A Bus Stoirytirytale

Ha! I like my title! Get it? Seren-ade? ha ha ha.........anywho.....
I have to admit I loved writing this chapter. I wanted something fun to balance out the tune of redemption for Kagome, Sess and Naraku. I wanted to show that although he is constantly haunted by her absence, Kagome's presence in his life has changed things for the better. Let's take a peek at how this same day starts out for Inuyasha. And yes, this is right after Miroku and Sango's quickie...tehe...
Hope you like!
Ja ne!
~Sabichan~




**I POV**

I perked up my head as I heard the water begin to boil. I jumped up and rushed to the stove, quickly pouring into the waiting cup of Ramen. I closed the lid and carefully carried it back to the table. I sighed when I realized how routine this had become for me. I started to wish I’d asked my mother to teach me how to cook before she moved out. Then I started to wish I’d asked Kagome long before that.

I did my best to shake the thoughts out of my head as I started to eat breakfast. But as usual, the girl won out.

I had dreamt about her again last night. One of the really good ones. So good, it would have made Miroku blush.

I smirked at that thought. I had long gotten over my embarrassment about my sexual attraction to her. It was all a part of why I loved her. She was gorgeous, and every day I dreamed about telling her that again. I wanted to run my hands over her body once more, to feel her writhing on top of me, to kiss her and hold her again. I never ceased to wonder how far we would have gone if Warui hadn’t showed up.

Even though I certainly wouldn’t have forced her into doing anything she didn’t want to, I sure as hell wouldn’t have said no. I wouldn’t have stopped unless she stopped me. I would have made love to her right there on the grass beneath the God Tree.

That of course had been my dream last night.

Laying her down ever so gently, silently questioning if she was sure. She would nod softly, a faint blush gracing her cheeks and would kiss me as she arched her back to unzip her dress. Then, slowly I would slide the strap off her shoulder, following each inch with a burning kiss. Then the other, until finally-

>Ring!<

“Goddammit!!” I yelled, as the hot water burned my hand when I jumped. I wiped it off as I stood to get the phone, mumbling a few curses along the way.

“What?”

“Did you burn yourself again honey?” I rolled my eyes.

“No, Faye.”

“Liar. Sweetie, you don’t have to come in today. We’re closing the restaurant for a few days-it just way too dusty to serve food here. The renovation is almost done so we just have to make a little sacrifice.”

“Oh...Okay.” I felt my heart sink at this. Now what was I going to do today? I didn’t start work at the mail room till four. And it was only 8:30 now. She must have heard the disappointment in my voice.

“You can come help Mushin wash his car if you want. Or help me teach Shippo math. He’s not doing very well with it.”

“Keh! You baby him too much, Faye, he’s just doing bad to get attention. Trust me I’ve seen him do geometry.”

“What? SHIPPO!!” I had to hold the phone away from my ear when she yelled. Oops...got the little brat in trouble...

“Um, gotta go Faye, thanks bye.” I hung up quickly and stepped away from the phone. I walked back to the kitchen and sat back down. I ate quickly, and thought about what I could do to fill up my day.

After I cleaned up the mess I had made from boiling water, I grabbed my guitar from my room.

I’d started a few weeks after Kagome left. It just seemed like something I could do to pass the time, and I’d always wanted to learn to play something. It had been hard at first, and I’d almost given up.

But after one day of not playing, I felt kind of empty...well more empty than usual.

So I’d started again, and had gotten pretty good since.

I sat down on the front couch and started to strum out a few chords. Playing always helped me focus better, helped me think just a little more clearly. Of course, having the one track mind that I do, I usually only thought about one thing, or person for that matter.


Her birthday had passed just last month-she was 21 now. Hitomi had invited us all to dinner at her home that night, to hold a mock party for her missing daughter. We had spent the night talking about her, reminiscing about how she’d changed each of our lives. I listened rather than spoke-if they were to even get me started about how Kagome had changed me, we would’ve been there all night.

