Author's Rambling: Before I start the chapter, I just want you to know that I'm grateful for all your reviews, (especially the positive ones, lol) but do try to keep in mind that *wince* I can't spend a lot of time writing, what with finals and high school and living in freakin' Mission, which is infamous for its school pressure and high insanity rates. Okay, well maybe not the latter but trust me, there is no time to squeeze in for writing, unfortunately. So I try to update as much as possible, so thanks to the people who understand that. My I sound so stuffy now, don't I? What I mean to say, however, is that I would update if I could, but if I haven't that means that there's no way for me to, so please be patient and stay sane. *sweatdrop* Thanks.
Oh yeah, sorry about there being no indentation and all. I did put it in when I was writing, but I guess it didn't show up on the site. Sorry.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, nor am I making any profit, etc etc. Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love Inuyasha in his human form, which is probably why I put him in human form for this whole story. ^______________^ His black hair and violet (yes, VIOLET) eyes are just so delicious looking! Lucky Kagome... tehee. [some of my friends don't believe Inuyasha has violet eyes . tehee]
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Chapter 11: A Little Angst
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"I have to call my family." Kouga was in the front seat, his phone in his hand. "I guess it's still not safe to call?"
"Of course not." Sango scoffed. "If it was, we could all be home right now, and not crammed into this little van."
"Oh, calm down." Kagome said good-naturedly. "There are only seven of us."
Sango groaned and covered her eyes. "We're a ten car pileup waiting to happen."
"I've never been in a car accident before." Shippou said thoughtfully. "Do you think it's fun, Rin?"
"It is not fun." Sango interrupted. "It's painful, especially if you get whiplash."
"What's whiplash?" Rin asked, wide-eyed.
As Sango regaled the two kids with car accident horror stories, Miroku and Kouga were pondering the phone problem.
"Look," Kouga said finally. "we're only ten minutes away from my place. Do you think we can drop by, just to make sure they're okay?"
Inuyasha glared icily from the driver's seat, and Kouga flopped back. "Yeah, I didn't think so."
"Poor Kouga-kun." Kagome said sympathetically. "Don't worry, you can call them at the next pay phone."
"Yeah." he muttered.
Inuyasha scowled. "Hey, we're all running from these nuts here. If you're going to have a pity party, I'm jumping."
"Out of the car?" Rin asked.
Inuyasha turned his scowl to her. "Yes, out of the car."
"Won't it hurt?" she asked thoughtfully.
Inuyasha opened his mouth, but Miroku spoke first. "Virgin ears, Inuyasha." he warned.
"What's a virgin?" Shippou asked.
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"That was the longest car ride I've ever had to endure." Kagome griped as they stopped for gas. "I'm serious, when I get home, I am never going to babysit ever again."
"Quiet." Miroku hushed. "You'll hurt their feelings."
"They're asleep." Kagome informed him. "Finally. And I'm not saying I don't like them, because they're irresistable and all, but three hours in a small van is enough to make anyone swear off children."
"My van is not small." Miroku grumbled.
Inuyasha walked by at that moment, caught the remark and rolled his eyes. "Sure, Miroku, and you're not interested in girls at all."
"But I am interested in girls." Miroku mused. Kagome shook her head.
"What's for lunch?" Kouga asked. "Actually, this late in the afternoon, it's closer to dinner."
"I'm hungry." Kagome commented.
"Hot dogs." Sango announced.
Everyone turned to her. "Hot dogs?" they asked in unison.
"Hot dogs." she confirmed. "Besides being the only familiar thing I can find in the store, it's the only thing the kids will eat. Besides candy, but I drew the line at that. No point in them getting hyper."
Kagome shuddered at the thought, then realized something. "You mean they're awake? Again?"
Sango nodded.
"But I just got them to fall asleep!" Kagome wailed. "Twenty minutes ago! Don't they need rest?"
"Calm down." Kouga soothed. "Kids are like that, Kagome. Don't freak."
"Twenty minutes!" Kagome said, ignoring the heads that were beginning to turn. "Twenty minutes! That's .." she paused. "1200 seconds! I only had 1200 seconds of peace!"
Miroku and Inuyasha exchanged glances. "We need to bring them back to the shelter." Miroku said. "Their moms are probably frantic, and Kagome's going into hysterics. That'll attract attention."
Inuyasha glared at him. "You think you should've thought of that before we drove two hours past it?"
Miroku shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Hey, I'm just a teenager. I can't be trusted to think ahead and all that."
"Yeah." Inuyasha agreed pleasantly. "And I'm just a teenager too. I can't be trusted not to suffocate you in your sleep."
