Authors Note: My stories stink. No wonder I get no reviews…I've never had a story reach one hundred. That's why I'm scared to write a sequel to this. Oh well, it shall be done because I like my own idea. Hmm, this is the second to last chapter…there is virtually no MxS in this chapter! *Gasp* Come on, give me a break, there needed to be a filler. Okay, enjoy! Please read and review!

Chapter 10:

"Honey! I'm home!"

"Oh great…"

"The bitch is back."

"Honey! I missed you!"

"I missed you too!"

"Oh darling, I missed drooling all over your ugly face!"

"Shippo…"

"What? It's true."

"I do not drool."

"You slobber, admit it."

Miroku sat up straight, tired of the whining, the fighting, and even the hostile attitude towards the return of Kikyo. "Could you please shut up?"

Kikyo stopped in her tracks, she wasn't used to getting pushed around, usually she was the one giving out the orders. "What's his problem?" she nodded in the direction of the bed, acknowledging Miroku.

"He broke up with Sango and he's been moping around ever since."

'Broke up?' Kikyo gasped, "Miroku! Get up and talk to me like a man! One on one! Tell me what exactly is wrong with you!"

Miroku looked at her, confused; until she rushed over to the bed, grabbed him by his arm, and yanked him out of his own bed of misery. He looked to the ground, ashamed of his own behavior. She was right; he wasn't acting or even talking with anyone like he was a man. Just a plain old sissy.

"Now, what were the grounds of this breakup?"

His mouth opened, but then closed again. No, he couldn't say that. His mind began searching for the exact reason he was actually mad at her, it was getting hazier.

"I…she…she lied to me."

Kikyo smacked him upside the head, "Oh big whoop! I lie to Inuyasha all the time!" she saw a very agitated look growing on her boyfriend's face, "I mean, only for little things, of course."

"Kikyo, just get to your point, she lied, how am I supposed to forgive her?"

"Miroku, forgiving someone is part of a relationship. You've got to lie to love, and then forgive to make that love stronger. She wanted to protect you," he looked at her, stupefied by her kindness, "Look, I don't care if you like her or not, but this 'break-up' is not going to get in the way of tomorrow's show."

"Tomorrow's show?"

This time her blow to his head was harder, "Hello! It's only the show with the song and the practicing you've been working with for the past few weeks! Where is your head Miroku?"

Inuyasha put his hands up and walked slowly towards Kikyo, as if she were a crazed dog about to sick the mailman. "Calm down, Kikyo. How about a cigarette? Would a cigarette be nice?"

"Fine. Let's go down to the lobby to get me a dang cigarette!"

Kouga, Shippo, and Miroku watched as Inuyasha draped his arm casually over his girlfriend's shoulder as he directed her out the door and away from them. Miroku buried his face in his hands, trying to think, when he felt the bed slowly give way to weight on either sides of him.

"Huh?" he looked at both Kouga and Shippo who were giving him sympathetic looks, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Kouga put his hand lightly on Miroku's shoulder, who watched it like it were some insect crawling closer to his face by the minute. "Now that no one is here that will make fun of you, tell us the real reason you broke up with her."

Miroku gazed down at his hands and sighed, "I was telling the truth when I said she lied."

Shippo looked confused and scrunched up his face, befuddled, "But, I mean, she's beautiful."

"And not to mention quite sexy," Kouga added.

Shippo's face lit up and he glanced over Miroku's shoulder at Kouga, as if his friend was not between them, "And she's really polite when she wants to be."

"She's got a fighting spirit."

"Her heart is definitely in the right place."

"I think her smile is priceless."

"She's too smart for her own good. And I like that."

"She's so innocent."

"Sango is spunky, sweet, and really affectionate."

"Yeah…like someone who would want to cuddle like a cat, but not give you the wrong impression by doing it."

Miroku groaned and fell backwards onto the bed; his arms sprawled out beside him.

Shippo and Kouga looked over at him, then at each other with a shrug, "What's wrong?"

"Pointing out everything about her that attracted me to her in the first place did not help. It made it worse."

