A/N: I actually didn't expect to get any reviews for that last chapter, I just thought it was so silly, but well, this one is a little silly too, but with a bit more fluff…
But anyway, see? This is what happens when I'm allowed to be antisocial. I can actually write three chapters in three days. I don't want to spoil you guys or anything, ( ^_* ) but I already had the idea of these few chapters in my head so I just had to get them out. I didn't really spend too much time with the chapters, so I'm sorry if it seems a little rushed. I just wanted to get them out there. The next part is going to be a little more difficult, so it might take a little longer to get it out.
So, this chapter is a little long, but because I wanted to put everything in here that I could and leave just the Spa Day by itself, which of course means that the Spa Day chappie is coming up next!
Disclaimer: Don't they know that imitation is the greatest sort of compliment? (Or something like that, anyway) They shouldn't get mad because we write these, they should be flattered, really. So you see, we're doing an homage…
Rating: Oh, this is definitely PG-13 ½ (for thoughts and such, nothing else yet.)
Thanks: Like I said above, I didn't expect to get any reviews for the last chapter cause it was so silly, but you guys are so wonderful, that you reviewed anyway! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou…I could go on forever…
Sailor Universe: Hehe…how do you think Sango's going to feel about that when she sobers up? If she remembers, that is…but of course, considering how wicked I am, you know I'm going to make her remember…or maybe somebody reminds her? Hmm….interesting possibilities, all! ^_~
Harmony: I'm working on the plot and arguments. I think they'll be coming not in this chapter I'm posting now, but in the Spa Day chappie I'm planning on a doozie. Hope you stick around till then! Thanks for voting! And reviewing, of course! ;)
Eartha: big sheepish grin I know! I was tired of the club myself. I'd been trying to get them out since like two chapters ago, but you know how it is when your muse speaks…About what Inuyasha said…well, you know, I did see the whole Gundam Wing show when it was out, and although I really liked it, I wasn't such a huge fan like I am with Inuyasha. I do remember Heero and I think I like the comparison, but I didn't do it on purpose. But it might've come out subconsciously, y'know…I actually thought minimally about putting his usual response there, but "hn" came out instead…go figure. whew Thanks for answering my question about Mirouku. I wasn't too sure about putting it in there, but it was another of those things that I just couldn't take out once it was there. Thanks again for sticking with me! ^________^
Moon Fairy: blushing profusely Gee, that's so sweet of you to say! I am always the most insecure about the way I write the characters, so your review really helps ease some of my insecurity! Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long! ^_^
RinoaOHeartilly: blushing to the point where she'll pop Thank you so much for saying so! I love writing so it means so much to me that you enjoy my writing and think it's good! Really, thank you! And wow, if because of the way I've written them, you will consider Sang/Mir then that's really the best type of compliment you could give me! I am a diehard Kag/Inu fan myself, but it just seemed that the girl's conversation in that last chapter seemed to naturally drift toward Mirouku and Sango, so I just had to let it go there. I don't plan on making too much of it since I said and still stand by my claim that I can't have too many of them in my head at once, and this story started out being about Kag and Inu and that's the way it'll stay. You'll see…they're mostly back in this chapter…Hope you like it!
Angel Moon: Oh, yeah…major Hangover! If my story has held your interest through a part that you would normally skip in another story, then I feel like I've just gotten the Pulitzer prize for writing or something, really. And I'm glad that the Mirouku/Sango part went over well. I wanted to keep them in character, but not devote too much time to them either, since I did say that this fic would be Inu/Kag oriented. Spa Day will be out after this chapter I'm posting now…I needed to sort of do a bridge…but yeah, I'm looking forward to Sango with the beauty products too! rubs hands mischievously Wow…two long reviews, huh? Now I'm really flattered!
Lady Jade: You're back! Woo-hoo! I love repeat offenders, really! Well, this chappie is more like drunken fluff with the Inu gang…just a little and then hangover fun with the Inu gang, and I hope it all pleases just as much! Wow, I'm really relieved that the Sango/Mirouku part didn't seem out of character. I was really worried about it. Let me know if this chapter disappoints! (I hope it doesn't!) Thanks for reviewing again!