"I'll drive." Miroku volunteered quickly. "You can take a nap on the mattress."
"I don't take naps." Inuyasha grumbled.
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"I thought he didn't take naps." Kouga looked in distaste at the lump on the mattress.
"I don't." A muffled voice rose out of the blankets.
"Then get out of there! You're taking up the whole thing. I want to sleep."
Inuyasha made a rude gesture at Kouga, sparking a whole new question and answer segment courtesy of Shippou and Rin. Sango looked worriedly at Kagome, who had buried her head under a pillow while the children crawled over her.
"Hurry up, Miroku." she urged. "I'm afraid Kagome-chan is going to suffocate herself."
"This is as fast as the van will go." Miroku replied tersely. "Any faster and the police will be on us so fast.. and how are we going to explain two kidnapped children in the back? Not to mention that the interior design of this thing is not entirely legal."
Sango groaned.
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The kids didn't want to leave them. This was apparent by the way Rin and Shippou were currently attached to Miroku's legs, one on each. "We don't wanna go back! WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!"
Kagome winced. Inuyasha, who seemed to have more sensitive hearing than the rest of them, was hiding the car. Kagome and Kouga decided, wisely, to join him and leave Miroku and Sango to comfort the kids.
Kagome opened the door and unceremoniously shoved Inuyasha off the mattress. "My turn." she announced. Kouga's eyes widened. "Hey! No fair! It was my turn!" he tugged at her shirt and she punched him in the stomach. Inuyasha yawned and blinked sleepily as Kouga and Kagome got involved in a wrestling match. "Hey." he said irritably when they got a little too touchy for his taste. "Kagome, you roll around with every guy you meet?" She stopped long enough to give him a withering glare, but that meant Kouga had a window of opportunity for the mattress, and he took it. Kagome said a soft shriek of indignance, and turned to Inuyasha for help. "Inuyasha.." she wheedled. "'yasha, help me... get Kouga-kun off.."
Inuyasha shook his head. "You're in this one your own."
"But it's your fault!" When he showed no signs of moving, Kagome narrowed her eyes and turned her attention to Kouga, who wasn't even pretending to sleep. He grinned cheekily at her, his face propped up with a hand. Kagome looked around for something to throw.
Miroku and Sango found Kouga sulking in the bean bag and Inuyasha yawning in the chair. Kagome was snuggled quite comfortably on top of the mattress, a blissful smile on her face.
"What happened?" Sango asked. "I thought Kouga was next in line for the bed."
"That's what I thought too." Kouga grumbled.
"Oh hush." Kagome called out good-naturedly. "You offered me the mattress, remember? So gentlemanly."
Kouga scowled at her. "You pinched me. You have sharp nails, 'gome."
She grinned and blew a kiss at him. "You're so cute when you get mad." Kouga blushed furiously and Inuyasha opened his eyes long enough to scowl at the pair. "Disgusting." he announced.
"You're just jealous." Kagome teased. "Because you can't hold normal conversations like Kouga-kun and me can."
"And I." Sango corrected automatically.
"Be quiet." Miroku said sharply.
"Well, sorry." Sango sulked a little. "Grammer is my best subject."
"No, not you, sweetie." He wrapped an arm around her. "I hear something."
Everyone froze. "What do you hear?" Kagome whispered.
"I don't-" Miroku shook his head helplessly and glanced over to Inuyasha. He tilted his head, holding up a hand when Kouga would have spoken. His eyes narrowed in the slightly, then, before anyone could blink, Inuyasha was out of his slouch and in the front seat, twisting the key in the ignition.
"What?" Kagome asked, scampering towards the window. "What's going on?"
Sango was thrown back into Miroku when the car suddenly kicked into gear. They tumbled onto the mattress. The gravity of the situation proved itself when Miroku got up and made sure Sango was okay, all without a suggestive remark or misplaced hand. Kagome looked out the window and squinted. "There's someone following us." she announced.
"Obviously." Inuyasha replied tersely, his eyes on the road. Kagome braced herself against in the front passenger seat, where she had somehow climbed onto. "You're going really fast, Inuyasha. I don't think it's safe."
"Beats the alternative."
Kagome took another peek out. "You think it's the guys from the gang." she stated.
"Who else could be chasing us in a black car?" Miroku asked, biting back his sarcasm.
"Why are they still after us?" Sango demanded. "Miroku, explain this to me. I don't quite understand the whole behind this side-and-seek thing."
