Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Romp Through Time ❯ The Morning After ( Chapter 5 )

A/N: In honor of the publication of Ranma's last English volume (36) recently, and InuYasha's 10th anniversary - and the closing in on what we anticipate to the be the end of the manga series - I feel that it's all the more important for me to make sure Ranma+Akane and InuYasha+Kagome live happily ever after. Thanks for the reviews. Okaasan-7 is as perceptive as ever…. Crazed One… Kouga and Sango? Dunno if that' will work, not that he would mind. And Ryoga calls Akane “Miss” because that's how the VIZ manga translates his address to her (particularly in the later volumes). Note: This fic is based on the VIZ translations of both Ranma and InuYasha because it's easier for me to keep the humorous spirit of them in my mind thinking of the VIZ versions. And finally, BIG THANKS to inuhanyounikkie for nominating and Shalini Lahiri for seconding “Time” yet again at the IYFG 4Q '06 for Best Crossover. I'm so glad you like it that much!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. They are all the property of Rumiko Takahashi who is to be thanked for letting them come out to romp around with us all.

 

 

The Morning After

 

InuYasha and Kouga sniffed all around the streets surrounding the Tendo's, trying to track down Naraku, but the human version of their nemesis had simply disappeared.

 

“Must have taken a cab,” InuYasha said, finally admitting defeat.

 

“What's a cab?” Kouga asked, tagging along behind him as they headed back to the Shrine.

 

“A metal monster that takes you anywhere you tell it to go.” InuYasha rolled his eyes for the hundredth time that night. “Just shut up. We'll find him again.”

 

As they approached the Shrine, it became clear that the party was over. All the lights were out and the grounds silent. There was no fresh scent of Naraku and so they approached the house, assured that he'd stayed in the city for the night.

 

“I'll see you in the morning,” InuYasha said quietly as he moved over under Kagome's window. “I'm sure they left you a place to sleep.”

 

“Where are you going?” Kouga growled in irritation.

 

“I sleep in Kagome's room,” smugness oozed from InuYasha as he prepared to jump.

 

“And her mom doesn't mind you sleeping with her daughter right under her nose?” Kouga put his hands on his hips in supreme annoyance.

 

“Keep your voice down!” InuYasha whispered harshly. “I don't sleep with her, idiot. I sleep on the floor. She checks on us at least three times a night. You think I'm nuts?”

 

“Must be a little frustrating,” Kouga's smirk sounded loudly in InuYasha's ears. “So close-“

 

“Shut up!” InuYasha was indeed frustrated, with Kouga in particular and a lack of Kagome-snuggling in general. “I can handle it.” He turned back to look up at the roof over his head. “At least until tomorrow night..,” he mumbled to himself.

 

“What was that?” Kouga asked as InuYasha leapt silently up to the roof and crept to Kagome's window, ignoring his tiresome companion.

 

Kouga entered the house the traditional way, shaking his head at his bad luck. If only he'd come back a week earlier, maybe he'd have had a chance to stop that nonsense between dog-face and Kagome. Oh, who am I fooling?

 

He found that the living room had become home to a sleeping Miroku, Ginta, Hakkaku, Kohaku and - Myoga, who popped out of his ponytail to burrow into Ginta's pelt with a barely audible sigh. Kouga inched around the cramped space and found an unused corner in which to curl up, wrapping his tail over his nose. His sensitive ears picked up the sound of giggling from upstairs and visions of Kagome and the mutt snuggling and laughing assaulted him, raising an annoyed growl in his throat.

 

“Move over,” a foot nudged him roughly in the armpit and he yelped.

 

“Hey!” Kouga opened his eyes and looked up to see the shadow of InuYasha standing over him, annoyance pouring off him.

 

“Get outta the way,” the half-demon demanded.

 

“I got here first!” Kouga blinked, realizing that if InuYasha was down here, he wasn't tucked in on Kagome's floor. “Why aren't you upstairs?”

 

“Keh! The girls are having a `sleepover'.” InuYasha tried to sit down and bumped Ginta, making Myoga squeak. “I'm not invited.” He sounded really, really annoyed.

 

“Heh,” Kouga was pleased. “Well, there's no room here. Why not sleep with her brother?”

 

“Are you kidding?” InuYasha pulled himself back against the wall and propped Tetsusaiga against his shoulder, shutting his eyes, “Stupid Shippou is with him and they're bouncing off the walls in there. I feel sorry for whoever's gotta clean that room tomorrow.” As if to emphasize his point there was a loud thump on the ceiling over their heads.

 

Everything was silent for a minute and they heard a snore from Kohaku's direction.

 

“How can stupid kids make so much noise?” InuYasha grumbled to no one in particular.

 

+++++++++++++++

 

Ranma snuck across the roof right over Akane's bedroom, squatting above her window and lowering himself slowly upside down, letting his pigtail fall down behind his head, to take a peek through the window. He could see her in the bed and suddenly imagined her in a skimpy nightgown. His hand slipped a little as he lost concentration. Man, am I losing my edge? Gonna have to take Ryoga out for a practice fight to stay sharp. Reaching down, he carefully slid the window open and gripped the edge of the roof as he curled his body down in a controlled summersault, swinging slightly until his feet landed and he twisted to perch on the window frame and then silently hopped in the room. Rising from his landing crouch he felt a whirl of air against his face as soft fabric and even softer skin wafting a floral scent landed a blow to the side of his head. Without thinking, he blocked the next move and took her to the ground, pinning her hands by her shoulders as his head cleared.

 

“Ranma!” She sounded surprised and he wondered who she thought she'd been whacking. Before he could say anything, a small black ball flung itself off the bed with a Squeeeeeee! and smacked him on the other side of the head. Ryoga's here! I totally forgot.