Chapter 14: Addicted
"Since the day I met you / And after all we've been through / I'm still a-dict / I'm addicted to you / I think you know that it's true / I'd run a thousand miles to get you / Do you think I deserve this?"
-Addicted, Simple Plan
'Seven was definitely the limit,' Inuyasha thought as he was pushed further into the side door of the foul smelling vehicle. 'Seven people in one of these contraptions was definitely 3 too many.'
"Oi!" Inuyasha finally became vocal. "It won't give anymore, so stop pushing!"
He heard a giggle that sounded suspiciously like Kagome. He looked down at her, figuring that it was about time to give her a piece of his mind…he wasn't sure were he should start, he had such a long list… but when he looked at her pushed against him, her arm sprawled across his legs and the warmth of her bare back clearly outlined against his side, the last thought on his mind was anything but what was on that very long list…or finding out whether or not she had been the one who laughed for that matter.
Just as he was considering what, if anything to do about it, the pressure released and Kagome pulled just slightly away from him so that only her arm was strewn over his lap.
Ayumi peeked back into the car from the opened door. "It's no good, you guys'll have to double up."
"What?!" Sango exclaimed from next to Kagome. She looked at Mirouku who was smiling at her. She went back to looking at Kagome. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"I hope so," Mirouku spoke pleasantly.
Sango's arm went out to hit him, but missed in the cramped space. "I refuse," she answered stoically.
"There's gotta be another way," Kagome spoke to Ayumi.
"We can't double up," Ayumi motioned herself and the girls. "Only other thing is if we take another cab," she offered.
Kagome shook her head. She wouldn't let her friends go home by themselves when all three of them were more than a little buzzed. You never knew what could happen. At least with them, neither Mirouku nor Inuyasha were drunk.
"We could switch?" Yuka offered, popping her head in next to Ayumi.
"What do you mean?" Sango asked.
"Well, if you two have a problem with doubling up, two of us could double up with the guys considering they're the only ones strong enough to hold us," Yuka answered.
"I'll volunteer to ride with Mirouku!" Eri piped up from outside.
Mirouku couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was sure that that one drink he had must have affected him more than he thought if he thought he was hearing some very pretty girls offer to sit on his lap all the way to their houses. He looked at Sango's face and smiled. It couldn't get any better. Sango was jealous and it hadn't even been him who had started it this time. He had very wisely remained quiet.
Yuka smiled mischievously. "I'll ride with Inuyasha but only if he promises to bite."
Mirouku looked at Inuyasha who was intently looking down at Kagome.
Ayumi looked at her friend. "Don't you mean, not to bite?"
Yuka blinked at her. "Isn't that what I said?"
"No," Kagome spoke up. She didn't bother to look at Inuyasha.
"No?" Yuka asked pleasantly.
Kagome had spoken without thinking, and now she had to come up with a reasonable reason why not. Problem was, she couldn't think reasonably. "You guys are getting off first so you should be nearest the door."
Sango looked at Kagome and felt relieved. She knew the excuse wasn't the best in the world, but it was better than what she had come up with. Her instinct had been to simply threaten their lives if they dared.
"Yeah, alright, Kagome, that makes perfect sense," Ayumi said, sarcasm and humor dripping from her tone.
"Well, whatever we're going to do, let's do it…the meter's running!" Yuka called out, winking at Ayumi.
Kagome looked up at Inuyasha and he tried not to notice the anxiousness to the eyes she looked at him. "Do you mind?" she asked cautiously.
Inuyasha thought about her question. 'Would he mind?' he asked himself. 'Would he mind it if Kagome sat on his lap with that damnable back of hers pressed against him?' He blinked. "Keh," he said dismissively. He reached out to grab hold of Kagome's waist and lifted her easily onto his lap. "Let's just get this over with already!"
