InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ For the Love of a Child ❯ Clash! Slave Driver vs. InuYasha ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

 

 

Early morning, the sun is just peeking over the tall buildings in Tokyo, when a doorbell rings in a stylish uptown apartment.  Without opening her eyes, KiKyo, reaches over to the other side of the bed.

 

“I’m still sleeping,” she groans while patting the bed.  “Get rid of them.”  There is no reply.  “Didn’t you hear what I said Inu?  Go tell them to get lost or something.”  Still only silence.  “You’re not still upset over last night, are you?”  KiKyo slightly raises her head, squinting her eyes to look around her bedroom finding not only is the hanyou not lying next to her, his side of the bed is quite cold.  “Inu?”  (He’s not here.  Now where could he have gone off to this time of the morning?  He’d never work on Saturdays without discussing it with me first.)  The doorbell rings again and the woman looks at the clock.  (Five o’clock?)  She groans while slowly sitting up.  (What dumbass bastard would dare come around here at this hour?”  The doorbell rings a third and fourth time.  “All right, all right, damn it,” she yells.  “I’m coming.”  (You’d think for what we pay for this place a person could at least get some damn sleep around here!)  KiKyo grabbing her head staggers through her living room, making her way around several empty whiskey bottles.  (Seems someone had himself quite a party last night.  Hope he’s as miserable as I am.  Making me get up like…Inu needs to be more considerate.)  She gets to her door, and looks out the peek hole.  “What the hell do you want?” she angrily groans.

 

“It’s Juromaru, Miss Oni,” a deep voice replies from beyond the door.  “Got a package here for ya.”

 

“Package?  Shit!”  The woman jerks open her door and quickly grabs her visitor, pulling him inside.  “Get in here, you idiot, before someone sees your damn ass!”

 

Her visitor Juromaru, well known for his expertise with the ladies, is a handsome young man who stands six foot eight with long white hair and blue eyes.  Carrying a large brown envelope under his arm, he quickly enters KiKyo’s apartment and seeing the woman’s full naked form through her short skimpy blue gown, licks his lips and smiles.  (Man, whoever that bastard is, he sure is lucky.  I’d do just about anything for a piece of that.)

 

“You’ve never came here at this time of morning before,” says KiKyo staring out up and down the hall.  “What if he were to answer the door just now?  Your ass would have been in a lot of trouble.”  (Not to mention my own.)

 

“Sorry Miss Oni.  Your building was first on the list, so since we have quite a few packages to deliver, I thought it best to get an early start this morning.”

 

“Anyone see you come up here?” ask KiKyo walking back into her apartment and closing the door. 

 

“No,” replies Juromaru.  “The lobby was empty.”

 

“Good.  It just wouldn’t do if everyone knew my business around here.”

 

“We were very cautious in coming here Miss Oni.  No one knows of our presence here.”

 

“You’d better hope so, Juromaru.  If he were to find out about this he’d hang your damn ass on the wall.”  KiKyo points and nods toward the envelope in the young man’s possession.  “So is that it?”

 

“Yep.  The full report.  This little gem was a lot harder…”

 

“I’ll take that, if you don’t mind,” the woman rudely says while grabbing for the envelope, only to have it put from her grasp. 

 

“Uh uh, lady, not so fast,” says Juromaru with a smirk.  “There’s still the little matter of payment.”

 

“Payment?  Oh, yes, of course.”  The woman frowns while walking to her purse, opens it, and retrieves her wallet.

 

“As I was saying we had a little more…”

 

“Same as last time, correct?” says KiKyo rudely.

 

“Well um no.  He’s asking 10,000 this time.”

 

“Ten?  Getting a little greedy there, aren’t we?”

 

“He doesn’t think so.  We had a lot trouble, getting the info this time.  Almost got our asses arrested for it.”

 

“You’ll just have to be more careful than.”  KiKyou stares at the folder in her under her visitor’s arm.  “That is the full report, correct?  You’ve left nothing out?  I want to be sure of what I’m paying you for.”

 

“Oh you’ll see it is ma’am.”

 

“I see.  Here then.”  KiKyo hands the young man an envelope containing a large assortment of bills.  “There’s no need counting it.  I can assure you it’s all there.”

 

Not convinced of KiKyo’s honesty, the young man counts the money anyway, and then hands his envelope over to her.  “I still have some time before the next drop off Miss Oni.”  Juromaru lightly rubs the woman’s shoulder.  “Time I’m sure we could put to some good use.  I’ve been known to be quite satisfying.  So, what would you like me to do for you, Miss Oni?  A little tongue perhaps?”

 

The woman slaps the man’s hand away.  “If I need anything done,” snips KiKyo angrily.  “It most certainly will not be with you!  Now get out!”

 

Juromaru narrows his eyes and frowns at her tone of voice.  (Why you damn…!  We went to a lot of trouble getting that shit for you and you have the gall to speak to me in such a manner?  Just who the hell do you think you are bitch?)

 

KiKyo looks up at the angry man and her frown deepens.  “Are you still here?  I said you’re dismissed!  So get out!”

 

“Yeah, yeah, I heard ya the first time.”  The man abruptly turns and angrily walks out of the apartment, slamming the door, behind him.  He walks back to the elevator where another, much smaller man is waiting with his foot holding the elevator door open.

 

“Well?”

