All that basking in memories and yet they still can't talk to each other! Why? It's injustice! Will this plot ever reach a resolution? Or will Agent Kishuku's prediction that everyone's going to die come true? Did Sesshoumaru see through Inuyasha's display of stupidity? Was that really a display? What is with the ice cream thing? Why don't Rin and Sesshoumaru have any real problems? Is it due to Sesshoumaru's supreme hotness powers? Are the fans of Kohaku slowly uniting against his poor treatment? Will Jade lead them to Kohaku triumph? Is Jade helping to make up questions because Teresa's reached an all time low, or is it just due to the lack of coffee in her body? Why can't Teresa have any coffee? WHY??? Will she still be able to write a good chapter without the aid of her dearest chemical? Trudge deeper into the murky depths of…
*****
Center Stage
Part 21
*****
"What about…Down With Love?" Kagura pointed to the list of movies showing at the theater that Kouga and her had decided to spend their Sunday night off from rehearsals at. "I heard it's good."
"Gah, that's a fucking chick flick. I don't wanna watch that." Kouga rolled his eyes. "I think we should watch Matrix Reloaded." Kouga pointed. "That's a great movie."
"Yeah! Matrix!" Shippo piped up from where he was standing between them. He'd insisted on coming along, much to Kagura's delight and Kouga's annoyance.
"You've seen it ten times, Kouga." Kagura reminded him. "We're not watching it again."
"What do you want to watch? Some other girly shit?" Kouga wanted to know.
"How about…Pirates of the Carribean? That looks really good." Kagura bit her lip slightly.
"You only wanna see that cause you have that fucking thing for Orlando Bloom." Kouga rolled his eyes, crossing his arms stubbornly.
"I like guys with long hair." She smiled, reaching up to tug his ponytail slightly before leaning in to kiss his cheek. "How about League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?"
"No way…stupid freaking Sean Connery." Kouga grumbled. "I hate how girls get about his accent. He's just talking you know. What about The Hulk?"
"Yeah! That's a good one!" Shippo concurred, looking up at Kagura. "We've seen it twice!"
"No." Kagura gave them both a flat look. "I have no desire to see some overly muscled green guy smash things with his fists."
"But it's cool!" Kouga insisted before turning back to the listings. "Hey, that new Charlie's Angels movie is playing…that could be good."
"Hmm…I did like the first one." Kagura bit at her lip again. "Though I suspect you only want to watch it because the girls are running around in tight clothes."
"Can we watch Terminator 3? I wanna see the robots kill people!" Shippo exclaimed happily.
"No way, you are not old enough to watch something that violent." Kagura shook her head. "How about that cute Sinbad movie? That's animated, isn't it?"
"He's not a fucking baby Kagura." Kouga leveled a dry look at her. "I say Charlie's Angels. How about you Shippo?"
"Cameron Diaz is hot!" Shippo exclaimed, much to Kouga's embarrassment.
"Okay, yeah, let's go then." Kagura rolled her eyes. She just wanted to watch a movie; she didn't see why it had to be so difficult. Kouga pulled out his wallet, paying for their tickets as she slipped inside to buy some snacks for them. She was standing in the line, looking at the various sized cartons of popcorn, when someone called out her name.
"Kagura!" she turned, and smiled to see Souta running up to her with a ten dollar bill clutched in his hand. "Hey, I didn't know you were here." He got in line behind her.
"Oh, yeah, I just—" Kagura was cut off as she realized she was next and moved ahead. "Good to see you, Souta." Kagura wondered momentarily what he would be doing at the theater alone, but she didn't think about it for too long before getting some popcorn and three sodas, leaving with a last nod in Souta's direction as he purchased his own concessions.
"Uh…let's see, can I have some Sour Patch Kids and a box of Jujubes? And…um two medium Mountain Dews." He handed the man at the counter his money and looked up at the posters covering the walls above them as he waited for the man to get the sodas and make change. "Thanks a lot." He turned to head back to the theater where his sister was waiting. Their mother had been irritated by the way that Souta was restless all day long, and so she had finally given Kagome a twenty and told her to take him to the movies. Charlie's Angels wasn't his first choice, but it was hard to agree with his sister on a movie, so he'd compromised. It was hard being so reasonable sometimes, but Souta tried his best.
