A Time for Changes

Can you all believe I started this story back in 2007? I know the first ten chapters or so really need a rework in terms of grammar, sentence structure, and sometimes noun and verb confusion.

That being said, and I think you’d all agree, I’d much rather finish the story first and then I will try to go back and fix those chapters.

I love seeing your reviews and I’m so happy everyone is responding positively, even if there are twists and turns in the plotline. I’ve plotted out the end of the story and I’m pretty excited. Thank you for supporting a story that is not entirely smut. Trust me, I love those smut stories too and they garnish tons of reviews. I’m not nearly brave enough to write those stories so I really admire them!

 What I’m saying is thank you for giving my quiet story your love as well.

Chapter 25 – Forget About the Sunshine When It’s Gone

The days were filled with so many apartment appointments and quick dinners Inuyasha was losing track of what day it was. He lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. It’s been five days since he arrived in New York and he’d probably seen thirty apartments. Nothing seemed to suit that woman’s taste and he was damn tired of being rejected again and again.

He rested his palms against his eyes and sighed.  With all the appointments and the obvious time differences he hadn’t talked to Kagome at all. Her phone was constantly going to voicemail but she was posting videos to him. Why was she near her computer but not near her phone? Her messages were brief and never told him too much, they were vague. Though, Inuyasha found his own responses were just as vague too; it felt wrong, somehow, to tell her all about the things he and Kikyo did.

Inuyasha sat up on his bed and opened his laptop slowly; watching the light of the screen, hear the hum of the machine, he cleared his throat and wiggled his ears.

With a few clicks and scrolls he opened his own video application and stared at the little red light on his screen.

“Hey. I don’t know what damn time it is there, but it’s only morning here. Don’t forget to visit Nana at the café okay?  She is probably going crazy with the replacement she hired for me, the kid seemed pretty stupid.  Make sure he learns how to make your drink too, okay?”

He blinked. This felt really stupid. He looked to the window in his hotel and picked up the laptop, still recording, and the image shook a little until he opened it and stepped out onto the balcony. “This is New York City, Kagome. It smells awful here, my nose can barely take it. The city is so busy and loud. But I guess it ain’t that bad. It’s like Tokyo, really, except the Americans seem a lot louder than us.”

The computer sat on the edge of the balcony and Inuyasha leaned over it, still talking. “I can’t get used to the food here. I just keep finding anything they call “Asian food” and eating it. Hot dogs and stuff, like, everything feels super processed and does nothing for my insides. Keh. But I guess you’d be inspired here with so many different faces. I uh, I hope you’re having fun. I’ll talk to you later.”

He closed the laptop and hung his head with a sigh.

--

Kagome was leaning over a box when she felt a little hand tug on the edge of her yukata. Despite having been uncomfortable in it the first day she arrived, Kagome found the change in clothing and location a nice shift. It was easier for her to think clearly without the city so in her face. 

She looked down at Rin and smiled, “Yes?”

“Why does Rin-chan only see you in the mornings? Kagome-chan is not here a lot at night time.”

The little girl was in a yellow yukata and was trying to not seem upset by her own question. Her tiny hand still clung to Kagome’s side. Kagome put down her clipboard and squatted to Rin’s level. “Kagome-chan is here to do work and does not have a lot of time. While I’m happy to see Rin-chan, if I don’t get my work done, Sesshomaru-sama will be mad at me.”

“Then why don’t you also work at night? Wouldn’t that help you?” Rin pouted.

Kagome sighed and ruffled her hair, “It wouldn’t be very nice to not let Tsuki-chan have some time to play too, right? We have to share.”

“But…” Rin rubbed the back of her head, “What does Tsuki-chan like to do?”

Kagome laughed, “Why don’t you ask her tonight at din--- “

“Rin, leave her to her work,” another voice cut into the conversation. Sesshomaru stood at the front of the door to the storage room, arms folded in front of him. “Are you not supposed to be in a tutoring session with Jaken?”

“Jaken-san is so boring, Sesshomaru-sama. It’s summer break,” Rin pouted lightly, kicking at the floor. “Rin-chan wanted to go to the beach.”

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow, “The beach?”

Kagome bowed to Sesshomaru and smiled, titling her head to the side, as if listening to something. “Tsuki-chan has never been to the beach.”  Her eyes locked with Sesshomaru, “Why don’t you three go? I am almost done here.”

