Man, now not even Rin and Sesshoumaru are really as happy as they could be! Do you think that Kohaku has any chance with the art director who is yearning after her absent boyfriend? Could anyone ever really hope to compete with Sesshoumaru? In the midst of all this shit, did Inuyasha and Kagome just forget to be mad at each other? Will someone remind them? Will Kikyo notice that they seem to be friends again and remember to be a home wrecker? Does Kikyo even care about that anymore? Isn't it ironic that at the beginning of this story, getting Inuyasha and Kagome seemed to be the most important thing, and now it's like the least important? Well…I'm sure there are less important things, but you know what I mean. Let's look for some in this newest tidbit of…
*****
Center Stage
Part 15
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"Sango! Wait!" Miroku was panting as he ran up to the familiar white Accord where his girlfriend was fumbling for her keys. She turned at his approach, her tear-streaked face evidence that she was still feeling the pain of their argument.
"What do you want?" she called out as he reached her, bending slightly and holding up a hand to indicate that he needed to catch his breath. "Really, I don't have time to listen to more of—mmph!" Sango was cut off as Miroku, apparently feeling he was ready to continue, stood up and caught her lips quickly with his own, pushing her back against the car and kissing her deeply. Sango struggled, and after a bit, he pulled back, his eyes gleaming with happiness. "What the hell...I thought we were fighting."
"We can go back to fighting after this if you like, but I just wanted to confirm something." Miroku told her, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. They'd only been fighting for a few days, but it felt like so long since he'd shown her such a tender bit of caring. "You love me?"
"I…I said I did, didn't I?" she asked him, blushing slightly. She wished that she wasn't so easily affected by something as simple as his hand on her cheek, one thumb curving up to wipe away the traces of a lingering tear.
"Can you…could you please say it again?" Miroku requested, and even though she was still angry about the things he'd said, something about his eyes right then…she didn't want to say no to him. "Preferably without the part about me being a bastard, if you could." She had to smile at that. What were they fighting about, again? She didn't know for sure, but did it really matter? After all, she loved him, and he loved her. Wasn't that more important than who was right and who was wrong?
"I love you, Miroku." She told him, reaching up to trace the side of his face and fighting the feel of tears welling up in her eyes again. She would not be one of those stupid girls who just cried for no reason! She wouldn't! "I'm sorry I didn't say anything before, but things have been so crazy…you don't always remember to think about what really matters."
"God, Sango, thank you." He kissed her forehead firmly before looking down at her again. "I love you too, and I don't want to fight with you anymore."
"Me either." She smiled as he lowered for another kiss, this one considerably longer than the last. After they broke, she smiled up at him mischievously. "I can't believe you called me a high maintenance prudish bitch though."
"Sorry about that." Miroku had the grace to blush, looking down. "I was…a little angry."
"It's okay. It was good to see you actually get mad enough to yell at me. I was starting to think that you weren't human or something." She buried her face in his chest. "Wanna come over tonight?" there was a strange gleam in her maroon eyes, and Miroku almost yelped as he realized what she was asking him.
"Sango, I don't really think you're…prudish. I was being cruel and thoughtless." He told her, his tone as polite and civilized as she was used to hearing it.
"Well…you made a pretty good point, Miroku. You have already seen me naked." Sango teased. "No…I don't mean…that…but I think we should definitely…make up, you know? Unless you're busy tonight?"
"No, I'm free." He told her immediately. "Shall I rent a movie?"
"That would be good." Sango kissed him softly, hugging him tightly for a moment before loosening her grip and leaning her head against his chest and closing her eyes. "I think I feel happier right now than I have in about…oh, three months at least."
"Only three months?" Miroku pouted. "How about four?"
"We'll see about that." Sango sighed happily as he kissed her head and paused to take a deep breath of her hair. It was amazing how much those little things meant to her. "Maybe if you're really good you can just wipe the whole slate clean. I've only lived for seventeen years, anyway."
"I'll see you later than, love." Miroku smiled as he let go of her. "I'll go get that movie."
"Seeya." She blushed at the endearment, but she knew she shouldn't be embarrassed by it. "I think I'm driving Rin home, so if I'm not there when you get there, don't worry."
"I won't!" he smiled, waving at her happily as he walked toward his car. Sango looked up and saw Rin and Kohaku headed her way.
"And Miroku!" she called out on a whim.
"Yeah?" he turned around, halfway across the parking lot by now. She ran over, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. He looked surprised, but pleased at her sudden affectionate behavior.
