I looked up startled at Kagome's weak voice. She was standing in her black bra and matching underwear with one arm wrapped around her battered torso and the other supporting her against the wall. We had been to afraid to try and dress her with the wounds she had. All swelling in her face had gone down and all that was left was the ugly discoloration of bruises. My heart ached as I imagined it being Kikyo standing in front of me like this. Naraku better not have touched her.
"You shouldn't be standing," I rushed over to her to help her to the couch but she shrugged me off.
"That's not answering my question," she gritted her teeth as she limped towards the sofa. I could smell pain mixed with worry in her scent as she passed by me. I sighed and forced her to accept my help in lowering herself onto the couch.
"My name is Inuyasha," she looked up at me curiously. I'm never one to be shy but I squirmed under her intense stare.
"You're a half-demon," I huffed in agitation. I had been dealing with that exact line for hundreds of years now, it was no surprise this girl would say the same thing.
"So what?" I nearly growled. She smirked then grimaced as she tried adjusting herself.
"At the club, I grabbed your arm," she took a deep breath before continuing, "your aura was...amazing." I blinked at her in surprise. I had expected an insult, something along the lines of 'you filly half-breed get your tainted hands off of me' not 'you're amazing'. "Don't let it get to your head, I'm intrigued that's all." I scoffed and sat across from her in the love seat. I watched as she leaned her head back and concentrated on breathing. "So why are you in my house?"
"Last I recalled it was Sango's house also," she smirked and nodded, "what happened to you." Her dark brown eyes glared at me before trying to sit up.
"Thanks for bandaging me up," she muttered as she tried to push herself off the couch. I jumped up and gently pushed her back down, receiving another glare, "I'm trying to get up."
"And I'm trying to get answers but you're making it hard,"
"That's what I'm good at," I blushed then growled at her.
"Listen I get that you don't want Sango endangered by your sick relationship with Naraku, but that priestess you two were cornering is my girlfriend and I need to know what you did to her," Kagome laughed and sat back again.
"We didn't do anything, did you see us go up in blinding white light? No, so that implies we left separately,"
"Implies but doesn't say for sure,"
"I did not see Kikyo after that last night," I let out the breath I was holding. It wasn't proof positive that nothing had happened to her, but at least I knew she hadn't suffered the same fate at Kagome. "Now if that is all you stayed for you can leave so I can get dressed, since some lecher didn't give me any clothes."
"Eh, sorry about that," I rubbed the back of my head and stood up, offering her a hand up. She looked at it for a moment before shaking her head, "listen you're hurt, you may be healing nearly as fast as a demon but you still had a hole in your stomach."
"What?" she frantically tore at her bandages, yanking them away and gasped in surprise. I gulped, the entire hole had healed over, no scar what so ever. "Damn him." sighing she looked back at me, "it's not that I'm being stubborn not taking your help, I'm weak now and your aura is a bit much to handle when I touch you."
"Oh," I rubbed the back of my head watching her struggle to get up, "so how does the whole I'm a human but heal like a demon work?"
"That falls in the need to know category," she finally righted herself, "still hurts like hell though even though everything is closed up."
"Kagome?" Sango's sleepy voice came from down the hall. She stepped into the living room, a look of relief flooding her face. She threw her arms around Kagome ignoring the pained groan she emitted. "You had us so worried Kagome!"
"I can tell from how you were tucked in bed wearing your flannels and Inuyasha here stayed up half the night," Sango stuck her tongue out at her and hugged her again, "okay, okay lets not sufficate me, I'm the walking wounded here." That caused Sango to look down at her practically naked friend then glared at Inuyasha.
"You didn't dress her?"
"I wasn't taking a page from Miroku's book on that one, I figured it would be safest to not move her more then necessary," I defended myself.
"What happened to your wounds?" Kagome stiffened and glanced down at her stomach, "Kagome..."
"I don't know Sango," I could smell her lie before she even completed it. Had she been participating in some type of dark magic to give herself healing abilities? I hope she knew it was dangerous to steal demon abilities. "Just go back to bed with Miroku, I'll be here when you wake up." Sango reluctantly nodded and went back into her room. I started for the door but paused when I felt her eyes on my back. Turning around I saw her leading against the wall with a look of hatred on her face.