 

“Well what?” asks Juromaru angrily, as the two of them step into the elevator.

 

“She paid up, didn’t she?  The full ten?”

 

“Yeah.”  Juromaru hands the bills over to the smaller man.  “It’s all there.”

 

“Any problems?” asks the man counting the money.  “Did she argue about the extra fee or something?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then what’s got you so hot and bothered bro?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“Man, talking to you is worse than pulling teeth.  You know that?”

 

Juromaru angrily stares down at the smaller man.  “Then maybe you should shut the fuck up Kagaromaru and leave me the hell alone.”

 

“Alright, alright.  Didn’t mean to get you riled.  Maybe next time I should be the one to deliver it.”

 

“I just don’t get why it has to be us trailing him all the time.  Surely someone else in our organization is more qualified for it.”

 

“Yeah there is, but that would mean less money for us,” replies the smaller man placing the envelope inside his vest pocket.  “And less money means fewer activities with the ladies.  Or are you getting bored fucking all, those well to do women?  They pay you quite handsomely you know.”

 

“Yeah I know.  It’s just that Oni bitch, ok?  I fucking hate her ass.”

 

“Hey I hear ya.  And if it helps, you’re not the only one who’s had a problem with her.  Word on the street is Oni’s a cold fish; that she knows how to take but never gives back unless she’s doing one of her more influential clients.”

 

“It’s not that, Kagaromaru.  I mean I get the bitch is cold and shit, but damn it she flaunts her damn ass where everyone can fucking see it.  It’s like she was begging me to take her, to put it to her good and I don’t like that.  When it comes to bitches, it’s hard for me to control that particular emotion.  I wanted to rip her ass apart, you know.  I hate her for making me feel that.”

 

“There’s nothing in our contract that says we have to like them bro.  As long as the bitch is willing to pay out the big bucks that should be all that matters.”

 

“I guess you’re right.”

 

“Of course, I’m right.  And besides, Juromaru, that Oni woman’s not all that.  She’s what they call a maneater.  Just some bitch who likes controlling her men, to fuck them and leave em.  And like you said that ain’t your style.  So, just forget about her, ok?  We still got work to do.”

 

“Alright.”

 

“Good.  Now let’s get started on delivering the next one.  Then afterward, and if we have some extra time, we’ll go out and find you a playmate, deal?  Maybe that Yura bitch will still be available this morning.”

 

“Think so?”

 

“There’s a good chance.”

 

“Alright bro, let’s get going.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

KiKyo, with envelope in hand, walks back into her living room to her bar.  (Those bastards need to be more careful coming here.  He’d leave my ass for sure if he knew about this shit.  And there’s no way I want that to happen.  Not just yet anyway.  I still haven’t found a suitable replacement for him yet.)  After making herself a drink the woman sits and becomes comfortable on the couch.  She opens the large envelope, pulling out the file and reading the topic.  ‘InuYasha Takahashe.’

 

“Now my fine demon lover,” she says smiling and sips her drink.  “Let’s just see what or who you’ve been into while I’ve been away, shall we?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Kagome slowly awakens from her peaceful slumber to sounds of very loud, very foul, language.  “Seems they’ve started already,” she smiles stretching her arms out wide.  (And from the sound of it, InuYasha’s already upset.  I wonder what’s got him so riled up over there.)  The young woman slips out of bed and once on her feet, becomes dizzy and quickly sits down.  (Oh, come on body.  Move!  I’ve got to get in there to see what Sango’s doing to InuYasha.)  Determined, Kagome grabs her robe where it lay at the bottom of the bed and pushes herself up once more.  Fighting the stiffness and pain, she pulls on her robe then slowly makes her way from her bedroom to her living room, through the opened front door, and by pushing against the wall, makes her way down the hall to the Houshi’s apartment.

 

“Listen bitch,” yells InuYasha angrily, “I’m getting damn tired of you treating me like I’m some fucking servant.  Ok?!”

 

“How dare you use that tone with me you… you stupid half demon!” yells Sango heatedly.

 

“Just who the hell are you calling a half demon, you contemptuous bitch?!” yells the hanyou.  “And you’re a fine one to call anyone stupid, stupid!  You’re the one who can’t make up her fucking mind here!”

 

Miroku pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs with a slight shake of his head.  (And just last night he told me how he didn’t want to see Sango angry.)

 

“What did you just say, you… lazy mongrel?!” replies Sango angrily.

 

“Come on you two,” says Miroku with a pleading tone, “getting upset like this …”

 

“MONGREL?!” growls InuYasha.  “Is that what you called me?”

 

“No.  I called you a LAZY mongrel!” yells Sango.  “Ya wanna make something of it?”

 

“Sango…InuYasha…please!” whines Miroku.  “All this animosity won’t get us anywhere.”

 

“You shouldn’t be complaining, in the first place you stupid ass!” yells Sango, continuing to ignore her husband.  “You’re in OUR apartment and if I may remind you, YOU’RE the one who offered YOUR help!  WE’RE not making you do it!  So put MY couch RIGHT there!  Understand?”

 

“THAT’S WHERE IT WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE, BITCH!”

 

“Can’t we just please get along?” whines Miroku pleadingly.  “At least until we get the furniture moved?”

 

(Poor Miroku,) thought Kagome shaking her head.  (Sounds as if he’s the only sane one in there.)

