InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Breaking Point ❯ Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Striking Falcon 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Action | Type: Songfic | Uploaded On: 12.02.2004 | Pages: 13 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 813 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Action | Type: Songfic | Uploaded On: 12.02.2004 | Pages: 13 | Words: 9.7K | Visits: 813 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: This is Janet Jackson's `Trust a Try'. I don't own it. Oh, and most the italics here are lyrics. FF is acting weird again. If you don't understand where the lyrics end and the rest of the story begins, check out A Single Spark, where it'll be just as I intended. Oh yeah, in the second chapter, I said Kagome and Sango were seniors. They were juniors. They're seniors now. I'll change it later, but I thought I'd go ahead and tell you now. Oh, and thanks to Tessa3 for beta-ing. I don't know how I ever managed without her.
Chapter Nine: Nobody's Supposed to Be Here.
"I've spent all my live on a search to find a love who'll stay for eternity. Who heaven sent to fulfil my need. But when I turned around again love has knocked me down. My heart got broken and it hurts so bad. I'm sad to say love wins again..." Deborah Cox 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here'
Miroku sat on the other side of the diner booth, his companion unusually quiet as he glanced over the sheet music in front of him. "Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru sat drink in his hand, gazing down at the music Miroku passed him earlier.
"Sesshoumaru? Man, what's wrong with you this week?"
For all intents and purposes, it looked as if he were studying, but Miroku knew better. The stillness of his friend's hand gave him away, with Miroku full aware that if he really were paying attention, he'd have gone insane with Sesshoumaru's insistent tapping on the glass in his hand.
"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku shook his head, placed his hand in front of Sesshoumaru's face and snapped his fingers.
Golden eyes blinked, and Sesshoumaru looked up with an inquisitive stare.
"Was that necessary?" he mumbled as he turned over the sheets on his side of the table. Miroku huffed and crossed his arms.
"I think it was. Man Sess, where did you go? La La Land?"
"What are you talking about?" Sesshoumaru yawned as he erased something on the page.
"What did I say?" Miroku quizzed. "Just twelve seconds ago. What did I ask you?"
"You didn't ask me anything," Sesshoumaru replied. "You said that this is what you came up with for your part of the Classics. Mind telling me about it?"
"Oh yeah, sure," Miroku nodded, finally satisfied now that Sesshoumaru's attention was directly on him. "See, for the first verse it's all piano but the beginning of the chorus brings trumpets and guitars and stuff."
"Who plays a trumpet?" Sesshoumaru glanced up with a cocked brow. "I don't think Inuyasha does, nor do I."
"Kouga plays trumpet, and there's bound to be an orchestra we can borrow. There was one last year."
"We cannot always count on that," Sesshoumaru rebuked as he rubbed the end of a fry in a small salt mountain on his plate. "We must be prepared for anything."
"But it hasn't changed for what, three years now?" Miroku replied with a shrug. "So what's the difference?" He raised his hands in defeat at Sesshoumaru's stare. "Fine, I'll be sure to ask Myouga first, then I'll change it if I need to. Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Sesshoumaru quipped drily. Miroku frowned at his less than eager reply and snatched the folder from Sesshoumaru's hand. "Yeah, I'm sure. Let me see this."
"Go ahead."
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Miroku asked after opening the folder. "You've been acting weird lately."
Sesshoumaru quipped a brow at this but continued to read as he flipped a fry in his mouth.
"I'm serious. You're quiet lately."
"And when am I not quiet?" Sesshoumaru replied. "I'm surprised you noticed, with Inuyasha and Kouga arguing every few minutes."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Miroku snapped. "When was the last time you choked Inuyasha? Or punched Kouga in the mouth? Or argued with Kagome for that matter? It's like you're zoned."
"You forget that what you would call `zoning out', I would call preparing for a case. I work for a living, remember?"
"Yeah, but it's not the same. I'm telling you man, if you were a girl..." His eyes lit up suddenly, and a slow smile began to spread across his face. Sesshoumaru watched him warily, a sense of foreboding settling in the pit of his stomach.
"If I were a girl what?"
"If you were a girl..." Miroku's smile evolved into a grin, his elbow propped on the table with a single finger pointed in Sesshoumaru's direction. "If you were a girl, I'd swear you'd be glowing."
"Hmnh," Sesshoumaru mumbled as Miroku began to snicker. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Two things. One: You're in love-"
A soft snort from Sesshoumaru rebuked that idea.
"Or two: You've been laid. Which one is it?"
"Even if it were your business-And it's not- what makes you think it's any of those asinine ideas?" Sesshoumaru asked as he grabbed the folder on Miroku's side and pulled out a single sheet of music. "As if I have the time for either," he mumbled under his breath.
"Come on man," Miroku pressured. "Tell me! Which one is it? You know I'd tell you."
"Yes I do, unfortunately," Sesshoumaru joked. "No matter how much I protest."
"Whatever," Miroku waved aside. "You know you like hearing about my nightly journeys. You'd better remember them, because I think I'm going to go straight for a while."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think I've found the girl of my dreams."
Sesshoumaru shook his head, pencil in one hand and sheet music in the other. "You're such a romantic Miroku. I don't think my teeth can stand it."
"With the way you eat, I'm sure they can't. Seriously though-"
"I don't want to hear it. What else is there to your Classics writ?"
"Oh. Yeah ummmm..." Miroku flipped through his folder and shook his head. "I don't have anything else. What about you?"
"Here. This is what I have so far." Sesshoumaru pulled his briefcase onto the table, opened it and handed Miroku a black folder. Miroku flipped through it once, then twice before scratching behind his left ear.
"I don't understand," he said as he held up two pieces of music. "A few of these has `optional' on the top. Why?"
"I considered only having two parts; you're part and the lyrics. The other instruments are optional because they come near the end, and I'd have to hear how it sounds in the song before actually deciding to play it in the Classics."
"Oh. OK then." Miroku flipped through it a couple of times, then nodded and returned the folder to him. "It's good," he said as Sesshoumaru returned the folder to his briefcase. "So, when do you want to start practicing them?"
"This week if-"
"No can do boss," Miroku said with a quick shake of his head. "I forgot that this week is sign-up week at the college. I'm supposed to be going with Inuyasha and Kouga tomorrow."
"That promises to be eventful," Sesshoumaru quirked. "So good luck."
"Thanks man. I'll need it. School starts next week, so how about we reschedule practices until next Monday."
"That works for me," Sesshoumaru nodded after the waitress set their bill on the table. He plunked down enough money for his half and the tip, then waited for Miroku to do the same before standing up. "I have to work late all this week anyway. I'll make some last minute touches to the song, then we'll try it next Monday."
"Fine."
"Miroku?"
Miroku stopped by his car, leaning against the door facing Sesshoumaru's car. "What?"
"...You and Kagome discussed something on our way to Philadelphia. What was it?"
Miroku looked confused for a moment, them nodded with a smile. "Yeah. I know what you're talking about. I'd love to tell you...but I can't. I promised her I wouldn't."
"I could always hit it out of you," Sesshoumaru commented after tossing his briefcase into the passenger side of his car. "It would be a lot faster than trying to trick it out of you anyway."
"Yeah sure, but imagine how mad Kagome would be if she found out. Well, I've gotta run." To Miroku's surprise, Sesshoumaru didn't say anything. Miroku watched as he sped away, his finger tapping his bottom lip as he
considered something.
`You know, he's been acting funny for a while now...ever since Philadelphia. Hmmm...I wonder...'
II
Sango blew the horn once, ignoring Rin as she winced in the backseat. "What's taking her so long?" she said aloud as she leaned on the horn. "That girl would be late for her own fu-oh! Here she comes!" They watched as Kagome ran out the door, dressed in only a pair of shorts and a green tanktop with a yellow one underneath. Sango snickered when she squeaked, the surprisingly cold September wind causing her to disappear back into the upstairs apartment.
She reappeared wearing a gray pullover, her ponytail bouncing against her back as she ran down the stairs. "Oh my God," she gasped as she dove into the front passenger's seat. "Why didn't you guys tell me it was going to be so cold out today?"
"We thought you knew." Rin giggled as Sango pulled out of the driveway. "So," she said once they were in traffic. "Where's Prince Charming?"
"At work," Kagome replied as she turned on the radio. "At least, that's where I think he is."
"Hey, what's that supposed to me-"
"Have you guys heard this song yet?" Kagome asked as she turned the volume up. "I heard it for the first time the other day and can't get it off my mind!"
"Yeah, it's...um...Yellowcard, right?"
"Um hm. Sure is. What classes do you guys need?"
"We don't know yet. Didn't you get the letter the school sent you?"
"No," Kagome shook her head. "What letter?"
"Hey, they sent an email too," Rin chirped as she leaned between the seats. "Does the school have your address?"
"So they can send me crap I don't want?" Kagome grinned. "No way. What'd the letter say?"
"You remember how last year they sent us our recommended courses in the mail and we went to our guidance councilors to sign up for courses right?"
"Uh huh."
Sango rolled her eyes, obviously disagreeing with the new system she was describing. "Well this year they sent a letter saying that we'll have to get our recommended courses from a folder in front of the guidance councilors' offices. They set up the courses in the cafeteria and pavilion so that it looks like a fair. You have to go from booth to booth and sign up."
"It's supposed to keep the confusion that happened last year from repeating itself," Rin said as they made a left turn into the school's parking lot. "But I think it's going to cause more trouble than prevent any."
