InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Laying Down the Law: Abuna i Dansu ❯ Kalamatiano ( Chapter 12 )

9191919Kalamatiano: A Greek dance in which partners interract through hand motions and hand holding; it symbolizes the physical partnership of family and friends.9191919

Axle vaguely remembered babysitting his siblings as a young boy; he'd mostly just sat on the couch watching Power Rangers and, more often than not, Max would walk two houses down to keep him company. As he now sat in the Shark's living room, doing homework whilst the other Sharks did the same, he marvelled over the general similarities between these two experiences. The only reason his siblings had once been so quiet, of course, was that he'd locked them in the closet; the Sharks, fortunately, needed no such attention. It now made sense to Axle why Akago had asked him to keep an eye on the others; it was like fifty Axles sitting in a room doing homework. Never in his life had Axle met so many people like him. It was almost like the twilight zone, or something akin; a bunch of copasetic mechanics with high ideals and little or no money and almost no purpose. How Gan stood the purposelessness of the whole house, Axle would never know; he chuckled as he thought this. Currently, Halloween was sitting next to his "babysitter" on the couch, reading Shane for his Literature class. Normally, Halloween was somewhat good at Literature except for the fact that he tended to overthink things. Between what his professors told him, what Gan and Akago told him, and what his instincts told him, the gangly boy was a mess of confusion on most academic subjects. "I don't understand," the tall demon wailed piteously, resting his cheek in his palm like a child. "What does the stump symbolize?"Axle glanced up from his Algebra II homework, eyes curious, and murmured, "The what, now?""The stump," Halloween repeated, waving about a symbol worksheet. "Sensei told us to figure out what the stump symbolizes and I don't understand!"James, the stone-faced third in command, turned his dark eyes to the scene and sighed heavily, muttering, "You don't seem to know what anything symbolizes. Can't you just reason it out?"Halloween's dark hair ruffled lightly as he moaned, "But I don't know, James!" From the look in his orange eyes, he might've been about to cry. "Hold on," one of the other Sharks said urgently, eager to avoid a crying fit. "Maybe it's...the past? Like they're chopping away the past?""Wouldn't that just make you want to vomit?" one of the others sniggered, shaking with laughter. "'Oh, I'm a farmer and I'm a mysterious horseman; let's chop away our past together!' Ugh, cliche in the worst way.""Got to agree, mate, but aren't all of those English books sort of cliche?" Axle chimed in, cocking his head to the side so that his blue dreadlocks spilled slightly onto Halloween's shoulder. The distraught demon didn't seem to notice, however, and only whined a bit more. "Kijo always explains it to me! I don't understand unless Kijo tells me! I think I'll call her..."As the boy's long arm began reaching for the house phone on the table, Axle quickly reached over and stayed his hand. "No, mate, why don't you just think it out on your own? Gan has her own things to deal with right now..."Halloween bit his lip as he seemed to remember something about his leaders going off to Kyoto to help Kagome Higurashi with housework. Though Halloween wasn't quite clear on the circumstances, he recalled now that Akago had mentioned how "taxing" this journey was going to be. Guilt washed over the tall boy and he frowned intensely, eyebrows knitting as he drew away from the phone. "I wish I was better at English," the orange-eyed demon mused thoughtfully; he wasn't complaining, but simply wishing. Axle had learned in his short time knowing Halloween that negativity was scant when it came to Halloween's frequently channeled emotions; mostly, Halloween was a dreamer. A simple dreamer. At that moment, the peaceful silence was broken by a knock at the front door; several eyes turned to face the sound, which was slightly foreign to them. On average, the only ones who entered the Shark house were the Sharks themselves; a visitor when their leaders were away might mean trouble. James immediately stood, looking slightly threatened, though Halloween only dropped his book on the table and went bouncing towards the door, humming a tune under his breath. The other Sharks exchanged glances and relaxed immediately; James retook his seat and picked up where he'd left off in his notebook. Axle observed the exchange curiously, turning to watch as Halloween skipped off looking unworried; the other Sharks seemed to be taking the tall demon's lead. "No problem?" Axle asked the general room, mostly directing the question at James.The others didn't bother looking up as James replied, eyes focused on his notebook, "If Halloween doesn't think there's a problem, there's not a problem."And suddenly Axle suspected there might be more to the easy-going Halloween than first met the eye. Of course, the Jackrabbits had already become aware of many rumors inside the Tokyo sphere, several of them directed at Halloween, though Axle himself had been skeptical to believe them. The loveable Shark just seemed like a cute cook who'd one day stopped by and taken up residence in the bungalow. This whole "killer" persona that the masses had developed for him seemed improbable and ridiculous...though it was the nice ones you needed to be careful of. Axle and most others in the gangs had learned that the hard way.Lysander Macharyas had only been to the Shark house once in his entire life; he and Ranbou had been 14 and, on a dare from Bankotsu, had infiltrated the beach side house to steal the then leader, Scion's, motorcycle. The whole encounter had ended with a young Akago stepping into the garage and unleashing his very aristocratic wrath upon the two, who had taunted him before finding themselves looking down the barrel of a hunting rifle. This was, needless to say, the only deterrent Lysander really needed when it came to the Shark house. Now that the Sharks and Fangs were allies, it was, theoretically, very safe for Lysander to deliver the papers Bones had sent with him. Sesshomaru had left only a few instructions in his absence and one of them had to do with delivering several files to James, the Shark's third in command; Lysander supposed this would all be quick and fairly harmless. How wrong he was. The door opened to reveal a tall, slender, beautiful-faced boy with eyed the shade of a deep sunset. He was smiling in a way that made his lips curve like the edge of the world; the very set of his nose above his mouth, his eyes above his nose...it was simply beautiful. Lysander had observed all this before because, in his own quiet way, he'd been watching Halloween for several days now. The day Ranbou had told him Halloween's name was a day Lysander would always remember; perhaps it was that demon mechanism deep down in his lion heart, but he knew there was a connection between him and this tall, lanky Shark. "Hello," Halloween said brightly, greeting the kind looking redheaded boy on the doorstep. Halloween could recall seeing him a few times before and considering him very handsome; redheads always had a nice look about them that made them good looking, he thought. Lysander was currently smiling, though Halloween couldn't remember seeing him do much else; he probably had to make up for Fennella's bitterness by being happy all the time. "Hi there," Lysander said after a moment, a blush rising to his cheeks as his mouth went dry; when had he last been embarrassed to talk to anyone? Lysander was generally so easy-going that embarrassment wasn't even in his vocabulary."You're Lysander Macharyas, aren't you?" Halloween continued on, still grinning. "Toumoku said you were quite nice."Lysander was honestly quite lost on how to reply to this comment; he didn't want to come off conceited or something, which comments like Halloween always provoked, and he also wanted to avoid seeming falsely humble. That was almost worse. So he settled on going, "Really? That's nice of him. Akago's a great guy."This was apparently the right thing to say because Halloween's face lit up and he agreed wholeheartedly, "Toumoku and Kijo are the best people in the world, I think!" It was then that the tall demon noticed the file in Lysander's hand. "Oh, are you delivering?" When the redhead nodded, Halloween opened the door wide and declared, "Come on inside, then! We're doing studies in the living room."Lysander nooded to the