 

“You stupid little pig!” Ranma had to release Akane's wrists to grab the noisy little pig off his head, and he felt her hands push into his chest, trying to get him off her. Ranma's brain was amuddle. He'd planned to come in to tell her about InuYasha and their impending rendezvous at the park - and maybe get a little something extra to appease his libido which had become over-activated earlier in the evening with all the anti-fiancé technique training - but he'd forgotten Ryoga was there in pig-form. Now what do I do? I can't let Ryoga see we're together…and I can't let her know she's been sleeping with Ryoga in her bed all these years…Gah!

 

“Let P-chan go, Ranma!” She was mad. “Why do you always attack him? Honestly, Ranma, if I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous.” Unable to move him, she reached up to slap at his hands as he raised up on his knees and pulled at the pig, who had a good chunk of his hair in his mouth, making his tugging pretty painful.

 

“Argh!” Ranma felt his hair rip and tears stung his eyes as he pulled the pig off finally. He threw Ryoga on the bed and got off Akane before she belted him for tossing her pig.

 

“What are you doing in here?” Akane got up; her tone softened a little bit as she moved closer to him. “Did you come in for a little more anti-finance practice?”

 

Uh-oh! She thinks I came in for some extra fun… which, of course, I did… among other things… except for stupid Ryoga… Damn! “Who else would be sneaking into your room in the middle of the night?” He took a step back away from her. Even though he had planned on something more than relating the news about his lead on the time portal, Ranma didn't want to tip off Ryoga. Not only would it crush him to find out Akane was taken, but he'd blab to everyone and their secret would be out.

 

“Sometimes it seems like everyone but you tries to get in here.” She giggled and advanced a step, thinking he was playing hard to get. “The night before last it was Happosai…”

 

“That freak!” Ranma felt his blood begin to boil at the thought of his immature father's even more immature master, Happosai the pantythief, sneaking into Akane's room at night. But Happosai made a good excuse… “That's why I came in here!” Oh, good one! He congratulated himself.

 

“What?” Akane sounded confused. “Happosai's not in here tonight, Ranma.”

 

“Are you sure?” Ranma moved over to her underwear drawer, opened it, and started rummaging around. “Look's normal and - ouch!” His exclamation followed a sound whack to the head from Akane's math book.

 

“Get out of my drawers, Ranma!” Akane sounded mad and Ranma crouched and held his hand to the swelling red lump on his head. Oh, no, Akane. It's in your drawers I want to get! His eyes were riveted to her thighs which were totally exposed - right at eye level - under the short pyjama top she wore - on top of little else.

 

Blinking furiously to help distract himself, he moved around the room for show, looking under her desk, in her closet and he would have checked her bedding but when he got to her bed he heard a sad attempt at a pig growl. Fairly sure he could distinguish Ryoga from the crumpled bedding, he bopped it and was rewarded with a muffled little gah! sound. “Nope! No Happosai here!” With that little snicker he started to turn away from the bed when a flying body hit him, crushing him to the bed under her slight weight, right on top of the grunting pig.

 

“What was that for?” Ranma rolled over underneath Akane's soft curves, which were all over him. His heart pounded nervously, as he did have the presence to note Ryoga's angry little squeaks under the small of his back.

 

“You mean you came in here to search my room,” Akane sounded plotting, “and not search me?” The feel of her warm skin seeped through his clothes and sent a little flush up to his cheeks.

 

Stupid pig! Ranma was getting more and more annoyed with `Ryoga's little secret' and seriously considered just telling Akane right there… He might have done so except that at that very moment, Ryoga bit his butt.

 

“Ouch!” He shot up off the bed, dumping Akane on the floor with an ooph! and turned to rifle through her bedding until he found the sniggering little black ball. “Don't bite me!” he scolded the squirming pig. Quickly calculating his odds, he concluded that Akane would forgive him faster if he tossed `P-chan' out the window than if he told her that she'd been sleeping with Ryoga. Always a man of action when faced with a difficult choice, Ranma flung Ryoga out into the yard, basically aiming for the pond. Hearing a small splash, he smiled and turned - prepared - just in time to catch Akane as she launched herself at him, arms raised and ready to pummel.

 

“Gotcha!” He caught her.

 

“Why'd you-“ She didn't get any farther before he had her in the Lip Lock, one arm behind her waist and the other holding her fist where he'd stopped it from landing another blow to his head. Walking her backward as their tongues got into the game, they fell back on the bed and this time he was on top.

 

After a few minutes, he let her up for air and she snuggled into his neck. Yes! Ranma thought to himself. Made her forget all about Ryoga!

 

“I can't believe you threw P-chan out the window, Ranma.” She said quietly and kissed his ear.

 

Damn! “He's okay, Akane. I can't let him get away with biting me on the ass.” Bad enough I let him get away with going to bed with you every night!

 

“I know.” She kissed his neck softly and his whole body responded with a frustrated groan, an entire week's worth of furtive teasing in alleyways and tonight's Lip Lock practice having put every nerve on high alert. Ranma realized that if he wasn't careful, he'd succumb to her charms any second now, which he'd promised himself he wouldn't do in the house… anywhere near either of their fathers. For normal couples, it really wouldn't be so bad to get caught kissing, but for him it meant either being smashed into little pieces or thrown into a tux and married at two A.M. in the morning. Actually, now that he thought about it, having escaped that fate once already, for him it definitely meant both. Taking a deep breath to try to clear his head as her tongue slipped out to lick the cleft at the base of his throat - ensuring that his head wouldn't clear no matter how hard he tried - he reminded himself, This is why we have the park. Wait for the park, Ranma. Wait…

 

“Hey, Akane,” he rose off her with a huge effort, kneeling over her on the bed. “Guess who I saw tonight?”

