A Tragic Love
Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha, I am very rich, and I am a pathological liar.
FYI: sowee I misspelled Sesshoumaru wrong! I promise from now on ill spell it correctly! ^.
+Ch. 13: I Love Miroku!+
--
Kagome, stunned from the slap, touched her cheek and felt the pain surge throughout her face, which was now swollen and burning. Her eyes darted from the floor to her mother to her father and then the videotape again. Clutching it in her hand, she felt an unexpected tear slide down from her cheek and onto the videotape and then evaporate into nothing.
Her mother's hands found their way by her side and then rose up again, this time not to strike her daughter, but to examine her hand which now stung and was turning a dark shade of pink.
All around the two, the room lay silent, even Kikyo was surprised from what had happened. Her hands on her mouth, she moved back from the seen in complete shock. Internally, she was a little intrigued by what she had seen. Now her sister was finally getting what she deserved, she thought bitterly, a grin escaping from her pursed lips.
Her father, on the other hand, still holding onto his glass of wine, was turning an unusual tint of red. He cleared his throat and approached his quivering wife and rested his free hand on her shoulder, pulling her back from her dumbfounded daughter. At first her mother resisted, pushing her father way, but finally she let him lead her towards the kitchen, in hopes of calming her rising blood pressure.
Her parents alone in the kitchen, the only ones left in the foyer were Kagome and her bitch of a sister, Kikyo. They did not move for a couple seconds, Kagome still staring at the videotape, Kikyo staring at her sister in a twisted look of delight.
It was Kikyo that made the first move.
"Little sister, how much more suffering are you going to cause this family, which is, can I say, already tired of your constant bullshit?" she asked, a finger pressed upon her coldhearted lips. She circled her sister for some time before finally pausing directly in front of her.
"I never would have guessed you'd have the guts to go out of the house in the middle of the night, with a boy? You should have at least had the brains to watch the movement of the gate camera and then make your escape when it strayed away from the gate position," she said chuckling. Obviously, she knew too well the art of sneaking out of the house.
Kikyo removed her twisted finger from her lips and bent down to find Kagome's eyes, which lay hidden behind her bangs. It was now that she felt the pain from her mother's slap. She touched her cheek again and felt it sting with twice the fury. She had wanted to scream then, not from the reddened handprint on her swollen cheek, but from the pain from within her heart.
"Kikyo, can I ask you a question?" she said. The question had come out in a whisper and her voice was coarse and bitter.
"Sure, anything dear sister."
"Why are you such a fucking bitch?" Kagome asked, looking up now, fury in her tear streaked eyes.
Kikyo was taken aback but it did not stop her from moving an inch closer and taking her sister's hair by her fingers, tugging it harshly, which sent her head back.
"Why are you such an idiot? Dear sister, what you have to learn in life is that there are two people, the strong ones and the weak ones. Guess which one you are."
Kagome, her head still tilted back, looked at her sister and smiled, "Are you suppose to be strong?"
Kikyo nodded and tore her fingers from her sister's hair, taking a few streaks of hair in the process.
Kagome straightened her hair and smirked, "I'd rather be weak than be like you."
"What is that suppose to mean? I get what I want when I want it. Let's see you get that boy of yours. It will never happen, you know why? Because you aren't worth the shit," she said, her voice teeming with satisfaction. She looked one last time at her sister before turning her head and walking away.
"Is that why you're making poor Sesshoumaru marry you?" Kagome asked, not quite sure what she had just unleashed by saying what she had said. But it was too late to end now, the war was on.
Kikyo froze midway from her stride up the stairs and turned around to face her sister once more. Her eyes were beaming with confusing and anger. She tightened her grip on the banister and smiled.
"What did you say?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"I said, is that how you bribed Sesshoumaru into marrying you so you can get fa--" but before Kagome could finish her sentence, Kikyo was at her hair again, pulling on it with three times the strength. Kagome could feel some of her hair loosening from their roots. She felt a tear slide down her cheek but she tried to conceal the rest of the tears piling up from behind her eyes.
"You little bitch! I knew you were listening to me! You snoop!" she said, her voice uneasy. Kagome looked at her sister in shock. Was this her sister? It looked like her but this person in front of her was uncontrolled and almost inhuman.
Unexpectedly, Kikyo let go of her hold on her sister's hair, straightened her dress, and ran her fingers through her hair. She let out a smile and chucked. Kagome stood back flabbergasted at her sister's transformation. It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
"It's okay dear sister. Soon, we'll get married and I don't have to deal with you anymore. Besides, you would never dare tell mom and dad and even if you had the guts, they would never believe you."
"Okay, let's try and see if they do," Kagome said, turning her toes towards the kitchen.
"Okay, you can do that," Kikyo said, a hint of pleasure in her voice. Kagome could feel the smile on her sister's face increase.
"I can?" Kagome asked confused.
Kikyo giggled and then approached her dumbfounded sister, pressing a finger on her chest.