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"What are you doing?" Kikyo asked miserably from her spot in Naraku's passenger seat. They'd been at her house when he'd decided to call Kagome, and then they had apparently needed to go for a drive. She wondered for the millionth time why it was necessary for her to come along.
"Kagome's mother told me that she has gone here with her brother. You should be excited, Kikyo. We haven't gone out like this for ages." Naraku reached over, squeezing her thigh as her lip curled in disgust. She really hated him. She knew though, it would come to an end soon enough. After opening night, everything would be different.
"How are we supposed to know which movie she's watching?" Kikyo asked, hard pressed to keep the irritation out of her voice.
"That's why you're coming with me. We'll buy two tickets and look around until we find her. Be sure you don't forget to find me if you get to her first." Naraku's hand squeezed painfully tight as he pulled into a parking spot.
"Isn't that Sango and Miroku?" Kikyo asked as she spotted two familiar people ahead of them at the ticket window after they had both exited the car.
"Do I care?" Naraku asked her, and she immediately shut her mouth. It was incredibly difficult trying not to smack him across the face, but if she remembered all the times she had resisted him before, it became considerably easier. Naraku did not like dealing with insolence. Still, she couldn't help but sigh wistfully as she watched Sango and Miroku ahead of them, purchasing a pair of tickets as Miroku tried to lower the hand around Sango's waist down for a playful grope. She narrowed her eyes and elbowed him, but just as she attacked him, she laughed and gave him a small kiss on the cheek. That was how they always were, it seemed. Strange, but still, it was obvious that they were in love. That's what Kikyo had hoped for, but it wasn't meant to be.
----------
"Why does Inuyasha have to be here?" Sesshoumaru made his best attempt at not sounding pouty, but Rin still giggled and leaned across her theater seat to kiss him on the cheek.
"Be nice, Sesshoumaru. You've seen how sad he's been lately. I didn't want him sitting home alone and moping while we went out." Rin told her boyfriend. "Oh! Here he comes with my pop! Thanks, Inuyasha." She smiled warmly at her friend as he sat on the other side of her and handed out the concessions he'd been sent for. "I'm so glad you could come with us."
"Uh, whatever." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Wait…who wanted Milk Duds?"
"Oh, those are for both of us." Rin took them happily and opened the package, popping one into her mouth immediately. "Ooh, the previews are starting, we better be quiet!"
"Rin, you're the only loud one here." Inuyasha spoke in the suddenly silent theater, and he was immediately embarrassed by how loud his voice sounded.
"Inuyasha?" a voice came from somewhere nearby, but it was hard to tell since the lights had dimmed with the start of the previews. "Is that you?"
"That sounds like Sango!" Rin squealed, only to be hushed by a woman behind them. Of course, Rin didn't notice, and she turned in the direction of the voice. "Sango? Is that you?"
"Rin?" Sango's voice answered. "Is Sesshoumaru over there with you?"
"Oh, yeah." Rin flushed, not that anyone could see it in the dark of the theater. "Who are you here with?"
"Would you shut up?" a man in front of them turned around, only to meet Sesshoumaru's intimidating glare. "Or…not, you can just…um, yeah."
"Miroku and Kohaku." Sango called back.
"Hey! You guys are all here?" another voice called from a new direction.
"Kouga?" Sango's voice called out, despite the groans and hushing of more than a few fellow movie goers. "Is Kagura with you?"
"Yeah, Shippo's here with us too." Kagura's voice answered. "I saw Souta earlier. Is he in here too?"
"Yeah, I'm down here!" Souta called out. "I'm with my sister."
"Kagome?" Rin called toward where Souta's voice had come from. "Wow, it looks like we're all here."
"Shut up!" called a woman from nearby.
"You shut up, lady! It's just the fucking previews!" Kouga shot back at her.
"Hey! Let's all sit together!" Sango exclaimed happily, and Rin could see her now that she was standing up.
"Oh, yeah! Let's see…um, there's a few extra seats over here, but I don't know if it's enough." Rin looked around. "How many of us are there?"
"There's a bunch of extra seats back here." Kouga volunteered. "Should be enough."
"Okay, I'm coming back!" Rin got up, motioning for the two young men with her to follow suit, amid the muttered complaints of many people around them. "Kagome, are you coming?" she asked, as she could already see Sango and Miroku making their way back with Kohaku.
"Kouga!" an excited squeal made everyone pause, and Rin spotted one of the young crew members near where Kouga was waving at them from. "Wow! I didn't know you were here!"