 

“Who?” Akane was effectively distracting herself undoing the clasps in his shirt. The feel of her fingers working the ties was nice.

 

“InuYasha.” Ranma said and reluctantly put his hand over hers, stilling her fingers.

 

“InuYasha?” She looked up at him. “Did you ask him about the Cursed Springs? And-“ She was confused. “When did you see him? Why didn't you tell me before?”

 

“I tried to, but you were too busy taking P-chan to bed.” Ranma couldn't help the sarcastic little jab and immediately bit his tongue as she pulled her hands out of his and dropped them away from his half unbuttoned shirt. He could tell she was frowning at him.

 

“I didn't get a chance to ask him about the Springs.” He dropped back down on her and kissed her neck this time. Just one more little tease might be okay… “He was here stalking Nabiki's boyfriend.”

 

“What?” Akane wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he slipped his tongue out to trace the curve of her ear, enjoying the little suck of breath she took in next to him.

 

“Says he's a nasty guy,” Ranma murmured quietly. “But here's the best part.” He breathed warm air against her neck and smiled as she arched herself into him. “We're gonna meet InuYasha in the park tomorrow night. We can ask him whatever we want then.”

 

“The park…I'd like to go back to the park.” Akane placed her hands on either side of his head and steered his mouth around to hers, just about to take his lips slowly into a steaming kiss. Just as their lips met, she stopped.

 

“What's wrong?” Ranma felt a little skittish all of a sudden, lying on top of her in the dark, offering her an invitation to the place they'd first made love… ostensibly to do it again... and feeling her freeze…

 

“Tomorrow?” Akane said.

 

“Yeah,” Ranma said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. She does want to go back to the park, doesn't she? She sure acted like it until just a second ago… “Tomorrow night…”

 

“Okay,” Her lips curled into a smile in the dark, just below where their lips almost met. “Good…”

 

“Yeah, good,” he muttered into her open mouth, relieved. They kissed then and as their tongues and lips began to pull the rest of their bodies into a squirming battle to touch every square inch of each other, Ranma began to wonder if he could wait for the park after all. Just when he thought he might take advantage of his unbuttoned state to get her in the same condition, risking marriage and everything, they heard a little pounding on the door, about six inches off the ground - right at pig height.

 

“P-chan!” Akane sat up, dumping Ranma onto the floor with a flump. He stood as she opened the door for the wet little pig in the hall. Ryoga's small black self sauntered back to the bed and dug his little hooves into Ranma's bare foot as he prepared to launch himself up into the bedclothes.

 

“Ow!” Ranma lifted his foot up quickly and `helped' his insufferable friend back to bed. Ryoga landed with a squeak.

 

“Where were we?” Akane came back up with a hand on her top button, fingering it suggestively.

 

Damn you, Ryoga! Ranma backed away. “We'll pick this up again tomorrow, Akane.” He sounded really lame and he knew it. “That's what the park is for, right?”

 

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.

 

“I promise.” Ranma reached over to whack the bedcovers, generating an annoyed eep! from Ryoga; whisked by a frowning Akane, planting a little kiss on her cheek out of pig view, and exited out the window and onto the roof.

 

Stupid pig. Ranma thought as he cooled off on his way back across the rooftops to the darkened dojo. I really ought to just out the guy. I know he's gonna cause trouble for us. Slipping the screen open and closed behind him, he entered the small training and competition hall adjacent to the Tendo residence. The dojo had become his bedroom ever since his mom and dad had reunited and his dad had unceremoniously kicked him out the bedroom he had shared for several years with Ranma. Ranma viewed his new room with a sense of irony, the Anything Goes School of Martial Arts Training Facility being his promised inheritance if he agreed to marry one of the Tendo daughters. As he rolled out his futon and collapsed into it, he decided for the millionth time not to think about the future, except for the happy thoughts running around in his head about the next evening in the park.

 

+++++++++++

 

A pained grunt, followed by a horrendous moan of agony woke InuYasha and he found himself in a fighting stance in the middle of the Higurashi's living room before he'd even opened his eyes. Focusing, he found Shippou cradled on Miroku's stomach, laughing as the monk held his head in his hands and let out the most awful wail that sounded like Shippou, get the hell off me! Except that the monk's tongue seemed to be getting in the way of his words.

 

What the hell? InuYasha blinked and crinkled his nose as the odour of stale alcohol accosted him from everyone in the room except Kohaku and Kouga, still curled up at his feet; tensing again, he crouched lower when he heard Souta running down the stairs.

 

“The girls threw me out!” the little boy laughed.

 

“These guys aren't alive enough to throw us out!” Shippou squealed gleefully, causing the just-waking-up wolf pack to wince in pain at the high pitched noise.

 

“I'm alive,” InuYasha growled and gnashed his teeth for effect as he tip-toed his way through the tangled bodies and grabbed the two little boys by the scruff of their necks, moving to the hallway and dropping them unceremoniously. “Get out of here and leave everyone alone.”

 

“Aw, come on, InuYasha!” Shippou scampered up his firerat and tapped on his head with his tiny hand, sniggering the whole time. “Does that hurt?”

 

“No!” The half demon grabbed the little kitsune again and dropped him once more onto the ground. “I didn't have too much to drink last night, so your pranks are just pissing me off.”

 

“Oh.” Shippou and Souta's faces fell. “Sorry.” InuYasha bared his teeth and growled and the boys ran outside laughing.