"It's complicated." Miroku replied shortly. He exchanged glances with Kouga. "Very complicated. I don't want you getting involved, Sango."
"And since when do you get to dictate what I do and don't get involved in?" Sango was getting visibly angry now. "I'm serious, Miroku."
"So am I." he shot back. "There is no way in hell I'm telling you."
"Oh, you'll be there soon."
"Sango!" Kagome was shocked. Sango and Miroku had never gotten in this serious of an argument, except for when they broke up, so there was good cause for alarm. "Stop it, guys." she pleaded. "Don't fight. Don't!"
"It's none of your business." Miroku was saying to Sango, his lips pressed white with control.
"It's never any of my business!" Sango yelled back. "How come you're late for the movie, Miroku? That's none of my business. Who was that girl whispering to you, Miroku? Oh, that's none of my business either. How about, why does that policeman recognize you, Miroku? None of my business either!"
"You're right." Miroku's voice raised slightly. "You're right. It is none of your business. So why don't you stop asking?"
"Stop it!" Kagome was verging on frantic now. "Stop it! This is why you broke up before, remember? Stop it!"
Inuyasha had his foot pressing hard against the pedal. Kouga was pale. Sango was on the verge of tears. Miroku's eyes were blank. The noise level rose.
"Everyone shut the fucking up!"
The car silenced.
Inuyasha looked back. "Right now," he said evenly, "we are being chased by people who would kill us given half the chance. I am driving twice the legal speed limit. What I do not need right now is a soap opera drama being played out behind me, okay?"
"Don't be so insensitive!" Kagome burst out, but bit her words back when she saw the expression on Inuyasha's face.
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"We're getting split up!" Kagome paced the forest trail as Kouga watched her idly. "I'm serious, Kouga. Sango and Miroku won't talk to each other, and-" she paused, blew some hair out of her eyes. "I can't stand Inuyasha right now." Kouga shrugged. "Inuyasha's not good with this relationship stuff. You can't blame him for being a little insensitive."
Kagome smiled a little. "Then how come you ended up so understanding?" Kouga smiled a little and draped his jacket around her. "Just lucky, I guess."
"She's crying." Miroku slumped against a tree. "I made her cry, Inuyasha. What kind of fucking bastard am I?"
Inuyasha shook his head in response. "Women. I told you not to get involved."
Miroku scowled. "You told me to go for it."
"Yeah, just so you'd get out of my apartment."
"It's half mine." Miroku reminded him. "I don't know what to do."
"Sell the other half to me."
"I meant about Sango."
Inuyasha pushed his hair back. "Damn, kid, what are you coming to me for? I don't know what to do when they cry."
Miroku shook his head. "I don't want her to hurt."
But Inuyasha wasn't paying attention anymore, because he'd just spotted Kagome and Kouga walking into the clearing, looking cozy enough with his jacket around her. Inuyasha glared. Miroku followed his gaze and sighed wearily. "Inuyasha, not now. We can't handle you being into her."
"I'm not." Inuyasha scowled. "Not at all. Not even a little bit."
"I don't blame you." Miroku said thoughtfully. "Kagome is very pretty."
"No." Inuyasha said firmly. "She's not."
"Of course she is." Miroku said reasonably. "Of course, Sango is the most beautiful girl in the world, but Kagome's not bad either."
Inuyasha didn't say anything, which is just as well since the topic of conversation was quickly approaching them. "Did you two make up yet?" Kagome asked Miroku. "Is Sango still crying? She won't let me in the van."
"Yeah." Miroku muttered. He scrubbed his face with his hands. "Yeah, she is."
Kagome bit her lip. "You guys aren't going to break up again, are you?"
Miroku stood up straight. "I don't know!" he exploded. "I don't know anything." He stormed off into the trees. A moment later there was a loud cracking sound, and Kagome started. "Is he hitting a tree?" she asked. Kouga stood up. "I'll go see." he volunteered. "Seeing as how I'm the 'sensitive' one and all." he smirked at Inuyasha and Kagome giggled.
"Inside joke?" Inuyasha snarled nastily. Kouga and Kagome exchanged glances before he disappeared in the direction Miroku had gone.
"Inuyasha." Kagome sneaked a glance at the boy. His dark hair was hiding his eyes, and his stance was defiant.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice rough.
"Is something bothering you?" Kagome found her voice was going smaller as she spoke.
"Of course not. My brother wants me dead, what could be bothering me?"
"I thought you don't care about what your brother thinks." Kagome remarked.
"I don't care what he thinks. I care if he has people with big machine guns and small brains after me."
"But besides that, is anything else bothering you?"
