Coming Together
Naraku and Sesshomaru sat across from one another at the table at Jordan and Gabe's house. They stared down at the spotless table while listening to Jordan's angry outbursts. She invited them over to have dinner with her and Gabe and the two men just couldn't suck it up and talk to each other civilly.
"Jordan, please calm down." Gabe pleaded, knocking on her door softly. His only response was a stream of curse words and a loud thump. She never really acted so violently, but she spent time cooking and cleaning and trying to make a good dinner, only for the older men to cut her off to throw insults at each other.
"You started this." Naraku growled quietly to Sesshomaru, who rolled his eyes.
"I did no such thing. You came after me." Sesshomaru responded bitterly.
"I simply stated that you are Jordan's little bitch." Naraku replied sweetly.
"Right, which not only insults me, it insults her."
"How?"
"You basically said that Jordan doesn't have friends, she has slaves. That's an insult."
"It's a compliment to her."
"Oh my God! Are they fucking arguing again?" Jordan's enraged voice echoed throughout the house violently. Gabe leered at the older men angrily, but said nothing.
"No, they were just discussing how good the food was." Gabe finally said, giving Naraku and Sesshomaru a final glare before walking back to Jordan's door.
"That's what I thought." Jordan barked.
"See? Just keep your fucking mouth shut." Sesshomaru said, taking a quick sip of water. Naraku opened his mouth, but stopped when a small toy bone bounced off his head. He looked over and saw Gabe pointing at him warningly.
"But, he," Naraku growled, pointing at Sesshomaru. Gabe stormed over to Naraku and exhaled.
"I don't care! Grow up! Both of you!" Gabe hissed, walking back to Jordan's door and knocking on it forcefully.
"Jordan, they're sorry! Get out here!" Gabe hollered. The door opened and Jordan walked out, her hair slightly messy and her face still red. She sat back down in her chair and sat up straight, her green eyes staring at the table.
"Can we be adults?" Jordan asked.
"Yes." Naraku and Sesshomaru said back. Jordan nodded and began eating her food, saying nothing more. Gabe sighed as he shook his head.
"Awkward silence won't help either, Jordan. So, how is school going?" Gabe asked out loud, wondering if either man had an interesting story.
"Good." Naraku replied.
"The usual." Sesshomaru said, taking a bite.
"Ok, this isn't working." Gabe whined, rubbing his forehead. Jordan finally looked up when Sesshomaru stood up, answering his phone and walking into the other room. He walked back in a few moments later, grabbing his coat.
"I have to leave." He stated simply, putting his coat on and turning to leave, only to stop when he heard an exasperated exhale. He turned around and walked over to Jordan to give her a hug, but she continued eating and shaking her head.
"Don't touch me." She bit out icily.
"What? I seriously have to leave." He replied in a slightly hurt tone.
"Then leave." Jordan growled heartlessly. Gabe hid in his hands and Naraku covered his mouth to hide his smile. He enjoyed watching her tear the man down. Sesshomaru's jaw tightened, but he turned around and left briskly, Gabe hurrying after him.
"Hey, she's just having a bad week. She wanted to try and cheer herself up and,"
"I understand." Sesshomaru interrupted, opening his Escalade door. Gabe walked up and put his hand on the door to prevent the man from closing it and cutting the conversation short.
"Please don't be mad at her. She'll feel bad about it in ten minutes." Gabe insisted. Sesshomaru put his key in and looked at Gabe.
"I know." He replied with a slight nod, reaching over to close his door.
"Pillow ran away." Gabe said quickly. Sesshomaru stopped and frowned.
"I didn't know that. How long ago?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Yesterday. She's really upset and she's been looking for him and only stopped to make dinner for us, so that's why she's mad. She wanted to keep looking, but she hadn't seen much of you or Naraku lately."
"Oh, well, I still have to go and I'm not mad. I'll call her later when she's calmed down a bit." Sesshomaru said back simply. Gabe smiled as he let out a breath.
