InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Head Over Heels ❯ Somebody to Shove ( Chapter 26 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter Twenty Six

Somebody to Shove

Warning: The end of this chapter is dark.

Time Square, 42nd St and Broadway, 10pm

Kagura:

I stood elbow to elbow with the screaming crowd, cowering in my thickest coat wondering what the hell had possessed me to come out here in the first place.

This was the only street in the US, excluding Vegas, where the signs were required to be big bright and neon. If I craned my head I could see the NBC news screen. The crowd, easily half a million strong, was a living force, shoving us from every conceivable angle. Some people were sporting silly glasses that spelled out 2006. Bright TV lights were everywhere and when Sango was sitting on Miroku's shoulders she said she saw the figure of Regis standing near the crystal ball.

MTV VJs worked the crowd for their New Year's Eve special. Unlike the girls behind us we were less than star struck. MTV had been a waste of my time ever since they stopped playing actual music. I sighed and shook my head. Damn, I was getting old.

Miroku had a giant top hat that was already covered in confetti. It was interesting to see how jovial he was even though his store was ruined.

He was almost… relieved. Old Disraeli was right; he'd already decided to move on with his life. The store wasn't coming back and she clearly expected me to do something about it.

Damned pushy ghosts... Maybe I needed a good old fashioned exorcism.

Miroku pressed a warm thermos into my hand and I smiled, Ah yes, this was whyI was here. I pulled off the lid and took a deep drink of his killer eggnog. Every year he made it from scratch and it was the drink of the Gods, well that is if the Gods are all horrible alcoholics.

I wiped the eggnog mustache from my upper lip. “All this sinful indulgence and over rated MTV disc jockeys to boot, some preacher you're gonna be. Doesn't the collared set frown on this?”

He laughed and snatched back the thermos, “Priests wear collars you ignoramus. I'm studying to be a preacher.”

I shrugged as the warmth of the alcohol flowed through my veins; the roar of the crowd rang in my ears. “Yeah so? Same difference.”

Miroku hugged Sango to him; I saw his hand snake around and grab her ass, “Priests can't marry but preachers on the other hand…”

Sango's eyebrows shot up and she punched him in the arm. “And it's that other hand you'd better be keeping to yourself.” The guy beside her laughed but Miroku was beyond embarrassment.

“Yeah Friar Tuck.” I giggled already feeling the effects of the eggnog.

Miroku snorted while he drank from the thermos now held tightly in his black leather gloves, “Stupid heathen, Tuck was a monk, not a preacher.”

Sango rolled her eyes, “Good point. Besides, you'd make a crappy monk what with that vow of chastity and all.”

He spared her a paltry glance and slipped his arm over her shoulders, “Oh hush, you can't keep your hands off me.”

Sango pushed him away and turned her back to him muttering, “You are SUCH a creep.” But I saw a small smile on her face and knew the insult was hollow.

Damn, I'm a crappy friend. I'd been too wrapped up in my own petty drama to notice Sango's growing feelings for Miroku. If I wasn't careful soon my only friend would be Sushi and as friendly as he is, he's not much for shopping sprees.

I was reaching for the thermos, needing much more alcohol in my system least Sango and Miroku did something ghastly, like make out in front of me. A hard body slammed into my back and I nearly lost my balance. I stumbled but held the thermos tightly.

Damn it! I'd almost dropped our booze! What the hell?

I swung around but the guy who'd slammed into me was already gone. Then I caught a glance of a well cut expensive red leather jacket and a whirlwind of long platinum hair.

I stood on tiptoe waving, “Hey!”

A white ear turned in my direction and a few moments later Inuyasha bounded over the sardine packed crowd carrying Kagome in his arms. Only yokai hearing could've picked out my voice over the screams of our fellow partiers.

Kagome's face was flush from the cold air and for some reason known only to God she was wearing yet another mini skirt. I decided right then and there the girl had no feeling in her thighs.