Kagome yelped at the sudden change in perspective. The cab's roof was just high enough so she didn't have to bend her neck to fit, but low enough that if she wasn't careful, she would bang it. She blushed at the intimate feel of his chest against her bare back. 'Damn,' she thought. 'I knew this dress would be the death of me.' She sat forward enough so that she could no longer feel him, and he let go of her waist as if sensing her need for distance. It wouldn't be very comfortable riding all the way to Ayumi's house like this, she knew, but it was preferable to the feelings running through her if she remained the other way.
Mirouku watched intently as Sango stood up as best she could in the confines of the car and gently sat on his knees. The feel of her there did strange things to him, but he refused to think about them or he would never get through the ride. Mirouku placed his hands on her waist and slid her further back onto his lap.
"Perv…" Sango started, turning to glare at him.
He lifted his hands away from her and put one up between them as a stalling gesture. "You'll break my legs if you stay there, Lady Sango," he said as calmly as he could. "There is no leverage."
Sango's eyes flitted next to her at the now empty seat and considered changing her mind, but before she could make much of a move for the seat, Yuka was already there, pushing against them so that Ayumi and Eri, the smallest of them, could squeeze into the seat before shutting the door.
"I feel like a can of sardines," Ayumi exclaimed, not knowing what to do with her arms which clearly didn't fit at her sides.
"Where to, ladies?" the cab driver asked.
"Well, Ayumi's house, I guess, she is the closest," Yuka spoke.
Ayumi leaned up to give the cabbie her address and then fell back with a humph as he took off.
Kagome fell back against Inuyasha's back again with a thump as she lost her balance. She pulled herself forward again only to slide back against him. She cursed the laws of physics that said she wouldn't be able to sit up in a moving taxi with too many people in the back seat, and tried to sit up again. She gasped as she felt Inuyasha's hands on her waist again, holding her in place against him.
He couldn't take her movement anymore. No matter how torturous it might be to his senses to have her pressed against him, it had to be better than the feel of her sliding back and forth on his legs. He leaned forward. "Just stay still, okay?" he whispered.
Kagome nodded silently, fighting the blush that had been crawling up her cheeks since she found herself n her precarious position. Inuyasha's hands didn't move from her hips, keeping her steady as the motion of the cab made her sway.
Inuyasha for his part, was enthralled by the swaying of the chain on Kagome's back like a pendulum. 'This is going to be a long ride…' he thought, glancing at Mirouku who was just as enthralled with the movement of Sango's hair as he had been with the movement of Kagome's chain.
"This is going to be one long ride…" Mirouku whispered to Inuyasha.
"Keh," Inuyasha agreed.
+~+~+~
"Goodnight," Yuka whispered, winking at Mirouku and Inuyasha as she stepped out of the taxi. She paid the driver. "That should cover them, too," she told him. "Take them to the Higurashi shrine."
Inuyasha looked at Kagome, her legs across his lap, her head on his chest and her eyes closed in peaceful slumber before his eyes drifted to encompass the nearly empty cab. 'I should probably move her,' he thought. 'She'd hate to know she fell asleep in my lap.' He looked down at her again and smiled. 'Although she looks mighty comfortable.'
Mirouku caught Inuyasha's look and looked down at Sango, lying in much the same manner and just as asleep in his arms. He curled his arms around her and shook his head at Inuyasha. Inuyasha looked down at Kagome and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her eyes so he could fully see her face. She looked so peaceful.
His movement must've registered in her mind somehow, because her eyelids open to slits and she smiled at him sleepily. "Ten more minutes, N'yasha," she mumbled, her eyelids fluttering closed. "So warm…" she sighed, tucking her head so that it rested in the crook of his neck.
Yuka smiled at them as she motioned for the cab driver to take off, smiling at the image of the two couples. 'I am so going to tease Kagome about this in the morning,' she thought, then frowned. If she remembered…
+~+~+~
"Mama!" Kagome exclaimed, clearly in pain not only brought on by her mother, but by her own exclamation. She groaned as the infernal noise finally stopped and closed her eyes against the throbbing in her head.
