InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Syndrome ❯ Throwing Punches ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14 - Throwing Punches

 

 

 

@@ 8 Years Ago @@

 

 

 

Bankotsu was keeping his promise to her. He was trying, really he was, but he just couldn't stand Miroku. He'd been less than pleased when he found out that they all shared the final class of the day. Kagome sat happily between them, doing her best to ignore the tension, but he just couldn't keep from hating the intruder. He'd never imagined he could be so jealous, but then he'd also never imagined having to share her attention. It was awful.

 

The morning of the second day of school Bankotsu was waiting where he had the day before, but this time when Kagome approached she was walking alongside Miroku, laughing and looking altogether too happy in his presence. When he noticed the monk carrying her bag he almost exploded. That was his job! He carried her bag! He took care of her! He made her laugh! He made her happy! He fought to hide his overwhelming rage, not wanting her to be angry again. He said he would try and he would. It was just a lot harder than he'd imagined.

 

It didn't help matters when Miroku smirked at him. The bastard knew it was bugging him and he was rubbing it in! Kagome claimed her spot on the wall beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. The gentle contact and the scent of her hair calmed him but nothing could take it all away. It was just more than he could handle. He slipped his fingers through hers and tried to relax, but just knowing that the intruding male was on the other side of her ruined it.

 

Kagome glanced at her watch before lifting herself off the wall. “We should get going to class. Don't wanna be late!” Both males followed her lead and they walked three wide down the hall. Once again there was a lot of staring and whispers. The whole school already knew that Kagome had somehow picked up another cute guy, somehow managed to get another one to follow her around like a lost puppy dog. All the girls were jealous and all the guys were trying to figure out how the new kid got so lucky to catch Kagome's attention. After all, she'd been ignoring them all for years, always deferring to Bankotsu's opinion. But everyone had already heard about their fight the day before. Kagome refused to allow Bankotsu to send this guy away. Just what was so special about him?

 

When they stopped at Bankotsu's class the last thing he wanted to do was leave Miroku to walk Kagome the rest of the way. It was bad enough he got to spend all morning with her. It just wasn't fair at all. She was his and yet this other guy was worming his way into her heart and he knew with complete certainty that if Miroku successfully made it in that he would never leave.

 

“Have a good morning, `kay?” she said with a quick hug. He didn't even get to answer before she was walking away, giving him a quick wave. He was just about to turn and go inside when he saw it. Now it was definite. He really, really, really hated Miroku! The jerk just grabbed her ass! And all she did was laugh and give him a playful shove. Last year she'd stood by and let him break Kouga's jaw for trying to kiss her but this guy could grab her ass?? She should have been running back to the safety of his arms and begging him to beat up the asshole. But no, she just laughed! He had to force himself to enter the classroom and sit, when all he wanted to do was break the monk's fingers one by one.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Kagome had decided that her morning miko classes weren't so bad, at least not with Miroku sitting next to her. He kept everything interesting and she couldn't help but laugh when he dug himself deeper and deeper into a hole. He was a huge flirt and it was absolutely hilarious to watch him trying to sweet talk the girls. He never said the right thing and his backpedaling sucked. She actually had to stop two different girls in one morning from rearranging his face. By the time lunch rolled around she'd forgotten that she hadn't wanted to take the class at all.

 

The new friends made their way to her locker, but when Kagome noticed who was standing next to hers she let out a groan and turned around.

 

“What's wrong Kagome?”

 

“Nothing… just not hungry anymore.”

 

“What are you talking about? You've been whining about being hungry for the last two hours! What's the problem?” He glanced at her locker and noticed the guy standing there. “Another of your friends?” he asked in a teasing voice.

 

“He drives me crazy! Ever since I danced with him last year he won't leave me alone! I can tell you one thing; I'm never dancing with a guy I don't know again.”

“I'm surprised Bankotsu let you dance with someone else. He seems kinda possessive.”

 

“He's not possessive. He's protective. It's not the same thing.”

 

“I don't know. He certainly doesn't like me and I'm not going to hurt you.”

