A/N: So the bad news is my update times are getting frequently longer as I'm sure you guys have noticed. I'm really sorry but please direct any complaints to the professors who made my midterms ;p. The good news is though that this is the longest chapter I've ever posted for this fic! So hopefully it makes up a little bit for it taking so long heh. This chapter also put up more of a struggle than it needed to being put on paper. It seems the closer I get to finishing this fic the harder each chapter gets :. Ah well I've yet to find myself in too much of a writers block so I'm glad for that. Now onto my favorite part! Thank you's :D
Inukagchick11: haha yea the Kikyou card equals instant drama, and I damn well plan to end in style no worries hehe. That's why I'm not rushing it, thanks for all your reviews! TheNotSoEmoEmu: Hah yea it's true, Kagome will be ok though she's a big girl ;) Thanks very much! Kawaii-CherryWolf: Haha impending doom is a pretty dramatic thing huh? Hope you like the update :p Psycho-Miko22: Heh, thanks I think? InuGoddess715: Haha I'm glad you approve of Kouga keeping his consciousness, he really didn't mean any hard he's just a bit slow on the uptake ;D Kag Inu really are too cute, despite them trying to deny it hehe. Thanks! Kagome is better: Thanks:) Wondering and lost: Thank you kindly! I appreciate it :D MejunTenshi: Hehe yay for social indeed. Sorry the update took so long but hope you like it! Koorikage93: I plan on it, thank you for the review :D inuiskags: Aww thanks hunny, I really don't have any professional training though so I'm sure you could too. It mostly just takes having no life ;p I'm kidding…sort of. Thank you hehe! IYLuv: Awww….that's really sweet of you, thanks! I'm glad you like my story so much hehe and I hope you like the update:) 15transcends: haha thanks! Sorry my updates aren't super soon but I'm happy you love the story ;D Inuyasha05: Thank you! Jaspyn: Thank you darling, I do like happy endings btw :D and I don't think I've ever been described by that many adjectives at once haha. You're too cute and very great yourself ;) animerev: No worries, thanks! Hope your computer is all fixed now! And you'll just have to read to find out :D kukuku -evil Naraku giggle of course! DragonMasterBriam: Dreamy eyes are totally cute. But um eek! -cowers and hides- Hope you like the update! Alchemistgrl09: No worries! Thanks for the review you did leave me, it's great :D rachel2002: Thank yooou! Xsachi: -giggle-
-Whew- I love you all, enough said. Laurell
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"GET UP! Put some clothes on! Come on they're going to be here any minute!" Kagome yelled pummeling the door of Miroku's room with her little fists.
"Kagome!" Sango groaned from the other side. "Leave us alone! It's early!"
"The boys are taking us to Gillin's Beach today! Come on! Get out here or I'm coming in there!"
"NO!" Two voices quickly shouted and Kagome nodded with a smirk at the fumbling noises meaning they were out of bed.
Kagome sighed happily as she walked through their condo and opened the sliding doors to let the early morning breeze drift through freshening everything. Kagome breathed in slowly, appreciating the soft scent of the ocean and the flowers under their balcony that came with the sweet wind.
She hadn't been able to sleep well that morning, not that she ever slept in as late as her friends anyways. Part of it was her excitement for spending the entire day planned by Inuyasha, Kouga and Shippou, hitting up some more of their local favorites. But a small bit of her was probably trying to make the most of the short time she had left. Kagome tried to ignore those thoughts while she dug in the fridge for breakfast.
She got a rather fabulous idea and while she heard the shower turn on in Miroku's room and she quickly placed the carton of eggs, bread, and the bacon on the counter and then went back for butter and jelly.
The time passed quickly with Kagome humming to herself softly while she cooked, moving the scrambled eggs around carefully. It was the easiest, and only way she really knew how to cook eggs but the boys wouldn't have known that.
"Is that…the smell of food?" Sango opened the bathroom door holding her towel around her body and sniffed the hallway.
"Oh god, Kagome's cooking?!" Miroku made a dramatic face and she punched his arm.
