My Sanctuary
Melanie sat in the middle, between Nick and Gabe, as they all were ready to go eat. She watched Jordan get in the passenger's seat, smiling over at Sesshomaru warmly. Sesshomaru stared back at Jordan blankly, then he pouted slightly.
"What are you looking at?" he asked her bluntly as Jordan giggled.
"A jerk." She replied.
"Pizza!" Nick chirped.
"Pizza!" Gabe echoed.
"Pizza." Jordan said.
"That's nice. What does little Melanie want? Surely not pizza." Sesshomaru asked, looking in the rearview mirror, staring directly at the timid girl.
"Um," Melanie saw that Nick, Gabe and Jordan were all staring at her intensely, as if trying to send brainwaves saying "Pizza" to her mind. She looked from Jordan, to Gabe and lastly Nick, each staring without blinking, possibly without breathing.
"Uh, uh…stop!" Melanie whined, her face turning bright red as she shrank in her seat, pulling her head inside her zipped up jacket and pulling her limbs to herself.
"Aaww, Melanie," Jordan called out soothingly.
"Leave her be." Sesshomaru growled as he drove away.
"Haha, she reminds me of a turtle! Turtle, turtle, turtle!" Nick sang, poking Melanie's arm boldly. Melanie's eyes peeked out from her jacket, the blue orbs locking with Nick's grayish-blue ones.
"I'm not a turtle." She said to him with a pout. She sank even lower when everyone broke out in hysterical laughter. Except for Sesshomaru. He was focused on the road, momentarily glaring at Jordan for laughing. Jordan finished with her giggling and looked at Sesshomaru, who was shaking his head.
"And you say I'm a jerk?" he asked her with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yes." Jordan chirped back, patting his arm affectionately.
"Hey, Jordan, what were you saying about Ozzy and Metallica the other day?" Gabe asked, yawning slightly. Jordan turned around in her seat excitedly.
"They're going to be in concert together! Oh my God, I so want to go! 'My Apocolypse' should sound bad ass live!" Jordan stated quickly.
"Did you just say, "My friend, Paco's, lips," Jordan?" Sesshomaru asked her curiously and with disbelief.
"Si, senor." Jordan replied as Gabe and Nick erupted with laughter.
"My friend, Paco's, lips? Haha, really? Hahahaha!" Gabe laughed warmly. Nick was laughing too hard to even say anything. Jordan smiled as she saw a slight blush run across Sesshomaru's cheeks as his eyes narrowed.
"Haha, Sesshomaru, don't feel bad, buddy. My friend, Paco's, lips are very soft." Jordan chirped.
"Shut up." Sesshomaru snarled back, only to frown even more as their laughter grew louder. Jordan talked so fast, and he wasn't really listening to her, he just heard what he though she was saying.
"Ugh, what's this idiot doing?" Sesshomaru groaned when the car in front of him stopped in the middle of the street. They suddenly put their turn signal on.
"We sat at that light for three minutes and you couldn't decide if you wanted to turn or not? You stupid…ugh!" Sesshomaru barked. Jordan hid her smile in her hand. She could tell he was losing his composure over something so little as a joke. She reached over and rubbed his arm lightly.
"Calm down, bud." She said soothingly.
"Someone has anger issues!" Gabe sang teasingly. The vehicle came to a sudden jerky stop.
"You stupid mother fucker! I'll run your stupid little clown car over!" Sesshomaru hollered angrily as Jordan concealed another giggle.
"Dude, woosah." Nick called from the backseat.
"Yes, you homely bitch, I'm talking to you!" Sesshomaru growled when he switched lanes, driving by the woman, who flipped him off. Sesshomaru gladly returned the gesture. Sesshomaru let out a breath when Jordan began playing.
"Stupid mother fucker, stupid mother fucker, you stupid mother fuck…er!" Jordan yelled along with the singer.
"I love this song!" Gabe laughed.
"They think you're dumb, I think you're smart, no, wait, I lied, I think you're dumb!" Jordan yelled at Gabe, who began laughing.