"Yeah, I don't doubt it," Kagome groaned as they made their way toward the administration building. Students walked past them, some already holding large manilla folders while others looked to be lost. "Do you remember your first day Rin?" Kagome asked as they walked down the hallway toward their guidance councilor.
"Yeah! I was so lost! Oh man, I thought I'd never find my classes!" Rin laughed, then whopped Sango in the arm. "And this tramp here wasn't any help! She told me this place had an indoor hot tub in the girls' locker room!"
"You were dumb enough to believe it!" Sango laughed as she flipped through a box of envelopes with the first letter of her last name on the front. "I mean, look at this place! There's no way there'd ever be a hot tub here!"
"You guys are so mean to each other. Here you go Rin." Kagome passed Rin her envelope and opened her own as they made their way to the cafeteria. She looked over her recommended schedule, nodding to herself as Rin gave a loud moan.
"Oh man! Why me?! I don't want to take that!"
"Take what?" Sango asked as she and Kagome looked over Rin's shoulder. "So what?" Kagome shrugged as she continued down the sidewalk. "Its just a computer class."
"But I hate computers!" Rin bemoaned. "You know that!"
"Well, what can I say? You have to take it. I have to take Personal Relations, and you don't hear me complaining."
"Yeah, well...that's better than Quicken. I hate that program."
"You hate everything," Sango teased. "Ok ladies, I say we split up. We'll get finished much faster if we do then we
can go to Sonic's for some milkshakes."
"That sounds great," Rin grinned happily. "So...where and when do we meet up?"
Sango glanced down at her watch, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth as she studied the dial. "It's 11:00 now. Everyone got a watch or a cell or something?"
"Kagome doesn't."
"No, I've got one," she said as she held up another phone, this one the same pink model as the one she had
previously. "I bought a new one this weekend."
"Alright then. Let's meet back at my car at...2:30. That should give us enough time to get everything together."
"And if there's a problem, we'll just call each other," Rin added as she held up her phone, a blue Ericson with the Bat Signal on the back.
"Yup. Oh, and see if you can get a few afternoon classes for Thursday, that way we can sleep in and go for lunch before class."
"OK then," Kagome said as they walked away from each other. "See you guys later." Kagome took a deep breath and steadied herself before advancing into the crowd. `This should do me some good,' Kagome thought as she signed up for her first class. `I can get myself ready for next week, get the study materials list for all my classes and keep myself from thinking about Marcus for the rest of the day.'
She continued on for the rest of the afternoon, taking the time to sign up for a 2:00 Thursday afternoon dance class. `That should be interesting,' she smiled as she signed her name to the sign-up sheet. `Oh! I've got to remember to email Dad this year's tuition bills.' Kagome frowned at the thought as she made her way to the Personal Relations booth, then completely forgot about it when a familiar hand brushed against her backside.
"Pervert!"
Smack!
"Heh," Miroku grinned as she glowered at him. "Hi Kagome."
"Hi nothing. How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?"
"I can't help it," he replied, his head tilted to the side with a perverted grin on his face as she bent over to sign the class sheet. Kagome stiffened suddenly, as if feeling the eyes on her backside, then straightened up, picked up the clipboard and leaned against the table.
"No free looks Miroku," she said as she shook her pen at him. "Shame on you anyway. What are you doing over here?"
"Oh, I need this class too. I'm taking the Monday morning from 10:30 to 12 and the Friday afternoon from 2:30 to 4. What about you?"
"I guess that's what I'm taking too," Kagome sighed. "That's all that's left. Aww..."
"What's wrong?" he asked as she glanced over her schedule.
"This means I can't have lunch Monday at 11 like Sango, Rin and I planned."
"Then eat lunch with me," Miroku offered. "Inuyasha, Kouga and I all have different schedules for that day too. We can do whatever yo want to do and I swear I won't touch you."
"OK then," Kagome laughed as she shook his hand. "You've got a deal."
"So what now?" he asked as he and Kagome left the booth.
"Now..." She opened her cell and glanced at the time. "Now I've got to head back to Sango's car. I'm sure they're waiting on me-"
"Hey, can I go with you?" Miroku pleaded suddenly. "Please?"
"Huh? Why?" Kagome asked. "What for?"
"Well, it's just that-"
"When I said `Sango' you automatically had to be there, huh?" Kagome smiled knowingly. "It's alright Miroku. I could tell."
"You could?" Miroku repeated as he trailed along behind her. "How?"
"Simple. You've been giving her that googly-eyed stare since that day at the ice cream shop."
"And you don't mind?"
"Mind?" Kagome laughed and shook her head. "Of course not. I think you guys would be cute together...so long as
you don't break her heart. Then I'll have to hurt you."
"Of course not," Miroku said as they walked down the hall of the administration building. "I wouldn't hurt Sango. Say...when's her birthday?"
"Um...next Tuesday."
"Seriously? Oh man." Kagome giggled when Miroku smacked his forehead. "That's not enough time to get her
anything!"
"You know what?"
Miroku ceased complaining immediately, his attention fully tuned on the smaller girl as she gave him a helpful smile.
"Sango loves gardenias."
"Gar-what?"
"Gardenias. They're little white flowers that smell really good. She'd love those."
Miroku stopped to think, with Kagome standing in front of him as he glanced from side to side, his arms crossed and his right index finger madly tapping his left elbow. "That's not a bad idea! Thanks Kagome!"
"No problem," Kagome said as he trapped her in a friendly hug. "I'm glad to help." She took a deep breath when he finally let go and stood back as he walked ahead of her to the outside doors. `I think I should help those two get together,' she decided as she led him to Sango's car. `Besides, just because I'm not happy-`
She smiled at the boyish grin that appeared on his face when Sango waved to them, Inuyasha and Kouga talking to Rin as they approached.
`Doesn't mean I can't help someone else to be.'
III
Miroku stole a glance at Sango, watching her from the corner of his eye for the fourth time since practice began. His foot tapped his stool nervously, the solid wooden sound slightly calming his nerves. He waited patiently for Sesshoumaru to end for a break, then tapped Sango's arm.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, I-"
"Come on Rin," Kagome interrupted suddenly. "I want to ask Inuyasha something."
"But," Rin stuttered as Kagome dragged her away. "Why do I have to go too?" Sango and Miroku watched them go with confused expressions, then shrugged as Sango turned back to him.
"Did you want something Miroku?"
"Yeah...I want to show you something."
"Show me what?" Sango asked suspiciously as Miroku grasped the back of her shoulders and gently pushed her out the door. "Hey, you're not going to try anything are you?"
"Now that hurts Sango," Miroku replied with a coltish smile. "Surely you don't think that way about me."
"I don't know," Sango quipped before they stopped in front of his car. "You're always up to something." She stepped back when he leaned inside his driver's side window and began to dig, his feet rising off the pavement as he reached further into the car. "Let me help Mi-"
"No, that's alright," he said from inside the car. "I think I've almost-Got it!" Miroku slowly dragged himself out, being extra careful with his right arm as he pulled free a small green box. "Here," he said as he handed it to her.
"I...got this for you. Happy birthday."
"Oh wow," Sango breathed while she opened it. "Thanks Miroku. How'd you know?"
"A little birdie told me. Do you like them?" he asked as Sango pulled free a wrist corsage made of gardenias, baby's breath and soft blue ribbon. The smile she turned on him was beautiful, one of the best he'd ever seen as she gave him a hug.
"Oh wow Miroku," she whispered as he hugged her back. "I'm floored. I-it's beautiful. Thank you so much."
"I'm glad you like it. Um...I was wondering..."
Sango leaned back to look up at him, then let go of him completely so she could tie the corsage to her wrist. "What is it?"
"Would you catch a bite to eat with me after practice?" He began stuttering when she looked up, his nervousness growing by leaps and bounds as she waited for him to finish. "That is-you know-if you think you can. I'll understand if you-"
"No."
Miroku frowned, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Oh. Well um-"
"If you can make it Saturday, after our gig, that would be better."
"Really?" His spirits lifted at her nod, and he gave her a grateful nod in answer. "Sure, that'll work! Oh, oh yeah. I have to take Kagome ho...m...e...wait a minute."
"What?" Sango asked as Miroku grasped her hand and walked back to the practice room. "Where are we going?"
"I need to ask Sesshoumaru for a favor," he told her as she walked along beside him. "I'm sure he'll be more than happy to do it."
VI
Sesshoumaru watched as everyone left the practice room, his attention more on the papers on the table in front of him than going on break. He studied the paper intently, occasionally erasing a note and brushing away the dust that remained. `No...' he growled to himself as he glowered at the paper. `It's not right. Something's missin-` His head was jerked up suddenly, warm hands grasping the side of his head as he growled at the offender.
"I'm not scared of you puppy," Kagome smirked as she pushed back his bangs. "You know the drill by now, so I don't know why you're so mad."
"Maybe it's because you insist on manhandling me," Sesshoumaru frowned as she turned his left eye toward the light. She rolled her eyes in annoyance and ignored him to study his face.
"I think this is healing rather well, don't you?" she asked, unaware of the sudden shiver that crept down his spine when her breath danced across his cheek. "I bet you're tired of smelling like lavender though."
"I tolerate it," he replied numbly as she let go of him and dug around her purse. "What are you doing?"
"I think it's healed enough. It's perfectly scabbed over, so now you can stop using that stuff and start using this." Kagome motioned for Sesshoumaru to open his hand, then placed a tube of what looked like stick glue in his hand.
"What's this?" he asked as he turned it over in his hand.
"It's straight cocoa butter, not the watered down stuff you get from the store. Put that on even after it heals and it defiantly won't scar. I should know. I used that stuff on a road rash I got skateboarding a few years ago."