obliging demon, wondering simultaneously who in the world said "doing studies" anymore. Had anyone ever said that? As the door shut behind him, Lysander began to notice how elegant the Shark house was; the furnishings were creme and hardwood, a color scheme which harkened back to the classy shades of the twenties and thirties. The architecture was rather old world and the breeze astounding; there were apparently open windows in the living room, as the lion could smell sea breeze permeating the whole place. It was then that Lysander felt a sort of smooth, electric shock running up his arm; Halloween had taken his hand. The taller boy's touch was like velvet, so soft, but it burned slightly. It was difficult to explain; the sensation was hardly unpleasant, but it was certainly abnormal; Lysander was unfortunately broken from his happy moment by realistic thoughts like "perhaps he has a fever; can demons even get fevers? I don't think we can. Maybe he's half? He doesn't smell half, but some hanyous don't...""Right through here," Halloween said to him, still blithe and smiling. He seemed to think it completely normal for him to lead Lysander by the hand, despite the fact that they were both 18 and male. He gave off the impression of a very touchy-feely sort of person, though Lysander hardly minded. Not when that velvet touch was still soft in his palm. Axle glanced up at the familiar scent of Lysander Macharyas and hailed the boy with a smile. "Ly, mate, what brings you here?"Lysander held up the file and explained with a sheepish smile, "Files. Wish I could say I just wanted to see ya, man. What are you up to around here?"As Axle stood and took the files with a thankful nod, he explained casually, "Oh, studying together, you know, letting these smartasses make me feel like the dumbest boob on the planet."Several of the Sharks smiled secretively, as though pleased by Axle's backhanded compliment; he'd known they would be. James rose to take the files, which we knew were intended for him, and shot a brief, meaningful look at Halloween; Lysander couldn't help but notice how James's eyes strayed down to their linked hands. Halloween looked blankly at his friend for a moment before he seemed to understand and let go of the redhead's hand. Lysander found himself craving that velvet touch as soon as it left him. Halloween blushed and mumbled, "Sorry about that, Kijo says I'm too friendly sometimes."Lysander only laughed his great lion's laugh, which caused warmth to spread through Halloween's entire body. "No worries, man," Lysander assured him. "Nothin' wrong with being friendly."When Lysander smiled at him, Halloween surprised the entire room by smiling so shyly he nearly disappeared into the wall with embarrassment. The Sharks exchanged glances and James looked almost confused, if this were a possible emotion for him; it was so rare to see Halloween embarrassed, let alone shy. What could be running through his head?Axle watched as Lysander just smiled warmly at Halloween and the tall demon clasped his long hands together like an anxious school girl, smiling right back. Axle had known Lysander only sparingly throughout the years, really only as Ranbou's nice friend who doubled as second-in-command and never stopped smiling. Now, as he watched the redhead in question interracting with Halloween, who Axle had presumed to be of a "particular persuasion" since the first day they'd met, he was having second thoughts about the man he'd pegged Lysander for. It almost seemed as if Lysander were of the same "persuasion." Axle hardly minded, of course, being British, though he was simply surprised. The blue-haired demon must've had a bemused sort of expression on his face for Lysander said almost loudly, "Ax, buddy, Max asked me to tell you that he'd forgotten his key to Kagome's house so you should probably get him on the way home."Axle nodded rather abruptly, having just departed from his thoughts. "Can do mate, thanks." A rather cold breeze blew in at that moment and Axle frowned, glancing out at the ocean; it looked slightly turbulent and the skies had begun to cloud. Thoughts of a blossoming romance forgotten, Axle said, "Looks like a storm. What do you lot do about that?""Close-up," James called to the other Sharks, who put down their pencils and walked off towards different parts of the house, chatting amiably with one another. The sound of shades being drawn could be heard and James began pulled large wooden boards from a storage closet; Axle could recognize them as the doors which belonged where the patio curtains were currently hanging. Halloween seemed to remember his own duties with a jolt. "Got to go get the torches from the beach," he declared, looking almost apologetic about the fact. Lysander couldn't even stop himself as the words left his mouth. "Need some help?"Axle had to conceal a smile at Halloween's delighted face. He nodded fervently, saying, "Sure; if you have the time, that is.""All the time in the world," Lysander assured the exciteable boy, still smiling in that way Axle had noticed previously. As the two exited through the backdoor, descending the wooden steps towards the thrumming beach, James reentered the living room with an officious trip to his gate. He began closing the kitchen windows and locking their hatches, eyes lingering on a particular sight as he gazed distractedly out on the beach. Axle knew without a moment's wait what the other boy was looking at."They're awfully fond, aren't they?" he said needlessly, smiling to himself.The look James directed at him was obviously of the displeased sort. Running a restless hand through his shaggy brown hair, the boy replied in a clipped British tongue, "I don't think it's any reason to celebrate. Halloween is very sensitive."Axle watched the boy as he began moving things in the kitchen to different countertops, obviously trying to appear busy and occupied as his mind grew confused. Finally, Axle decided to ask the question that had been plaguing him. "James, I don't mean to pry or anything but...are you from Oxford? In England?"James said nothing for a few moments, continuing to needlessly reorganize the kitchen, before he finally cast an eye in Axle's direction and murmured, "Yes, Oxford. I can only assume that you're from somewhere unsophisticated, like Hackney or Brixton."The comment caused Axle to positively bristle; he blinked, affronted, wondering what he could've done to upset this boy. He'd only asked about James's upbringing in hopes that he could connect with another Englishman, but apparently this was hoping in vain. "Born in Brixton, yeah. Got a problem with that, I take it?"James snorted slightly, replying crassly, "I don't care enough to consider it a 'problem.' Axle found himself, for once, confused in a social situation; he normally regarded himself as a very social creature, able to adapt in any setting. For the first time in a decidedly long time, Axle felt awkward. Perhaps it was the way James so openly disliked him or maybe the fact that James was obviously threatened. Axle wondered what a normal person might do in this situation and finally decided to say his piece and leave."I'm proud to have grown up in Brixton, mate, and it just makes me a little disappointed that another Englishman doesn't feel the same. I'll go handle the living room," Axle said flatly in a low tone, turning on his heels and exiting the kitchen. James watched him go, frowning slightly to himself. The boy sighed heavily, running a hand through his low-hanging brown hair; he didn't mean to sound so off-putting, but some relationships were simply never meant to be forged. He had his own demons growling at him all the way from from England and he didn't need another Englishman tip-toeing around making it difficult for his recovery. At this point, Akago and Gan had learned not to ask about his home situation and that was all James could ask for. As long as he could stave off any more unwanted questions, he would certainly tried. As James turned, he inadvertently caught his reflection in the window pain; raindrops had begun to fall, splattering his blurry mirror's image, obscuring the deep brown eyes he knew nothing about. His fingertips toyed with the end of his dirt colored curls and he snorted bitterly; brown eyes and hair were hardly his natural shades, yet he knew his true blue and blonde would arouse more suspicion than he was quite ready for. Gan the Gun was hardly the only Shark with reason to hide her identity. James could only hope his guise kept up long enough...The other Englishmen would never understand should his mask come undone.