 

“Damn it man,” growls InuYasha pointing at Sango.  “Your bitch had us move this damn couch three fucking times already.  And now she wants the damn thing put back where it was in the first place!  Just how fucked up is that?!  Huh?”

 

(Guess I should have warned him after all,) thought Kagome.

 

“I’ll show you fucked up!” yells Sango heatedly rolling up her sleeves.

 

“Ya want a piece of me bitch?!” challenges the hanyou heatedly rolling his up as well.  “Then bring it on!”

 

(They’re not actually going to start fighting, are they?  They just barely got started.)

 

“Don’t do it Sango,” says Miroku pleadingly.  “InuYasha?”

 

(I’d better hurry and get in there before someone gets hurt.)  Kagome slowly makes her way to their door and keeping against the wall, finally manages to enter.

 

“Hey guys!” says Kagome cheerfully.  “I’m fin…”  Her cheerful greeting is cut short for the argument, between the woman and hanyou, becomes so heated, they don’t notice her.  “Eeep!” cries Kagome, quickly ducking just as a vase is thrown, smashing against the wall above her.

 

“Ahh!”  Sango eyes widen as she covers her mouth.  “Kagome?!”

 

“Kagome!” cries InuYasha worriedly.  (What the hell is she doing here?)

 

“Uh, gee guys,” says Kagome smiling as she slowly rises, “I thought you wanted my help.”

 

“Now see what you’ve gone and done, bitch?” yells InuYasha pointing toward Kagome, and makes his way to her to look over her body.

 

“Oh gods, Kagome, I’m so sorry,” she says worriedly.  “I didn’t see you there.  I was actually aiming it at InuYasha.”

 

“Did she hit you, Kagome?” asks InuYasha anxiously.  “Are you hurt anywhere?”  He angrily looks back at Sango.  “Damn it bitch, watch where the hell you’re throwing things!”

 

“Stop that, InuYasha,” says Kagome, catching the hanyou by surprise.  “Sango’s definitely not a bitch!”

 

“But…”

 

“You’re the one who offered your help, didn’t you?”

 

“Yeah, but I…!”

 

“This is their apartment, isn’t it?” continues Kagome patiently.  The hanyou nods.  “Then if Sango wants to move, her furniture, around a dozen times or more you have no cause to complain.”

 

“But you don’t know what she’s been doing here Kagome,” whines InuYasha, “doing to me!”

 

“I don’t want to hear it,” Kagome says quickly raising a finger in the air.  “Now you apologize.”

 

“Like hell!” says the hanyou looking more surprised.  “She’s the one who…”

 

“Tell Sango you’re sorry, InuYasha,” says Kagome patiently.

 

“But she’s ….”

 

“Tell… her,” she repeats calmly.  “Now.”

 

“Grrrr, oh, all right!”  InuYasha looks over at Sango.  “I’m sorry!” he says grumpily, his face showing no signs of remorse and quickly looks back to Kagome.  “There… happy now?”

 

“Yep, I am,” replies Kagome smiling triumphantly and she looks over at her friend.  “So how’s it coming, Sango?”

 

“Slowly, but surely, Kagome,” replies Sango with a sigh.  “With any luck, AND if certain persons,” the woman pointedly looks toward the hanyou, “who I shall leave nameless…”  InuYasha glares back at Sango while snarling, receiving a small smack on his chest from Kagome.  “We just might have it all done by tonight.  But more importantly how are you feeling this morning?  Your eye still looks pretty swollen there.”

 

“Yeah, I know.”  The young woman tenderly touches her sore eye.  “That was some wallop, I took, last night, but I’ll be ok.”  Kagome looks around the room, finding someone to be missing.  “Hey!  Miroku’s supposed to be here helping you guys, isn’t he?”

 

“Yeah he is.  But I think the coward’s gone into hiding in the bedroom, probably in the closet,” replies Sango with a disgusted look.  “Guess I’ll go see if I can dig him out.”  The woman leaves the two alone to find her husband.

 

“If Miroku’s smart, he’s left the continent by now,” confides the hanyou with a smirk.

 

“Now that’s just mean, InuYasha,” says Kagome.

 

“It’s the truth, Kagome.  That woman’s a damn tyrant.  I’m not even sure if she’s really human.”

 

“Sango’s not that bad,” says Kagome.

 

“Wanna bet?” asks the hanyou.  “A fucking slave driver is what she is.”  He pushes the woman’s hair behind her ear and gives a worried look.  “So how are you really feeling Kagome…any better?  I want the truth.”

 

“Well, I’m not in the best shape for running any marathons, but I think I’ll survive.  So where would you like me to start?”

 

“Nowhere!” says InuYasha with a slight shake of his head.

 

“No…”

 

“You’re going back to bed Kagome.”

 

“But I can…”

 

“No you can’t.  You’re no use to us this way and you know it,” says the hanyou.  “Your body is just too sore and weak for this kind of work.”

 

“It’s not that sore,” she replies with a pout.  “Not, exactly.”

 

“Sore enough.  Why are you out of bed anyway?”

 

“My curiosity, I guess.  It, sort of, got the better of me,” replies Kagome with a small smile.  “I knew you wouldn’t be able to hold your temper around Sango for too long, so I thought I’d better come get between you and her before one of you kills the other.  Seems I came just at the right time from the look of things.”