"Just as long as I can tell them that the boy on the video tape, the boy mom slapped you for, the boy you snuck out with in the middle of the night with, is a Bakemono," Kikyo said in a slight whisper.
--
Kagome sat astounded on the tip of her bed, remembering the last few words exchanged between Kikyo and herself.
Flashback
"Kikyo, how did you--" Kagome asked flabbergasted at the word Bakemono coming out of her sister's lips.
"Know? Sesshoumaru had told me about then months ago. He finds it quite stupid but I find it really interesting. Sesshoumaru and I were walking in the park, back when I was trying to seduce the fool, and we saw him there with his parents. Funny, how he wanted to run from them, as though we should be afraid of them. When I saw the guy from the videotape with you, I immediately recognized him as the son of the Bakemono family. Our MORTAL enemy!"
Kagome stared at her sister in silence, a million thoughts jumbling in her mind and then colliding together, turning into a squishy pile of pudding. This wasn't fair, she thought, how Kikyo could have known this. But more importantly, how could Kikyo now have something to blackmail her for. Kagome sighed and knew that what Kikyo had was much more powerful than Kagome's ammunition. Even if Kagome would happen to tell her parents, there was a side of her that knew her parents would never believe her. Kikyo, on the other hand, had the upper hand. Her parents would surely believe her before even considering what Kagome said as truth.
"Don't mess with my plan Kagome. I'll make you pay and while I'm at it, I'll make it hurt..." she said snidely.
End Flashback
Kagome looked around at her room and her eyes stared at the doors which lead to her balcony, the same balcony Kouga had climbed up on and then kissed her. Kagome touched her lips and felt a tear slide down her cheek.
'Maybe I should forget about Inuyasha and just be with Kouga. It would be for the best. I don't want to cause more trouble than I already have.'
But how could Kagome do that when all she could think about, even now, was Inuyasha. He lurked in her mind like water on a hot day. She needed to rid her mind of him; she needed to move on without him in her life.
The thoughts were screaming in her ear and in desperation to cleanse her mind from what she was telling herself, she threw herself on her bed and smothered in body in her pillows, hoping her comfort her nerves. But the pillows did nothing to ease her woes; they helped to only subdue her tears but did nothing to erase her mind of the man she had claimed to love.
His image rested in her mind now—the way he smiled, the way he laughed, and even the way he scowled when he was angry. How could he have such an impact on her life after knowing him for only a few months? This question had always lurked in her mind. It was now that she had the answer: there was no answer. She loved him for what he was and when you really love someone, you cannot pinpoint the reasons why, the only answer was just because.
So the only thing left to answer was whether she should continue to pursue him or should their friendship remain a friendship. She was not going to be able to answer that tonight. It was then that she finally felt the need to fall asleep. Her eye lids were growing heavy and slowly all she saw was darkness.
--
Miroku sat idly on the park bench watching the kids swing back and form on the swings and then leap up and land giggling on the sand. He sighed and turned away glancing at his clock before closing his eyes.
'Sango, she's always late,' he thought and smiled. But he would wait forever for her. That was how much he loved her. Lately, he grew more and more concerned for her and seeing her sad made him three times more sad, which was always a bummer because who likes a sad Miroku?
He patiently stared out into the distance, glancing from the children to the blue sky every so often. He felt at peace here on this bench and wished he could sit there for hours, contemplating life, love, and the complexities of being Sango's boyfriend.
Briefly his mind strayed away from the love of his life (and that rarely happens) to his family life. He lived with his single mother after his father died some years ago in a car accident. He was only three then, hardly old enough for him to remember what he was like but he was certain he was a kind man, who loved his family very much. Miroku remembered the small things, the things that really mattered—the way he lit his cigar, the way he smelled like mint and aftershave, and the way he'd touch him on the shoulder.
Miroku shook his head and held back a tear. Since he was a child he had wished his dad was there to teach him about girls, play ball with him, and teach him how to drive. But, it was too late for that. He was 17 now, practically a man (he smiled) and did just fine without him. Miroku's mom never remarried and he guessed that was why she seemed so bitter about life. She was workaholic—the top lawyer at her firm. Miroku saw her every night for a few brief seconds. "Hi, how was your day" conversations would pass and then she was off in her office, working until the wee hours of the night. Miroku often stopped in, brought her some coffee and reminded her she was doing great. But even then, she seemed to hardly noticed, too caught up in her own work to even glance up at her son who was practically screaming "look at me!"
But, Miroku was fine with him. He had learned to live with it and now that Sango was in his life, he hardly cared about anyone else. She was number one on his list and she would stay that way forever.
He looked down at his designer khakis, polo shirt, and brand name athletic foot wear and sighed. He really didn't need all this good stuff in life, he was happy wearing a paper bag. But, his mother insisted he wear these things. Why? Maybe to show how successful she was. He really didn't care, just as long as she was happy was all that really mattered in his life. But when he thought of Sango and how hard she had to work to just buy a pair of socks, it made him sad and really angry. He wished he could give her everything she ever wanted. But, every time he gave her a gift, she's smile and asks him to give it to someone who really needs it like the children in the orphanage. He'd feel horrible of course but hearing her say that really touches him. It is at these moments that he knows for sure that she is definitely the one for him. Of course, she never turns down a meal. When food is involved, Sango is always pleased when he pays.