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"I don't understand why she still wants him after everything he did.""Because it's love! Come on, Mizumi, it's beautiful! He gave up popularity for her!""Even when she wore that nasty pink dress. That things ugly.""You're the worst movie watching partner ever."Mizumi just giggled slightly and popped another handful of popcorn in her mouth, watching as Andrew MacCarthy and Molly Ringwald kissed passionately in the parking lot, finally together after trials and tribulations in Pretty in Pink. Shale was observing the screen with adoration in her wide blue eyes, taking in every single movement of the characters; she was enamored. Mizumi, however, found the whole thing improbable. Andrew MacCarthy was fickle, she thought, and didn't deserve the attention Molly Ringwald was giving him; he wasn't even that cute and he'd ditched her for his popular friends. What did she see in him?Shale yawned and stretched her arms gracefully to the ceiling, upsetting several strands of white blonde hair; both girls were wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants, bundled up since the first cold front of the season had hit the night before. Afraid of the chill outside, the two had stayed holed up in their somewhat joint apartment all day long, watching eighties movies and gossiping shamelessly. Both of them had forgotten what it was like to have true girl friends. The front door then opened to reveal Ryuukoytsusei, his arms laden with grocery bags and his green hair curling around his face, fresh from the chilly fall air. He set the bags down on the table and threw his keys dismissively onto the bar, glancing up at the girls as he removed his Dragons jacket. "You still haven't gotten up?" he complained gruffly, giving the girls a pointed look. The two exchanged glances and replied in a tentative unison, "Sort of."The large Dragon snorted and began unpacking things from the paper bags, placing them inside the refrigerator; it was strange to see an intimidating man like Ryuukoytsusei doing something as mundane as putting away groceries, but both Shale and Mizumi were used to sights like this. While the others at South Tokyo High knew Ryuu as the Big Bad, they knew him as big brother. Or in Shale's case, big...mystery. Though she'd practically lived with him for almost two months now, she still didn't know what to make of him. From what she could gather, letting someone infiltrate his home as she had was something he'd rather die than do; so why had she been so different? Was he just biding his time until he could do away with her? Shale didn't think so; he seemed to genuinely not mind her. She wouldn't say like her, persay, but he didn't dislike her, which was quite an upgrade from nearly everyone else they knew. Ryuu didn't seem to like a lot of people.Shale then realized that Ryuu was speaking to her. "I couldn't read your crap handwriting one time, but it looks like it says 'green onions,' so that's what you get," he muttered in his deep gravelly voice, holding up the green onions almost patronizingly. Shale didn't take offense to Ryuu's rudeness because, at this point, she knew not to; he was simply like that. This didn't mean, however, that the blonde didn't enjoy having a little fun with him. Deciding to give him what he wanted, which was a chance to argue good naturedly, Shale got up from the couch and limped over to the kitchen table, hefting the grocery list for Ryuu's perusal and waving it ostentatiously in front of his face. "That clearly says 'grape olives,' sir, and my handwriting is not 'crap,'" Shale sniffed huffily, throwing down the list and crossing her arms as she hefted her nose to the sky. Ryuu stared at the beautiful girl, who was obviously poking fun. In a rare moment of humor, he replied with a snicker, "Grape olive, right. What the fuck's a grape olive?""It's like an olive that looks like a grape," Shale replied, losing some of her composure as her mouth began to twist into a small smile. Her blue eyes were sparkling like sapphires by now.The Dragon snorted again, which was his version of laughter. "Grapes already look like olives.""They do not!" Shale protested, this time honestly indignant. She threw her slender arms akimbo as she argued, "That's like insinuating that you could accidentally eat a grape when you'd thought it was an olive or something like that and that would never happen.""Maybe if you're stupid," Ryuu pointed out, shrugging his mountainous shoulders. Judging by the uncharacteristic twinkle in his crimson eyes, he was getting into the joke as well. Shale began to laugh outright, that great musical sound that rivaled the swelling of a great symphony. Ryuu grinned, not his normal feral one which signaled the soon-to-be-death of an innocent, but a normal one, an almost "kind" one, if the word "kind" could ever be associated with such a cold blooded killer. Mizumi watched her brother and best friend joking in the kitchen, her own crimson eyes beginning to twinkle as well; this twinkle was one of mischief. She'd begun to notice over the past few weeks that her brother was undergoing a definite change. While most would consider it "going soft," she considered it "coming into himself." Real honest people didn't act like Ryuu, didn't cut themselves off from everything and stare at the world through cold glass eyes. Ryuu needed something caring, something beautiful and clean and wholesome in his life; it seemed as though family were that thing. Though Mizumi knew that she was his only real family, Shale was as good as. Ryuu did her grocery shopping, for crying out loud; they were practically married...without the kissing or the hugging or the sex or the love. And mostly he did the grocery shopping because he enjoyed Shale's cooking and shopping took her forever because of her limp...but perhaps there was more to it. And Mizumi's romance-starved teenage psyche loved to stew over the endless possibilities.It was then that Mizumi's cell phone rang and she wrinkled her nose; she hated her cell phone. Ryuu had made her get one and refused to let her keep it locked up in her room, because he wanted to be able to "get ahold of her when he needed to." The only time they were apart was when they had class at school, so it seemed like an unnecessary precaution to the girl. Trying to ignore her brother's smugness, Mizumi answered the phone. "Hello?""Miz, it's me.""Oh, hey Fenn," the dragon girl replied boredly, leaning back against the couch and staring at the DVD menu which had since reappeared. "What's up?""Well, I just got a call from you're favorite hanyou whore-bitch," Fennella informed her friend with a snarl to her tone. "And she said exactly this: 'Hey, Macharyas, I know you've got slutty music laying around from your stripper days, so pick something to put our bonfire dance to. See you tomorrow, laters.' End quote."Mizumi narrowed her eyes and nearly shook with rage as she spat out, "She called you a stripper?! That girl needs to be kicked in the backside and thrown over the edge of a cliff! God, no one's ever made me as angry as she makes me!" In an uncharacteristic burst of anger, Mizumi cried out, voice colored by grating Dragon call, and took the nearest pillow in her hands, ripping the thing to shreds. It was only when feathers exploded and began dancing around her like a snow storm did Mizumi realize what she'd done. Gasping, the girl murmured faintly, "Oh my god.""Mizumi? Are you okay? You sound like you just freaked out," Fennella said unsurely on the other end of the line. Mizumi looked up to find Shale watching her from the kitchen with a horrified expression while Ryuu wore a strange look of...admiration? Was he actually impressed by her sudden fit of rage? Mizumi only stared blankly back at them, mouth slightly agape, before she answered quickly into the phone, "Yeah, I'm fine, just...killed a pillow.""Oh," Fennella muttered. "As long as you didn't kill your cat or something, I guess we're good. I've killed worse."Mizumi chuckled nervously. "Yeah...well, any ideas on the music?"Fennella replied distractedly, "Eh, sort of. I need something with a good hard bass and maybe some vaguely sexual noises in the background. You know anything like that?"Even at the word "sexual," Mizumi blushed. "Er, not really. I don't listen to stuff like that.""Oh. Well, I do and none of this is fast enough. The bass is too slow...or something. I don't know. I just wanted to see if you had any ideas.""No, sorry," Mizumi replied, staring down at the shredded remains of her couch pillow. Maybe Ryuu was rubbing off on her more than she thought."Well, I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow," Fenn said with a slight sigh. "Bye dude.""Bye."Mizumi hung up the phone and immediately began picking up the feathers from the carpet, muttering apologies to her brother. "Sorry about the pillow, Ryuu, I just got really mad and-""Chill out," Ryuu replied in his usual disdainful tone. His eyes shifted towards the hole in the wall as he muttered, "I normally break more expensive stuff."This only made Shale and Mizumi giggle slightly; they'd become rather fond of the hole in the wall because it was like a doorway between their apartments. The sheet over it hardly provided much privacy, but they needed little; they lived symbiotic lives at this point anyway.As Mizumui continued collecting feathers, she found her little hands joined by Shale's pale and slender ones. She blonde grinned beautifully at her and said, "Shitora getting on your nerves again?"Though Ryuu stiffened at the very name, neither of the girls noticed and only continued cleaning. "Yeah, she called Fenn a stripper. I mean, why does she have to be so rude? I don't understand what's so bad about her life.""Nothing," Ryuu barked from the kitchen, throwing mushrooms angrily down in the ice box. "The Taishos are practically golden, fucking kiss asses.""Don't let her get to you," Shale cautioned her young friend soothingly, ignoring Ryuu's outbursts, which were old hat around their house. "It doesn't matter what she does as long as you stay respectable. Don't stoop to her level, okay?""Okay," Mizumi replied softly, smiling at her friend. Shale doubled as best friend and older sister, two things Mizumi had wanted all her life. Even when doing something as boring as picking up pillow feathers, they could have a good time and she treasured that.Ryuu watched the exchange from the kitchen, anger fading slightly as his younger sister took in Shale's worthwhile advice. Ryuu allowed his eyes to drift to Shale, who was picking up feathers in her equally light hands. Though the entire male population in the building would probably pay money to watch Shale do anything, let alone unknowingly flaunt her backside by bending down on her knees, Ryuu liked to think himself immune to her inherint sexuality. There was something utterly sensual about Shale, who seemed not to know this about herself; the way she moved was perfect, free, and yet somehow calculated. Despite her limp, it were as though she'd been taught how to walk, how to hold her arms and her head. Every movement she made was sheer poetry and it harkened a likeness to something Ryuu couldn't put his finger on. He watched her turn her head slightly, blonde hair falling over her thin shoulder like a silk curtain, and his mouth went slightly dry; despite his so called "immunity," he couldn't deny the fact that Shale was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen up close, even discounting all of the beautiful demon mothers in the covens, even discounting his own mother. Shale was so positively perfect, so flawless, that he couldn't put words to her gorgeousness. He liked to think he noticed this objectively, like an art critic observing from a distance, but his instincts knew better. Ryuu knew that there was something different about the way he reacted to this girl, but part of him wondered if it was directly proportional to the way she reacted to him. As though everything he said mattered, as though he weren't a bad person. She had little knowledge of his illegal activities, but she was no idiot; she must have some vague idea. And even stil, even after all of that...she still acted as though he were worth every second of her day. As though he were beautiful too. He didn't understand.And as Shale smiled and laughed at something Mizumi said, her beautiful face practically glowing, Ryuu realized that it didn't matter what he understood. He was enjoying this time now, no matter what it meant, and he would simply live it for the time being. These questions could wait until later when he wasn't so worried about the Dragons and the Vixens, his sister, school. These questions could wait until he had absolutely nothing else to think about. And that, he realized contently, would be a very long time.

