. As Kagome climbed off InuYasha's back, she bit her lip, worrying about the fact that InuYasha still had no hat or bandana to cover his ears. She wondered if she had anything in her backpack he could use…

 

“I don't suppose any of our cell phones work,” said InuYasha, swinging his long hair around and wringing the water out of it.

 

“Maybe…” said Kagome, reaching into her backpack while Sango and Miroku ruefully pulled out their dead cell phones and looked at them.

 

They all glanced over at Kagome while she pulled out a little plastic case and clicked it open. In it was her cell phone, perfectly dry.

 

Miroku shook his head and chuckled. “Leave it to Kagome to be prepared.”

 

“Give me your phone and I will call us a car service,” said Miroku, and Kagome handed it over to him with a smile.

 

“Make it quick,” muttered Sango, as she looked furtively over her shoulder.

 

More people were stopping to stare and exclaim at their bedraggled appearance. The neko took this opportunity to jump out of Sango's clothes and shake herself off, then went to hide behind the PR agent's legs.

 

“Give me the phone when you're done, will you?” said InuYasha. “I better call Kaede - she is probably fuming by now.”

 

“InuYasha,” whispered Kagome, and made a small gesture towards his ears.

 

“Fuck it,” growled InuYasha. “The people of Tokyo will have to deal with a hanyou's ears for one day.”

 

After completing his call, Miroku handed the phone to InuYasha.

 

“Kaede, it's me,” said InuYasha. “I know, I know…it wasn't my fault, we ended up in the demon realm…that long, huh? Shit….Our bikes are in Yokohama…you got them back? Great….oh, ah, yeah, she's here.”

 

Inuyasha handed the phone to Kagome, who looked up at him questioningly.

 

“Kaede wants to talk to you,” said InuYasha as she took the phone from him.

 

“Hello, Kaede,” said Kagome.

 

“Your mother is frantic,” said Kaede. “You have been gone two months, and I could not really explain to her where you were.”

 

“Two months?!” said Kagome in surprise and dismay and looked up at InuYasha in shock.

 

“Yeah, well - time flows differently between the realms,” said InuYasha, a little sheepishly.

 

“Oh my god, my poor Mom!” said Kagome.

 

“I suggest you call her right now,” said Kaede. “You should go home as soon as you can.”

 

“Right, thank you,” said Kagome faintly.

 

“I'll see all of you when you get here,” said Kaede.

 

“Okay, goodbye,” said Kagome, and clicked the phone shut, biting her lip as she worried about how her mother would react.

 

“I have to call my Mom,” said Kagome, as she dialed the number.

 

A tense moment elapsed as the phone rang.

 

“Hi, Mom,” said Kagome, and winced as she got an ear full from her mother. “No, I swear everything is okay…I'm just fine, I assure you…InuYasha has been a perfect boss…no, it wasn't his fault…yes, I know…okay, I will come home and visit as soon as possible…Bye.”

 

With a sigh, Kagome clicked the phone shut and gazed at the ground.

 

“She's mad, huh?” InuYasha said, his expression slightly contrite.

 

“Yeah, I need to get home as soon as possible,” said Kagome, looking back at him apologetically.

 

“Can't see as I would blame her,” said Sango, trying to straighten her clothes. “Who knows what kind of mess Miroku and I will find when we get back to our offices.”

 

“Nothing we won't be able to handle,” said Miroku dismissively.

 

“For you maybe,” said Sango wryly. “Your clients and Yumi are used to dealing with your absences.”

 

“Well, you were due a day off,” said InuYasha. “Since we were gone so long, I'll give you two days.”

 

“Thank you,” said Kagome, but why did she feel such a sinking feeling inside?

 

A few moments later, a black sedan pulled up and a driver got out. He looked about a moment, and then spotted the odd group on the beach. Regarding them warily, he called out to them.

 

“Are you the ones who called for a car service?” said the driver.

 

“Yes,” said Miroku, and they all gathered their belongings and headed over to the car.

 

Quickly, the driver pulled some blankets out of the trunk and laid them on the seats so they would not get wet. He a looked a bit stunned as Kirara jumped in and settled on Sango's lap, but InuYasha gave him a warning glance and he did not say anything.

 

It was good to get away from the stares of the crowd. As they settled in their seats, their wet clothes squishing around them, Kirara walked in circles on Sango's lap trying to get comfortable. Then the neko started walking over everyone's laps, which they all tolerated with amused looks. She looked up at InuYasha and gave a sad, questioning little mew, and InuYasha smirked at her, giving her wet head a gentle pat. Finally, the neko went back to Sango, humming in a disgruntled way and settled back on the agent's lap. Sango looked back at InuYasha questioningly.

 

“She doesn't like being wet with no dry place to rest,” said InuYasha.