"I didn't steal any demonic abilities, worry about yourself and I will worry about me," she turned and walked away.
Most of the next day I spent pacing my apartment in thought. Kagome read my mind, I thought as I darted around the coffee table grabbing my coffee on the way. She heals like a demon, can read minds, what else can she do? A knock on the door startled me out of my thoughts. I pulled the door ready to rip someone's head off but bit my tongue.
"We need to have a conversation," Kagome pushed past me in a wave of lilac scented air. She looked like a completely different person today then she had yesterday. Dressed in a white and yellow knee length sun dress and simple white flats. She sat down on my couch and pinned me with a glare. "I heard you spoke to Sango about my healing."
"With good cause it seems since you don't look like you were just found half dead at your front door," she pointed at me and made a 'humph' sound.
"That shouldn't have happened and it won't again. I don't need Sango poking her nose in where it doesn't belong. I will not let my sacrifices be for nothing just because a little puppy like you started sniffing around." anger coursed through me. Did she realize she was putting other people's lives at risk and they deserved to know what was going on around them? "No they don't deserve to know, it's my business and this was the first time I brought it home with me."
"Stop doing that!"
"What?"
"Stay out of my head," I growled, "you were threatening Kikyo last night and she is my world, stay away from her." I suddenly found myself slammed up against the wall with little 115pound Kagome holding me up by the throat.
"I don't take orders from you," her eyes flashed purple quickly before releasing me and stumbling back with a hand on her head.
"Are you okay?" I rubbed my neck as I watched her pull herself back together. The cold glint in her eyes from a moment ago was gone, replaced with a blank stare. I could only tell she was feeling remorseful by her scent.
"Keep Kikyo in line and away from Naraku, it'll be for the best for both of you," she started for the door but I grabbed her arm. I tingling sensation raced through my arm causing me to let go.
"Did you really just try to purify me?" I balked shaking my arm to rid myself of the feeling. She gave me a weak smile and a one shoulder shrug.
"Wasn't my intention," she opened the door and left, leaving her scent behind.
Kagome took a moment for her eyes to adjust as she stepped into the Wondering Room's dark lighting from the sunny summer outside. Finding Sango wasn't hard, she was busy smacking away wondering hands as she delivered drinks. She walked up and took a seat at the bar, making sure she had a view of the entire room before getting completely comfortable.
"Hey!" Sango came back around and plunked a glass of water down in front of her with a huff, "It's already been a long day and it's not even half way over."
"Tell me about it," she sipped the water and sighed. Nothing like nearly bleeding to death to make you enjoy the simple things in life. "What are you up to tonight?"
"Just movie night with Miroku, why? I thought you had things to do with Naraku, like hmm I don't know, every night?" Kagome rolled her eyes and Sango and took another sip. Mmm.
"He's off on a business trip for a little while,"
"That would explain the change in attire," Sango fluttered her hand around to indicate Kagome's dress. She sighed as a group of business men walked in and signaled her. "I'll be back. Hey gentlemen!"
Kagome watched as Sango walked over to the table of men and started flirting away with them. She was always guaranteed a good tip when large groups like this came in. She smiled to herself thinking of all the tip jars at home that were filled to the brim. It was their dream trip money that had been saving up since they moved in together when Kagome was a fresh faced 18-year-old. Before Naraku had changed everything in her life for good.
"Well look who it is," she looked up at me and groaned.
"Are you stalking me?" she glared at me as I took the seat next to her. I flashed her a dazzling smile and rested my elbow on the counter to look at her.
"Keeping tabs is more like it," I gave Sango a little wave as she flashed me a confused look at sitting next to her best friend, "I haven't seen or spoken to Kikyo since last night."
"And how is that my problem?"
"You and your boyfriend keep tabs on her regularly obviously, I need you to tell me where she is, other wise you've just earned yourself a new traveling companion," being a cheerful blackmailer was easier then I thought it would be. She rolled her eyes and took another sip of water.