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In Kyoto, the weather was biting and fierce. The storm had left a chilly aftershock in its wake and the morning brought with it a deep, uncomfortable freeze. Shitora burrowed deep within her sleeping bag, awakening to an uncomfortable breeze washing over her pert little nose; she could smell rain, wet leaves and the brisk, cooking scent of fall. She made a small whining sound and glanced around the room, finding that most of her friends were still asleep. There were two empty sleeping bags that she could find: Gan and Akago's.Her girlish curiosity was halted by a noise, one which, for some reason, struck her right in the heart; it was a low, desperate sounding growl of sorts, almost like the whine she'd emitted mere second ago. Despite the protestation in her cold arms, Shitora pushed herself into an upright position and found her ears swivelling like satellites towards the source of the sound: Ranbou. The big wolf had settled his sleeping bag in between Kouga and Bankotsu, opting to honor Ms.Higurashi's request to at least "keep the genders moderately separated." From what Shitora could see, he was twitching slightly, large chest quivering as his fists tightened visibly; he was obviously enduring a nightmare. Shitora bit her lip and glanced around furtively, sliding almost soundlessly out of her sleeping bag and tiptoeing towards her boyfriend. She knelt beside him, trying to decide on a course of action; finally, when his whines were too painful for her sensetive heart, Shitora reached out her hand to cup his face. His eyes were shut tightly and his mouth set in an unhappy frown. "Ran, wake up; you're dreaming," she whispered, shivering slightly as a chilly breeze blew through the drafty house. The cold front was even more terrible outside of her warm sleeping bag and she grimaced.Ranbou shifted towards her, his face leaning into her palm, and she smiled slightly at the stubble there; it seemed he was going for the rugged look. He drew in a deep, sleeping breath, obviously becoming aware of her scent, and his eyes fluttered open to reveal irises of the iciest blue. He was groggy and unaware for a moment though he seemed to come into himself when his eyes landed on Shitora's concerned face.His movement was so swift that Shitora barely had time to breathe; one moment, she was kneeling before his prone form and the next she was clamped tightly in his enormous arms, limbs hanging helplessly like a ragdoll. He was holding her so tightly, as though she were in danger of disappearing; he inhaled shakily, burying his face in her hair. "Shitora," he breathed raggedly, sounding as though he'd just awakened from a ten year coma.Shitora was confused, slightly afraid of it all, but she only lifted her pale arms to hold him in return. "Ran, what's wrong? Are you...okay?" She couldn't remember the last time he'd called her by her proper name. It normally warmed her, but this morning it was only a bad omen.Ranbou seemed to stutter over his words, finally deciding on, "Just...needed you is all." It was a slightly more evocative statement than he'd first planned, but he supposed that wasn't all bad in the end. He'd gotten his point across, anyway. The image he'd mentally constructed for the purpose of his recent dream was a gruesome one; being an assassin, Ranbou had seen his fair share of blood and guts, but his mind was more creative than his pitiful reality. Shitora was almost artful looking covered in the blood of her victims, in his blood; the artfulness increased as the shot entered through her back and escaped through her stomach, leaving her gasping and defenseless on the concrete of her killing arena. Ranbou wasn't sure where the images had come from. He was likewise unsure why his mind was so determined to fall in league with his heart, which protested the idea of Shitora joining his core intensely. But whatever the reason, his Ookami instincts didn't like the sound of any of this; they were already trying to tell him 'no.'Shitora leaned back and observed Ranbou's face thoughtfully, absent-mindedly reaching up her little white hands to cup his stubbled cheeks. "You work too hard, Ran. I don't want you to hurt yourself, okay? I know what you do is important to you, but I think it's kinda coming to a point where you can't be safe and carry out your job at the same time. I'll stand with you whatever you decide, but I think you might need some help. Just think about it, okay?"Ranbou tried not to think about the obvious irony in Shitora's suggestion; Sesshomaru had obviously failed to present his decision to her as of yet. It was hard to say what Shitora would decide; on one hand, she absolutely loved the thrill of the fight. On the other hand, she would most definitely have qualms about fighting alongside her boyfriend. Both Ranbou and Shitora knew well that their abilities would be severely compromised by each other's presence and, being headstrong and proud on either side, neither of them would enjoy nightly bouts of incompetence. The fact of the matter remained: until they were able to function separately during a battle, Ranbou and Shitora were absolutely unable to fight in the same area. "I'll think about it," Ranbou murmured, wondering if this would later get him in trouble for lying. He supposed it couldn't really be considered lying when he wasn't allowed to tell her the truth; this itself might be a lie as well. Sesshomaru hadn't placed any specific rules on their verbal engagement, but Ranbou knew it was understood; when Sesshomaru decided to tell Shitora about their agreement, it would be his head on a platter and not Ranbou's...if all went well.Ranbou and Shitora found their brief conversation interrupted as a heavy sigh broke the air, followed by the rustling of thrown-back covers. Kagome sat up tiredly from her bed mat, looking as though she hadn't slept a wink. Seeming not to notice her friends watching her every move, the girl unfolded from the floor and padded softly into the hallway; her footsteps disappeared down towards the kitchen and onto the porch. Shitora and Ranbou exchanged a concerned glance and made as though to follow her when another heavy sigh sounded out across the room. "I got it," Inuyasha murmured, running a hand through his rumpled white hair and nodding to his friend and sister. As the hanyou smelt the air, noticing the crisp chill, he grabbed a discarded hoodie from the floor and stumbled after his girlfriend, all under the amused and watchful eyes of Ranbou and Shitora.Kagome jumped slightly as the door behind her rattled in it's frame; Inuyasha walked quietly up behind her and draped the unzipped hoodie around her shoulders, allowing his hands to linger on her upper arms as she leaned into his touch. They were silent for quite some time, Kagome staring at the muddy lawn as Inuyasha studied the scent of her hair: clean and perfect. Kagome became aware of Inuyasha's chin on her shoulder and a small smile spread its way across her lips. She reached up her hand and ruffled his hair, causing him to snort and wrap his arms around her waist; sometimes, he really felt like a puppy in her hands."Rain; that was the last thing we needed," Kagome said finally, sounding utterly tired and worn. Inuyasha snorted. "No fucking kidding."The two were silent for several minutes, looking at the cloudy skies billowing in the wake of the storm. Inuyasha sighed heavily and wondered what someone sensetive and caring might say in this situation. Someone like Akago or Miroku. The only words leaping up to his throat were things like "Fuck those rioters" and "It'll all blow over, don't worry." From the look on Kagome's face, she probably wouldn't care about either comment. Sometimes Inuyasha wished he had Sesshomaru's aristocratic tongue, but words just never seemed to fall from his tongue in the same way. Was it so hard just to tell someone what you were thinking? He and Kagome never seemed to."You're thinking awfully hard," Kagome mused quietly, glancing sideways at her boyfriend's pensive face. His eyes