Most Important Mission - Chapter 23
By: Sakura Katsana
Disclaimer: If you don't know by now then you're a mental midget with the IQ of a fencepost.
Sakura's Note: Well, this is the end of Most Important Mission, the final chapter. There *will* be a sequel though, but it's not the same. I hope all the readers will continue to read the sequel, seeing how many of you are curious about what the sequel could and will be about. Of course I can't tell you though, what would the point of that be?
I know, I feel mean.
But, if you are a fan of Inuyasha and Kagome then you will most likely want to read the sequel, because as many of you all know they will NOT be getting together in this fic but in the SEQUEL. So please, no flames saying I forgot (it's happened before).
P.S., this will end on a cliffy. *dodges chairs and tables and . . .bombs?!*
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story, every review means a lot to me. I hope to see all of you for the sequel.
***
Chapter 23: Unrequited
"You can't go in there sir!" the nurse was ignored as Kouga broke down the hospital door. "You know you'll have to pay for that sir-"
"Yeah, yeah, here," the ocean blue eyed male tossed a wad of cash at the woman carelessly, pushing past the doctors towards the true prize.
That job with the half-breed had gotten him enough to take care of his siblings and himself for years!
"I thought I heard a door crash to the ground . . ." Ayame's eyes glimmered in silent laughter.
"Hi."
"Who the hell is this man?!"
"Shove it, I don't have a concussion, I don't have blood poisoning, I'm bleeding, but that's not the point, so you can wait a second," Ayame smiled once again when she felt her hand being held, a callused thumb running over her knuckles. "I'm fine Kouga-kun . . ."
"I should have been the one up there. I'm sorry Ayame," Kouga looked into her eyes, green meeting his own blue. "Forgive me."
"You're really eating yourself up over this, aren't you?" She cocked her head with concern.
"If it had been me then I would have been the one lying in this bed right now . . ."
"And I'd be the one lying dead with the other assassins on the pavement. Kouga, things happen for a reason. This brought us closer together, I personally feel lucky."
"Lucky? Lucky?! How in all the hells is you lying in a hospital with cuts all over you lucky?" He instantly felt the girl's head.
"Come here," the yasha motioned for him to lean down, before planting a passionate kiss on his lips. "That's why."
The oni blushed but didn't hurry to stand back up.
"Ahem."
Both demons looked up as if they had just noticed the large audience.
"If you don't mind sir, we need to check your wife and make sure she didn't get any fatal injuries." one doctor with thick glasses nodded in silent accord.
"Wife?!" both yelped in surprise, "Oh, no, um, no, not-not the wife." they rambled in unison.
"Yet," Kouga continued, locking eyes with Ayame. Her eyes widened with surprise. "I'll see you soon," he smiled, eyeing the doctors with annoyance, "won't I?"
"O-of course, sir, very soon," another doctor nodded vigorously.
Kouga grinned smugly, walking towards the doorless exit into the hall.
"Oh *no*! *Not* the wife . . . Yet!" Inuyasha broke into laughter, bending over holding his side. "Never seen that side of you before, wolf."
"Shut up!"
"Aw, I think it's cute Kouga, she's lucky to have a nice jerk like you," Sango grinned from ear to ear.
"What the hell's wrong with all of you? It's none of your business!" Kouga growled, balling his hands up into fists. "Don't you have your own love lives to attend to?"
Sango and Miroku smiled, "Yes."
"Well then, go make out or something!"
"An excellent idea," Miroku agreed, grabbing the girl's wrist. "I think I saw an unlocked janitor's closet a little away from here."
"Miroku!" Sango giggled, whapping the agent over the head.
The hanyou agent rolled his eyes, "How is she?"
"Fine," Kouga grunted. "Acts like nothin's wrong."
"That's Ayame for ya," Inuyasha let a sigh escape him, taking a sip of his coffee after spiking it with something hidden in a flask.
"Alcohol's prohibited here, ya know," the wolf demon lectured, "Wouldn't want to see you drunk for anything."
"Shut up. I could hold more liquor than you!"
"I'm a fu-"
"Language! You're in a hospital!" a nurse chastised, walking by bristled.
"I'm a demon, dam-*darn* it, I can hold it better than your brother, let alone a half breed," he grinned when he noticed he had riled up the honey- eyed agent. "What ya gonna do? Glare at me all day or prove you can hold more?"
. . .
"Inuyasha?" Kouga scowled, "Yo! Inuyasha! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Following the hanyou's gaze, however, made him realize what had made the half breed mute.
Kagome.
They both stared at each other in silence, Kagome balancing three coffees in her arms awkwardly but when some of the hot coffee ran down the sides she didn't seem to notice.
"Um, you seen Sango and Miroku?"
She had directed the question to Kouga.
THE Kouga who had hit on her like some kind of drunken perv on her way back from the movies a year ago.
Not the guy who had saved her life countless times during this entire time he was in Japan.
And it seemed to show in Inuyasha's expression.
"Oh, uh, they went to make out in a closet somewhere," Kouga shrugged, unmindful of the shocked look on Kagome's face. "I think they went that way."
"Thanks," Kagome gave a small smile, glancing at Inuyasha before quickly walking down in direction of the nearest unlocked closet.
"So . . .what'd you do?" Inuyasha glared at the younger man's nonchalant attitude.
"What the hell do you mean?!" Inuyasha roared, earning himself several looks from the walking patients. "Who said I did anything? How about did she do anything?"
"I've known that girl since I was twelve, she don't act like that to just anyone. Only did it when I was a jack ass . . . Good times."