Miroku looked out into the distance and sees someone approach him. However, it isn't the someone he was waiting for.
"Miroku, my love. Waiting for me?" Kagura asks. Without hesitation, she's by his side, with one hand playing with his raven black hair.
"Kagura, I'm, waiting for Sango," Miroku says, lifting her hand away from his hair and setting it by her side, "So if you don't mind--"
"But I do mind! It's always Sango this and Sango that!"
"Well, she is my--"
"Yeah yeah yeah, you're stupid girlfriend!"
"Don't call her--"
"If you had me as a girlfriend, I wouldn't let you wait for so long," she said, returning her hand on his hair.
He backed away and said, "Kagura, you should leave. If she saw me with you, she'd get the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea? I think she'd finally get it that we were made for each other!"
"I don't think so..." Miroku said, concealing a giggle.
"Besides, how do you know she isn't with some other guy right now?" Kagura said snidely, revealing a smirk across her face. She stood to get up when she felt Miroku's hand on her wrist. She could sense his tension.
"Don't say things like that Kagura!" he said, fire in his eyes. Kagura had never seen Miroku shout before. She had touched a soft spot. She loved it.
"Miroku, you're being a little touchy aren't you?" she quickly let go of his wrist and the two stared at each other, Kagura still grinning.
"Come on Miroku! Do you expect to be with her forever?"
"Yes, I do. We'll be together for--"
"Cut the shit! That doesn't happen in real life! Wake up! You're girlfriend's tough, beautiful, smart, and kind! There are a million guys out there just waiting for her!" Kagura said, turning her face and smiling all the more.
"Stop saying that! I don't want to hear anymore of your lies! Get out of my face!" Miroku pushed her away slightly. But this gesture intrigued Kagura more.
"Miroku, I'm sorry!" Kagura said, reaching out and holding the torn Miroku. Miroku pushed her off.
"I didn't mean to make you mad. I just wanted to protect you. Please don't be mad at me!" Kagura said, a fake tear running down her face. Miroku looked at her and instantly felt sorry for her. This was just how he was. He was never violent (unless he needed to) and he could never stand a girl crying. He touched her shoulder and forced a smile.
"Just don't say things like that anymore, okay?"
Kagura shook her head profusely and smiled.
"I better be going Miroku my love!" she said and skipped away, her scheme finally coming together.
It was then that Sango came racing towards him, nestling her head in his chest. Between briefs she repeated her apologizes for leaving him waiting for so long. Even as she began to explain about how her mother had finally woken up, Miroku's thoughts were stuck somewhere else, thinking about what Kagura had said. He looked down at his Sango and wondered if Kagura was right—was Sango going to stay with him forever? Or had she already found someone better than him? He tried to shake away the negative thoughts but it was difficult and he found himself coming back to them throughout the day.
--
Miroku, tired from the day with Sango and his thoughts about what Kagura had said, dragged his legs up the steps and opened the doors to his house. No one was home as usual. He walked over to the lamp and turned it on. The house was in silence. He thought about it again and decided to turn off the lights. He would adjust to the darkness, it was better than seeing a house with no one in it except his pathetic self. After a moment of fingering through the air, he found the banister and guided himself up the stairs, around the corner, and into his room.
Upon hitting his knee on the foot of the bed, he leaped onto it and sighed. 'Why am I even thinking about Sango with another guy? I mean, she loves me and I love her—we love each other!'
He turned towards his open windows and looked outside; still contemplating over Kagura had told him. He didn't quite understand why he was even listened to her. Maybe it was his insecurities unleashing itself, finally being set free. It was then that he remembered how he had reacted, pushing Kagura. Sure it felt good to push that bitch but it was so unlike himself. He wanted to cry, show some emotion. But, he kept it inside like he always did.
'STOP IT MIROKU! You're going mad! Sango would never cheat on you! She loves you!' he reassured himself. He smiled, rested his head in his hands and slept.
--
"Miroku, you're acting so weird today! And I didn't even hit you yet!" Sango yelled. She punched him lightly on the arm and smiled, wrapping her arm around his. She turned to him then and noticed he was still aimlessly staring out into space.
"Miroku, are you okay?" she asked delicately, turning her face to his. He slowly withdrew his stare and smiled.
"I'm okay, I was just thinking about something, that's all."
"You looked like you were ready to kill someone," she said, combing his hair with her fingertips.
"Me? Kill someone?"
"I know. It's silly."
"Okay so the Spring Dance is next week! Tell me what you have planned!" she asked excited, pressing her hands together.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be much of a surprise," he said. Actually, he hadn't planned the event yet.
"Oh pooh! Fine, but it better be good!" she said checking her watch. She jumped from inside his arms and hastily gathered her things.
