InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Minoue ❯ Is It Love? ( Chapter 45 )

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

Disclaimers: I do not own InuYasha or any of the manga/anime characters. They belong to the wonderful genius Rumiko Takahashi. Any original characters do belong to me.

AN: Thank you very much to inufan625 for acting as my beta once again. An additional thank you goes to Knittingknots for her help as well. I greatly appreciate the time they've taken to help make me a better writer and this a better story.

Thank you very much for the reviews. I read each and every one of them, and greatly appreciate those of you that took the time to leave one.

Minoue

Chapter 45: Is It Love?

“Bankotsu!” Naraku yelled. He knew the mercenary was somewhere in the house.

“Yes, Boss?” he answered as he reached the top of the stairs. “Did you call?”

“Remind Kikyou that she's to get that information for me. I don't have time to play phone tag with her,” he stated.

Bank furrowed his brow. “Didn't you get her message? She called this afternoon after she dropped the couple off at their hotel so they could check out.”

“That bitch had better not be backing out on me,” he swore. “Not if she—”

The hired killer cut him off. “She went to the shrine this morning. She called and left the information you requested.”

“Fuck!” Naraku had been ignoring the blinking red light on his phone. He dialed in to his voice mail and listened to the message, “This is Kikyou. I found out that information you wanted. The Nishimori wedding will be held one week from next Monday at two o'clock in the afternoon. The shrine will be closed to all visitors that day. Let me know if you need anything else.”

He turned the phone off and returned it to its receiver. He spun his chair around to face Bankotsu. “So, why didn't you tell me she had called?”

Bank didn't like that look in his eye. Even though he had been given the information a day early, he could tell Naraku was still angry. “I just got back myself. I found out when I checked my messages only a few minutes ago. I was still listening to them when you called. One was from Kikyou asking me to make certain that you got her message. She was getting interference from somewhere around the hotel and wasn't sure her call went through.”

“Really.” Naraku's eyes narrowed, and he had that weird gleam in them again. “Call her and go meet with her. Get every detail you can from her, including about the shrine itself. Then make plans to go and scout out the place yourself. Understood?”

The mercenary nodded. “Sure, Boss. Anything else?”

“Tell Kikyou to keep that day available. She might be needed.” Once again, Naraku dismissed him by turning his back to him to focus on his computer screen.

“All right.” Bankotsu spun on his heel and went back down the stairs. Why did he want Kikyou that day? Had he decided to include her in his plans to crash the wedding? Concerned that he intended to involve her even further than they already had, Bank returned to his office to call her.

~ ^~^ ~

Sesshomaru and Kagura had taken their leave after the food arrived.

“So, will you two girls be happy when exams are over?” Miroku asked as he reached for some more of the Nikujyaga.

“Right now, finals seem to be the least of our problems,” Kagome said. “In the grand scheme of things they seem… unimportant.”

Sango sighed. “I know what you mean. School used to mean everything to me, but then…”

“Someone like Naraku has a way of putting everything into a different perspective,” Miroku finished for her. “But try not to let him distract you from your tests. Soon enough things will be back to normal - life will go on. Try to stay positive and focus on what you have to do now. You've worked too hard to let someone like him interfere when he isn't even here. For now, take it one day at a time and get through the rest of this week. A week from Monday will be here soon enough.”

“You're right, I guess,” Sango responded. “Even if we manage to put Naraku out of commission for good, I still want to learn to profile monsters like him that prey on the innocent. I want to be able to help capture them and put them in prison. I want to be able to stop them from hurting anyone else. Naraku is only one. Who knows how many others like him there are?”

“More than you can probably imagine,” InuYasha added to the conversation. “For as long as I can remember, there have been those that prey on others. Not all of them were human, either.”

Miroku spoke again, “And none of my other students are even aware that such a creature is out there, so I'm afraid I must return to grading papers and also to study for my own final tomorrow once we're finished here.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—” Sango began.

