Kaleidoscope by miwa03

Family's Warmth

Twist the Kaleidoscope and the colors will change. Just like my life; everything changes in just a twist.

Disclaimer: Yup, I don’t own Inuyasha!

Prompt: Envy

Chapter 2 – Family’s Warmth

Kagome was screaming while being carried in the caveman way. Her stomach was on top of Sesshoumaru’s shoulder and his hand was holding onto her thighs shamelessly.

“Hey, hands off you jerk!” Kagome was so pissed with his manhandling. She continued to struggle and pound Sesshoumaru’s back.

The said man was unperturbed. He walked calmly through the dark alleyways. Kagome was getting agitated by the second. Where will he take me??? They had walked for a good 5 minutes without stopping and her throat was getting sore from her non stop screaming.

Finally he stopped. Kagome turned her head to see that they had stopped in front of a medium sized house. Sesshoumaru then used one hand to open the lock and strode inside with his squirming bundle.

“What is this place? Where have you taken me?”

Without answering her, Sesshoumaru walked into a room on the second floor. He put her down after he closed (and locked?) the door. Kagome wavered a bit but quickly regain her bearing.

“Where- where is this place? Where have you taken me???” Kagome started to panic when she caught a glimpse of the room. A worn TV on a corner, a study table with scattered books on it, wall covered with posters of rock bands, and a cozy small bed. She gulped. She was in a boy’s room; most likely to be this jerk’s room. And suddenly, she felt trapped and vulnerable.

“Wh-why do you take me here?” She stuttered and took a step back.

But Sesshoumaru’s back was on her. He was rummaging around on the shelf and then threw her a shirt and pair of boxers.

“Wash yourself.”

Kagome’s temper rose instantly; making her forget her fear. “What? Who are you to order me around???”

“I don’t want my place to stink. Wash yourself. Or you would rather have me to wash you?”

“No! I would rather be out from this place! Now release me!” She demanded hotly.

Sesshoumaru stared at her with his deep piercing gaze. “Then tell me, what is waiting for you out there? Why are you so determined to be out on the street? What are you searching for out there?” 

Kagome took some deep labored breaths to calm herself.

“…justice.” She said finally.

Some seconds of contemplating silence passed.

Sesshoumaru was the one who broke the silence. “Funny. I’m searching for the same thing also. And so are my friends.”

What?

“Stay, and we will get our justice together. But if you go to the street alone, you’ll be captured and be sold to a brothel or being raped in the street.”

Kagome gasped at the horrid truth. He was right. There was no way she was going to survive in this part of the city just by herself. She glanced at Sesshoumaru’s face. And he doesn’t seem too bad. Well, he’d helped me. And now he’s offering me his protection?

“Why?” Kagome stared down at the wooden floor. “Why do you want me to be here?  Why do you ask me to join you? You don’t even know me.”

“Don’t you remember the reason?” Kagome looked up in confusion. “You choose it yourself just now. You choose to be Sesshoumaru’s girl.”

Kagome’s eyes widened with disbelieve. This was still about that??? Is he trying to punish me for hijacking his name? Kagome was ready to give him a piece of her mind when his gaze turned forlorn.

“Your eyes…” He suddenly averted his gaze. “They remind me of what I had before.”

Kagome blinked.

Sesshoumaru then turned his body and walked out. “Wash yourself. There is food downstairs if you want too eat or you may just rest in this room after your bath.”

Kagome picked the later and cried herself to sleep that night.

00000

It had been five days since Kagome joined Sesshoumaru’s rag tag group. She was touched when they had accepted her without any hesitation. Well, except from Inuyasha who grumbled about the increasing expenses. But that was easily being taken care of by Sango’s punch on his head.

She was surprised to find that she seemed to bond well with the rest of the boys …and one girl. They were interesting individuals and surprisingly nice persons when you got to know them. Behind their wild behaviors and deadly strengths, lied compassionate hearts, understanding, and undying loyalty toward each others.

“Kagomeee!” A brown haired head ran into her the moment she stepped in the house’s kitchen. “Save me from Yasha!!!” She blinked when Shippo circled her and hugged her from behind.

Shippou was a seventeen year old teen with brown hair and mischievous green eyes. He was the trickster of the group. Kagome saw Shippou as a bundle of never ending energy and she loved to watch him happily practicing his capoeira moves.

“She ain’t gonna save you squirt! Now give me back my sandwich!” Inuyasha bellowed.

Inuyasha was the most hot-headed member of Sesshoumaru’s group. He was very straightforward and stubborn. But below his harsh exterior Kagome felt that he was a sensitive person; his harsh attitude was to protect his fragile heart. Not once she had caught him staring in deep longing at a picture in a small locket he always kept in his pocket. Not an expression that she wanted to see in a strong kendo fighter’s face. One other thing that was interesting from Inuyasha was he was inseparable with his bokken. It seemed that the bokken was a gift from someone he held dear.

Kagome blinked her eyes when an enraged Inuyasha charged at her. Seconds later her vision of Inuyasha’s head was changed into Kouga’s fist.