 

Despite his ham-fisted efforts to help the groggy partygoers sleep in undisturbed, the damage had been done and the girls huddled tentatively at the top of the stairs, venturing down slowly one at a time, clinging to the railing. InuYasha studied their faces finding it painful to watch them and Miroku hadn't stopped moaning in the other room, either. Annoyed, he jumped up the stairs, grabbed Kagome around the waist - ignoring her little squeak of surprised discomfort - and whisked her out the door.

 

“Ow!” She sounded sick and her face visibly paled, so he put her down outside instead of jumping up into a tree like he'd planned. She steadied herself by grabbing a handful of red cloth on his chest and then brought a hand to her mouth. Closing her eyes she swallowed and grimaced. “Don't do that again for a while, okay?”

 

“Fine.” He frowned at her. “I told you that stuff is nasty.”

 

“You did.” She leaned into him a little more and he put an arm around her waist, ready to catch her if her knees buckled.

 

“You get yourself feeling better, Kagome.” He said seriously.

 

“Why?” She tried a weak smile. “Are you that anxious to go shopping with me and Sango?”

 

“What?” This time it was he that paled. She smiled a little more.

 

“I told you we're going to get you, Miroku, Kohaku and Sango some future clothes so you can move around more easily in this time. Maybe I'll get Kouga some too.”

 

“No one notices me,” he said innocently.

 

“Right.” Her smile grew wider. “You want to go back to the park without anyone noticing too much to interrupt our privacy, don't you?” She squiggled her fingers underneath the fold of his shirt, pulling a little at the ties, working his weak spot.

 

“Of course,” he softened just a little, beginning again to look forward to the evening ahead. “And we're going there tonight to meet Ranma, so you need to get well - and fast.”

 

“Ranma?” She looked surprised, then pleased, then sick again and pursed her lips as though something unpleasant stirred behind them. “Tonight?”

 

“Yeah. You'll never guess who Kouga and I saw last night.” InuYasha watched her face begin to contort, both amused and concerned at her apparent lack of enthusiasm for the return to the place they'd first made love.

 

“Who?” Kagome was struggling now.

 

“Naraku!” InuYasha said, his eyes growing wide as the telltale signs of nausea swept over her face.

 

She turned green and her hand flew back to her mouth. “Sorry…” She let him go and stumbled to the side of the door where she totally lost it, tossing her sake and the remains of dinner into the bush. InuYasha grimaced and turned away, disgusted. When she managed to move back to him, he stepped away, wrinkling his highly sensitive nose. She grimaced again. “I guess I smell pretty bad, huh?”

 

“No shit…” He suppressed a gag. “Get cleaned up. Then we'll talk.” He watched her stumble away, annoyed that she was in no condition to keep working the ties of his shirt. He decided to avoid the front door altogether, going around back and stopping to pull Souta and Shippou out of a large crate they'd climbed into, and couldn't get out of, near the back door.

 

“Thanks, InuYasha!” Souta said.

 

Looking at the kids, InuYasha realized Naraku was wandering around the city somewhere and even in his human form could probably inflict damage on them. The first pang of parental instinct he'd ever felt twanged in him then and he grabbed one and then the other, tossing them towards the house.

 

“Get in there, and don't come back out unless you're with me!” He growled.

 

“What?” Shippou was indignant. “First you throw us out and now you're throwing us back in?” The little kit started to run away, but InuYasha jumped in front of him and lifted him by the tail. “It's not fair!” Shippou wailed.

 

“Nope.” InuYasha agreed as she shooed Souta back inside. “Not a bit.”

 

+++++++++++++

 

Ryoga was waiting at the breakfast table for Ranma when he came in from his morning workout in his `bedroom.' Akane wasn't there yet, since she liked to sleep in on Saturdays.

 

“What were you doing in Akane's room last night, Ranma?” Ryoga looked suspiciously over his rice bowl at Ranma, who focused on the selection of breakfast pickles Kasumi had laid out.

 

“You were there, you swine,” Ranma couldn't suppress a smile at his stupid joke. “I was protecting her from Happosai.” And how is it you didn't notice that it was her that was coming on to me?

 

“I protect her very well from that old creep,” Ryoga didn't try to hide his anger. “I think you're taking this anti-finance technique a little too far, Ranma.”

 

“It's none of your business, Ryoga,” Ranma let a serious note into his voice as he scooped up a big mouthful of rice, levelling a steady gaze at his rival and friend.

 

“What?” Ryoga looked shocked. “Then I did see your shirt unbuttoned when I came back in!”

 

“So what?” Ranma blushed a little despite himself. “It was the middle of the night. I was on my way to bed. Don't read anything into it.”

 

“Does Akane know what you're up to?” Ryoga's frown had narrowed his eyes to bare slits over his rice.

 

Um, yeah! “Ryoga, you're getting paranoid,” Ranma mumbled into another mouthful,

 

“After finding a couple of weirdos spying on us last night? Maybe I am.” Ryoga let the other shoe drop. “Where did you know those guys from? And what do they know about the Cursed Springs?”

 

“Oh, them.” Ranma swallowed. “I only knew the white haired guy. Met him at a park.”

 

“Right.” Ryoga put his food down. “Do they know something about the time portal to the Sengoku Jidai? Is that why you wanted to meet them tonight?”

 

Ranma made sure to stuff his face extra full of rice while he thought about how to answer Ryoga's question. He really didn't mind if Ryoga found the Japanese Cursed Springs with him. They'd gone on failed expeditions for the Springs often enough, and had helped each other basically destroy the ones in China so there was no hope for them ever to be normal men again, the kind that didn't transform into weird things whenever they got wet. So, he figured Ryoga deserved to find the Japanese Springs as much as anyone, except himself of course. But ever since Akane had figured out that InuYasha might have the key to the location of the time portal, his interest in bringing Ryoga - or anyone else - along on the hunt had diminished considerably. InuYasha and Kagome were not just friends, they were special friends of his and Akane's, with whom they shared a special secret. Not one that he had any intention of sharing with Ryoga. Ryoga continued to stare accusingly at him and so he swallowed with an exaggerated motion of his adam's apple.