"Thank you. Well, have fun doing whatever." Gabe said, stepping back and letting the man close his door. Sesshomaru gave Gabe a small wave before backing out and driving off.
Gabe walked back inside and saw Naraku scooted next to Jordan, his arm wrapped around her as she massaged her temples.
"He'll come back. You know how Pillow is. He's young, dumb and adventurous. Remember when Sam ran away?" Naraku asked, getting a nod from Jordan who was holding back tears.
"He was gone for two days before he came back, happier than ever. He probably fucked the poodle a few houses down. I'm positive that Pillow will come back." Naraku finished, getting a few giggles from Jordan, who nodded at the poodle part. Naraku raised Sam, so the dog was probably horny, too.
"I hope." Jordan exhaled. Naraku ruffled her hair while smiling.
"I know he will. He can find his way back. It's not that he doesn't love you. He's just stupid. Don't worry, alright?"
"Ok." Jordan replied, watching as Gabe sat down, smiling at her.
"Is he mad?" Jordan asked Gabe, who shook his head.
"He's not, I promise." Gabe insisted.
Sesshomaru yawned as he drove back to Jordan's house later that night. His phone died so he couldn't call her, so he felt the need to visit her and apologize. He turned onto a street and frowned when he saw something sitting on the corner patiently, as if waiting for him. He saw it was the brown wolf.
"Pillow?" Sesshomaru called out after getting out from his Escalade. It was dark and no cars were around, so he just stopped in the middle of the road. Sesshomaru smirked when he heard the quick paws and happy whining of the canine.
"You, my friend, are a dumb ass." Sesshomaru commented while petting Pillow, who reared up on his hind legs, trying to lick Sesshomaru. The man opened his backseat door and let the wolf in. Sesshomaru sat in the driver's seat, frowning when he looked over at the passenger seat, Pillow sitting patiently while panting, looking happier than ever.
"You act like her too." Sesshomaru grumbled, driving away. A few minutes later, he pulled into the driveway, getting out and letting Pillow out. He snapped his fingers and called to the wolf sternly, leading him over to the door. Sesshomaru knocked a few times and looked up when he saw the door open.
"Does this dumb ass belong to you?" Sesshomaru asked Jordan sarcastically. Jordan let out a joyous scream, hugging Pillow and letting him inside. Gabe ran in and hugged the wolf, too. Sesshomaru kept his hands in his pocket and completely forgot that he earned himself a hug, too. Jordan leapt at him, wrapping her arms around him. Sesshomaru put his arms around her softly.
"Jordan, I can't breathe." Sesshomaru coughed when she hugged him too tightly.
"Sorry, it's just…oh my God," Jordan stuttered.
"Yes?" Sesshomaru answered smugly.
"Thank you so much." She exhaled, burying her face in his chest. He backed her up into the house so he could close the door and get warm.
"Who's a dumb ass? You're the dumb ass! I love you, dumb ass!" Gabe said to the wolf lovingly. Pillow yipped and barked happily in response, unaware of his new nickname.
"Jordan, I get it, you're welcome." Sesshomaru said, now becoming uncomfortable with the affection. Jordan stepped back and smiled at him.
"I'm sorry about earlier." She said.
"It's fine. I came by to apologize to you about earlier and just happened to find him sitting on the corner a few streets down." Sesshomaru explained, trying to make himself sound less like a hero. He really didn't mean to find the wolf at all.
"Haha, on the corner?" Gabe asked with a giggle.
"Yes, just sitting there like he was waiting for someone." Sesshomaru said with a smirk while petting the wolf.
"Haha, one day out and he's already a whore, great." Jordan exhaled with a giggle.
"I'm going to go now. Good night and I'm sorry. Dinner tasted great, though. It's been a while since I've had a home-cooked meal." Sesshomaru said.
"Oh, it's ok. And good night." Jordan said back, waving to him. Sesshomaru left as quickly as he came, making it feel like he was never there in the first place. Jordan and Gabe went back in the living room, petting Pillow happily.