"I love you." She told him again.
"I love you too." He assured her.
"Come on Sango!" Kohaku was growing impatient, so she settled for another quick kiss before racing off to her car, where Rin was beaming at her happily.
"I remember when Sesshoumaru and I used to be like that." Rin sighed longingly.
"Rin, you guys are still like that." Sango assured her friend before they all got into the car.
"Oh…yeah, I guess so." Rin shrugged, not noticing how Kohaku was pouting at the subject. "Anyway, I'm glad you guys settled everything out."
"Me too." Sango blushed again. "I love him, you know."
"Yeah." Kohaku rolled his eyes. "We all know. Thanks for the info."
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"I love you." Kikyo spoke up suddenly next to Inuyasha as he was driving her home.
"What?" he almost choked at the sudden statement. "Do you want something?"
"No. I just wanted to tell you I love you." She told him clearly, folding her hands primly in her lap. "I thought you should know."
"Really." Inuyasha sighed, giving her a sidelong glance. "You been kinda weird lately. Is something wrong with you?"
"I really do love you." She assured him.
"Yeah, sure." Inuyasha waved a dismissive hand. "I was asking if something's wrong."
"Not especially, no." Kikyo told him. "But it means a lot that you show your concern for me."
"I'm not…gah, I was just…you're weirding me out." Inuyasha shook his head as he pulled up to her house. "Just…whatever's wrong…you can tell me, ya know?"
"I know, Inuyasha." Kikyo offered him the briefest of smiles. "You really are the best thing that ever happened to me, you know. And I do love you."
"Uh…yeah." Inuyasha waved at her after she got out before driving away. Crazy women. You treat them good and they hate you, you treat them like shit and they love you. Go figure.
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"Oh damn…" Kagura snapped her fingers as she walked outside with Kouga, seeing that Inuyasha's car was gone already. "I was going to ask Kikyo to go out to dinner with us. It was so nice how she stood up for you today…and after what she did for me."
"We could go by her house, if you want." Kouga offered. "I'll drop you off for your bike later."
"That sounds good. Thanks a lot." Kagura smiled warmly up at him. What had she done to deserve someone so good? She wasn't sure, but she'd never let him go. She was filled with warm thoughts on the drive to Kikyo's. It was sad and painful what happened to Shippo and Kouga, but now that they'd talked it out, she felt like they were both ready to move on and just try to deal with the hand that life had dealt them. She was sure that in their own way, they really were beating Naraku, just by being happy together in spite of him. And that's when she saw it.
As they pulled up to Kikyo's house, she saw something that made her mouth go dry. A dark green Nova that she would have recognized anywhere. That was Naraku's car.
"Kagura? We're here. Want me to come in with you?" Kouga looked at her. He seemed so much happier than he'd been all day, the bruises from his fight still plain on his face, but it was as though he could have cared less what had happened to him.
Because of me. And if he comes in now…I know what he'll find…what he'll do. I can't let Naraku go after him again. I told him…he doesn't have to save me.
I have to save myself. And I owe Kikyo.
"Oh…no, I'll be fine! It'll just take a few minutes, okay?" Kagura did her best to look natural. After all, she was going into the lion's den once more, and she couldn't have been more terrified. "I love you, Kouga."
"Love you too." He seemed a bit surprised at this spontaneous expression, but not displeased at all. Kagura smiled and kissed him before hopping out of the car and steeling herself as she reached the door and knocked.
I can do this. I know I can. Because when it comes right down to it, Kikyo really is the best friend I've ever had.
She had a wild hope that Kikyo's parents would be there, and they would recognize her and send her away. But she knew it wouldn't be true. Kikyo's parents were never home, it seemed, and she hadn't seen their cars in the driveway. Her fears were confirmed when the door opened slightly under the pressure of her hand. Biting her lip, she stepped inside.
"Hello?" she really didn't want to draw attention to herself at that moment, but she kept telling herself that she had to do something. And then a terrible thought came to her mind. What if the only way to repay Kikyo for her sacrifice was by doing the same in return? Would she be able to do it? Would Kouga forgive her if she did? Would she be able to forgive herself?
"Kagura, what are you doing here?" the urgent hiss from the top of the stairs made Kagura look up to see her friend, clad in a sheet and nothing else, her face pale and sad.