 

“They might know about the time portal, I don't know yet. I'll know after tonight,” Ranma replied.

 

“You wouldn't go to the Springs without me, Ranma! After I saved your life at Jusenkyo?” Ryoga looked mad. “Just like before, we'll go together. I'm coming with you tonight to that park. Besides, I need to meet that other guy's challenge.”

 

“Don't worry, Ryoga, I wouldn't think of leaving you behind when we go to the Springs.” Catching Ryoga's cynical expression, he added. “Well, okay, I'd think about it, but I wouldn't do it...” He looked down into his almost-empty rice bowl. “But nobody's going back in time tonight. How `bout you take my challenge and I'll tell ponytail-boy you were too beat up to come?” Ranma seriously did want to spar with Ryoga today; he'd been so distracted with Akane over the past week that he was feeling out of practice. And trouncing Ryoga was a great way to keep him away from the park so he could be alone with Akane.

 

“Right…” Ryoga rolled his eyes. “I'll pass on your apologies. When you wanna start?”

 

“How about now?” Ranma put his bowl down.

 

“Okay. Where?” Ryoga followed suit, looking determined.

 

“In the yard.” Ranma began to rise and noticed Ryoga looking confused. Shit. Don't tell me he can't find the yard? Ryoga continued to look around the room as though he might find a yard there.

 

“Here. Lemme help you find it. Hai-ya!” Ranma grabbed the fabric of Ryoga's shirt as he began to stand, using his own momentum against him to toss him through the open screen out into the yard. Next, he launched himself outside and the two of them began punching, kicking and vaulting around the yard.

 

Akane came downstairs just as Nabiki came in from the kitchen, bearing a small tray of tea cups and a tea pot. Both girls were smiling radiantly.

 

“You look happy,” Akane said, surprised to see a smile on her conniving sister's face.

 

“I have a date tonight,” Nabiki said softly.

 

Me too, Akane thought to herself.

 

“I'm starting my new job,” Nabiki said dreamily.

 

“Tonight?” Akane mused. “And then you're going on a date after work?”

 

“No,” Nabiki said, holding her tea and staring off into space. “Work is my date. I'm taking over management of the Karaoke Box for Jaku. He needs to start scouting for new business opportunities.

 

“So…”Akane tried to piece this all together. “You're going on a date, but your date isn't going to be there.”

 

“He says he'll come around at the end of my shift,” Nabiki actually blushed, which Akane found fascinating to watch, having never seen her sister unsettled for any reason. “He said we'll have some fun after the place closes.”

 

“Oh,” Akane said, not really wanting to know more about her sister's plans. Then she remembered what Ranma had said about Jaku being bad news. “How well do you know Jaku, Nabiki? Are you sure you can trust him?”

 

“Not really,” Nabiki said absent-mindedly, sipping her tea. “I don't need to trust him to run his business. I've got the keys and the money, remember? He should really worry more about trusting me, don't you think?”

 

“I guess.” Akane wondered if she should say more to Nabiki but decided against it, having no real information herself.

 

“And what are you up to tonight?” Nabiki levelled a knowing glare at her little sister. Akane's heart raced, seeing the look in Nabiki's eyes that came on whenever she was considering a new blackmail scheme.

 

“Not much,” Akane said, unconsciously glancing outside where Ranma and Ryoga were tumbling around the yard.

 

“I see.” Nabiki's eyebrow raised.

 

“We're just going to the park tonight,” Akane meant this to come off in a casual way, but the blush that spread over her cheeks completely gave her away.

 

“The park?” Nabiki asked, now totally focused on Akane's cheeks.

 

“Yeah,” Akane tried to put some assertiveness back in her voice. “Ranma's started helping me work on my fighting skills and there's a nice place to work out in the park.”

 

“Hmmm… A nice place to work out…” her sister's voice had become silken smooth, a dangerous sign. “Nicer than our dojo?”

 

“More private,” Akane tried not to wince as she realized the suggestiveness of this statement just as the words left her lips.

 

“I see,” Nabiki said once more, letting the subject drop - verbally at least.

 

Akane decided that even if she did have enough information to warn Nabiki about Jaku, she didn't feel much like helping her devious sister anyway.

 

+++++++++++

 

Yuka, Eri and Ayumi had all insisted on going straight home once they'd reached the bottom stair. None of them were in any condition to travel, though and had required InuYasha to carry them each down to a waiting cab. Kagome could practically see the half-demon holding his nose as he ferried them each down the steep steps in three easy bounds.

 

Kagome herself felt better the moment she swallowed her first spoonful of rice. Watching Sango's face as she struggled to even look at the savoury spread her mother had laid out, Kagome grabbed her friend's arm and pulled her into the bathroom, instructing her on how to feel better. Sango complied, disappeared to clean herself up and came down the stairs looking much better a few minutes later. Miroku, Hakkaku and Ginta wouldn't even come to the table.

 

“Should I give them the secret?” Sango asked Kagome quietly, aware of the strange looks InuYasha and Kouga shot their way.

 

“No,” Kagome snickered. “They'll figure it out. It'll give them something to do while we go shopping.”

 

“We don't have time to go shopping, Kagome.” InuYasha sounded peeved. “We've got to go looking for Naraku. Or Jak-off. Or whatever the hell he calls himself now.”