 

“You do realize, don’t you, that all this could have been avoided if you’d only told me about her last night.”

 

“I know.  And I would have except I thought experience would be the best teacher in this situation.  And it sounded as if you were handling it well enough.  Though, you did get a little vulgar at times.”

 

“Yeah…well.  That woman could test a saint’s patience.”  The hanyou gives a small smile.  “So Kagome.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“That curiosity of yours.  Is it satisfied now?”

 

“I think so.”

 

“Good!  Now you can take your satisfied curiosity and go right back to bed.  I mean it, Kagome,” says InuYasha sternly as Kagome opens her mouth to protest.

 

“Geez, InuYasha,” says the young woman with a slight frown.  “One would think you didn’t want me here at all!”

 

“You’re right!  You’re… not… wanted,” he says accentuating each word with a tap on the young woman’s nose with a clawed finger.  “So take that lovely ass, back to you apartment and go right, back to bed.”

 

“Ooooo, meany.”  The young woman sticks out her tongue at the hanyou.

 

“Ah ah Kagome,” smiles InuYasha waving a finger.  “Remember last night?  Ya don’t wanna be giving me any ideas.  The way your body feels now you just might end up regretting it.”

 

“Ha!  As if!”  Kagome, with her nose in the air, slowly turns to attempt to make it to the door only to trip and fall to the floor.  “Owww!” she cries painfully.

 

Shaking his head InuYasha laughs.  “I told you; you shouldn’t be up yet.”  He leans over to pick the young woman up.  “Guess I have no choice but to take your lovely ass to bed, myself.”

 

“WHAT?”

 

“Just teasing Kagome,” says the hanyou with a slight laugh.  “But seriously, I will carry you back to your apartment.  I’m kind of thirsty now and I don’t trust that bi…,”

 

“InuYasha,” warns Kagome.

 

Hearing the disapproving tone in Kagome’s voice the hanyou thinks better of his statement.  “I don’t trust HER to give me anything safe to drink.”

 

“That’s better,” says Kagome nodding and smiling smugly.  “See?  You’re not melting or anything.  You can be nice.”

 

“Funny ha, ha, wench,” responds InuYasha with a grin.

 

“Wench?!  Why I ought to smack you for that little remark!” says Kagome haughtily.  “I’ll have you know, InuYasha, I’m nobody’s wench!”

 

“YOU can’t get your arm up must less smack me… WENCH!”

 

“Oh youuu.”  Kagome, seething in the young hanyou’s arms, stubbornly crosses her arms and rubs her sore shoulder.  InuYasha, watching her actions, smirks for he knows he has finally gotten in the last word.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Why that…that BITCH!”  KiKyo forcefully throws the file down onto the table and begins pacing her living room.  “How dare she come on to MY Inu like that?  Forcing him into a fight!  And in PUBLIC, no less!”  The woman sips her drink.  (I just knew there was a reason why Inu wasn’t at the airport last night.  He couldn’t meet me because that bitch had him brawling with some damned hooligans.  I only hope no one from our circle was there to witness his disgraceful actions.  I’d never be able to show my face in public again.”  KiKyo finishes her drink.

 

“Just who does that damn bitch think she’s dealing with here anyway?!  Some whimpy ass wench?  I’m KiKyo Oni.  No one ever gets the better of me.  No one!  Why I’ll crush that damn bitch like the bug she is.  So she wants my Inu, does she…thinks she can take him away from me?  Well the bitch can just keep dreaming cause there’s no fucking way in hell, I’ll ever let my Inu go; not to be with a damn whore like that!”  KiKyo angrily retrieves the file.  “Why I’ll make that bitch regret the day she was ever born for trying to steal what’s mine.”  She begins reading through it again.  “Where does that bitch live anyway…where the hell is it?  It must be in here somewhere.”  Finding the information, KiKyo flicks the page with a well-manicured fingernail.  “Ha!  I knew it.  Madison Towers.  Only trash lives in that particular part of town.  She’s probably some damn hooker, my Inu took up with, to pass the time, to curb those damn urges of his.  Probably made Inu sick just being around her.  But I guess he just couldn’t wait till I got home last night to play.  Still doing shit like this…it’s unforgiveable!  Allowing himself to be pulled into a damn fight like that…doesn’t he care how his actions might reflect on me?  Ohh, I’m so damn mad now I could…I could spit nails.”

 

Tossing the file down on the table, KiKyo walks to her bar, places a couple of ice cubes in her glass, and again pulls out the decanter.  (Why did he do it, though?  Inu’s never fooled around before when he knows I’m coming home.  He’d be too scared I’d catch him at it.  And to fight over some damn stranger?  That’s not like him.  Usually he finds other females to play with to avoid fighting at all.)

