Friendly Persuasion
Dinner Manners
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Kyo walked up behind her carefully, as though any wrong move
he made would cause a land mine to go off.
Kagome opened the door, took off her shoes, and motioned for Kyo to do
the same.
After taking his shoes off and placing them close to the
door, Kyo stepped inside as Kagome shut the door after him.
“Mom, I’m home!”
Mrs. Higurashi appeared as though from nowhere.
“Well hello, Kagome,” she then turned and saw Kyo, who seemed
surprised that she had seen him at all since he was standing in the shadows of
a corner, “who is this young man?”
“Mom, this is someone I met at school today. Moving forward as though walking on eggshells, Kyo stepped Though having just met him today, Kagome had never thought “Oh! There’s no need “Yes Mrs. Higurashi.” “Well then dinner will be ready in just a little while. Taking his elbow and pushing him along, Kagome showed Kyo the “Does your brother alwaysp top to himself like that?” “Sort of. He’s “But he’s never with other kids?” “Only at school from what I’ve seen.” Kyo was silent for a moment, “That’s not right. Kagome watched Kyo’s face as he spoke. “What makes you think that he doesn’t do some of those “The way he didn’t come downstairs to greet you when you came “So you think that just because he didn’t come to greet me “No, I’m just saying that because he didn’t greet you, means “Kinda.” “Take me, for instance. “And if you don’t?” “Then I’ll be an old, fat, businessman too concerned about Kagome nodded, “Yeah, I do. “I’m glad. A kid Kagome had been studying Kyo’s face some more as he “I agree.” Kagome Kagome led Kyo back to the dining room to eat, and soon after Kyo stood and bowed at the waist, and it took a moment for “He’s waiting to be recognized as a guest,” she “A pleasure to meet you both.” Kyo said as the three of them remained standing. “Kago “At school.” Kagome “Ah, I see.” Sota went to sit down, but Kagome’s grandfather put a hand on Kagome watched Kyo with renewed interest, “Where is this Mrs. Higurashi came in then, carrying the last dish of the Kyo was bowed at the waist again, but Kagome’s grandfather Mrs. Higurashi looked confused as she set down the dish, “My, Grandpa took his seat, followed by Kyo as Mrs. Higurashi sat Kyo merely bowed his head and Grandpa answered for him, “He “Gees, Grandpa, why don’t you let him answer for “Well for one: I felt I should explain it, and two: he will Kagome looked at Kyo, who had raised his head as soon as Mrs. “Is that true, Kyo?” Looking over at Kagome as he swallowed his rice, Kyo Grandpa nodded, “Tell me, where are you from?” Kyo almost seemed to panic, but covered it up just as “Grandpa studies a lot of ancient things. Kagome’s grandfather nodded, “Yes, I have studied many “I wouldn’t either,” Kyo began, “those things are as easy to “Thee noe not! It “Please, I mean not to be rude, but our shed alone, which by “All right,” Kagome’s grandfather began, “then what do Kyo finished his meal and set his chopsticks down beside it, “Kara?” Kagome asked, “But Kara’s books are all about black magic! “It is not just black magic. Kara wrote books on many subjects, but Kara’s books with the “You sound as though Kara were your mother.” Kyo stood abruptly, anger in his eyes but his voice calm and “And just how do we know that you won’t use them for To Kagome, Kyo sounded like Inu-Yasha when he was very angry, “If you so desperately wish to have my word of honor, I would “I don’t see what the problem is! The two men just stood there glaring at each other until Kyo “Mrs. Higurashi, Kagome-san, it has been an honor to be Kyo disappeared from sight, probably put on his shoes, and Kagome dropped it in surprise, but continued to watch as it “Kagome are you listening to me?” “Huh?” me ame asked, “I said that it takes one heck of a man to retreat as he did, Kagome nodded, and thought of something, “He’s the one.” “The one what, Kagome-chan?” “Kyo-kun’s the one that I’m going to take with me to the “What makes you say that?” “Mom, if he can do this, what if he could make other stuff “And how would you repay him for his help, Kagome-chan?” “I... I don’t know, Grandpa, but I’m sure there’s something “All right, Kagome, but how are you going to convince him to “I’ll find a way, don’t worry. I have to, because everyone’s depending on me.” Kyo walked down the sidewalk, rejoicing in his small victory. “At least I left with more honor than I went in with,” So lost in his thoughts was he, that he did not even sense Having no time to draw his sword, Kyo went for the long knife Just as before darkness overtook him, Kyo saw a foot making
suddenly walk through s.
into the light and bowed deeply, “Hello, Mrs. Higurashi.
honored to be in such a beautifully arranged home.”
she would see Kyo nervous or acting so proper.