Inuyasha's face was pale and his eyes shadowed. He seemed just plain tired. He scanned the crowd around us. “What the fuck! Is every human in New York here?”

Kagome laughed, “Probably,” Then she waved at the guys next to us who were blatantly trying to look up her skirt as Inuyasha swung her around then set her on the ground beside me. The girl was oblivious but lucky for her impromptu fan club Inuyasha had missed their leers.

Kagome was giddy with excitement, “Isn't this what everyone in the City does for New Years?”

I shrugged not wanting to admit I'd been caught acting like a tourist. Miroku's eyes were on Kagome's legs and this earned him a hard jab in the ribs from Sango's elbow.

Sango stepped up, “So Kagura introduce us to your new friends.”

Sango was always pestering me that I never meet new people or try anything new. I shot her an angry look that said, See! I can make friends on my own. Jeeze… there is no rest for the wicked. “This is Kagome and Inuyasha.” I smiled, pleased with my show of impeccable manners.

Sango nodded, “So, how do you know Kagura?”

Inuyasha said carelessly, “We found her in Sesshomaru's kitchen a few days ago.” It sounded as though I was a wandering homeless person or lost cat. He could've mentioned the bookstore and made it sound respectable but no such luck.

“So then you know Sesshomaru?” Sango didn't have to think hard, it was obvious the two were related. Those eyes, that hair and that cocky smirk… God I hate Sesshomaru.

Kagome cut in, “Yeah… he's family.”

Inuyasha pushed her off his arm. “He ain't my goddamned family. I'm gonna rip off both of his arms then use `em to beat him to death!”

Miroku laughed, “Wow, that's some Jerry Springer crap you got going there.” The crowd let out an ear splitting cheer and I saw a TV camera on a crane panning in our direction. Everyone smiled and waved. I rolled my eyes and pretended to be above such shallow things as being seen by the world on live TV.

Kagome muttered softly to Inuyasha, “You promised me… don't forget. We'll get your Tetsusaiga back.”

He growled, “Fuck Sesshomaru.”

My pointed ears twitched and I touched his shoulder, “I'd hold him down for you.”

Inuyasha frowned no doubt remembering how close I'd been with Sesshomaru. “Kagura?”

I gave a loose shrug. “Yeah…” I wasn't about to spill my guts, explanations have never really been my… thing.

“Hold him down eh?” He threw back his silver head and laughed, flashing me a lethal set of fangs that made mine look like milk teeth.

I was failing to see the humor here. “You don't think I got game?”

He sputtered trying to contain his hoots, “Gods, hell no. Come on!”

Kagome frowned then elbowed him in his ribs. “Inuyasha!”

I lifted my hand and blew a sharp wind through his hair, “Bring it on Dog Boy.”

He grinned at Kagome and swung his clawed thumb in my direction. “I knew I liked her.”

Kagome groaned, “You promised me this one night, please let's just have fun. You can kill your brother tomorrow.”

The corner of Inuyasha's lip turned down, “Half brother.”

Kagome sighed, “Yeah sure whatever… just let it go for tonight.”

Flood lights scanned the crowd and I saw I wasn't the only one who'd had a bad day. Inuyasha's pale skin was marred with the shadows of healing bruises. A hint of well concealed tear tracks streaked Kagome's face. Sesshomaru was the cause; I knew he'd never forgive Inuyasha's mixed blood. My mouth was dry, had Sesshomaru left me and taken his rage out on Inuyasha?

I knew that wasn't my fault. I had no control over the actions of that asshole, yet I felt strangely guilty as if I could've prevented it somehow.

The camera moved on and the people behind us settled down. Miroku pulled the collar of his coat up around his neck. “Now that the pissing contest is over, have some Eggnog.”

Inuyasha accepted the thermos, pulled off the lid and sniffed, “Damn this is more bourbon than eggnog.”

Sango laughed, “It's the secret ingredient.”

Inuyasha shrugged and tossed back his hair, “Well when in Rome…”

He took a fast drink and offered it to Kagome who shook her head. “Oh no way. That'll go straight to my thighs.”

