I disclaim ownership of InuYasha and all associated characters. Credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi, respectively.
Minimal dialogue here, but don't worry. Next chapter has plenty!
In Good Company
He woke groggily under a mess of blankets, beside a most comforting source of warmth. He turned his nose into the small mess of hair beside his head and breathed in deeply before slowly stretching his limbs, trying not to disturb the little beauty sprawled across his shoulder and chest. He kept still for a while longer until the girl on his arm woke with wandering hands. "Manami...you just can't keep your hands off me, even in sleep."
Her eyes bore attentively into his when she looked at him, and a slow smile sprawled over her features. She shook her bangs out of her eyes, reached up to do the same to his, and proceed to stroke him in all the right places. "It's your fault you're irresistible," she murmured. Bankotsu could only smirk in response before returning her touches.
After Bankotsu initially cleared out of his brother's apartment, the first place he went was to Manami's place over in Ikebukuro, after shooting her a call. Upon explaining his situation, she gave him permission to crash at her new place until he could get his own apartment.
He'd first met Manami back in his first semester at university in an English class. She loved his rebellious nature, and he favored her sassy attitude, and from there they began partying together. Manami was one of the main people in Bankotsu's life at that point adding fuel to his fire; his drinking habits spiked, his grades began to fall by mid-semester, and his sleeping pattern was anything but consistent, all while he was only 18. After just one year on campus, he was asked to leave the dorms because of alcohol abuse. The two of them still kept up with each other, showing up at the same college parties, and attending a couple more of the same classes the following school year. Since Jakotsu had decided to leave the country to travel after their first year of uni, Bankotsu spent a great deal of time hanging out with Manami and her group of friends to fill the space Jakotsu had left behind. Jakotsu showed no approval of Bankotsu's bad habit, but Manami had always insisted that he do what he wants, under the saying, "Live when you're young, and die when you're old."
It wasn't until Suikotsu exploded on Bankotsu years later over his behavior and forced him into rehab that same month that Bankotsu had any realistic viewpoint on his life. Once he started attending AA, he cut ties with everyone. He was 22 by then and despite his efforts, his habit persisted, coming back every time he stopped attending AA meetings under the impression that he could handle himself. Catching up on his studies was the hardest test of all, for he had let his grades drop low enough that the school had him on probation. After the first two attempts at going through rehab, he gave up his solo act and rang the first person that crossed his mind. He needed a stress reliever, a reprieve from his brother's nagging, a quick release from his daily grind, a bed companion...and he knew that Manami was just the girl that wanted to give it up to him. Manami was surprised, to say the least, that Bankotsu finally returned her call after a couple months, but was more than happy to sign him into her dorm room.
Now, a year later, he wasn't sure where they stood. He came to her when he needed pleasure and comfort, but that was pretty much it. Since Bankotsu started staying with her a couple of weeks ago, she didn't bother to give him a hard time about anything other than picking up one drink too many. If he wanted to be an alcoholic, fine, as long as he didn't end up puking all over her school and work equipment. Friends, friends with benefits; Manami started to care less and less about their title. She already knew Bankotsu didn't want a relationship with her...but if he wanted anything else, she would give it to him without question.
A/N: This chapter was written using prompt #56 - Everything For You from The Original List of Themes, created by #100ThemeWriters on DeviantArt. Please review!