"Be nice, Kagome's a decent cook, and it actually smells really good. So…" She wigged out of Miroku's hug when as usual his hands started to wander. "We should definitely go eat and not get distracted. I wouldn't want Kagome's breakfast getting cold." Sango winked at her pouting boyfriend disappearing out into the hall to go get dressed.
Miroku sighed but his stomach growled in agreement to Sango. "Two to one I guess," he muttered.
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"Jeez Kagome how much food did you make!" Sango gasped walking into the kitchen seeing all the plates stacked around what looked like a bizarre breakfast circus with Kagome as the ring leader. She was finishing up the last pan of eggs, the bacon already drying and toast set out on all six plates in various free counter spaces around the kitchen.
"Well…all of it," she giggled. Sango noticed a smudge of pink jam had somehow made it onto her cheek and she wiped it off with the flowered kitchen towel nearby. "Thanks, so much for looking my best when the guys get here huh?"
"You still look beautiful, don't worry." Sango laughed and moved to help her slightly frantic looking friend.
"Wow Kagome…" Miroku said as he stared in shock at all the food she had made. "At least we know nothing went to waste. I guess we didn't have much time left to use it anyways." He remarked walking into the kitchen and hopping up to sit on a stool pulled up to the counter. Sango threw a glare that cut like a knife over her shoulder and he looked at her in confusion. She tilted her head towards where Kagome's back was turned to them with a worried frown.
"Oh come on guys, you don't have to hide the fact we leave Friday from me. I know it I'm fine. And it's not like you could drug me, pack all my things, and shove me on the plane without my knowledge so I wouldn't have to worry about saying goodbye."
"That isn't such a bad id-" An 'oof' was all Miroku finished the sentence with.
"I think that's going to start classifying as domestic abuse now." Kagome giggled and finished piling everything onto plates for the six of them turning off the burners.
"I think it's been abuse for the past two years," Miroku wheezed clutching his stomach.
There was a loud knock on the door before it swung open, sooner than they had the chance to even say come in.
"Honey I'm home!" Kouga shouted over a fuming Shippou.
"Kouga that does not count as knocking if you just barge in afterwards! Honestly where did you learn your manners? A Mexican prison?" Shippou insisted agitated.
"Who cares I smell food." Inuyasha shoved past both of them marching in and sitting down at the counter next to Miroku. "Well this I wasn't expecting, you girls sure are full of surprises."
Sango held her hands up in innocence. "I had nothing to do with this; it was all Kagome's work and remember that if it tastes awful." Kagome swatted her with a clean spatula.
"Now that I'm doubting." Shippou grinned and Kagome leaned over the counter to give Inuyasha a quick peck on the cheek.
"Good morning guys! I thought it was the least I could do to feed our noble tour guides before we left."
"No complaints here." Kouga snatched the plate Inuyasha had just picked up away from him and accepted one of the forks Sango was passing out. Inuyasha glared at him but Kagome quickly gave him another plate and handed one to Shippou who politely thanked her. While the boys devoured their food arguing among themselves Sango and Kagome snuck out to the balcony to eat their breakfast in peace on the little patio table.
"I'm impressed Kagome, have you been sneaking cooking lessons?"
"Oh come on, it's scrambled eggs, not exactly the hardest dish," Kagome giggled taking a bite of toast.
"Well its really good, thanks." Kagome smiled at her best friend and the two looked out to the ocean watching the peaceful waves. Sango didn't miss the slightly sad touch to Kagome's gaze.
The two friends spoke softly over the sounds of the nearby beach laughing with each other even after they were both finished. Kagome looked down in surprise when someone took both of their empty plates off the table.
"Shippou you don't have to do that!" Kagome insisted moving to stand and help him. Inuyasha put a hand on her shoulder forcing her back into a seat. Kagome looked like she was going to protest more but relented when he leaned over the chair and crossed his arms loosely around her neck resting on her shoulders.
"And she cooks well too. You're making me not want to let go of you Kagome," he whispered and she blushed brightly. Sango coughed and Inuyasha sat back up winking at her amused glare.
"Come on," he patted Kagome's shoulder. "We've got to get going if we want to catch any sun at all."