"You skateboard?" Sesshoumaru huffed in disbelief. Kagome plunked her fists on her hips and glared at him. "What? Don't think a girl can do it?"
"I don't care if a girl can do it," he replied as he returned to his work. "I think it's insane to ride those death machines."
"Yes Grandpa. I'm sure you do. What `cha doin'?" she asked as she leaned over the paper. He reached to yank it away from her but found it in her hands before he could say anything. Sesshoumaru sat back and waited as she hummed the melody.
"This is good. Where's the lyrics?"
"They're not for you to-"
"Oh here they are!" Kagome chirped as she tugged the appropriate piece of paper from the black folder on the table. She backed away from him when he tried to snatch it away from her, then turned her back on him as she hummed the words.
He had to admit, it did sound alright now that he could actually hear the notes on the paper. Sesshoumaru decided to allow her to read it, then finish what he was doing when she returned it to him.
"You know, this is great but..."
"But?" Sesshoumaru asked as she handed the lyrics to him and pointed to the prelude to the first verse. "See this part here?" Kagome tapped insistently. "You're missing something."
"I know," he muttered as she sat down beside him. "I can't figure out what though."
"Why not try a few violins?" Kagome offered, then scowled when he snickered and shook his head. "What's so funny?"
"Violins don't make sense," he rebuked. "The entire song is fast, with heavy guitar and drums. You wouldn't hear the violins among all that."
"Well no, not once they get started, but if we do them at the introduction, then again when it repeats itself after the chorus near the end, then you'd hear it."
"I don't see why we should..."
"Because it'll be a shock," Kagome insisted. "It'll be nice and slow in the beginning, then all of a sudden BOOM , you guys come in, the violins move to the back and it's completely rocked out! It'll work."
"Yes, it might work but who will play the violins?" he asked the overnight genius beside him. "It's not as if Kouga and I are capable of playing both guitar and violin. I'm talented, but I don't believe it's possible."
"Then we can tape it, or get Miroku to play it! Come on Sesshoumaru! At least try it!"
"I don't know..."
"It has to be something classical though, like Mozart would have written it you know! It'd be such a cool contrast! We can all wear leather and-"
"Is it supposed to be fast or slow?"
"Slow remember? Why? Are you going to do it Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru thought about it a few seconds more, then sighed and shook his head. "Give me until Wednesday to figure it out. We'll try it then but if it doesn't work-"
"Oh wow! Thanks Sesshoumaru!!" She threw her arms around his shoulders, her laughter against his neck and the
pencil he was holding clattered to the tabletop below. They sprang apart when the door opened, Kagome with a sheepish blush on her face and Sesshoumaru back to his sheet music as Miroku and Sango came in the room.
"Sesshoumaru! I need a favor!"
"What is it now Miroku?" Sesshoumaru snapped irritably, his mood soured for a reason unknown to him. "I'm busy."
"Yeah, I know but I need a favor!"
"You said that already. Now what is i-ow!" he hissed when Kagome smacked his right bicep. "What was that for?"
"You're so mean. Can't you see he wants something? What is it Miroku?"
"Um..." Miroku's mind stalled for a moment, his suddenly submissive friend leaving him speechless and his mind spinning. "Er...oh yeah. Will you take Kagome home Saturday night? I can't."
It was Sesshoumaru's mind's turn to stall now, with him staring at Miroku for a full twenty seconds before, "What?"
"It's just for the night and I'll make it up to you I swear. Please?" Kagome and Sango snickered when he gave Sesshoumaru a pitiful, puppy-dog eyed look, both girls stopping abruptly when he glared at them before he sighed and waved his hand.
"Please, for my stomach Miroku, don't do that," Sesshoumaru complained, then sighed and relented. "I'll take her home."
"Great! Thanks man! I owe you big time!"
"Owe who big time?" Inuyasha asked as he, Rin and Kouga walked into the room.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Kouga asked. Sesshoumaru shook his head before Kagome could answer, stood and lifted his guitar from the floor beside him.
"Nothing that would interest you," he mumbled as he walked past him. "We can begin now that you two are here."
V
`Thursday,' Kagome sighed to herself as class ended. `I'm so glad. One more day until the weekend.' She packed up her books and walked out of class, mentally going over the day's lesson when someone called her name. She looked up and smiled in surprise.
"Miroku, what's up?" she greeted while he leaned against the wall beside her classroom door.
"Not a lot. I thought I'd meet you at your last class instead of you trying to find my car."
"You're dad sold another car out from under you didn't he?" Kagome guessed. He nodded in affirmation as he led her to the parking lot, where a white Malibu sat waiting. "It's not a bad car."
"Nope, it's not. That's why I'm going to buy this one from him," Miroku replied while opening the passenger door. He waited for her to sit inside before closing the door and entering the driver's side. "Um, do you want to grab a bite to eat? If you want to go home that's fine too."
"No, let's go get something," Kagome agreed. "I'm kinda hungry, plus I want to give you some tips with Sango."
"That's what I wanted to ask you about. Man, I'm glad you're ahead of me," Miroku sighed in relief. "Do you have any place you want to go."
"No," Kagome shook her head. "Anyplace you want to go to is fine with me."
"Great. There's this diner I like going to that I think you'll like too." They rode in silence until they reached the diner, a small mom and pop place with a `60's theme. The seats, those in the booths and those that were around the freestanding tables, were red with black legs and trim, and the tabletops where white. Red and white checkerboard tile ran up the main aisle, with red carpet underneath the tables on either side.
"This place is nice," Kagome marveled as she and Miroku took a seat at one of the booths. "I've never seen this place before."
"Yeah, it's not exactly well known, but the food is great, the service is nice and-"
"Hey," the waitress interrupted when she arrived at their table. "Where's that blonde chick today? You guys break up or something?"
"Blonde chick?" both Kagome and Miroku repeated before Miroku burst out laughing. "What?" Kagome asked as the waitress shook her head.
"Nothing. I'll explain later. Hey, um, let me get a root beer float. What about you Kagome?"
"Um...a brownie sundae is fine."
"With nuts and whipped cream?"
"Yes, please."
"Alright then." The waitress jotted their orders down and walked away, leaving Kagome to stare at Miroku as he started laughing again.
"What's so funny?" Kagome asked again. "And what blonde chick?"
"I'm sorry," Miroku wheezed as he calmed down. "This is where Sesshoumaru and I hang out at. She must think that Sessh...haha...Sesshou...haha (snort)...I'm so sorry. It's just that-"And with that he collapsed on the table, his head in his arms and his shoulders shaking as he guffawed into the tabletop. Kagome shook her head at him, even though she to felt a giggle coming.
"Miroku, you know he'd be mad to hear that," she scolded with her finger wagging in his direction. He sat up and
wiped his eyes, his chest still heaving as he nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I know but you gotta admit, it is funny."
"So where are you taking Sango Saturday night?"
The smile on his face disappeared instantly, a look of worry replacing it as he began to wring his hands. "I haven't thought about it. That's what I wanted to ask you."
"Well..." Kagome leaned forward, propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hands as she began to think. "By the time the gig is over, it'll be 1 `o clock in the morning."
"Yeah, everything's closed by then," Miroku mourned pitifully. "Where do I take her, Waffle House?"
"Um, no," Kagome giggled with a wave and a shake of her head. "Why not here? Is this place opened twenty-four hours?"
"Yeah it is. That's not a bad idea."
"You can tell her it's a pre-date," Kagome offered as he brightened. "That way you guys can get to know each other better, and decide if you want to go on an actual date or not."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you!" Miroku grinned. "Thanks Kagome. Got anything else?"
"Um...she loves caramel."
"Yeah, I kinda figured th-caramel? I thought all girls love chocolate."
"Well yeah we do, but Sango loves caramel too. Trust me,' she gave him the thumbs up sign. "If this place has a great caramel dessert, she'll love it."
"Here you go you guys," the waitress said as she sat down their orders. She passed Miroku a spoon and a straw, gave Kagome a spoon and left the table without another word.
"You know Kagome, I feel kinda bad about asking you for help," Miroku admitted around a mouth full of vanilla ice cream.
"Why?"
"With what's goin' on with you and stuff, it just doesn't feel right to have you help me."
"But I want to help," Kagome told him. "Like I said the other day, I think you guys would be good together. So lets drop it and talk about something else."
"OK then. What did you think of the new song Sesshoumaru brought in yesterday?"
"I thought it was great," Kagome smiled knowingly. "I told him the violin part at the beginning would sound good."
"Wait a second," Miroku began while he put down his spoon. "You knew about the song before he gave it to us?"
"Yeah," Kagome muttered as she took a bite of her brownie. "I've known about it since Monday. It's a cool song."
"I bet," Miroku mumbled absently, then decided to change the subject. "How's your home life Kagome? Is it any better?"
Kagome sighed and shook her head, her bright and happy mood diminishing as her shoulders slumped. "Nope. It's actually worse."
"What's goin' on?"
"OK, you remember when my grandpa went to the hospital right?"
"Yeah I remember," Miroku nodded. "How's he doin'?"
"Grandpa's fine. He moved into my mom's Tuesday. But I tried to call Marcus while we were at the hospital. He never answered his cell or the house phone, and when I called his job they said he wasn't there."
"So you never got in touch with him that day?"
"I didn't see or hear from him until Friday when I came back from practice. He was at home, acting like nothing
happened." Kagome sighed again and ate a little more of the Sunday. "We got into it and he left in a huff. Since then, he barely talks to me, he's never home and when he is at home he ignores me."