"God, not you again." Kagura grumbled, obviously not in the mood for Ayame. "Hey, is Kikyo here by any chance?"
"Actually," a prim voice responded from somewhere near the doors. "I've only just arrived." Her proclamation was greeted with a startled noise of fright from Ayame's direction before she moved with someone else to join the rest of them, where everyone was arranging themselves in two rows, one right in front of the other.
"Pretty funny how we all came to the same movie, isn't it?" Kagura asked as everyone was arranging themselves. She noted with no small amount of displeasure that Naraku had come with Kikyo, and she immediately got up and traded spots with Shippo so that she could be next to her friend. At least if Naraku tried to do anything during the movie she could pelt him in the head with popcorn or something.
"Well, I was hoping to see this movie for some time." Miroku said from in front of them. "I really enjoy the idea of three female heroines being able to fight for themselves without the need for men at all. It's very politically correct and sends a strong message, I feel."
"Don't listen to that." Sango spoke from between Miroku and Kohaku. "He just likes watching the girls in their tight outfits."
"Cameron Diaz is hot!" Shippo reiterated his statement from before as he let his brother switch spots with him so that Kouga could sit next to Kagura still.
"Good man, Shippo." Miroku still managed to sound utterly serious as he turned around and raised a hand, garnering a high five from the little boy. "Very well put." There was a slight pause as Kohaku convinced Inuyasha to trade spots with him so that he could sit next to Rin. "Although, of course, none of the women in this movie or in any movie can possibly match the boundless beauty of my dear Sango."
"Nice try, Miroku." Sango sounded rather exasperated as she held her soda up to avoid having it spilled by Shippo, who was climbing over the seat next to her so he could sit next to Souta. Kagome's brother had been on the other end of the upper row next to his sister, who was sitting next to Naraku, but he quickly moved down beside Shippo when his friend appeared in the lower row.
"Here, you can have my seat." Inuyasha stood, moving away to sit up next to Kagome, because even though she made him nervous still, he was not about to trust her alone with Naraku. That guy seemed endlessly suspicious to Inuyasha, and he seriously disliked the fact that Kagome seemed to trust him when something inside of Inuyasha insisted that he was not a trustworthy person.
"Oh, uh, let me move over." Sango scooted down one chair and Miroku followed so that Shippo and Souta could sit next to Kohaku, who looked less than thrilled to be reminded that he was, as always, grouped with the younger boys collectively.
"Hey guys, let's quiet down." Kagura pointed to the screen. "I think it's starting."
"Kagura…did you get Hot Tamales?" Kouga leaned over to whisper in her ear as the title screen appeared. "I don't see any…"
"Oh…no, I forgot." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Let me see if I can…"
"No, no, I don't want you to miss the beginning…hey, hey Shippo." Kouga leaned forward and to the left, kicking at the back of his brother's seat. "Hey, Shippo, wanna go get some candy?" Kouga pulled out his wallet, looking for a five dollar bill and then reaching out to hand it to the eager looking boy. "Just make sure you get me some Hot Tamales, okay? And…Kagura, do you want anything?"
"No, I'm good. I have my popcorn." She smiled at Shippo as he snatched the bill and ran off. She turned back just in time to see Miroku slyly working his arm up around Sango's shoulders before leaning over to kiss her cheek.
"Stop, Miroku." Sango sounded irritable, but she was obviously smiling. "I want to actually watch the movie."
"Yeah, spare us you two." Kouga chuckled, reaching to place his own arm around Kagura's shoulders.
"I can do both at the same time, Sango." Miroku assured her in a hushed voice that could still be heard by those nearby. "Don't worry."
"I did not pay eight bucks to sit in a public place and make out with you, Miroku!" Sango hissed sharply, causing Rin to burst into giggles. "I could do it at home for free. And at least there no one would see us!"
"Ah, but I brought this jacket, Sango." Miroku pulled at the sleeves of his large jacket, removing it and then draping it over both of their heads despite Sango's resistance. "Look, we're in perfect privacy."
"Miroku, stop it right now, or I'll make you wait for me in the car." Sango told him stiffly, pushing aside his jacket.
"Well…as long as you'll be joining me shortly, that sounds like a favorable arrangement to me." Miroku leaned over to whisper in her ear. "It would be terrible to put such a nicely upholstered back seat to waste."