Miroku shrieked “OWE! Damn it woman,”

I didn't have to turn to know he'd been caught checking out said thighs. I smiled to myself wondering when Kagome was going to accept she had an eating disorder.

Kohaku popped out of seemingly nowhere wearing his old denim jacket. Miroku spotted him first and groaned, “What are you doing here, shouldn't your little pyromaniac ass be grounded?”

Kohaku ignored Miroku and nodded to Kagome, “Nice legs babe.”

Kagome blushed as Inuyasha turned to face him and cocked an eyebrow, “Gutsy little bastard aren't ya?”

Kohaku recognized Inuyasha and tried to step back but the force of the crowd prevented his escape. “Awwwh man, it's you.”

Inuyasha licked his fangs, “Yeah little man it's me.”

Kohaku's lip curled back and before he could sling an insult, Sango grabbed the top of his arm yanking him back against her chest. “Kohaku don't taunt the dog demon.”

Everyone froze waiting for Inuyasha's reaction to what was essentially almost a racial slur. Sango hadn't meant to offend him. She was chastising Kohaku's lack of common sense. Honestly Kohaku's life span was ever shortening day by day. Hell the way he was going, someone was sure to kill him by the end of the week.

Oddly enough Inuyasha didn't seem to care but Kagome did. “He's yokai not a demon.” She huffed and crossed her arms. “Honestly you people in this city, you're all so… rude.” This coming from the chick who'd just flashed her butt to half the city, it was amusing.

Sango's lips thinned but she said nothing. She was used to cleaning up after Kohaku. Inuyasha blinked, and then shocked me by turning on Kagome. “Why can't you let it go?”

She lifted her hands defensively, “Why do you always ignore people's ignorance?”

Inuyasha hung his head and sighed, “She didn't mean it, Gods Kagome chill out. It's been a long day.”

The cold biting wind pushed Kagome's long black hair away from her face. “I'm sick of the way you let everyone treat you.” It was crystal clear this fight wasn't about Sango. Kagome was pissed that Inuyasha had fought with Sesshomaru.

“So what?” He took a fast step towards her. “Yokai, demons they're all the same thing!”

Sango slipped behind Miroku taking Kohaku with her.

The situation was unstable at best and people in the crowd around us were turning to stare.

Kagome paled, “Inuyasha no…”

He loomed over her, his clawed hands in the air above her head, “It's true. I'm half monster. My family was eating humans less than a century ago.”

The MTV dorks were heading our way, eager to film the gorgeous hanyou who was starting a fight. I ducked my head wondering if today could get any worse.

Kagome stood on her stick thin legs with her short skirt whipping around her and railed back at Inuyasha. “That's not you!”

“You know what I am, you always have.” Inuyasha growled low and when Kagome reached out to touch him, he shoved her away. She stumbled back and Miroku caught her.

Tears ran down her face, her lips quivering as she spoke. “I can't be with you, not like this.” She pushed free of Miroku's arms and ran into the crowd.

Inuyasha's ears stood at attention tracking her footsteps as he began to push through the crowd after her. “Kagome no, I'm sorry! Don't!”

Miroku threw out his arm and stopped him. “Let her go.”

Inuyasha's eyes flashed red. “It's not safe out here.”

Sango said softly, “This whole place is crawling with cops. It's the safest night of the year for her to be out alone.”

Miroku nodded, “She's just going back to the hotel, let her walk it off.”

Inuyasha groaned, “Goddamn it!” He punched his fist into his left hand.

I felt honestly bad for him. He seemed lost with out his female Siamese twin. “It's okay. Stay here with us.”

The MTV reporters realized they'd missed their money shot after Kagome ran off. They turned to film some stoned college girls carrying signs.

A line appeared between Inuyasha's silver brows. “Yeah it's not like I have anyplace else to be is it?”

The people around us went back to their own conversations and Sango offered him the thermos, “I'm sorry. I didn't… mean it.”