 

“He's never had to share me with anyone, that's all. He feels threatened by you.”

 

“Well I think there's enough of you to go around.”

 

Kagome scowled at him. “Did you just call me fat?”

 

Immediately Miroku's hands were up in a placating manner. “No! No, Kagome, that wasn't what I meant at all! I would never call you…” He stopped talking when Kagome started to laugh.

 

Of course she wished she hadn't laughed because the sound attracted the attention of the one she'd been trying to hide from. She had hoped he would give up and move away from her locker because she really was hungry and he was blocking the way to her lunch!

 

“There she is,” Kouga said as he walked slowly to where she'd arranged herself half-way behind the monk, using his body as a shield. If Kouga couldn't reach her he couldn't get all touchy-feely. She just hated when the wolf demon pawed at her. “I heard rumors that you'd found yourself a new boy toy. Where's the old one? Did you ditch him?” he asked while shaking his head.

 

“Kouga, Miroku is not my boy toy and neither is Bankotsu, and I would never ditch him.”

 

“It certainly seems like it, especially with the fight you guys had yesterday.”

 

“How do you know about…”

 

Kouga laughed. “Everyone knows. My woman is a popular topic of discussion. So now that you've gotten rid of Bankotsu, you ready to come where you belong?”

 

Miroku looked threateningly at the wolf demon. “And where exactly do you think Kagome belongs?”

 

“Why, in my arms of course. She is my woman.”

 

“Kouga, I am not your woman! Really, you just can't take no for an answer, can you?”

 

A crowd had begun to gather around the three, everyone expecting something similar to the fight that ended the dance. It had been pretty funny, watching a human lay out the arrogant demon. He deserved it, in everyone's opinions. He was a huge jerk and he refused to listen!

 

Bankotsu had stayed behind to talk to his teacher for a moment so he was late in arriving to their lockers. When he got there he noticed the crowd and began pushing his way through to the middle where he found his Kagome clinging to the back of the much hated monk. It took just a second to figure out why.

 

“And there he is. I feel sorry for ya man, being ditched for the new kid.”

 

Kagome growled behind Miroku, the sound making him glance back at her in surprise. “Kouga, I swear, if you don't shut up and leave us alone…”

 

“What'cha gonna do sweetheart? I think the poor guy deserves the truth. If only you'd dump the new one too everything would be perfect.”

 

Kagome slipped out from behind Miroku before he could stop her and he and Bankotsu both froze as they watched Kagome slowly approach Kouga. The way she was walking… it looked like she was trying to seduce him and unless the wolf had suddenly materialized a banana in his pocket it was working. “Kouga,” she said in a soft breathy voice. He stood still as a statue as she placed both her hands on his shoulders and leaned in close, her lips just barely brushing his ear as she continued. “I wouldn't be your woman if you were the last male alive.” The wolf demon crumbled to the floor in the middle of the hall, both hands clutching the family jewels. Kagome had been so kind as to punctuate her declaration with a swift knee to the balls. As she stood above him looking down she smirked. “I'd rather be alone… or a lesbian. Yeah, if my choices were you or a chick, the chick would win no contest.”

 

Everyone simply stared at the demon on the floor and the miko who'd just taken him down for a few moments before the laughter started. Kouga was still on the floor whimpering in pain while Kagome turned and made her way to her locker like nothing of interest had just occurred. Miroku and Bankotsu both pushed their way through the crowds to reach her.

 

Bankotsu made it to her first and poked her side with a smirk. “Remind me never to make you really mad, babe. He's gonna be feelin' that for a week!”

 

“He deserved it,” was all she said before pulling her locker open.

 

“Tough girl, huh? I guess I got off lucky then didn't I?” Miroku asked from her other side.