"Oh you're exaggerating. It's not that late."
"Well we could always stay here for a little while longer…" Inuyasha accentuated his point leaning down and nuzzling her neck.
"You know you're right we really should be going!" Still furiously blushing Kagome sprang up and rushed inside to help clean up focusing her thoughts on chilly chilly things.
"What?" Inuyasha shrugged with an innocent grin when Sango smacked him lightly as she walked past.
Once everyone was packed and ready the girls loaded up into the jeep with Kagome driving and following the boys in the van. Sango stretched out in the passenger seat loving the wind and sun beating down on them from the jeeps open top.
"I think I'm going to need to get one of these, or at least a convertible someday." She mused and Kagome glanced at her seeing the reflection of the sun in her black sunglasses.
Kagome smiled and looked back to the deserted two lane road they were driving on. The lush tropical foliage was starting to thin out as they approached the huge Hyatt Kauai Resort. Rows of palm trees were clumped along the peaceful road but they passed a few more cars around the busier area. Sango craned her neck and whistled as they went past the hotel. "Wow that place sure looks nice."
"I think I like our seclusion a little more. But that's where our reservations for the luau are on Thursday afternoon."
"Really?!" Sango jumped up and looked at the hotel again. "I didn't know that's where we're going. We'll have to do some exploring while were there."
"Yea it's going to be so much fun, I cannot WAIT! And the guys agreed to go with us even though I'm sure they've already gone before."
"Well Inu would do anything for you Kagome." Kagome didn't miss how Sango lowered her sunglasses and bat her eyelashes at her.
"Stop that," she giggled. "I can barely keep up with the way Kouga drives that thing without you distracting me!" Kagome pushed her fluttering bangs back, even though they just fell back into her eyes a moment later while they passed a beautiful and huge golf course. Mountains were piled around the edges of the crisp course framing it against the sky.
Kagome had never thought of Kauai to be a very mountainous area but now she wondered what had given her that impression at all. They were beautiful green mountains covered in tropical vegetation with tips that disappeared into misty clouds that didn't come any further down. Kagome stole a few more looks to the little people playing on the course before the road evened out and slowly seemed to melt into the ground become a gravel road.
Sango's peaceful sunbathing was slightly ruined by the sudden bumps and she looked down in surprise. "What happened to the road?" Kagome shrugged trusting wherever the boys led them but a little surprised too.
The small road ended at an old wooden gate and Kouga made a sharp left. Kagome followed a little nervously at how far out they seemed. There was nothing but the tiny trail of a road they had been driving on for quite some time.
"So how much faith do you have in this new found boyfriend of yours?" Sango teased from her anxious look.
"A lot, and he's-"
"I know, I know."
The two cars passed by a small guard shack and the road began to veer left when Kouga suddenly parked seemingly in the middle of no where. The girls both looked around spotting no beach, or any signs of life either. Unbuckling their seat belts and picking up their bags Kagome got out and squinted looking around.
"You guys, where the hell are we?" Sango barked to the boys unloading their surf boards.
"Relax, can't you hear it?" Inuyasha called to them. Kagome struggled to listen but couldn't find what she was listening for.
"It's the sound of the surf." Shippou laughed and pointed to a tiny trail carved out of the trees and bushes directly ahead of them. Kagome walked closer to it following the line of her friends and this time she did hear it and her face broke out into a smile. The six of them walked single file the boys having to duck under branches down the narrow trail until it abruptly opened up out of the darkness to a huge beach.
"Welcome to Gillins, one of the best spots we keep all to ourselves." Kouga smiled and the three new comers gasped. Kagome looked in both directions completely amazed to not see a single other person. There was nothing but the gorgeous golden sand, the warm sun, the surf reaching up towards them and a handful of palm trees for neighbors.
"Amazing." Sango breathed from next to them.
"Aren't you glad you trust me?" Inuyasha kissed her cheek quickly and chased after his friends into the ocean diving himself and the board into the waves.
Kagome and Sango stared at each other wide eyed before cheering together. Sango bounced up and down a while she clapped and Kagome starting laying out their towels in a perfect spot right out of the oceans reach. "Ok, you're going to have to stop doing that." Miroku laughed and Sango stilled, glaring at him, but still smiling.