were far-off, troubled. Inuyasha blushed slightly at being caught. "Eh, s'hard not too after something like this, you know? I mean...we all had it so easy and we didn't even know it."Kagome snorted and pressed her cheek to Inuyasha's, murmuring, "I didn't bring you here to start you guilt-tripping, Inuyasha.""I know," the hanyou mumbled in return; a brisk wind blew past, showering the pair with the scent of wet grass and damp wood.The silence stretched out between the two, over the yard, into the wet ground and deep towards the roots of the trees, the plants. It wasn't a silence that should sit between lovers, or even friends; it was an uncomfortable silence, heavy with unsaid words and unexpressed feelings. It frustrated them both, right down to their secretive cores. Inuyasha was about to say something important, something evocative, when a sound caught his sensitive ears. Kagome noticed Inuyasha's dog ears twitching like satellites and she frowned; he'd caught wind of something dangerous. As Inuyasha turned west, Kagome allowed her eyes to follow, tensing as she wondered who might attack her house next; her eyes widened as she realized the sheer irony of her conclusion. It was ironic, actually, since the so-called "intruder" was actually someone escaping out of the house. Souta, in fact. The lanky boy was looking nervously left and right, hurrying across the grass of the front lawn towards the shrine steps. He was fidgety, awkward, and Inuyasha frowned deeply; the boy was sneaking out, but to where? When Kagome caught sight of Souta's jeans, baggy and torn with feathers and beads hanging off the colorful threads, she knew; her brother was no ordinary gang member after all. "Souta," she called out, sounding unsurprised and neutral.The boy froze in his tracks, wondering immediately if his mother had caught him after all; she'd always turned a blind eye, but perhaps the time for leniency had ended. When he made out Inuyasha and Kagome's silhouettes on the porch, the boy found himself surprised for the first time in months. The disaster, he'd expected. His family's flight out of Kyoto, even then. The arrival of Sesshomaru Taisho in his house was a small upset, not a surprise; but this? His sister and her boyfriend catching him, the fastest messenger in gang history? Unbelievable. "Souta, where are you going?" Kagome asked shortly, arms crossed and shoulders stiff. Inuyasha immediately let go and allowed his girlfriend to approach her brother, watching curiously.The young boy froze in his tracks, staring at his sister, horrified. He seemed to ponder his answer carefully, weighing to pros and cons of every response, before he finally decided on, "Out."Inuyasha snorted; was that all the kid could think of?Kagome narrowed her eyes, stopping just short of her brother's impressive height. "Out, huh? Out to meet other rabbits for patrol? Or what? Are you gonna be straight with me? Or do I need to drag it out of you?"It became quite clear to young Souta, in that moment, that his sister wasn't suggesting something tame or reasonable. She was alluding to violence; it wasn't that Kagome was unviolent, persay, but only that Souta's sister had always been the levelheaded type. Sure, Tomo had taught her how to shoot a gun at a young age, but Souta could only assume this hadn't done permanent psychological damage. He could only assume since Tomo had never done his stepson the same service. Souta then began to feel connections meeting up in his brain, reacting and electrocuting and buzzing like mad; wait a minute. Sesshomaru Taisho was in his house. Everyone Kagome had brought was built like a wrestler. Every single girl in the house was hot. Souta had caught sight of what he thought was a pistol in Ranbou's back pocket...it was all coming together...Kagome blinked confusedly as Souta's face grew stricken and white. He raised one shaky, accusatory finger and spluttered, "You! You're...you're in a gang! You are!"Inuyasha rolled his eyes, shaking his head pitifully; was the kid only figuring this out now? Please.Kagome looked mildly surprised; her brother had never been exceptionally bright, a fact which she'd overlooked out of love, but his ability to put this together actually frightened her. If Souta was catching on, what must her mother be thinking? What if Tomo came home for some reason? Apparently, they weren't hiding his as well as they'd thought."And if I am?" she answered cooly, keeping her tone under control. Souta wasn't quite sure how to answer. Again, he took his time, coming out with, "Are you?" after several minutes of deliberation."Are you?" Kagome fired back, grabbing one of the longer threads attached to her brother's jeans. "This is Jackrabbit and no mistake."Souta was caught. There was nothing to say in return. She was right. Souta seemed to look back and forth, as though looking for an escape. When he found none, he turned his emotional brown eyes to meet his sister's. "I'm a runner for the Jackrabbits. A messenger."Inuyasha shrugged slightly to himself; the kid was slight enough, he figured. He looked pretty fast as humans went and if Skull and Bones found him quick enough, he must really be something. Kagome just continued to look levelly at her brother, gaze stiff and unfeeling; she was in leader mode and Souta was only just beginning to understand. There was only explanation as to why RIn, his very own cousin, was dating the leader of the Fangs. Family really meant something to these people and Sout knew that; could this mean that Kagome, little shy Kagome, was a...leader?"What are you?" Souta asked confrontationally after a rather long silence. He could tell that Kagome was judging him, trying to figure out where his loyalties lay. "Kagome?" he asked again."I'm a core leader," she said finally, not a single hint of pride or happiness escaping her facade. "And I know for a fact that the Jackrabbits disbanded. So where could you possibly be going?"Souta opened his mouth to speak, closed it again, turned, sighed, shrugged, and rounded once more on his sister. "Trying to fix it, okay? Trying to fix it."Inuyasha felt a sudden pain in his chest and he winced, looking away from the scene before him; somehow, that kid's words had physically hurt him. It was one thing to hear stories on the news about unfortunate kids in unfortunate neighborhoods, meeting unfortunate ends in some sort of be-all-end-all gang fight. But it was another to see yourself in one of those kids; Inuyasha felt like he was looking at himself standing there in baggy pants with a baseball cap, jaw set and eyes shaking with fear. He'd been there once, trying to "fix" things. He'd fixed it for Sesshomaru once. He'd fixed it all."Let him go, Kags," Inuyasha murmured, pulling Kagome back towards him and rubbing her shoulders. The girl furrowed her brow, glancing haphazardly over her shoulder. "You think I should? "He's got his duties," Inuyasha explained lamely, nodding once to Souta before continuing to pull her backwards.Souta, slightly confused by the proceedings, could only nod hurriedly before darting off into the bushes. Inuyasha blinked; the kid was fast, alright. Kagome seemed torn between the men in her life, vacillating on the gate before she finally gave up and turned away, lost in thought. She didn't have the energy to dwell on the subject, which was spending her supply bit by bit. Inuyasha offered her a slight smile, a rare thing from him, and Kagome felt a warmth hit her in the chest; just one smile like that and her day was complete. What was it about him?The couple walked quietly back inside, speaking in hushed voices and locking hands carefully; it was as if their fingers were glass and the mold had yet to set. They were just tiptoeing passed the kitchen, discussing their ride home, when Inuyasha's nose caught wind of a strange, intermingled scent. He paused, holding Kagome back; he could feel his own feet retracing wet steps on the hardwood. The steps led into the kitchen and ended at a chair near the table. The hanyou blinked and stared at the sight which met him, glancing back at