“Watch it, mutt. You’re scaring my lovely.” Kouga then grabbed her shoulders and turned her towards him. Shippou let go of his hold on her and munched his sandwich while smirking evilly at the groaning Inuyasha who was rubbing his sore jaw. “You’re not hurt are you, lovely?”

Kouga aka wolfie, a nickname bestowed upon him by his friends due to his playboy tendency, was almost as hotheaded as Inuyasha. But his stubbornness was much worse than him; declaring non stop that Kagome was his. He was a strong built male who liked to practice his boxing by joining any street fight; which explained why he had the most bruises then the others.

“I’m not your lovely, Kouga.” Kagome stated boredly.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re his girl or whatever.” Kagome opened her mouth to object, but he cut her off. “But you’ll always be my lovely.” He smirked.

“Good that the chief is out for his morning exercise. If not, I’ll be cleaning your broken pieces off the floor, wolfie.” Miroku spoke while doing the dishes.

Today was Miroku’s shift; which had amazed Kagome that such men were willing to do domestic job on a rotating shift.

Miroku was a sweet young man with a kind smile. Sometimes Kagome wondered what had made him joined this harsh group. In her opinion Miroku was more suited to become a priest. But do not let his sweet appearance fool you; he was a 9th dan in Judo.

“Hmph! As if I’ll lose to him!” Kouga arrogantly replied.

“Why don’t we find out then?” Sango calmly sipped her light coffee while reading the sprawled newspaper on the table; her other hand was petting her cat, Kirara. “Challenge him Kouga. He’s right behind you now.”

Kagome had liked Sango in an instant. She was like a big sister she did not have. Sango was very attentive to her needs and seemed to be able to understand her unspoken pain. It was also great to have a touch of femininity in this house full of testosterone; even though Sango was far from what one would describe as feminine. She was a tomboy who was excellent in the art of taekwondo.

Kouga visibly gulped noticing Sesshoumaru’s chilling aura behind him. “Uhh… I think it’s time for my morning run.” Kouga quickly sprinted; intentionally knocked down a grumbling Inuyasha. “Let’s go, mutt! Let see if you can beat me at running today!”

“Feh! I’ll beat you like any other day, wolfie!” And he ran out to chase Kouga with his bokken in tow.

Sesshoumaru ignored their antics. He opened the fridge and grabbed a can of isotonic drink. He drank while ruffling his hair with one hand.

Kagome blinked. She could not help but to stare at her handsome savior. Sesshoumaru was a well built male with beautiful silver hair and mesmerizing golden eyes. His regular practice in aikido and endurance had shaped his body nicely. Lately Kagome was confused because just by a mere innocent contact of his hand on her skin or just by hearing his deep voice, her heart would beat faster and butterfly seemed to flutter in her stomach.

Just like now. Sesshoumaru was shirtless after his exercise; sweat glistened on his well developed abdomens and his muscles rippled when he strode to the chair. In her 19, Kagome was a chaste girl who had never seen a real man’s body up close; a tasty one at that. She unconsciously licked her lips and her mind wondered how that muscle would feel under her touch. Was it as hard as it seen? Her gaze moved higher to his well defined chest and higher to finally see his knowing smirk.

Kagome’s eyes widened and she averted her gaze abruptly. Eehh.. he caught me staring!!! She blushed deep ruby red.

“Here chief! I’d saved some sandwiches from Yasha’s clutch!” Luckily, Shippou’s excited exclamation saved her from humiliating herself further.

“Hn.” Sesshoumaru picked one with his amused gaze still locked at Kagome’s blushing face.

“Here, Kagome! You’ve got to eat too! Miroku’s sandwiches are the best!”

“You’re not scarred because of Inuyasha’s instant ramen and Kouga’s burnt fried eggs yesterday, are you?” Sango asked.

Kagome blinked, and then scrunched up her face; remembering the breakfasts she had two days ago. “No. But that sure was a crazy experience. ”

Shippou, Sango, and a sitting down Miroku laughed. “We try not to eat much when it’s their turn to cook.”

“Did you remember the first time Yasha try to make fried rice?”

“Ahahaha…! The look on his face when he had to finish all that obnoxious food left!!”

They continued laughing; throwing jokes at each other, taunting friendly, and freely and wildly creating different perspectives on every single thing in life. Even though they were not related by blood, their bonds were so strong. Being with them, Kagome felt so left out from their warm circle of family. There was no hesitation between them. Laughing at each other’s silliness freely, correcting if one was at false according their way, saying whatever they had in mind.

So different from her own.

For as long as Kagome remembered there had never been a time like this in her family. Breakfast was done in elegant silence, tears and complains were frowned upon, free laughs were considered impolite, words had to be chosen carefully, true feelings were not be shown, only fake gestures for the sake of family’s honor.

Kagome stared longingly at the makeshift family in front of her. How she envied them. Not even related by blood, but had the bond her family had never had. How she wanted to have one of her own warm family.

Kagome Higurashi had never imagined that there would come a day where she would envy the people she once thought were below her.

And she never noticed a pair of golden eyes that were observing her intently throughout her internal mussing.

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AN: Next prompt… Gluttony.

Please be kind and share your opinion on this story. Thank you so much friends!

©miwa03 – 2010