BEFORE YOU READ: I need to let you guys know; this new QuickEdit thing on FFn is a complete joke. All of the quotation marks have been turned into question marks, and I just can't fix it. I had a letter I wanted to post for those of you who aren't on my mailing list; it was an apology for taking so long to update. Everything's in order, now, but I can't promise you neat format, anymore, with this program. If you want a less confusing version of ASBMF to read, go to Animespiral.com, and you can find it there, as well. (Actually, I reccommend you do that, instead of reading it here). I am under the same pen name there. Sorry for the screwed up format; I'll see what I can do. For now, I hope you enjoy this next chapter - and look forward to the next. Gomen and Arigato. ---Honey Bee
Chapter 11 She Flinched
It was two weeks later, when April and I were doing our usual movie night, that she got a phone call.
?Moshi moshi! Oh, konnichiwa, Miroku-san! Yeah. You? That?s good. Oh, InuYasha?s over, we?re just watching a movie.? she cupped her hand over the mouth piece and said to me, ?Miroku says hi!? I nodded and told her to reply. ?He says hi back! Tomorrow night? Nothing. They are? Oooooh! Ritzy! I didn?t know the TAA had enough money to put up something like that! Coolio! Oh, yeah, we?ll be there! A dress? I?ll find something. That?s okay, I haven?t been keeping up with the TAA lately, anyway. The late nights at the diner, you know. . . yeah. . .?
They continued to chatter while I continued to wonder what the heck was going on. I was patient until they were done socializing, and when she hung up, I asked, ?What was Miroku calling you about??
?The TAA is having a Banquet tomorrow night, and Miroku wanted us to come so he and Sango wouldn?t be the only ones there. They don?t really know anyone else. You got anything nice to wear?? I thought it over, and nodded. ?What about you? Don?t you girls usually need some fancy dress??
She smiled. ?Yes, we do. That?s why I already have one. It?s simple, little, and black!?
I smirked, imagining her in the ?little black number? she mentioned. I was anxious to see her in it.
The next night came, and I was in my apartment getting ready, fiddling with a tie. I stood in front of my mirror probably making all sorts of faces, struggling to get the damn thing on. I had chosen a deep red dress shirt and black slacks; I wasn?t going any more formal than that. All those years wearing suits at home, and I still couldn?t tie a tie.
Jeik sat beside me, curious, and he also seemed to be a little worried about my occasional murmurs and curses. His head was tipped to the side, and he stared at my reflection cutely, his keen jade eyes taking in every move I made.
I was muttering curses again when I heard a soft rustling of fabric, and Jeik yipped, scaring the bijeesus out of me. I jumped, and heard a soft snickering behind me. Looking up at the mirror I saw April standing in the doorway behind me. She had her hair down, but I couldn?t see the rest of her.
?Hey,? she said.
I smiled at her, and turned around, still fiddling with the damn tie. When I got a good look at that little dress she?d been talking about, I think I froze up for a few minutes, and forgot about my tie completely. She looked hot.
She smiled modestly, blushing at the look on my face. ?Here, d-do you need help?? she asked, moving to me to take the tie ends out of my hands.
I nodded as she turned me around to face the mirror, and stood on the tip of her toes behind me, to reach around and knot the tie. She got it on one try, leaving my ego a little frazzled, but it wasn?t anything too damaging. ?Where?d you learn to do that?? I asked her.
She rested her chin on my shoulder and stared at my reflection in the mirror with a smile, her arms still around my neck. ?My dad taught me. When I was around eight. I wanted to know how to tie a tie, and he was always getting ready for those business meetings of his, so he tried to teach me whenever he could. It?s just one of those life skills, you know??
I nodded, and cleared my throat nervously. ?Y-you look great.?
?Thanks.? She joked. ?I try.?
I smiled, and turned around so I could pull her into my arms and kiss her.
After a few moments, she pulled away hastily, smiling. ?We?re gonna be late, baka!?
?Hey!? I teased. ?Who you calling a baka??