 

“Yes, you certainly did,” she said with a smile before grabbing her lunch, stuffing her books in her locker, and slamming it closed. “Stupid wolf made me miss half of lunch!” When she started to walk towards the cafeteria the crowd parted, clearing a path for her. No one wanted to get in her way at the moment. Miroku and Bankotsu walked on either side of her, both still grinning. When Kagome stepped over Kouga's limp, whining form like he was just a puddle in her path the laughter that had slowly faded away started up again. The wolf demon wished he could just disappear.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

The lunch period after the Kouga incident had given Kagome hope for the future of her friendships, but apparently she'd been wrong. Things were still just as tense as before and she was getting really tired of it. More and more the two seemed to be butting heads, and over the stupidest things too. Really, why did it matter who carried her book bag? She could carry it herself! Or she would, if they just stopped taking it from her.

 

The rumors in the halls weren't helping either. Bankotsu couldn't miss all the whispers about how Kagome had picked the new guy over him. Miroku couldn't ignore the comments that she'd ditch him eventually, that Bank would always be her priority. And Kagome wanted to scream at them all. It was no one's business but hers and the guys. Why did everyone have to stick their nose into her business?

 

By Thursday Kagome was ready to kick both of their asses and tell them to leave her alone. She couldn't take much more. That morning Miroku had asked her if she wanted to hang out some time Saturday or Sunday and she'd agreed, looking forward to seeing his house and meeting his father. At lunch Bankotsu asked her if she wanted to catch a movie over the weekend and again she'd said yes. There shouldn't have been an issue. There were two days in the weekend. There was no reason why she couldn't do both, but apparently they disagreed.

 

During the last class of the day they'd been broken into groups for an activity and of course Kagome partnered with Bankotsu and Miroku. It was almost impossible to get them to work together. Every time she asked a question she got nothing but silence from both as they glared at each other. They hadn't even noticed when she turned her desk back around and finished the worksheet herself. She'd ignored them both after that, not bothering to say goodbye to either when the bell rang. She needed to get out of there. She couldn't handle it anymore. Was it really too much to ask for her friends to get along?

 

She'd thought about it all Thursday night. She hadn't been able to fall asleep, her mind insisting on replaying their little jabs at each other, the thinly veiled insults they tossed back and forth like she wouldn't notice. By morning she was so pissed that she walked right past them both as she entered the school. When Bankotsu tried to talk to her while she was at her locker she just ignored him. When Miroku tried to get her attention on her walk to their classroom she didn't spare him a glance.

 

By lunch, when she still wouldn't acknowledge either of them they each decided that it was the other's fault. When they sat down at their table she stood up, throwing her entire lunch away before leaving the cafeteria. They hadn't been able to find her after that, Bankotsu not seeing her again until the final bell rang and she stalked into the classroom and sat down, making it obvious that she didn't want to even look at him.

 

During their final class, the one they all shared, they had been given the time to work on their assignments but Kagome couldn't focus. It was rather hard to read her textbook when she had two angry males hissing insults and threats across her desk. “I swear to god, if you don't stop right now I will never speak to either of you again,” she growled, still not looking at them.

 

“But Kagome, if he wasn't such a jerk…” Miroku started but was cut off.

 

“Me? I'm being a jerk? You're the one who grabbed her ass!”

 

“And? If she doesn't have a problem with it…”

 

“I have a problem with it! What makes you think you can just come in here and…?”

 

“Kagome invited me to sit with her in class. Kagome invited me to sit with her at lunch. It's not my fault you can't handle not having her all to yourself!”

 

“I wouldn't have a problem if I could trust you! But you're nothing but a pervert!”

 

“And you're acting like a spoiled child!”

 

“I'm acting like a child?”

 

“Yes, you are! You didn't even give me a chance before you decided you didn't like me. It's your fault she's angry. She shouldn't have to choose between us!”

 

“It's not my fault she's angry! If it weren't for you everything would be perfect! Everything was perfect before you came along!”

 

“You're the one who told her to make a new friend. What right do you have to decide who she can and can't be friends with?”

 

“I've been watching out for her for five years! You've known her for five days!”

 

Neither noticed when the bell rang and the classroom emptied. She'd warned them and they ignored her. She told them to stop and they kept fighting. She just couldn't take it anymore. She refused to be in the middle. It took another few minutes before one of them noticed Kagome's disappearance.

