Memories of a Boy Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Baby-sitter

Tan fingers and pale claws crossed behind the backs of the pair facing Kagome's mother as they promised to behave while she was out on her date. The two children had been preparing the entire week for this night, and had every intention of following through with their well-laid plans.

Kagome was used to her mother going out on dates, and having the open relationship she did with her okaa-san, understood that while no one could replace her father, her mother still longed for companionship... for someone to love. While she didn't fully comprehend everything this entailed, the young girl was content in her mother's happiness. However, this meant that Kagome was often left in the care of Sawada Tsunayoshi, her babysitter.

He didn't appear to be much older than her and at the age of 14 wasn't too much taller than her either. A prankster at heart, Kagome had been waiting for an opportunity like this one to arrive. Since Sesshomaru had dropped into their lives, her mother had held off going on dates, concerned about leaving a youkai child alone with only a human babysitter. Now, after a few months, Kagome's mother was confident that the fairly mature inu would behave in her absence. Kagome and Sesshomaru exchanged sly smiles as her mother grabbed her purse and headed out the door, oblivious to the torment her regular babysitter was going to suffer tonight.

Had she been aware of the carefully concealed fireworks incident of a few weeks prior, she might have been more wary of their innocent expressions. Had she known Sesshomaru could transform into a dog the size of a mastiff, the normally astute woman would have definitely reconsidered her decision. And had the poor woman known of Kagome's spiritual powers, she would have simply resigned herself to the life of a single mother until Sesshomaru could get back to his time.

Unfortunately for Tsuna, Ms. Higurashi knew none of these things, and with a last cheerful wave at the three youths she was leaving alone together in her house, she briskly descended the shrine steps for a night of good food and adult conversation.

Sliding the screen door shut, Tsuna turned to find both his charges had vanished. Light brown eyes confused, the small boy shrugged it off and decided to go ahead and start cooking dinner for the three of them. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of crimson eyes watched with malicious delight. Kagome was still getting ready in the downstairs bathroom, having already procured the supplies she would need earlier. Carefully the girl used her mom's makeup to draw what looked like a jagged, torn line across her throat, and then proceeded to use different shade of her finger-paints to create the look of torn, ravaged skin. Stifling her giggles as she imagined the look on Tsuna-san's face, Kagome grabbed up the bottle of ketchup she had snagged from the kitchen earlier and headed for the living room. As she emerged from the bathroom, she caught sight of Sesshomaru standing guard on the entrance to the kitchen, making sure they were not caught before their little farce could play out.

Unable to conceal a wicked grin, Kagome carefully smeared some of the ketchup in what she hoped was a convincing blood puddle, before gingerly laying next to it and creating a trail from it to her gore covered neck. Calling to Sesshomaru, she then smeared a bit of the red condiment around his muzzle, giggling softly when he licked at her fingers playfully before gently grasping the now half-empty bottle and stashing it beneath the couch. Locking eyes for a moment, Kagome nodded before letting out a high-pitched scream of fear. At the same time, Sesshomaru roughly bumped a lamp and side table, sending them with practiced ease to the floor to create the appearance of a struggle. A clattering of metal in the kitchen followed by the swift pounding of feet on the polished wood floor signaled Tsuna's approach, and the moon-brushed inu quickly moved in to hover over Kagome, sharp fangs dangerously close to her delicate human neck. Kagome's face was blank, her mouth hanging open a little and her eyes empty and sightless. Sesshomaru had to admit to himself, even as their poor babysitter finally arrived on the scene, that Kagome played dead a bit too well for his liking. A low growl rumbled through him at this thought, making the scene look even more convincing for the now present and quite pale Tsuna.

Hearing the terrified gasp from the doorway, blood-glazed eyes flashed up to glare menacingly into the fear-laden face of Tsuna, who was torn between the need to rush to the 'fallen' Kagome and run for his life from the demonic beast crouched over her small, bloody form. Smiling to himself, Sesshomaru was pleased to see the human boy begin to tremble at the sight of his glistening fangs being bared in what most likely seemed a feral snarl. Taking their ruse to the next level, Sesshomaru barked ferociously, his muscles bunching as he tensed his body to run either at the boy or away from him, depending on how he reacted to the apparent threat.