"Where are you going?" he asked, helping her put her scattered papers inside her bag. She quickly stuffed it in and swung her bag over her shoulder.
"I have to meet Inuyasha!" she said, scrambling to her feet.
"Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, alert now.
"Yeah, we have a science project together."
Miroku smiled and told her to hurry. She turned to wave and then darted off to the library. Miroku watched her from afar, running, papers flying from her bag, and her hair swinging side to side. He really did trust her...
--
Sango's side began hurting from running. She was out of shape. 'I seriously need to hit the gym!' But with her mom sick and her dad working all the time, going to the gym was the last thing on her mind. Upon opening the double doors of the library, she immediately spotted Inuyasha in the corner table, staring at the table.
"Inuyasha!" Sango yelled.
"Shhh!! There is no talking in the library. Oh, Ms. Hagatama, you again. I would never have expected to see you again," the library said, eyeing her sternly.
"Oh yeah that. I said I was sorry. I didn't know I couldn't eat in the library."
"It was never the matter of eating in the library. It was the matter of leaving your water bottle near the new computers, spilling it, causing the circuits to break, and all the computers to malfunction, which caused an explosion!" the library quickly covered her mouth and ran off.
Sango shrugged, walked over to Inuyasha and jumped into the seat across from him. She reached into her backpack and frantically started searching for her bio book. Great, she lost it! Midway searching, Inuyasha threw a couple books on the table.
"I found some books on DNA. Let's hurry up and finish this. I have better things to do."
Sango picked up the books and held it in her hands. "Inuyasha, thanks for doing this. Well all we have to do is read them and then construct a model of a strand of DNA."
"Good luck on that," he said, standing up.
"Hey, what are you talking about?"
"I did my part. I'm research remember?"
"But we have to construct it together! I can't do that by myself!"
"You can try," he said, swinging his bag over his shoulder and walking off.
"You're just bitter because of Kagome!" Sango heard herself say. She quickly put her hand on her mouth.
"What the fuck did you just say?"
Sango shook her head, holding her lips together, 'her and her big mouth!' "This has nothing to do with Kagome."
"Why are you so mad then, huh?" Sango closed her lips again. It was a reflex!
"I AM NOT MAD!" The librarian approached them and put her hands on her hips.
"No talking in the library! I hear one more peep and I'll throw you out. Oh, I see Ms. Hagatama, you are never far behind trouble, are you?" she said, taking her hands from her hips and crossing them across her chest so that her humungous breast hung over it.
Sango didn't say a word; she just looked up and sighed.
"And you, whoever you are," the librarian said turning to Inuyasha, "I expect you to sit your little hiney down and do your work!"
"But--" Inuyasha said.
"No buts! Sit down and do your work or I'll make you shelf the old dirty smelly nasty books!" she said in a huff, turned, and returned to her post behind the circulation desk.
Inuyasha reluctantly sat down and without looking up and said, "Okay, let's get this over with."
Time passed by slowly. The two worked on their report diligently and Inuyasha even offered to read one of the books. But it wasn't long before Sango couldn't resist but ask:
"Inuyasha, do you, you know, still like Kagome?"
"I don't think that's any of your business," he scowled. Sango frowned and continued reading.
"Fine, don't tell me."
"Okay, I won't."
"Oh, you're not fun! Are you going to ask her to the dance?"
"Is there something wrong with your brain? Can you hear? Did I not tell you its any of your business?" he said, throwing the book on the table. The librarian looked up, stared at them in curiosity, and then lowered her eyes.
Inuyasha looked around and then cleared his throat. He leaned over slightly and beckoned Sango forward.
"So, how is Kagome?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Oh you do LIKE HER!!" Sango screamed. Inuyasha pulled her hair and Sango's head bobbed down.
"Hey! Not so loud, idiot!"
"Sorry, sorry! You do like her," she repeated in a whisper.
"I don't—I just want to know how she is doing, that's all. I did leave her kind of upset."
"No, she's okay," Sango lied. She knew very well that Kagome was not alright—she was the opposite of alright.
"She is?" Inuyasha asked bewildered. Secretly, he wished she was moping around. Not because he was cruel but because it meant she just might like him back.
"Yeah. Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm just fine. I just wanted to know if she was alright."
"Yeah you said that already," Sango said with a smile.
"Okay fine. I'm miserable!" he said.
'What the hell did I just say?' Inuyasha thought, 'he had admitted he was actually miserable!'
Sango, taken back, smiled and reached over and hugged Inuyasha.
"Oh Inuyasha, I am so happy you feel this way! You have to tell her how you feel!"
"I can't do that. I'm not so good with feelings. Besides, she probably hates me now," he said letting go of Sango's hug, which came unexpectedly.
"She doesn't Inuyasha. Ask her out—better yet, ask her to the Spring Dance!"
"No TALKING IN THE LIBRARY! One more yell and I'll throw you out!"
Sango stuck out her tongue and turned to Inuyasha.
"So are you going to?" she asked excited.
"I guess, but how?"
"Don't worry about it, leave everything to me!"