?You!? she replied, sticking her tongue out childishly. She ran from the room then, myself on her heels. I caught her near the kitchen counter, around the waist. She giggled and tried to struggle free, and I made sure to keep a loose hold on her, so I wouldn?t bring back any ?memories.? Her long curtain of hair swished, making me think of a shampoo model. I leaned forward to sniff her hair; she smelled good.
?What you sniffing, Dog Demon?? she asked me teasingly.
I just played along. ?My mate!? I growled.
She laughed heartily at that reply, blushing, and turned around to slip her arms around my waist.
I knew if we kept this up, we would never leave the building, which was alright with me, but Miroku and Sango were counting on us.
I pried her hands loose from my waist and got my ?mate? out door and into my truck.
The Banquet went nicely. Though, it was ten dollars a person to get in the door, the pay was worth it. The food was good, and we had a nice time with Sango and Miroku.
But the whole time, I just couldn?t keep my eyes off of April in that dress, so I suggested we go home after.
?I don?t wanna go home yet!? she made a face. ?Let?s go drinking, or something! Sango, Miroku, you guys want to come??
Sango declined for them both, even though Miroku looked up to it. ?We drank last night.? She shot a look at her husband, who pouted.
He argued. ?But Sango, it wouldn?t hurt-?
?No, I had enough of a time getting you out of bed this morning, and besides, we?re running low on aspirins. Maybe some other time, you guys.?
Smirking at the couple, April and I nodded. While we were walking to a club she suggested, she said, ?Sango and Miroku are a cute couple.?
?Hai,? I agreed. ?She keeps him in line.?
April giggled. ?And he looked so crestfallen when she said no!?
?That?s Miroku for you.?
?They make marriage look so easy,? she commented. ?It?s funny, because my parents never seemed to be able to be so casual.?
I thought about that. ?It?s stressful when you have three kids.?
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she nodded. ?Do you think Sango and Miroku will ever have kids??
I smiled, imagining Miroku chasing a toddler around the house with another newborn on his hip. The dog would be barking, Sango would be trying to get her rest for work, and the phone would be ringing - but I had confidence in Miroku. He was always able to make the best out of a situation. ?Yeah, I could see them having kids.?
?I just want one,? April said. ?Someday. A boy.?
At that point, I just nodded in agreement. Kids would be cool. I loved Rin, she was cute and fun to play with. But the reality of it all. . . from far away, people made it look fun, magical, and easy - but I had heard my share of stories and saw plenty of screaming kids in the grocery store. Needless to say, I was still skeptical.
The discussion dropped as we turned into the club and found a table. I got us drinks, and the rest of the night was fun, but relaxed. We dance, we talked, and April was always able to make me laugh. She could do the most childish thing - like sticking out her tongue - without looking immature at all. I realized that night what a special girl I had - as well as the jealous stares from other men. Made me feel kind of satisfied, actually.
April moaned as we stumbled into her apartment later that night, drunk and ready for bed. . . not that we were tired. I ran thankful fingers through her hair that she had left down, and registered how soft it felt. Attached to one another at the lips, we made it into bed falling together onto the mattress, laughing.
I hovered over her, trailing kisses down her neck, tasting her, loving her, until she stopped moving. . . I looked up, and saw that she had fallen asleep. . . or possibly passed out. I just smiled and climbed up next to her, pulling her into my arms.
The next day was Monday. We walked to the diner together that morning, and it was unusually silent, due to April?s hangover.
?Do you need an aspirin?? I asked her quietly.
She tried a smile and shook her head. ?I?m sorry I fell asleep last night.?
I was surprised. ?Er, uh, you don?t have to apologize for that.?
She laughed, a little embarrassed. ?I just. . . I know how guys. . . you weren?t ready to stop. . .?
My eyes widened. ?Really, it?s okay!?
?Heh,? she laughed weakly as we entered the diner. I sat in the corner booth and watched the morning crowd arrive, with a cup of coffee. April tiredly began her daily work, and I watched sympathetically, wishing I could help her. Some loud customers entered, and I could see her forced cheerfulness slowly fading into a frown. As I was getting ready to leave for work early, I took notice in the customer that entered next.
?Hetan,? I muttered through gritted teeth. I still wanted to clobber the guy.