"He is like an angel, not even playing." Gabe stated.
"Yeah, you know I'd be gone if not for him." Jordan said back. She saw Gabe nod and look away, something bothering him.
"Jordan, can I tell you something?" Gabe asked.
"Yeah, always." Jordan replied. Gabe turned his head and looked her straight in the eyes and gulped.
The next morning, Naraku woke up a little later than usual on the weekend, but he had nothing to do or attend to, so it didn't really bother him. He looked over at Sam, who was snoring loudly. The black dog took up half of the bed. Naraku petted his dog a few times before sitting up and checking his phone for messages. Nothing.
"No one loves me anymore, Sam." Naraku commented, seeing Sam sit up and yawn, wagging his tail lazily. The dog scooted closer to Naraku and nuzzled the man warmly as if to say, "I love you, asshole." Naraku petted Sam's ears for a few minutes before getting out of bed to feed himself and his monstrous dog. He poured himself a bowl of cereal and filled Sam's bowl up with dog food. Naraku munched on his cereal and looked up with utter confusion when Melanie shuffled into the kitchen, still looking half-asleep.
"Whoa…when did you get here?" Naraku asked curiously, pointing his spoon at her. Melanie looked at him with worry, her arms wrapped around her mid-section.
"Um, my parents are out of town and you let me stay with you, remember?" Melanie asked back. Naraku blinked, his face blank.
"You were drinking last night, I don't expect you to remember." Melanie mumbled, petting Sam softly. Naraku sighed.
"I remember now, I just forgot when I woke up. I usually don't have anyone stay the night." He said back, setting his empty bowl in the sink. Melanie nodded in response. She knew she wasn't the most memorable person on Earth, but to forget that there is a guest in general?
"What to do, what to do…hm, how does a movie sound?" Naraku asked, walking back to his room.
"Fine, I guess." Melanie replied.
"If you don't want to, then tell me. I'm taking a shower, so think on it." Naraku announced, closing his bedroom door. Melanie sat on the couch and began crying quietly. She couldn't believe how two-faced Naraku was. She overheard his phone conversation the night before and heard him, quite clearly call her hopeless. She was hopeless and too quiet and had no backbone…according to Naraku.
"Toby," she whispered, wishing her beloved wolf were with her. He had gotten sick and had to stay with the vet until he was better and Melanie missed him horribly. He was the only comfort she had. He was the only breathing creature that passed no judgment onto her and loved her for who she was. She didn't know how long she cried, but it was long enough for Naraku to be done with his showering and dressed.
"Hey, Melanie, what's wrong?" Naraku asked, sitting down next to her. The small girl was curled up and Sam lay beside her, watching her cautiously. Naraku stroked her back, only to receive anger.
"Everything!" Melanie shouted back.
"I don't understand. Did I do something?"
"I am not hopeless! Just because I don't assert myself to every fucking occasion, that doesn't mean I won't do it when necessary! Quit acting like I'm some coward!" Melanie snapped, knocking Naraku down a few notches. He just sat there, staring back at her with vacant disbelief. He had no clue what she was talking about, but he was quite scared of her.
"M…Melanie, please calm down." Naraku responded softly.
"You hurt my feelings and I don't want to talk to you." Melanie spat back. Naraku sighed as he stood up.
"I guess I'll go to my room like a bad boy." Naraku responded, walking back to his room and closing the door. Melanie immediately felt bad. It was his house and he had let her stay there. He didn't have to. Melanie decided to wait a little bit before apologizing. She took a quick shower and got dressed before walking up to Naraku's bedroom door. She opened it and peeked in, seeing him sprawled out on his bed, taking an unneeded nap. Melanie crawled onto the bed and loomed over him, poking his chest softly.
"Mm…hm? What?" Naraku asked with a yawn, keeping his eyes closed and not moving an inch.
"I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Because I yelled at you."
"That was you yelling?" Naraku asked, finally opening his eyes. Melanie smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"Pfft. I've heard worse. So, movie?" Naraku chirped. Melanie nodded with a smile.