"That's not good," Miroku shook his head. "It dangerous for you to be home by yourself all the time."
"I'm not a child Miroku," Kagome countered with a frown.
"I know that, but I still don't like it. Somebody could break in and hurt you if you're by yourself."
"Yeah well," Kagome sighed. "I'd rather be home alone than with him. I planned on moving back to my mom's, but I can't now that grandpa's there. I guess I'll have to read the newspaper and find myself an apartment."
"If you need any help let me know," Miroku told her. "I don't like the idea of you living with that guy anyway. He just doesn't seem...right."
"He's all I got for now," Kagome replied dismally. "But it is hard to stay a virgin in that house." She jumped back when Miroku sputtered, root beer float spraying across the table in a fizzy squirt.
"Holy crap!"
"What is wrong with you?" Kagome demanded as he dried off the table.
"I didn't know they still made girls like you," he joked, then quieted when Kagome frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "Not funny huh?"
"Not in the least."
"Well, you can't say that I didn't try. But is he trying to force you into it?" he asked before tossing the napkins in the nearest trash can. Kagome shook her head.
"No, but he does make me feel guilty about...it."
"You shouldn't," Miroku told her before motioning for the waitress. "It's your body, and you're the one that has to deal with the consequences. God, I can't believe I said that.
"Seriously though, if you have any problems at all, call me. I'll be more than happy to help out in any way I can."
"Thanks Miroku," Kagome said as the waitress brought them the bill. "I appreciate it."
"You're helping me, so why not help you?" he quipped as they paid the bill. He nodded and sat back down when she excused herself, his thoughts wandering as he waited for her.
`I think I will help you,' Miroku finally concluded when she came back. `I may not be able to help you get rid of your current boyfriend, but I can show you that there's more than one guy out there...and I know which one to show you...'
VI
Miroku studied them throughout their performance from the left side of the stage, noticing the stray glances Kagome would flicker back, and the intense, but brief looks Sesshoumaru would give her when either of them where sure the other wasn't looking.
`Personally, I'm surprised they can still perform,' Miroku smirked as `Like a Pill' ended. He prepared for the next song quickly, changing the mode on the second keyboard to violin before giving Kagome the thumbs up. She nodded and turned away from him, giving him a great view of her backside and the skin exposed through the lace ups of her leather pants. He could have literally kissed Ayame for this wardrobe call. Kagome was dressed in a pair of leather pants that laced up the side to her hip, her leg otherwise exposed with a pair of silver heeled sandals and a lace shirt. Sango and Rin were dressed in miniskirts much like Kagome's pants, with Sango wearing a solid turquoise peasant top and Rin in a hot pink one-sleeved shirt.
"Ready?" Kagome mouthed to him, bringing him back to the present. He nodded and raised his hand to the second keyboard.
"Trust... "
Miroku began to play, the synchronized violin right on cue as she continued.
"...not an east thing you say. Never thought the game of love this way you'd play by the things you do. Never thought these things I would go through with you. Pain, trickery, and deceit. A ll the wrongs that you put me through. If you don't wanna say still love you anyway." She took a deep breath and smiled, the waves in her hair bouncing against her back as she moved to the music.
"Never do believe my words when I try telling you my story. Have no reason, still don't trust me. No I'm not a cheat or a liar."
Kouga and Sesshoumaru were next, with a loud cymbal crash from Inuyasha as the crowd cheered below. Kagome clapped her hands, bringing them over her head as she called for the audience to do the same.
"She brought love. She brought joy. She brought what she brought. You thought you'd never see again.
She cheats and lied, made you cry, said goodbye. Body's numb think you're never gonna feel again.
Then what do you know. You take it slow. Here comes trouble. Things go smooth but drama just around bend. Don't blame me for jealousies or insecurities. Please see cause I wouldn't do that to you."
"Don't smother me (with misery). Accusing me (of polygamy). If not the trust (then we have what)
Gotta be strong (oh keep holding on)" Miroku flipped the switch on the keyboard quickly, changing the instrument back to the default rock setting.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but- you- must- give- trust- a- try.
"Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me. It'll be heavenly. But- you- must- give- trust- a- try."
Kagome grasped the mic in both hands, taking a moment to shake her hair out behind her. "You got burned. You got bruised. You got... so you got a kick outta that unhealthy shit. You said to she you'd please her needs whatever it'd be. Still she'd cheat on her back again for the money.
"Now leave from it. You grow from it. Get over it. I won't take the blame so don't cause I ain't having it. Steady given me the third degree. That's so mean. Don't push me out the door. I wouldn't do that to you."
Miroku smirked and shook his head, watching the look on his friend's face when she began to rock from side to side, her hips moving in sync before throwing her head back. `I'm going to have to bring this to Sesshoumaru's attention later,' he plotted with an evil grin.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but- you- must- give- trust- a- try. Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me. It'll be heavenly but- you- must- give- trust- a-
"Trust..." Kagome sang out as Miroku flipped back to the violins. "... not an east thing you say. Never thought the game of love this way you'd play by the things you do. Never thought these things I would go through with you. Pain, trickery and deceit. All the wrongs that you put me through. If you don't wanna say still love you anyway. Never do believe my words when I try telling you my story. Have no reason, still don't trust me. No I'm not a cheat or a liar."
The guitar rifts were next, with Sesshoumaru and Kouga at war with each other once again as Kouga tried to take over the first guitar part. Kagome glanced back at them, expecting the situation to disintegrate into chaos. To her surprise nothing happened, with Sesshoumaru giving Kouga a speaking glare. Kouga backed away almost immediately, a scowl on his face as Sesshoumaru finished the rift.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but you must give trust a try. Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me.
It'll be heavenly but you must give trust a try.
"It'll be heavenly but you must give trust a try." She bowed as the crowd cheered uproariously, her face red from exertion as the others packed up behind her. Kagome thanked the audience as they walked offstage, her adrenalin still pumping as she followed Sango and Rin to the dressing room.
"I can't believe how well that went," Rin laughed as she shut the door and yanked her shirt over her head. "I mean, could the crowd have been wilder or what?"
"I don't know," Sango said, then laughed when Kagome tripped over her own pants. "I think they like Kagome more than anything else."
"No way," Kagome blushed. "It's the music. Besides," her voice muffled as she pulled a blue hoodie over her head.
"It's Sesshoumaru's songs. They're great."
"Yeah, I know something else about him that's great," Rin winked at Sango as Kagome's head popped out the shirt.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Rin and Sango both said aloud before Sango jumped into her jeans. "I've got to hurry and get you home Rin. You don't mind do you?"
"Actually, Inuyasha offered to take me home tonight."
"Oooooo," Kagome and Sango sang as they surrounded the younger girl. "Why didn't you tell us?" Sango asked.
"Maybe it's because she and Inuyasha have something planned," Kagome teased. Rin blushed, then huffed. "No way! Inuyasha's a friend! Besides...isn't Sesshoumaru taking you home tonight?"
It was Kagome's turn to blush now. "Yeah well uh....Sesshoumaru hates me, remember?" she said with a laugh. "And anyway, I have a boyfriend!"
"That's your excuse for everything," Sango said as she tied her shoes. "I think that, if the right guy comes along, Marcus is stuck like Chuck."
"We'll never know will we?" Kagome countered with a flip of her hair. "Anyway, I'm tired. Have fun tonight Sango."
"Yeah, you two Kagome." Rin and Sango watched Kagome walked out the door, catching a glimpse of Sesshoumaru waiting outside it before the door shut behind her.
"You know what?"
"What Rin?" Sango asked as they made their way out the door.
"Kagome and Sesshoumaru would be cute together. Don't you agree?"
"Yeah I do but like she said, he hates her." Rin stopped a little behind her, a thoughtful expression on her face as Sango opened the door.
"I don't know about that," Rin muttered to herself. "I mean, things change, right?"
VII
Marcus parked his car in the driveway in front of the townhouse, taking a moment to check his hair before turning off the engine and stepping outside. He glanced up and down the empty street, his hand in his pocket and a grin on his face as he swept his hair back. He climbed the stairs and rang the doorbell, then leaned against the railing and waited.
The door opened a crack, enough for him to see the darkness inside. He pushed the door open further, stepped inside and closed the door.
"Hello?" he called as he waled further into the house. "Are you home?" He turned as a light switch flicked on, his fist balled and ready before relaxing. A woman sat in a recliner, a blue satin robe tied firmly at her waist. She smiled seductively, her ruby red lips teasing as she beaconed him to come forward.
"What is this?" she asked when he reached inside his pocket and gave her a black cotton sack. She untied it and pulled out a string of black pearls. "How beautiful. Where'd you get this?"
"From a jeweler on the other side of town," he told her as she stood up. She hugged him, her body pressed intimately to his before slowly licking the side of his neck.
"You're so good to me Marcus. How'd you pay for it?"
"Let's just say that Kagome's a generous spender," he laughed, his merriment increasing when she laughed with him. She shrugged when they calmed and moved his hands toward her waist. "You know, I never liked that goody goody tramp," she purred as he untied her sash. "She stole my gig."
"And you're stealing her man," Marcus quipped as his hands caressed the lace-veiled flesh underneath. "So we're all thieves, in a sense. Now lets forget her and have a little fun, shall we?"
(End Chapter)
Well, that's it for this chapter. I think the song fits the chapter, don't you guys? Do you guys realize just who he's talking to? No? Well, hopefully we'll get to that before the month's over with. Here's the breakdown for the next chapter:
The Classics come...