 

KiKyo picks up her glass, returns to the couch and picks up the file.  “Sooo, her name’s Kagome Higurashi, is it?  Doesn’t sound like much.  Ka…go…me.  Nope, no nobility in it at all.  Why just the sound of her name tells me exactly what a damn whore she is.”  KiKyo sips her drink then picks up the picture that came with the file.  “So Miss Kagome…seems you’ve been quite busy.  But now, playtime is over.  It’s time you started playing with the big girls now!  Stealing what’s mine?  Ha!  Better bet your ass it’s never going to happen.  Inu’s mine and mine alone.  He’ll always belong to me so you just keep that grubby little ass of yours away from him.  If my Inu’s going to fight over anyone it’s going to be me.”  She sips her drink, and looking pensive, taps the side of the glass.  “How could she have done it?  How could she have enticed my Inu to such a degree in the first place?  Could it have been a trap she’d laid out for him?  If so, what is she hoping to gain?  And what do I need to do to stop her…send her back to where she truly belongs?”  After again looking through the file, she frowns slamming her glass down onto the table.  “Damn it, KiKyo, think!  You know what she is.  How can you protect him from this tramp before it’s too late?”  The woman peruses the file once more.  “Oh, come on.  She can’t possibly be all that perfect.  The bitch is nothing more than a whore… a fucking user.  There’s got to be something more in here than what I’m seeing...some clue I’ve overlooked.”  After searching the file, a third time, a smile slowly graces the woman’s features.  She gives a nod and slaps the page.  “And there it is!  The innocent act.  The oldest trick in the book.  My Inu has always been a sucker for such a ploy.  Why I can just see her ass running up to him, shaking and shit.”  KiKyo clasps her hands together and bats her eyes.  “Oh, please Inu…I’m so scared!  You’ve got to protect me!” she mimics in a high tone.  “Hmph!  The bitch’s not so smart after all.”  KiKyo sips her drink and looking down at the file, smiles.  “Stopping her ass will be child’s play for me.  I’ll stop her as I did with all those other bitches.”  The woman picks up the picture and pages from the table, walks over to her file cabinet and places them in a drawer.  (Yep KiKyo, old girl,) thought the woman happily, locking the cabinet.  (It’s time you went shopping.  There’s a whoring spider out there you have to catch.  Only this time, you’re making damn sure that spider gets caught in her own damn web.)  KiKyo quickly finishes her drink, changes her clothing and then leaves the apartment.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Late afternoon, Kagome, feeling lonely and forlorn, is sitting on her couch, thumbing through a magazine for the third time.  She closes the magazine and leans back. 

 

“Awwwe.  I am so darn booooored!” she yells.  (There must be something I can do to help them.  But everyone thinks I’m completely useless.  All because of these stupid injuries of mine.  Well I’m not as…) 

 

The door suddenly opens, and the half demon storms into her apartment, slamming the door behind him.  He begins pacing back and forth in front of the surprised young woman.  She blinks, and blinks again. 

 

“Inu…Yasha?”

 

“She’s really pissing me off, Kagome!” he growls angrily.  “She’s asking for it, and by the gods, if she keeps it up, I’ll damn well give it to her!”

 

“InuYasha…what’s,” says Kagome but is again cut off by the hanyou’s growl.

 

“Just one swipe is all it’ll take,” says the young hanyou, raising and flexing his claws.  “One swipe and I won’t have to listen to another word from that… that…, SLAVE DRIVER!!!”

 

“Now, now, InuYasha, calm down,” says Kagome concerned while watching him again pace the room.  “It can’t possibly be all that bad.”

 

“Not that bad?!”  The hanyou stops his pacing to look at the young woman incredulously.  “Listen, Kagome, I know I said I’d help them, and I’m more than happy to.”

 

“So?  What’s the problem?”

 

“The problem is I never said I would take her damned abuse!”

 

“Alright, alright,” says Kagome with a sigh.  “What did Sango do?”

 

“What in hell hasn’t she done, huh?” complains the hanyou angrily throwing his arms up.  “First, she has me and Miroku move her damn couch a dozen times or more around one room, just one room, mind you, only to put the damn thing back in the same fucking place!  Then, as if that weren’t bad enough, she tells us the tables don’t look right, so we moved them around a dozen times or more.  Only it was from room to fucking room.  Then she tells us the lamps don’t look right and the…and that damn bed of theirs…”

 

“Ok, ok, I get the picture,” says Kagome with a smile.  “Listen InuYasha …Sango is and always has been a very indecisive person.  She can’t seem to make up her mind about anything.  Believe me; I’ve had more than one run in with it.”

 

“Oh, you did, did ya?” asks InuYasha curiously.

 

“Um hm.”

 

“Then how the hell did you manage to keep from killing her ass?”

 

“Easy,” replies Kagome with a shrug of her shoulder.  “I find when Sango gets this way, it’s always best to just lay back and breathe.  Then everything works itself out in the end.”

 

“Work itself out huh?”  The hanyou again raises his claws as an evil smirk crosses his features.  “Hey that’s not a bad idea Kagome.  I’ll just work out the damn breath in her by ripping out her fucking lungs.  Yeah.  Then that bitch won’t be able to talk at all.  Doing that would certainly satisfy this anger, not to mention my sore muscles.  Yeah I just might do that.”

 

“You don’t have to kill her, you know,” says Kagome with giggle.

 

“Are you laughing at me?”

 

“No, no,” replies Kagome waving her hand while trying to stifle her giggles.  “I’m just saying there’s no reason for you to be overreacting like this.”

 

“Oh, so now you think I’m overreacting huh?!”

 

“Yes I do.  After all, there’re only so many places she can move her furniture to.”

 

“Are you kidding me?  I think that bitch is inventing places to put it all.  Why I’ll probably be dead from old age before she finally makes up her damn mind about anything.”

