Pendulum

Chapter 6: Smoke and Mirriors

Kagome was up bright and early for a Monday. With pep in her step, she bounded down the stairs finding her family at the table eating breakfast. "What's got you up so early?" asked Sota as he nibbled on a piece of buttered toast, eyeing her suspiciously. They both knew of her tendencies to sleep in.

"I have to go meet a friend before school." she answered as she poked her head into the fridge to nab her bento box before moving to kiss her mother's cheek.

"What sort of 'friend' meets you that early?" he asked, unconvinced.

"I just found some kid's phone and I'm returning it before school." she explained briefly.

"Kagome be safe." Mrs. Higurashi advised as she sipped her morning coffee.

"You know it!" she promised even as she headed towards the door. "Bye!" she called, running from her house to catch the city bus. Unfortunately, the WacDonalds downtown was across town putting her way out of her way. However the decision was with purpose; if her suspicions were correct and if Inuichi was Sesshomaru's son, then choosing a place anywhere close to her home would raise flags.

Even at 7 o'clock, downtown Tokyo hummed with activity. Salarymen and women marched up and down the street with business suits and briefcases. Snaking her way through the wall of passerbies, Kagome stopped at a newsstand. Buying the daily paper, Kagome opened it only to use it as cover as she scoped out the fast food diner across the street. The patrons were all working people either in suits or construction workers preparing to go to their sites. All except one. Seated outside on the patio was a teenage boy with long, thick hair wearing a black baseball cap and a red t-shirt. Though his back was to her, one feature confirmed all of her suspicions.

His hair was white.

A grin of victory stole her cheeks. "Checkmate." she said under her breath. With him in sight, Kagome crossed the street to approach her unsuspecting target. The closer she got, the more familiar he appeared. Even from behind, there was no doubt in her mind that he was apart of the Inu-clan. When finally she reached the spot just behind his seat, Kagome leaned forward triumphantly to snatch the hat from his head. As expected, two fuzzy dog ears were hidden beneath it.

"Aha!" she proclaimed triumphantly. "I've got you Inu– " Kagome went still as she looked into the unquestionably identical face of the hanyou she knew so well. "–yasha?" she finished her voice a whisper. "What're– how?"

Inuyasha looked to her blinking before he clasped his hands together and pressed them against his cheek. "Kagome my dearest! I've waited for you for so long!" he squealed, his eyes so passionate they were practically hearts themselves. "Come my sweet, let us bask in the beauty of our love!" It was then Kagome spotted a floof of wavy fur sticking out from his rear.

It only took seconds for Kagome's anger to ignite before she launched herself at his person to pull at his cheeks. "Shippo how dare you!" she snapped, tugging his cheeks until his guise dropped leaving her with the fox faced youkai snickering at her expense.

"That's what you get for trying to trick us." he countered, raising his hands to tickle her ribs, finding the flaw in her offense. Kagome recoiled, attempting to escape, but Shippo was bigger and stronger and soon she was a curled mess of giggles in his arms.

"Cut it out!"

"You give up?" he taunted, moving to attack her armpit.

"Haha– yes!" she squealed. "S-stop!"

With a final tickle to her jaw, Shippo relented his attack. "Good. That's not cool what you did." he admonished. "You lied."

"How'd you know it was me?" she asked, her chuckles abating.