InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Remains ❯ Ch. 4: Celebrations ( Chapter 5 )

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

~*A/N: Not one review, huh? So, is anyone reading this anymore? Sometimes I wonder. Well, whether or not anyone cares, here's another chapter. Enjoy!*~

DISCLAIMER: What would ever make you think that? I'm Kibo, Ki-Bo! And who is this Rumiko person you keep talking about?

Chapter 4: Celebrations

Inu-Yasha had fallen asleep on the couch. Neko had curled up in his lap and joined him. The ringing phone snapped Inu-Yasha awake, and he stood suddenly, spilling the poor neko onto the floor. Neko miaowed a small complaint at Inu-Yasha as he ran for the phone. "Moshi, moshi?" Inu-Yasha panted into the phone.

A chuckle came over the line, "Did I interrupt something?"

"Miroku, you hentai! I just passed out on the couch and had to run to get the phone!"

Another chuckle, "Passed out, huh? Rough night last night?"

"You have no idea. So, what's the plan for tonight?"

"Still feeling up to it? You better be. Well, you can come meet me here, then we'll go meet Akira and Shinji at Akira and Naraku's place. Then we'll head over to Izanami for a late dinner and drinks. If it gets boring, we can always go club hopping, but Izanami usually has a good crowd."

"Whatever you think, Miroku. I put myself into your capable hands."

"You feeling okay, Yash? You're less sarcastic than usual today?"

"Ha ha, very funny. I'm just feeling a little tired still from last night."

"Hungover?"

"Ie, just tired."

"If you say so."

"So, what time do you want me to meet you?"

"Ano, what time is it, six? How 'bout around seven-thirty? Should give you plenty of time to get ready and get here."

"Sounds good, I'll see ya then."

"All right, ja ne."

"Ja ne," Inu-Yasha pushed the button to disconnect, then placed the phone back in its charger. Walking to the bathroom, he once again tripped on the troublesome neko, who had chosen just that moment to tangle himself around his master's ankles. "Bakarro," Inu-Yasha mumbled, nudging the neko away with his foot.

An hour and a half later found Inu-Yasha ringing Miroku's doorbell. "Who is it?" Miroku's voice came through the crackling speaker.

"Me," was Inu-Yasha's short reply. The speaker clicked off, and he was buzzed in. Inu-Yasha made short work of the two flights of stairs, knocking on Miroku's door. The door opened to reveal Miroku, only half-dressed. "What the hell, Miroku, I thought we were heading out right away?" Inu-Yasha chastised, following Miroku in and closing the door behind him.

"I'm almost ready," Miroku's voice came from the bathroom. Inu-Yasha walked over and leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. He watched as Miroku brushed his partially damp hair back into his patented ponytail. Inu-Yasha stepped out of the way as Miroku headed towards his room, and put on a collared purple button-down shirt, tucking it into his black dress pants. He sat on his bed to put on his shoes.

"So, are we gonna have to wait for Akira and Shinji to finish getting ready, too?" Inu-Yasha smirked from the bedroom doorway.

Miroku looked up from tying his shoe, quirking an eyebrow, "You mean will we have to hang out with Naraku? No, he's out."

"I didn't say anything about HIM."

Miroku stood, "Shinji said that when he got your message about Kikyo, he just shrugged and erased it. Shinji all went off on him, saying 'Wasn't she your friend? How can you not care?'"

Inu-Yasha shrugged in reply, suddenly very interested in making sure his shirt was buttoned correctly. He wore a collarless red button-down shirt, also tucked into black dress pants, and wore his hair loose around his shoulders. Miroku bent down to scratch his neko's ears before grabbing his keys and heading toward the door, Inu-Yasha following silently behind. They exited the building and rode the train over to Shinji's, arriving twenty minutes later. As Inu-Yasha had suspected, neither Shinji nor Akira were ready when they arrived. After waiting five minutes for them to answer the door, it was opened to show Shinji dressed much as Miroku had been at Inu-Yasha's arrival. Miroku and Inu-Yasha followed Shinji to his bedroom where Akira was deliberating on which tie to wear.

"A tie?" Miroku questioned, eyes wide. "It's Izanami, they don't have THAT strict of a dress code."

"I felt like getting dressed up, ok?" Akira said, holding up a tie in each hand. "Which one?"

Miroku took on a pose of deep thought - left arm crossed over his middle, right elbow resting on his left arm, right hand to his chin. After a few seconds of pondering, he picked the one in Akira's right hand. By this time, Shinji had finished dressing, and was wearing grey dress pants, a black collared button-down shirt, and a grey tie to match his pants. Akira quickly tied the black tie and straightened the collar of his blue shirt, tucking it into his black panst and slipping on his shoes. Fifteen minutes after Inu-Yasha and Miroku's arrival, they were finally on their way.