Sango missed her terribly. I couldn’t blame her of course. She’d never really had any close friends other than Miro and me. And even though the two had finally given into the sexual tension that always seemed to surround them, she still felt like something was missing. It really wasn’t all that hard to figure out just what that was.

Hitomi was taking it rather well. I found a lot of comfort in her and Souta...even the old man sometimes. They almost seemed to know something I didn’t. About a month ago, I finally caved in and asked why the hell they were so fucking calm about the whole damn thing...well I worded it differently...

Hitomi had just smiled and given me a big hug, which I readily accepted.

“I have shed tears for my daughter, like any mother would. But not nearly as many as you would expect. I am calm, and I understand this readily, because I know my daughter. I know her almost too well. Kagome left for her own reasons, not just one, but many. If anything, I was almost waiting for this to happen. She’s been restless since her friends left, itching to see what they were experiencing. But she chose to stay here with us, her family. Inuyasha, even if I had known she was going to leave, I would not have stopped her. She needs this. I know...I know you love my daughter, and that all you wanted to do was make her happy. You have to understand, that if that’s what you really want for her, than you have to let her go. I can’t say that she’s happy with the choice she’s made, but I know she had to do this.
“I do my best though, to be content with hoping she is happy. Just like any mother would. But I know something, something about her that brings me peace. I know she is bound to this shrine, every aspect of it from the old well to the Goshinboku-this is her home and she will never be able to leave it behind. I know my daughter will see, and that she will come home. And I will be here waiting for her with open arms and an open heart, no matter how long it takes.”

Her words had helped me through some of my loneliest nights. Just the thought, the mere hope that someday I would see her sweet face again...

Since the night of her birthday, I’d done my best to think more “When” and less “If”. Kagome was going to come back. I would wait as long as I had to, my whole life if that was what she needed. And the moment she came back, I would take her in my arms and never let her go ever, ever again. I was going to give her the Shikon no Tama once more, and by the Gods there was no way I was going to let her give it back.

I was going to marry her, spend the rest of my life with her, and die with her.

My life was hers...she had only to come home to claim it.

The others hadn’t understood why I had refused to change along with them. Why I had chosen to stay in the same apartment on my own, to work the same jobs at the same times and take the same bus each morning. I wasn’t even sure sometimes. It wasn’t like I couldn’t afford not to work or get a car. I actually didn’t have to worry about money ever again now that Sess was home. But I couldn’t live my life off of his success. No, I had to learn to be independent, just like Kagome was doing right now.

It was far more lonely though, not having my mother around. Since she’d moved in with Naraku, things had been even more quiet. That is, except when Miro and Sango were here. Which was quite often. I was grateful that they kept the cutesy lovey-dovey act to a minimum around me. But I had to admit I was truly happy for them. Like I had said before, it was nice to see someone get it right.
When they weren’t around though, that’s when things got a little harder. With no distractions, my thoughts would consume me, turn against me. I would start to tell myself that she wasn’t ever going to come back, that I had screwed up royally. That she would never forgive me for Kikyo, that she was disgusted by me for being so weak. My thoughts sometimes leaned to the day after she’d left, when I had gone to the graveyard to kill myself...what would she think of me? Would she hate me if she found out?

Then sometimes, my hand would go to the scar on my chest and I would wonder...maybe I had been on the right track. Maybe I should have just done it, gotten it over with, and let go of all this pain.

Maybe....

No.

No, that wasn’t right. I had to just keep waiting, keep hoping.

I would see her again someday.

Until then, I had my memories, more precious than Sess and Naraku’s fortune, more precious than the Shikon no Tama itself.

I thought again about the legend of the Miko and the Half-Demon. There were those same parallels again between me and Kagome. Only this time, our roles were reversed. Instead of searching for a way to become a man, Kagome was finding her way to becoming a woman. And me? I was here waiting, ever vigilant, for her return. Only this time, this was going to end differently. There would be no twist, no one to come between us, no tragic ending.