An accident leaves Kagome feeling like a lame duck...
Sango and Miroku get closer...
And Sesshoumaru's schedule changes...
Next Chapter-Chapter Ten: In the Arms of An Angel
Chapter Nine: Nobody's Supposed to Be Here.
"I've spent all my live on a search to find a love who'll stay for eternity. Who heaven sent to fulfil my need. But when I turned around again love has knocked me down. My heart got broken and it hurts so bad. I'm sad to say love wins again..." Deborah Cox 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here'
Miroku sat on the other side of the diner booth, his companion unusually quiet as he glanced over the sheet music in front of him. "Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru sat drink in his hand, gazing down at the music Miroku passed him earlier.
"Sesshoumaru? Man, what's wrong with you this week?"
For all intents and purposes, it looked as if he were studying, but Miroku knew better. The stillness of his friend's hand gave him away, with Miroku full aware that if he really were paying attention, he'd have gone insane with Sesshoumaru's insistent tapping on the glass in his hand.
"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku shook his head, placed his hand in front of Sesshoumaru's face and snapped his fingers.
Golden eyes blinked, and Sesshoumaru looked up with an inquisitive stare.
"Was that necessary?" he mumbled as he turned over the sheets on his side of the table. Miroku huffed and crossed his arms.
"I think it was. Man Sess, where did you go? La La Land?"
"What are you talking about?" Sesshoumaru yawned as he erased something on the page.
"What did I say?" Miroku quizzed. "Just twelve seconds ago. What did I ask you?"
"You didn't ask me anything," Sesshoumaru replied. "You said that this is what you came up with for your part of the Classics. Mind telling me about it?"
"Oh yeah, sure," Miroku nodded, finally satisfied now that Sesshoumaru's attention was directly on him. "See, for the first verse it's all piano but the beginning of the chorus brings trumpets and guitars and stuff."
"Who plays a trumpet?" Sesshoumaru glanced up with a cocked brow. "I don't think Inuyasha does, nor do I."
"Kouga plays trumpet, and there's bound to be an orchestra we can borrow. There was one last year."
"We cannot always count on that," Sesshoumaru rebuked as he rubbed the end of a fry in a small salt mountain on his plate. "We must be prepared for anything."
"But it hasn't changed for what, three years now?" Miroku replied with a shrug. "So what's the difference?" He raised his hands in defeat at Sesshoumaru's stare. "Fine, I'll be sure to ask Myouga first, then I'll change it if I need to. Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Sesshoumaru quipped drily. Miroku frowned at his less than eager reply and snatched the folder from Sesshoumaru's hand. "Yeah, I'm sure. Let me see this."
"Go ahead."
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Miroku asked after opening the folder. "You've been acting weird lately."
Sesshoumaru quipped a brow at this but continued to read as he flipped a fry in his mouth.
"I'm serious. You're quiet lately."
"And when am I not quiet?" Sesshoumaru replied. "I'm surprised you noticed, with Inuyasha and Kouga arguing every few minutes."
"That's what I'm talking about!" Miroku snapped. "When was the last time you choked Inuyasha? Or punched Kouga in the mouth? Or argued with Kagome for that matter? It's like you're zoned."
"You forget that what you would call `zoning out', I would call preparing for a case. I work for a living, remember?"
"Yeah, but it's not the same. I'm telling you man, if you were a girl..." His eyes lit up suddenly, and a slow smile began to spread across his face. Sesshoumaru watched him warily, a sense of foreboding settling in the pit of his stomach.
"If I were a girl what?"
"If you were a girl..." Miroku's smile evolved into a grin, his elbow propped on the table with a single finger pointed in Sesshoumaru's direction. "If you were a girl, I'd swear you'd be glowing."
"Hmnh," Sesshoumaru mumbled as Miroku began to snicker. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Two things. One: You're in love-"
A soft snort from Sesshoumaru rebuked that idea.
"Or two: You've been laid. Which one is it?"
"Even if it were your business-And it's not- what makes you think it's any of those asinine ideas?" Sesshoumaru asked as he grabbed the folder on Miroku's side and pulled out a single sheet of music. "As if I have the time for either," he mumbled under his breath.
"Come on man," Miroku pressured. "Tell me! Which one is it? You know I'd tell you."
"Yes I do, unfortunately," Sesshoumaru joked. "No matter how much I protest."
"Whatever," Miroku waved aside. "You know you like hearing about my nightly journeys. You'd better remember them, because I think I'm going to go straight for a while."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think I've found the girl of my dreams."
Sesshoumaru shook his head, pencil in one hand and sheet music in the other. "You're such a romantic Miroku. I don't think my teeth can stand it."
"With the way you eat, I'm sure they can't. Seriously though-"
"I don't want to hear it. What else is there to your Classics writ?"
"Oh. Yeah ummmm..." Miroku flipped through his folder and shook his head. "I don't have anything else. What about you?"
"Here. This is what I have so far." Sesshoumaru pulled his briefcase onto the table, opened it and handed Miroku a black folder. Miroku flipped through it once, then twice before scratching behind his left ear.
"I don't understand," he said as he held up two pieces of music. "A few of these has `optional' on the top. Why?"
"I considered only having two parts; you're part and the lyrics. The other instruments are optional because they come near the end, and I'd have to hear how it sounds in the song before actually deciding to play it in the Classics."
"Oh. OK then." Miroku flipped through it a couple of times, then nodded and returned the folder to him. "It's good," he said as Sesshoumaru returned the folder to his briefcase. "So, when do you want to start practicing them?"
"This week if-"
"No can do boss," Miroku said with a quick shake of his head. "I forgot that this week is sign-up week at the college. I'm supposed to be going with Inuyasha and Kouga tomorrow."
"That promises to be eventful," Sesshoumaru quirked. "So good luck."
"Thanks man. I'll need it. School starts next week, so how about we reschedule practices until next Monday."
"That works for me," Sesshoumaru nodded after the waitress set their bill on the table. He plunked down enough money for his half and the tip, then waited for Miroku to do the same before standing up. "I have to work late all this week anyway. I'll make some last minute touches to the song, then we'll try it next Monday."
"Fine."
"Miroku?"
Miroku stopped by his car, leaning against the door facing Sesshoumaru's car. "What?"
"...You and Kagome discussed something on our way to Philadelphia. What was it?"
Miroku looked confused for a moment, them nodded with a smile. "Yeah. I know what you're talking about. I'd love to tell you...but I can't. I promised her I wouldn't."
"I could always hit it out of you," Sesshoumaru commented after tossing his briefcase into the passenger side of his car. "It would be a lot faster than trying to trick it out of you anyway."
"Yeah sure, but imagine how mad Kagome would be if she found out. Well, I've gotta run." To Miroku's surprise, Sesshoumaru didn't say anything. Miroku watched as he sped away, his finger tapping his bottom lip as he
considered something.
`You know, he's been acting funny for a while now...ever since Philadelphia. Hmmm...I wonder...'
II
Sango blew the horn once, ignoring Rin as she winced in the backseat. "What's taking her so long?" she said aloud as she leaned on the horn. "That girl would be late for her own fu-oh! Here she comes!" They watched as Kagome ran out the door, dressed in only a pair of shorts and a green tanktop with a yellow one underneath. Sango snickered when she squeaked, the surprisingly cold September wind causing her to disappear back into the upstairs apartment.
She reappeared wearing a gray pullover, her ponytail bouncing against her back as she ran down the stairs. "Oh my God," she gasped as she dove into the front passenger's seat. "Why didn't you guys tell me it was going to be so cold out today?"
"We thought you knew." Rin giggled as Sango pulled out of the driveway. "So," she said once they were in traffic. "Where's Prince Charming?"
"At work," Kagome replied as she turned on the radio. "At least, that's where I think he is."
"Hey, what's that supposed to me-"
"Have you guys heard this song yet?" Kagome asked as she turned the volume up. "I heard it for the first time the other day and can't get it off my mind!"
"Yeah, it's...um...Yellowcard, right?"
"Um hm. Sure is. What classes do you guys need?"
"We don't know yet. Didn't you get the letter the school sent you?"
"No," Kagome shook her head. "What letter?"
"Hey, they sent an email too," Rin chirped as she leaned between the seats. "Does the school have your address?"
"So they can send me crap I don't want?" Kagome grinned. "No way. What'd the letter say?"
"You remember how last year they sent us our recommended courses in the mail and we went to our guidance councilors to sign up for courses right?"
"Uh huh."
Sango rolled her eyes, obviously disagreeing with the new system she was describing. "Well this year they sent a letter saying that we'll have to get our recommended courses from a folder in front of the guidance councilors' offices. They set up the courses in the cafeteria and pavilion so that it looks like a fair. You have to go from booth to booth and sign up."
"It's supposed to keep the confusion that happened last year from repeating itself," Rin said as they made a left turn into the school's parking lot. "But I think it's going to cause more trouble than prevent any."
"Yeah, I don't doubt it," Kagome groaned as they made their way toward the administration building. Students walked past them, some already holding large manilla folders while others looked to be lost. "Do you remember your first day Rin?" Kagome asked as they walked down the hallway toward their guidance councilor.
"Yeah! I was so lost! Oh man, I thought I'd never find my classes!" Rin laughed, then whopped Sango in the arm. "And this tramp here wasn't any help! She told me this place had an indoor hot tub in the girls' locker room!"
"You were dumb enough to believe it!" Sango laughed as she flipped through a box of envelopes with the first letter of her last name on the front. "I mean, look at this place! There's no way there'd ever be a hot tub here!"