Kouga felt bad once again for ruining chances upon chances for people, "I'm sorry. I…I've got to go."

He got up and quickly rushed out of the door while Shippo called for him from behind, "Kouga!"

Shippo quickly caught up to Kouga, who's speed slowed down into a brisk walk, "What happened back there? Why'd you walk out like that?"

Kouga shook his head; "I've ruined everything."

Shippo's eyes lit up in realization, "Oh, then this isn't about Miroku at all. You're still thinking about Kagome. Yeah, I'd say you pretty much blew it. Now Kikyo will never leave."

"Thanks, man, thanks. You always know how to make me feel better," Kouga said sarcastically.

"Look, we just have to try harder. You can't walk out on something every time you feel the least bit bad. We've got to go back to that hotel room and sit…and then think. We've got to brew up a plan!"

"Are you suggesting we scheme up an infamous Kouga and Shippo sneaky delight?" Kouga inquired, his spirits brightening considerably.

Shippo gave off a mischievous look, "Of course."

=====

Sango's crying had stopped. The damns were dry, the floodgates closed, but no one could change the fact that the rivers did overflow. The numerous tears were shed, the tissues upon tissues used, and the heartache welled in. Yes, she was the one most affected by her own lie, and of course she wanted to take it all back.

'No…I don't wish to take it all back. Because if I hadn't made that lie, I would have probably never learned so many things about Miroku. He wouldn't have opened up to the real me if there was no Seiko to help him along.'

Sango stared aimlessly at the television, remote control resting idly in her hand as she flipped the channel almost zombie-like. The door crept open to reveal a perky looking Kagome, who was holding mounds of shopping bags within her arms.

"Sango, I brought you some candy to cheer you up." She walked over to the bed and kissed Sango softly on the forehead, only like a mother would do to make your world all better.

"Thanks Kagome." She smiled faintly as she nibbled on a snickers.

Kagome sat on her own bed and immediately watched as a boy, no man, exposed all. Sango blushed and quickly changed the channel. "Isn't it nice to look at a real man for a change? Go back to that!"

"No! Besides, Miroku was a real man."

Kagome's mouth gaped open, "Sango, I think you just got over your denial that all men are devils."

"Kagome…" she growled, playfully.

"You know, we haven't had a good talk since Miroku and Inuyasha came into our lives. What happened to us?"

Sango looked at her friend thoughtfully before knowing exactly what had made them go cross-eyed, foolish with weak knees, and all together idiots. "Love."

=====

"Miroku, cover your ears, get under the covers, and don't look." Kouga said, looking around the room suspiciously, "Whatever you do, don't look!"

"And I can trust you two? What are you planning on doing?"

Kouga looked to the door, then ran to the window where he proceeded to shut the blinds in a rush of fury. He trotted back over to the bed and sat down next to Miroku, while pointing at him. "Promise not to tell what you will see here today?"

"Depends."

"You want Kagome back and Kikyo gone, right?"

"Okay, you name it. I'll zip it if you can do it." Miroku stated, curious as to what was Shippo and Kouga's plan.

Shippo popped up, holding a flashlight and shining it directly into the pupils of his friend, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I should be asking you that!"

Shippo slammed his hand down on the bed, startling both of the other boys in the room, "Where were you March 4th 1987?"

Miroku looked at him wide eyed, "In my mother's womb? I don't know!" Shippo growled, "What is this? An interrogation?"

"Precisely." Shippo hissed.

Kouga smacked the only source of light out of Shippo's hand, and everything went pitch black. Kouga began to whisper, "Now this might scare you, but you have to know. Kikyo is cheating on Inuyasha."

Miroku looked happy, almost too elated, "She's cheating on Inuyasha? That's great news!"

"Then you have to agree that something must be done!"

Miroku jumped up and down almost giddily, "Yeah! Wait…how did you find out?"

"We were out when she decided to give her 'lover' a call in an alleyway." Kouga began, listening to Shippo shuffling on the ground in search of his flashlight; "We need to find that cell phone."