--
Miroku watched his girlfriend slowly disappear into the distance before deciding he was still a little hungry. Jumping off the bench he noticed she had forgotten her bio book. He smiled, 'Sango was always forgetting things.'
He picked it up and headed for the library, happy he found it before he left. On his way, he began devising the perfect plan for the Spring Dance. They had never done anything really romantic since they got together. So, this had to be important because she would have to remember it later when they're old and gray. Miroku chuckled at the thought I Sango with white hair.
He knew that Sango had always loved carnations. He would have to somehow put it into the plan. His mind began jamming random romantic tidbits, but he wanted something original something different. After all, Sango was special and a little different from any girl he had ever seen before. Of course, she was always the only girl he ever wanted, that leaves little variety.
The book in his left hand, he opened the double doors to the library and peered it, wondering where she was.
"Miroku, where's your other half?" Naru asked upon their encounter just in front of the entrance.
"She's somewhere around here," he said scanning the room.
"Okay well when you find her, can you please tell her I hate her."
"What for?" Miroku asked confused.
"Because she stole my partner. I wanted to go with Inuyasha and she knew it but no, she practically dashed across the room and flew through the air to pair up with him."
Miroku gripped the book in his hand tighter. He felt as though his heart were going to explode.
"She did?" he asked, controlling his anger.
"Yeah. Okay, well I better go. I have to run away from my partner. I swear he's obsessed with me!" Just then a red haired boy came soaring through the room.
"Naru, Naru my love! Please don't go! I'll dry clean your clothes, I'll do your homework!" he screamed.
Naru darted off, swinging the door and hitting his face. He fell to the ground, but that didn't stop him from crawling to her.
Miroku didn't quite pay attention to any of that. His mind was fixed on what Naru had said and even now the words of Kagura were circling his mind.
He quickly walked through the room and spotted a hint of jet black hair. He hoped it was her and when he realized it was, his mouth opened and the book fell onto the floor. He watched as his girlfriend reached over and hugged Inuyasha.
A/N: Hey guys! Ah sorry it took sooooo long! But at least I'm finally done, happy??? I know I am! So please just REVIEW! It means a lot! AND TO ALL THOSE WHO DID REVIEW THANK YOU SO MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!
What to expect: sorry guys but there's some sadness coming your way so I am warning you!! Love is on the rocks for Sango and Miroku but there's something blossoming for I and K! Also, be excited because the Spring Dance is coming! Will Miroku go with Sango? Or KAGURA?!??!!
--co Tsukino
Disclaimer: I own Inuyasha, I am very rich, and I am a pathological liar.
FYI: sowee I misspelled Sesshoumaru wrong! I promise from now on ill spell it correctly! ^.
+Ch. 13: I Love Miroku!+
--
Kagome, stunned from the slap, touched her cheek and felt the pain surge throughout her face, which was now swollen and burning. Her eyes darted from the floor to her mother to her father and then the videotape again. Clutching it in her hand, she felt an unexpected tear slide down from her cheek and onto the videotape and then evaporate into nothing.
Her mother's hands found their way by her side and then rose up again, this time not to strike her daughter, but to examine her hand which now stung and was turning a dark shade of pink.
All around the two, the room lay silent, even Kikyo was surprised from what had happened. Her hands on her mouth, she moved back from the seen in complete shock. Internally, she was a little intrigued by what she had seen. Now her sister was finally getting what she deserved, she thought bitterly, a grin escaping from her pursed lips.
Her father, on the other hand, still holding onto his glass of wine, was turning an unusual tint of red. He cleared his throat and approached his quivering wife and rested his free hand on her shoulder, pulling her back from her dumbfounded daughter. At first her mother resisted, pushing her father way, but finally she let him lead her towards the kitchen, in hopes of calming her rising blood pressure.
Her parents alone in the kitchen, the only ones left in the foyer were Kagome and her bitch of a sister, Kikyo. They did not move for a couple seconds, Kagome still staring at the videotape, Kikyo staring at her sister in a twisted look of delight.
It was Kikyo that made the first move.
"Little sister, how much more suffering are you going to cause this family, which is, can I say, already tired of your constant bullshit?" she asked, a finger pressed upon her coldhearted lips. She circled her sister for some time before finally pausing directly in front of her.
"I never would have guessed you'd have the guts to go out of the house in the middle of the night, with a boy? You should have at least had the brains to watch the movement of the gate camera and then make your escape when it strayed away from the gate position," she said chuckling. Obviously, she knew too well the art of sneaking out of the house.
Kikyo removed her twisted finger from her lips and bent down to find Kagome's eyes, which lay hidden behind her bangs. It was now that she felt the pain from her mother's slap. She touched her cheek again and felt it sting with twice the fury. She had wanted to scream then, not from the reddened handprint on her swollen cheek, but from the pain from within her heart.
"Kikyo, can I ask you a question?" she said. The question had come out in a whisper and her voice was coarse and bitter.
"Sure, anything dear sister."
"Why are you such a fucking bitch?" Kagome asked, looking up now, fury in her tear streaked eyes.