"Not my boyfriend, and I'm not GPS, I don't know where Kikyo is at every second of the day. Besides I didn't even know who we were looking for until last night," I watched as she visibly stiffened, eyes widening just a fraction that would have gone unnoticed by anyone else. I looked up at the door as a tall, tan black haired man walked in. He wore a plain white shirt and blue jeans with a pair of sunglasses, nothing ominous about him but Kagome's scent reeked of fear. He removed his glasses, blue eyes looking me over before settling on Kagome, his mouth formed a small smirk. "I have to go." She left, speed walking towards the door. The man reached out and gripped Kagome's arm, lowering his head and speak low in her ear. She nodded and left the mystery man to walk up to me.
"Inuyasha," I rose an eyebrow as he slid into the seat next to me, "why do I keep finding you and Kagome together? First earlier today, now here,"
"Well if you weren't spying on me maybe you wouldn't always see us together," I went to get up but he got into my way, "move."
"Do you even know who I am? Such a lowly half-breed would never dare speak to me this way," I narrowed my eyes at him. There was nothing memorable about this guy. He looked like over half the guys in the city.
"Where'd Kagome go?" I looked back as Sango came back to the bar, a tub full of dirty dishes under her arm resting on her hip.
"I had some errands for her," he wiggled his eyebrows at her and she just rolled her eyes in disgust. I watched as this stranger leaned closer to Sango and gave her what I could only assume was suppose to be a dashing smile. "I am here for your visual pleasure though lovely Sango."
"I'd rather have Kagome back thank you,"
"Didn't know you preferred things that way," his eyebrows shot up and Sango scowled at him. He chuckled and put his sunglasses back on, "I'll be keeping her busy for most of the day, so don't expect her back anytime soon." he gave me one last head nod before striding out the door. Sango made a noise of disgust while rather roughly tossing the glasses into the sink at the bar to be cleaned.
"That stupid, stupid...thing gets under my skin so much, he's nearly as bad as Naraku himself! Why can't Kagome just have one day to herself? Did you know she hasn't had one day where she didn't have to run off to do Naraku's bidding in over a year?" she seemed to be talking to me but I was pretty sure she was really talking to herself, "A year! I know Kagome thinks she owes him her life but gratitude can only go so far, and if you ask me," which I hadn't, "she defiantly has paid him back."
"What do you mean she thinks she owes him her life?" I rose an eyebrow at Sango when she looked at me with a slightly astonished look. She had forgotten I was even here, I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Well I guess I could tell you," she worried her bottom lip then fluttered her hand in the air, "oh it's no big deal if you know I suppose. About a year and a half ago Kagome was dating this guy, well demon actually, named Kouga. He was the leader of the local wolf tribe, real handsome guy who treated Kagome like she was his whole world. He had even talked about making her his mate once." Something in my gut tightened at that thought. Kagome as someone's mate? Why didn't that sit very well with him, "Anyway, they were on their way to meet Kagome's parents at their vacation rental with her little brother Souta when someone rammed their car from behind. It was the rivaling tribe coming after Kouga and Kagome and her brother had been caught in the middle of it. The car was ran off the road, completely totaled, and she said that she had been trapped in the car for sometime when Naraku found them. She said that he saved them and she owed him her's and Kouga's and Souta's life, but I don't understand really. I mean they didn't even have to go to the hospital but Kagome was never the same after that day."
"What happened with this...Kouga?" even saying his name just didn't feel right. Sango's eyes saddened.
"They didn't last, I say he had a mental break down and was sprouting off all this ridiculous stuff at Kagome, calling her the devil's mistress and other strange names and accusations like that," she shook her head and sighed, "I thought Kagome was going to be devastated by that but she was already so wrapped up in Naraku it seemed like she barely noticed Kouga's ridiculous behavior."
"So they never mated?"
"That's all you got from that story? No they never mated you crazy man," Sango threw a dish rag at me but I swatted it away before it hit me. "Why do you even care if she's a mated women or not? And shouldn't you be able to tell, you know, sniff her or something."
"I do not sniff people," I scowled at her. I scented the air, completely different from sniffing! "I was just curious is all."
"When are you and Kikyo going to do that anyway huh?" she winked at me and I had to fight not to blush. She had to be crazy to bring that up to me.
"Feh, wench I don't talk about that kind of stuff with anyone...who was the guy who took Kagome?"
