When It Rains... by dixiepixie

Chapter One: Summer Rain and The Invention of The Shower

Chapter One: Summer Rain and The Invention of The Shower

Sesshoumaru had known the storm was coming, since this morning. He had first caught scent of it though, yesterday afternoon. So, he had altered his travels to fit into a small gap in the storm's path. Of course, now that it was actually raining, he thought he may have made one small error.

There was no wind, when he calculated the travel time and the route and the storm's progress. Now, there was a fury of wind. Rin had said nothing, but he knew she was tired and wet- a condition, which, in humans, resulted in illness. Even walking alongside the dragon, Ah-Un, shielded from the blasts of biting rain, the tiny girl was still exposed to the elements.

Although his miscalculation irked him, he decided not to discard the current situation as hopeless. He had caught his brother's scent a bit back. And where his brother was, the miko usually was. And the miko had these strange contraptions that made life for her group easier, and much to his dismay, they could help now.

"Rin."

The girl scuttled forward, gasping as the rain stung into her skin.

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?"

He had no desire to walk into his brother's camp. But, he could take Rin, and, leaving her with instructions for his return for her, let her spend the night with the miko. Inuyasha's loud yells would be far from his ears, and Rin would be kept safe from the wind. He was only slightly sorry that Rin would most likely hear some foul language from the mouth of the foul half-breed. So, giving her his instructions, he led the child back towards his brother's camp.

"Rin, ignore the hanyou."

Rin nodded, and he let her hand go. The tiny girl scampered forward, and the larger tent opened up to allow her entrance. Sesshoumaru had told her that was where the women would be, and she must stay with them.

As they took the girl in, they looked about wildly for the demon they had seen her accompanying. When they heard her say that he was elsewhere, they decided they would keep her until he returned for her.

Sesshoumaru turned away, and went back to his own chosen place to rest.

~*~*~*~*~

She felt sweat trickling down her back. It collected on her shirt, and she thought how heavy the clothing in this era was. She was glad she could wear modern clothes- it was too hot even for them, but she knew how much worse it would be if she had to wear what everyone else did.

Inuyasha hadn't stopped them, but he wasn't carrying her and he was walking much slower than usual. Sango wasn't riding on Kirara's back, but the cat remained in the state of a larger cat, walking alongside her mistress. Miroku wasn't groping or ogling the slayer at all. Shippo wasn't his usual bouncy self, and Kagome knew she was probably the luckiest of her group. She didn't have to wear the traditional clothing, and so, she suffered less heat. Although- her shoulders were turning a rich creamy bronze.

'Sunscreen, I always forget the sunscreen.'

Mentally smacking herself, Kagome sighed. It was hot. She knew that the others were in for a rougher time than she was, but still- she was used to air conditioning. When had that been invented again?

While Kagome slipped off into a mental ramble about the history of air conditioning, which wasn't even relevant since she knew there was no way it would be around any time soon, and it was never portable, the others in her group continued the onward traipse.

Sango was thinking of how nice it would be when nightfall came, and the girls could wander off to find water. Her burning muscles ached, and she could feel a thrumming in her body. She vaguely wondered if Kagome had any of that stuff she called aspirin...

Shippo and Kirara had given up thought, except that it was hot and they wanted a break, but knew they could not have one... A storm was coming, and Inuyasha sought some sort of shelter from the heavy summer rains.

Miroku was thinking how nice it would be when they did stop- he was sure the lovely Sango wouldn't mind a back rub, so long as he promised that it would help and he would be mindful of his hands. He really knew he had to work on that. For his darling Sango...

Inuyasha had smelt the wind, and could tell that they would catch only the tip of the storm if they kept going, in this direction. What he also knew was that his brother was in this direction. He supposed it made sense. While rain might not bother the great Lord Icicle, he knew that the tiny human girl that followed him wouldn't handle it well.

And so, the travelers went on.

Mid-afternoon brought the faraway rumbles of thunder, but every time they sounded, everyone knew the storm was coming closer. Inuyasha had turned his nose up again and shaken his head, realizing that though they would only catch a wisp of it, it was still going to pour. And there were no villages nearby. They'd have to find some other natural shelter...

A light breeze brought a few speckles of rain then, and the travelers' heads went up, staring at the stormy sky. It had been so hot they hadn't realized when the sun was covered, because the heat was still weighing heavy on them.

"Kagome, you don't happen to have any of your 'tents' do you?"

Miroku sounded very congenial, considering the hot and tiring walk which had turned up no shards and no civilization.

"I think- but we'll have to share. I didn't bring enough... I thought we'd find a village..."

Kagome had two tents. They were heavy, and she hadn't wanted to carry five tents with her. But she thought guiltily, 'I suppose I could have at least brought three...'