"Shut up," Inuyasha snarled, "I didn't do anything she didn't do. The only problem is she's a hypocrite." "Ah, so we're getting somewhere!" Kouga leaned back into a hospital chair, "Tell me this, what happened?"
"Tell me this, why do you care?"
"Oh! Good comeback!" Kouga smirked at the death glare he received, "Look, I hate to say it, but without you and the others I would still be working double shifts to take care of my brothers and sisters. You could say I owed you one."
"Keh."
"I told you, it's your turn."
". . ."
"Do I need to *make* you talk, retard?" Kouga growled, "There's a woman in there that I could be knocking doctors off of, but instead I'm wasting time here with you."
"Who asked you to stay here?!" Inuyasha retorted, balling up his fists, "Me and Kag's love life problems are none of your business."
Kouga raised an eyebrow, eyes wide, "Love life problems?"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"Look, I was lucky enough to get the woman I chased away back, even it was years later. You might not be so lucky, half breed, so play your cards wisely, don't bluff, just show your hand."
"Um, sir, your . . .*Ayame* is ready for visitors."
"Took long enough," the wolf oni grumbled, striding unflappably into the room.
*
"Um, sir, are you sure you are ready to board? We could get you and your companions some medical attent-"
"Your boss said we're ready to board," the albino girl whispered, looking at the woman with a calm but deadly stare.
"Y-yes, this way Sesshoumaru-sama. I am sorry to keep you waiting, but your well fare is one of our utmost priorities." the woman looked behind him, "And who are you?"
"My name's Rin! And this toad's Jaken!" the girl beamed.
"What a pretty name, yours, not his. Well, enjoy your flight!"
The stoic demon lord nodded, swiftly walking into the plane with the others.
"I never knew you owned a plane," Kagura murmured. "Especially one that would except a 'dead' boy . . ."
"These people are not here to ask questions, only to serve those who pay them. Not many can afford such expensive services, mostly crime lords and kingpins, I'm an exception. Besides, we know he's not dead, the bullet only caused him to become comatose."
Kagura nodded, seating herself and looking over where Yura sat, looking out the window. "Thank the gods. Yura took him as a son, even tried finding that Sango girl once she found out their relations."
Sesshoumaru grunted, nodding to the pilot to take off. "Kohaku is bleeding badly(" he whispered, "(he may die from blood loss if we do not get him to America soon."
"But why couldn't we take him to a hospital in Tokyo? Kyoto? Osaka? Why are we flying thousands of miles?" Kagura overlapped his clawed hand with her own, looking deep into his golden orbs.
"America is safer. You can be guaranteed that Naraku is still alive." Yura jumped up with his words, eyes wide with fear, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body.
"What do you mean? I killed him! I(He's dead!" She clenched and unclenched her fists, "You can't survive that! Not even as a demon like yourselves!"
Silence erupted inside the plane.
"No, Yura," Kanna caused the ex-assassin to start, bumping into the wall of their transport. "We can. Kagura has survived many stabs to the heart before, once even to the head. It takes strength, but it is not impossible."
"Yura-"
"No, Kagura, don't try to comfort me. It won't help. Although it might not be an empty gesture it won't do anything but make me feel even more helpless. If you can understand that."
Even though there was no logic behind it, Kagura could. "I wasn't going to, I know you too well to even try. I was going to tell you that although he is still alive, he will never be the same."
"But Kanna said-"
"Kanna said I had recovered, Naraku doesn't do as well as his offspring have. Well, considering we were once test tube projects I guess you could call us that." Kagura scoffed, "But, the point is that he is not as strong as he started out."
"You saw how bad he injured Rin!" the girl in question looked up from the seat next in between Sesshoumaru's and Kagura's.
"Contrary to popular belief he didn't. That would be Kohaku's doing."
Yura's eyes widened, "Koha . . ." she collapsed back into her chair, taking a deep ineffective breath.
"He was under his control at that time, don't blame him." Juuroumaru spoke, blinking to wake himself.
"I-I don't," Yura looked over at her daughter, who didn't even seem to recognize her.
Sesshoumaru stared at the woman critically for a moment, processing the emotions in her eyes. "She knows you, Yura, but she's not use to it. Give her time."
*
The flight seemed to drag on forever, every second counted. Kohaku was holding on only because of the demon blood contributed by Kanna, and none of them were sure he could hold out much longer. They had left their fuel stop an hour ago and if they looked hard enough, could swear they saw the outline of America up ahead.
"What's America like?" Kanna mused aloud, placing a pale hand on the cool window pane.
"Busy." Sesshoumaru spoke jadedly, bringing back memories for the yasha next to him. "Full of opportunities, not all good."
"You spoke of it to me when we first met," Kagura whispered, "You made it seem wonderful then, even with your calm voice. What happened?"
"Nothing. That's the problem." Sesshoumaru looked out the window, "The jobs there are worth more, but more risky. Adding to the fact my bastard brother was always on my tail with that Sango woman when I was on business."
"Without that 'bastard brother' we might not be here, Sesshoumaru. Why can't you just get along a bit better with him?" Yura looked over, speaking forward. "He might be a pest, but don't try to get the pesticide on him. He's useful, and decent, to be related to you."
Kagura giggled, causing Sesshoumaru to raise an eyebrow in her direction. "What?"
"'He might be a pest, but don't try to get the pesticide.' That was so corny!" Sesshoumaru blinked, looking to Kanna for some sign of understanding. Of course, he found none, so just aloud the demoness to giggle into his shirt. That was when he realized, half of that laughter was relief of finally getting away.
"Come on, Sesshoumaru," Kagura got up, taking the demon's hand in her own with a firm grasp.