Kikyo was taken aback but it did not stop her from moving an inch closer and taking her sister's hair by her fingers, tugging it harshly, which sent her head back.
"Why are you such an idiot? Dear sister, what you have to learn in life is that there are two people, the strong ones and the weak ones. Guess which one you are."
Kagome, her head still tilted back, looked at her sister and smiled, "Are you suppose to be strong?"
Kikyo nodded and tore her fingers from her sister's hair, taking a few streaks of hair in the process.
Kagome straightened her hair and smirked, "I'd rather be weak than be like you."
"What is that suppose to mean? I get what I want when I want it. Let's see you get that boy of yours. It will never happen, you know why? Because you aren't worth the shit," she said, her voice teeming with satisfaction. She looked one last time at her sister before turning her head and walking away.
"Is that why you're making poor Sesshoumaru marry you?" Kagome asked, not quite sure what she had just unleashed by saying what she had said. But it was too late to end now, the war was on.
Kikyo froze midway from her stride up the stairs and turned around to face her sister once more. Her eyes were beaming with confusing and anger. She tightened her grip on the banister and smiled.
"What did you say?" she asked, her voice cracking.
"I said, is that how you bribed Sesshoumaru into marrying you so you can get fa--" but before Kagome could finish her sentence, Kikyo was at her hair again, pulling on it with three times the strength. Kagome could feel some of her hair loosening from their roots. She felt a tear slide down her cheek but she tried to conceal the rest of the tears piling up from behind her eyes.
"You little bitch! I knew you were listening to me! You snoop!" she said, her voice uneasy. Kagome looked at her sister in shock. Was this her sister? It looked like her but this person in front of her was uncontrolled and almost inhuman.
Unexpectedly, Kikyo let go of her hold on her sister's hair, straightened her dress, and ran her fingers through her hair. She let out a smile and chucked. Kagome stood back flabbergasted at her sister's transformation. It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
"It's okay dear sister. Soon, we'll get married and I don't have to deal with you anymore. Besides, you would never dare tell mom and dad and even if you had the guts, they would never believe you."
"Okay, let's try and see if they do," Kagome said, turning her toes towards the kitchen.
"Okay, you can do that," Kikyo said, a hint of pleasure in her voice. Kagome could feel the smile on her sister's face increase.
"I can?" Kagome asked confused.
Kikyo giggled and then approached her dumbfounded sister, pressing a finger on her chest.
"Just as long as I can tell them that the boy on the video tape, the boy mom slapped you for, the boy you snuck out with in the middle of the night with, is a Bakemono," Kikyo said in a slight whisper.
--
Kagome sat astounded on the tip of her bed, remembering the last few words exchanged between Kikyo and herself.
Flashback
"Kikyo, how did you--" Kagome asked flabbergasted at the word Bakemono coming out of her sister's lips.
"Know? Sesshoumaru had told me about then months ago. He finds it quite stupid but I find it really interesting. Sesshoumaru and I were walking in the park, back when I was trying to seduce the fool, and we saw him there with his parents. Funny, how he wanted to run from them, as though we should be afraid of them. When I saw the guy from the videotape with you, I immediately recognized him as the son of the Bakemono family. Our MORTAL enemy!"
Kagome stared at her sister in silence, a million thoughts jumbling in her mind and then colliding together, turning into a squishy pile of pudding. This wasn't fair, she thought, how Kikyo could have known this. But more importantly, how could Kikyo now have something to blackmail her for. Kagome sighed and knew that what Kikyo had was much more powerful than Kagome's ammunition. Even if Kagome would happen to tell her parents, there was a side of her that knew her parents would never believe her. Kikyo, on the other hand, had the upper hand. Her parents would surely believe her before even considering what Kagome said as truth.
"Don't mess with my plan Kagome. I'll make you pay and while I'm at it, I'll make it hurt..." she said snidely.
End Flashback
Kagome looked around at her room and her eyes stared at the doors which lead to her balcony, the same balcony Kouga had climbed up on and then kissed her. Kagome touched her lips and felt a tear slide down her cheek.
'Maybe I should forget about Inuyasha and just be with Kouga. It would be for the best. I don't want to cause more trouble than I already have.'
But how could Kagome do that when all she could think about, even now, was Inuyasha. He lurked in her mind like water on a hot day. She needed to rid her mind of him; she needed to move on without him in her life.
The thoughts were screaming in her ear and in desperation to cleanse her mind from what she was telling herself, she threw herself on her bed and smothered in body in her pillows, hoping her comfort her nerves. But the pillows did nothing to ease her woes; they helped to only subdue her tears but did nothing to erase her mind of the man she had claimed to love.
His image rested in her mind now—the way he smiled, the way he laughed, and even the way he scowled when he was angry. How could he have such an impact on her life after knowing him for only a few months? This question had always lurked in her mind. It was now that she had the answer: there was no answer. She loved him for what he was and when you really love someone, you cannot pinpoint the reasons why, the only answer was just because.