"You guys are so mean to each other. Here you go Rin." Kagome passed Rin her envelope and opened her own as they made their way to the cafeteria. She looked over her recommended schedule, nodding to herself as Rin gave a loud moan.
"Oh man! Why me?! I don't want to take that!"
"Take what?" Sango asked as she and Kagome looked over Rin's shoulder. "So what?" Kagome shrugged as she continued down the sidewalk. "Its just a computer class."
"But I hate computers!" Rin bemoaned. "You know that!"
"Well, what can I say? You have to take it. I have to take Personal Relations, and you don't hear me complaining."
"Yeah, well...that's better than Quicken. I hate that program."
"You hate everything," Sango teased. "Ok ladies, I say we split up. We'll get finished much faster if we do then we
can go to Sonic's for some milkshakes."
"That sounds great," Rin grinned happily. "So...where and when do we meet up?"
Sango glanced down at her watch, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth as she studied the dial. "It's 11:00 now. Everyone got a watch or a cell or something?"
"Kagome doesn't."
"No, I've got one," she said as she held up another phone, this one the same pink model as the one she had
previously. "I bought a new one this weekend."
"Alright then. Let's meet back at my car at...2:30. That should give us enough time to get everything together."
"And if there's a problem, we'll just call each other," Rin added as she held up her phone, a blue Ericson with the Bat Signal on the back.
"Yup. Oh, and see if you can get a few afternoon classes for Thursday, that way we can sleep in and go for lunch before class."
"OK then," Kagome said as they walked away from each other. "See you guys later." Kagome took a deep breath and steadied herself before advancing into the crowd. `This should do me some good,' Kagome thought as she signed up for her first class. `I can get myself ready for next week, get the study materials list for all my classes and keep myself from thinking about Marcus for the rest of the day.'
She continued on for the rest of the afternoon, taking the time to sign up for a 2:00 Thursday afternoon dance class. `That should be interesting,' she smiled as she signed her name to the sign-up sheet. `Oh! I've got to remember to email Dad this year's tuition bills.' Kagome frowned at the thought as she made her way to the Personal Relations booth, then completely forgot about it when a familiar hand brushed against her backside.
"Pervert!"
Smack!
"Heh," Miroku grinned as she glowered at him. "Hi Kagome."
"Hi nothing. How many times do I have to tell you not to do that?"
"I can't help it," he replied, his head tilted to the side with a perverted grin on his face as she bent over to sign the class sheet. Kagome stiffened suddenly, as if feeling the eyes on her backside, then straightened up, picked up the clipboard and leaned against the table.
"No free looks Miroku," she said as she shook her pen at him. "Shame on you anyway. What are you doing over here?"
"Oh, I need this class too. I'm taking the Monday morning from 10:30 to 12 and the Friday afternoon from 2:30 to 4. What about you?"
"I guess that's what I'm taking too," Kagome sighed. "That's all that's left. Aww..."
"What's wrong?" he asked as she glanced over her schedule.
"This means I can't have lunch Monday at 11 like Sango, Rin and I planned."
"Then eat lunch with me," Miroku offered. "Inuyasha, Kouga and I all have different schedules for that day too. We can do whatever yo want to do and I swear I won't touch you."
"OK then," Kagome laughed as she shook his hand. "You've got a deal."
"So what now?" he asked as he and Kagome left the booth.
"Now..." She opened her cell and glanced at the time. "Now I've got to head back to Sango's car. I'm sure they're waiting on me-"
"Hey, can I go with you?" Miroku pleaded suddenly. "Please?"
"Huh? Why?" Kagome asked. "What for?"
"Well, it's just that-"
"When I said `Sango' you automatically had to be there, huh?" Kagome smiled knowingly. "It's alright Miroku. I could tell."
"You could?" Miroku repeated as he trailed along behind her. "How?"
"Simple. You've been giving her that googly-eyed stare since that day at the ice cream shop."
"And you don't mind?"
"Mind?" Kagome laughed and shook her head. "Of course not. I think you guys would be cute together...so long as
you don't break her heart. Then I'll have to hurt you."
"Of course not," Miroku said as they walked down the hall of the administration building. "I wouldn't hurt Sango. Say...when's her birthday?"
"Um...next Tuesday."
"Seriously? Oh man." Kagome giggled when Miroku smacked his forehead. "That's not enough time to get her
anything!"
"You know what?"
Miroku ceased complaining immediately, his attention fully tuned on the smaller girl as she gave him a helpful smile.
"Sango loves gardenias."
"Gar-what?"
"Gardenias. They're little white flowers that smell really good. She'd love those."
Miroku stopped to think, with Kagome standing in front of him as he glanced from side to side, his arms crossed and his right index finger madly tapping his left elbow. "That's not a bad idea! Thanks Kagome!"
"No problem," Kagome said as he trapped her in a friendly hug. "I'm glad to help." She took a deep breath when he finally let go and stood back as he walked ahead of her to the outside doors. `I think I should help those two get together,' she decided as she led him to Sango's car. `Besides, just because I'm not happy-`
She smiled at the boyish grin that appeared on his face when Sango waved to them, Inuyasha and Kouga talking to Rin as they approached.
`Doesn't mean I can't help someone else to be.'
III
Miroku stole a glance at Sango, watching her from the corner of his eye for the fourth time since practice began. His foot tapped his stool nervously, the solid wooden sound slightly calming his nerves. He waited patiently for Sesshoumaru to end for a break, then tapped Sango's arm.
"Yeah?"
"Hey, I-"
"Come on Rin," Kagome interrupted suddenly. "I want to ask Inuyasha something."
"But," Rin stuttered as Kagome dragged her away. "Why do I have to go too?" Sango and Miroku watched them go with confused expressions, then shrugged as Sango turned back to him.
"Did you want something Miroku?"
"Yeah...I want to show you something."
"Show me what?" Sango asked suspiciously as Miroku grasped the back of her shoulders and gently pushed her out the door. "Hey, you're not going to try anything are you?"
"Now that hurts Sango," Miroku replied with a coltish smile. "Surely you don't think that way about me."
"I don't know," Sango quipped before they stopped in front of his car. "You're always up to something." She stepped back when he leaned inside his driver's side window and began to dig, his feet rising off the pavement as he reached further into the car. "Let me help Mi-"
"No, that's alright," he said from inside the car. "I think I've almost-Got it!" Miroku slowly dragged himself out, being extra careful with his right arm as he pulled free a small green box. "Here," he said as he handed it to her.
"I...got this for you. Happy birthday."
"Oh wow," Sango breathed while she opened it. "Thanks Miroku. How'd you know?"
"A little birdie told me. Do you like them?" he asked as Sango pulled free a wrist corsage made of gardenias, baby's breath and soft blue ribbon. The smile she turned on him was beautiful, one of the best he'd ever seen as she gave him a hug.
"Oh wow Miroku," she whispered as he hugged her back. "I'm floored. I-it's beautiful. Thank you so much."
"I'm glad you like it. Um...I was wondering..."
Sango leaned back to look up at him, then let go of him completely so she could tie the corsage to her wrist. "What is it?"
"Would you catch a bite to eat with me after practice?" He began stuttering when she looked up, his nervousness growing by leaps and bounds as she waited for him to finish. "That is-you know-if you think you can. I'll understand if you-"
"No."
Miroku frowned, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Oh. Well um-"
"If you can make it Saturday, after our gig, that would be better."
"Really?" His spirits lifted at her nod, and he gave her a grateful nod in answer. "Sure, that'll work! Oh, oh yeah. I have to take Kagome ho...m...e...wait a minute."
"What?" Sango asked as Miroku grasped her hand and walked back to the practice room. "Where are we going?"
"I need to ask Sesshoumaru for a favor," he told her as she walked along beside him. "I'm sure he'll be more than happy to do it."
VI
Sesshoumaru watched as everyone left the practice room, his attention more on the papers on the table in front of him than going on break. He studied the paper intently, occasionally erasing a note and brushing away the dust that remained. `No...' he growled to himself as he glowered at the paper. `It's not right. Something's missin-` His head was jerked up suddenly, warm hands grasping the side of his head as he growled at the offender.
"I'm not scared of you puppy," Kagome smirked as she pushed back his bangs. "You know the drill by now, so I don't know why you're so mad."
"Maybe it's because you insist on manhandling me," Sesshoumaru frowned as she turned his left eye toward the light. She rolled her eyes in annoyance and ignored him to study his face.
"I think this is healing rather well, don't you?" she asked, unaware of the sudden shiver that crept down his spine when her breath danced across his cheek. "I bet you're tired of smelling like lavender though."
"I tolerate it," he replied numbly as she let go of him and dug around her purse. "What are you doing?"
"I think it's healed enough. It's perfectly scabbed over, so now you can stop using that stuff and start using this." Kagome motioned for Sesshoumaru to open his hand, then placed a tube of what looked like stick glue in his hand.
"What's this?" he asked as he turned it over in his hand.
"It's straight cocoa butter, not the watered down stuff you get from the store. Put that on even after it heals and it defiantly won't scar. I should know. I used that stuff on a road rash I got skateboarding a few years ago."
"You skateboard?" Sesshoumaru huffed in disbelief. Kagome plunked her fists on her hips and glared at him. "What? Don't think a girl can do it?"
"I don't care if a girl can do it," he replied as he returned to his work. "I think it's insane to ride those death machines."
"Yes Grandpa. I'm sure you do. What `cha doin'?" she asked as she leaned over the paper. He reached to yank it away from her but found it in her hands before he could say anything. Sesshoumaru sat back and waited as she hummed the melody.