"He's here, isn't he? I saw his car outside." Kagura stepped on the bottom step so that she wouldn't have to speak so loudly. Kikyo scuttled down the stairway to meet her, panic in her normally deadened eyes.
"He'll take you too if he finds out you're here." She whispered urgently, her eyes pleading for Kagura to just go. "You think you're going to pay me back for the other day? You don't know what you're getting yourself into. He won't leave me alone now. He thinks I like it, and he knows that even if I don't, I'll protect you. He's over here every day now. The same could happen to you."
"But he'd leave you, wouldn't he?" Kagura pleaded, trying to ignore the way her legs were shaking. "Kikyo, I can't just leave you to him! You're my best friend."
"If I'm such a good friend, why'd I introduce you in the first place?" Kikyo looked almost sullen, but Kagura couldn't recall any time before when Kikyo had actually looked sullen. "I should have warned you about him, but I never did. I'm making up for that, Kagura. You're my best friend, too, but you never betrayed me."
"You never betrayed me! How could you have known?" Kagura was desperate. She reached up, clutching to Kikyo's bare arm as if she could pull her away from this. "You were only a kid!"
"Oh, please! I knew what he wanted with you as soon as he asked to meet you. Naraku's not a normal person, he never will be. And neither will I, not ever again." Kikyo told her, pulling her arm back.
"Kikyo, my sweet, where have you gone to? I am becoming impatient! You know I hate to wait!" Naraku's voice called out, and Kagura almost bolted at the sound, but she had to keep trying! She had to save Kikyo!
"Kikyo, we're the only two people in the world who can understand each other!" she hissed. "Come with me! You can live at my place from now on, and we won't let Naraku near you ever again."
"Sweet Kagura…don't make promises you can't keep." Kikyo's eyes were sad, but there was a twinge of warmth in them as she leaned forward, kissing her friend's cheek softly. "I wish I could be like you, but it's too late for me. I'll wait, because it's important to both of you, and you two are the most important to me…the most important. Know that I love you, like the sister I never had Kagura, and nothing Naraku does to me or even to you can dirty that."
"Kikyo…what…are you talking about?" Kagura had the sudden feeling that something terrible was going on inside Kikyo's head, and she couldn't think what. It had been a long time since she could properly interpret her friend's feelings and actions.
"Kikyo! I'm still waiting!" Naraku's voice sounded a bit angry, and the warmth in Kikyo's eyes immediately died, replaced by the deadened look that most people were used to.
"Please, go, or he'll just try to re-enact my birthday." Kikyo pushed Kagura's shoulder, and the strength behind it was more than Kagura expected. Kikyo seemed so frail, but she was really very tough, when it came right down to it. To keep any shred of human emotion for so long under Naraku's torture…she must have been the strongest girl Kagura knew. "He wants to take Kagome, you know. He's been leading her on for this long. She thinks we hurt him. I'll protect her, though. In the end, that's what I can do. That's all I can do. Now go."
"But I—" Kagura was cut off by a firm kiss on the lips that made her eyes widen in shock. It was perfectly chaste, but still utterly unexpected. Before she could push away, Kikyo shoved her back again and raced up the stairs.
"I'm coming! I'm sorry, there was a salesman!" Kikyo's voice came down to her, and she knew that nothing she could do would convince Kikyo to escape with her. And then she realized that just as she'd told Kouga that he needn't save her, Kikyo had been trying to tell her the same thing. It hurt to the core, feeling the irony of it all, but she also knew that in about thirty seconds, Kouga would get worried and come in after her. And so, ignoring Kikyo's cries as best she could, and trying in vain to keep her tears in check, Kagura turned around and left the house.
"What took so…Kagura?" Kouga had been leaning against his car, probably ready to come check on her. He was immediately alarmed to see her face, tear-streaked as she collapsed against his chest, sobbing brokenly. "Kagura, what's wrong?"
"I…just…she really is…the best friend I ever had…wish she could see that." Kagura managed, sniffling as tears continued to leak down her face. "She…can't come with us right now."
"What's wrong? Did her parents get mad to see you?" Kouga was kissing her forehead and cheeks as though his lips could take away whatever pain she was feeling. "I know they don't like you…"
"Something like that, yeah." Kagura sighed. "Let's just go."
"Okay, Kagura." Kouga smiled at her hopefully as they both climbed into the car. "You know, I love you."
"I know." She smiled at him, but it wasn't as happy as before. "I know you do, and it's the best thing I have. I love you too."
*****
The End! (Of Part 15, That Is)