"Where-?" he looked up at her, confusion hidden within his confident eyes. "It's a plane."
"Just get up, stop making a scene."
"In front of four people and one in a coma? That's hardly a scene."
"It's a scene, so shut up and get up," Yura groaned, looking over at the two with the rest of them. "That's why we're all looking at you."
Sesshoumaru stood up, "What is it, Kagu(" he was jerked forward, dragged towards the back of the plane by a grinning Kagura.
"Come on, time to join the mile high club."
"What the(" his voice was cut off by the slam of the bathroom door.
Rin hopped off her seat, looked at the bathroom with curiosity, and walked over to the only other awake human on the plane with a fault-finding look on her face. Yura looked down at her daughter, her eyes filling.
"Mommy, what's the mile high club?"
That was all it took for the girl to be in her mother's arms, complaining about the tears wetting her hair.
***
Kagome leaned back into her pillows. "So, you're staying here until tomorrow?"
"Yeah, after all the paperwork's done here we're going to have to go back and do all of this over with the US government. Complete statements, get paid(the best part."
The stormy eyed agent let out a laugh, "That is the best part."
Sango nodded.
"Is Inuyasha leaving too?" Kagome asked just above a whisper. She heard her friend sigh across the room.
"You know, you two can't stay like this forever," Sango looked up from her paperwork, dropping her pen as well. "What exactly happened? You never really told me."
"There's nothing to talk about, Sango."
"Oh, yes there is," Sango got up and joined Kagome on the bed, "Tell me. You wouldn't stop talking to the love of your life for no reason."
"L-love("
"Yes, love, you love him, he loves you, it's no mystery. We all saw it. Look, you were fine until we went back there and split up."
"He lied to me, Sango."
"What do you mean? What'd he say?"
"He never told me about him and . . .*her*." Sango's eyes widened.
"She told you, didn't she?"
"Showed me," Kagome mumbled, "My sister kissed him."
"Something tells me he didn't know that, either," Kagome looked over at the girl, who at the moment was looking out into the hall.
"What do you mean? How do you not know you went out with someone?"
"No, that's not what I meant." she took a deep breath, "He didn't know she was your sister, did he?"
"No, but there's a difference!" Kagome's eyes filled, "my sister and I didn't have anything special since we were little kids! He kissed her, held her, *loved* her! And then he shows feelings for me, how can I be sure it was me or her he looked at?"
Her tears overflowed her eyes, splattering on her legs. "It's not fair! I know I could have told him, but(" she took a ragged sigh.
"I know, but it might have been a shock to him to find out something of that magnitude, too."
"But it's different!"
"How("
"I love him! That's why it's different, damn it! I love HIM! It broke my heart to see that, how would it break his to know she's my sister? It wouldn't. It wouldn't."
"Kagome . . ." the agent collapsed on her friend's shoulder. "I know it's a cliché, but it'll be ok, Kag, it'll be ok."
*
Ever since the others had found out about how she felt they had been trying to make it better with words, thinking it would help her.
Of course it didn't.
~Everybody's talkin'
But they don't say a thing
They look at me with sad eyes
but I don't want their sympathy~
Kagome had been trying to block all the thoughts of them being together out of her mind, saying it was ok.
~It's cool you didn't want me
Sometimes you can't go back
Why'd you have to go and make a mess like that?
Well I just have to say
Before I let go...~
"Miroku, can you help me with this bag?" Kagome looked over at Sango, who had handed Miroku a bag of Japanese merchandise.
He sucked in a breath, manhandling the bag over to Fang, "You know you're going to have to pay taxes for all this stuff when you get there, right?"
Sango just laughed, kissing his cheek, "I know. But, they'll be memories for us. Like when we went to that manga shop yesterday and you crashed into a Chobits stand!"
"That wasn't funny. I had to pay for the ones that got screwed up!" Sango just laughed, rearranging her bags to make room for Ayame's.
"Hey Kouga! Why can't you take your Ayame in your car?" Inuyasha growled, tossing his leather jacket onto the front seat.
His boss looked over at Kouga and smirked, "'Cuz he's coming with us."
"What?! OW!" Inuyasha slapped a hand to his head, cursing at the trunk of his car. "He's coming with us?!"
"Stop yipping and yapping, dog boy." Kouga tossed a bag into the trunk, causing the hanyou to growl violently. "You heard her, you don't have two dog ears for nothing."
"And you don't have a tail for nothing, it goes in between your legs." Inuyasha retorted, using as little contact as possible to move the suitcase over.
Almost everyone turned in interest.
"Kouga, you have a tail?" Sango put a hand to her mouth, forcing down the laughter.
"What does it matter?" Kouga muttered, glaring at the hanyou before tossing Ayame's final bag inside the car.
Miroku smirked, "So we should start calling you Wolfie now, right?"
"Don't even try it."
~Have you ever been low?
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
Everyone laughed as Inuyasha grumbled, walking back towards the base. Kagome glanced over, quickly looking away when he turned.
Inuyasha stopped inside the door, looking over at her with soft eyes. This was his last chance to try and make amends.
"Kagome," she turned, looking at him with blurry eyes. "Kagome, look, I'm really sorry about what happened. I'm not good at this, so just listen to me. I didn't want anyone to know, I'm not exactly proud of it("
"You didn't want anyone to know, yet Miroku, Sango, Ayame, they all know. Yet you couldn't tell me," she whispered, looking outside at the others.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. You know I am. We need to talk about this."
"You have a plane to catch."
She was right about that.
"Look, I'll call you. I'd stay if it was just me, but the others have to go too . . ." he sighed, "I don't want to leave it like this."
"Just go."