 

“Where did Kagome go?” Miroku asked, looking around the empty room. “Shit.”

 

“Great! Now she left! Thanks a lot! You've been a huge help!”

 

“It's not my fault she left! If you would stop acting so possessive…”

 

“I'm not being possessive. I'm looking out for her! You can't be trusted!”

 

“This coming from the guy that let her dance with Kouga? Ha! Great judgment there!” The two boys stuffed their things into their bags and were still yelling back and forth at each other as they left the room, both hoping to find Kagome at her locker.

 

“And I took care of it! Don't talk about things you don't understand. You weren't there!”

 

“I don't need to have been there to know that you screwed up! Obviously you aren't smart enough to protect her,” Miroku hissed at him. They both noticed the marked lack of Kagome at her locker and continued on towards the exit.

 

“And you think you are? I could kick your ass in a second!”

 

“I'd like to see you try. I heard about it, how she saved you! You don't protect her! You hide behind her like a toddler clinging to his mommy's dress!”

 

“Maybe we should test your theory,” Bankotsu said, his tone screaming his challenge at the monk.

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

Kagome was leaning against the brick wall at the front of the school, waiting for her mother to arrive and take her home. All she wanted to do was crawl under her covers and cry. She tried to be angry but she just couldn't anymore. It hurt more than it made her angry that neither of them cared enough to try to get along for her sake. She'd never imagined Bankotsu could be so jealous and selfish. She couldn't help but feel that it was her fault that they were fighting. Maybe she shouldn't have tried to make a new friend, but she just clicked with Miroku. She didn't go looking for it. It just happened.

 

Her attention was pulled from her depressing introspective when she heard a lot of yelling and what sounded like cheering. Furrowing her brows in confusion, she found that her feet had decided for her that she needed to investigate. As she got closer she could finally figure out what everyone was chanting. Besides random `Ohh' or `That had to hurt' and other odd and random comments she could hear the majority of the surrounding students yelling out “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

 

`I wonder who's fighting,' she thought. `Not that I care. I've had enough fighting for one day with Bank and Miro…' she paused as she suddenly got the sinking feeling that she hadn't seen the end of their fighting yet. `There's no way it's them. They wouldn't really fight… would they?' Seconds later she was pushing and shoving her way through the crowd that had formed a tight circle around the fighting pair. When she could finally see the center of attention her heart sunk. They really were fighting over her!

 

Miroku was rather surprised by just how much force Bankotsu could put into a punch. It was almost inhuman, but he wasn't giving in. He could handle himself in a fight. He'd taken enough hits from girls and from their boyfriends in the past that he was used to it. He could just shake it off and continue on. He was mentally thanking himself for being a pervert since it had given him such a hard head, all the while trying to find a way to get a good shot in on his opponent.

 

Kagome stood there frozen for a minute, just watching as her two friends struggled against each other. Miroku's lip was swollen and bleeding and around Bankotsu's right eye was already changing colors, developing into a nice shiner. They both appeared to have hit the ground several times as their clothes were filthy and torn in places, and the way they were fighting the end was nowhere in sight. She let out a sigh before turning and pushing her way back out of the crowd. If they wanted to beat the hell out of each other she wasn't going to stop them. She probably couldn't make them stop if she tried because they obviously didn't care about her feelings or they wouldn't be fighting to begin with.

 

“You alright, Kagome?”

 

She looked up in surprise. Her eyes widened as she took in who had just spoken to her. Never before had he actually sounded concerned. Hell, he'd never spoken to her without his voice dripping with flirtation, but this time he sounded worried and looked honestly concerned. “I… they're fighting because of me.”

 

“It's not your fault, Kagome. They have to work this out on their own. Everything will be fine, and if you don't want to talk to either of them again you're always welcome with me.”

 

She didn't know what to do. Kouga had never been so nice and polite before but she really didn't want to encourage him. Then again, she really needed someone to talk to, someone to lean on since both her friends were too busy hitting each other to notice she was upset. They probably didn't have any idea that she'd even seen them. She let out a sigh and started to walk further away from the crowd, the wolf demon walking along beside her. She tensed for a moment when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders but relaxed when she realized that there wasn't anyone else to lean right then.