He seemed so out of place for some reason. He was wearing baggy jeans with a martial arts belt to hold them
up, with a loose jacket over a blue T-shirt that seemed just a little too
big. The sword on his left hip somehow
not clashing with the rest of his clothes.
to be so proper! Please, just relax and
be yourself. Are you here for dinner?”
Kyo said, straightening up and bowing his head.
tour?”
kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and the living room. She then took him upstairs and showed him where her and Sota’s
rooms were. The door of Sota’s room was
closed, indicating that he was inside and doing something he wanted no one to
see.
usually downstairs playing video games or something.”
and begging to go to a friend’s house and just...... just beingi>kii>kid
for goodness sakes!”
children not touching weapons, which was understandable, and also children just
being what they were: children.
Carefree, running, screaming, playing,
children.
things?”
home. Hell, at our house, whenever
someone came home, everyone would drop what they were doing and come meet them,
no matter what. I’ll tell you this:
there were quite w cow complaints about clothes burnt from the iron, but you
can’t blame everything on Mom, you know.”
means that he’s antisocial?” Kagome asked,
suddenly getting defensive of her little brother.
that he’s maturing too fast. Trust me,
I know a lot about that. A kid
should be a kid. And even when that kid
has grown into an adult, he or she should still retain some of that childlike
fascination for something. Do you
understand what I’m saying?”
I have always been fascinated by magic.
Even though I know how most of it works, I still go ‘Wow!’ whenever I
see magic, however false it is. When I
become an adult, I need to have as much fascination with something as I do now
for magic.”
his job to do anything fun. In other
words: an asshole. I couldn’t stand to
do that. I mean, yeah, I’m serious now,
but I do have my fun times, too.
If I’m with some of my friends and we’re just sittin’ around doing
nothing, I’ll just get up and tackle my friend Tora, ’cause it’s better than doing
nothing at all. Do you understand now?”
And I believe the same thing.”
needs a hobby other than sitting in front of a television all day playing some
damned game. A kid needs to get outside
and run around chasing something.
Preferably another kid.”
spoke. She’d never seen so much emotion
on one person’s face as she did now.
There was happiness, anger, sadness, and a few more other emotions that
Kagome couldn’t begin to name. So much
there for so little time before the mask was put back into place.
said as Mrs. Higurashi could be heard calling them down for dinner.
they had sat down, Sota came down as well, followed by Kagome’s grandfather who
came down the hall.
Kagome to realize why.
thought as she watched her grandpa bow and then nudge for Sota to do the same,
“uh, Grandpa, Sota, this is Kyo. Kyo,
this is my grandpa and my little brother Sota.”
grandfather asked, “Where did you say you met this young man?”
answered simply.
his shoulder to stop him. Kagome’s
grandfather extended his right arm and swept it from his left hip across his
chest to his right side in a gesture of welcome. Kyo bowed, and allowed himself to sit. Kagome’s grandfather then allowed Sota to sit before taking his
own seat.
guy from? He could teach
Inu-Yasha a thing or two. And anyhow,
how does Grandpa know what the heck he’s doing?”
meal, and as she came in, Kyo and Kagome’s grandfather stood so fast that they
both almost knocked over their chairs.
had only bowed his head.
my, I didn’t realize we had two gentlemen here tonight.
herself down at the head of the table.
Kagome and Sota automatically began eating, but Mrs. Higurashi was
talking to Grandpa and Kyo was watching Mrs. Higurashi’s plate.
asked Kyo why he was looking at her plate.
will not eat until the one at the head of the table has begun to eat, and since
I was speaking with you, he has not had the chance to do so.
anymore.”
himself?” Sota asked.
not speak unless spoken to while being a guest in someone else’s home.”