~No I don't need your number
There's nothing left to say
'Cept I never thought it'd hurt this much to be saved
My friends are outside waiting
I've gotta go~
"Look, I have to say goodbye to the others." Kagome turned, leaving into the midday weather.
Inuyasha closed his eyes, punching the wall next to him. Ignoring when it cracked.
"Kagome!" Ayame rushed over, "It was good to see you again. Even for the sucky circumstances."
"Yeah," the agent nodded, "Same here."
"You know, Kouga's leaving with us."
"Yeah, I heard from inside," Kagome let out a smile. "I never knew he could leave his family like that."
"Well, Ginta's old enough. And this job got him a lot of cash, they can take care of themselves. He refused to let me get on another plane without him."
Kagome nodded, "He really loves you. He was the biggest jerk I'd ever met before you came back."
Ayame rolled her eyes, "And I'm sorry for that. He's never been a sensible guy, or at least for the most part."
"Hey! I heard that!" Kouga growled, tossing the last bag into the trunk and closing it.
"Then you heard the truth." Ayame muttered, smiling. "Well, I know you need to say bye to Sango, so I'll let you go."
"Bye, Ayame," Kagome smiled, giving the other woman a hug.
"Kagome," Sango walked over, tears in her eyes.
"Oh Sango, don't cry, you're the strong one."
"Not right now, it's just really overwhelming."
"I'll call you everyday." Sango smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"That'd be nice. I know lot's of people say that and never do. But, we're not those people."
Kagome nodded, her eyes becoming more watery as Inuyasha passed, seemingly aggravated about something.
"Don't worry, Kag, it'll work itself out."
"No, no it won't." Kagome coughed, "I'll see you Sango."
"Uh huh," Sango nodded, giving her friend a hug, "We will."
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low
What you did was low
What you did was low
What you did was low~
Sango walked towards the car, looking for Miroku.
"Sango."
There he was.
She turned, "Hey."
"Hey."
"So, this is it."
"No, it's not." Miroku held her hands in his own, running his thumb over her knuckles, "This is just a little obstacle."
"You know long distance relationships never work."
"Yes they do," Miroku smiled, "Because we're part of that statistic."
Sango laughed, blinking the tears away, "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you," Miroku whispered, looking into her magenta orbs. "But, I'll call you everyday."
The agent let out a laugh, "You can get the phone from Kag when she's done. She promised the same thing."
"Well then, you're going to be very popular."
"And you're going to have a very high phone bill."
"I never thought of that." Sango's face faulted.
"Gods, Miroku."
He only laughed, walking her to the car, "I'll work it out."
"I love you, Miroku."
"Love you, Sango," Miroku bent down and kissed her, not caring about the audience in the car.
Inuyasha scoffed, alerting Kagome he was next to her.
His honey eyes looked at her, and with a deep breath he walked to the car, opening the door.
"Kouga, what the hell are you doing?!"
"I'm driving, what does it look like?"
"Damn it, baka, Fang's *my* car, so *I* drive her." With an effortless toss the wolf demon was on the ground, spitting out obscenities.
Miroku walked around as the wolf demon entered the car, "Bye Wolfie!"
"Why you("
Inuyasha started the engine, looking in his rear view window at the pearl- gray eyed girl, staring at the car emotionless. "Come on, let's go."
Fang roared, going down the road towards the airport.
Kagome let out a sigh, running back into the building, ignoring Miroku's calls behind her.
~I walk out of this darkness
With no sense of regret
And I go with a clear conscience
We both know that you can't say that
This to show
For all the time I loved you so
So...~
Sango sighed, leaning back in her seat. "So, did you talk to her?"
Her question went unanswered.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah." He turned the corner, entering the city.
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
"Well, what happened?" Ayame looked up front, leaning to get a better view of the two.
"Nothing."
"What do you mean 'nothing'?" Ayame scrunched up her nose, "What'd you say?"
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
"Forget it, ok? There's nothing to talk about."
"Yes there is, you love her."
"Look, cut the mushy crap. I've been through this once, I'm not going to let all this guilt make it happen again. So, can you please talk about something else?"
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?~
She rushed to her room, collapsing on her bed.
She thought she could have handled this, but it wasn't working the way she thought. She'd never see him again.
Was it all her fault?
Kagome closed her eyes, fighting back the urge to cry, and with a rigid sigh, went to sleep. She would think about it tomorrow.
~'Cause what you did was low...~
***
"What kind of disrespect is this?!" the voice growled from the darkness.
"Shut your mouth, you don't deserve a mouth. I'll run this the way I damn well want to. You had your chance and failed."
"Where is she? Where is Kikyo?"
The white-haired male smirked, raising his eyes to meet the other voice's. "You want to see her?" With a snap of his fingers a light ahead turned on to reveal a woman in her early 20's, raven hair in strings around her dead pale face.
Kikyo.
***
Please, I ask you only this:
Please. Don't. Kill. Me. ^_^;
The sequel might take some time because I'll be focusing on the other stories, but the sequel will come out this month for sure. If you'd like it out faster reviews always make me work harder . . . ^.~
Here's the summary for the sequel:
Mission Completed: Life has gone back to normal for the agents. The Shikon Jewel is in Kagome's protection, Naraku and Kikyo are dead, and Sango got word her brother is still alive. What could go wrong? Kagome wishing on the jewel to find it a fake?
So, I might reword the summary, this is just a rough draft. But from that you should gather a bit more about it, so be on the lookout for it.
Until then,
Ja ne tomodachi
~Sakura
Disclaimer: If you don't know by now then you're a mental midget with the IQ of a fencepost.