Tsuna, while still paler than was probably healthy, surprised him when he ran at him, grabbing up a mop that had been leaning inside the kitchen door and swiping at him wildly. Barking again, the inuyoukai quickly jumped back and dashed outside to the courtyard, pleased to hear the sound of the babysitter pursuing him. Following the next course of their plan, Sesshomaru rushed to the well-house, easily outdistancing the clumsy Tsuna and buying himself a few moments to transform back into his human form. Jumping down into the well, Sesshomaru waited patiently for Tsuna to catch up, doing his best to not crow in delight at how well their plan was going.

Meanwhile, Kagome had jumped up and rushed out the side door and around to the back of the well-house, being careful to make sure that Tsuna would not see her. Waiting quietly was not one of her strong suits, and pink lips pursed with impatience as Tsuna slowed a few yards from the well-house, approaching with more caution than he had shown only moments before in trying to 'save' her. Taking note of his proximity to the doors, Kagome began concentrating; building her power up around her body until she was glowing with a soft pink light that gave her an otherworldly aura.

The dry creak of the Well-house doors sliding open was her signal. Moving slowly around the corner of the dilapidated building, Kagome quietly crept up behind the figure approaching the short flight of steps down to the well. As a green glow began to emerge from the black depths of the well, Kagome suppressed a delighted smile, doing her best to school her face into a stern, empty expression.

'I did just die after all... I'm pretty sure a dead person wouldn't be smiling like the cat that caught the canary.' Her mother's familiar phrase slid easily into her thoughts before she focused on the shivering form of her long-time babysitter. She could only hope he would be willing to come back after this!

~

Tsuna was on the verge of panic. Why had he told Reborn not to come with him this time? He didn't know where the strange, monstrous dog had disappeared to inside this small structure, but he certainly didn't see it anywhere. Gripping the mop tighter, Tsuna nearly choked at the eerie green glow that shot out of the well below him, wondering if he was going to die like the poor, innocent Kagome, who was somewhere inside bleeding out if not already gone to the spirit world. Paling even further, Tsuna was frozen in place by the sight of the other child he had only been introduced to barely an hour ago...floating out of the well. Surrounded by the eerie green light, his eyes were closed with a small trickle of what looked like blood smeared across his mouth and chin, the pale strands of his hair whipping violently around his form. A startle cry escaped Tsuna as the child's eyes snapped open, pinning him with a crimson stare.
'T-the dog's eyes were red too...' Tsuna's already belabored heart renewed its attempts to leap from his chest as he scrambled backwards. Turning, he wasn't prepared for the sight that met him, framed by moonlight and a ghostly pink haze.

Kagome's eyes were backlit with the mysterious pink aura, giving them a violet glow that seared through him accusingly. Her small, frail looking form stood there, crimson ribbons still dripping from the ghastly wound on her neck as she continued to watch him. Tilting her head to the side, expression frozen in death, her soft voice snapped through Tsuna's brittle nerves as it fell into the silence between them.

"Tsuna-san, join us."

~

Kagome and Sesshomaru watched with glee as Tsuna fainted dead away, eyes going blank as a terrified whimper escaped him like a soul trying to flee his body. Sesshomaru nudged the prone figure twitching on the ground as Kagome clasped her sides, laughing so hard she'd fallen onto her butt as her body shook with unrestrained mirth. Smirking at her obvious joy at the success of their mission, the inuyoukai went to help Kagome to her feet when a shadow fell over the both of them. Sesshomaru felt his smile vanish as his eyes widened at the intimidating figure that appeared behind his raven-haired friend without warning. Noticing Sesshomaru's distraction, Kagome finally noticed the direction of his golden gaze and felt the anger coming from behind her in lashing waves.

"Kagome..." her mother spoke slowly through clenched teeth, her displeasure with the two children evident in her tone. "What are you two doing covered in ketchup, and why is Tsuna-chan foaming at the mouth?"

Kagome felt herself go cold at the deceptively calm voice coming from over her shoulder, and knew that this time, they were busted. Later, after they had been soundly berated before being sent to bed without supper, Kagome caught Sesshomaru's eye as both of their stomachs groaned loudly at the same time. Biting her lower lip as her cerulean depths glittered with unspoken triumph, Kagome put words to the feelings running rampant through them both, bringing a genuine smile to Sesshomaru's pale face.

"That was totally worth it!"