"So, where's Naraku tonight?" Akira asked Shinji as they headed toward the club. Inu-Yasha cringed visibly. The ending of their long friendship had not been pleasant.

"Ano, I think he went out with some guys from school. He probably won't get home until late tomorrow morning. He usually finds some girl to take him home," Shinji said with a suggestive wink.

His three companions merely grumbled in response. That's what had started the fight between Inu-Yasha and Naraku in the first place. Naraku had a really sweet girlfriend, and they had dated for awhile. A guy that Inu-Yasha worked with went to school with Naraku, and started telling him stories of how they went out to clubs, and how Naraku had been meeting random girls, and going home with them. Shortly after, Naraku told his girlfriend he thought that they needed a break. A few months later, Inu-Yasha, Shinji, Miroku, and Naraku's ex-girlfriend had all gone out to dinner. Naraku had come up in conversation, and his ex made a comment about him cheating on her. Inu-Yasha just had to open his big mouth, and spill about the stories he had heard. Then the proverbial shit hit the fan. She had called Naraku, and demanded he return everything of hers he still had. When Naraku turned to Shinji, rather confused, Shinji described the conversation to him. He had gotten so angry with Inu-Yasha he had refused to talk to him, and still wouldn't to this day.

They reached the club, where a long line led from the front door for about six meters. Miroku walked past the line and up to the bouncer. "Miroku! How ya been?" the bouncer smiled.

"Not bad, not bad, you?"

"Yuuryou. How many with you?"

"Three," Miroku gestured to his friends standing behind him.

"Go right in." He turned to the man behind him, "Four coming in!" The man he had spoken to held a door open for them. They passed through the door and a set of thick red velvet draps, into the busy restaurant area of the club. A rather tall woman came up to them right away.

"Four? Right this way please," her deep voice rumbled, and she turned.

"She's a he," Miroku mouthed to a puzzled Inu-Yasha, following the s/he to their table.

After setting down their menus, s/he turned and disappeared into the crowd. "Well, he's very pretty. Too tall, and big feet, but very pretty just the same," Inu-Yasha commented, smirking.

"I'm going to go get us drinks right away," Miroku commented, grabbing Inu-Yasha's arm before he could sit. "And you're coming with me."

"Why?" Inu-Yasha tried to pull his arm away.

"Because if we tell them it's your birthday, they'll give us free drinks."

"Oh," Inu-Yasha mumbled, following Miroku toward the bar.

As the boys were finishing eating, the place became more crowded, and rivers of people were flowing up and down the main stairs. "Let's go dance," Miroku said, taking his drink and standing, a mischevious glint in his eye. Inu-Yasha shrugged and picked up his drink, following him. Shinji and Akira trailed behind. After making their way upstairs and weaving through the crowd, they finally reached the crowded dancefloor. Inu-Yasha's three friends immediately found eager dance partners. Inu-Yasha preferred to lean against the wall and watch.

When the music changed from hip-hop to techno, Miroku appeared in front of Inu-Yasha, and pulled him onto the dancefloor. The other two had also abandoned their dance partners, and the four of them danced until they dripped with sweat. "Drinks!" Miroku yelled in Inu-Yasha's ear, attempting to be heard over the pounding beat pouring from the speakers. Inu-Yasha nodded mutely, and they made their way towards the bar. He spotted a few girls in the crowd that sparked his interest, but all appeared to be taken.

'Oh, well,' he thought. 'Not like I'm really looking right now anyways.' He joined Miroku at the bar and ordered a beer.

Before they knew it, the music had died down and the bartenders were yelling out for "last call". The four made their way out of the club, trying to avoid the rush. After walking Shinji and Akira back to Shinji's apartment, Miroku and Inu-Yasha hopped the train back to Miroku's apartment. Inu-Yasha denied Miroku's invitation to crash on his couch, stating that he'd make it home just fine, and walked to the train station, preparing for the long ride back across town.

He reached his apartment forty-five minutes later, completely exhausted. He stripped off his sweaty clothes, sitting on the couch in his boxers, a glass of water in hand. Neko jumped into his lap, purring. Inu-Yasha scratched his ears distractedly, earning a head-butt from the neko. 'Happy birthday to me...'

~*A/N: Hmmm... not sure if I like this chappy yet. I know, I know, get to the part where he meets Kagome. Well, I've actually got this one planned out, *readers all collapse from shock* AND I'm sorry to say they won't meet until chapter nine... or so. It will be worth the wait, at least I think so. So, if you're reading this, please review and give me a little feedback. Ja ne, minna!*~