“Do not apologize, my dear Sango.” Miroku cut her off before she blamed herself for what had happened. “It was not your fault, and I was only glad to help. We probably should get you back home before it is too late, however. I'm certain that I am not the only one who has to take an exam tomorrow.”

“If you like, I can take you home,” Kagome offered. “I have to run back to the shrine, anyway, for one of my books I need to study tonight.”

“Sango, before you go, perhaps you should make up a list to give the doormen of your apartment building of who is allowed in to see you - just in case somebody figures out who you are or where you live. Let them know about the upcoming wedding so they'll understand why you might have unwanted visitors calling on you,” Miroku recommended.

“Keh. That's a good idea,” InuYasha agreed.

Sango nodded and retrieved the pad she used for taking notes in class. It didn't take long to jot down the names of those that should be allowed up to see her. She pushed it across the table for the others to check over.

“Maybe you ought to include Mama in case she needs to drop by for some reason,” Kagome suggested after studying the list, which included each of them plus Sesshomaru and Kagura. “And tell them to notify you if anyone else tries to see you. Even if they don't make it upstairs, you should know they were there.”

Sango added the additional instructions in writing so there would be no confusion.

“And Kagome, when you get to her building, would you mind walking her up to her apartment? Call Miroku if anything looks out of place,” InuYasha suggested.

“Perhaps I should take her home instead,” Miroku interjected.

“I…” Sango wasn't sure what to do.

“Merrrroooooerrroowwooww.” Kirara hopped down from Sango's lap and stretched.

That made Sango laugh. “Kirara seems a bit incensed that we have forgotten she is fully capable of protecting me. Miroku, you still have a lot to do, and Kagome needs to go after her book anyway.” She stood and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, her own face flushed. “Thanks for everything,” she whispered in his ear.

Miroku cupped her face in his hand and turned just enough to brush a soft kiss across her lips. “No, thank you. Promise you'll call if you need anything and that you'll come to my office when your classes are over so that I can take you home.”

“Okay,” she said, finding it hard to part from him. “I guess we'd better go before it gets much later.”

“I should be back in about an hour, InuYasha,” Kagome told him as she started to clear plates from the table and put them in the sink. “Miroku, you're going to stay at least until I call and tell you all's clear at Sango's, aren't you?”

“Yes, I'll be here,” Miroku answered, though he was hoping he'd still be in one piece when she phoned. Then he asked, “Sango, would you mind if I walked you to the car?”

Sango blushed and nodded. “Let me get my things together.”

Miroku joined her and followed her from the kitchen with Kirara leading the way.

Once they stepped off of the veranda, Miroku took Sango's bag and slung it over his shoulder. As soon as his hand was free, he cautiously brushed her hand.

Sango felt his gentle touch and reached out, wrapping her hand around his and then allowing their fingers to intertwine. She couldn't help but smile as she felt a gentle squeeze.

They walked in companionable silence, side by side, until they reached the gate, and Miroku had to drop her hand to unlatch it. Pulling it open, he ushered her through before allowing it to swing shut behind them.

When they reached the side of Kagome's car, he set her bag on the ground and pulled her to him. Unable to say what he wanted, he cupped her cheek in one hand, tilted her face upwards, and brushed her bangs and stray hairs away from her face with the other. Her eyes were dilated slightly in anticipation, and her lips were parted. Unable to resist her any longer, he lowered his mouth to hers.

They both were lost in each other when a rather insistent mew from Kirara warned them that Kagome had left the house. Panting when they parted, Miroku pressed one more gentle kiss to her swollen lips. “Will that hold you to the weekend?” he asked softly.

She smiled as she somehow found his hands clasped in hers. “I guess it'll have to. Miroku… you don't… you don't regret… anything… do you?”

He shook his head. “I was wondering the same about you… do you regret… what happened?”

Sango squeezed his hands. “I wasn't exactly prepared, but no… no I don't. I only wish that all of this was over. I hate that a madman has so much influence on our lives.”

