Playing Their Game

Chapter 11: Gravity

"Kaede...chan..."

Dark eyes seemed to lose their shine as the whispered name left her lips. The man in front of her spoke on in words that meant nothing to her. Everything seemed to slip through her fingers, through her eyes, through her skin and her body. It felt like standing in a white room that somehow or another wasn't bright but plain and hazy. Figures moved around mindlessly and still the doctor kept speaking.

His glasses reflected the light into her eyes and she frowned and turned away, opting to look at the floor instead. Still the man kept speaking in those morbid and low hushed tones. Kagome felt nothing and so she whispered a soft and insincere 'thank you' and turned around and walked away. The man stared after her, an indifferent yet understanding look on his face, as if he had to face people like her every single day. After a while, he too turned and left.

Dark hair fell around a tanned face and still, the girl continued to walk away and then, as if just knowing, she looked up and caught the sapphire blue gaze of the braided boy she had grown so close to these past few months. He had a solemn expression and for those who didn't know him, would've thought he looked quite uncaring in the least. But she saw and he knew and she knew that he knew.

Kagome stopped in her tracks and just looked at him tiredly, allowing her head to fall to the side and her hands to stay limp. Her face was fallen and without a word, Bankotsu walked slowly towards her and pulled her to his chest which she fell limply on. Neither cared about the looks they were receiving from those who walked past all they knew was that her heart was breaking.

She had no one. No one.

Her tears seemed to stay hidden. Or perhaps they'd be non-existent this time. Masculine hands held her safely and she thought for an instant whether he'd be able to save her from the pain. Maybe he could. If only he could.

"Bankotsu..." she whispered softly.

He stared ahead and answered equally as softly, "Yeah?"

He waited with bated breath for her answer and she inhaled and sighed quietly. "Take me somewhere."

The boy nodded and pulled back, draping his arm around her and holding her close as they walked out of the hospital and to the car park where the rest were waiting, having a smoke. Inuyasha looked up and froze for a few seconds when he caught the look on her face. Bankotsu shook his head at him and the amber eyed boy lowered his golden orbs and nodded, taking Kikyo's hand and giving it a squeeze.

The older girl looked mournful as she watched Kagome and Bankotsu get into the car and drive off. Turning to the hanyou, the Miko let out a gushed breath and threw herself at him, hugging him tight. "She doesn't deserve this."

The silver haired boy hugged her back and closed his eyes. "I know, I know. We have to be there for her." His hands ran through her long hair and she tightened her grip, closing her dark eyes, her heart going out to her friend.

"This isn't going to be easy for her." Her words were truthful and sorrowfully painful. "It isn't going to be easy on either of them."And Inuyasha trusted his priestess' words and knew that if anything happened between Bankotsu and Kagome, they'd have to be there for both of them. Those two painful souls were meant for each other but with so much hurt and sorrow in between no one knew if they could see past that and see just what they'd be missing. They would never find another as good as each other, ever.

And right now, they needed each other.

The radio was on low volume as they drove through the town. The lights had come up and the night was only just beginning. But to Kagome, everything seemed like the end. They drove in silence and the girl's eyes still remained dry. Was she going to cry? Would she feel better? Nothing could make something like this feel better. She had no one.

Souta was off with his own family in some distant country and although he sent her money every month, that was all the two could do with each other, at least until she started work. She leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes, feeling the steady drum of the engine through her body. It sent slow, smooth vibes through her and for a few minutes, everything seemed to fade away.

Bankotsu cast furtive glances in her direction every now and then and when he realised she'd fallen asleep, he sighed and shook his head. She was hurting so badly and there was nothing he could do. The boy eyed the heavy Scorpio pendant around her neck and smiled bitterly. Remembering his promise, he decided to take a sudden left turn and continued driving. He would take her somewhere safe for the night.

The music sounded softly in the background as he drove and Kagome slept. He would've liked to have taken her to this place under better circumstances but he knew that this time would be what she needed. It was a beautiful place, with all the air of mystery and an ethereal atmosphere. He often came here on long, unsleeping nights. But he went to many other places on sleepless nights but he always felt at home here.

They left the town and the city lights behind and now drove through the suburbs where the houses were far and in between. Open grasslands and fields dominated their view, as did huge luxurious gardens and parks. The thick blanket of clouds blocked any light from the moon or the stars but that didn't matter where they were going.

He drove for a little over an hour and when they finally reached their destination, he stopped the car and let out a deep sigh. Cerulean eyes gazed longingly at the raven haired girl and almost without thinking, his tanned hand moved over and stroked the soft curve of her cheek. Dark lashes fluttered and slowly, those brown eyes he'd grown to love opened and she blinked a few times before turning and looking at him.

Soft, warm light from outside was the first thing she noticed and the girl looked out the window, her eyes widening slightly at what she saw. They had stopped at a clearing somewhere on a hill, the city far in the distance. The trees that surrounded them were lit with lanterns of various oriental colours like reds, oranges, yellows and gold. She gasped lightly and looked at the beauty of the place.

The air held a clean, crisp tone to it and turning to Bankotsu, her eyes watched him delicately, her face beautifully lit by the lanterns which unfortunately could not hide the pain in those deep, chocolate orbs. Unconsciously, the two seemed to move closer and his aqua eyes pierced hers deeply. They were so intense that she had to catch her breath and a shiver ran up her spine.

Before she could stop herself, tears sprang to her eyes and as she continued to stare at him with those wide eyes of hers, the tears began to fall down her cheeks. "I..." she began, choked.