 

“You can go looking for Naraku if you want, but don't expect to sneak up on him in that getup. From what you said, it sounds like he's figured out how to blend in.” Kagome sounded playful, a distinct turnaround from her demeanour only a half an hour before. “Let me get you some decent clothes to go wandering around the city in at least.” InuYasha scowled at her. “You said he was a `weak human' and we're going to find out from Ranma tonight where he's hiding, didn't you?”

 

InuYasha just scowled as he dumped a load of rice down his throat.

 

“Then don't worry about it,” Kagome said lightly. “You can stay here and protect everyone in case he tries to get back through the well,” she popped a briny plum into her mouth, “and we'll go shopping.” She winked at Sango who looked at her with a little trepidation. Kohaku and Kouga sat silently at the end of the table, eating and watching InuYasha try to figure out if he should argue. They were both surprised when he gave an irritated shrug and grabbed another bowl of rice.

 

Kagome loaned Sango some jeans and a pink t-shirt she tied at the waist. Miroku managed to wake up enough to admire her form when she waved good-bye. Rolling over, he blinked a few times after she disappeared.

 

“Is it my imagination or are Kagome's clothes delightfully small on Sango's more womanly form?” the monk stopped moaning long enough to muse.

 

“Shut up long enough to go throw up, Miroku,” InuYasha said sourly from the hallway. “We gotta talk.”

 

The monk paled at the suggestion but finally gave in to reality and headed for the door.

 

“Miroku's not much good without his wind tunnel.” Kouga observed as the monks' robes fwipped around the corner when he broke into a run. “Think he'll be any good in a fight with those guys we met last night?”

 

“Miroku's got plenty of fight left in him, wolf.” InuYasha headed outside again, nose wrinkled at Hakkaku and Ginta's sprawled forms. “But we're not going anywhere tonight, Kouga. And we don't need to fight anyone just yet.”

 

“What's with you these days?” Kouga followed him out the door and raised his muscled arms over his head for a luxurious stretch in the morning sun. “You've got Kagome; Naraku pops ups up as a human and all of a sudden you don't want to fight?” He shook his head as though to clear it, and his whole body got into the act, both his tails bouncing around behind him.

 

“Oh, I wanna fight…” InuYasha suddenly saw the merit in fighting for fun. “I've had about enough of your lip. That's reason enough for me.” He lunged at Kouga, who had already anticipated his trajectory and begun to move out of the way, but not before InuYasha turned unexpectedly and grabbed his ankle, taking him down. The dust flew all around them as they rolled, leapt and pounced on each other all morning long.

 

+++++++++++++

 

“Sango!” Kagome called to her friend, wondering where she'd gotten to. “Come look at the clothes.” All morning, Sango had been wandering off to various sections of the department store to look at miracles of modern gadgetry - everything but clothes. The kitchen section had captivated her, but it was primarily the pots and plates that fascinated her with their intricate designs and colors… until she managed to read the box about how to use a breadmaker and almost started hyperventilating. Next, it was the sports section. Although she wasn't too impressed with the tiny - and very flimsy - boomerangs, the various balls, bats, fishing poles and netting seemed to entrance her.

 

“Here I am!” Sango came up carrying a hockey stick. “Look, Kagome! It's like a boomerang on a stick!” She took the precisely designed light metal stick on both hands and bowed it a bit. “It's strong and really flexible! You live in an age of miracles!”

 

“Shush,” Kagome glanced around nervously. “Nobody else here really thinks of a hockey stick as miraculous, Sango. Keep your voice down.”

 

“Okay.” Sango looked disappointed.

 

“Maybe we'll get you one later,” Kagome said soothingly, “but for now, we have to get you some more clothes and a purse. Then you have to help me pick out some stuff for the guys.”

 

“We're going to get some of these modern clothes for InuYasha?” Sango looked incredulous, her eyes widening in shock. “He'll kill us before he'll put them on.”

 

“No he won't,” Kagome said smugly. “I know just how to get him to do it.

 

“Oh,” Sango propped the hockey stick up against a sock display. “Well, okay. If you say so.”

 

“Yep.” Kagome turned back to the rack of athletic bras she'd been sizing up. “Now, come on. You've got to go try these on…”

 

“These are clothes?” Sango's eyes were wide, no doubt imagining Miroku's wandering hands if she showed up at the Shrine in little more than the spandex hanging from Kagome's hand.

 

“Not usually,” Kagome said with a twinkle in her eye. “These are the clothes.” And she held up something only slightly less skimpy. Sango paled a bit and swallowed.

 

Four hours later, Sango left with two bras, six pair of underwear, four shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of shoes, two skirts, a dress, a sweat suit and one pair of pyjamas. Each was color coordinated with the rest which gave her a complete wardrobe.

 

“Very practical,” Kagome pronounced as they left the store. Sango was exhausted. “That will do for now at least, until our next trip.”

 

“Next trip? Kagome, I don't feel so well.” Sango sat down near a huge indoor fountain near the escalator. “We're going home now, right?

 

“Oh, no,” Kagome said. “Time to get the guys' stuff.”

 

“I can't take another of those,” Sango pointed up at the floor they'd just left.

 

“Oh, no. This will be much easier, they're guys after all…” Kagome said and took off down the escalator, headed into a dark place with loud rock music playing. Sango shuffled along behind her, yawning.

 

Two hours later, InuYasha, Miroku, Kouga, Kohaku, Ginta and Hakkaku sat around in Souta's bedroom looking at the strangely shaped fabrics that kept emerging out of the bags Kagome and Sango had brought home.

 

“These are way too small…” Ginta said, peering into the bottom of a pant leg and spying the floor.