"Guys."

Shippo stood up swiftly and smacked his head into Kouga's jaw. They both jumped around in the dark letting the pain slowly ebb away, "Ow…yeah?"

"Turn on the lights."

"Oh yeah!" the lights went on and every detail in the room became visible again.

Miroku smacked his head, embarrassed that he was even friends with these guys. "Sometimes you two scare me."

"As much as Kikyo does?"

"Never question the horror of Kikyo. She will always be the scariest thing to enter my life," he shivered.

Kouga and Shippo wasted no time in searching for that cell phone. Through her luggage, her purse, her underwear drawer. Even if it was unnecessary.

"Guys…"

Kouga wagged his bottom in the air with his nose in her suitcase; he would check it thirty times over before he gave up.

"Guys!"

Shippo picked his way through her purse, inspecting thoroughly. There was no way he would give up hope of finding it now, what came next in their plan was flawless.

"Guys!"

"What?"

"It's right over here. On the night table."

Kouga ran over and retrieved the phone, looking at it like a precious diamond, stolen and unique, "Why didn't you just tell us?"

"I tried to but-"

"Whatever, let's get to work," Shippo snatched the phone from Kouga's hands, "Leave it to me. Besides, I have a better Kikyo impression than you'll ever have."

"What are you guys planning on doing?" Miroku inquired, and then scooted over closer when Shippo went through the menu for the number he was in search of.

"Oh, you'll see." He pushed send and pressed the phone to his ear while being cramped between a hyper wolf and a nervous singer.

Ring, ring, ring…

A gruff voice answered on the other line, "Hello?"

Shippo cleared his throat then spoke in a squeaky high tone, "Naraku?"

"Hey, baby. Are we still on for tonight?"

Shippo giggled slightly, but then sobered up, "Oh, silly you. I forgot to tell you! I have another lover! And he is so much better than you!"

He heard a string of colorful words, "Well…fuck you, bitch. You better watch your back."

"Oh I will, darling. I will. I'll make sure to send your regards to my wonderful boyfriend!"

"Fu-"

Click! "You guys…I think we did it," Shippo stated calmly, bringing the phone down and into his lap.

Spontaneously they reached out for a triple high five, screaming, "Yes!"

Miroku sat down solemn, and quiet, "You do just realize that that didn't help us at all. We just helped Inuyasha."

"Oh…you're right," Shippo muttered, "But then again, Kikyo might have to admit about her other 'lover' if he ever shows up to get her back."

"We'll see. In time."

=====

"I'd like one hot chocolate please." Kagome answered to the vendor at the hotel café.

Sango asked politely for hot chocolate and the least Kagome could do was go out and get it for her as a good friend. She didn't want to admit it, but Sango was acting pathetic. The girl was normally strong, upbeat, unwilling to take any crap from anyone. But now she was like a flapping fish on the shore, scared to go back to sea after the big fish chased her out.

A man, tall and slender with long black stringy hair walked in, scouting out someone. Under his dark blue wife beater one could make out a tattoo in the shape of a spider, gray and eerie. His black jeans were baggy, and his fists were balled at his sides.

When he caught sights of Kagome, he growled. 'That bitch will pay.'

"Thank you," Kagome said politely, accepting the cup in her hand from the clerk and scooted further down the counter to get some napkins and a straw so she could take a small sip for herself.

She felt a small tap on her shoulder, light at first, so she ignored it, but when it closed around her whole shoulder with an amazing and harsh grip she had to turn around.

"Wha?" she had no idea who the man was, and her first instinct was to scream.

He put his finger to his mouth, signaling that she should hush, "You damn bitch! No one does that to Naraku and gets way with it!"

Kagome was petrified, first of all she didn't know who it was, and second of all she didn't know what she did to deserve this from a stranger.

"First we're together, then the next day you're fucking another guy. What's your problem, bitch? You're messed up, you know that? You fucking whore. I'm going to beat you down."

Kagome's eyes watered, she was scared beyond belief, "I…I…"

"Oh no, I'd be quiet if I were you Kikyo, that'll only make the beating hurt less."