He scoffed and accepted the Egg Nog, “Yes you did but it's all right. Kagome just… she expects the world to be… well perfect.”

Miroku slid his hands into his pockets, “Yeah that's a load of rot. This place is far from perfect.”

Inuyasha rolled his golden eyes, “Ain't that the fucking truth.”

Sango frowned but said nothing. Kohaku found his voice. “Nice jacket. Is it bright enough for ya?”

Inuyasha slowly zipped up the red leather coat. “Nah, I wanted it loud enough to stop traffic but this was the best I could do.”

Kohaku broke out into a grin and Inuyasha offered him his clawed hand. Then they proceeded to do some complicated guy hand shake that ended with punching the knuckles of their fists together.

Sango and I watched, marveling in the secret language of macho. Then Inuyasha hissed, “What the hell is that?”

A well muscled man with long hair stood in the cold night wearing only his white Fruit of the Loom briefs, a cowboy hat, boots and acoustic guitar. He strummed his guitar singing; I couldn't make out the song over the crowd's cheering and clapping.

Sango gave a low whistle, “Now that is something we don't have enough of in this world, naked hot cowboy types.”

Inuyasha frowned, “He's freezing his balls off.”

I laughed, “He's actually out here all year.”

The Naked Cowboy strolled through the crowd and Inuyasha greeted him with a suspicious glare. The Cowboy bowed and tossed out to us, "Who'd you expect, Frosty the Snowman?"

I did the only thing you can do when presented with a half naked man in the dead of a New York winter; I laughed and waved at him.

Much to Miroku's chagrin Sango went to get the Cowboy's autograph and I realized that Kohaku was gone. “Hey has anyone seen our resident punk in the past five minutes.”

Inuyasha was too busy staring at the Cowboy to say anything and Miroku gave a dismissive wave. “Ahhh, he'll be all right, he can take care of himself.”

Yeah but he'd been wearing that old, thin, jean jacket and it would be so easy for him to get caught up in the New Years Eve revelry and do something classic Kohaku… i.e. stupid.

_-_-_

11:25pm

The Eggnog was long gone and I was dancing with Sango. The crowd was buzzing as people bounced off one another in a gentle form of mosh slam dancing.

Carson Daly finally made it over with his camera man and I was too buzzed to care. “Where are you from?”

Inuyasha tilted his chin up refusing to acknowledge the faux celeb but Sango laughed, “We're natives!”

He grinned and motioned his camera man to focus in on us. “Would you ladies mind dancing for us? You can show the whole world how New York rocks!”

Miroku stepped between Carson and us. “No thanks. They're passing on your little request.”

Caron jerked his thumb at Miroku and Inuyasha who stood silent and glaring. “Looks like your boyfriends are jealous.”

I snorted and Sango doubled over in laughter. I took a deep breath and was startled when Carson shoved his mike into my face. “How bout you tell me your name?”

Stupid human, he'd crossed the line into my personal space and I felt my ire rise. “How bout you stop showing those fuck-tarded reality shows.”

I heard Inuyasha chuckle and saw Miroku wince. Carson barked to his camera man, “Cut away and use the seven second delay.” Then he was gone.

Sango gasped, “I can't believe you used the word fuck-tarded. Did you just make that up? It's offensive on so many levels.”

“I only wish I could take credit for that one.” I glanced around and saw the reporters were giving us a wide berth after my little outburst.

Miroku put his arm around Sango's shoulders and said to me, “It's a good thing we're already out of Nog, after that display I'd have to cut you off.”

Inuyasha grinned, “That was fun.”

I smiled back, “Yeah it was.” My feet began to hurt; we'd been standing for well over three hours and of course I was wearing high heeled knee high leather boots under my skirt. Fashion was fashion, even if it did hurt. This was fun but I was anxious for midnight to come so we could party and go home.

Inuyasha scratched his head, “I wish Kagome hadn't left, she loves that MTV asshole.”

My eyes rolled skyward of their own volition. “That figures.”