Kagome and jerking his head in the direction of the spectacle. Kagome gasped and then covered her mouth quickly with her free hand, eyes shining with delight. Gan and Akago had slept where they'd fallen. Akago was still sitting in the chair, legs spread and head forward; a small puddle had formed on the floor beneath him. Gan was sitting carefully between his legs, perched neatly on one of his thighs as she cradled his head to her chest. They looked positively artistic, unplanned and beautiful, like two statues intertwined. Kagome was able to make a lame motion towards Inuyasha, a motion which clearly said "get a camera," before he nodded and swept silently off as only demons could. Kagome stood there on the threshold of her kitchen, staring at her friends posed and slumbering, before something inside her began to move. It wasn't a physical thing perhaps, but something else; the tension in her head, in her body and in her heart snapped like a rubber band and, suddenly, she was awake. She was alive. She could remember the pain, the desperation, the feelings she'd tried so hard to stifle for a week. The secrets, the lies, the confusion, the mystery, the hate...And she cried.First it was one tear: small, perfect, leaving a white trail down her cheek and dropping off her chin only to land in a splatter on the wood. Then it was another. This one was slower, a deliberate tear that traced its way around freckles, playing connect the dots until it rolled over her lip and onto her tongue. The ones that followed were much the same, each following its own specified path before meeting its end on the ground below, some in her mouth, some on her shirt. This was where Inuyasha found her, standing in the kitchen in her oversized t-shirt, looking smaller than she ever had. She looked like the world when she cried. The way she reached up her hand to shield her eyes: a mother with a sick child and too many bills. The slight shake of her head: a wife regretting her drunk husband on the floor of the living room. The hitch in her throat as she gasped: a grandmother mourning the grave of her only boy. The puddle of tears at her feet: a small girl wishing her daddy could come back from war, if only for her birthday. Inuyasha lifted his hand to comfort her when he remembered the camera in his hands; he watched his girlfriend carefully for a moment before redirecting his attention to the device in his grasp. He nodded to himself, sure of his decision, before he lifted the camera to his eye and focused on one of the only sights that would ever lead him to remember Kyoto in fondness. Foul, broken, bleeding, dying Kyoto: and here was love, real love, in a decimated kitchen. He inhaled. She cried. They exhaled together.Click.

9191919

"Dude, you know how in Ghostbusters they say 'Don't cross the streams?'""Yeah?""Take a step over."The other boys laughed as Miroku hurriedly took a step to his right, avoiding Inuyasha as they relieved themselves in the farthest reaches of the backyard. The morning had finally dawned in earnest and, eager to use the bathroom after a long and stormy night, the boys had all palled their way to the back porch, wherein they'd romped around in the yard for a few minutes before finding their so called "pissing stations." Sesshomaru mulled quietly over the fact that, like the common canine, demons were always invigorated after a large rain storm. Zipping up his jeans resolutely, Sesshomaru scratched his bare chest and turned to leave, glancing down the line of boys before he finally realized a noticeable absence."Has anyone seen Akago this morning?"Ranbou frowned, blue eyes narrowed slightly. "He wasn't in his sleeping bag this morning."Miroku shivered slightly in the cold, which seemed not to affect his demon friends; they were all waltzing around shirtless. "Didn't he go to move the van this morning?""Hope he didn't get caught out in the storm," Kouga mentioned menially, zipping up his jeans and reaching down to rinse his hands in the stream, which the boys had agreed was a "no-pee" zone.Bankotsu frowned at the thought, crimson eyes troubled. "That would be shit; did anyone hear him come in?"The others shook their heads. Inuyasha bit his lip but said nothing, wondering if this was the moment in which he should be a good friend and wake the slumbering couple up. Not even the click of the camera or the padding of his and Kagome's footsteps had awakened them; for all he knew, they were still sleeping peacefully in the kitchen, limbs intertwined. The hanyou thought for a moment, ears twitching, before he finally decided to let the chips fall where they may. He continued to do his business as the others zipped up and entered the house after Sesshomaru, preparing to search for the Shark leader. Sesshomaru glanced quizzically into each room, listening for signs of talking or stepping. The girls had hurried out into the woods for their own relief and Mrs. Higurashi had already left to pick up some materials at the local hardware store: the house was practically silent. The dog demon cocked his ear, listening intently, pretending as though the breathing of his friends behind him was not a distraction. It was his nose which finally solved the mystery of Akago's disappearance; the scent led him right to the kitchen. The group of boys stood stupidly at the threshold to the kitchen, staring at the artistic living statue Inuyasha and Kagome had discovered that morning. The friends and brothers exchanged glances, staring helplessly at the vision, unsure of how to feel; finally, Miroku gave a small, muffled snort. The others took in the sight of Gan cradling Akago's head to her chest, both fast asleep, and finally realized that the laughter was that of embarrassed humor. They too began to snort and scoff until Akago twitched.Miroku, Ranbou, Kouga, Bankotsu and even the stately Sesshomaru leapt behind the nearest wall, scared witless by the thought of being caught by Akago Tsume, fearless leader of the Sharks.Akago blinked, finding himself surrounded by Gan's scent as though veiled in a curtain. Unlike the human confusion of waking up in a strange place, Akago remembered the events of the night immediately. He sighed contentedly, finding his neck stiff from his chosen sleeping position; he moved it slightly, reaching up to unwind Gan's thin arms from his neck. He managed the feat, able to easily swing her up into his arms as he decided to move towards the bedroom; she needed far more sleep than him and she deserved at least the floor cot, if not the feather bed of the English queens. Akago stopped moving for a moment, looking at her face and wondering if he were about to wake from a pretty dream. She was sleeping soundly still, obviously bone tired from her worries and fears. Little blonde waves obstructed her face only slightly, adding a certain luminescent quality around her softly closed eyes. Her lips were so delicately set, as though they were moments from parting; she was perfect to him. And so light, he noticed; she weighed so little she was nearly a feather in his hands. He held her softly, bringing her unconsciously closer to his chest. His mouth was set in a determined line as he worked his way through the pros and cons of what his heart was demanding; he knew better than to listen to his heart when it screamed like this, as it had led him to perform so many foolish acts in the past, but the sight and feeling of Gan in his arms was nearly rendering him thoughtless. He wanted her, wanted to be with her. Tendrils of white hair fell loose from his braid, mingling with Gan's blonde. So alike, yet so different...The Shark blinked, shaking his head as though to clear it; he'd yet to awaken from this fairy tale dream.Akago straightened himself, briefly noting the tattered state of his pajamas, which were still damp from the raging storm. He was barely paying attention, only attempting to be quiet lest he wake the rest of the house. Unfortunately for the boys, Akago Tsume was a master at silence.He turned the corner.He stared. They stared back.He blinked.They blinked."Awkward..."