April was coming out of the kitchen with two trays in each hand, still looking worse for wear. She looked up to see who the new customer was, and stopped short, dropping both trays when she saw him. I had stopped moving at her reaction, and just watched in silence as the next moments played out.
April stood very still, just staring at Hetan. The diner was very quiet - the clatter of the trays had gotten everyone?s attention.
And then, the dirty bastard smirked. ?April. Long time no see.?
Her breathing quickened. ?You-?she turned away from him, panicking,?-get away from me! Get away!?
She moved for the kitchen, and he followed her. ?So, this is what happened to you after your restaurant shut down.?
?Get out! Go away!?
She was crying, hyperventilating, and at that moment, my mind snapped, putting two and two together. It was Hetan. Hetan raped April.
At that moment of realization, all of my anger towards him and his sick ways surfaced, and I stalked over to him, balled my fist, and busted his fuckin? nose. It felt damn good.
?What the fuck?!? He screamed, holding his nose, swaggering precariously.
?You raped her!? I screamed, lunging at him again. Someone held me back this time. I think it was Mike.
Time slowed. Hetan was smirking at me through the blood that ran out of his nose and over his mouth. Mike held me back; I was still trying to get at the bastard, screaming anything. I couldn?t think, I couldn?t feel. All I wanted was justice. All I could see in my mind was his filthy hands all over her. . . that smirk of his as tears ran down her beautiful face. . . at that moment, if I?d been allowed, I?d have killed the bastard.
Time sped up again. ?InuYasha!!!? It was April. Her voice hit me as if it had been thrown at me. I stopped struggling, and just stared. Snarling, I shook Mike off, and walked away from Hetan.
April was backed up against the wall, like a scared child. Her hands covered her face, but I didn?t have to see it to know she was crying.
?April. . .?
She flinched.
I reached out to her, but she recoiled even further. ?Get away! Don?t look at me!?
I didn?t know what to do. I didn?t know what to do. I was at a complete loss. I was watching this girl I had come to love so much, this girl that was so full of life, and energy, good humor, and kindness, crumble and fall apart. She was falling apart and I couldn?t hold her together.
Mike tried. She didn?t want him, either. Hell, I would have been all right with that. At least she would have wanted someone. But then it occurred to me: we were men. Men were the threat, here.
I looked behind me. Hetan was still there, still watching, with that damn smirk on his face. I stalked toward him. ?Get out!!! Get out of here, you sick bastard!!?
I think I threw a tray at him.
Whatever I did, he left, but not before yelling something incoherent out to April. I heard her sob from the corner, and chased Hetan out into the street. As he ran, he kept looking back at me.
And the rest happened in no less than five seconds.
A van hit Hetan.
It was weird; I?d never actually seen someone get hit by a car before, and it?s not something they show on T.V. . . His body was just. . . catapulted, like a rag doll. He flipped, and landed on top of another car. I had just barely processed exactly what had happened, when another car stopped short of hitting me. But this girl hit her breaks in time.
I stood there, just staring at Hetan?s bleeding, twisted body. He had shattered the glass of the car he?d landed on; he looked broken everywhere.
I can?t say I was happy about it; death isn?t something that brings happiness to anyone. I felt like I had gotten closure. His acts had been justified.
Numb, I had turned away from the accident. It replayed over and over in my head; it was disturbing. I don?t think it?s something I?ll ever really get over seeing, but then, that?s life.
I went back to the only person in my life that mattered at the moment. Someone had gotten her into the kitchen, in the back. A police woman was there already, talking to her, consoling her.
She turned on me when I approached.
?Can you tell me what just happened here?? she asked, kindness gone, replaced with a look that said ?I don?t take crap from anybody.?
I just nodded and launched into the story.
A lot is required when something big like that happens. I was at the police station for hours, just telling people what had happened. I didn?t know why they just couldn?t send out a memo. They?d almost thought about pulling me in deeper when they found out I?d been chasing Hetan, but changed their minds when they realized I?d been doing it out of blind anger.
One cop snorted a laugh. ?Bastard got what he deserved, eh??
I just nodded.