Miroku wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. “At least it'll be over soon.”

He turned her loose when he heard the creak of the gate. “Kagome's here. One of you call my cell phone when you get your apartment, okay? Don't forget. I won't rest easy or go home until I hear from you.”

“Don't worry,” Sango told him as Kagome joined them.

“Are you ready to go?” the miko asked as she clicked the locks open on her car.

“Call us if anything seems out of place,” Miroku instructed them again.

“We will,” Kagome assured him as they climbed in and Kirara jumped up in Sango's lap. “I'm going to run by the shrine first, and then take her home, so don't panic before we have time to get there.”

Miroku couldn't help but to grin, but then looked serious again. “The same goes for you, Kagome. If anything is weird at the shrine, call us.”

“Okay,” she said as she started the car. “Tell InuYasha we're on our way.”

Miroku stepped back and watched until the car had backed up and turned around before pulling out of the parking lot. When they were no longer in sight, he reluctantly went through the gate and back up the path to the house.

InuYasha was waiting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea, when Miroku finally joined him. Breaking the tense silence he said, “I'm not going to eviscerate you, monk.”

Miroku's shoulders slumped, and he stared down at the table. “I… I didn't plan… I didn't mean… I'm sorry, InuYasha. I didn't mean for things to go so far, especially in your home.”

“What's done is done. I'm just surprised you were so careless,” the hanyou responded. “That's not like you.”

Miroku looked up and met his eyes with confusion. “I don't understand. I know I didn't plan for that to happen, but when she wanted me… I… I couldn't turn her down. I wanted her so badly, and I have for so long. I know I should have been more in control, but she… she needed me… I lost it.”

“I know you didn't plan it because it's not like you to go bareback,” InuYasha said so softly that Miroku almost couldn't hear him.

Miroku's dark violet eyes opened wide and his jaw fell slack. “Oh, sweet Buddha. How did… never mind… your nose…” He sat up straight and looked determined. “It doesn't matter - I want to ask her to marry me.”

“You're sure,” InuYasha stated. There seemed to be no question in his friend's mind.

“I've never been more certain of anything in my life,” he responded and then stood and bowed to the hanyou. “Will you - if she says `yes' - will you go with us to act as a witness?”

InuYasha followed suit and bowed in return. “I would be honored. Will you do the same for me… for us?”

Miroku grinned and reached out to slap the hanyou on his upper arm. “Of course I will, my friend. Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone and register at the same time. What do you think?”

“If the girls will agree, one trip to the government office is enough for me,” InuYasha surmised. “But first, you must ask her. And then she must say `yes'.”

Miroku sat down and looked serious again. “I don't know whether to propose to her before or after your brother's ceremony. I almost asked her tonight, but then you had to show up. It just kind of killed the moment.”

“Well, it is my house, after all,” InuYasha said with a smirk as he joined him at the table. “Are you two going to have a real date now that the semester will be over? Maybe you can ask her then.”

Miroku shook his head. “She's already said she feels like there's safety in numbers right now, and that reporter today really spooked her - not that I can blame her. And considering everything, I was starting to think we might be better off to stick around the house the next couple of weekends, rather than go out like we usually do. I'm sure Sango isn't the only one they'll target. I should be fairly safe because I wasn't mentioned, but Kagome was, and you're known as the bridegroom's half-brother. They may not come here after you, but they'll consider you fair game if you go out on the town.”

“I guess we should get through the week first. Not a big deal for me, but I know the three of you have your hands full,” the hanyou commented.

Miroku's eyes glazed over and a grin crossed his face as he stared at his hands, imagining they were still cupping Sango's beautiful, lithe body.

InuYasha shook his head. “Pervert. Some things will never change.”

“Are you all right, Sango?” Kagome asked as she drove towards the shrine.

“Huh? Oh…yeah…” Sango's voice trailed away. Her mind was obviously elsewhere.

A smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, Kagome couldn't help herself. “So how was it?”