9191919

Breakfast began for the group at 9:00, an hour which seemed much earlier than it actually was. Gan had awoken, mildly confused, in her cot some thirty minutes after Akago deposited her there and been none the wiser. She was vaguely attributing the fuzzy rain scene to some sort of dream in her mind, which was normally sharp and defined. When something confused her, she generally chalked it up to dreams or stories: this must be one of those times. The teenagers sat in the kitchen, munching lazily on English muffins and leftover sandwiches from the night before; no one complained about the meager meal, knowing how difficult it was for Kagome's family to scrounge together even this much.Spirits seemed higher than they had been the previous day, perhaps owing to the rain storm and the envigoration it left in its wake. If not for Sango, who hated the cold mightily, the teenagers were more or less "happy.""Hey Bou, that one's new, right?" Bankotsu asked conversationally, gesturing with his orange juice towards a tattoo on Ranbou's right wrist.The wolf demon glanced down at it, ice blue eyes dull in the early morning, before holding it aloft. "Yeah, late July I guess."It was an English inscription, written in flowing cursive script; red roses and pearl white doves decorated the outer edges. The others leaned in to get a closer look and several nodded, mentioning that they liked it or that it suited him. Inuyasha leaned in and attempted to sound out the English. "He...with...swimming..." the hanyou glared down at the tattoo, which Ranbou had laid out on the table for his friend's examination. Finally, Inuyasha sighed huffily. "Naw, I can't read it. Fuckin' English is too confusing."Gan glanced over at the tattoo, squinting slightly before reaching over and removing the spectacles from Akago's face. The motion startled him slightly and Kagome laughed at the surprised look on his handsome face."Let's see," Gan murmured, leaning in closely to examine the script. "He will swallow up death in victory."Ranbou's eyes widened slightly. "Nice, Gan." The wolf adopted a sly expression and said confidently, "Alright, I'll give ya twenty bucks if you can tell me where it's from."Without pausing, Gan replied, "Bible, Isaiah 25:8."The room went rather quiet and several of the others began clapping, laughing at the stunned expression on Ranbou's expression. When even Akago looked surprised, Gan grew rather embarrassed; her cheeks flushed a pretty pink and she mumbled, "I've read the Bible, you know.""I didn't know you were religious," Akago replied after a moment. He seemed to consider the fact and then muttered, "Odd.""That doesn't make her religious," Kagome pointed out, shrugging her shoulders mildly. "That just makes her well read. But I might argue that having a tattoo from the Bible makes you religious." WIth this the girl turned a pointed gaze to Ranbou, who looked as though he were caught in a strange position.He steeled himself and replied, "Well yeah, I'm Catholic."Kouga rolled his eyes. "We haven't been to church since mom died, Ran, we're hardly Catholic now."Ranbou was about to open his mouth to protest when the front door opened and slammed shut abruptly. The teenagers were about to call a hello to Kagome's mother when heavy and purposeful footsteps began stalking in the direction of the kitchen; the footsteps belonged to a man. Inuyasha took a whiff of the air drifting in from the hallway and felt his breath catch in his throat at the familiar scent of brass and polished leather. That scent could only mean one thing. A cop."Shit," he muttered fiercely, amber eyes roving as he looked for the nearest way out. The others seemed to be following similar courses of action, though Sesshomaru and Akago stayed still, smoking their cigarettes blithely. Sesshomaru turned one careless eye to Akago, who was leaning back distractedly in his chair and staring at the ceiling. "You seem unworried," the dog demon mentioned."As do you," Akago quipped in return. "I see no reason to hide," Sesshomaru replied, eyes half hooded and hair falling gracefully over the back of his chair. "I've been charged with nothing.""Nor I," Akago said in an aloof tone, seeming as though he were challenging Sesshomaru's arrest record with his own. When neither party said anything more, the conversation fell and the pair watched silently as their friends began frantically thinking of escape plans, their eyes wide and sweats breaking out on their foreheads. Kagome watched all of this with mild amusement, finally deciding that she could use a little fun after all of this hardship. "Tomo, we're in the kitchen," she called out, earning hisses and frantic stares from her friends. Kagome just laughed. Tomo Higurashi was a man of intimidating size and nature. He was tall, well-built, and fierce in the eye; something about his stare suggested that no jokes be made, for he was incapable of laughter. His nose was straight, his mouth thin, and his hair groomed in a slicked back comb. Kagome knew him mostly on a superficial level, as she'd learned early on to visit her mother for any sort of emotional support; Tomo seemed to have no emotions. He was of the highest morality and character, a force to be reckoned with. As police chief in Kyoto, he'd quickly grown into a hard-hitting and militant man, no-nonsense and cold. He got to the point quickly, achieved his goals easily, and waded easily through the swamp of hardship.As he entered the kitchen, dark blue uniform ironed and pressed with his hat tucked safely under his arm, the teenagers felt their blood freeze in their veins; he was fearsome to be sure.Tomo's eyes swept the kitchen, falling over each boy and girl with a certain tight criticism, until he caught sight of Kagome sitting placidly at the table, smile smug and eyes laughing."Ah, Kagome; I'm sorry I couldn't greet you sooner," he said rather warmly, lips curving into a smile which was still rather chily.Kagome rose from the table and embraced the man, who embraced her stiffly back; Inuyasha mused silently that this was possibly the only emotional qualities this man possessed, right on display for the whole kitchen to see. He struck Inuyasha as the type of man who only loved his family and justice. If he couldn't married justice, he might've."Introduce me to your friends," Tomo said when the hug had broken, eyeing the cliental in his kitchen suspiciously. Akago watched the man curiously, peering through his spectacles at the police chief. It seemed that he was already well aware that these teenagers were far from ordinary. Akago glanced sideways at Sesshomaru, who just met his friend's gaze levelly; the knew there was nothing they could possibly do to escape the inevitable now. Whatever Tomo decided to do was beyond their control and there was no running. Might as well relax.Kagome gestured to each person and said their name, watching rather giddily as the others nodded nervously and bowed their heads to her stepfather. Tomo's gaze washed over the entire room, black pupils darting back and forth sharply at each name and face. When he'd finally been introduced to each and every one, he nodded slightly and murmured officiously, "Thank you for coming to our home and helping during this difficult time; we are more appreciative than words can express."Kagome nodded slightly to her friends, smiling. They all smiled nervously, nodding back, before Tomo took his leave. He did so after one last chilling glare, having caught sight of Ranbou's tattoos and the numerous piercings in the kitchen. When he seemed to decide that nothing was expressly illegal, he exited.A breath of relief went around the room and Kagome began to laugh outright, clapping her hands and stomping the floor with glee. "Oh my God, you should've seen your faces! You were scared shitless!"Inuyasha bristled slightly, muttering, "Was not. I just didn't want to get you in trouble by saying something stupid is all."Kagome, still chuckling, retook her seat beside him and took his hand, patting it comfortingly. She addressed the room at large. "Well, I love each and every on of you. Thanks for coming, guys."And they all smiled in return. They would've done the same thing for anyone in the room and they were all aware. The friendship between them was not the normal kind, but that of a brotherhood, a coven. They were family.