So the only thing left to answer was whether she should continue to pursue him or should their friendship remain a friendship. She was not going to be able to answer that tonight. It was then that she finally felt the need to fall asleep. Her eye lids were growing heavy and slowly all she saw was darkness.
--
Miroku sat idly on the park bench watching the kids swing back and form on the swings and then leap up and land giggling on the sand. He sighed and turned away glancing at his clock before closing his eyes.
'Sango, she's always late,' he thought and smiled. But he would wait forever for her. That was how much he loved her. Lately, he grew more and more concerned for her and seeing her sad made him three times more sad, which was always a bummer because who likes a sad Miroku?
He patiently stared out into the distance, glancing from the children to the blue sky every so often. He felt at peace here on this bench and wished he could sit there for hours, contemplating life, love, and the complexities of being Sango's boyfriend.
Briefly his mind strayed away from the love of his life (and that rarely happens) to his family life. He lived with his single mother after his father died some years ago in a car accident. He was only three then, hardly old enough for him to remember what he was like but he was certain he was a kind man, who loved his family very much. Miroku remembered the small things, the things that really mattered—the way he lit his cigar, the way he smelled like mint and aftershave, and the way he'd touch him on the shoulder.
Miroku shook his head and held back a tear. Since he was a child he had wished his dad was there to teach him about girls, play ball with him, and teach him how to drive. But, it was too late for that. He was 17 now, practically a man (he smiled) and did just fine without him. Miroku's mom never remarried and he guessed that was why she seemed so bitter about life. She was workaholic—the top lawyer at her firm. Miroku saw her every night for a few brief seconds. "Hi, how was your day" conversations would pass and then she was off in her office, working until the wee hours of the night. Miroku often stopped in, brought her some coffee and reminded her she was doing great. But even then, she seemed to hardly noticed, too caught up in her own work to even glance up at her son who was practically screaming "look at me!"
But, Miroku was fine with him. He had learned to live with it and now that Sango was in his life, he hardly cared about anyone else. She was number one on his list and she would stay that way forever.
He looked down at his designer khakis, polo shirt, and brand name athletic foot wear and sighed. He really didn't need all this good stuff in life, he was happy wearing a paper bag. But, his mother insisted he wear these things. Why? Maybe to show how successful she was. He really didn't care, just as long as she was happy was all that really mattered in his life. But when he thought of Sango and how hard she had to work to just buy a pair of socks, it made him sad and really angry. He wished he could give her everything she ever wanted. But, every time he gave her a gift, she's smile and asks him to give it to someone who really needs it like the children in the orphanage. He'd feel horrible of course but hearing her say that really touches him. It is at these moments that he knows for sure that she is definitely the one for him. Of course, she never turns down a meal. When food is involved, Sango is always pleased when he pays.
Miroku looked out into the distance and sees someone approach him. However, it isn't the someone he was waiting for.
"Miroku, my love. Waiting for me?" Kagura asks. Without hesitation, she's by his side, with one hand playing with his raven black hair.
"Kagura, I'm, waiting for Sango," Miroku says, lifting her hand away from his hair and setting it by her side, "So if you don't mind--"
"But I do mind! It's always Sango this and Sango that!"
"Well, she is my--"
"Yeah yeah yeah, you're stupid girlfriend!"
"Don't call her--"
"If you had me as a girlfriend, I wouldn't let you wait for so long," she said, returning her hand on his hair.
He backed away and said, "Kagura, you should leave. If she saw me with you, she'd get the wrong idea."
"Wrong idea? I think she'd finally get it that we were made for each other!"
"I don't think so..." Miroku said, concealing a giggle.
"Besides, how do you know she isn't with some other guy right now?" Kagura said snidely, revealing a smirk across her face. She stood to get up when she felt Miroku's hand on her wrist. She could sense his tension.
"Don't say things like that Kagura!" he said, fire in his eyes. Kagura had never seen Miroku shout before. She had touched a soft spot. She loved it.
"Miroku, you're being a little touchy aren't you?" she quickly let go of his wrist and the two stared at each other, Kagura still grinning.
"Come on Miroku! Do you expect to be with her forever?"
"Yes, I do. We'll be together for--"
"Cut the shit! That doesn't happen in real life! Wake up! You're girlfriend's tough, beautiful, smart, and kind! There are a million guys out there just waiting for her!" Kagura said, turning her face and smiling all the more.
"Stop saying that! I don't want to hear anymore of your lies! Get out of my face!" Miroku pushed her away slightly. But this gesture intrigued Kagura more.
"Miroku, I'm sorry!" Kagura said, reaching out and holding the torn Miroku. Miroku pushed her off.
"I didn't mean to make you mad. I just wanted to protect you. Please don't be mad at me!" Kagura said, a fake tear running down her face. Miroku looked at her and instantly felt sorry for her. This was just how he was. He was never violent (unless he needed to) and he could never stand a girl crying. He touched her shoulder and forced a smile.
"Just don't say things like that anymore, okay?"
Kagura shook her head profusely and smiled.