Sango pulled her cell from her coat pocket; the razor phone was vibrating in her hand. “I hope this isn't important. There's no way I can hear in the crowd.”

She opened the phone and pressed it hard to her right ear and yelled. “Dad! I'm in Time Square. I can't hear you!”

Sango's father was a hardened NYC cop and he hated talking on the phone, this was hardly a social `Happy New Year' call. She stuck a finger in her left ear and shouted into the phone. “Dad, Dad! I can't hear you. Text it to me.”

Then she shut the phone. “Shit. I wish I hadn't hung up on him, I don't think he knows how to text message.”

We stood around trying to pretend the call wasn't anything to worry about. Soon the phone was buzzing again. Sango flipped it open, “Hell he did it.”

Then her face was ashen.

Miroku plucked the phone from her hand and read the message. “Damn it, we gotta get out of here. Inuyasha help me get through the crowd.”

Inuyasha nodded and pushed through the wall of people. I held onto the waist band of his jeans and felt Sango's arms around my waist. Our human chain was making good time pushing through the crowd until we hit the blocked off side street.

A police officer stood behind a barrier of yellow tape. “You can't go through here. It's a restricted area.”

Sango's eyes shone with unshed tears. “It's an emergency. Please… we have to get out.”

The officer pointed up the street, “The port-a -potties are up the street. No one gets through here.”

Sango gritted her teeth but Miroku stepped forward. “Her father's Sergeant Hiraikotsu, he just called and told us her brother's in St. Luke's emergency room. Please sir, help us.”

The policeman grunted and nodded, “This way.”

My blood ran cold and I swallowed my questions. There was no point in asking what happened because Sango obviously didn't know. She was shaking with worry and Miroku had his arm around her.

The officer escorted us out to the main street and Miroku went to hail a cab but the cop stopped him. “Ever since Sept 11th we over staff these events, my partner can get you down to St. Luke's.” He pulled out his walkie and five minutes later a slim blond police woman pulled up in a cruiser.

We climbed in the back and Inuyasha rode up front. I stared through the thick wire barrier between the front and back seats while Sango bit her lip and Miroku squeezed her hand. “It'll be fine. I'm sure he's just broken an arm or been in a fight.”

Sango shook her head, “No Dad wouldn't have called me for that. Something's seriously wrong.”

I wound the fingers of my right hand through the wire mesh, “We don't know that yet, just hang in there and we'll be there soon.”

Because of the big Time Square ball drop, a twenty minute trip took us forty minutes. The car pulled up at the back of the block near the emergency entrance.

I hate emergency rooms and will move Heaven and Earth just to avoid them; partly because of the long wait in a dirty room with the scourge of our fair city. A few months back I took Miroku to the hospital because of back spasms. We waited four hours before he was able to see a doctor and get a fast shot in the ass to stop the pain.

Of course my other problem with hospitals is they are full of dead shades looking for a voice. Though the dead in the hospital were rarely evil, mostly they were sad and passing on, =still I hated being there.

This night I discovered there is something much worse than waiting in the ER, and that's having the ER waiting on you.

We flew through the automatic sliding glass door and a nurse at the admittance desk stood and asked, “Are you part of the Hiraikotsu family?”

Sango nodded and a nurse led us through a maze of tiled corridors to a private waiting room. It was clean, comfortable and peaceful. I was suddenly praying this was a mistake and soon we'd be asked to wait in the main lobby next to a homeless schizophrenic man with scabies. A private waiting room in the ER could only mean one thing.

Inuyasha stood outside the door and Sango pulled me in with her. I'd been to her house so much I was sort of family but it still felt wrong to be included in this.

Her father stood up from the couch where her mother sat crying. “Sango… there was an accident…”

Her mother sobbed, “They don't know if he'll…”

A stranger sat in the chair across from Sango's parents. He tilted his balding head and I saw the white of his collar.

Oh shit, the hospital Chaplin.