9191919

"So you're the student leazon to the Fine Arts Department?"Apollo stared imperiously down at the boy before him, who almost matched his moderate height but stood just short of 6 feet. He had a messy mop of red hair and clear green eyes which never seemed to stop sparkling; judging by the goofy smile on his face, he was one of those perpetually happy people. Apollo rolled his eyes; just what he needed. "Yes sir, Lysander MacHaryas at your service, sir," said the redheaded boy eagerly, shaking hands with his superior. Apollo watched his new underling suspiciously, as though suspecting falsity. "What are you so happy about, you're starting to scare me."Lysander smiled sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders, placing his hands in his pocket like a small child. "Sorry, sir, I'm always kinda like this."Apollo scratched his head, staring suspiciously at Lysander's still bright smile, before he finally said resignedly, "Well, I guess I can't complain. In any case, I wanted to let you know that I've chosen the musical for this year; Singing in the Rain. I don't expect most of you to know i-""That's my favorite movie!" Lysander exclaimed, grin growing wider if at all possible. "My parents used to watch it with my sister and I all the time."After a slight silence, during which Apollo wondered about this boy and Lysander wondered if he'd locked his keys in the car, the two reconvened on the same train of thought and headed towards the nearest station. Apollo was fairly sure that this boy was of a certain persuasion that he was most likely unaware of, but the stage would certainly fix any misconceptions he might've formed about himself. Apollo had learned long ago that it was foolish to trick yourself into thinking that you were anything you weren't. You would only inevitably find out later that you were completely and totally wrong. Lysander was wrong about himself...that is, assuming he wasn't already aware of himself.Apollo furrowed his brow at his own thoughts; what precisely had all of that meant?"Sir?"Lysander's questioning call brought Apollo back to the present time and the young theater director sighed, running his hands through his blue mop of hair distractedly; like his sister Polyhymnia, Apollo had the awful habit of lapsing into deep thought when in the company of others. It was confusing for absolutely everyone, including him. "Yes, right. Singing in the Rain," Apollo said officiously, beckoning the boy into his office; the two of them had probably wandered halfway around the school looking for it, which was embarrassing for both of them, though their knowledge of the high school's layout was lacking on two counts. Apollo's office consisted of nothing but a desk and a stack of papers, which were waiting impatiently to be signed. Apollo settled himself into the revolving chair, which felt rather foreign to his backside even still, and looked seriously up at his student. "I've heard scary things about this drama department, Mr. Macharyas. Most of the rumors lead to one thing: the drama department doesn't really exist."Lysander only continue to smile blithely as he leaned against the back wall, watching his teacher interestedly. "Probably not, sir. I couldn't tell you; I just got here a month ago, really."Apollo blinked his pink eyes, feeling despair consume him. "My finearts leazon has only been here for a month? What kind of operation is Shikaruni running here?"Lysander snorted, looking almost negative for a moment. "It's not like that sir, I volunteered; I'm the only one secure enough in my sexuality to take the job on."Apollo seemed to mull over this new bit of information for a moment before growing bold and leaning forward, eyes squinted at the redhead. "I could interpret that statement two ways and I'm fairly sure that you'd rather me not interpret it at all. Let it be known that I don't give a flying fuck who tries out, whether they're heterosexual, homosexual, transexual, bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual or a bleeding heart transvestite. I just need warm bodies. Some will undoubtedly be warmer than others." Though Apollo knew this statement bordered on inappropriate within the halls of a high school, he was of the opinion that art could not be ruled by a principal and neither could he. If Lysander was surprised, he didn't show it. He sort of shrugged, looking momentarily thoughtful before he replied, "I'd say that's fair, sir; I don't give sexual preference much thought myself.""Oh." Apollo felt the fire cool as soon as it had lit beneath him; he'd lead a rather slow day and was hoping for some sort of excitement. Channeling the mischievousness he'd known so well as a child, Apollo decided to utter another inappropriate question. "So, you're out then?"Lysander decided that he had most definitely not locked his keys in the car. After a moment, Lysander realized that his teacher had just asked him something about his sexual orientation. The redhead blinked, thought for a moment, and then said airily, "If someone asked me my preference, I wouldn't lie. But no one ever asks because it's a weird thing to ask, you know? It's not really a conversation starter, especially around hundreds of people who think they already know everything about you." Lysander nodded slightly, smiling in his typical blithe fashion.Apollo actually laughed at this; even though he knew little of Lysander, he could tell that this was most assuredly just his sort of answer. After a moment, Apollo leaned back in his chair and smiled rather blithely himself, at least as blithely as he could manage. "Well, join the club, boy. We're all sexually ambiguous in the theater.""Oh, I know sir," Lysander laughed in return, eyes turning yellow in the light for a moment. "I've been at a fine arts academy for a few years. Only just got back."This is when Apollo finally realized how lucky he'd unwittingly become; no wonder this boy had volunteered to be the leazon. "Excellent," Apollo murmured, coaxing another smile from his young charge. "We'll be having auditions sometime within the week. And unfortunately," he continued, holding up an odious piece of paper, "We've already been assigned some sort of deliquent kid that Shikaruni is trying to 'rehabilitate' with the theater. We have to give him a part and he has to be there every day...it's a thorn in my side." Lysander took the paper from his teacher's outstretched hand and scanned it momentarily, almost laughing at what he read there. "Bankotsu Hiashi? We've been friends since grade school sir, he's almost the least disruptive student here. Fighting, was it?" The redhead frowned, suddenly thinking back. "Oh right. Some fight with Ryuu, I heard about that. Well, he won't be a problem sir. At least not discipline wise. I can't remember the last time he was punished in school. Consider this a big fluke."Apollo was slightly relieved at hearing Lysander's assessment; the redhead also gave off the feeling of a non-liar, which would be good in the long run of this relationship. The man glanced up at the clock and frowned. "Oh, you're due in a class in a minute, Mr. Macharyas. Why don't you get on?""Alright, sir," Lysander replied easily, handing his teacher the information on Bankotsu's punishment. "I'll let some of the artsier kids know about the auditions and I'll probably make some fliers for you. Is that okay?""Sure, sure," Apollo murmured, a little bewildered; he hadn't expected anyone at this school to be so accomodating. "Tell all the South Tokyo flamers that we're rehabilitating the arts district; it's going to be a wild shindig."Lysander laughed, already under the impression that his new teacher was a notorious rule breaker. "Sure sir. I think there's only two 'flamers' around, but I'll put the word out.""I saw one of them this morning; swishing right down the hall with his nails painted pink," Apollo mused, recalling the strange instance. The boy had been talking animatedly with six butch looking characters, all of whom seemed completely uncompromised. It was hardly a high school sort of vision.Lysander smirked. "Oh, that was Jakotsu Hiashi. Bankotsu's brother, actually. Yes, he's one of them.""Brothers. Great," Apollo snorted. "What about the other one?"At this, Lysander's eyes began to twinkle and he smiled mysteriously. "Tall, thin, happy guy; you'll see him. They call him Halloween.""How strange," Apollo rebuffed, thinking about all of the terrible things which might've lead to this nickname. He looked at Lysander for a lingering moment, finally recognizing the look on his face. The older man muttered slyly, "And this Halloween, he's good looking?""I think so," Lysander replied, still grinning in that enigmatic way.Apollo smiled knowingly and retreated into his office, saying faintly, "Right," before returning to his desk to do some paperwork. As Lysander hurried off to his chemistry class, Apollo began to sign away absently at the stack of foreboding insurance papers. If he knew anything, and he liked to think he did, Apollo was betting that Lysander and Halloween had a thing going on. And if they didn't, it was in the making. Yes sirree, in the making. Just like Apollo's headache.

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Thanks for being so understanding. I love everyone.Here's Sesshomaru's playlist:Sesshomaru1. Bones- The Killers2. Creep- Stone Temple Pilots3. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb- Spoon4. She's On My Mind- Teddy Geiger5. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room- John Mayer6. The Animals Were Gone- Damien Rice7. Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk- Rufus Wainwright8. Faster- Third Eye Blind9. Who I Am- Smile Empty Soul10. Steady As She Goes- The Raconteurs11. If You Crump Stand Up- edIT12. A Favor House Atlantic- Coheed and Cambria13. Abraham- Sufjan Stevens14. Just Like I Am- Landon Pigg15. The Lords of Salem- Rob Zombie16. Animal I Have Become- Three Days Grace17. Sick Cycle Carousel- Lifehouse18 .Numbness for Sound- Howie Day19 .Another Perfect Day- American Hi-Fi20. Halo- OleanderHave a nice day. Reviews are welcome but not expected since I've been so bad. : (