"Well, we're stuck here at a rest stop because it's impossible for everyone to stay in that car now that Miroku and Sango have had a lover's spat. And the rest stop is in the middle of a freakin' forest, for God's sake. A forest, Kagome! I'm not made for the forest!"
"Actually, you look pretty natural here." Kagome mused. "Sorta like you _were_ made for the forest."
"Well I'm not, okay?"
Kagome smiled placidly and patted his knee. "You're a city-boy, huh, Inuyasha?"
He sank lower into the dirt. "How did we get into the country-side, anyways? We're only a couple hours from Tokyo."
"I guess it's the direction we went it." Kagome theorized. "Oh well, Inuyasha. Look at the bright side."
"We'll run out of gas, money and food soon?" Inuyasha guessed.
"No, you finally have a chance to truly connect with someone for the first time in your life, Inuyasha."
"That's not true."
"Oh? Who have you connected with before?"
"No, what I meant was I don't really want to connect with any of you."
"Hey!" Kagome slapped his shoulder. "You should be glad you're making new friends."
"I already knew Miroku and Kouga before." Inuyasha pointed out. "I even saw Sango before. You're the only stranger here."
"So you like me yet?" Kagome smiled charmingly at him. "You know you do."
"Do not."
"Yes you do." Kagome pushed him lightly. "Admit it. You love me."
Inuyasha swallowed. Love wasn't a word he used often or casually.
"You know you do." Kagome grinned and leaned over to push his raven hair back. "Come on, 'yasha. Admit it."
In one swift move he'd pulled her into his lap.
Kagome looked startled. "Inuyasha, what are you doing?"
"Want me to admit I like you?" Inuyasha was smiling a little now, his 'dangerous' smile. "I can do better. I can show you."
Kagome shifted back only to be confronted with his knees. "I changed my mind." she stammered. "I don't have to to know. I take back my question."
"A little too late." Inuyasha leaned forward, his breath stirring her hair. "You wanted to know, Kagome. You know what they say about curiosity and the cat."
"But I'm not a cat." Kagome squeaked.
"I wouldn't be about to kiss you if you were."
"You're.. you're going to kiss me?" Kagome stuttered.
"About to." He corrected her absently, his gaze on her mouth. "You're not going to play shy, are you?"
"Who's playing?"
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Kouga was trying to talk Miroku out of further damaging his knuckles.
"Come on." he coaxed. "You know she's gonna forgive you. That's what girls do. They get all huffy and sulk for a while, maybe vent a couple of tears. But you a couple of flowers and she'll be back in your arms in no time."
Miroku punched a nearby tree, ignoring the blood already staining his hand. "You don't understand. She's not like that. We.. we have a long history. And it always ends this way. Always."
"History repeats itself." Kouga quipped.
"You're telling me." Miroku hit the hapless tree again. "First time was in seventh grade. That time it was, 'Miroku, how come you missed school for so many days?' Then it was freshman year. 'Miroku, you're usually so good at math. Why did you flunk it this quarter?' Three months ago it was 'Miroku, how come you're always late? And how come you're never where you say you'll be?' And now this." The tree received another blow. "Damn it! I'll never win with her."
"Just out of curiosity," Kouga asked. "what _are_ the answers to those questions?"
Miroku smiled wryly. "What do you think, Kouga?"
"The job." Kouga said.
"Right." Miroku examined his bloody knuckles expressionlessly. "It's always the job."
Kouga shook his head and mock-toasted him. "It's what we are, Miroku."
Miroku dropped onto the ground and closed his eyes. "It is, isn't it?"
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After her crying jag, Sango was feeling a more than a little guilty about taking the whole van for herself. She was tired, she was sad, but more than all that, she was embarassed at the scene she and Miroku had caused. She hated fighting with him, it always left her drained and feeling as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. And worst of all, it happened every time. And every time she was disgusted with herself after it, because even knowing all the words she'd said, she still loved him so much it hurt to think of it. Drained, Sango unlocked the doors and collapsed on the mattress, promising herself to apologize to everyone and talk things out with Miroku. Again. For the fiftieth time.
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Ending Notes: You don't hate me all now, do you? Miroku and Sango are the cutest couple ever and of course they'll end up together, in this fanfic at least. Promise. ^^ And as much as Kagome and Kouga flirt, you know this is a IY/K pairing. ^__^ For all you Fluffy-lovers out there, he'll come back soon, so don't worry! So will Kagura, Naraku and Kikyou. Plus I might add some more villains. If anyone has any special requests they wanna see, review and tell me so! Or review anyways!