When I finally got home, I immediately went to April. Or, thought I had. Someone had scribbled out a note for me and left it taped to her door.
?InuYasha - April has gone to stay with June. Ringo is with her. Expect her call.?
I just stared at the note. I felt. . . hurt.
How important was I to her? Why didn?t she want me? All I wanted to do was be there for her, but she clearly didn?t want me around.
I reached for her doorknob; it wasn?t locked. The door swung open easily. I stepped inside and turned the light on. It was empty. Everything was gone, except for the bigger items, the things you ignore when you pack quickly.
I looked over to the kitchen table. On it?s surface sat the little white, twisted shell that I?d found and given to her that day at the beach. I went over and picked it up, studying it?s colors of orange, green and violet.
I put it in my pocket and left the apartment.
An hour later, April called.
?Hey.?
?Hey. How are you? Are you okay? Why. . . why?d you leave??
She sighed, and I could hear tears in her voice. ?I?m sorry. I can?t stay there anymore, InuYasha. Not with him around.?
?April. . . Hetan?s dead. Didn?t you know??
?Yes. I know.?
?But - he?s gone, now. You don?t have to leave, you can stay-?
?InuYasha. Seeing him again today brought back too many memories. I just. . . I need to be with my family right now. I?m sorry.?
?But what about me?? My voice was rising. ?Aren?t I family?!?
?You?re. . . you?re incredible. . .?
I squeezed my eyes shut. ?Then come back.?
She hung up. That was a no.
My heart was breaking. I hadn?t even felt this bad over Kagome. And I should have known. I should have known not to fall in love again. She was gone, now, and it didn?t seem like she was ever coming back.
But what had she meant, she couldn?t stay there ?with him around?? With his memory around, perhaps?
Man, he?d really messed with her. He?d really screwed her up. And in that second, I was happy the bastard was dead.
I threw the phone. It hit the wall, and marked it. Jeik whimpered, and cowered off somewhere, and I immediately felt bad.
I went in my room and sat on the edge of my bed, angry, thinking. I sat there for a good long time. When the time came around when Jeik and I usually picked April up from work, he approached me, and whimpered.
He spoke to me with his jade green eyes. ?We have to go get April.?
?No, not tonight, buddy.?
He whimpered. ?But why??
?April?s gone, buddy. She?s gone and she?s never coming back.?
He whined, the sound twisting my chest. ?I don?t understand.?
?I don?t understand either.?
And I cried.
Chapter 11 She Flinched
It was two weeks later, when April and I were doing our usual movie night, that she got a phone call.
?Moshi moshi! Oh, konnichiwa, Miroku-san! Yeah. You? That?s good. Oh, InuYasha?s over, we?re just watching a movie.? she cupped her hand over the mouth piece and said to me, ?Miroku says hi!? I nodded and told her to reply. ?He says hi back! Tomorrow night? Nothing. They are? Oooooh! Ritzy! I didn?t know the TAA had enough money to put up something like that! Coolio! Oh, yeah, we?ll be there! A dress? I?ll find something. That?s okay, I haven?t been keeping up with the TAA lately, anyway. The late nights at the diner, you know. . . yeah. . .?
They continued to chatter while I continued to wonder what the heck was going on. I was patient until they were done socializing, and when she hung up, I asked, ?What was Miroku calling you about??
?The TAA is having a Banquet tomorrow night, and Miroku wanted us to come so he and Sango wouldn?t be the only ones there. They don?t really know anyone else. You got anything nice to wear?? I thought it over, and nodded. ?What about you? Don?t you girls usually need some fancy dress??
She smiled. ?Yes, we do. That?s why I already have one. It?s simple, little, and black!?
I smirked, imagining her in the ?little black number? she mentioned. I was anxious to see her in it.
The next night came, and I was in my apartment getting ready, fiddling with a tie. I stood in front of my mirror probably making all sorts of faces, struggling to get the damn thing on. I had chosen a deep red dress shirt and black slacks; I wasn?t going any more formal than that. All those years wearing suits at home, and I still couldn?t tie a tie.
Jeik sat beside me, curious, and he also seemed to be a little worried about my occasional murmurs and curses. His head was tipped to the side, and he stared at my reflection cutely, his keen jade eyes taking in every move I made.