This time, we were going to live happily ever after, no matter how long that took.


I finally realized I was singing softly as I continued to strum the guitar. I smiled at my own actions. I’d never been much of a singer, never really cared much for my own rough voice. But I didn’t stop, I just let it happen. I played the song that I hadn’t yet been able to get out of my head for over a year, the one Kagome had sung to me on her birthday.

I didn’t hear the door open behind me, or the footsteps that followed. My eyes were closed and I was focused on the song pouring out of me. As I played the last chord, I heard applause. I jerked around in shock and blushed when I saw the petite girl standing next to me.

“Inu! I didn’t know you could sing!”

“You know, there’s a door there for reason. It’s supposed to stop people from coming inside uninvited.”

“Don’t talk to your sister like that. wow...I never thought I’d hear myself say that.”

Rin walked over and sat down next to me, her eyes ever playful.

“Well I was going to knock, but I heard this angelic little voice from out in the hallway, and I couldn’t help but be curious. And here you are-I’ve never heard you sing before. You have a wonderful voice.”

“Feh.” I muttered, still a little embarrassed about being caught.

“No I mean that! Then again, it guess it does run in your family. Does that mean Sesshie can sing too? He never sang to me either. You two are just too stingy!” She pretended to pout and I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of Sess singing. Her eyes brightened and then flashed hopefully.

“Could you sing some more.. for me?”

“What?!”

“Oh come on! What’s one more little song for your big sister? I won’t tell anybody about your pretty voice...or I will if you refuse. Either way, you don’t have much a choice now do you?”

“Rin, how the hell do you do that? You always know just how to get your way. I can’t understand how Sess can stand you.” She shrugged.

“He likes to be controlled. He just doesn’t realize it.”

“So what if I tell him that?”

“HA! Like he’s gonna believe you over me? I have a lot more credibility and more ways
of ...persuasion.

I shivered in disgust. I knew just what she meant by that...

“Oh Gods, don’t ever say that again! It’s bad enough I had to walk in on that! What’s wrong with you two, you’re like rabbits or something!”

“We’re perfect for each other, and that’s that. Don’t act like you wouldn’t be the same if Kagome were here.”

My eyes darkened at her words and she gasped and bit her lip nervously, realizing what she’d just let slip. She reached out to take my hand, squeezing it tightly.

“I’m sorry Inu, that was uncalled for. I...Gods, I’m such an idiot.”

I hated to see her upset. After all...she was right. I smiled and shook my head dismissively.

“Don’t feel bad. At least someone doesn’t tiptoe around the subject with me. Besides, I’m used to your big mouth.” She grinned mischievously as her eyes darted from my guitar and back.

“Which will be ready to spill many things about your cute little voice if you don’t make with the singing.”
“Rin, you’re such a bitch.” I groaned.

“And a one, and a two!” She clapped in time. I sighed and gave up. She was impossible to argue
with. No wonder Sess was always all over her-it was the only time he ever got to be in charge.

I thought about what to sing. I didn’t know too many songs just yet, mostly just a lot of oldies with simple melodies.

I closed my eyes suddenly as it came to me-the perfect song. I strummed the strings softly as Rin let out a girlish squeal.

Concentrating, I began to sing.


Bus stop, wet day, She’s there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella
All that summer we enjoyed it, wind and rain and shine
That umbrella we employed it, by august she was mine

Every morning I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she’d bought
All the people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to be the same

That’s the way the whole thing started
Silly but it’s true
Thinking of a sweet romance
Beginning in a queue
Came the sun, the ice was melting
No more sheltering now
Nice to think that that umbrella
Led me to a vow

Every morning I would see her waiting at the stop
Sometimes she’d shopped and she would show me what she’d bought
All the people stared as if we were both quite insane
Someday my name and hers are going to the same

Bus stop, Wet day, she’s there, I say
Please share my umbrella
Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows
Under my umbrella
All that summer we enjoyed it, wind and rain and shine
That umbrella we employed it, by august she was mine.