 

Miroku had stripped and was putting a pair of dockers on backwards. They all watched him as he began to figure out he had too much fabric in the front and not enough in the back. Just then, Souta came in with Shippou. InuYasha immediately growled and Shippou stuck out his tongue, but kept it still for a change. Souta started laughing.

 

“You've got them on backwards!” Souta said. “And get some underwear on! Kagome bought you underwear, didn't she?” He rummaged around in the bag and pulled out some small white packages.

 

As the guys emerged a little while later, they found Kagome and Sango slumped against each other on the sofa, asleep. Souta ran up and shook Kagome's shoulders. His sister jerked awake and blinked a few times. Sango aroused more slowly.

 

“Hey, Kagome!” Souta yelled. “Kouga needs lowriders!”

 

“Huh?” his sister winced and sat up. “What?”

 

“Kouga's tail is real,” Souta excitedly ran around behind the wolf and yanked the tail that popped out the back of his too-tight jeans, eliciting a threatening growl. Sango and Kagome's eyes widened as they realized the wolf hadn't been able to button the front of his jeans all the way over his smashed tail and tucked in brown T-shirt which sported the kanji symbols for `wild beast.' They looked at each other and the same thought passed between them, If only we'd `forgotten' to get them shirts! They sniggered.

 

“What's so damned funny?” InuYasha was fuming, looking extremely uncomfortable - and incredibly hot, Kagome thought - in a pair of tight jeans (unfortunately fully buttoned) and a brick-red T-shirt with the kanji symbols on it for `hot dog.' “These things are so tight, I can't even move!”

 

“You look good, InuYasha,” Kagome said appreciatively, eyeing him up and down.

 

“But there's nowhere for Tetsusaiga to go,” he whined, wiggling his fingers in the beltloops too small for the sword he held in his other hand.

 

“You don't need Tetsusaiga here in the future,” she assured him for the tenth time that day. “I think swords are still illegal anyway.” She continued to watch him poke at his pants, trying unsuccessfully to find a space for his hand or finger to fit. There was no space between his new clothes and his body, which suited her just fine. He crossed his arms over his chest in an attempt to look stubborn, but this only had the effect of flexing the muscles of his arms and chest where she could see them for a change. Kagome's breath caught in her throat, a sound his sensitive ears picked up.

 

Kagome couldn't help herself and for a moment, she gave in to the unabashed adoration of his body. She felt her mouth fall open watching him slouch in his new outfit, dropping his arms to his sides now and undoubtedly feeling exposed. In fact, in contrast to the way every bit of his form was usually hidden in billowing red fabric, these clothes hugged every curve and plane of his rather amazingly sculpted frame. She couldn't help it and felt her aura, recently freed by his Demon Moon, sneak out to touch him a little. Suddenly, his ears perked straight up to the ceiling, feeling its touch, and he swung his eyes up to catch hers. They stared at each other for a moment, heat rising in their cheeks.

 

“I don't know, InuYasha…” Miroku was strutting around in his own pants, neatly pleated and facing the correct direction now. The monk was wearing a lavender button down shirt with a little animal on it. “I think these clothes feel rather sensuous. What do you think, Sango?”

 

They all looked at Sango, only to find her staring shamelessly at her monk's butt as he preened around the room. It suddenly occurred to Kagome that no one in their group except InuYasha had ever seen the contours of Miroku's butt so well defined before, his robes having done far too effective a job at hiding his… hmmm… very nice… backside. Kagome blinked again at Sango, whose mouth had fallen open as her hand twitched in her lap.

 

“She likes them,” Kagome said with a smile. “InuYasha, I'll go back tomorrow to get Kouga some lowriders, and if you come with me, you can try on some other styles that won't be so tight.” She got up and approached him with a flick at his Demon Moon that made him suck in his breath. “But I'm going to make you keep these… even if you wear them just for me.”

 

InuYasha blushed but he accepted her arms around his waist.

 

“Fine, but I'm not gonna wear shoes,” the half demon said, intending to sound angry, but sounding resigned instead. Miroku smiled knowingly while Kouga growled and turned away as Kagome nuzzled into his neck and tightened her grip on his body. Kohaku, Ginta and Hakkaku snickered and Shippou and Souta ran screaming out the door. Sango hadn't stopped looking at Miroku's butt.

 

“I'd like to accompany you,” Miroku said, clearing his throat and experimenting with putting his hands in his pockets. “I've seen representations…uh…”

 

“Pictures,” Kagome clarified.

 

“Pictures… of other styles and designs I'd like to try,” the monk approached a small mirror in the hallway and preened again for himself.

 

“Okay, but we're on a budget,” Kagome said, wondering what she'd gotten her mother's credit card into. “I gotta go do some homework now, what are you guys going to do?”

 

Just then her mother showed up, eyeing the men with amusement, and not a small amount of appreciation. “I'd like some help cleaning up from last night, if you don't mind.”

 

“I need to help Kagome with her homework,” InuYasha said, following her up the steps. Kouga growled again and eyed him suspiciously. Everyone else pitched in hoping it wouldn't last long and they'd be able to collapse soon. The previous night was catching up with them in more ways than one.

 

++++++++++

 

The sun was low over the low roofs of Nerima when Ranma crept across the rooftop again, lowering himself to peep in Akane's window. He saw her hunched over her computer screen, intensely examining the text on the page. As he watched her scroll, a picture of two naked bodies clutching each other came into view. Akane's reading porn on the internet? He shook his head and figured he was just confused from looking at it upsidedow. He knocked on the glass window. She started and punched the power button on the monitor quickly. Turning with a smile, she moved over to open the window. Grabbing the pigtail that fell down behind his head she drew him into an awkward, upside down kiss that felt very good.