Sesshomaru studied Kagome, holding her gaze. Why would this girl willingly give up her possession so that the demon could roam around in her body. It didn’t make much sense. Most hanyous like his damn brother Inuyasha never let their beasts show. Kagome seemed to treat her beast with more respect than normal.

“Is that not a satisfiable compromise? Rin-chan, if you go finish your studies, Tsuki-chan will go to the beach with you. You can ask her all the questions you want.”  Tsuki groaned in Kagome’s head and she hid a chuckle behind her hand. She looked to Sesshomaru, “Well?”

“Please say yes, Lord Sesshomaru!” Rin-chan bounced around his feet, tugging on his leg. “It’s really hot, I bet you’re hot with all that hair.”

Sesshomaru looked down at Rin and touched the top of her head, “Go study. If you get all the answers correct, this Sesshomaru will let you to go the beach.”

Rin squeaked and ran down the hall, shouting thanks down the hall.

Kagome had returned to her work, picked up her clipboard, but noticed Sesshomaru was still standing in the door. “Do you need something?”

“You cater to the girl’s whimsies.”

“Do you prefer I not, Sesshomaru-sama?” She had a new pot in her hand, turning it slowly, taking in the intricate design patterns in blue ink. “If I have caused a problem, I do apologize.”

“It is not an issue.”

There was a silence that hung in the room. Kagome put down the plot and jotted down some notes and turned back to him, sketching the image without breaking her gaze on him. “Is it something else, than?”

“This Sesshomaru does not understand why you cater to her.”

Kagome tilted her head, “I am a guest here. It would reflect poorly on me if I did not. Also, victims often have attachments to those who rescue them. It is something like Nightingale Syndrome, but not as severe. Could you imagine if I had been cruel to her?”

“You do not know her.”

“No, I do not. But she wishes to know me.” She picked up another object from the box, this, a sheath to a sword, but no sword to be seen. “I am accustomed to being around younger siblings.”

“The brother from the graveyard.”

Kagome bristled but nodded slowly, “That is correct.”

“Do you recall that meeting?”

“I recall harming you, for which I apologize. At the same time I was not myself.”

“You were Tsuki.”

“Tsuki and I had not come to a working agreement or understanding of one another,” she grumbled, writing down more information. “Why do you ask? Surely that wound has already healed?”

“Indeed it has.”

There was another silence.

Kagome huffed and put down her things and turned to him. She crossed her arms and glared. “Honestly, what do you want? What did I do? If I’ve done something wrong, correct me and I will not do it again. Do I wake you up in the morning from being in here?”

Sesshomaru looked at her and after a long pause finaly spoke again. “Your speed is impressive. No one has been in this room in years and you have completed half this room in just five days.”

“I only have tomorrow anyway, so I should really get back to it if you want to take her to the beach.”

Sesshomaru nodded and took a step back to outside the doorway. Just as he was about to close the door he bowed his head. “Thank you.”

The door shut and Kagome whipped her head up back towards the door. Had Sesshomaru really just thanked her?

--

Inuyasha stood in the center of the park with Miroku, waiting for Sango to buy an ice cream. “I feel like third wheel, dude.”

Miroku laughed and patted his friend’s back, “We went to the park yesterday and had a picnic. She was the one who suggested it. She figured you were having culture shock like she was.”

“You’re so lucky the two of you are humans. The smells here are god awful,” he grumbled, adjusting his ears under the bandana.

“That’s why we picked the park. We figured nature would help,” he laughed again, gesturing for Inuyasha to follow him to meet halfway to Sango. “Besides, now that you’re staying here, you’ll adjust in no time.”

Inuyasha sighed and trotted after him. Sango smiled and held up her ice cream. “I’m surprised you didn’t want any, Inuysaha. Kagome said it was one of your favorites.”

Inuysaha thought back to the day in the park. The image of her, running towards him through the fountain, with water flying, and such fear but determination in her eyes. He shook his head and looked at Sango, who seemed to be staring at him intently. “Just not in the mood. Not too hungry since I got here.”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Miroku soothed, sliding his arm around her. “Demons, even half demons, really don’t have to eat all that often. Inuyasha just likes to eat.”

“Can it, jerk,” Inuyasha jabbed him. “So what if ramen is awesome?”

“What have you been doing besides seeing apartments?” Sango asked him quietly, licking at her ice cream as the three headed for a small bridge over a man-made river in the park.

“Not a lot. I don’t really understand enough English to understand any of their crappy television. Tried to get ahold of Kagome a few times, but she always seems busy.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up at the trees. “I wanna see the city, but I don’t know where to begin. I don’t wanna see no ruins from the terrorists, it’s kinda depressing, but I ain’t the kind of guy to go to that fashion street and buy expensive shit either.”