"If you do not act in a respectable manner for the rest of this movie, I will make you go home as soon as it's over tonight. No coming over to my place." Sango whispered back. His eyes went wide, and he moved his jacket, folding it nicely in his lap and gulping slightly.
"Understood, dear." Miroku offered her a small, frightened smile. "You had only to ask." Sango rolled her eyes, but she did not resist when Miroku reached over to wrap his arm back around her shoulders.
"Wanna take any bets on whether or not Miroku gets slapped before the end of the movie?" Kagura whispered into Kouga's ear, a smile pulling at her lips.
"I think we all know how that's going to end." Kouga chuckled slightly before nudging her and pointing at Sesshoumaru and Rin, who were obviously none too pleased about the barrier that the armrest presented to their ability to cuddle up close to each other. "Look at those two."
"Do they ever stop?" Kagura snorted slightly. "I'm actually shocked that Rin's not pregnant or something."
"Well, she's been on birth control for a long time. Something about…women troubles…yeah, I don't know." Kouga flushed slightly. "I just heard her and Kagome talking about it once. But yeah, they're totally sleeping together. The great part is, her parents don't suspect a thing."
"Are you kidding?" Kagura giggled slightly, trying to stay quiet and pay attention to the movie. But in the end, Kouga was just so much more fascinating to her. "How could they fool themselves like that?"
"I don't know…I've seen how he acts around them. Pretty impressive, you know. He's used to acting really formal a lot of the time, since he used to be so…I don't know, distant, when we were all younger. But yeah, I'm sure they think he doesn't even know what sex is. That, or they're convinced that anyone who looks that uptight can not be getting laid." Kouga's breath tickled her ear as he laughed and whispered, and Kagura settled closer to him, letting a comfortable warmth seep through her. It was odd that even considering the subject matter, she could feel so at ease with Kouga. Usually any talk that even implied sex made her clam up and pull away from him nervously. It wasn't so much memories of Naraku, as she still was unable to recall more than vague images of that fateful night, but she worried all the time now that she might prove what Naraku claimed. She was nothing but a slut, and she'd sleep with any man who looked at her twice. Some part of her knew it was only a mind trick he had played on her to keep her to himself, but still…still…she appreciated Kouga's patience.
Nearby, Kagome was feeling extremely uncomfortable. When she had left the house that evening with her brother, she had not planned on it being any sort of big deal, so she had not spent a considerable amount of time on her appearance. Her hair was down around her shoulders, she wore no makeup at all, and she was dressed in simple jeans and a t-shirt. Sitting next to Inuyasha, she was starting to feel very foolish about her lack of foresight. Why hadn't she guessed that she might meet some of her friends at the theater? Growing up, Sango had been a veritable movie addict, and she had quickly hooked Inuyasha and Kagome on to her tradition of frequent trips to the theater. All of her friends enjoyed going to the movies often. Although, she noted, as Rin got up to go to the bathroom, leaving Sesshoumaru behind, not all of them had the same ideas about what made a theater great. As she had guessed, approximately five minutes after Rin had left, Sesshoumaru got up and also disappeared. They wouldn't be back any time soon. Why they would shell out nearly ten dollars for tickets and snacks so they could skip half the movie to make out in a bathroom stall made no sense to Kagome. Couldn't they just do that at home? Without having to pay money for a movie they weren't really watching anyway?
Sango seemed to share her theory on this, as Miroku's periodic attempts to kiss or grope her were being ruthlessly cut off. Although she still hadn't banished him to the car, as she had threatened to do at the beginning of the movie if he couldn't keep his hands off of her. Those two were strange, but Kagome didn't mind it that much. At least they were happy.
Somehow, this train of thought caused her to glance at Inuyasha, who was pointedly avoiding looking at her, causing him to furrow his brow adorably as he watched the movie with some concentration. Inuyasha always made her feel a thousand different things, most of which countered each other directly. To her, he was her best friend, the only person who'd known her as long as Sango, and the subject of a million different memories.
Inuyasha was snowball fights and hot cocoa, climbing trees and playing tag, baking cookies and watching movies, skinned knees and fallen tears. He was there for almost everything, however trivial it might be, that she could remember. Oh, Sango had been present for most of it as well, and Kagome sometimes wondered how it was that even though they were all three very close, she had not become best friends with the other girl instead of the stand-offish boy who had resisted so many of her early attempts at friendship. It couldn't be that she understood boys very well, as Inuyasha never ceased to confuse her, but there it was. Her best friend, a rude boy who hated showing his emotions to anyone, while she had always been so easily governed by the flow of her feelings. It made no sense, and yet, it had always felt best when she was with Inuyasha.