 

“Are you alone?” His smile looked silly from this angle, but happy.

 

“Of course I'm alone,” she said.

 

“No pigs?” He slowly somersaulted down into the room and landed lightly next to her.

 

“I haven't seen P-chan at all today,” she said distractedly and slipped into his arms. “Is it time to go to the park?”

 

“Yep.” Ranma hugged her to him, enjoying the way their bodies fit together so perfectly. “We didn't set an exact time, but I figure if we're early to meet InuYasha, we'll just have to find a way to stay busy.”

 

They kissed.

 

“Stay busy… Akane murmured when their lips finally parted. Grabbing his hand, she headed for the door, dragging him along behind, but he stopped after a few steps.

 

“Let's go out this way.” He pulled on her in the opposite direction, back towards the window.

 

“Why?” She finally seemed to be focusing.

 

“Won't everyone give us a hard time if they see us going out together?” Ranma was really most worried about Ryoga, but realized that if Nabiki were still around, she'd be looking for blackmail opportunities.

 

“I suppose…” Akane was thinking. “But how are we going to get out the window?”

 

“Easy.” Ranma swept her into his arms and jumped effortlessly to the window sill, smiling to himself at the feel of her arms suddenly gripping his neck. “The rooftops, how else?” With a leap, to the tree and then onto the roof he was running along the roofs towards the subway station that would take them to the Tokyo park to meet InuYasha, Akane in his arms.

 

“Do you think he'll bring Kagome with him?” Akane asked.

 

“Oh, I'm betting he will.” Ranma remembered the look in InuYasha's eyes the night before when they spoke of meeting up at the park.

 

As they moved swiftly along, oblivious to everything around them, Ryoga moved out of the shadows lower in the tree, where InuYasha and Kouga had hidden the night before. Scowling, he ran along behind them, careful not to be seen, and equally careful not to lose sight of them. The last thing he wanted was to get lost in the middle of Tokyo tonight. He had an appointment to keep.

 

++++++++++++++

 

InuYasha stood at the window in Kagome's room, arms crossed and watching the sun settle low into the sky. He had hardly moved for the last twenty minutes. Kagome even thought she heard him humming once, his mind far away. Closing her school book, she watched the dying sun glint in his eyes, deepening their golden glow. She traced the fine edge of his profile from the corner of her eye for a moment, amazed again at the huge changes that had taken place for them over the last week. They'd made love (she still had to pinch herself remembering that she'd not only seen, but touched every inch of the incredible body hiding in those jeans), they'd killed Naraku (they thought), they'd gotten drunk (twice in her case), they'd made a wish on the jewel (okay, she'd made the wish), they'd found out that Naraku was human and somehow connected to Ranma and Akane (who they never thought they'd see again), she'd actually gone to school five days in a row, and - perhaps the most amazing thing of all - InuYasha had developed a sense of humor. Or at least, he had found some good-natured patience somewhere they'e never known he had. A tiny part of her dared to believe that meant he was happy with the way things were turning out. It was like her whole world had turned upside down.

 

She pushed her chair back to stand and slipped behind him, wrapping her arms and her aura around his waist. He released his own arms to rest them on hers, remaining still so she could keep her cheek against the soft hair falling down his back. She felt the stirrings of his Demon Moon smooth along her arm and around her shoulders, soft and warm.

 

“I can't believe how much has changed,” she whispered softly, enjoying not only the feel of his body, but his calm acceptance of their intimacy.

 

“Mm,” he replied just as softly, but with an edge of uneasiness. “Feels strange.” Kagome sensed that his mind was still far away.

 

“You okay?” she asked. “You don't seem happy… exactly.” She puzzled, trying to figure out just what she had seen in his expression.

 

“I'm fine.” He took a deep breath which she heard as it smoothly entered his lungs, her ear against his back. Turning in her encircling embrace to drop his arms around her, he held her close. She felt his hand rise to cup the back of her head as she burrowed her face into his chest, never wanting to leave the safety of his arms. Of all the times he'd held her over the years, his arms had never been as comforting as they had become in the last week, when he'd done more than just hold on to her. Since the park, he'd held her to him.

 

“It's time to go,” he said into her hair, his breath warm. “Hopefully, Ranma will know where Naraku is hiding in this city.”

 

“Are we meeting him at the same place in the park as last time?” She sounded a little nervous as she hugged him tight.

 

“Uh… Yeah…” He hugged her back, wondering why she didn't sound more excited to be going back to the park all of a sudden. “I guess so. We weren't too specific.”

 

She broke away and held on to his hand, pulling him towards the door playfully and melting his fears. “Then I guess we'd better go.”

 

“Nope.” He resisted, pulling her back to him with a jerk and bending to scoop her into his arms in a single smooth motion. He leaned over so she could snag his hat off her desk and before she knew it, they were perched on the window sill.

 

“Wha-?” Her sentence wasn't even formed in her mind before he'd launched them down from the second story window to land close to the building, unlikely to be seen by anyone in the house.

 

“We're sneakin' out.” InuYasha's voice was low. “Don't need to attract any attention tonight.” In two jumps he'd taken them to the well and in three more they were on the street below, running to the park. “Geez I hate jumping in these jeans things, they're so damned tight.”

 

“Just how I like them,” Kagome couldn't help laughing. InuYasha just grumbled, but seemed to accept the compliment well enough.

 

A dark shape emerged into the growing dusk behind them, slipping silently into the growing dusk, tail flapping squashidly out of his jeans.

 

It was going to be crowded in the park tonight.

 

To be continued…..

 

A/N: One more chapter of “Time” and finally (at least one) new “Park” Chapter will appear. Be patient! It's hard, I know… so very, very hard….