I was muttering curses again when I heard a soft rustling of fabric, and Jeik yipped, scaring the bijeesus out of me. I jumped, and heard a soft snickering behind me. Looking up at the mirror I saw April standing in the doorway behind me. She had her hair down, but I couldn?t see the rest of her.
?Hey,? she said.
I smiled at her, and turned around, still fiddling with the damn tie. When I got a good look at that little dress she?d been talking about, I think I froze up for a few minutes, and forgot about my tie completely. She looked hot.
She smiled modestly, blushing at the look on my face. ?Here, d-do you need help?? she asked, moving to me to take the tie ends out of my hands.
I nodded as she turned me around to face the mirror, and stood on the tip of her toes behind me, to reach around and knot the tie. She got it on one try, leaving my ego a little frazzled, but it wasn?t anything too damaging. ?Where?d you learn to do that?? I asked her.
She rested her chin on my shoulder and stared at my reflection in the mirror with a smile, her arms still around my neck. ?My dad taught me. When I was around eight. I wanted to know how to tie a tie, and he was always getting ready for those business meetings of his, so he tried to teach me whenever he could. It?s just one of those life skills, you know??
I nodded, and cleared my throat nervously. ?Y-you look great.?
?Thanks.? She joked. ?I try.?
I smiled, and turned around so I could pull her into my arms and kiss her.
After a few moments, she pulled away hastily, smiling. ?We?re gonna be late, baka!?
?Hey!? I teased. ?Who you calling a baka??
?You!? she replied, sticking her tongue out childishly. She ran from the room then, myself on her heels. I caught her near the kitchen counter, around the waist. She giggled and tried to struggle free, and I made sure to keep a loose hold on her, so I wouldn?t bring back any ?memories.? Her long curtain of hair swished, making me think of a shampoo model. I leaned forward to sniff her hair; she smelled good.
?What you sniffing, Dog Demon?? she asked me teasingly.
I just played along. ?My mate!? I growled.
She laughed heartily at that reply, blushing, and turned around to slip her arms around my waist.
I knew if we kept this up, we would never leave the building, which was alright with me, but Miroku and Sango were counting on us.
I pried her hands loose from my waist and got my ?mate? out door and into my truck.
The Banquet went nicely. Though, it was ten dollars a person to get in the door, the pay was worth it. The food was good, and we had a nice time with Sango and Miroku.
But the whole time, I just couldn?t keep my eyes off of April in that dress, so I suggested we go home after.
?I don?t wanna go home yet!? she made a face. ?Let?s go drinking, or something! Sango, Miroku, you guys want to come??
Sango declined for them both, even though Miroku looked up to it. ?We drank last night.? She shot a look at her husband, who pouted.
He argued. ?But Sango, it wouldn?t hurt-?
?No, I had enough of a time getting you out of bed this morning, and besides, we?re running low on aspirins. Maybe some other time, you guys.?
Smirking at the couple, April and I nodded. While we were walking to a club she suggested, she said, ?Sango and Miroku are a cute couple.?
?Hai,? I agreed. ?She keeps him in line.?
April giggled. ?And he looked so crestfallen when she said no!?
?That?s Miroku for you.?
?They make marriage look so easy,? she commented. ?It?s funny, because my parents never seemed to be able to be so casual.?
I thought about that. ?It?s stressful when you have three kids.?
Her eyebrows furrowed, and she nodded. ?Do you think Sango and Miroku will ever have kids??
I smiled, imagining Miroku chasing a toddler around the house with another newborn on his hip. The dog would be barking, Sango would be trying to get her rest for work, and the phone would be ringing - but I had confidence in Miroku. He was always able to make the best out of a situation. ?Yeah, I could see them having kids.?
?I just want one,? April said. ?Someday. A boy.?
At that point, I just nodded in agreement. Kids would be cool. I loved Rin, she was cute and fun to play with. But the reality of it all. . . from far away, people made it look fun, magical, and easy - but I had heard my share of stories and saw plenty of screaming kids in the grocery store. Needless to say, I was still skeptical.