Kagome's mother looked from her suffering daughter down to where her hand had stilled on the buttons of the blender and winced. "Sorry, sweetheart," she said, clearly sorry for her daughter's pain, but not sorry enough to take her hands away from the blender. "But you know I have to." She pushed down on the buttons again and the pale yellow liquid swirled with stunning speed, the deafening noise ringing throughout Kagome's ears to echo in her aching head.
Watching it spin, Kagome felt almost ill.
Her mom looked at her pleasantly as her daughter's lips moved, but obviously couldn't understand her words over the sound of the blending. "What was that dear?" she yelled over the noise.
"I said!" Kagome started, wincing as the effort brought about a new wave of pain. The noise stopped again and she sighed. "That I'm going back to bed, then," she finished softly.
Her mother grinned. "No need," she said cheerily. "It's done."
Kagome withheld a groan, not because of what it might mean to her mother, but because she knew it would make her head ache. Instead, she flopped back down on the kitchen chair and put her chin in her hands.
"Sorry, honey, but did you forget?"
Kagome glanced at her mother, trying to avoid the sun streaming in from the window behind her. "The way I feel right now, mother, it's a distinct possibility," she answered curtly.
Her daughter's sour mood did nothing to disturb Mrs. Higurashi. She liked it when Kagome behaved like a normal girl. A hangover every now and then was normal…wounds inflicted by demons was not, but…she withheld a sigh. "You left me a note to wake you for a spa day today."
Kagome vaguely remembered walking out of the club, realizing Inuyasha was not with them, then…sitting him? She frowned. Or sitting…on him? Surely, not. She was wearing pajamas so she must've gotten home and changed. She remembered sleeping and being warm, and looking up into Inuyasha's eyes as though through a fog, but she certainly didn't remember leaving her mother a note about spa day…but she must've…just like she must've changed her own clothing…mustn't she have? Her mother surely didn't wake up to do it…and Sango was just as gone as she was, so if none of them did it, it left only…Kagome grumbled something about remembering to leave a note when she didn't remember where she left her underwear, but not loud enough for her mother to make out anything. Aloud she said, "Thank you, Mama." At least neither grandfather nor Souta were here…they would be even more annoying.
"Good-morning!"
Kagome winced at the utterly despicably perky greeting and sunk her face lower into her palm. Her lack of reply must've tipped him off, because he was sitting next to her, looking concerned the very next moment.
"Feeling a little hung over?" Mirouku asked her, the grin on his lips ruining the concern in his tone.
Kagome began to narrow her eyes at him, but thought better of it and stopped. Focusing on anything was a bad idea right now. She went back to leaning on her palm. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Mirouku's hand raise and near her as if in comfort. "So help me, Mirouku, I'm in no mood…" she lifted her head and stared at him hard. "I will kill you."
Mirouku lowered his hand but the pleasant look didn't fall off his face. Instead, he laughed. The sound grated on her nerves and made the headache throb but since he had lowered his hands, she couldn't do anything, so she closed her eyes again. Mirouku rubbed his hands together joyfully. "Well, have no fear…Mirouku has the answer…Mushin gave me this great…"
"Don't worry, Mirouku," Kagome's mother piped up, holding up the cup portion of the blender and shaking it. The thick yellowish liquid oozed rather than swirled. Kagome cringed, knowing well what was coming. "We have our own recipe."
Mirouku neared Mrs. Higurashi and looked at the liquid curiously. He sniffed and then looked up at her, clearly confused. "Does that smell like…?"
"Bananas," Mrs. Higurashi announced proudly. "With a little bit of honey."
Mirouku looked from the concoction to Kagome's suffering face and back again. "Bananas?"
"With honey," Kagome added morosely from her chair.
"You must be joking?" Mirouku asked, unconvinced. He had heard of his share of hangover remedies, filled with all sorts of crazy ingredients, but Bananas?
"'Fraid not," Kagome answered.
"A Banana drink as a hangover remedy…" Mirouku repeated.
"Banana milkshake," Kagome's mom corrected.