 

“Now I know you’re overreacting,” replies the young woman slightly shaking her head.  “Look.  Sango is Sango, ok?  She’s been this way since I’ve known her and she’s not going to change anytime soon.  So you’ll just have to learn to deal with it and let her be.”

 

“Yeah, well,” the hanyou grumbles.  “I still think my idea’s better, Kagome.”

 

“Hey, I know,” says Kagome smiling patting the couch.

 

“You’ll let me, do it?” ask InuYasha expectantly.

 

“No, but I will let you sit beside me.”

 

“What’s sitting next to you gonna do?”

 

“Nothing, I guess.  But we can see if I can help those sore muscles of yours.  Help you relax, ok?”

 

“Help me relax huh?  The way your body is?” grumbles InuYasha in a pout.  “I sincerely doubt that.”

 

“You can, at least, let me try, can’t you?”

 

“Yeah, I guess so,” InuYasha replies halfheartedly, “just as long as you don’t hurt yourself, doing it.”  The hanyou walks over and sits beside the young woman who reaches over and begins massaging his shoulders and back.

 

“You know, InuYasha, you really shouldn’t let yourself get upset like this,” says Kagome massaging one tight shoulder.  “Half demon, though you are, you could still have heart attack.”

 

“I can’t help it Kagome,” replies the half demon slightly shaking his head.  “It’s the only way I know to handle things.”

 

“Well, if you keep this up, you won’t be handling things much longer.”

 

“Yeah, yeah.”  The young hanyou closes his eyes, takes a deep breath to relax, and after a while smiles.  “This feels really nice Kagome.  Been doing this sort of thing long?”

 

“I guess so.  Whenever Souta got upset, like when I’ve been away, I would rub his back to calm him.  Which reminds me…”  The young woman slowly rises and the hanyou’s eyes quickly open.

 

“Where in hell do you think you’re going?” asks InuYasha worriedly watching her.  “Not to that bitch’s apartment.”

 

“No, I’m going to the bathroom to find the oil I used on Souta.  So you just sit there quietly and try to relax.”

 

“Hurry back!  Yell if you need my help for anything.”  The hanyou anxiously watches the hallway for Kagome’s return.  There is a sound of someone running down the outside hallway and the hanyou’s ear twitches.  “Huh?  What the hell could that be?”  The living room door is suddenly opened and slammed shut.

 

“Hey, be a pal, would ja,” Miroku says anxiously placing his back against the door, “and hide me for a while?”

 

“Can’t handle it either I take it?” says InuYasha smiling.

 

“I don’t know how you stood it as long as you did, InuYasha.  My wife’s a terror, when she gets this way!  Only Kagome can calm her down now.”

 

“Hey she’s your …”

 

Someone knocks loudly on the door.  “Eeep!”  Sango’s husband jumps.  “It’s her!”

 

“Are you in there, Miroku?!” yells an angry voice beyond the door.

 

The man mouths the words ‘you ain’t seen me,’ and quickly runs to Kagome’s bedroom to hide.

 

“You’d better come back and help me!” threatens Sango.  “You hear me Miroku?!”  The knocking continues.  “Kagome?  Is Miroku in there!”

 

Kagome slowly makes her way from her hallway and gives a questioning look towards the hanyou.  “Can’t you hear her, InuYasha?”  The young hanyou simply shrugs his shoulders.  “It wouldn’t hurt you to just open the door for her, would it?”

 

“Hey, you’re the one who told me to let her be, Kagome, so I’m letting her be.”

 

“I didn’t mean it like that.  Geez!”

 

Smiling, Kagome opens her door, only to have Sango angrily storm past her, into her apartment.  The angry woman narrows her eyes at InuYasha who in turn, angrily growls.  She then looks around the room. 

 

“You can’t hide from me forever, husband,” she says threateningly.  “You’d better come out, or you’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight and not all in one piece!”

 

“Please Sango,” whines Miroku slowly walking into the room.  “My beloved one… even slaves get time to rest.” 

 

“Keh!  Whimp,” whispers the hanyou.

 

“Oh come on,” replies Sango putting her hands on her hips, “You don’t have to act like I’m abusing you.  All I wanted was for you to move that little table for me.”

 

“Little?!  You call that monstrosity little?!”  Miroku stubbornly crosses his arms over his chest.  “It’s fine where it sits!”

 

“That’s telling her, Miroku,” says the hanyou.

 

“InuYasha!” says Kagome surprised.

 

“What?”

 

“Shush!”  Kagome turns her attention to the angry woman in the room.  “Isn’t it about time you guys took a break Sango?”

 

“Kagome?” asks Sango as if it’s the first time she’s noticed her in the room.

 

“Miroku and InuYasha are both really tired now,” says Kagome.  “Why not stop for a little while, so they can rest?”

 

“But I was really hoping to get it all done today, Kagome,” replies Sango with a pout.

 

“I know you were,” replies Kagome sympathetically patting her friend on the back.  “You’re a really hard worker.  You work harder than anyone else here.  So tell me the truth Sango.  You’re feeling just a little tired yourself, aren’t you?”

 

“Well…”

 

“Your apartment isn’t going anywhere, you know,” continues Kagome.  “And with all you guys working over there, it’s really lonely here not being able to visit or talk with anyone.”