The discussion dropped as we turned into the club and found a table. I got us drinks, and the rest of the night was fun, but relaxed. We dance, we talked, and April was always able to make me laugh. She could do the most childish thing - like sticking out her tongue - without looking immature at all. I realized that night what a special girl I had - as well as the jealous stares from other men. Made me feel kind of satisfied, actually.
April moaned as we stumbled into her apartment later that night, drunk and ready for bed. . . not that we were tired. I ran thankful fingers through her hair that she had left down, and registered how soft it felt. Attached to one another at the lips, we made it into bed falling together onto the mattress, laughing.
I hovered over her, trailing kisses down her neck, tasting her, loving her, until she stopped moving. . . I looked up, and saw that she had fallen asleep. . . or possibly passed out. I just smiled and climbed up next to her, pulling her into my arms.
The next day was Monday. We walked to the diner together that morning, and it was unusually silent, due to April?s hangover.
?Do you need an aspirin?? I asked her quietly.
She tried a smile and shook her head. ?I?m sorry I fell asleep last night.?
I was surprised. ?Er, uh, you don?t have to apologize for that.?
She laughed, a little embarrassed. ?I just. . . I know how guys. . . you weren?t ready to stop. . .?
My eyes widened. ?Really, it?s okay!?
?Heh,? she laughed weakly as we entered the diner. I sat in the corner booth and watched the morning crowd arrive, with a cup of coffee. April tiredly began her daily work, and I watched sympathetically, wishing I could help her. Some loud customers entered, and I could see her forced cheerfulness slowly fading into a frown. As I was getting ready to leave for work early, I took notice in the customer that entered next.
?Hetan,? I muttered through gritted teeth. I still wanted to clobber the guy.
April was coming out of the kitchen with two trays in each hand, still looking worse for wear. She looked up to see who the new customer was, and stopped short, dropping both trays when she saw him. I had stopped moving at her reaction, and just watched in silence as the next moments played out.
April stood very still, just staring at Hetan. The diner was very quiet - the clatter of the trays had gotten everyone?s attention.
And then, the dirty bastard smirked. ?April. Long time no see.?
Her breathing quickened. ?You-?she turned away from him, panicking,?-get away from me! Get away!?
She moved for the kitchen, and he followed her. ?So, this is what happened to you after your restaurant shut down.?
?Get out! Go away!?
She was crying, hyperventilating, and at that moment, my mind snapped, putting two and two together. It was Hetan. Hetan raped April.
At that moment of realization, all of my anger towards him and his sick ways surfaced, and I stalked over to him, balled my fist, and busted his fuckin? nose. It felt damn good.
?What the fuck?!? He screamed, holding his nose, swaggering precariously.
?You raped her!? I screamed, lunging at him again. Someone held me back this time. I think it was Mike.
Time slowed. Hetan was smirking at me through the blood that ran out of his nose and over his mouth. Mike held me back; I was still trying to get at the bastard, screaming anything. I couldn?t think, I couldn?t feel. All I wanted was justice. All I could see in my mind was his filthy hands all over her. . . that smirk of his as tears ran down her beautiful face. . . at that moment, if I?d been allowed, I?d have killed the bastard.
Time sped up again. ?InuYasha!!!? It was April. Her voice hit me as if it had been thrown at me. I stopped struggling, and just stared. Snarling, I shook Mike off, and walked away from Hetan.
April was backed up against the wall, like a scared child. Her hands covered her face, but I didn?t have to see it to know she was crying.
?April. . .?
She flinched.
I reached out to her, but she recoiled even further. ?Get away! Don?t look at me!?
I didn?t know what to do. I didn?t know what to do. I was at a complete loss. I was watching this girl I had come to love so much, this girl that was so full of life, and energy, good humor, and kindness, crumble and fall apart. She was falling apart and I couldn?t hold her together.
Mike tried. She didn?t want him, either. Hell, I would have been all right with that. At least she would have wanted someone. But then it occurred to me: we were men. Men were the threat, here.
I looked behind me. Hetan was still there, still watching, with that damn smirk on his face. I stalked toward him. ?Get out!!! Get out of here, you sick bastard!!?