A few weeks passed and nothing happened. Jordan and Gabe worked and went to class as usual, realizing their life had gotten so damn boring that they didn't care to make it exciting anymore. Growing up sucked.
"Hey Jordan, what'd the doctor say?" Gabe asked when his friend walked in the door. She looked up and flashed a smile.
"Healthy. What's for dinner?" she asked back.
"My famous tacos…for you. I'm going vegetarian for a while to see if I can do it."
"Eh, I'm sure you can. It smells damn good, though."
"Haha, thanks." Gabe giggled, returning to preparing the meal. Jordan walked to her room and closed the door, quickly changing into more comfortable clothes.
"Sesshomaru said to call him! And if you don't, he'll stalk you!" Gabe yelled.
"Ok." Jordan called back, pressing the magical send button on her phone. It rang until she was sent to his voicemail. Jordan sent him a creepy, heavy breathing voice message before closing her phone and disconnecting the call. She rubbed her face and walked back to the kitchen where Gabe had everything ready.
"Tell me if it's really good. Don't lie." Gabe said, pointing his fork at Jordan. Jordan fixed her plate and took a bite, nodding reassuringly.
"It's delicious, boo." Jordan chirped, cramming another bite into her mouth. She and Gabe chatted for a while after eating and helped each other clean the dishes. They bid one another a goodnight and went to their rooms. Jordan stayed up a while longer, waiting for Sesshomaru to call back, but he never did, so she assumed he was asleep and decided to sleep as well.
The following Wednesday, Naraku watched as Jordan and Melanie wrote the notes on the board for him in the morning. Jordan didn't have class that day and decided to visit him and help him out.
"So where's your shadow?" Naraku asked with a chuckle.
"Which one? I have three." Jordan retorted.
"The tall one."
"Oh, him," Jordan bit out icily.
"Another couple's dispute?"
"Shut your fucking mouth. I didn't do anything. He just refuses to acknowledge my existence."
"How so? Usually he's all over you."
"Ha…ha…ha. You are so funny."
"What I meant was that he's all about you whenever you show up."
"Ok, get this," Jordan began, finishing up her half of the notes and turning around, sitting in a desk in front of Naraku's desk.
"Ooh, this is going to be good, I can feel it." Naraku chirped.
"So, I visited him a few nights ago and he had some important guy in his office,"
"Boyfriend?"
"I don't know. Anyway, I walked up to him and said, "Hey buddy," and he…just," Jordan stopped, the obvious fury rising in her chest.
"He just…what?" Naraku pushed.
"Ignored me. Completely ignored me."
"What?"
"He didn't even make eye contact with me. Oh, and here comes the best part,"
"I'm ready." Naraku said, his face now serious, seeing how Jordan wasn't in a joking mood.
"He blocked my number, isn't my friend on Facebook and when the guy pointed at me and said, "Who is she," Sesshomaru referred to me as some junkie who got past security." Jordan explained bitterly, seeing Naraku's mouth drop open with surprise.
"And you didn't get in a fight or anything?"
"No, the day before we were fine and then bam! It's like I missed something or spaced out for a few days and came back after it happened."
"Wow. He's always been gentle with you about certain things, but it sounds like he is angry with you about something."
"I have done nothing! I literally woke up to this!"
"I believe you. That's really odd, though."
"All we've been through,"
"Jordan,"
"I feel like I'm losing him again." Jordan commented as she let out a slow breath.
"This has happened before?" Naraku asked.
"No, I feel like I'm losing my brother again."
"Wh…what? You had a brother?" Naraku asked with shock. He knew she had an older sister, but he had no clue about a brother.
"Yeah, it's too complicated. I'm going to leave now." Jordan grumbled, walking to the door.
"Jordan," Naraku called out.
"Hm?" Jordan hummed.
"I am here if you need someone."
"Thanks. I'll call you later."