Since finals are over for the moment and I know my grade in two of my toughest classes, expect maybe another update this weekend or this week. Don't get your hopes up though! And don't flame me if I don't. -.-;;; Teehee I'm thankful for all the people who read and review! ^_~ Thanks for your encouragement!
Oh yeah, sorry about there being no indentation and all. I did put it in when I was writing, but I guess it didn't show up on the site. Sorry.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, nor am I making any profit, etc etc. Go Lakers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love Inuyasha in his human form, which is probably why I put him in human form for this whole story. ^______________^ His black hair and violet (yes, VIOLET) eyes are just so delicious looking! Lucky Kagome... tehee. [some of my friends don't believe Inuyasha has violet eyes . tehee]
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Chapter 11: A Little Angst
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"I have to call my family." Kouga was in the front seat, his phone in his hand. "I guess it's still not safe to call?"
"Of course not." Sango scoffed. "If it was, we could all be home right now, and not crammed into this little van."
"Oh, calm down." Kagome said good-naturedly. "There are only seven of us."
Sango groaned and covered her eyes. "We're a ten car pileup waiting to happen."
"I've never been in a car accident before." Shippou said thoughtfully. "Do you think it's fun, Rin?"
"It is not fun." Sango interrupted. "It's painful, especially if you get whiplash."
"What's whiplash?" Rin asked, wide-eyed.
As Sango regaled the two kids with car accident horror stories, Miroku and Kouga were pondering the phone problem.
"Look," Kouga said finally. "we're only ten minutes away from my place. Do you think we can drop by, just to make sure they're okay?"
Inuyasha glared icily from the driver's seat, and Kouga flopped back. "Yeah, I didn't think so."
"Poor Kouga-kun." Kagome said sympathetically. "Don't worry, you can call them at the next pay phone."
"Yeah." he muttered.
Inuyasha scowled. "Hey, we're all running from these nuts here. If you're going to have a pity party, I'm jumping."
"Out of the car?" Rin asked.
Inuyasha turned his scowl to her. "Yes, out of the car."
"Won't it hurt?" she asked thoughtfully.
Inuyasha opened his mouth, but Miroku spoke first. "Virgin ears, Inuyasha." he warned.
"What's a virgin?" Shippou asked.
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"That was the longest car ride I've ever had to endure." Kagome griped as they stopped for gas. "I'm serious, when I get home, I am never going to babysit ever again."
"Quiet." Miroku hushed. "You'll hurt their feelings."
"They're asleep." Kagome informed him. "Finally. And I'm not saying I don't like them, because they're irresistable and all, but three hours in a small van is enough to make anyone swear off children."
"My van is not small." Miroku grumbled.
Inuyasha walked by at that moment, caught the remark and rolled his eyes. "Sure, Miroku, and you're not interested in girls at all."
"But I am interested in girls." Miroku mused. Kagome shook her head.
"What's for lunch?" Kouga asked. "Actually, this late in the afternoon, it's closer to dinner."
"I'm hungry." Kagome commented.
"Hot dogs." Sango announced.
Everyone turned to her. "Hot dogs?" they asked in unison.
"Hot dogs." she confirmed. "Besides being the only familiar thing I can find in the store, it's the only thing the kids will eat. Besides candy, but I drew the line at that. No point in them getting hyper."
Kagome shuddered at the thought, then realized something. "You mean they're awake? Again?"
Sango nodded.
"But I just got them to fall asleep!" Kagome wailed. "Twenty minutes ago! Don't they need rest?"
"Calm down." Kouga soothed. "Kids are like that, Kagome. Don't freak."
"Twenty minutes!" Kagome said, ignoring the heads that were beginning to turn. "Twenty minutes! That's .." she paused. "1200 seconds! I only had 1200 seconds of peace!"
Miroku and Inuyasha exchanged glances. "We need to bring them back to the shelter." Miroku said. "Their moms are probably frantic, and Kagome's going into hysterics. That'll attract attention."
Inuyasha glared at him. "You think you should've thought of that before we drove two hours past it?"
Miroku shrugged, smiling sheepishly. "Hey, I'm just a teenager. I can't be trusted to think ahead and all that."
"Yeah." Inuyasha agreed pleasantly. "And I'm just a teenager too. I can't be trusted not to suffocate you in your sleep."
"I'll drive." Miroku volunteered quickly. "You can take a nap on the mattress."
"I don't take naps." Inuyasha grumbled.
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"I thought he didn't take naps." Kouga looked in distaste at the lump on the mattress.