"What are you doing with a surf board Miroku?" Kagome asked realizing he had walked up late because he had a board under his arm too.
"The guys brought it for me, it's an old board of Kouga's and they're going to refresh my memory."
"A perfect beach all to ourselves and entertainment? This is looking to be quite the nice day," Sango smirked.
"Don't tease love, I might make you try and then we'll see whose laughing." Sango gave a fake chill of fright and Miroku stole a quick kiss from her before she could protest. One of the three already in the waves yelled to Miroku and he followed after them into the warm waters. Not jumping in quite as naturally as Inuyasha had though, Kagome noted.
"Now this is going to be amusing." Sango giggled smoothing out the rest of her towel and lying down.
"You know now that you two are finally dating I think you have to start being nicer to him." Kagome laughed at the indignant glare she received as a reply.
"God I'm going to miss this." Sango sighed happily and rolled over to sun her back untying the strings of her bikini. "Warn me if he's coming," Kagome nodded knowing the drill.
"I'm going to miss it too…" Sango looked up already knowing from the soft tone of her best friend's voice her eyes were going to be on the ocean. Kagome's expression was distant but she watched Inuyasha intently between the sparkling horizon and the water. He was perched up on his board trying to help a floundering Miroku with his balance but the two were laughing too hard. Kagome squinted a bit and her hand that was playing in the sand idly clenched some of it into a fist.
"Vacations are fun…because they're temporary. It's sad but true, you get there knowing you have limited time so you make the most of it. If it was the everyday and ordinary it wouldn't be as fun." Sango said softly interrupting Kagome's thoughts.
"Yea…I know. Once in a lifetime situations, that's why they're fun. And it's so easy to meet everyone else because they're here for the same reasons," Kagome didn't meet Sango's eyes even though she could feel them on her. She was staring down at the glowing sand now as she traced trails into it with her fingertips. "But…when you really think about, outside of the trip, you're two completely different people. I'll go back to my reality, and he'll stay here and there won't be anything left in common but the memories."
"I don't think you're so different Kagome, I don't even think you're acting unusual because to me this is who you've always been. Sure if someone from our AP class saw you right now they would be surprised, but that's because they don't know the real you. Things are going to be different after this, it's not just temporary, but I think it will be for the better."
Kagome thought on Sango's words knowing they were true and meant to comfort her, but she couldn't find it through all the hurt that was beginning to swell in her heart every time she looked at Inu now. She told herself she wasn't going to do this, she wasn't going to let herself get hurt and ruin their fleeting time together but…It looked like it wasn't a choice after all.
"It was easy to meet him, and easy to be confident because I told myself it was risk free," she whispered. Not even realizing really she had spoken out loud. Kagome looked up in surprise when a hand lay on top of her own. Sango smiled at her, a true genuine smile.
"Don't let yourself be sad. No one's saying after we go home you're not allowed to still talk to him, not allowed to think about him anymore. Inu is your friend, just like I'm your friend and I wouldn't let that happen. It's not just temporary Kagome, they are real relationships. Everything happens for a reason, and there's a reason the three of us met the three of them, halfway across the world during that small two week window."
"Now stop moping; which really isn't acting like yourself, and start helping me tie my bikini because I can hear Miroku coming this way." Kagome looked up and saw Miroku just starting to walk out of the surf and laughed.
"You've got hearing like a bat Sango."
Miroku groaned as he flopped down on the sand next to Sango. "This is harder than I remembered," he panted.
"They're making it look pretty easy." Kagome laughed nodding to the three guys riding a wave farther out. Inuyasha cut across the other two laughing when Kouga fell off his board from it and rode the wave into the surf until he had to dive off.
"Come on Miro you spent already?" He cupped his hands around his mouth to yell. Miroku held up his hand and one particular finger from where he lay in the sand.
"If you think it looks so easy why don't you go try Kagome?" Miroku grinned.
"Well, no I'm in a bikini; it could fall off or something," Kagome quickly countered.