Sakura's Note: Well, this is the end of Most Important Mission, the final chapter. There *will* be a sequel though, but it's not the same. I hope all the readers will continue to read the sequel, seeing how many of you are curious about what the sequel could and will be about. Of course I can't tell you though, what would the point of that be?
I know, I feel mean.
But, if you are a fan of Inuyasha and Kagome then you will most likely want to read the sequel, because as many of you all know they will NOT be getting together in this fic but in the SEQUEL. So please, no flames saying I forgot (it's happened before).
P.S., this will end on a cliffy. *dodges chairs and tables and . . .bombs?!*
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story, every review means a lot to me. I hope to see all of you for the sequel.
***
Chapter 23: Unrequited
"You can't go in there sir!" the nurse was ignored as Kouga broke down the hospital door. "You know you'll have to pay for that sir-"
"Yeah, yeah, here," the ocean blue eyed male tossed a wad of cash at the woman carelessly, pushing past the doctors towards the true prize.
That job with the half-breed had gotten him enough to take care of his siblings and himself for years!
"I thought I heard a door crash to the ground . . ." Ayame's eyes glimmered in silent laughter.
"Hi."
"Who the hell is this man?!"
"Shove it, I don't have a concussion, I don't have blood poisoning, I'm bleeding, but that's not the point, so you can wait a second," Ayame smiled once again when she felt her hand being held, a callused thumb running over her knuckles. "I'm fine Kouga-kun . . ."
"I should have been the one up there. I'm sorry Ayame," Kouga looked into her eyes, green meeting his own blue. "Forgive me."
"You're really eating yourself up over this, aren't you?" She cocked her head with concern.
"If it had been me then I would have been the one lying in this bed right now . . ."
"And I'd be the one lying dead with the other assassins on the pavement. Kouga, things happen for a reason. This brought us closer together, I personally feel lucky."
"Lucky? Lucky?! How in all the hells is you lying in a hospital with cuts all over you lucky?" He instantly felt the girl's head.
"Come here," the yasha motioned for him to lean down, before planting a passionate kiss on his lips. "That's why."
The oni blushed but didn't hurry to stand back up.
"Ahem."
Both demons looked up as if they had just noticed the large audience.
"If you don't mind sir, we need to check your wife and make sure she didn't get any fatal injuries." one doctor with thick glasses nodded in silent accord.
"Wife?!" both yelped in surprise, "Oh, no, um, no, not-not the wife." they rambled in unison.
"Yet," Kouga continued, locking eyes with Ayame. Her eyes widened with surprise. "I'll see you soon," he smiled, eyeing the doctors with annoyance, "won't I?"
"O-of course, sir, very soon," another doctor nodded vigorously.
Kouga grinned smugly, walking towards the doorless exit into the hall.
"Oh *no*! *Not* the wife . . . Yet!" Inuyasha broke into laughter, bending over holding his side. "Never seen that side of you before, wolf."
"Shut up!"
"Aw, I think it's cute Kouga, she's lucky to have a nice jerk like you," Sango grinned from ear to ear.
"What the hell's wrong with all of you? It's none of your business!" Kouga growled, balling his hands up into fists. "Don't you have your own love lives to attend to?"
Sango and Miroku smiled, "Yes."
"Well then, go make out or something!"
"An excellent idea," Miroku agreed, grabbing the girl's wrist. "I think I saw an unlocked janitor's closet a little away from here."
"Miroku!" Sango giggled, whapping the agent over the head.
The hanyou agent rolled his eyes, "How is she?"
"Fine," Kouga grunted. "Acts like nothin's wrong."
"That's Ayame for ya," Inuyasha let a sigh escape him, taking a sip of his coffee after spiking it with something hidden in a flask.
"Alcohol's prohibited here, ya know," the wolf demon lectured, "Wouldn't want to see you drunk for anything."
"Shut up. I could hold more liquor than you!"
"I'm a fu-"
"Language! You're in a hospital!" a nurse chastised, walking by bristled.
"I'm a demon, dam-*darn* it, I can hold it better than your brother, let alone a half breed," he grinned when he noticed he had riled up the honey- eyed agent. "What ya gonna do? Glare at me all day or prove you can hold more?"
. . .
"Inuyasha?" Kouga scowled, "Yo! Inuyasha! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Following the hanyou's gaze, however, made him realize what had made the half breed mute.
Kagome.
They both stared at each other in silence, Kagome balancing three coffees in her arms awkwardly but when some of the hot coffee ran down the sides she didn't seem to notice.
"Um, you seen Sango and Miroku?"
She had directed the question to Kouga.
THE Kouga who had hit on her like some kind of drunken perv on her way back from the movies a year ago.
Not the guy who had saved her life countless times during this entire time he was in Japan.
And it seemed to show in Inuyasha's expression.
"Oh, uh, they went to make out in a closet somewhere," Kouga shrugged, unmindful of the shocked look on Kagome's face. "I think they went that way."
"Thanks," Kagome gave a small smile, glancing at Inuyasha before quickly walking down in direction of the nearest unlocked closet.
"So . . .what'd you do?" Inuyasha glared at the younger man's nonchalant attitude.
"What the hell do you mean?!" Inuyasha roared, earning himself several looks from the walking patients. "Who said I did anything? How about did she do anything?"
"I've known that girl since I was twelve, she don't act like that to just anyone. Only did it when I was a jack ass . . . Good times."
"Shut up," Inuyasha snarled, "I didn't do anything she didn't do. The only problem is she's a hypocrite." "Ah, so we're getting somewhere!" Kouga leaned back into a hospital chair, "Tell me this, what happened?"