Mirouku opened his mouth to speak.
"A what?" Sango asked from the door, whatever she thought she heard not having pleased her.
"Good morning, Sango, dear," her mother chirped as she poured the concoction into two tall glasses. "The banana calms the stomach, and together with the honey it restores depleted sugar levels and the milk re-hydrates your body."
Kagome had heard the spiel before. She closed her eyes and found that it didn't hurt so much if she didn't try to see.
"And we're supposed to drink this?" Sango asked as she sat down next to Kagome.
"'Fraid so," Kagome answered under her breath.
Kagome's mother nodded her head. "With just one more thing added…" she trailed off and looked at her daughter.
As if sensing the eyes on her, Kagome looked up and grimaced. "What?" She tried to think over in her head what might be missing from the concoction that her mother would be looking at her for, then it dawned on her. "Oh," she thought back to her night. "I think tequila, mostly." Kagome looked at Sango for confirmation. "Right?"
"Wha…?" then she realized what she was asking. "Oh, yeah, we were drinking tequila."
Kagome's mom raised her eyebrows. "Tequila, huh?"
Kagome shrugged, then regretted it as somehow, that action brought more throbbing to her head.
Kagome's mother tried not to smile at the pain on her daughter's face but it was almost too cute to resist. "Tequila it is," she answered, fishing the small travel sized bottle from the top cupboard and pouring a small amount into each cup. She mixed the shake and handed each one a cup.
"A banana shake with a shot of tequila?" Mirouku asked, clearly shocked.
"Old remedy," Kagome's mother said sagely, watching as Sango took the drink trepidatiously and sniffed it.
"Really?" Mirouku asked. He brought his hand up to rub his chin. "I will need to remember that to tell Mushin."
Kagome's mom looked around at the group gathered in her kitchen and smiled. She liked having Kagome's friends over. They were such nice kids and they always looked after her Kagome. Except…well…"Where's Inuyasha?" she asked the group.
Kagome narrowed her eyes, despite the pain and took another sip of the shake, wincing as the sugary sweet taste of it coated her dry throat.
"He's still asleep," Mirouku answered, grinning.
Kagome's mom raised her eyebrows.
'Yeah,' Kagome thought, watching her mother's surprise and wanting to mirror it, but thinking better of making any elaborate facial expressions…they only seemed to bring her pain. 'What she said.'
"Will Inuyasha need one of my shakes?" Kagome's mom questioned slyly.
"Sure," Inuyasha said coming into the kitchen. "I'll drink anything."
Kagome narrowed her eyes again. 'He didn't look hungover…' She watched as her mother handed him a glass with what was left of the shake. He took it and sniffed. His eyes met hers and she absently sipped more of the concoction. He shrugged and drowned it in one try.
"That's no fair!" Sango exclaimed, then stopped, waiting until her own voice stopped ringing in her aching head, then scowled. "He didn't get the full treatment."
Kagome's mom laughed. "Yes, that's right," she admitted. "But he doesn't look hung over to me."
"I'm not hung over anything," Inuyasha argued.
Kagome sighed, but didn't comment, simply continued to sip her shake.
"So, Mrs. Higurashi," Mirouku asked. "Would there be any breakfast for us who are not hung over?"
"Well, I could make eggs if you'd like," she said, thinking about it. "And maybe some noodles… an omelet…" she started going over a possible menu in her mind.
Kagome's stomach grumbled uneasily at the thought of solid food so she stood up, trying not to make a facial expression at the sensation of her head dropping into her shoes.
"Let's go, Sango," she said aloud. "We've got a spa day to get ready for."
"A what?" Inuyasha asked, taking hold of Kagome's arm. He looked up at her. "Don't you mean, a trip to the well…"
Kagome glared at him despite the pain still lingering in her head. "Inuyasha, don't start with me, please…we're going to a Spa Day and that's that."
He looked at her and realized that she really was in no condition to argue with him. He could push it and probably make her go back, but she wasn't in any condition to search for jewel fragments either…neither was Sango for that matter. He let go of her arm. "Fine, never say I don't do nothing for you."