Higurashi had begun to eat.
answered, “Yes, Kagome-san, it is. My
family has long practiced these customs, for we feel it is necessary to
practice them, no matter how old they become.”
quickly, “I’m not from around here, you’ve probably never even heard of it.
no one outside of my family is allowed to walk on, so really no one even
remembers that it’s there. My home is
ancient.”
the next room.” Kagome said, pointing
with her chopsticks.
things. I tried giving Kagome the
mummified hand of a kappa, but she would not take it.”
find as sugar in candy.”
took me a long time to find that!”
Kagome’s grandfather protested.
the way is no bigger than Kagome-san’s room, is filled at least halfway with
the mummified hands of the kappa. Over
a hundred, last my father counted.”
you find to be rare?”
“What do I find to be rare? Spell books
dealing with talismans and actual spells.
You can’t find any genuine ones around here, let alone any written by
Kara.”
looking from her grandfather’s stunned face to Kyo’s calm one.
subject of black magic are rarer still.
Kara despised black magic and only wrote three books on the
subject, and even then only because a certain person wanted her to.
level, “Sir, I mean you and your family name no ill respect, but Kara, though
not my mother, was in my family.
Kara Usuya, was the sister of my great grandmother, and was forced to
write those three books. I search now
for any of her books and diaries, so that I may have her full collection to
learn from and keep safe from those that would use her books for harm.”
harm, hm?”
for a low rumbling was coming from his throat.
gladly give it to you framed and written in my blon aon a piece of
papyrus.” Kyo stated, sounding very
dark and serious then. Kagome wanted
all of it to stop, but couldn’t make herself move.
it was a magical item, so what’s wrong with Kyo-kun wanting to collect books
that should be rightfully his anyway?!
made the move of blinking and pushing in his chair. He turned and walked towards the door, but stopped before he left
the dining area.
allowed into your home, and I very much wish to have been able to leave with
your good graces, but it appears there has been some disagreement, and for that
I apologize. Kagome-san, will I be
seeing you at school tomorrow?” Kagome could only let herself nod, not trusting
herself to say anything, “Good, then I shall see you then.
then came the sound of the door closing.
After he had gone, Kagome noticed a small grain of rice that she had
missed. Picking it up with her fingers
when she thought no one was looking, Kagome was surprised to see it sprout
something green.
grew and blossomed into a red rose with ‘Kagome-san’ written along the stem.
not realizing that her grandfather had been speaking to her.
and because he retreated at all shows much self-control.
came with, and he knows that. I should
have backed down first, but he beat me to it, and left you a token of his
appreciation as well as a sign of his power.
To create a seed where there was none takes much skill.
left to him in Kara’s books.”
Mrs. Higurashi asked.
Feudal Era.”
out of thin air? Do you know how useful
that would be?! Maybe he could apply
this magic stuff of his to heal or fix things, I don’t know!
help.”
I could help him with. I just hope it
isn’t school work.” Kagome said as she
grimaced, remembering just how unqualified she was to be teaching someone else
when she herself didn’t even know what was going on.
jump down an old well?” Sota asked.
he thought, rounding a corner into the alleyways he had made Kagome swear to
never go into again, “so that’s always a plus, but Kagome’s hiding
something. A big something.
room, and it had shards of the Sacred Jewel in it, and I’m beginning to wonder
how the Jewel of Four Souls got into shards in the first place
the three shadows following him. It was
only until he heard the drawing of the first dagger that he pulled himself away
from his thoughts to dodge it, only to be grazed by another one.
on his left ankle, cutting down one attacker while still faced with the other
two. The long knife was thrust from his
hand and fell to a clang onto the ground.
In a flash, he was on his back being held down by the fallen shadow and
one with a bleeding arm. The third was
standing above him, holding his fallen dagger in his gloved hands pointed
towards his heart.
towards the third shadowed figure’s head.
That having been seen, Kyo released his consciousness and fell into the
black abyss that was his own mind.