"Tell me this, why do you care?"
"Oh! Good comeback!" Kouga smirked at the death glare he received, "Look, I hate to say it, but without you and the others I would still be working double shifts to take care of my brothers and sisters. You could say I owed you one."
"Keh."
"I told you, it's your turn."
". . ."
"Do I need to *make* you talk, retard?" Kouga growled, "There's a woman in there that I could be knocking doctors off of, but instead I'm wasting time here with you."
"Who asked you to stay here?!" Inuyasha retorted, balling up his fists, "Me and Kag's love life problems are none of your business."
Kouga raised an eyebrow, eyes wide, "Love life problems?"
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"Look, I was lucky enough to get the woman I chased away back, even it was years later. You might not be so lucky, half breed, so play your cards wisely, don't bluff, just show your hand."
"Um, sir, your . . .*Ayame* is ready for visitors."
"Took long enough," the wolf oni grumbled, striding unflappably into the room.
*
"Um, sir, are you sure you are ready to board? We could get you and your companions some medical attent-"
"Your boss said we're ready to board," the albino girl whispered, looking at the woman with a calm but deadly stare.
"Y-yes, this way Sesshoumaru-sama. I am sorry to keep you waiting, but your well fare is one of our utmost priorities." the woman looked behind him, "And who are you?"
"My name's Rin! And this toad's Jaken!" the girl beamed.
"What a pretty name, yours, not his. Well, enjoy your flight!"
The stoic demon lord nodded, swiftly walking into the plane with the others.
"I never knew you owned a plane," Kagura murmured. "Especially one that would except a 'dead' boy . . ."
"These people are not here to ask questions, only to serve those who pay them. Not many can afford such expensive services, mostly crime lords and kingpins, I'm an exception. Besides, we know he's not dead, the bullet only caused him to become comatose."
Kagura nodded, seating herself and looking over where Yura sat, looking out the window. "Thank the gods. Yura took him as a son, even tried finding that Sango girl once she found out their relations."
Sesshoumaru grunted, nodding to the pilot to take off. "Kohaku is bleeding badly(" he whispered, "(he may die from blood loss if we do not get him to America soon."
"But why couldn't we take him to a hospital in Tokyo? Kyoto? Osaka? Why are we flying thousands of miles?" Kagura overlapped his clawed hand with her own, looking deep into his golden orbs.
"America is safer. You can be guaranteed that Naraku is still alive." Yura jumped up with his words, eyes wide with fear, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body.
"What do you mean? I killed him! I(He's dead!" She clenched and unclenched her fists, "You can't survive that! Not even as a demon like yourselves!"
Silence erupted inside the plane.
"No, Yura," Kanna caused the ex-assassin to start, bumping into the wall of their transport. "We can. Kagura has survived many stabs to the heart before, once even to the head. It takes strength, but it is not impossible."
"Yura-"
"No, Kagura, don't try to comfort me. It won't help. Although it might not be an empty gesture it won't do anything but make me feel even more helpless. If you can understand that."
Even though there was no logic behind it, Kagura could. "I wasn't going to, I know you too well to even try. I was going to tell you that although he is still alive, he will never be the same."
"But Kanna said-"
"Kanna said I had recovered, Naraku doesn't do as well as his offspring have. Well, considering we were once test tube projects I guess you could call us that." Kagura scoffed, "But, the point is that he is not as strong as he started out."
"You saw how bad he injured Rin!" the girl in question looked up from the seat next in between Sesshoumaru's and Kagura's.
"Contrary to popular belief he didn't. That would be Kohaku's doing."
Yura's eyes widened, "Koha . . ." she collapsed back into her chair, taking a deep ineffective breath.
"He was under his control at that time, don't blame him." Juuroumaru spoke, blinking to wake himself.
"I-I don't," Yura looked over at her daughter, who didn't even seem to recognize her.
Sesshoumaru stared at the woman critically for a moment, processing the emotions in her eyes. "She knows you, Yura, but she's not use to it. Give her time."
*
The flight seemed to drag on forever, every second counted. Kohaku was holding on only because of the demon blood contributed by Kanna, and none of them were sure he could hold out much longer. They had left their fuel stop an hour ago and if they looked hard enough, could swear they saw the outline of America up ahead.
"What's America like?" Kanna mused aloud, placing a pale hand on the cool window pane.
"Busy." Sesshoumaru spoke jadedly, bringing back memories for the yasha next to him. "Full of opportunities, not all good."
"You spoke of it to me when we first met," Kagura whispered, "You made it seem wonderful then, even with your calm voice. What happened?"
"Nothing. That's the problem." Sesshoumaru looked out the window, "The jobs there are worth more, but more risky. Adding to the fact my bastard brother was always on my tail with that Sango woman when I was on business."
"Without that 'bastard brother' we might not be here, Sesshoumaru. Why can't you just get along a bit better with him?" Yura looked over, speaking forward. "He might be a pest, but don't try to get the pesticide on him. He's useful, and decent, to be related to you."
Kagura giggled, causing Sesshoumaru to raise an eyebrow in her direction. "What?"
"'He might be a pest, but don't try to get the pesticide.' That was so corny!" Sesshoumaru blinked, looking to Kanna for some sign of understanding. Of course, he found none, so just aloud the demoness to giggle into his shirt. That was when he realized, half of that laughter was relief of finally getting away.
"Come on, Sesshoumaru," Kagura got up, taking the demon's hand in her own with a firm grasp.
"Where-?" he looked up at her, confusion hidden within his confident eyes. "It's a plane."
"Just get up, stop making a scene."
"In front of four people and one in a coma? That's hardly a scene."