"That makes it an even better idea." Inuyasha said coming up to stand in front of the three of them. Miroku exhaled in relief that he hadn't been the one to say that out loud. Sango sat up and gave him a suspicious look but he only grinned innocently.
"Why don't you try tandem surfing with me? I can do all the work and all you have to do is stand there and look pretty." Inuyasha teased. Kagome looked anxiously between her friends.
"But well, I don't have the best balance, and-...and...-"
"Oh come on Kagome you won't know unless you try!" Miroku insisted.
"I won't let anything happen to you," Inuyasha smiled and leaned over holding his hand out to her. "I promise." The sunlight was shining from behind him again making him sparkle in that dreamy way Kagome really didn't think was fair to use on her. But as usual, it was the warmth in his smile and his words that convinced her once again.
"I know you won't, ok." She put her smaller hand into his own and he pulled her up easily, smiling at the way she blushed when she was pressed against his chest for a second. Kagome stepped back and tossed her sunglasses down on her blanket only to turn around and find Inuyasha already halfway to the ocean without her.
"Hey want to try waiting for the one you're supposed to be protecting!" She yelled and discarded her sandals to run down the beach after him, waving to Miroku and Sango.
Sango idly reached over to run her fingers up Miroku's stomach and he smirked in a silly way that made her giggle from above him in the sand.
"So what was your real motive for persuading Kagome?"
"Getting time with you alone," He grinned and pulled Sango down into kiss.
"Ok Kagome hop on," Kagome arched an eyebrow. "On the board pervert," He laughed and patted the floating board in the shallow water they were in.
"Ok..." Still a little nervous Inuyasha helped her to sit up towards the tip of the board with her legs tucked under her. "You're sure this is safe?"
"Tandem surfing is a whole other type of surfing you can compete in Kagome. It was started here in Waikiki back in the 20's."
"Really? How do you compete with two people like that?"
"Well you have to have a really strong surfer, that's me, and a cute little girl on his board, that's you. Once you get up on the wave there's two types, one where the two work as a team in a perfect position for carving turns. But it's the lifts that really catch people's attentions. That's where once they're balanced he lifts her up in different acrobatic positions and they hold them until they ride into shore." Kagome looked over her shoulder as Inuyasha started paddling them out into the water while explaining this.
"But we're not trying anything like that….right?"
"No, we're just going to teach you some surfing basics and let you feel how fun it is to ride a nice wave with me. It's something that can take you all day to find but once you do, it's unforgettable."
"Our number one responsibility while surfing is to be aware of other surfers. We're still out in the impact zone where other surfers are catching waves and it's up to us to make sure we're out of harms way. But thankfully today it's just the three of us so that won't be difficult. The hardest part about surfing with these two is watching out for their mullering."
"I HEARD THAT!" Shippou yelled where he was paddling next to them.
"Good then help me show Kagome step one to getting to the line-up."
"What's step one?" Kagome asked nervously.
"Duck diving, its diving below the oncoming waves so all your paddling isn't in vain and you don't get thrown back to shore. Like for that set coming up here. Shippou, demonstration?"
Shippou rolled his eyes then placed both hands on the sides of his board in front of him and pushed it downwards sinking the tip and the rest of it to follow. He popped back up still lying on his board a few seconds later.
"See, easy looking right?"
"I'll try, what do I do first?"
"First we get you so you're lying on the board by yourself. Don't give me that look I'll be holding it for you making it much easier than it should be. Just grab the rails-"
"-Wait grab the what?" Kagome interrupted shifting a little where she sat on the floating board. She wondered just how deep the water they were in was by now.
"Sorry grab the sides of the board then lower your knees down and out behind you. Try and pull the board up through your legs a bit so you can be lying near the back of it more. If you lay too close to the front you're going to push the tip forward, but if you're too far back it'll pop up out of the water on you."
"What was that you said about you doing all the work and me just being pretty?" Kagome laughed.
"It's good to know some basics on your own too, who knows you might like it." She stuck her tongue out. Inuyasha held the sides of the board for her steady while Kagome slowly stretched her legs out and pushed herself down the board until her legs dangled into the water like Shippou's had.