 

“Since you put it that way, Kagome, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to wait till tomorrow to finish it all up.”

 

“Great,” smiles Kagome.  “It’ll be like a party with all four of us here together.  We can order pizza in and rent a movie.  We’ll all relax today and then start out fresh again tomorrow.”

 

“Sounds like a plan.”  Sango nods toward the bottle in the young woman’s hand.  “So, what’s cha got there … oil?”

 

“Yep,” replies the young woman raising the bottle.  “It was Souta’s.  Want some?”

 

“Well I…”

 

“I’m rubbing InuYasha’s back with it, Sango.  There should be enough in here for you to use on Miroku’s too if you want.”

 

“I really don’t think he deserves it Kagome, but…,” Sango gives her husband a suspicious look, as he places an angelic look to his features.  “I guess I’ll do it anyway.”  After the men remove their shirts, the women place the guys on the floor; Sango a little harder with her husband, and begins massaging the oil on their backs.

 

“So, are you feeling any better now?” asks Sango worriedly.  “I really am sorry about earlier, about almost hitting you with that vase.”

 

“Well you ought to be bi…!” says InuYasha angrily when Kagome smacks him rather hard on his head.  “Oww!  Why the hell did you do that for, Kagome?”

 

“I wasn’t really aiming it at you,” continues Sango ignoring the angry hanyou.

 

“I know.  But you missed me, right?” replies Kagome dismissively.  “No harm done and at least we know my reflexes are getting better.”  The females continue talking about the activities of their day.

 

Miroku looks over at the hanyou and winks.  “See?  I told you Kagome could calm my wife down,” he whispers with a wink.  “She always does.”  InuYasha only nods and smirks.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

7:30pm and the four are still in Kagome’s apartment enjoying a relaxing evening of movies and pizza.  Kagome leans back against InuYasha’s chest and smiles.

 

“Feeling any better?”

 

“Yeah, I guess so,” answers the hanyou with pizza in his mouth.

 

“You left some right,” Kagome reaches up and rubs some of the sauce from his face, “there!”  She tries placing her finger with the sauce in her mouth.

 

“Hey that’s mine, wench,” says InuYasha catching and pulling her hand back.  He places her finger in his mouth, to slowly lick off the sauce, and smiles.  “Mmm, though you do make it taste so much better,” he whispers.  The young woman develops a slight blush to her cheeks.

 

“So InuYasha,” says Miroku reaching for another slice of pizza.  What do you do for a living?”

“Oh, didn’t I tell you Miroku?” replies Kagome breaking eye contact with the hanyou.  “InuYasha’s a mechanic.  A really good one too!”  InuYasha’s smile brightens at the young woman’s show of pride in him.

 

“Is that so?” says Miroku smiling.

 

“Sure is,” says Kagome.  “He can fix anything out there!”

 

“Anything, huh?” says Miroku.  “Don’t suppose you could tell me what’s wrong with my old clunker, could you?”

 

“Depends,” replies the hanyou with a shrug of his shoulders.  “What’s she doing?”

 

“A lot actually.  It’s a wonder I can still get her to run at all.”

 

“That bad huh?” says InuYasha.

 

“Yeah.  It won’t start unless I turn the key several times, and the battery is almost always dying out on me, sometimes while I’m still driving.  It gets really frustrating when I’m late for work, not to mention how embarrassed I feel when she stops dead in the street.”

 

“Sounds like it could be an ignition or grounding problem, Miroku or it could be something simple like you need a new battery,” says the hanyou thoughtfully.  “I can’t know for sure until I see what’s going on under the hood first.  So bring her into the shop and I’ll take a look at her.”

 

“I’m just a working stiff, you know,” says Miroku.  “Can’t afford much.  But if you could recommend a friend to take her to, I’d really appreciate it.”

 

“Hey I’m your friend, aren’t I?”

 

“Yeah,” replies Miroku with a laugh.  “But I only get paid twice a month.”

 

“So?

 

“So, I can’t really afford a professional.”

 

“Just bring her to the garage Miroku.  Tell them I sent you.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Sure, I’m sure.  Just bring her in and I’ll look at her over.  We’ll work out the payment details later.”  InuYasha’s cell beeps.  (Damn it.  Who the hell can that be,) thought the hanyou with a growl, pulling the device from his pocket?  Kagome sighs.  “Sorry guys,” says the hanyou looking at his cell.  “Gotta go.”

 

“Awe,” says Kagome sadly.  “It’s still early yet.”

 

“I know Kagome, but it seems my slave driver wants me home now,” explains the hanyou apologetically.

 

“Can’t you stay just a little while longer InuYasha?” asks Kagome hopefully.  “There’s plenty of pizza left and you haven’t seen the end of the movie.”

 

InuYasha ponders the problem, but only for a second.  “You know fair maiden?”  He pockets his cell and carefully nestles Kagome back in his lap.  “You’re absolutely right.  I haven’t seen the ending yet, now, have I?  It would be quite rude of me if I left now.  Pass me another slice, Miroku!”

 

(I like his smile,) thought Kagome with a grin.  (It looks so warm and caring.  He doesn’t seem to do enough of it.  Seems he’s always so serious all the time.  I like seeing him happy like this.)  The young woman snuggles back into InuYasha’s warm embrace and smiles.  (If we could only stay this way.  If only…)  Kagome slightly frowns.  (But that’s not really possible, is it mama?  Not for me at least.)