"It's a scene, so shut up and get up," Yura groaned, looking over at the two with the rest of them. "That's why we're all looking at you."
Sesshoumaru stood up, "What is it, Kagu(" he was jerked forward, dragged towards the back of the plane by a grinning Kagura.
"Come on, time to join the mile high club."
"What the(" his voice was cut off by the slam of the bathroom door.
Rin hopped off her seat, looked at the bathroom with curiosity, and walked over to the only other awake human on the plane with a fault-finding look on her face. Yura looked down at her daughter, her eyes filling.
"Mommy, what's the mile high club?"
That was all it took for the girl to be in her mother's arms, complaining about the tears wetting her hair.
***
Kagome leaned back into her pillows. "So, you're staying here until tomorrow?"
"Yeah, after all the paperwork's done here we're going to have to go back and do all of this over with the US government. Complete statements, get paid(the best part."
The stormy eyed agent let out a laugh, "That is the best part."
Sango nodded.
"Is Inuyasha leaving too?" Kagome asked just above a whisper. She heard her friend sigh across the room.
"You know, you two can't stay like this forever," Sango looked up from her paperwork, dropping her pen as well. "What exactly happened? You never really told me."
"There's nothing to talk about, Sango."
"Oh, yes there is," Sango got up and joined Kagome on the bed, "Tell me. You wouldn't stop talking to the love of your life for no reason."
"L-love("
"Yes, love, you love him, he loves you, it's no mystery. We all saw it. Look, you were fine until we went back there and split up."
"He lied to me, Sango."
"What do you mean? What'd he say?"
"He never told me about him and . . .*her*." Sango's eyes widened.
"She told you, didn't she?"
"Showed me," Kagome mumbled, "My sister kissed him."
"Something tells me he didn't know that, either," Kagome looked over at the girl, who at the moment was looking out into the hall.
"What do you mean? How do you not know you went out with someone?"
"No, that's not what I meant." she took a deep breath, "He didn't know she was your sister, did he?"
"No, but there's a difference!" Kagome's eyes filled, "my sister and I didn't have anything special since we were little kids! He kissed her, held her, *loved* her! And then he shows feelings for me, how can I be sure it was me or her he looked at?"
Her tears overflowed her eyes, splattering on her legs. "It's not fair! I know I could have told him, but(" she took a ragged sigh.
"I know, but it might have been a shock to him to find out something of that magnitude, too."
"But it's different!"
"How("
"I love him! That's why it's different, damn it! I love HIM! It broke my heart to see that, how would it break his to know she's my sister? It wouldn't. It wouldn't."
"Kagome . . ." the agent collapsed on her friend's shoulder. "I know it's a cliché, but it'll be ok, Kag, it'll be ok."
*
Ever since the others had found out about how she felt they had been trying to make it better with words, thinking it would help her.
Of course it didn't.
~Everybody's talkin'
But they don't say a thing
They look at me with sad eyes
but I don't want their sympathy~
Kagome had been trying to block all the thoughts of them being together out of her mind, saying it was ok.
~It's cool you didn't want me
Sometimes you can't go back
Why'd you have to go and make a mess like that?
Well I just have to say
Before I let go...~
"Miroku, can you help me with this bag?" Kagome looked over at Sango, who had handed Miroku a bag of Japanese merchandise.
He sucked in a breath, manhandling the bag over to Fang, "You know you're going to have to pay taxes for all this stuff when you get there, right?"
Sango just laughed, kissing his cheek, "I know. But, they'll be memories for us. Like when we went to that manga shop yesterday and you crashed into a Chobits stand!"
"That wasn't funny. I had to pay for the ones that got screwed up!" Sango just laughed, rearranging her bags to make room for Ayame's.
"Hey Kouga! Why can't you take your Ayame in your car?" Inuyasha growled, tossing his leather jacket onto the front seat.
His boss looked over at Kouga and smirked, "'Cuz he's coming with us."
"What?! OW!" Inuyasha slapped a hand to his head, cursing at the trunk of his car. "He's coming with us?!"
"Stop yipping and yapping, dog boy." Kouga tossed a bag into the trunk, causing the hanyou to growl violently. "You heard her, you don't have two dog ears for nothing."
"And you don't have a tail for nothing, it goes in between your legs." Inuyasha retorted, using as little contact as possible to move the suitcase over.
Almost everyone turned in interest.
"Kouga, you have a tail?" Sango put a hand to her mouth, forcing down the laughter.
"What does it matter?" Kouga muttered, glaring at the hanyou before tossing Ayame's final bag inside the car.
Miroku smirked, "So we should start calling you Wolfie now, right?"
"Don't even try it."
~Have you ever been low?
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
Everyone laughed as Inuyasha grumbled, walking back towards the base. Kagome glanced over, quickly looking away when he turned.
Inuyasha stopped inside the door, looking over at her with soft eyes. This was his last chance to try and make amends.
"Kagome," she turned, looking at him with blurry eyes. "Kagome, look, I'm really sorry about what happened. I'm not good at this, so just listen to me. I didn't want anyone to know, I'm not exactly proud of it("
"You didn't want anyone to know, yet Miroku, Sango, Ayame, they all know. Yet you couldn't tell me," she whispered, looking outside at the others.
"I'm sorry, Kagome. You know I am. We need to talk about this."
"You have a plane to catch."
She was right about that.
"Look, I'll call you. I'd stay if it was just me, but the others have to go too . . ." he sighed, "I don't want to leave it like this."
"Just go."
~No I don't need your number
There's nothing left to say
'Cept I never thought it'd hurt this much to be saved
My friends are outside waiting
I've gotta go~
"Look, I have to say goodbye to the others." Kagome turned, leaving into the midday weather.