“Amazing,” Sango answered and then turned bright red. “I… I… mean… Miroku was great… no… I mean—”

Kagome reached over to pat her on the shoulder. “It's okay, Sango. I didn't mean to embarrass you, but I was so surprised when we came back to the house after class was over. I mean… your stuff, his stuff… and then you…” It was the miko's turn to blush. “I just didn't expect…”

“Neither did I,” Sango said softly. “But he was so good to me. He rescued me and then brought me there so no one could follow me. Then he held me to comfort me… things got… well… it just sort of happened… he said he loved me…”

“He does, you know,” Kagome confirmed. “In all of the time I've known him, I've never seen him like he's been the last few months. So, has he asked you out yet - just the two of you?”

“Yeah, he has. But with everything going on, I told him I feel safer as a group right now. I hope you don't mind if we stick with you for another couple of weeks. I just feel that with Naraku…” her voice trailed away.

The miko sighed. “I know what you mean. Between him and the reporters we might not be getting out much until after Sesshomaru and Kagura's `wedding,' anyway.” Kagome changed the topic, “So I gather you weren't disappointed?”

Sango couldn't help but to grin. “Nope - you were right about that. I had no idea…” She flushed an even brighter shade of red and couldn't finish her statement.

“That something could feel that good?” Kagome finished for her, beaming.

“Kagome!” Sango shrieked with laughter. “We're worse than the guys!”

“Not unless we start comparing… never mind. Besides, InuYasha would probably gut Miroku before he'd discuss his sex life with him,” the miko responded and then added, “I'm just glad you're happy.”

Sango leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. “I think I am, for the first time since… well, in a long time. It seems like it's been forever.”

“Believe me when I tell you that it only gets better,” Kagome said.

“Kagome… you don't think I'm… you don't think I'm… easy… do you?” Sango asked very quietly. “I really didn't mean… well… not tonight, anyway. I didn't plan for that to happen.”

The miko shook her head. They had reached the shrine and she had pulled into the drive and stopped. “Sango, you two were meant for each other. I'm as certain of that as I am that I was meant to be with InuYasha. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Personally, I don't know how you managed to hold off this long and wait until after the final exam.”

“But you waited five years,” Sango argued.

“I had to grow up first, and I wouldn't change a thing. Don't think too hard about it - when it's right, it's right. You just know, you know?” Kagome asked.

Sango nodded. “Thank you, Kagome. Now, go and get your book so you can take me home and then get back to that hot hanyou of yours.”

Kagome couldn't stop the broad smile that spread across her face. “Works for me.”

To be continued…

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Nikujyaga - simmered dish of meat (pork or beef) and potatoes

Marriage in Japan: To make a marriage legal in Japan, both partners must appear at the city or ward office and fill out the necessary forms. They must be accompanied by two or more adult witnesses or present documents signed by them. The husband will then be issued a new family register as the head of a new household when he registers the marriage. (www.buddhanet.net/nippon/nippon_partII.html)

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InuYasha Fanfiction Guild News

Voting is underway at the InuYasha Fanfiction Guild for the Fourth Quarter of 2008 (October - December). Thank you once again to the following for nominating or seconding one of my fics: Caitriona, dreaming_trees, Fenik Fan, kmoaton, kingmasonite, knittingknots, ktshabatie, landofthekwt, langus, madmiko, magedelbene, psyco_chick32, andwbakerhubbardave.

Minoue for Best AU/AR, Best Inu/Kag Romance, Best Mir/San Romance, and Best In Character (InuYasha)

First Rites for Best Short Short

Red is the Color... for Best Oneshot and Best Canon

Where the Wind Blows for Best Comedy

Cranes, Change, and Winter Surprises for Best Inu/Kag Romance

View to a Chill for Best Comedy

Voting will continue throughFebruary 28th. If you are a member, please take a few minutes to go and vote for your favorites, no matter whose they might be.

Good luck to everyone!