A doctor held a quiet discussion with the family giving them an update. My pointed ears picked up on words such as brain damage, medical coma, seizers and lack of oxygen.

The words death or dying were never used but they hung in the air around us. The presence of the attending clergyman and the private room, spoke for themselves.

Sango made a sobbing yelping noise and Miroku hugged her as she shook with sobs, crying for the boy who'd burnt down his store.

_-_-_-_

After he'd left us in Time Square, Kohaku met up with a few of his friends. They were running on the sidewalk chasing some kid who owed them money or maybe just goofing off. Kohaku tripped and fell into the street, landing in the path of a rushing taxi.

The Pakistani driver never saw him, the road was dark, the street lights glared off his windshield. He never had a chance to hit his brakes. He called 9-1-1 on his cell and now sat in another waiting room praying.

He was a good man with five kids of his own and it was a freak accident. He'd been going forty miles an hour but as helmet advocates will tell you the human head is very fragile.

The atmosphere in the waiting room was smothering so I took a slow walk down the hall. The eggnog sat in my stomach like a brick and I was sure to lose it before the night was over.

A young woman with short brown hair, in a backless green hospital gown passed me. She turned to look at me and I saw the right side of her head wrapped in a bloodied bandage. I nodded politely and she watched me as she faded away.

I wrapped my arms around my chest, pacing the hall in shock. Kohaku was so young; couldn't God see this wasn't fair? What if the next shade to pass me was him? My throat closed at this notion, I realized I couldn't handle this.

He was a young man and he'd made so many mistakes. Letting him go without giving him a second chance, Jesus! It can't really happen this way.

I was ten feet from the intersection of two sterile hallways when a familiar black hunched, hooded form floated past the entrance of my hall.

The Goblin didn't pause or acknowledge me, it was rubbing it's filthy claws and speeding purposely down the hall on a mission. Once it was gone I ran to the intersection and checked the sign on the speckled painted wall.

It read: E.R. I.C.U.

That's where Kohaku was, probably attached to numerous machines, more mannequin than human. Was it going to hurt him or was it just feeding from the human misery that lived in the ER?

Suddenly fate bitch smacked me across the face and I fell to my knees, the top of my boots pressing on the cold hospital floor.

Kohaku's jacket!

Back at the book store the goblin got off on touching and sniffing it. It knew this was coming.

I'd had a warning the boy's life was in danger and yet I hadn't done a damn thing to help him.

I had a chance to do something. And I'd done nothing.

Nothing.

Not one God damned thing.

_-_-_

The Devil's Dictionary:

Fashion: A despot whom the wise ridicule and obey.

Famous: Conspicuously miserable.

_-_-_

Notes:

This Chapter is dedicated to Kevin Smith, whose movies have defined my generation. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned for Sega.” Brodie from Mall Rats.

And thanks to Darran for expanding my vocabulary with the spiffy phrase fuck-tarded.

The Naked Cowboy is a real NYC performer whose character I don't own the rights too. Check out his website at nakedcowboydotcom. No really guys, I didn't make him up, I swear!

Of course I own no part of MTV. But they are in Time Square, so are Bubba Gump Shrimp and the Virgin Record Store.

For everyone who is freaking out, relax. There is some Kagura & Sesshomaru time coming up in the next chapter. Though the chapter is titled You don't Always Get What You Want, so there you go.

This chapter was proudly edited by Iz hedgehog who has finally recovered from being rejected by American Idol. Simon has no love for the prickly types. Perhaps you'll see her on the audition outtakes for the next season.

Yeah I suck for not updating but things have been wild around here. I haven't been well but now life is getting back to normal (And yes I do realize I say that at the end of every chapter but I am trying). Anyway it's nearly my one year Fanfic dot net anniversary. So far I have 10 fics, 7 of which are completed, aprox 369,000 total words and aprox 90,000 total hits (if you count the hits before the server reset the counters). So yeah it's been a good year and thanks so much for reading my junk! It's a thrill to know I make so many people happy. Though I doubt this chapter left anyone feeling good.