'Was that sarcasm?' Kagome wondered. "Gee, thanks, Inuyasha, you're a sweetheart," she said, grabbing Sango's arm and starting to lead her out of the room. "Come on, Sango."
Sango looked down at herself. She was still wearing the borrowed pajamas Kagome's mother had left in the room for her, not having been able to find her own clothes. "Like this?"
Kagome smiled and then regretted the action. "Speaking of which," Kagome whispered to Sango as they walked out of the kitchen. "Do you remember how we got into these pajamas?"
Mirouku couldn't hear Sango's reply but he smiled mischievously none-the-less. He caught Inuyasha's half-smile as he probably could hear the end of their conversation.
Inuyasha met Mirouku's eyes, and they shared a knowing glance before realizing that Kagome's mom was still staring at them. They turned to her and found her smiling happily at them.
"I think we'll…" Inuyasha started uncomfortably…
"Go…" Mirouku faltered.
"Outside…?" Inuyasha offered.
Mirouku smiled. "Outside." Mirouku started to head for the door, then stopped. "Until breakfast is ready, that is." He smiled charmingly at her before he was pulled away by Inuyasha.
"Do you only ever think about food?" Inuyasha exclaimed as they exited the kitchen.
"What? Aren't you hungry?"
Mrs. Higurashi watched as the two boys walked outside and smiled.
+~+~
"So, what is a Spa Day anyway?" Mirouku asked as he absently watched Inuyasha shovel more Ramen into his eager mouth.
"Well," Mrs. Higurashi turned to him, still wiping a pan clean. "A Spa is a place where people go to get pampered mostly."
Inuyasha looked up and spoke through a mouthful of food.
Mrs. Higurashi looked at him. "Don't speak with your mouth full, dear," she chastised lightly.
Inuyasha blushed and looked back at his plate, swallowing his food. "Sorry," he mumbled once his mouth was clear. "I asked what's so special about that?"
"Well, they get to have massages and facials and get their nails done and masks…you know, they get relaxed and pretty."
"Massages?" Inuyasha asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Yes, it's where you lay down on a table and someone eases out all the tension in your body by rubbing it with scented oils and warmed smooth stones…"
Mirouku's eyes were getting larger by the moment. "So somebody comes and rubs oils all over your body?"
Mrs. Higurashi nodded. "It's very relaxing."
Mirouku cleared is throat. "And Sango is going to get one of these?"
Mrs. Higurashi nodded again. "Most probably, it's one of Kagome's favorite things."
Inuyasha almost spit out his food. "Kagome is going to have a stranger rub oil all over her body?"
Mrs. Higurashi caught the intonation in Inuyasha's voice and smiled. "It's very professional, Inuyasha, these are trained men and women who…"
"Men?" Inuyasha interrupted.
"Women?" Mirouku found it increasingly difficult to breathe. He managed to control himself enough to ask, "This is a job for someone out there?" He shook his head. 'I'm in the wrong line of work.'
Mrs. Higurashi laughed. "Well, it's more than just the massages, it's also the facials, and the steam room and scrubs, and…"
"Scrubs?" Inuyasha asked about the other unfamiliar word.
"Yes, it's more like a…" she trailed off, thinking of how the scrub exfoliated the skin of the whole body, "…and the hot water baths," she tried to change the subject, "…and the pool…"
"Hot water baths?" Mirouku felt the food he had just eaten lodged somewhere in his throat.
"Pool?" Inuyasha asked, his own food forgotten.
"It's alright, boys, really…" Mrs. Higurashi tried to soothe them.
"Pool means…" Inuyasha started.
"Water," Mirouku finished.
The old woman's prediction came back to both of them at what must have been the exact same time because they stood up together.
"Where is it?" Inuyasha asked Mrs. Higurashi.
"Well, it's in the center of town, but it's…"
They didn't wait for her to finish, simply sped out the door.
"…just for women…" Mrs. Higurashi finished to an empty room.
+~+~+~