Sesshomaru stood on the outskirts of the lunchroom while watching over the students quietly. He saw a person standing next to him and didn't even have to look to know whom it was. Sesshomaru had a sickening feeling in his stomach. Something was going to happen.
"You know, as cute as you think your mind games are, they are cruel to others." Naraku stated, smiling and waving at a group of students who called his name happily.
"And I care because?" Sesshomaru asked, nodding to someone who waved at him.
"I could take you out right now. Not even joking."
"Dating on the clock isn't allowed."
"Ha, ha, ha. You think you're so funny." Naraku mocked dryly.
"You laughed."
"So, before I kick your ass, what did she do to deserve this?" Naraku asked, now facing Sesshomaru, who turned and cast a vacant look his way.
"Who?" Sesshomaru asked before smirking cruelly. They stared one another down for what felt like forever. Sesshomaru was feeling confident. Surely Naraku wouldn't dare touch him in front of hundreds of students…wrong. Naraku hooked Sesshomaru at point blank right in the face, sending the man stumbling backwards.
"You rotten son of a bitch! I'm more than willing to lose my job over this!" Naraku barked, performing what football players would call a textbook tackle and drilling the white haired principal to the floor. The uproar of students in disbelief didn't even faze the two men. Sesshomaru was still in utter shock that Naraku would even dare think about hitting him.
"Haha, oh my God! Who are we supposed to call?" someone asked half frantically.
"No one! This is good shit!" another boy replied.
"Kick his ass! Kick his ass!"
"Oh my God, really?" Mr. Jay whined as he ran over to the fighting men. He pulled Naraku off Sesshomaru, who barely got a fist in edgewise from the shock of being attacked. Mr. Jay glared at Naraku, who smiled and backed away.
"I'm calm." Naraku chirped, his eyes going back to Sesshomaru, who was on his back still. He sat up slowly before standing, looking at each student carefully.
"The bell rang…get to class!" Sesshomaru snapped coldly. Everyone jumped slightly and began moving on with their day, still talking about the wonderful ass whooping the principal received.
"Now are you two girls going to be able to talk this out or what?" Mr. Jay asked, crossing his arms impatiently. Naraku snorted as he looked away and Sesshomaru kept his face cold and distant.
"Good lord. Next time, take it to the dean's office…dumb asses." Mr Jay commented as he walked away.
"Jordan is sick, very sick, and didn't tell me. If she can tell me everything but that, then why tell me anything at all?"
"So you ignore her and make her feel like the scum of the Earth? Good plan. She's sick and feels like she's losing her brother all over again." Naraku spat.
"She…she said that?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Maybe if you talk to her, she'll say it again."
"She won't tell me what's wrong."
"She's sick. You said it yourself."
"But with what, I don't know."
"If you talk to her, she just may tell you. Yeah, it's a neat trick. Try it."
"Why can't she tell me?"
"Why is the sky blue?" Naraku asked as he walked away, knowing he wasn't the least bit fired and now he had something to talk about with his students.
"The bastard busted my lip open." Sesshomaru commented, wiping the blood from his lip as he walked away.
Jordan and Gabe laughed as they ran around the house with the stuffed squid, Pillow chasing them energetically. The squid never moved until now and that intrigued the wolf.
"Haha, dumb ass!" Gabe laughed as he threw the squid high up in the air, just above Pillow's reach. Jordan caught the squid and ran away with it, the wolf at her heels. They continued teasing the wolf until Jordan heard a car door slam outside. She looked out the window and saw Sesshomaru.
"Hmph." Jordan huffed, walking to the door. She opened it and Sesshomaru took a step forward.
"Jordan, I'm ahhhhhh!" He didn't get to finish because Jordan slammed the door on his face. She closed the door and listened to his shouts of agony with a smile on her face.
"He was going to apologize, dude." Gabe pointed out.
"I think he's really sorry now. Haha." Jordan giggled.
AN- With a broken hand, vicodin and bitterness…chapter sucked, I know. I'll try to end the story on a better note. Sorry for the obnoxiously long wait.