"Ok do you feel steady? Adjust as necessary until you have your balance." Scooting forward a bit and gripping the 'rails' as he called them tight enough that her knuckles were probably white Kagome nodded.
"Practice the dive then before that set of waves hits us. I'm going to move the board for you from back here so you just take a deep breath and lean forward when I say and please hold on. If you go flying off the board it'll be right into me."
"That's a comforting thought; at least I won't die alone." She chuckled while Inuyasha rolled his eyes and moved to the tail of the board, putting one arm over her legs to have more control of the back end by placing enough pressure on it.
"Deep breath!" He shouted and Kagome had just managed to take one before she was plunged under the water. Her first instinct was to panic and flail but she kept her hands firmly on the board under her and leaned forward like Inuyasha had told her. As quick as she had been under the water she was back up on top of it with a gasp.
"There perfect!"
"You could have given me a little more warning!" Kagome laughed and pushed her wet bangs out of her eyes.
"You don't have a lot of time for warnings if there's a wave on top of you. Come on keep up Kagome. A set of waves is coming so be ready to dive a few times in a row okay?"
"You're not going anywhere are you?" She worried trying to look back at him but he was still hung on the tail of the surfboard paddling for them.
"No, now relax and keep your eyes on what's coming in front of you. When I say we do the same thing, take a breath and lean forward."
"Ok!" Kagome's gripped her hands on the side nervously but the strong feel of the surfboard under her provided her some comfort. That and knowing Inuyasha wasn't out of reach. With him talking her through them she ducked under four oncoming waves. By the last one, unknown to her of course, she did it completely on her own with no help from Inuyasha at all.
"That was great!" Kagome gasped taking in a deep breath. "Now what do we do?"
"You're really starting to like this huh? And I think you're doing better than Miroku already." Kagome giggled but nodded, she was starting to feel more at ease on the board the longer she stayed on it. There was something sure about the feeling of it rubbing against her stomach but a large part of her enjoyment was probably the way Inuyasha's eyes lit up every time she had successfully dived in approval.
"Well, now you've made it past where the waves are breaking to the line up. This is where we wait and watch for the sets of waves that are coming. Once you see one that looks big enough you paddle to catch it and hope it breaks right and you can ride it to shore."
"Got to love these offshore winds, you're doing well so far Kagome." Kouga said waving to them from nearby them where he was sitting on his board. Shippou was floating next to him commenting on something every so often while he kept his eyes towards the horizon.
"Thanks!" She giggled. "What does offshore mean? And how do I sit up like they're doing, I want to try that."
"Ok, ok, one question at a time. The reason they're sitting up is to get a better look at the oncoming waves, it's not just because it looks fun Kagome," he smirked at her indignant smile and continued. "But it's not a hard position. Grab the rails and bring the board up through your legs, be careful not to let go and bright your knees up slowly while arching your back until you're sitting up." 'And if you're me, try not to stare at your friend's hips while she does this.' Inuyasha scowled to himself and tried to swim a little back to give Kagome some space, more for his sake than hers though.
"Wait! You're going to hold the board while I do it right? I don't want it to fly up and hit me in the face or something."
"You can do this on your own, just give it a try," he attempted to insist. Kouga and Shippou eyed each other and snickered to each other at something Kouga had whispered.
Kagome tucked her chin and pouted batting her eyes lashes at him. "Pleeaase," she whined softly. Inuyasha gulped and glared at the amused smirks on his friend's faces.
"Ok fine." 'But only if you promise to never say please like that again.' He thought with a mournful look up at the sky wondering what god he had pissed off to get him in this situation.
He held the side of the board carefully for her, no way in hell he was going to be caught holding it from the back this time.
"Ok so I bring it up through my legs to, well straddle it right?"
"Yes." If Inuyasha wasn't smart enough to know better he would have thought his voice might have just cracked a little. Kagome gave him a firm nod completely focused on her task at hand and unaware of her friend's misery as she shifted her weight to move the board like he told her pulling her knees forward while rolling her hips back until she could arch her back slowly and was finally sitting up.