"You stupid mother fucker!" Gabe shouted back, still smiling.
"Could you play a more appropriate song?" Sesshomaru asked with a sigh.
"Sure," Jordan chirped.
"Doo dah doo doo!" Gabe chirped with the song.
"Think about your dad…what's your dad like…I wanna meet that dad! Doo dah doo doo!" Jordan said, bobbing her head to the song.
"Hahaha! What the hell?" Nick asked.
"Slap your face!" Jordan shouted.
"Slap your friend!" Gabe echoed.
"Get sexy kids!" Jordan added on.
"Doo dah doo doo!" Gabe finished.
"If you do not play a normal song in the next five seconds, I will slap my friend…really hard." Sesshomaru bit out seriously, glancing at Jordan. He came to a stop.
"Stinks in here! Smells like meat!" Jordan chirped.
"Rotten meat!" Gabe added on.
"Kids, why would you bring that rotten meat in here of all places?"
"Kids, you stupid mother fuckers! What the hell's wrong with you kids?" Gabe laughed when Sesshomaru reached over, trying to strike Jordan, but she deflected his arm, pointing at the green light.
"I'll kill you." Sesshomaru stated in a tone that a normal person would use when they were happy.
"I love you, too." Jordan replied, still laughing slightly at the principal's odd show of affection. His death threats were secretly statements of his unconditional love for her as a friend. Sesshomaru snorted arrogantly in reply. That was another one of his statements.
"I want a cookie." Nick stated randomly.
"Haha, me too." Gabe chirped as Sesshomaru pulled into the parking lot of an enormous mall.
"Everyone can get what they want. I'll pay." Sesshomaru announced, getting out, along with everyone else. Sesshomaru watched as Nick and Gabe pulled Melanie along with them in a frantic run towards the mall entrance.
"Race?" Jordan asked Sesshomaru, trying to keep up with his speedy pace. He looked at her with an eyebrow cocked.
"Sure," he said back, taking off quickly.
Naraku yawned as he lay on the couch in the living room, snuggled beneath a blanket as he slept soundly. The room was chilly and he was too lazy to get up and turn the air down. It was also quiet now that the hyper, younger, adults were gone from the house. Jenn walked into the room and exhaled when she saw his relaxed expression on his face. Though he used her, and lied to her, he never stopped being nice. He fixed her coffee, made sure that she was fine when she was alone, and he even gave her space when she needed it the most.
"Oh God, Naraku," Jenn whispered hoarsely when she saw the blanket covering him being slowly pulled off him. She gulped down her fear and shivered.
"Naraku," she called out louder. She saw his hand twitch as he slowly opened his eyes.
"Hm? What?" he asked her.
"The blanket," she said, needing not say anymore. Naraku watched as the blanket slowly dragged down the length of his body, falling to the floor in a heap. Naraku slowly sat up, his eyebrow cocked as he looked at Jenn.
"Awkward." He stated.
"Uh, yeah, understatement," Jenn breathed, rubbing her head slightly. She then felt her feet being pulled out from underneath her and the next thing she knew was her back hitting the floor. Jenn wasn't hurt. She was just in shock. She stayed on her back, looking into Naraku's eyes as he leaned over, looking back at her.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, standing up and helping her onto the couch with him.
"No, just a bit spooked." She insisted, wanting to pull away, but he had one arm draped over both of her shoulders, keeping her close to his naturally heated body.
"It's cold." Naraku stated.
"How can you be cold? Your body is hotter than Hell." Jenn grumbled.
"Heh, why thank you, Jenn." Naraku replied cunningly, patting her shoulder.
Jordan began laughing as she ran down the mall corridor, Sesshomaru's belt in her hands. He was busy looking at expensive suits in an expensive store, completely absorbed in his own thoughts. He felt a few quick tugs at his belt buckle, then the belt leaving his waist in one quick jerk. Now he was chasing Jordan for his belt. Sesshomaru saw her dodge a kid, then, like her body shutting off on its own, Jordan went limp and hit the floor.
"Jordan!" Sesshomaru called out as he ran up to her. People gasped and gathered around to see what was wrong.