 

“Poor thing,” said Sango, and stroked the neko's back.

 

Kaede was waiting anxiously for them when they got back, her hands on her hips and a worried frown on her face.

 

“My, look at you! All wet!” said the housekeeper in disgust. “What were you doing, swimming in your clothes?”

 

“It was not intentional, Kaede-baba,” said InuYasha, pushing past her and into the house.

 

“Well,” said Kaede, “I will get Miroku and Sango some towels. You and Kagome should change into dry clothes, and then Kagome should go see her mother right away.”

 

The housekeeper stepped back in surprise as Kirara jumped out of Sango's arms and began to tentatively prowl around.

 

“And what is this you brought back with you?” said Kaede as she watched Kirara sniff and explore. “A youkai neko, I presume?”

 

“Yes,” said Sango with a smile. “She has adopted me.”

 

“After I get your towels, I will see if I have a treat for her in the kitchen,” said Kaede. “Why don't you and Miroku wait there for me, so you don't drip all over the house.”

 

While Miroku and Sango went to the kitchen, Kagome followed InuYasha upstairs.

 

“When you are ready, I will drop you off at the train station,” said InuYasha before they parted.

 

“Thank you,” said Kagome, smiling at him before he turned down the hall.

 

  Kagome was grateful to be getting into warm, dry clothes. She shucked off the dirty, wet jeans and t-shirt after putting down her backpack and storing her bow and arrows. Then she pulled out a pair of slacks and a long sleeved blouse, and some warm white socks. Feeling better already, she went to the bathroom to brush and dry her hair and brush her teeth. Finally, she packed some things in a small bag to bring back with her to her mother's house.

 

When Kagome got back downstairs, Miroku and Sango had towels draped around their shoulders as they sat at the kitchen table, while Kirara happily ate some fish Kaede had found for her. Behind her, InuYasha came in, dressed in fresh jeans and T- shirt, and a denim jacket.

 

“Are you ready?” said InuYasha.

 

“Ready as I will ever be,” said Kagome softly, and then turned to say good bye to Miroku, Sango and Kaede.

 

As Kagome followed InuYasha to the garage, she felt her heart begin to beat faster. Watching him walk in front of her suddenly gave her a pang, and she bit the inside of her mouth. She was leaving him, if only overnight. In her mind, she chided herself for being so foolish at the thought of being apart from him.

 

They put on their helmets and Kagome climbed on back of the bike, putting her arms around InuYasha's waist and holding him tight. Oh, it felt so good to hold him, so warm and strong in front of her. She leaned her cheek against his back and closed her eyes as he started the bike and left the garage.

 

As they turned onto the street, Kagome concentrated on the hanyou in front of her, trying to imprint his smell, the feel of his body, in her heart and mind. When his long hair tickled her face, she smiled, wanting to even remember the feel of that.

 

It seemed to be too soon when they pulled into the station. InuYasha parked the bike and took her small bag for her, gesturing for her to walk to the train platform in front of him. On the platform, Kagome checked the schedule. Another train was due in ten minutes. Then she turned to InuYasha and he handed her the bag.

 

“Just call me and tell me which train you will return on,” said InuYasha, looking at her intensely with his large, golden eyes.

 

“Okay, thank you,” said Kagome, and gave him a tremulous smile.

 

He smirked at her, and turned to leave. That sinking feeling got even deeper as Kagome watched InuYasha go. She realized that even the way he walked was dear to her. When he was out of sight, she gulped and clutched her bag, suddenly feeling more bereft then she ever remembered feeling before.

 

In a daze, she waited for the train, and hardly remembered boarding it and sitting down.

 

`I won't cry, I won't cry,' she thought as she stared aimlessly out the window, but she could feel the tears in her eyes anyway.

 

`You big silly, you won't be gone long,' she thought to herself, and raised a shaking hand to wipe the foolish tears from her eyes.

 

But her mind kept chanting….InuYasha…InuYasha…and it felt like her heart was breaking.

 

By the time the train reached the station in Tokyo, Kagome was desperately trying to control her anxiety at being parted from InuYasha by taking deep breaths. She mumbled her address to the taxi driver and climbed in the back seat as her heart beat louder and faster and a lump formed in her throat.

 

Kagome hardly remembered the taxi ride back to the shrine. Only the fact that the car had stopped made her realize they were there. The driver looked back at her and she reached a trembling hand into her bag and fished out the taxi fare. Then she stepped out of the taxi, and stood a moment, trying to gather her wildly reeling emotions before seeing her mother.

 

When Kagome stepped in the front door, her mother heard her and came to see her with an expression of relief on her face.

 

“It's about time,” said Mrs. Higurashi. “Thank goodness you're home.”

 

And Kagome broke down into hysterical sobs.