 

“Hey,” says InuYasha looking concerned.

 

“Huh?” replies Kagome blushing. 

 

“You alright?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Seems you’ve sort of phased out on me a bit.”

 

“Oh.  I fine InuYasha.  Just getting comfortable, is all.”

 

Accepting her answer, InuYasha sits back and hugs Kagome a little tighter against him and the four continue watching the movie and finishing the pizza.

 

The young hanyou is enjoying his first night relaxing without alcohol.  So much so, he feels quite comfortable with the situation.  (This is nothing like what I have at home,) he thought with a smile.  (No one here is bitching at me or putting me down.  And when Kagome praise me like she did, I felt really proud of myself.  All KiKyo ever does is belittle me and my work, making me feel so worthless.  Yeah, I can definitely get used to living like this.  It kind of feels like I have a…a real home… I’m happy.)  InuYasha looks over at the smiling woman in his lap.  (If my life would always be this way with Kagome,) he thought dreamily, (why can’t I just stay here with her?  Why, should I continue being miserable all the time, wasting my life with KiKyo?)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Three hours later, InuYasha whistling happily, returns to the apartment where KiKyo is not only waiting for him, she’s looking absolutely livid.

 

“Well Inu?” she says angrily tapping her foot on the floor when the door opens.

 

InuYasha enters, stops, then slowly lays his keys on the side table.  “Well… what?”

 

KiKyo’s frown deepens.  “Just where the hell have you been?”

 

“Out,” the hanyou answers.

 

“I know you were out dumbass!  But doing what?  You don’t work today.”

 

“I do have some semblance of a social life, KiKyo.”

 

“Social life, huh?”  KiKyo walks up to the hanyou and reaches to wipe something from his face.  “Is this part of your so-called social life?  Lipstick?”

 

“Maybe.  Kind of a nice shade, don’t you think?”

 

“Don’t you dare be flippant with me, bastard!” she says angrily.  “I want to know who the hell you were with all this time.”

 

“I was out with some friends, ok?”

 

“Friends?”

 

“That’s right.  Believe it or not KiKyo I do have friends.”

 

“What… friends?”

 

“Just friends, ok?  What’s with the attitude anyway?  I don’t give you the third degree when you come home, do I?”

 

“I called you over three hours ago Inu!  I expected you to at least call me back.”

 

“What?  Am I on some fucking leash now?”

 

KiKyo narrows her eyes.  “Just what are you playing at?”

 

“What was that?”

 

“I said playing Inu.  You’re acting really strange right now.  Are you cheating on me again?”

 

“Why the hell would you think that?” the hanyou replies surprised. 

 

“You’ve always called me right back whenever I called you for one.  And you haven’t gone near the bar.”  KiKyo raises her hand with the substance on her finger.  “And then there’s this!  You are cheating on me, aren’t you?  Well?!”

 

“No I’m not cheating on you.”  (Nothing you need to know about at least.)  “And if you’ll taste that you’ll find it’s nothing more than pizza sauce.  As for the bar?  You attacked my ass as soon as I got through the fucking door.  You didn’t give me time to fix a damn drink.  So back off, KiKyo alright?”

 

“Sauce, huh?  Yeah right.”  KiKyo lightly licks her finger.  “Oh,” she says looking at her finger amazed.  “So, it is.”

 

“See?  Don’t know why you’re being so damn paranoid anyway.  I came home, didn’t I?”

 

“So, you really were with your friends… all day?”

 

“Yeah, all day.  It is my right isn’t it, or are you expecting me to fucking stay here all the time?”

 

“No need for you to get so upset Inu.  I was just wondering where you were, that’s all,” replies KiKyo.  “You were gone all day and when I didn’t hear anything from you, I got worried.”

 

“Keh!  Well I don’t like getting the third degree KiKyo when I just walk through the fucking door,” replies the hanyou with a slight growl.  “For once I’d like to come home, fix me a damn drink and watch a little television without you bitching at me.  That’s not too much to ask, now is it?!”  The hanyou walks toward the bar.  “Damn!”  The hanyou pulls out a glass and his whiskey bottle from the cabinet.

 

KiKyo heaves a heavy sigh.  (So, he was with those damn misfits from that band of his.  That’s ok.  Means I have more time to set things up.  After all there’s going to be some major changes made around here and I don’t want to trip myself up by being too controlling.)

 

InuYasha pours whiskey into his glass.  (What’s with all those questions,) he thought lifting his glass to his lips?  (KiKyo’s never done shit like that before.  And as for worrying?  Keh!  She’s never done that before either.  Could it be she’s jealous?  Over what though?  She couldn’t have heard about Kagome already, could she?  No if KiKyo knew about her, she wouldn’t be wasting time like this.  She’d still be bitching, asking me more questions.  Just the same though, I’d better stick closer to home … steer clear of my other bitches for a while.  That should be enough to calm her down some, I think.  Besides, it won’t be long until she goes away on another one of her trips again.  And once she’s gone, I’ll be free to spend my time with Kagome.  And there’s no way I’ll ever allow KiKyo to interfere with that.  Time with Kagome?  That’s something I can really look forward to.)  The hanyou gulps his drink and pours him another.  (Yep, I’ll definitely need to be more cautious around here from now on.)