"What?" Jordan groaned when she sat up, looking at Sesshomaru, who noticed the hazed look in her eyes.
"What do you mean, "What"? Jordan, you just collapsed for no reason." Sesshomaru whispered fiercely, hearing a few people whisper, "hospital."
"No, I'm good, really. I'm just clumsy." Jordan chirped with a smile as she stood up quickly, Sesshomaru rising with her slowly. He reached out to rub her arm, but stopped himself. He hated public affection. When the crowd dispersed, Sesshomaru looked at Jordan, feeling his breath leave him when he saw her covering her face with both hands, trying to keep her sobs silent. Sesshomaru looked around again, wondering if anyone he knew was there, but Jordan's audible sob gained his full attention.
"Come on," Sesshomaru said to her, putting his arm around her as he led her away. He wished that Jordan would just tell him what was wrong instead of making him ask. He led her outside, where a few chairs and tables sat for people to rest. He sat Jordan down in one and sat next to her.
"Jordan, don't make me ask." Sesshomaru whined slightly. Jordan wiped her eyes and shook her head in the negative.
"Then don't worry about it!" she snapped at him fiercely, looking away.
"Is it your back again? Jordan, just tell me," Sesshomaru said.
"I haven't slept for three days." Jordan growled, looking at Sesshomaru. He stared back and finally noticed the wrinkles and dark rings around her eyes. He had assumed earlier that it was the make up she would wear sometimes, but now he could tell it wasn't.
"Why not?" Sesshomaru asked simply.
"Because I…there's…I'm not telling you. Don't worry about it." Jordan replied with defeat. She knew Sesshomaru would not believe her and start making fun of her. Sesshomaru sat in his chair and crossed his arms, hell-bent on keeping his cool. He knew there were two reasons she wouldn't tell him. One, she was back on medicine that she didn't need to be on, or two, she was going to blame it on the ghosts. He sighed and leaned towards her.
"Just tell me," he ordered calmly.
"I can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Because you…you know why."
"Jordan, I obviously have not a clue in Hell of why or I wouldn't be asking." He lied. Now he was leaning towards the ghosts as her excuse. Jordan simply shook her head and exhaled.
"You don't need to worry. I'm tired enough to sleep tonight." Jordan replied, frowning when Sesshomaru stood up. He leaned down in front of her, both hands grabbing the arms of the chair she sat in. He let out a sharp breath before speaking.
"You stubborn jackass of a woman, tell me what's wrong." He growled at her. Jordan looked up at him with a frown before looking down and exhaling.
"That house, there's something in it, and I'm serious." She said as Sesshomaru knelt down on his knees, now looking up at her.
"Are noises keeping you awake? What's bothering you?"
"I keep hearing a voice when I close my eyes,"
"A voice?"
"His voice…it…it talks to me and keeps me awake." She replied shakily.
"What? Is Naraku being a creep?"
"It's not him…not unless he's Jared."
"Jordan, Jared is dead."
"You don't think I know that? I know he is! But I hear his voice! It keeps me awake!" she snapped at him quietly. Sesshomaru frowned. She was telling the truth. It was clearly bothering her. The older man let out a slow, silent breath, looking down at her knees before raising his head and shrugging.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!"
"Don't kill me, I was only asking." Sesshomaru bit back. Jordan hid her face in her hands and let out a long breath.
"I knew you wouldn't believe me."
"I believe you."
"You do? Really?"
"I can tell that it's bothering you. And if it's bothering you enough to prevent you, Jordan, the nightly hibernator, from sleeping, then it must be real."
"Thank you."
"For what?" Sesshomaru asked, but his only reply was Jordan hugging him and collapsing into him with fatigue. He pulled her onto a bench with him and sat down, exhaling heavily. He should've stayed in bed.
Gabe and Nick peeked over a counter top in a bookstore, both of them spying on Melanie. Why? Because they could, because they were bored and because they could not find Jordan.