My eyes shot open as I heard more that just one person applauding this time. My face had already flushed a bright red by the time I had looked to the open door.

Just what the hell they were all doing there, I had no fucking clue. But there stood Miro and Sango, next to Faye, Shippo and my mother.

“What the fuck?!”

They all looked so...happy.

My mother rushed to my side and hugged me tight, gushing the whole time.

“Oh, Inu, you sounded so wonderful, I always knew you had it in you! My little boy has such a nice voice, didn’t I tell you Faye?”

“All the time! Oh, sweetie, I’m so impressed!”

“Me too, I never knew you could sing!” Sango approached, smiling, dragging Miro behind her.

“That’s what I said!” Rin replied, bouncing up and down excitedly on the couch beside me.

“That a boy Inu, Good show.” Miroku put in, clapping lightly.

If there ever was a moment I wished I was invisible it was right then. My face could put a cherry to shame, and I had long ago hidden it in my hands as they all cooed over me.

I sounded terrible! What the fuck were they all excited about? I wasn’t off key, but shit, I wasn’t a fucking pop star. I jerked my head up to glare at them all.

“What the hell are you all doing here anyway? And what ever happened to knocking?! This isn’t a fucking convention center, it’s my goddamn apartment!”

My mother bopped me over the head, frowning.

“Inuyasha Shingetsu, you watch your mouth in front of Shippo! And I’m your mother, I can walk in here whenever I damn well please.”

“But-” ‘she just cursed in front of him!’

“No buts, tell Shippo you’re sorry.” I glared daggers at the kid who suddenly looked very nervous, hiding behind his mother’s legs. Who, by the way was giving me that look....you know the one.

“You are so dead kid.” I growled through clenched teeth.

“Don’t threaten him! That’s my job.” Faye growled back. My eyebrow twitched in annoyance as I heard Miro and Sango trying their hardest not to laugh at my predicament.

A cell phone rang suddenly and Rin jumped about ten feet in the air.

“AHH! I’m vibrating!”

I took the opportunity to make a mad dash for my room, locking the door behind me. Not a second later I had five pairs of fists pounding from the other side as I braced the door.

“Go Away and get out of my apartment ! Don’t you all have anything better to do than to torture me?!”

“Inu, let me in right this moment! You still have to apologize to Shippo.”

“I’m not sorry, the kid knows better than to curse in front of Faye! Besides you should hear what Miro says around him!”

The pounding stopped suddenly and I could hear Miroku gulp...then run. I heard a screaming Faye bound down the hall after him as well as a worried Sango and my mother.

I heard a banging coming from the floor, and realized the old woman who lived under me was using her broom again to get me to be quiet. Already short tempered, I dropped to my knees and pounded back.

“Alright ya old hag I hear ya!”

As if on cue it stopped and I leaned back against the door, breathing heavily.


Then I smiled.


This was fun. I had to admit, it sure beat spending the entire day just giving myself blisters, and thinking until I gave myself a headache to match.

“Inu, can I come in now?” Shippo said softly. I reached up and unlocked the door and he slipped in, relocking it behind him. I rolled my eyes and gave in.

“I’m sorry, kid, I didn’t mean-”

“Don’t apologize, I’m not stupid. Mom just treats me like a little kid sometimes.” I blinked in surprise.

“You are a little kid.”

“Hey! You’re supposed to be on my side!”

“I am.”

“Then treat me a little more like an adult. I am eight and half now!”

I looked at him, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. He barely stood as tall as me sitting down.

I chuckled and ruffled his hair.

“Don’t be so quick to grow up, Kid. Trust me, it’s not all fun and games. If I were you, I’d cash in on the babying as much as I could as long as I could. Life isn’t always so easy.”