Maybe I love him too well. Kagome sighed, feeling extremely depressed all of a sudden. And that's when she noticed something extremely out of sorts. Her hands rested on the armrests on either side of her, but just then, her right hand had been unwittingly invaded by another. Eyes goggling, Kagome looked down at Naraku's fingers, which had found their way through her own. What is he doing?!
Deciding to maintain a polite sense of composure so as not to discomfort the other young man, she waited a moment before moving the hand away with the pretense of grabbing her soda so that she could have another drink. Taking her time about it, Kagome darted a glance at Inuyasha, whose unchanged expression told her he hadn't witnessed anything. She thought about peeking at Naraku, but she didn't want him to catch her, so she set the cup back down and then casually rested her right hand on her thigh, far out of easy reach.
However, this did not detract Naraku from his goal, and he reached down to entwine his fingers in Kagome's once more. This time, Inuyasha noticed the transgression almost immediately, which was rather unfortunate for everyone in the theater who was trying to watch the movie. "What the hell! Get your hands off her right now!" Inuyasha actually reached down while he was yelling, pulling Naraku's hand away from Kagome in a manner that was anything but subtle. "Man…don't just fucking grab girls in the middle of movies."
"Shut up back there!" a voice called, and Inuyasha snorted angrily.
"Eat me, asshole!" Inuyasha called back. "Mind your own business!"
"I should be saying the same to you." Naraku hissed at Inuyasha, and Kagome was struck by how strange he seemed. Not at all like the sad, helpless boy that she knew. This Naraku was strong, and in a way, very frightening. She felt herself grow cold and worried. She did not want Inuyasha and Naraku to get in a fight.
"You guys…just don't." She urged them in a rushed, breathless voice that was barely audible. She licked her lips and turned to Naraku. "I think…um, we might need to talk."
"You are not talking to that guy alone." Inuyasha's voice was almost a growl, and Kagome realized with some shock that this was one of the first times he'd talked to her in the three weeks since the new year's party. And that kiss…
"I'll be fine." She assured him, standing up and motioning for Naraku to follow her. "Just…stay here, I'll be back in five minutes, I swear." She thought she might have to physically restrain Inuyasha from following, but after a few moments, he settled back in his seat and shot Naraku a glare.
"You better be." It was a warning for Naraku, and Kagome knew it. When had everything gotten so out of hand? Sighing miserably, she left the theater with Naraku right behind her. They stood just outside the doors, still able to hear the movie going on inside as Kagome started talking.
"Look, Naraku, we're friends." She told him, more than a little embarrassed. "I'm not…interested in you…in any other way."
"I'm sorry…I just…" Naraku looked as though he might start to cry, and Kagome felt horrible. "Since everything happened…with Kagura and Kikyo, I just…no one's ever been so nice to me. I don't really know…how to act around you, Kagome. You…confuse me. I didn't mean anything by it…I just…you make me feel stronger. Like maybe everything will be all right."
"Oh, Naraku." Kagome sighed, frowning slightly as she moved to hug him, letting him bury his face in her shoulder. "It's okay. I just didn't want you getting the wrong idea. I guess I can see how, after everything you've been through, you might not act the same as most boys. But I don't mind, really. If you want to hold my hand, if it makes you feel better, just go ahead. Okay? And anytime you need to talk to someone, or you just want a hug, that's what I'm here for." She assured him as he sniffled against her shoulder. It hurt to see how sad he was. He tried so hard to seem strong and cold for everyone else, but she knew that inside, this was Naraku. A scared, broken little boy who needed someone to hold on to. And she couldn't deny him that. She just couldn't.
"I am so glad that you care for me, Kagome." Naraku's voice was tight, and she smiled at him reassuringly as he pulled away slightly. "You are the happiest thing I have known for years." He leaned forward slightly, a bit hesitantly, his eyes questioning as he placed a light kiss on her forehead. "Thank you."
"It's okay." Kagome kept her smile strong for him. "I'm just glad I can be here for you."
*****
The End (Of Part 21, That Is)
This chapter is dedicated to Jade. Except the icky Naraku part. That's just icky.