"Do you need anything?" A clerk asked Melanie, who shook her head no while shrinking a bit. She grabbed another book, reading the back and flipping through the pages. She heard a loud, familiar sneeze behind her and she turned around, seeing no one. Gabe and Nick had ducked down, hoping she didn't see them. Nick sniffed loudly.
"Oh God," he groaned.
"Shhh! Uh, uh, meow!" Gabe shouted out.
"Moooo!" Nick echoed, both knowing that they were caught.
"Why are you following me?" Melanie asked them curiously while looking over the shelf at them.
"What're you talking about? We're not following you? We're looking at books!" Gabe insisted, grabbing a book and hitting Nick with it, then stuffing it into Nick's chest. Nick grabbed it and looked at it.
"The Origin of the Quadratic Equation…just what I was looking for. Thank you, Gabe." Nick stated in a fake tone of interest and appreciation.
"You're welcome, Nick." Gabe chirped back, his tone more convincing.
"Nick, recite the quadratic formula." Melanie said, crossing her arms. Nick gulped and sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, praying to God it was written up there, but it was not.
"Um, I don't know…which is why I was looking for this!" he replied, starting slow and ending quickly. Melanie cocked an eyebrow as she exhaled, turning around and continuing her browsing. Gabe and Nick looked at one another, snorting and walking around the isle.
"We're just playing around, Melanie. Come on, don't be mad." Gabe stated.
"I'm not mad. Just confused." Melanie replied.
"Yes, I am." Nick replied candidly.
Sesshomaru drove quietly, listening to Nick and Gabe chat back and forth to one another about anything that popped into their minds.
"No, do you remember when we went camping?" Nick asked Gabe.
"Yeah, that stupid ass bear sign. Let the bear know you are a human." Gabe stated.
"I have an iPod!"
"Haha, then it said at the very bottom to restate that you are human."
"I think, therefore I am!" Nick called out as Gabe laughed.
"Haha, I hate camping." Gabe replied.
"I love it. I never do what the signs tell me to." Nick stated.
"And what shall I say at your funeral after you're mauled by a bear?" Sesshomaru asked curiously.
"Haha, you're coming to my funeral? That's saying a lot." Nick shot back.
"Just don't mention, "bear scat" during your speech." Gabe stated as he and Nick snorted loudly as they burst into laughter. Melanie rolled her eyes, but she was smiling widely as she shook her head.
"Scat!" Nick chirped.
"Haha, what the hell? Couldn't they say feces instead? Who the hell invented the word "scat" as a replacement for the word "shit?" Honestly?" Gabe asked aloud.
"You're mom did." Jordan shot with a smile.
"Pfft, she probably did." Gabe murmured back as Jordan and Nick laughed in response.
"Haha, Gabe, hold my purse, I have to scat! Hahaha!" Jordan said while laughing warmly.
"Oh, Lord have mercy! Gabe, did you just scat? Hahahahaha!" Nick added on as Gabe rolled his eyes in response as Jordan and Nick tore into him with scat jokes. They arrived at the house and walked in, where Naraku greeted them semi-happily.
"Oh? What's this?" Naraku asked, pointing at Melanie's sack with her game and new iPod in it.
"It's,"
"SCAT!" Jordan, Nick and Gabe shouted, laughing when Naraku glared at them. He looked back at Melanie, who showed him the game and iPod.
"Hm, I bet this was expensive." Naraku chuckled, pointing at the iPod.
"Not really. I could've bought every color of the rainbow." Sesshomaru announced as he followed the young adults into the living room.
"He bought these for you?" Naraku asked with slight surprise and disgust.
"Mhm. I didn't want him to, but he's…he does what he wants." Melanie said with a sigh and a smile.
"Yeah, I know." Naraku replied with a sigh of his own.
Sesshomaru watched as Nick and Gabe began chasing one another around the house. Jordan was asleep against Sesshomaru's arm, covered with a blanket as she snuggled against him. He looked down at her quickly before looking up, seeing Nick leap over the other couch effortlessly. Gabe ran around it, still keeping up with Nick impressively well. They left the room, storming upstairs wildly. Naraku was in the shower, Jenn was in another bathroom, Nick and Gabe were chasing one another and Jordan was next to Sesshomaru, who was wondering where little Melanie had gotten.