His hand lashed out and grabbed her around her upper arm and began to drag her off. Kagome saw her life flash before her eyes, what was he going to do? Was he going to rape her? Beat her? Shoot her? Stab her? Kill her? She didn't even know the man, and he was already going to end her life.

Inuyasha walked further into the lobby, shoving his hands in his pocket and nodding as Kikyo told him she had to visit the bar for a drink. He sighed, she really needed to stop the boozing and the smoking, and just about every bad habit he found disgusting.

"Wait! Who-"

"Bitch, shut up, 'cause no matter what you say you're coming with me."

His ears perked up. That voice. Kagome…his Kagome. 'Who the hell is that guy? And what is he doing with my Kagome?'

He noticed the distressed look on her face, the vicious look on his, and the way he dragged her feet along the floor. There was no way she was with that guy willingly. But what really made him snap was when Kagome planted her feet on the ground, shook her head, and tried to get out of his grip with tears in her eyes.

Inuyasha walked fairly fast, rolling up his sleeves on his way over to the other guy. When he got there he wasted no time in giving him one hard, square in the jaw.

"What the fu-" Naraku screeched, rubbing his jaw carefully, and seeing who it was exactly that was trying to take him on. "You son of a bitch! You must be the other guy!"

Kagome looked on, confused, 'Inuyasha? Coming to save me? He cares? …wait…other guy?'

"Whatever I am, I'm not going to let you take her that easily!" Naraku charged and got in a punch to Inuyasha's stomach, which he promptly held and tried to keep himself from vomiting. He stood straight, determined to defend Kagome's honor.

He gave Naraku a hard punch in the chest and he staggered back. Inuyasha took this chance to give him a good one in the face, this time causing Naraku to lose balance and fall backwards, but Inuyasha didn't stop at this. He kicked, he smacked, punched, until Naraku was only a bloody pulp on the floor.

It was like he lost his sanity. But then something brought him back to reality. He turned around to Kagome, her eyes shedding tears with a steady stream down her face. "Inuyasha…"

"Kagome…"

Their eyes made contact. He didn't care if Naraku was running off like a coward, he had had his way with him, now all that mattered was Kagome.

He ran to her and enclosed her body within his arms, stroking her hair, smelling her essence, like he would miss it. Inuyasha's heart felt a pang of pain. Kagome moved on, got herself in an abusive relationship with whoever that guy was, and he saved her. But he still had someone he loved, and she obviously didn't have her heart in the right place if she moved on so fast. He slowly withdrew her from the hug and put his hands on both her shoulders, looking her straight in the eye.

"Kagome, I'm sorry that you got into that relationship. I'm really sorry. But I can't save you anymore…I've got to look after Kikyo. All I'm saying is…you need to use better judgment next time."

She had stopped crying, but then she wept, no sobbed, and shook her head in denial. "Inuyasha…no…it's not like that."

"Kagome, you don't know what you're saying right now. Yes it was like that. He was about to hurt you, I suggest you do some real soul searching before you try to connect with someone."

Kagome buried her face in her hands and ran off. Inuyasha was confused, how come she was so upset? He could feel the presence of Kikyo behind him; she slipped her arms around his waist.

"What's little Higurashi's problem?"

"I don't know."

Thanks to my reviewers:

Aamalie- I deleted most of my fics, sadly. I'll try to write more, and rewrite a few…just for you! Well, yes, Paparazzi are devils! Evil little devils I tell you! And thank you for adding me to your favorite author's list. I am so flattered. Thanks for reviewing!

Sierra- Sorrow IS depressing, isn't it? Yes…it is. No, I'm pretty sure I didn't bury a boy, the cops haven't caught on to my little scheme yet either. I will make it out alive! Oh! You're still here…and I'm rambling. Probably gave too much away…oh well! Thanks!

tinnitus- Thank you for pointing that out. I even told myself I needed to work on drawing things out, taking time to describe it. But nooo, do I listen? Oh, trust me, I'll work on it. Thank you!