Inuyasha closed his eyes, punching the wall next to him. Ignoring when it cracked.
"Kagome!" Ayame rushed over, "It was good to see you again. Even for the sucky circumstances."
"Yeah," the agent nodded, "Same here."
"You know, Kouga's leaving with us."
"Yeah, I heard from inside," Kagome let out a smile. "I never knew he could leave his family like that."
"Well, Ginta's old enough. And this job got him a lot of cash, they can take care of themselves. He refused to let me get on another plane without him."
Kagome nodded, "He really loves you. He was the biggest jerk I'd ever met before you came back."
Ayame rolled her eyes, "And I'm sorry for that. He's never been a sensible guy, or at least for the most part."
"Hey! I heard that!" Kouga growled, tossing the last bag into the trunk and closing it.
"Then you heard the truth." Ayame muttered, smiling. "Well, I know you need to say bye to Sango, so I'll let you go."
"Bye, Ayame," Kagome smiled, giving the other woman a hug.
"Kagome," Sango walked over, tears in her eyes.
"Oh Sango, don't cry, you're the strong one."
"Not right now, it's just really overwhelming."
"I'll call you everyday." Sango smiled, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"That'd be nice. I know lot's of people say that and never do. But, we're not those people."
Kagome nodded, her eyes becoming more watery as Inuyasha passed, seemingly aggravated about something.
"Don't worry, Kag, it'll work itself out."
"No, no it won't." Kagome coughed, "I'll see you Sango."
"Uh huh," Sango nodded, giving her friend a hug, "We will."
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low
What you did was low
What you did was low
What you did was low~
Sango walked towards the car, looking for Miroku.
"Sango."
There he was.
She turned, "Hey."
"Hey."
"So, this is it."
"No, it's not." Miroku held her hands in his own, running his thumb over her knuckles, "This is just a little obstacle."
"You know long distance relationships never work."
"Yes they do," Miroku smiled, "Because we're part of that statistic."
Sango laughed, blinking the tears away, "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you," Miroku whispered, looking into her magenta orbs. "But, I'll call you everyday."
The agent let out a laugh, "You can get the phone from Kag when she's done. She promised the same thing."
"Well then, you're going to be very popular."
"And you're going to have a very high phone bill."
"I never thought of that." Sango's face faulted.
"Gods, Miroku."
He only laughed, walking her to the car, "I'll work it out."
"I love you, Miroku."
"Love you, Sango," Miroku bent down and kissed her, not caring about the audience in the car.
Inuyasha scoffed, alerting Kagome he was next to her.
His honey eyes looked at her, and with a deep breath he walked to the car, opening the door.
"Kouga, what the hell are you doing?!"
"I'm driving, what does it look like?"
"Damn it, baka, Fang's *my* car, so *I* drive her." With an effortless toss the wolf demon was on the ground, spitting out obscenities.
Miroku walked around as the wolf demon entered the car, "Bye Wolfie!"
"Why you("
Inuyasha started the engine, looking in his rear view window at the pearl- gray eyed girl, staring at the car emotionless. "Come on, let's go."
Fang roared, going down the road towards the airport.
Kagome let out a sigh, running back into the building, ignoring Miroku's calls behind her.
~I walk out of this darkness
With no sense of regret
And I go with a clear conscience
We both know that you can't say that
This to show
For all the time I loved you so
So...~
Sango sighed, leaning back in her seat. "So, did you talk to her?"
Her question went unanswered.
"Inuyasha?"
"Yeah." He turned the corner, entering the city.
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
"Well, what happened?" Ayame looked up front, leaning to get a better view of the two.
"Nothing."
"What do you mean 'nothing'?" Ayame scrunched up her nose, "What'd you say?"
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?
When the truth came out
Were you the last to know?
Were you left out in the cold?
'Cause what you did was low~
"Forget it, ok? There's nothing to talk about."
"Yes there is, you love her."
"Look, cut the mushy crap. I've been through this once, I'm not going to let all this guilt make it happen again. So, can you please talk about something else?"
~Have you ever been low? (have you ever been)
Have you ever had a friend that let you down so?~
She rushed to her room, collapsing on her bed.
She thought she could have handled this, but it wasn't working the way she thought. She'd never see him again.
Was it all her fault?
Kagome closed her eyes, fighting back the urge to cry, and with a rigid sigh, went to sleep. She would think about it tomorrow.
~'Cause what you did was low...~
***
"What kind of disrespect is this?!" the voice growled from the darkness.
"Shut your mouth, you don't deserve a mouth. I'll run this the way I damn well want to. You had your chance and failed."
"Where is she? Where is Kikyo?"
The white-haired male smirked, raising his eyes to meet the other voice's. "You want to see her?" With a snap of his fingers a light ahead turned on to reveal a woman in her early 20's, raven hair in strings around her dead pale face.
Kikyo.
***
Please, I ask you only this:
Please. Don't. Kill. Me. ^_^;
The sequel might take some time because I'll be focusing on the other stories, but the sequel will come out this month for sure. If you'd like it out faster reviews always make me work harder . . . ^.~
Here's the summary for the sequel:
Mission Completed: Life has gone back to normal for the agents. The Shikon Jewel is in Kagome's protection, Naraku and Kikyo are dead, and Sango got word her brother is still alive. What could go wrong? Kagome wishing on the jewel to find it a fake?
So, I might reword the summary, this is just a rough draft. But from that you should gather a bit more about it, so be on the lookout for it.
Until then,
Ja ne tomodachi
~Sakura