"Melanie?" Sesshomaru called out when he heard someone in the kitchen. He looked down at Jordan and sighed, hearing the soft footsteps enter the room. Melanie came walking in, but Sesshomaru could tell immediately that something was wrong. She fell to her knees in the middle of the floor.
"Jordan!" Sesshomaru spat, shaking her awake. Jordan sat up quickly and saw Melanie…who happened to be holding a giant butcher knife.
"Holy shit! Melanie, hey, wake up!" Jordan called out, snapping her fingers, but Melanie stared back, her face hardened and cold as her blue eyes stared Jordan down. Melanie held the blade in her hand, and before Sesshomaru could leap up and disarm her, she sliced her right hand opened, still staring down Jordan.
"Damn it, get her!" Sesshomaru snapped, diving after her himself and grabbing the knife with one hand as he pinned her on her back with the other.
"Why…why is she staring at me like that?" Jordan asked hesitantly.
"I don't know, but call for help." Sesshomaru said back calmly, taking off his shirt and tying it around Melanie's hand.
"Someone get down here now!" Jordan yelled up the stairs. She saw Naraku calmly stride to the stairway, looking down at her.
"What?" he asked.
"Now!" Jordan insisted. Naraku sighed and walked downstairs, following her into the living room. Melanie's head snapped in Jordan's direction, her cold, blue eyes back on her. Naraku ran over to Melanie and Sesshomaru.
"What happened?" Naraku asked.
"It's…it's hard to say." Sesshomaru replied, actually looking at Naraku with slight fear. The two men looked at Melanie, who glared at Jordan, who stared back uncertainly.
"Fuck ghosts. This is…no, no, no. Creepy. Fucking creepy. Stop looking at me!" Jordan shouted, but Melanie glared back, a small smile pulled into her face.
"Jordan," Naraku interrtupted.
"No! I'll kick her in the fucking face! I don't care!" Jordan hollered, glaring heatedly at Melanie.
"I'm calling this off. It's getting too out of hand. Jordan, go upstairs, tell everyone to pack, we're out of here. Somebody needs to pack Melanie's stuff, too." Naraku announced.
"I can pack it myself." Melanie stated, her voice stern and audible. She still glared at Jordan.
"I don't think so." Naraku replied, picking up the knife and looking at it closely. His eyes led to Jordan as he smirked.
"What? You guys…stop! It's not funny! Quit staring at me!" Jordan hollered, seeing Nick and Gabe behind her, staring at her.
"Hey, wake up." A familiar voice called. Jordan snapped up from her sleep, breathing heavily as she looked around.
"What's…where…we're not there yet?" Jordan asked, realizing she was still in Sesshomaru's Escalade. She saw Nick and Gabe, poking and teasing Melanie playfully in the backseat.
"You were having a nightmare." Sesshomaru pointed out.
"Oh…I was." Jordan said back, rubbing her head.
"They want ice cream. Do you?" Sesshomaru asked her.
"Uh, yeah, sure." Jordan replied, uncertain of what was the dream and what was reality. She looked back and saw that Gabe had a bag with a shirt in it from the mall, meaning everything up until the house was real.
"Hey Jordan, you ok?" Gabe asked worriedly.
"Yeah, I'm cool. It was just a weird ass dream, is all." Jordan replied with relief.
"Was Naraku in it?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yeah."
"There lies the problem." Sesshomaru retorted. Jordan glared at him.
"Tee hee." Jordan growled.
"Heh, it's not my fault you don't know a good joke when you hear one." He replied arrogantly.
"Yeah it is, considering you never tell any good ones." Jordan said back.
"Oooh," Nick said, wanting to see a fight.
"Excuse me?" Sesshomaru asked with a chuckle.
"You heard me." Jordan said back.
"We'll settle this when we get back."
"Alright."
AN- Oooh, scared you for a minute didn't I? I'll be getting them out of the house next chapter. It's boring me. Good night.