However, the group was glad to have any, as there were no caves nearby. Kagome's pack certainly made life easier, even if it was a small amount. It was decided that Inuyasha and Miroku would share, while the girls took the other and shared with Shippo and Kirara.

As they slid one after the other into their respective tents, the rain began to slam down. Once inside, the girls changed into dry clothes. Though they hadn't been drenched in the light rain that preceded this angry torrent, they were covered in sweat and sleeping in wet clothes wasn't easy- especially if you already stank. Then a thought hit Sango.

"Kagome... You said that when you were younger, you used to go to this 'camp'. When it rained, how did you bathe?"

Kagome had gone to camp once or twice when she was about nine and ten years old. When it rained, they usually forwent the bath until morning.

"Well- usually, we didn't stink, so we just waited. Why?"

"Could we- bathe- in that?"

Sango gestured to the outside of the tent. Kagome's eyes went wide. She supposed you could, if modesty was of no concern and the smell of the tent afterwards would be bearable.

"Well... I guess. But, what if someone sees us?"

Sango shrugged, though her face was a slight pink.

"I smell, Kagome... And besides- don't you have a bay-thing suit?"

Kagome's eyes lit up, and she reached inside the pack. But she only had one...

"Sango-"

Upon turning to her friend, Kagome saw that Sango hadn't planned on using a bikini. She instead had only a breast biding and a small loincloth like covering on.

"I'm going like this. These are the dirty ones from today, and I have another pair in my own roll."

Kagome giggled, suddenly filled with a rebellious streak. If anyone saw them... She giggled again. She wanted a bath, and Sango wanted a bath, and they weren't going to wander around out in the pouring rain looking for a spring or river that wasn't even there, especially if there was danger anywhere around. The rain would do.

When the girls were ready, they opened the tent flap, and laughing like madwomen, they stepped out under the downfall. It stung at first, but when they stood completely outside the tent, Shippo and Kirara watching wide-eyed at the crazy women outside, their skin was numbed to it.

Kagome's body reacted to the cold, and she felt herself blushing as she recalled a dirty book Eri had brought to her house once for a sleepover. The couple in it had made hot, heavy, and passionate love in the rain. Kagome knew that her intention was to bathe, not have sex, but she couldn't help but remember how they had made fun of her.

Eri had told tales of untamed passion betwixt her and her lovers (of which there were many), while Ayumi had smiled shyly and said that she and her boyfriend had yet to go all the way. Kagome had felt so left out... She didn't even have a boyfriend! Inuyasha hadn't counted. He was after Kikyo...

As the girls lathered their hair, Kagome wondered what it would be like. She had heard so many rumors... Would it be rough? Eri had said that if you could get a guy horny enough, he was like an animal. Kagome wondered about Inuyasha, and felt her self turning into a tomato. Inuyasha was technically half an animal, anyway...

'Bad thoughts, Kagome, bad!'

She knew Sango would have been open with her about it, if she had ever done it, but Kagome doubted it. Sango was so very harsh when she caught the monk staring. And Sango wasn't a very- "free" woman...

When they were done bathing, the girls giggled wildly, slipping back into their tent, drying off with a few of Kagome's cleaned towels.

"Well, next time it rains, and we're in the middle of the wilderness, perhaps we could indulge once more. I feel rather clean, don't you?"

"Like I'm fresh from the shower!" Kagome giggled. It was really just that- a shower.

"I think we just invented the shower!"

The girls collapsed, giggling, into their rolls and began to eat some of the food that didn't have to be cooked. Shippo did a few magic tricks, and Kirara went to sleep. After Shippo slipped away into dreamland, Sango and Kagome decided to follow. The rain had lightened up by now, and the knew it might be done by morning. In which case, Inuyasha would want to catch up on lost time.

However, just before they had drifted off, a little girl's raised voice roused them.

"Kagome-sama!"

Kagome threw open the tent flap, and was astounded to see the little girl she had seen following Sesshoumaru running through the rain towards them. She pulled the child inside, and she and Sango began to look for the male.

"Where is he?"

"I don't understand, why would he let her run around by herself?"

"In this weather?"

"In these woods?"

The little girl was gasping for breath, but managed to squeak out the reason behind her coming out of nowhere.

"Sesshoumaru-sama says he wishes to patrol through the night. He says that Rin is too small, and must stay with the Miko Kagome. Does Kagome mind?"

Kagome shook her head, and Sango closed the flap. As the women dried off the girl and put her to sleep, they looked at one another.

"Inuyasha."

Sango shook her head and Kagome sighed.

"Headache pill, Sango? For the morning?"

"Please."

~*~*~*~*~

Um... Well, my beta is on vacation, right about now, so- when she gets back I might have her check this over (because she makes everything into gold), so, some of it is subject to change. I don't think this chapter is bad though. So, enjoy. I enjoy reviews...

~dixie