"I don't." A muffled voice rose out of the blankets.
"Then get out of there! You're taking up the whole thing. I want to sleep."
Inuyasha made a rude gesture at Kouga, sparking a whole new question and answer segment courtesy of Shippou and Rin. Sango looked worriedly at Kagome, who had buried her head under a pillow while the children crawled over her.
"Hurry up, Miroku." she urged. "I'm afraid Kagome-chan is going to suffocate herself."
"This is as fast as the van will go." Miroku replied tersely. "Any faster and the police will be on us so fast.. and how are we going to explain two kidnapped children in the back? Not to mention that the interior design of this thing is not entirely legal."
Sango groaned.
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The kids didn't want to leave them. This was apparent by the way Rin and Shippou were currently attached to Miroku's legs, one on each. "We don't wanna go back! WE DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!"
Kagome winced. Inuyasha, who seemed to have more sensitive hearing than the rest of them, was hiding the car. Kagome and Kouga decided, wisely, to join him and leave Miroku and Sango to comfort the kids.
Kagome opened the door and unceremoniously shoved Inuyasha off the mattress. "My turn." she announced. Kouga's eyes widened. "Hey! No fair! It was my turn!" he tugged at her shirt and she punched him in the stomach. Inuyasha yawned and blinked sleepily as Kouga and Kagome got involved in a wrestling match. "Hey." he said irritably when they got a little too touchy for his taste. "Kagome, you roll around with every guy you meet?" She stopped long enough to give him a withering glare, but that meant Kouga had a window of opportunity for the mattress, and he took it. Kagome said a soft shriek of indignance, and turned to Inuyasha for help. "Inuyasha.." she wheedled. "'yasha, help me... get Kouga-kun off.."
Inuyasha shook his head. "You're in this one your own."
"But it's your fault!" When he showed no signs of moving, Kagome narrowed her eyes and turned her attention to Kouga, who wasn't even pretending to sleep. He grinned cheekily at her, his face propped up with a hand. Kagome looked around for something to throw.
Miroku and Sango found Kouga sulking in the bean bag and Inuyasha yawning in the chair. Kagome was snuggled quite comfortably on top of the mattress, a blissful smile on her face.
"What happened?" Sango asked. "I thought Kouga was next in line for the bed."
"That's what I thought too." Kouga grumbled.
"Oh hush." Kagome called out good-naturedly. "You offered me the mattress, remember? So gentlemanly."
Kouga scowled at her. "You pinched me. You have sharp nails, 'gome."
She grinned and blew a kiss at him. "You're so cute when you get mad." Kouga blushed furiously and Inuyasha opened his eyes long enough to scowl at the pair. "Disgusting." he announced.
"You're just jealous." Kagome teased. "Because you can't hold normal conversations like Kouga-kun and me can."
"And I." Sango corrected automatically.
"Be quiet." Miroku said sharply.
"Well, sorry." Sango sulked a little. "Grammer is my best subject."
"No, not you, sweetie." He wrapped an arm around her. "I hear something."
Everyone froze. "What do you hear?" Kagome whispered.
"I don't-" Miroku shook his head helplessly and glanced over to Inuyasha. He tilted his head, holding up a hand when Kouga would have spoken. His eyes narrowed in the slightly, then, before anyone could blink, Inuyasha was out of his slouch and in the front seat, twisting the key in the ignition.
"What?" Kagome asked, scampering towards the window. "What's going on?"
Sango was thrown back into Miroku when the car suddenly kicked into gear. They tumbled onto the mattress. The gravity of the situation proved itself when Miroku got up and made sure Sango was okay, all without a suggestive remark or misplaced hand. Kagome looked out the window and squinted. "There's someone following us." she announced.
"Obviously." Inuyasha replied tersely, his eyes on the road. Kagome braced herself against in the front passenger seat, where she had somehow climbed onto. "You're going really fast, Inuyasha. I don't think it's safe."
"Beats the alternative."
Kagome took another peek out. "You think it's the guys from the gang." she stated.
"Who else could be chasing us in a black car?" Miroku asked, biting back his sarcasm.
"Why are they still after us?" Sango demanded. "Miroku, explain this to me. I don't quite understand the whole behind this side-and-seek thing."
"It's complicated." Miroku replied shortly. He exchanged glances with Kouga. "Very complicated. I don't want you getting involved, Sango."
"And since when do you get to dictate what I do and don't get involved in?" Sango was getting visibly angry now. "I'm serious, Miroku."
"So am I." he shot back. "There is no way in hell I'm telling you."
"Oh, you'll be there soon."