"Bankotsu," Sango nearly spat, "Naraku's right hand man, well next to Kagome it seems. He and his brothers came to town not to long ago and he's nearly as obsessed with Kagome as Naraku himself. Naraku is dangerous as is but that guy is just a creep."
"Oh how you speak sweet nothings of my brother Sango," I looked back as another man walked up to us. He was dressed similarly to Bankotsu but instead of long black hair he was sporting a clean shaven head and periwinkle blue eyes. "I was sent to fetch Kagome, but I see Bankotsu beat me to it."
"Yes Ren, he did."
"I told you my name is not Ren, it is Renkotsu," his voice was stern but a smirk flashed across his lips, eyes crinkling just a little in the corners, "that brother of mine is going to get his heart broken by your friend Sango."
"You know perfectly well she has no interest in him, and she's made that clear to him, somehow your brother has deluded himself into thinking he has a chance and if a broken heart doesn't kill him Naraku will," Renkotsu's eyes darkened, all mischief wiped from his face at the mention of his bosses name. "I swear if he tries to bring her down with him I will personally had him his heart, and you can quote me on that."
"So fierce for a human, I think you were born the wrong species Sango," he smirked again and pushed away from the bar, "if you see Bankotsu again let him know I don't appreciate him taking on my jobs, it makes me look bad." Sango nodded and I watched him walk away, completely ignoring me. That didn't settling well with me, but then again a lot of things weren't settling well with me lately. Why had I even cared if Kagome was mated or not? I was with Kikyo, wherever she was at the moment.
"You didn't seem to disgusted with him," she glanced at me as she wiped down the counter and shrugged.
"He's not so bad, out of the 7 of them he's the most tolerable," she waved as her replacement walked in and headed towards the back, "he's not obsessed with Kagome and actually tries to keep Bankotsu away from her, so he's okay in my book."
"I thought Kagome tried keeping her Naraku life away from you?"
"She does, but those guys are like her keepers, if Naraku doesn't come to get her they do, or they'll drop her off or personally bring her instructions from Naraku, because apparently he doesn't trust the phone lines," she rolled her eyes, "Hey Yura, thanks for coming in early."
"No problem!" her co-worker came bouncing up to her. She had her black hair cut in a short bob with a vibrant red headband that matched her lipstick. Her eyes were a reddish brown reminding me of dried blood. She smiled at me, leaning on the counter and batted her eyelashes at me, "are you going to stay and keep me company too sweetie?"
"Feh, no. I'm leaving with her," I jerked my head towards Sango, who stifled a giggle at Yura's crestfallen face.
It was nice to have friends again, they were such entertainment.
Kagome flicked her hand in the air as a way of waving goodbye to Bankotsu. He had overstayed his welcome in her presence today and had done a thorough job of annoying her. Every other turn she took he was touching her, running his hand along her side or a finger along her jaw. She was ready to snap his finger off the next time he brought it even anywhere close to her again. Sighing she headed up the stairs to her and Sango's house. She paused and leaned in against the door listening inside.
Really? She growled in her mind. Just what she needed, hadn't she suffered enough today? Hadn't she had enough of unwanted male visits for one day? She was almost looking forward to Naraku's return just to keep her busy and away from unwanted attention. Now or never, she opened and door and was assaulted by the welcoming scent of buttered popcorn and a chorus of laughter. Pausing she took in the sight before her.
Sango and Miroku were curled around each other on the sofa surrounded in a plush green blanket with Kirara, Sango's fire demon cat, curled up next to them on her own puffy pink pillow. Inuyasha was sprawled across the floor with a giant bowl of popcorn in front of him. Her heart ached at the sight, longed to be able to be part of their carefree world.
Yes Inuyasha had his womanly troubles with Kikyo, but surely once Kikyo gave Naraku what he wanted he would look the other way from her and leave them at peace. But they didn't have this burden on their shoulders, the weight of their brother's life crushing them into the ground, into hell with Naraku. She mentally shook the thought from her mind, she had made the deal, she would honor it with no regret if it meant her brother could live, love and breathe still.
"Kagome!" Miroku shouted causing everyone to look up at her, "we didn't know you would be back so soon so we started without you."
"I actually wasn't aware it was a group event," she replied closing the door behind her.