But the boy placed a finger to her lips and looked at them from beneath thick lashes. "Shh, don't speak." Wiping the tears from her face, he locked his hands behind her head and pulled her to him, allowing her to rest her head on his chest as she began to cry, long, hard and choked sobs.

Small arms went around his form and she gripped him tightly as her body convulsed in sobs. The gravity of the incident hit her and she couldn't hold back for any longer. She was truly alone and nothing was bringing the woman who had cared for her all these years back. Taking in an audible breath, she cried painfully,

"I don't want to be alone! But she's never coming back, I can't – I can't do –" she couldn't complete her sentence as she was flooded with a wave of tears. Bankotsu could do nothing but hold her as she cried and held onto him as if he was the only thing keeping her alive. Her tears couldn't stop and they were soaking into his shirt.

"I'm here for you," he whispered into her hair and his tone was resolute and firm. He wasn't leaving her.

As soon as Kagome heard this, she was wracked with more sobs and she knew now she had to tell him the truth. She had to because he didn't know just who he was there for until he understood. She had to tell him everything. "Why are you so good to me? I don't deserve you," she wailed, shaking her head.

Pulling back and looking at him, she held his arms, almost in panic and she stared up at him as if he was going to vanish any second. "You shouldn't be so good to me, I really don't deserve you! I've lied, I've lied to you!"

The boy frowned and held onto her, trying to calm her down. "What are you talking about?" He stroked her hair and looked at her in confusion.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and the look in her eyes was enough to make him listen. "I have something to tell you and I haven't told anyone but you have to know so just listen ok? Please? Just listen?"

Nodding rapidly he agreed, assuring the hysterical girl and making her feel slightly safer. "Just tell me, don't worry I won't be mad or anything. You can trust me, just say it."

Fixing her brown gaze on him, she looked intently into his eyes and spoke, breathlessly, "My parents aren't overseas on a business trip."

Dark brows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Pink lips thinned in pain as she finally said the words she'd been hiding from everyone. "My parents are dead."

Truth was a funny thing. It was the only thing he wanted from her and for the first time since knowing her, he felt regret. He regretted making her tell him something like this but at the same time he was glad that she trusted him enough to tell him. How could he feel both? Was it possible?

But a string of doubt hung around him like a web. What else was she hiding from him? What else was there to know and find out about her? He wished she could just be honest with him and at times that really frustrated him and he hated and resented her for hiding things from him. But right now, as she lay there in his arms, the both of them covered in the blanket in the boot of the large SUV, with the top open, he forgave her.

He held her close as she slept and he wrapped his legs around hers, keeping her warm and occasionally planting kisses on her forehead. In such a small amount of time, she meant so much to him. She hiccoughed and sniffed in her sleep, taking in shuddering breaths and Bankotsu smoothed her hair back and out of her face.

He didn't know if he would ever tell her, but at least to himself now, he could admit that he had fallen deeply in love with the girl. And he didn't know what to do. Should he act upon his feeling? Would it do anything? Would it be any good at all? He loved her...and he had never felt so confused in his life.

He didn't want to hurt her and he didn't know if the girl would look at him differently if he told her. For the last few months, he'd loved having her around, admittedly she could be frustrating and very annoying but he liked her around and he liked talking to her and he felt that maybe they were more alike than they realised. But they were so different too. The way she looked at the world and the way he looked at it were totally opposite but they still managed to find things in common and sometimes she'd just surprise him with the things she'd say.

Could it be so bad to tell her his feelings? And even if she didn't reciprocate maybe he could look past that, even though it'd hurt for a while. But he wouldn't hold it against her or at least he hoped he wouldn't.

In her sleep, her small fingers curled around the Scorpio pendant and she sighed, whispering his name. He regarded her tenderly and smiled bitterly. "I'm here."

Her pink lips curled into a sad smile and she sighed again, curling closer to him. The temptation to kiss those lips then and there overwhelmed him and for a moment, he felt inches away from doing it. But just as he moved his face closer to do just that, one of her hands came and curled around his fingers, holding it warmly. And he stopped and just stared at her sleeping form.

Relenting and smiling one of those boyish grins of his, he closed his eyes and exhaled tiredly, allowing his body to succumb to the deepness of sleep. Unlike Kagome who would have to wake to a heavy reality, he would be able to wake just as normal, only with a very fragile girl in his arms who he was willing to give up his bad ways for just to see her smile for him. So tonight, he'd let her sleep away her pain and tomorrow, he'd be ready to face it with her and he prayed that against all odds, they'd be ok.

A/N: Hey everybody! Long time no see ne? ducks from all the rubbish and food being thrown her way Ehehe yeah sorry for disappearing...had a rough time...still having a rough time...I won't bother with explaining. For those of you who read my Avatar story, you'll know why. Anyways yeah I know I'm a sucky author and I do apologise sincerely. BUT I do have this chapter out so it is progress right??  Anyways I hope you've all enjoyed this chapter. We're almost done! Just a few more chapters to go and it'll be the end of my story...kinda sad but it makes me happy that I'll be finishing another story! I've already finished my OHSHC one and I'm very proud haha! So I pray that a lot of you are still waiting for this to be finished and I hope I haven't lost any readers...so PLEASE REVIEW!  It really means a lot to me, even if its tiny little one word reviews, it's better than nothing so please review as an acceptance of my apology...which I doubt very many of you are satisfied with so I'll just shut up now :P Catch you guys soon! I SWEAR!

Peace out!
Rex