"Sango!" Kagome was shocked. Sango and Miroku had never gotten in this serious of an argument, except for when they broke up, so there was good cause for alarm. "Stop it, guys." she pleaded. "Don't fight. Don't!"
"It's none of your business." Miroku was saying to Sango, his lips pressed white with control.
"It's never any of my business!" Sango yelled back. "How come you're late for the movie, Miroku? That's none of my business. Who was that girl whispering to you, Miroku? Oh, that's none of my business either. How about, why does that policeman recognize you, Miroku? None of my business either!"
"You're right." Miroku's voice raised slightly. "You're right. It is none of your business. So why don't you stop asking?"
"Stop it!" Kagome was verging on frantic now. "Stop it! This is why you broke up before, remember? Stop it!"
Inuyasha had his foot pressing hard against the pedal. Kouga was pale. Sango was on the verge of tears. Miroku's eyes were blank. The noise level rose.
"Everyone shut the fucking up!"
The car silenced.
Inuyasha looked back. "Right now," he said evenly, "we are being chased by people who would kill us given half the chance. I am driving twice the legal speed limit. What I do not need right now is a soap opera drama being played out behind me, okay?"
"Don't be so insensitive!" Kagome burst out, but bit her words back when she saw the expression on Inuyasha's face.
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"We're getting split up!" Kagome paced the forest trail as Kouga watched her idly. "I'm serious, Kouga. Sango and Miroku won't talk to each other, and-" she paused, blew some hair out of her eyes. "I can't stand Inuyasha right now." Kouga shrugged. "Inuyasha's not good with this relationship stuff. You can't blame him for being a little insensitive."
Kagome smiled a little. "Then how come you ended up so understanding?" Kouga smiled a little and draped his jacket around her. "Just lucky, I guess."
"She's crying." Miroku slumped against a tree. "I made her cry, Inuyasha. What kind of fucking bastard am I?"
Inuyasha shook his head in response. "Women. I told you not to get involved."
Miroku scowled. "You told me to go for it."
"Yeah, just so you'd get out of my apartment."
"It's half mine." Miroku reminded him. "I don't know what to do."
"Sell the other half to me."
"I meant about Sango."
Inuyasha pushed his hair back. "Damn, kid, what are you coming to me for? I don't know what to do when they cry."
Miroku shook his head. "I don't want her to hurt."
But Inuyasha wasn't paying attention anymore, because he'd just spotted Kagome and Kouga walking into the clearing, looking cozy enough with his jacket around her. Inuyasha glared. Miroku followed his gaze and sighed wearily. "Inuyasha, not now. We can't handle you being into her."
"I'm not." Inuyasha scowled. "Not at all. Not even a little bit."
"I don't blame you." Miroku said thoughtfully. "Kagome is very pretty."
"No." Inuyasha said firmly. "She's not."
"Of course she is." Miroku said reasonably. "Of course, Sango is the most beautiful girl in the world, but Kagome's not bad either."
Inuyasha didn't say anything, which is just as well since the topic of conversation was quickly approaching them. "Did you two make up yet?" Kagome asked Miroku. "Is Sango still crying? She won't let me in the van."
"Yeah." Miroku muttered. He scrubbed his face with his hands. "Yeah, she is."
Kagome bit her lip. "You guys aren't going to break up again, are you?"
Miroku stood up straight. "I don't know!" he exploded. "I don't know anything." He stormed off into the trees. A moment later there was a loud cracking sound, and Kagome started. "Is he hitting a tree?" she asked. Kouga stood up. "I'll go see." he volunteered. "Seeing as how I'm the 'sensitive' one and all." he smirked at Inuyasha and Kagome giggled.
"Inside joke?" Inuyasha snarled nastily. Kouga and Kagome exchanged glances before he disappeared in the direction Miroku had gone.
"Inuyasha." Kagome sneaked a glance at the boy. His dark hair was hiding his eyes, and his stance was defiant.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice rough.
"Is something bothering you?" Kagome found her voice was going smaller as she spoke.
"Of course not. My brother wants me dead, what could be bothering me?"
"I thought you don't care about what your brother thinks." Kagome remarked.
"I don't care what he thinks. I care if he has people with big machine guns and small brains after me."
"But besides that, is anything else bothering you?"
"Well, we're stuck here at a rest stop because it's impossible for everyone to stay in that car now that Miroku and Sango have had a lover's spat. And the rest stop is in the middle of a freakin' forest, for God's sake. A forest, Kagome! I'm not made for the forest!"