His pout faded away and his eyes darkened.

“You didn’t get to a be kid for very long did you, Inuyasha? You were still little when your dad left, huh?”

“Yep. A year and a half older than you are now. Think about that....If Mushin just up and left you and Miroku and Faye....how would you deal with it?”

“I...I couldn’t...Inu....How were you so strong?”

“I’m anything but.” I muttered, playing with the ends of my hair. I should cut it...I wonder what it would look like black....

I suddenly felt a little hand on my shoulder. I looked up to see Shippo's eyes filled with what I could only hope was admiration.

“I think you are. If fact, you’re the strongest person I know. Even more that my Momma. She’s tough, but you’re strong, and it’s different. You have a lot to deal with all the time, and always have. Even before I was born! And then with Kagome....” His face twisted in pain at the mention of her name.

“You miss her too, huh Kid?” He sat down next to me, mimicking my action with his own, much shorter red hair.

“Yeah...She was so nice and so pretty and she always had a cool story to tell me about her shrine and she always had candy in her purse for me. I guess you must miss her a lot more than I do though.”

“We all miss her.”

“But you love her. Like Poppa loves my Momma.”

I smiled and patted his head comfortingly.

“Yeah I do. But she’s gonna come back Shippo. I know she will. I can’t promise soon, but I can promise that she will.”

“You mean that?” His eyes were as big as saucers, brimming with hope.

“I swear it.” I smirked as an idea popped into my head. “ I can also swear that I’m gonna tell your mom she’s been sneaking you candy. Man are you two gonna be in trouble!” He gasped.

“You wouldn’t !!”

“I would. But if you do me a favor, then I might be inclined to keep my mouth shut.” He latched onto my arm, his eyes pleading.

“Anything! She always has the best candy! What do you want?”

“First, I want you to stop pretending you don’t know how to do math. You can’t fool me, Kid.” He nodded profusely. “And...forget about being treated like an adult for a while...just let your mother baby you for a few more years. It won’t be too long before she’s chasing you down for cursing.”

We laughed and he stuck out his hand. I shook it, amused about how small it was compared to mine.

“You got yourself a deal Inu! Now come help me save dumb sh- I mean...my brother.”

I nodded and he ran out the hallway, calling for his mother. I watched him go, a smile still faint on my lips.

He was adorable that kid. I certainly wouldn’t mind having one of those of my own someday. Of course, he’d have silver hair instead of Shippo’s auburn red. Or she’d have her mother’s ebony locks, that glinted blue in the sunlight, with deep chocolate brown eyes and ivory skin. Hell, why not both of them...maybe one more?

I shook my head smiling as I glanced up at the framed picture on my wall. Sighing, I rose to my feet and gave it one more look as I walked out the door.

Someday...



Aww...how cute.
About the guitar and the singing...I wanted him to have something he could dat wat would help him think, help him express himself. Kagome feels best onstage, he feels most comfortable with his guitar. I don't personally play, so I'm really not inserting anything I do in here. As for his voice, think of Johnny Rzeznick of the Goo Goo Dolls. My mom is a huge huge fan, so I constantly hear their music. I've also met him and the rest of the band, and they're awesome. How did I meet them? Well when a forty something woman's dragged you to about twenty concerts for the same band in only three years, they eventually recognize your face. Also, I have a great story that involves Vegas, Ryan Seacrest at my house, and my mom wearing a lime green tuxedo jacket puking into a coin cup. Want to hear it? I swear it's traumatizing and hilarious! I've got a couple dealing with her. She's a groupie, always has been, probably always will.
Anywho, Johnny's voice fit perfectly in my head, especially singing that song. I should write to him and request that he sing it sometime. Man that'd be so awesome.
Then again, he'd be like "who the hell is this crazy chick? Sing for her? Fuck that!"
Damn you Johnny!! XP