“Well, there are tons of zoos and parks all over the city. If you go to lower Manhattan you’ll find the High Line. It’s a park that is made from reconverted train tracks. They run high up, like on the level of the buildings,” Miroku suggested, guiding them over the bridge.

Sango dug into her bag and turned to Inuyasha, placing something in his hands. “Look, why don’t you borrow this for the time being?”

Inuyasha looked down to see a digital camera in his hands.

“I can use Miroku’s until I leave next week. If you really end up liking it we can get you a different camera that you can keep after we’re gone.”

“I ain’t no artist like Kagome, Sango.”

Sango shrugged her shoulders; “It’s just a way to keep memories with you.  Maybe centuries from now you might want to remember this moment. Memories do fade, dummy.”

“Be a little bit more grateful to my girlfriend, seriously dude,” Miroku laughed, jabbing Inuyasha in return.



Inuyasha turned the camera and turned it on. He held it up to his eye and snapped a quick picture of the two of them and laughed. “I guess if all my pictures look as awful as this one it could be really funny.”

--

Kagome stood in front of the mirror adjusting her bathing suit. It was a cute little bikini, a mix of purples and blues in hue that was modest but flirted just a little. Kagome tried to tie back as much of her hair as she could. It had grown more and now made a tiny excuse for a ponytail but still not long enough for all her bangs.

“You ready?”

I suppose.

Kagome looked in the mirror at Tsuki, who was staring down at herself in the bathing suit. In the reflection of the mirror Tsuki turned in a circle slowly, looking down at herself.

This is not too revealing?

“I packed a beach shirt, it’s long and thin, you can wear it over the outfit if you want.” Kagome picked up the shirt and held it up as an example. “That okay?”

Tsuki nodded slowly, “What is the beach like?”

Kagome laughed, “Well, I’m a certified swimmer, so I can hold my own. You’ll know how to swim instinctually. I’m not saying to go do anything crazy, but you can go in the water.”

Tsuki nodded again and blew up on her bangs. “What of this…riptide…thing?

“Just watch where you’re swimming. Usually beaches flag off where it is safe to go. Because we are Sesshomaru-san’s own private beach you need to be more careful. Also, keep an eye on Rin-chan.”

I’m not the girl’s mother

“Come on, it’s not like we’ve seen a mother here yet, now have we?” Kagome put her hands on her hips and glared. “She might be an orphan just like we are.”

Tsuki said nothing and sighed, “Why does she want to know so much about me anyway? Children are a mysterious things, human children even more”

Kagome eased herself onto the bed to put on her sandals, “Well, you saved her. Let her ask a few questions. She’s a kid, it’s not like she’ll ask you for the meaning of life.”

Have you spoken yet with Inuyasha?

Kagome shook her head, “I don’t want him to know we’re here.”

Why not?

“Um, they hate each other?”

Is that the only reason?”

 

Kagome looked up at the mirror and glared, “Yes. Why?”

“No reason.” Tsuki turned from the mirror to stretch. “You ready?”

Kagome stood and picked up her bag. “Ready. Have a good time. Don’t drown.”

Kagome threw her head back and exhaled as she felt the tug of Tsuki, in a way, throwing her personality down and deep inside the body and Tsuki’s fly forward. When Tsuki gained control her eyes flew open and she stumbled back, grabing the frame of the bed with a quick gasp.

“This is starting to take more energy.”

I felt it too. You will be okay. Stay in control until the morning. I will try to store energy in the meantime.

Tsuki looked up at the mirror and watched Kagome smile and wave. There was a touch of sadness on Kagome’s face, Tsuki could see it, but she was sure that Kagome didn’t realize she was doing it. Kagome had seemed sad lately, sadder but different than before. Was Tsuki actually…worried…about her?

Kagome in the mirror sat down on the bed and then lay down, staring at the ceiling.  “Get going before Rin comes in here to steal you”

Tsuki huffed and took one last at Kagome, who, while not looking at her, raised a hand to wave. Tsuki frowned and then ran out the room, hoping she was becoming too soft from being with a human. She turned the corner of the hallway and slammed into Sesshomaru, stumbling back.

“Damn weak senses in this body,” she growled. She regained her balance and before she even looked up she bowed to the person. “Sorry.”

“This Sesshomaru did not know you were capable of such manners,” he teased.

Tsuki raised her head and put her hand on her hip, “For you, I shall revoke my apology.”