"This is good. Where's the lyrics?"
"They're not for you to-"
"Oh here they are!" Kagome chirped as she tugged the appropriate piece of paper from the black folder on the table. She backed away from him when he tried to snatch it away from her, then turned her back on him as she hummed the words.
He had to admit, it did sound alright now that he could actually hear the notes on the paper. Sesshoumaru decided to allow her to read it, then finish what he was doing when she returned it to him.
"You know, this is great but..."
"But?" Sesshoumaru asked as she handed the lyrics to him and pointed to the prelude to the first verse. "See this part here?" Kagome tapped insistently. "You're missing something."
"I know," he muttered as she sat down beside him. "I can't figure out what though."
"Why not try a few violins?" Kagome offered, then scowled when he snickered and shook his head. "What's so funny?"
"Violins don't make sense," he rebuked. "The entire song is fast, with heavy guitar and drums. You wouldn't hear the violins among all that."
"Well no, not once they get started, but if we do them at the introduction, then again when it repeats itself after the chorus near the end, then you'd hear it."
"I don't see why we should..."
"Because it'll be a shock," Kagome insisted. "It'll be nice and slow in the beginning, then all of a sudden BOOM , you guys come in, the violins move to the back and it's completely rocked out! It'll work."
"Yes, it might work but who will play the violins?" he asked the overnight genius beside him. "It's not as if Kouga and I are capable of playing both guitar and violin. I'm talented, but I don't believe it's possible."
"Then we can tape it, or get Miroku to play it! Come on Sesshoumaru! At least try it!"
"I don't know..."
"It has to be something classical though, like Mozart would have written it you know! It'd be such a cool contrast! We can all wear leather and-"
"Is it supposed to be fast or slow?"
"Slow remember? Why? Are you going to do it Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru thought about it a few seconds more, then sighed and shook his head. "Give me until Wednesday to figure it out. We'll try it then but if it doesn't work-"
"Oh wow! Thanks Sesshoumaru!!" She threw her arms around his shoulders, her laughter against his neck and the
pencil he was holding clattered to the tabletop below. They sprang apart when the door opened, Kagome with a sheepish blush on her face and Sesshoumaru back to his sheet music as Miroku and Sango came in the room.
"Sesshoumaru! I need a favor!"
"What is it now Miroku?" Sesshoumaru snapped irritably, his mood soured for a reason unknown to him. "I'm busy."
"Yeah, I know but I need a favor!"
"You said that already. Now what is i-ow!" he hissed when Kagome smacked his right bicep. "What was that for?"
"You're so mean. Can't you see he wants something? What is it Miroku?"
"Um..." Miroku's mind stalled for a moment, his suddenly submissive friend leaving him speechless and his mind spinning. "Er...oh yeah. Will you take Kagome home Saturday night? I can't."
It was Sesshoumaru's mind's turn to stall now, with him staring at Miroku for a full twenty seconds before, "What?"
"It's just for the night and I'll make it up to you I swear. Please?" Kagome and Sango snickered when he gave Sesshoumaru a pitiful, puppy-dog eyed look, both girls stopping abruptly when he glared at them before he sighed and waved his hand.
"Please, for my stomach Miroku, don't do that," Sesshoumaru complained, then sighed and relented. "I'll take her home."
"Great! Thanks man! I owe you big time!"
"Owe who big time?" Inuyasha asked as he, Rin and Kouga walked into the room.
"Yeah, what's going on?" Kouga asked. Sesshoumaru shook his head before Kagome could answer, stood and lifted his guitar from the floor beside him.
"Nothing that would interest you," he mumbled as he walked past him. "We can begin now that you two are here."
V
`Thursday,' Kagome sighed to herself as class ended. `I'm so glad. One more day until the weekend.' She packed up her books and walked out of class, mentally going over the day's lesson when someone called her name. She looked up and smiled in surprise.
"Miroku, what's up?" she greeted while he leaned against the wall beside her classroom door.
"Not a lot. I thought I'd meet you at your last class instead of you trying to find my car."
"You're dad sold another car out from under you didn't he?" Kagome guessed. He nodded in affirmation as he led her to the parking lot, where a white Malibu sat waiting. "It's not a bad car."
"Nope, it's not. That's why I'm going to buy this one from him," Miroku replied while opening the passenger door. He waited for her to sit inside before closing the door and entering the driver's side. "Um, do you want to grab a bite to eat? If you want to go home that's fine too."
"No, let's go get something," Kagome agreed. "I'm kinda hungry, plus I want to give you some tips with Sango."
"That's what I wanted to ask you about. Man, I'm glad you're ahead of me," Miroku sighed in relief. "Do you have any place you want to go."
"No," Kagome shook her head. "Anyplace you want to go to is fine with me."
"Great. There's this diner I like going to that I think you'll like too." They rode in silence until they reached the diner, a small mom and pop place with a `60's theme. The seats, those in the booths and those that were around the freestanding tables, were red with black legs and trim, and the tabletops where white. Red and white checkerboard tile ran up the main aisle, with red carpet underneath the tables on either side.
"This place is nice," Kagome marveled as she and Miroku took a seat at one of the booths. "I've never seen this place before."
"Yeah, it's not exactly well known, but the food is great, the service is nice and-"
"Hey," the waitress interrupted when she arrived at their table. "Where's that blonde chick today? You guys break up or something?"
"Blonde chick?" both Kagome and Miroku repeated before Miroku burst out laughing. "What?" Kagome asked as the waitress shook her head.
"Nothing. I'll explain later. Hey, um, let me get a root beer float. What about you Kagome?"
"Um...a brownie sundae is fine."
"With nuts and whipped cream?"
"Yes, please."
"Alright then." The waitress jotted their orders down and walked away, leaving Kagome to stare at Miroku as he started laughing again.
"What's so funny?" Kagome asked again. "And what blonde chick?"
"I'm sorry," Miroku wheezed as he calmed down. "This is where Sesshoumaru and I hang out at. She must think that Sessh...haha...Sesshou...haha (snort)...I'm so sorry. It's just that-"And with that he collapsed on the table, his head in his arms and his shoulders shaking as he guffawed into the tabletop. Kagome shook her head at him, even though she to felt a giggle coming.
"Miroku, you know he'd be mad to hear that," she scolded with her finger wagging in his direction. He sat up and
wiped his eyes, his chest still heaving as he nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, I know but you gotta admit, it is funny."
"So where are you taking Sango Saturday night?"
The smile on his face disappeared instantly, a look of worry replacing it as he began to wring his hands. "I haven't thought about it. That's what I wanted to ask you."
"Well..." Kagome leaned forward, propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hands as she began to think. "By the time the gig is over, it'll be 1 `o clock in the morning."
"Yeah, everything's closed by then," Miroku mourned pitifully. "Where do I take her, Waffle House?"
"Um, no," Kagome giggled with a wave and a shake of her head. "Why not here? Is this place opened twenty-four hours?"
"Yeah it is. That's not a bad idea."
"You can tell her it's a pre-date," Kagome offered as he brightened. "That way you guys can get to know each other better, and decide if you want to go on an actual date or not."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you!" Miroku grinned. "Thanks Kagome. Got anything else?"
"Um...she loves caramel."
"Yeah, I kinda figured th-caramel? I thought all girls love chocolate."
"Well yeah we do, but Sango loves caramel too. Trust me,' she gave him the thumbs up sign. "If this place has a great caramel dessert, she'll love it."
"Here you go you guys," the waitress said as she sat down their orders. She passed Miroku a spoon and a straw, gave Kagome a spoon and left the table without another word.
"You know Kagome, I feel kinda bad about asking you for help," Miroku admitted around a mouth full of vanilla ice cream.
"Why?"
"With what's goin' on with you and stuff, it just doesn't feel right to have you help me."
"But I want to help," Kagome told him. "Like I said the other day, I think you guys would be good together. So lets drop it and talk about something else."
"OK then. What did you think of the new song Sesshoumaru brought in yesterday?"
"I thought it was great," Kagome smiled knowingly. "I told him the violin part at the beginning would sound good."
"Wait a second," Miroku began while he put down his spoon. "You knew about the song before he gave it to us?"
"Yeah," Kagome muttered as she took a bite of her brownie. "I've known about it since Monday. It's a cool song."
"I bet," Miroku mumbled absently, then decided to change the subject. "How's your home life Kagome? Is it any better?"
Kagome sighed and shook her head, her bright and happy mood diminishing as her shoulders slumped. "Nope. It's actually worse."
"What's goin' on?"
"OK, you remember when my grandpa went to the hospital right?"
"Yeah I remember," Miroku nodded. "How's he doin'?"
"Grandpa's fine. He moved into my mom's Tuesday. But I tried to call Marcus while we were at the hospital. He never answered his cell or the house phone, and when I called his job they said he wasn't there."
"So you never got in touch with him that day?"
"I didn't see or hear from him until Friday when I came back from practice. He was at home, acting like nothing
happened." Kagome sighed again and ate a little more of the Sunday. "We got into it and he left in a huff. Since then, he barely talks to me, he's never home and when he is at home he ignores me."
"That's not good," Miroku shook his head. "It dangerous for you to be home by yourself all the time."
"I'm not a child Miroku," Kagome countered with a frown.
"I know that, but I still don't like it. Somebody could break in and hurt you if you're by yourself."
"Yeah well," Kagome sighed. "I'd rather be home alone than with him. I planned on moving back to my mom's, but I can't now that grandpa's there. I guess I'll have to read the newspaper and find myself an apartment."