"I did it!" Kagome cheered and quickly lost her balance grabbing the sides with a yelp. Inuyasha steadied the board for her so she stayed on top of the water and desperately tried to keep his gaze away from her eye level hips and the little strings that were holding her bikini bottoms on. That and the way her flat stomach was so within reach and sparkling just slightly from the water that rolled down it. He really wished in that moment Hawaii waters were colder.
"You have to balance with your legs Kagome." Shippou reminded her as she continued to wiggle on the board.
"Anyways moving on to your next question, the wind right now is blowing off the shore so it's an offshore wind. These are ideal surfing conditions because the waves are well formed and breaking cleanly. While, an onshore wind is the worse because the waves crumble."
"So…the waves are good right now?" Kagome cocked her head while Inuyasha answered her questions floating near enough to be in reach but not holding on to the board anymore.
"Great right now," he corrected with a chuckle.
"Was I ever that oblivious?" Shippou asked winking at Kagome when she glared at him while still trying to keep her balance on the bobbing surfboard.
"You still are runt!" Kouga said with a laugh before lying down on his board and paddling after the first wave of a set that was rolling in towards them. Shippou sent a quick glare to Kouga before focusing back on the water, his eyes squinted slightly and his face set in determination.
"Wow he looks so intense," Kagome mused still struggling to stay sitting from the waves. She blinked looking back to Inuyasha when he didn't reply, but found the same look on his face while he studied the water. She sighed in defeat having no idea what they were concentrating on so hard.
Finally Shippou moved after a quick nod to Inuyasha and slipped with ease to lying down on his shorter board and paddling like Kouga had done. Kagome watched while the wave swelled up under him and he stopped paddling when it carried him on its own momentum. Just before the wave curled up and Shippou was out of sight she saw close up how in one fluent movement he was crouching then standing up on his board.
"Oh wow, there's no way I'm going to be able to do that so graceful…" She breathed in awe.
"You're correct on that."
"Hey, I thought you were supposed to be encouraging me. Some inspiring couch you are." Kagome glared at him with a soft smile giving away that she wasn't really angry. Inuyasha shrugged coming to resting his arms lightly on the board now.
"Just the truth, learning how to do it gracefully is the part that takes all the practice. But lucky for you, you don't have to do that yet. Well not if you don't want to, or by yourself. It's called a pop up by the way and it's a bit harder than it looks."
"Oh great, because it looks really hard," Kagome whined leaning her head back dramatically and shuttering her eyes in the sun. "Can't I just go back to tanning?"
"Do you really want to?" Kagome opened one eye to look back down at where Inuyasha was smirking near her right thigh. "No," she admitted sheepishly. Because even if he had offered to teach her skydiving she probably would have accepted that too just to spend a little more precious time with him. 'As a friend,' she mentally reminded herself. But the way he was smiling up at her, his sparkling hair wet and bangs angled out of his shining eyes, while that damned soft ponytail spilled into the water behind him...
Kagome's cheeks flushed and she immediately blamed it on the sun. Biting her bottom lip lightly with her teeth she tried to start paying attention to what he was saying instead of just staring at the way his lips were moving.
She suddenly caught the words "So ready to give it a try?" and realized he was looking for a response when he cocked his head giving her a confused look. And as quickly as the color had flooded her cheeks she was sure it had just drained out of them.
"I'm sorry, give me one more recap? I don't think I got that last bit…"
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Almost two hours later Kagome drug herself out of the surf feeling more water logged and sore already than she had the entire trip.
"What's the matter Kagome? You look tired for some reason," he grinned at her and Kagome shot him a tired chuckle.
"I give, you're right surfing is very difficult, and very tiring and not just a hobby. It was also incredibly fun and there's no way I would have even been able to stand up on the board without you behind me."
"Next time you should try doing it without me, tandem's fun but being all by yourself in the ocean…It's something else entirely. Seeing those mammoth lines approaching and paddling with all your might praying 'don't break yet!'. Getting there right as the peak feathers and dropping down into the pit. The lip wrapping over you and driving for the light at the end of that cavern, the only thing you can hear is the roar…" Kagome watched the peaceful expression crossing over Inuyasha's face as he talked, and the way his eyes sort of looked distant when he stopped. She could all but feel the fond memories he was reliving right then.