“That is the personality I know.” Sesshomaru turned and began to retreat down the hallway Tsuki was heading towards. “Come, she has already been waiting for you. Jaken can only entertain her for so long.”

--

Inuyasha was on his own, Sango and Miroku had left him to go on another date. He was sitting on a park bench waiting for Kikyo to meet up with him, but her, being her vague and elusive self, said it would be “about half an hour.”

He was sitting, eating from a bag of peanuts, when a familiar scent wafted to his nose. Standing quickly, Inuyasha scanned the crowd.

The scent of confidence, boastfulness, and clearly wolf.

Koga

That bastard. Where was he?

Inuyasha dropped the peanuts and felt his beast rumbling and scratching at the binds to come out. Why was his Beast so aggravated and viciously angry?  Inuyasha had ever right to be mad for how Koga hurt Kagome, but his beast had the intention of blood and death reek from him.

“Where the hell are you, Koga!” Inuyasha growled, using his demonic speed to hop from the bench to other nearby fixtures to see over the crowd.

The scent led Inuyasha out of the park and off he ran, following the scent the best he could through the confusion of the sheer abundance of other scents. When he finally got to the city corner he looked around and saw nothing. The scent suddenly vanished.

Inuyasha cursed and took off down the street ahead of him, not hearing his cell phone ringing in his pocket.

--

Tsuki stared at the vast beach in front of her. The water lapped at her toes, just kissing them lightly before retreating back into the depths. She bent at the knees, folding the end of the shirt under her. Her fingers timidly reached out and touched the water, feeling the cold in her fingertips.

“It will not bite you,” Sesshomaru teased, setting up a chair behind him as Jaken stumbled around him to set up an umbrella.

“Forgive me for having a sentimental moment. I will try not to bore you with them again,” she sneered, standing up and shaking her hand off from excess water.

“Will you swim with me, Tsuki-chan?”  Rin appeared besides her, skipping along happily. She reached up to grab Tsuki’s hand but immediately retreated. This woman did not feel as happy as Kagome did. She frowned and looked up at her, “Please?”

“Let me lay out my towel, then yes.” Tsuki walked up to beside Sesshomaru and spread out a towel for the ground. It was borrowed from his home, but he didn’t seem to care. Her bag, full of things like suntan lotion, flip-flops, and a sun hat was left on the towel as well. “Will you join us, Lord Sesshomaru? Surely your porecelain skin would enjoy some sunlight?”

Sesshomaru opened a book and sat down in his chair, purposely ignoring her just a little, “This Sesshomaru will consider it.”

Tsuki rolled her eyes and peeled off the shirt and threw it in his face. “Disappointing. And not just for Rin-chan.”

Tsuki held her hand out for the young girl to take, “Don’t let me drown, okay?”

Rin giggled, “Sure thing. You can use my inner tube if you want,” she spun, showing off a yellow and pink polka-dotted flotation device. “We won’t go to deep.”

The two stepped into the water and Tsuki growled at how cold it was. Still, this cold didn’t seem to bother Rin, who was running around in circles around Tsuki and laughing. Tsuki waded until she was up to her knees in water, this depth a great deal higher for the younger girl. “Is this too deep?”

“Nope! I can still touch a little.” Rin jumped forward and began to swim on her stomach. “Get wet, Tsuki-chan. You’ll be too hot later if you don’t.”

Tsuki let out a sigh and jumped forward into the water, causing a huge splash that made Rin roar with laughter. Rin quickly joined, splashing her new companion as she came up for air, brushing the wet bangs out of her face.  Tsuki turned back to the shore and smiled at Lord Sesshomaru, who was peaking over his book at her.

“Rin-chan wants to know more about you, Tsuki-chan.”

Tsuki tore her eyes from the shore down to the girl who was swimming circles around her with her little floating aid. “What do you want to know?”

“Do you like Sesshomaru-sama?”

Tsuki chuckled and glanced over her shoulder then back at her, “He has his strengths.”

“Tsukiiiiii,-chan” she whined, “I asked if you liked him. All the kids at school talk about the people they like.”

Her eyes were a little sad as she sank into the water to her knees so she was eye level with the little girl. She could see her red eyes reflected in Rin’s eyes. How could Tsuki ever be drawn to someone without the idea that she was gone half the time? “Sesshomaru-sama wants to help me. For that, I am very thankful. But I have Kagome-chan to think about.”

Rin frowned, “Does Kagome-chan not like Sesshomaru-sama?”

