"You almost did what?!" Sango yelled, which made Kari have to calm her down.
"I told you! I almost slept with Inyuasha," she confessed for a second time.
Kari and Sango were currently located in the back of the shop. Today was a slow day so their weren't many customers that were stopping by.
Sango sighed. "Kari I don't understand what's going on with you. Ever since you found out that Sesshomaru was engaged to Kikyo, you've been acting without thinking. That's not like you."
Kari lowered her head. "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I've been trying to forget about her?"
"Does this woman have you so wrapped up that you can't remember the sky is blue and the grass is green?"
Kari was silent. She didn't feel like having this conversation anymore. Her life was slowy unraveling before her and to make matters worse, she heard somewhere on the streets that Kikyo's and Sesshomaru's wedding was soon approaching. Her heart was a blackhole and most of her self confidence was sucked inside. Why bother anymore? She didn't even know if Sesshomaru loved her back.
Sango promised that everything was going to be alright, but it wasn't.
Kari forcibly ran a hand through her hair. "I just don't know what to do anymore."
"Nothing," was Sango's reply. Kari looked up at her cousin.
"You did everything you could."
A tear spilled from Kari's eye. And another and another. "I guess so."
Sango took her younger cousin in an embrace. "Kari, for both of our sakes, please forget about Sesshomaru. Move on with your life. You can't keep going on like this."
Kari let out an earth shattering shudder. "I know Sango! I know!"
The entire day, Kari stayed in the back while Sango and their grandmother handled the front. It pained Sango to tell their grandma what Kari was going through, but Kaede had become suspicious and wanted to know.
Finally closing the shop at 9:20, Kari was the last to leave, turning out the lights and locking up. She headed to her car. When she approached, she found something odd about it. Her car wasn't at the eye level that it was suppose to be. But everything about it looked fine until Kari accidentally drop her keys trying to look for them in her purse. And that's when she saw it.
Her front tire was slashed.
'Oh no,' she thought. She checked the back and then the other two. Every single tire was deflated of air. That bitch.
She heard the sound of flapping back as the wind blew. She went to her windshield to see a note. She removed it and read with what little light she had.
Stay away from my man you stupid bitch. If I catch you around him I'll see to it that there's a wedding and a funeral all in the same day. And that's a threat not a promise.
Kari furiously balled up the piece of paper and throwing it. This was just great. She didn't have four extra tires lying around in her trunk. She pulled out her cell phone to see if Sango could come pick her up. She looked at the screen for it to say no signal. Damn it. Even simple technology was useless these days.
She looked around. With nowhere else to go she had no choice but to walk.
Sesshomaru was just coming back from somewhere, when he saw a figure walking the streets. He thought that it must be someone homeless and paid it no mind when he saw who it really was. Kari. He slowed the car, unrolling the window.
"Kari?"
She turned her attention.
"What are you doing out here, it's dangerous," he said.
"I had a little car trouble," she stated. She wanted to scream that it was Kikyo but figured that they both had been through enough without adding her to the mix.
"Well get in," he said, stopping the car and allowing her access.
Kari got in, fastening her seat belt.
"So where to?" Sesshomaru asked.
"My apartment," she answered.
She gave him directions and enjoyed the ride. There was soft jazz music playing and she sunk inside the cushion of the seat. Kari let out a relaxing sigh. Why couldn't life be like this? Just peaceful with no problems.
Sesshomaru took a quick glance at Kari, noticing how her skin shone in the moonlight. If he wanted to, he could stop this car, wake her up and explore every part of her beautiful body. He shook his head, dismissing those thoughts.
As he continued on his way, Kari slowly drifted to sleep.
After awhile he parked in front of her apartment. He shook Kari awake. She stirred back to life.
"We're here," he informed.
She grabbed her things, exiting the vehicle. Sesshomaru followed suit.
"I'll walk you up," he announced.
Kari said nothing as she allowed hin to do whatever he wanted. She was too tired to protest. They entered the elevator, Kari pressing the 9th button for her floor. The 30 second ride was quiet as the heavy, metallic doors opened to its destination.
Kari walked down the corridor with Sesshomaru right behind. She inserted the key to her door, opening it as she did. She turned to face him.
"Thanks," was what she said.
"Sure."
For a moment they were quiet. Sesshomaru was thinking about giving her the bracelet. He was too lazy to take it out his car, so he kept it on him just in case. He reached into his pocket, taking ahold of the velvet box when suddenly Kari had said someting he wasn't expecting. "Good night."
Sesshomaru released the box and said in return, "Yeah, you too."
Kari silently closed the door as he walked back to the elevator.