"Actually, you look pretty natural here." Kagome mused. "Sorta like you _were_ made for the forest."
"Well I'm not, okay?"
Kagome smiled placidly and patted his knee. "You're a city-boy, huh, Inuyasha?"
He sank lower into the dirt. "How did we get into the country-side, anyways? We're only a couple hours from Tokyo."
"I guess it's the direction we went it." Kagome theorized. "Oh well, Inuyasha. Look at the bright side."
"We'll run out of gas, money and food soon?" Inuyasha guessed.
"No, you finally have a chance to truly connect with someone for the first time in your life, Inuyasha."
"That's not true."
"Oh? Who have you connected with before?"
"No, what I meant was I don't really want to connect with any of you."
"Hey!" Kagome slapped his shoulder. "You should be glad you're making new friends."
"I already knew Miroku and Kouga before." Inuyasha pointed out. "I even saw Sango before. You're the only stranger here."
"So you like me yet?" Kagome smiled charmingly at him. "You know you do."
"Do not."
"Yes you do." Kagome pushed him lightly. "Admit it. You love me."
Inuyasha swallowed. Love wasn't a word he used often or casually.
"You know you do." Kagome grinned and leaned over to push his raven hair back. "Come on, 'yasha. Admit it."
In one swift move he'd pulled her into his lap.
Kagome looked startled. "Inuyasha, what are you doing?"
"Want me to admit I like you?" Inuyasha was smiling a little now, his 'dangerous' smile. "I can do better. I can show you."
Kagome shifted back only to be confronted with his knees. "I changed my mind." she stammered. "I don't have to to know. I take back my question."
"A little too late." Inuyasha leaned forward, his breath stirring her hair. "You wanted to know, Kagome. You know what they say about curiosity and the cat."
"But I'm not a cat." Kagome squeaked.
"I wouldn't be about to kiss you if you were."
"You're.. you're going to kiss me?" Kagome stuttered.
"About to." He corrected her absently, his gaze on her mouth. "You're not going to play shy, are you?"
"Who's playing?"
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Kouga was trying to talk Miroku out of further damaging his knuckles.
"Come on." he coaxed. "You know she's gonna forgive you. That's what girls do. They get all huffy and sulk for a while, maybe vent a couple of tears. But you a couple of flowers and she'll be back in your arms in no time."
Miroku punched a nearby tree, ignoring the blood already staining his hand. "You don't understand. She's not like that. We.. we have a long history. And it always ends this way. Always."
"History repeats itself." Kouga quipped.
"You're telling me." Miroku hit the hapless tree again. "First time was in seventh grade. That time it was, 'Miroku, how come you missed school for so many days?' Then it was freshman year. 'Miroku, you're usually so good at math. Why did you flunk it this quarter?' Three months ago it was 'Miroku, how come you're always late? And how come you're never where you say you'll be?' And now this." The tree received another blow. "Damn it! I'll never win with her."
"Just out of curiosity," Kouga asked. "what _are_ the answers to those questions?"
Miroku smiled wryly. "What do you think, Kouga?"
"The job." Kouga said.
"Right." Miroku examined his bloody knuckles expressionlessly. "It's always the job."
Kouga shook his head and mock-toasted him. "It's what we are, Miroku."
Miroku dropped onto the ground and closed his eyes. "It is, isn't it?"
======================================================================================
After her crying jag, Sango was feeling a more than a little guilty about taking the whole van for herself. She was tired, she was sad, but more than all that, she was embarassed at the scene she and Miroku had caused. She hated fighting with him, it always left her drained and feeling as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. And worst of all, it happened every time. And every time she was disgusted with herself after it, because even knowing all the words she'd said, she still loved him so much it hurt to think of it. Drained, Sango unlocked the doors and collapsed on the mattress, promising herself to apologize to everyone and talk things out with Miroku. Again. For the fiftieth time.
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Ending Notes: You don't hate me all now, do you? Miroku and Sango are the cutest couple ever and of course they'll end up together, in this fanfic at least. Promise. ^^ And as much as Kagome and Kouga flirt, you know this is a IY/K pairing. ^__^ For all you Fluffy-lovers out there, he'll come back soon, so don't worry! So will Kagura, Naraku and Kikyou. Plus I might add some more villains. If anyone has any special requests they wanna see, review and tell me so! Or review anyways!
Since finals are over for the moment and I know my grade in two of my toughest classes, expect maybe another update this weekend or this week. Don't get your hopes up though! And don't flame me if I don't. -.-;;; Teehee I'm thankful for all the people who read and review! ^_~ Thanks for your encouragement!