"It wasn't suppose to be, but with Kikyo missing still we invited Inuyasha to join us and I thought you would be home sooner with Naraku out of town," Sango explained, "not like a double date or anything!" Kagome rolled her eyes and plopped herself down in her favorite over stuffed arm chair she used to read in.
"Popcorn?" she met eyes with Inuyasha and felt something pull deep inside her gut. Something about his golden eyes called to her, ever since she had seen him for the first time watching her at the Wondering Room. She tried hard to ignore it but the more he was around the stronger it grew. It's probably just a reaction to another male demon so close to me, she thought before shaking her head and tearing her eyes away from him and onto the screen. Yes that is all it is.
I eventually made it onto the couch with Sango and Miroku by the end of the movie, kicking their pesky kitten onto the floor. The invitation to their movie night had surprised me. Before Kikyo, I was alone most of the time, so to be included was a nice change. I thought after having that moment with Kagome the atmosphere would had changed but instead it stayed the same, if not more enjoyable. Her laugh was refreshing and I could tell by the looks Sango and Miroku kept giving each other that it had been a long time since they had heard it. She had tucked herself away on the chair and remained there for all 3 movies. Every time I had glanced at her it got harder to look away. I chalked it up to her looking so much like Kikyo.
I felt guilty for not looking for Kikyo. After what had happened the other night I should have been going crazy out of my mind looking for her, but I couldn't seem to muster up the energy to do so. Kagome had said they didn't leave with her, so I knew she was okay. But Naraku is gone, a small voice inside my head whispered and I looked at Kagome again. She had fallen asleep, head resting on the arm of the chair. She looked like the angel of death while she slept. Instead of her light sundress she had been sporting when she paid me a visit at home and when I followed her to the Wondering Room she was now in black leggings and a long baggy black sweater. She had even put on some dark eyeshadow making her look paler then she already was. The only color on her was her neon green socks. Why am I so drawn to her? I pondered while continuing to watch her.
"I have a camera you know," I jumped and looked back at Sango who was giving me a sad smile, "I warned you Inuyasha, you don't want to get involved with her."
"I'm not getting involved Sango," it took everything I had not to look back at Kagome once more, but the knowledge of Sango watching me helped a little. "Besides for someone who is her best friend you sure do have some strange warnings against her wouldn't you say?"
"I don't know much about her life, just the small glimpses that she'll give me, and from what I have seen it is better if you stay away until she works out her business," the sad smile graced her lips again.
"Sango, I'm with Kikyo and I am happy with her," I glanced over as Kagome stirred. Her breathing was still steady so I knew she had not woken up. Sango ran her fingers through Miroku's hair, who had fallen asleep and was snoring softly as the credits rolled from our movie.
"Our hearts want what they want," she mumbled before shaking Miroku lightly. He snorted before waking up, "let go to bed love." he nodded and stretched before giving me a goofy grin.
"Thanks for hanging out with us," he pulled Sango up from the couch. Sango looked between Inuyasha and Kagome a few times before locking eyes with me again.
"You can stay tonight if you don't want to go home this late," I glanced at the digital clock on the DVD player, it's bright red numbers read 2:27 am. I nodded and Sango moved over to Kagome and shook her lightly. She groaned and swatted away the person who had the nerve to try and wake her. Mumbling incoherent things she tried to snuggle deeper into the chair but she shaking persisted and she eventually forced her eyes open. "Come on Kagome, time for bed." She yawned and stretched, wincing at the various cracks that emanated from her bones.
"Okay, I'm up," she mumbled dragging herself from the chair. She looked like she barely had enough energy to shuffle the short way down the hall to her room, but the sound of her door opening and closing let me know she had made it. Sango and Miroku said goodnight one last time before heading down the hall themselves to Sango's room
I laid back, pulling the blanket up over my body. Kirara jumped up onto my stomach, curling into a ball and began to purr. It amazed me how much she seemed to like me, I was a dog demon after all, didn't she have a natural urge to hate me? I closed my eyes and tried to think of anything or anyone but Kagome. No one else had understood what she had said, but I did and it didn't bode well for either of them if I were to heed Sango's warning.
Inuyahsa.
Could she possibly feel that same draw to me as I do to her?