"It sounds amazing; I don't think I'm ready to handle anything like that yet though." Kagome giggled and Inuyasha glanced back over to her, realizing she was still there most likely.
"Well anything worth having takes hard work."
"Yeah, but the thing I liked best about this was…It was an experience and a memory we get to share together, instead of just by myself." Inuyasha smiled in an almost approving sort of way. He reached over and ruffled her still damp bangs to keep himself from doing what he really wanted to and tackling her onto the sand to kiss her senseless. 'That's exactly what it's about Kagome, you catch on a lot faster than even I realized.'
Before she knew it they had already walked up the stretch of beach back to their encampment and Kagome quickly cleared her throat and turned her head away to stare at a very interesting patch of sand. Sango squeaked in surprise realizing two of her friends were suddenly standing in front of them and not out in the ocean like she had last seen them. Miroku who didn't seem the least bit bothered by it made no attempt to move from where he was cuddled up on top of his girlfriend until she hastily shoved him off her.
Kagome laughed sitting down on the edge of Sango's towel while Miroku grabbed their beach bag laying out another towel for Inuyasha to sit on. He nodded in thanks setting his board down next to him.
"Sango did you see me at all?" Kagome pouted but bounced in excitement where she was sitting on her knees.
"Yea a couple of times, did you have fun?" Sango lied only slightly, because she had seen Kagome for…a few seconds when she had to breathe. She was relieved when Kagome, oblivious to the topic change, began chatting about how much she had enjoyed her first surfing attempt. Sango had an idea or two that it wouldn't have been near as much fun with any other instructor, but she didn't say so.
"That's so great Kagome!" She laughed when her best friend finally stopped talking long enough to reach into their cooler and take out two soda's, handing one to Inuyasha. She still continued to talk about it non stop between sips.
"I think you've made quite an impression," Miroku smirked. Inuyasha gave a noncommittal "Keh," before going back to his soda and averting his attention from the suggestive way Miroku was grinning at him.
"You two mutts tired already?" Inuyasha asked Kouga and Shippou who were walking up the beach together.
"Not tired, but hungry. It's almost five I can't believe we've been here this long already." Shippou noted checking the waterproof watch latched around his wrist.
"Wow is it really? Well we did get a bit of a late start," Kagome smirked when she saw Sango duck her head just a little.
"You looked really good out there Kagome. You should try surfing with us again sometime." Kagome blushed a little at the praise from Kouga and nodded.
"I think I might, well if I get the time…" A familiar tug on her heart pained her when she realized she probably wouldn't have the time to do this ever again.
"Hey why don't we go to Brick Oven tonight for dinner?" Shippou offered breaking the sharp silence that had cut through their group.
"That's a great idea! You guys will love it." Kouga agreed while winding up the wet leash for his board.
"What's Brick Oven?" Kagome asked the three of them.
"You'll see." Inuyasha answered her with a smirk. He stood up offering her his hand once again, and she took it with a smile.
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A/N: Well I haven't been surfing in a long while –curses- which would be Texas's fault. Oh well, I miss Florida though :(. Anyways hopefully I got everything right, I was mostly going through how I learned. It really is so much fun and if you've never tried it I suggest it! You have to be a really strong swimmer though, unless you do surf tandem which is totally fun because you just let your guy do all the paddling for you :D. I was going to go into the scene more but I didn't want to bore you guy's hehe. I'm kind of a detail freak if you haven't noticed :p. Oh and mullering is like a really bad wipe out if anyone was wondering hehe, and if there are any surfers reading this don't hate Inu for snaking Kouga's wave, he was just kidding and would never make a habit of it. ;)
Can't make any promises on super soon updates with school in full swing but I try and not let it go much farther that a month between them. I hate college -.-. And a Happy Halloween to everyone! Which is next Tuesday and I am SUPER excited about because it is also my birthday yay! And I just recently found out my absolute favorite character, L and I share the same birthday! If you know what series he's from I freaking applaud you. Ja until next time!
Disclaimer: Inuyasha owns me.