 

Kouga smirked as her head tilted to rest on his shoulder. He slowed them to a stop before turning to wrap her fully in his arms. It was like a dream come true, holding his woman tightly to his chest, shielding her from the world. He felt her sigh against him and he leaned down to nuzzle against her hair.

 

Kagome froze as she felt him bury his face in her neck and when she felt his lips pressing against her throat she growled and tried to push him away. “Kouga, let me go,” she said in a low but threatening tone.

 

“What's that matter, Kagome? I'll take care of you from now on.”

 

Her anger flared and she began to struggle against him. “Let Me Go!”

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

In the middle of the throng of students, two males who had seconds before been trying to kill each other froze. Their eyes met and they instantly made a silent agreement. The crowd whined and groaned in disappointment that their entertainment was over but they moved out of the way, curious as to what could possibly have made them stop fighting so quickly. They walked side by side like brothers, and in a sense they were. Finally it was time for them to learn that.

 

When they laid eyes on her, still struggling to get out of Kouga's arms, they glanced at each other before separating. In seconds Kagome was standing to the side, looking on as Bankotsu wrapped his arm around the wolf's throat, holding him in place as Miroku buried his fist in the demon's stomach. When Kouga's hands came up to claw at the monk Bankotsu pulled him back roughly, the tips of the deadly claws just barely missing Miroku's face. While he was still disoriented he turned and shoved him against his new fighting partner, Miroku taking hold of Kouga's wrists while charged with his holy power to prevent escape.

 

They moved together as if they'd been fighting side by side for years. `It would be beautiful if it wasn't so violent,' Kagome thought to herself. `But then again, Kouga does deserve it and it's kinda nice to see them working together instead of against each other.' They tag teamed the supposedly powerful demon while Kagome and everyone else looked on. Miroku grabbed a handful of black hair, giving a hard tug before holding his head still, allowing Bankotsu to break Kouga's jaw again. Leaving the panting, confused, and utterly defeated wolf lying on the ground they both made their way towards Kagome.

 

“You alright, babe?” Miroku asked with an odd looking smirk, one side of his mouth quite a bit larger than the other which gave him a rather humorous appearance.

 

“He didn't hurt you, did he Kags?” Bankotsu asked resting one hand on the wall beside her while he tried to catch his breath.

 

“I'm okay. You two don't look too good though.”

 

The two males looked at each other and for a second Kagome thought they were going to start fighting again. She let out a huge sigh of relief when they both started laughing.

 

“Man, you look like hell,” Miroku said between his laughing and gasping for air.

 

“Me? You should see yourself! I guess you're pretty tough after all,” Bankotsu conceded.

 

“You're not too bad either.”

 

Kagome watched as their eyes met and wondered just what they were thinking. Finally Bankotsu held out a hand in offering, Miroku taking hold of it immediately. They shook hands silently deciding that they wouldn't fight again. They both realized that they both cared about Kagome more than themselves, that they both wanted to protect her and make her happy, and that was all that mattered. Miroku pulled her towards him and she found herself wrapped in two pairs of arms.

 

“Guys? As much as I'm glad you've made friends, you're bleeding on me!”

 

 

 

@@@@@The Syndrome@@@@@

 

 

 

While it had taken a couple of weeks for the bruises to fade, and the blood stains never fully came out of her shirt, their rivalry had dissolved completely, instantly washed away by each seeing the other willing to fight for her. From that day forward they were friends, their love for Kagome bringing them together. Once they actually took the time to get to know each other they discovered that they had a lot in common and if they had only given the other a chance they could have avoided quite a bit of frustration and pain.

 

Bankotsu learned that just because she had another friend didn't mean Kagome loved him any less, and after spending a little time with the two Miroku began to understand why Bank had been so hesitant to share her attentions. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and Bankotsu agreed wholeheartedly. Kagome was their angel and each felt that their entire world revolved around her, and they wouldn't want it any other way.