I think I threw a tray at him.
Whatever I did, he left, but not before yelling something incoherent out to April. I heard her sob from the corner, and chased Hetan out into the street. As he ran, he kept looking back at me.
And the rest happened in no less than five seconds.
A van hit Hetan.
It was weird; I?d never actually seen someone get hit by a car before, and it?s not something they show on T.V. . . His body was just. . . catapulted, like a rag doll. He flipped, and landed on top of another car. I had just barely processed exactly what had happened, when another car stopped short of hitting me. But this girl hit her breaks in time.
I stood there, just staring at Hetan?s bleeding, twisted body. He had shattered the glass of the car he?d landed on; he looked broken everywhere.
I can?t say I was happy about it; death isn?t something that brings happiness to anyone. I felt like I had gotten closure. His acts had been justified.
Numb, I had turned away from the accident. It replayed over and over in my head; it was disturbing. I don?t think it?s something I?ll ever really get over seeing, but then, that?s life.
I went back to the only person in my life that mattered at the moment. Someone had gotten her into the kitchen, in the back. A police woman was there already, talking to her, consoling her.
She turned on me when I approached.
?Can you tell me what just happened here?? she asked, kindness gone, replaced with a look that said ?I don?t take crap from anybody.?
I just nodded and launched into the story.
A lot is required when something big like that happens. I was at the police station for hours, just telling people what had happened. I didn?t know why they just couldn?t send out a memo. They?d almost thought about pulling me in deeper when they found out I?d been chasing Hetan, but changed their minds when they realized I?d been doing it out of blind anger.
One cop snorted a laugh. ?Bastard got what he deserved, eh??
I just nodded.
When I finally got home, I immediately went to April. Or, thought I had. Someone had scribbled out a note for me and left it taped to her door.
?InuYasha - April has gone to stay with June. Ringo is with her. Expect her call.?
I just stared at the note. I felt. . . hurt.
How important was I to her? Why didn?t she want me? All I wanted to do was be there for her, but she clearly didn?t want me around.
I reached for her doorknob; it wasn?t locked. The door swung open easily. I stepped inside and turned the light on. It was empty. Everything was gone, except for the bigger items, the things you ignore when you pack quickly.
I looked over to the kitchen table. On it?s surface sat the little white, twisted shell that I?d found and given to her that day at the beach. I went over and picked it up, studying it?s colors of orange, green and violet.
I put it in my pocket and left the apartment.
An hour later, April called.
?Hey.?
?Hey. How are you? Are you okay? Why. . . why?d you leave??
She sighed, and I could hear tears in her voice. ?I?m sorry. I can?t stay there anymore, InuYasha. Not with him around.?
?April. . . Hetan?s dead. Didn?t you know??
?Yes. I know.?
?But - he?s gone, now. You don?t have to leave, you can stay-?
?InuYasha. Seeing him again today brought back too many memories. I just. . . I need to be with my family right now. I?m sorry.?
?But what about me?? My voice was rising. ?Aren?t I family?!?
?You?re. . . you?re incredible. . .?
I squeezed my eyes shut. ?Then come back.?
She hung up. That was a no.
My heart was breaking. I hadn?t even felt this bad over Kagome. And I should have known. I should have known not to fall in love again. She was gone, now, and it didn?t seem like she was ever coming back.
But what had she meant, she couldn?t stay there ?with him around?? With his memory around, perhaps?
Man, he?d really messed with her. He?d really screwed her up. And in that second, I was happy the bastard was dead.
I threw the phone. It hit the wall, and marked it. Jeik whimpered, and cowered off somewhere, and I immediately felt bad.
I went in my room and sat on the edge of my bed, angry, thinking. I sat there for a good long time. When the time came around when Jeik and I usually picked April up from work, he approached me, and whimpered.
He spoke to me with his jade green eyes. ?We have to go get April.?
?No, not tonight, buddy.?
He whimpered. ?But why??
?April?s gone, buddy. She?s gone and she?s never coming back.?
He whined, the sound twisting my chest. ?I don?t understand.?
?I don?t understand either.?
And I cried.