"If you need any help let me know," Miroku told her. "I don't like the idea of you living with that guy anyway. He just doesn't seem...right."
"He's all I got for now," Kagome replied dismally. "But it is hard to stay a virgin in that house." She jumped back when Miroku sputtered, root beer float spraying across the table in a fizzy squirt.
"Holy crap!"
"What is wrong with you?" Kagome demanded as he dried off the table.
"I didn't know they still made girls like you," he joked, then quieted when Kagome frowned and folded her arms over her chest. "Not funny huh?"
"Not in the least."
"Well, you can't say that I didn't try. But is he trying to force you into it?" he asked before tossing the napkins in the nearest trash can. Kagome shook her head.
"No, but he does make me feel guilty about...it."
"You shouldn't," Miroku told her before motioning for the waitress. "It's your body, and you're the one that has to deal with the consequences. God, I can't believe I said that.
"Seriously though, if you have any problems at all, call me. I'll be more than happy to help out in any way I can."
"Thanks Miroku," Kagome said as the waitress brought them the bill. "I appreciate it."
"You're helping me, so why not help you?" he quipped as they paid the bill. He nodded and sat back down when she excused herself, his thoughts wandering as he waited for her.
`I think I will help you,' Miroku finally concluded when she came back. `I may not be able to help you get rid of your current boyfriend, but I can show you that there's more than one guy out there...and I know which one to show you...'
VI
Miroku studied them throughout their performance from the left side of the stage, noticing the stray glances Kagome would flicker back, and the intense, but brief looks Sesshoumaru would give her when either of them where sure the other wasn't looking.
`Personally, I'm surprised they can still perform,' Miroku smirked as `Like a Pill' ended. He prepared for the next song quickly, changing the mode on the second keyboard to violin before giving Kagome the thumbs up. She nodded and turned away from him, giving him a great view of her backside and the skin exposed through the lace ups of her leather pants. He could have literally kissed Ayame for this wardrobe call. Kagome was dressed in a pair of leather pants that laced up the side to her hip, her leg otherwise exposed with a pair of silver heeled sandals and a lace shirt. Sango and Rin were dressed in miniskirts much like Kagome's pants, with Sango wearing a solid turquoise peasant top and Rin in a hot pink one-sleeved shirt.
"Ready?" Kagome mouthed to him, bringing him back to the present. He nodded and raised his hand to the second keyboard.
"Trust... "
Miroku began to play, the synchronized violin right on cue as she continued.
"...not an east thing you say. Never thought the game of love this way you'd play by the things you do. Never thought these things I would go through with you. Pain, trickery, and deceit. A ll the wrongs that you put me through. If you don't wanna say still love you anyway." She took a deep breath and smiled, the waves in her hair bouncing against her back as she moved to the music.
"Never do believe my words when I try telling you my story. Have no reason, still don't trust me. No I'm not a cheat or a liar."
Kouga and Sesshoumaru were next, with a loud cymbal crash from Inuyasha as the crowd cheered below. Kagome clapped her hands, bringing them over her head as she called for the audience to do the same.
"She brought love. She brought joy. She brought what she brought. You thought you'd never see again.
She cheats and lied, made you cry, said goodbye. Body's numb think you're never gonna feel again.
Then what do you know. You take it slow. Here comes trouble. Things go smooth but drama just around bend. Don't blame me for jealousies or insecurities. Please see cause I wouldn't do that to you."
"Don't smother me (with misery). Accusing me (of polygamy). If not the trust (then we have what)
Gotta be strong (oh keep holding on)" Miroku flipped the switch on the keyboard quickly, changing the instrument back to the default rock setting.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but- you- must- give- trust- a- try.
"Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me. It'll be heavenly. But- you- must- give- trust- a- try."
Kagome grasped the mic in both hands, taking a moment to shake her hair out behind her. "You got burned. You got bruised. You got... so you got a kick outta that unhealthy shit. You said to she you'd please her needs whatever it'd be. Still she'd cheat on her back again for the money.
"Now leave from it. You grow from it. Get over it. I won't take the blame so don't cause I ain't having it. Steady given me the third degree. That's so mean. Don't push me out the door. I wouldn't do that to you."
Miroku smirked and shook his head, watching the look on his friend's face when she began to rock from side to side, her hips moving in sync before throwing her head back. `I'm going to have to bring this to Sesshoumaru's attention later,' he plotted with an evil grin.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but- you- must- give- trust- a- try. Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me. It'll be heavenly but- you- must- give- trust- a-
"Trust..." Kagome sang out as Miroku flipped back to the violins. "... not an east thing you say. Never thought the game of love this way you'd play by the things you do. Never thought these things I would go through with you. Pain, trickery and deceit. All the wrongs that you put me through. If you don't wanna say still love you anyway. Never do believe my words when I try telling you my story. Have no reason, still don't trust me. No I'm not a cheat or a liar."
The guitar rifts were next, with Sesshoumaru and Kouga at war with each other once again as Kouga tried to take over the first guitar part. Kagome glanced back at them, expecting the situation to disintegrate into chaos. To her surprise nothing happened, with Sesshoumaru giving Kouga a speaking glare. Kouga backed away almost immediately, a scowl on his face as Sesshoumaru finished the rift.
"Wanna second chance with this love this romance. Wanna make it last? Forget your past. She hurt you bad. Let's start anew. Yes that means me and you. Gonna make it through but you must give trust a try. Gotta be strong with this love. Hold on. Gotta trust in me and we will see true victory. We'll love with ease. Baby please trust in me.
It'll be heavenly but you must give trust a try.
"It'll be heavenly but you must give trust a try." She bowed as the crowd cheered uproariously, her face red from exertion as the others packed up behind her. Kagome thanked the audience as they walked offstage, her adrenalin still pumping as she followed Sango and Rin to the dressing room.
"I can't believe how well that went," Rin laughed as she shut the door and yanked her shirt over her head. "I mean, could the crowd have been wilder or what?"
"I don't know," Sango said, then laughed when Kagome tripped over her own pants. "I think they like Kagome more than anything else."
"No way," Kagome blushed. "It's the music. Besides," her voice muffled as she pulled a blue hoodie over her head.
"It's Sesshoumaru's songs. They're great."
"Yeah, I know something else about him that's great," Rin winked at Sango as Kagome's head popped out the shirt.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," Rin and Sango both said aloud before Sango jumped into her jeans. "I've got to hurry and get you home Rin. You don't mind do you?"
"Actually, Inuyasha offered to take me home tonight."
"Oooooo," Kagome and Sango sang as they surrounded the younger girl. "Why didn't you tell us?" Sango asked.
"Maybe it's because she and Inuyasha have something planned," Kagome teased. Rin blushed, then huffed. "No way! Inuyasha's a friend! Besides...isn't Sesshoumaru taking you home tonight?"
It was Kagome's turn to blush now. "Yeah well uh....Sesshoumaru hates me, remember?" she said with a laugh. "And anyway, I have a boyfriend!"
"That's your excuse for everything," Sango said as she tied her shoes. "I think that, if the right guy comes along, Marcus is stuck like Chuck."
"We'll never know will we?" Kagome countered with a flip of her hair. "Anyway, I'm tired. Have fun tonight Sango."
"Yeah, you two Kagome." Rin and Sango watched Kagome walked out the door, catching a glimpse of Sesshoumaru waiting outside it before the door shut behind her.
"You know what?"
"What Rin?" Sango asked as they made their way out the door.
"Kagome and Sesshoumaru would be cute together. Don't you agree?"
"Yeah I do but like she said, he hates her." Rin stopped a little behind her, a thoughtful expression on her face as Sango opened the door.
"I don't know about that," Rin muttered to herself. "I mean, things change, right?"
VII
Marcus parked his car in the driveway in front of the townhouse, taking a moment to check his hair before turning off the engine and stepping outside. He glanced up and down the empty street, his hand in his pocket and a grin on his face as he swept his hair back. He climbed the stairs and rang the doorbell, then leaned against the railing and waited.
The door opened a crack, enough for him to see the darkness inside. He pushed the door open further, stepped inside and closed the door.
"Hello?" he called as he waled further into the house. "Are you home?" He turned as a light switch flicked on, his fist balled and ready before relaxing. A woman sat in a recliner, a blue satin robe tied firmly at her waist. She smiled seductively, her ruby red lips teasing as she beaconed him to come forward.
"What is this?" she asked when he reached inside his pocket and gave her a black cotton sack. She untied it and pulled out a string of black pearls. "How beautiful. Where'd you get this?"
"From a jeweler on the other side of town," he told her as she stood up. She hugged him, her body pressed intimately to his before slowly licking the side of his neck.
"You're so good to me Marcus. How'd you pay for it?"
"Let's just say that Kagome's a generous spender," he laughed, his merriment increasing when she laughed with him. She shrugged when they calmed and moved his hands toward her waist. "You know, I never liked that goody goody tramp," she purred as he untied her sash. "She stole my gig."
"And you're stealing her man," Marcus quipped as his hands caressed the lace-veiled flesh underneath. "So we're all thieves, in a sense. Now lets forget her and have a little fun, shall we?"
(End Chapter)
Well, that's it for this chapter. I think the song fits the chapter, don't you guys? Do you guys realize just who he's talking to? No? Well, hopefully we'll get to that before the month's over with. Here's the breakdown for the next chapter:
The Classics come...
An accident leaves Kagome feeling like a lame duck...
Sango and Miroku get closer...
And Sesshoumaru's schedule changes...
Next Chapter-Chapter Ten: In the Arms of An Angel