“Things are not as easy as they seem. You’ll understand that when you’re older. But you cannot tell him, okay? It is a secret.”

“A secret between friends! “ Rin stuck out her pinky finger to her. “Pinky swear. I won’t tell Sesshomaru-sama.”

Tsuki reached to take her pinky when ---

“Don’t tell this Sesshomaru what?”

Tsuki grinned, “That you’re being anti-social reading a book on the shore.”

She stood and found herself chest to chest with the great demon lord. He looked down at her with a little twinkle in his eyes. “Your sharp tongue deserves a punishing.” With a swift movie he scooped the girl out from under her legs and she shrieked.

“Put me down!” she flailed in his arms, pounding her fists against his now shirtless chest.

“If you insist,” he chuckled, wading out a few more feet before promptly dropping her into the water.

When she resurfaced, her hair matted against her face, she growled, “That was uncalled for.” She lashed out at him, throwing him off balance, into the water as well. When he came up for air, still coughing, she was in his lap, actually laughing.

Her laugh was softer than he expected it to be, it was still entirely different from the human girl’s too. Rin laughed and jumped in front of both of them, covering everyone in another wave of the salty water.

--

“How was work today?” He asked over a plate full of steak and steamed vegetables.

Kikyo didn’t look up from her dinner, picking up a vegetable with her chopsticks, “Long.  You’d be surprised how easy it is to slide back into Japanese without meaning to. These Americans should learn other languages.”

Inuyasha shrugged, “They probably just learn those European languages cause they like to think they were once European too.”

“It is an entirely idiotic notion.” She took another bite of food and then looked up at him. “Did you like any of the apartments?”

“There was one.” Inuyasha dug into his pocket and pulled out a digital camera, scrolling through images.

“What is that?”

“Huh? A camera that Sango let me borrow while she uses Miroku’s,” he mumbled, scrolling through the photos. “Hold on, I took some pictures of the place.”

“What are all the other pictures then?”

He shrugged again, “Just stuff I was looking at in the park.  There’s some cool stuff in this city, I guess. Some cool people too.”

Kikyo’s eyes narrowed as she took a sip of her wine. “You have been spending time with the others?”

Inuyasha could hear the edge in her voice and tried to surpress the frustration he felt. “I haven’t seen Miroku in months, so yeah. I mean, I let them have their love time, I ain’t that dumb.”  He grabbed a piece of bread and took a bite while he held up the camera for her. “Here, look.”

Kikyo glanced at the photo. It had a wonderful shot of an open doorway that led to a balcony. The apartment had a very Spanish influence to it, allowing tons of light and a sleepy airy feel. “Are there other photos?”

“Just scroll to the left.”

She began clicking the photos. “You should really try to get acclimated here. The more time you spend with those two the harder it will be for you to adjust.”

“They’re my friends, Kikyo. You’ve met them before too. I’m sure they’d like to see you.”

“You know I’m very busy with work.”

Inuyasha threw down his fork, “Damnit, I know you’re busy, that’s why you got me shopping for apartments like your assistant. You ain’t the boss, this is a damn relationship. Try putting some damn effort into it.”

Kikyo was staring at a picture of a little girl walking along the edge of a fountain before the camera was yanked from her hand. He threw a few American bills on the table and threw on his coat. “He can have the tip, I don’t care.”

--

Tsuki eased herself onto her bed. She was about to go to sleep after a day at the beach when she noticed Kagome’s computer was blinking and making noise.

She clicked a few times and an image showed up in her inbox.

It was a photograph with a small caption:

It was a picture of a street artist. The man was perched on a stool with an easel in front of him. He was sketching a little girl standing in front of him, grin so wide her teeth, some missing, could be seen. She had pigtails and a balloon in her hands. The man’s hands were covered in black charcoal. He had short black hair, flannel shirt, and ripped jeans. They were two very different people.

Reminds me of someone a little, right?

Did you finish any more drawings?

 

Tsuki closed the computer and looked to the mirror. Kagome’s back was to Tsuki, her body curled up, barely rising and falling with the steadiness of her breathing. Tsuki stood in front of the mirror and put her hand to the frame.

“Kagome?”

The reflection blurred and then it was gone. The real reflection of the room was in the mirror. Tsuki flinched and tried to wave in front of the mirror until she finally knocked against the glass gently. The image smeared and Kagome’s image reappeared on the bed as if nothing had ever happened.

Tsuki sat down on the bed and looked at the computer before closing her eyes.  She hoped things would be better in the morning.