"I better be going Miroku my love!" she said and skipped away, her scheme finally coming together.
It was then that Sango came racing towards him, nestling her head in his chest. Between briefs she repeated her apologizes for leaving him waiting for so long. Even as she began to explain about how her mother had finally woken up, Miroku's thoughts were stuck somewhere else, thinking about what Kagura had said. He looked down at his Sango and wondered if Kagura was right—was Sango going to stay with him forever? Or had she already found someone better than him? He tried to shake away the negative thoughts but it was difficult and he found himself coming back to them throughout the day.
--
Miroku, tired from the day with Sango and his thoughts about what Kagura had said, dragged his legs up the steps and opened the doors to his house. No one was home as usual. He walked over to the lamp and turned it on. The house was in silence. He thought about it again and decided to turn off the lights. He would adjust to the darkness, it was better than seeing a house with no one in it except his pathetic self. After a moment of fingering through the air, he found the banister and guided himself up the stairs, around the corner, and into his room.
Upon hitting his knee on the foot of the bed, he leaped onto it and sighed. 'Why am I even thinking about Sango with another guy? I mean, she loves me and I love her—we love each other!'
He turned towards his open windows and looked outside; still contemplating over Kagura had told him. He didn't quite understand why he was even listened to her. Maybe it was his insecurities unleashing itself, finally being set free. It was then that he remembered how he had reacted, pushing Kagura. Sure it felt good to push that bitch but it was so unlike himself. He wanted to cry, show some emotion. But, he kept it inside like he always did.
'STOP IT MIROKU! You're going mad! Sango would never cheat on you! She loves you!' he reassured himself. He smiled, rested his head in his hands and slept.
--
"Miroku, you're acting so weird today! And I didn't even hit you yet!" Sango yelled. She punched him lightly on the arm and smiled, wrapping her arm around his. She turned to him then and noticed he was still aimlessly staring out into space.
"Miroku, are you okay?" she asked delicately, turning her face to his. He slowly withdrew his stare and smiled.
"I'm okay, I was just thinking about something, that's all."
"You looked like you were ready to kill someone," she said, combing his hair with her fingertips.
"Me? Kill someone?"
"I know. It's silly."
"Okay so the Spring Dance is next week! Tell me what you have planned!" she asked excited, pressing her hands together.
"If I told you, it wouldn't be much of a surprise," he said. Actually, he hadn't planned the event yet.
"Oh pooh! Fine, but it better be good!" she said checking her watch. She jumped from inside his arms and hastily gathered her things.
"Where are you going?" he asked, helping her put her scattered papers inside her bag. She quickly stuffed it in and swung her bag over her shoulder.
"I have to meet Inuyasha!" she said, scrambling to her feet.
"Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, alert now.
"Yeah, we have a science project together."
Miroku smiled and told her to hurry. She turned to wave and then darted off to the library. Miroku watched her from afar, running, papers flying from her bag, and her hair swinging side to side. He really did trust her...
--
Sango's side began hurting from running. She was out of shape. 'I seriously need to hit the gym!' But with her mom sick and her dad working all the time, going to the gym was the last thing on her mind. Upon opening the double doors of the library, she immediately spotted Inuyasha in the corner table, staring at the table.
"Inuyasha!" Sango yelled.
"Shhh!! There is no talking in the library. Oh, Ms. Hagatama, you again. I would never have expected to see you again," the library said, eyeing her sternly.
"Oh yeah that. I said I was sorry. I didn't know I couldn't eat in the library."
"It was never the matter of eating in the library. It was the matter of leaving your water bottle near the new computers, spilling it, causing the circuits to break, and all the computers to malfunction, which caused an explosion!" the library quickly covered her mouth and ran off.
Sango shrugged, walked over to Inuyasha and jumped into the seat across from him. She reached into her backpack and frantically started searching for her bio book. Great, she lost it! Midway searching, Inuyasha threw a couple books on the table.
"I found some books on DNA. Let's hurry up and finish this. I have better things to do."
Sango picked up the books and held it in her hands. "Inuyasha, thanks for doing this. Well all we have to do is read them and then construct a model of a strand of DNA."
"Good luck on that," he said, standing up.
"Hey, what are you talking about?"
"I did my part. I'm research remember?"
"But we have to construct it together! I can't do that by myself!"
"You can try," he said, swinging his bag over his shoulder and walking off.
"You're just bitter because of Kagome!" Sango heard herself say. She quickly put her hand on her mouth.
"What the fuck did you just say?"
Sango shook her head, holding her lips together, 'her and her big mouth!' "This has nothing to do with Kagome."
"Why are you so mad then, huh?" Sango closed her lips again. It was a reflex!
"I AM NOT MAD!" The librarian approached them and put her hands on her hips.
"No talking in the library! I hear one more peep and I'll throw you out. Oh, I see Ms. Hagatama, you are never far behind trouble, are you?" she said, taking her hands from her hips and crossing them across her chest so that her humungous breast hung over it.
Sango didn't say a word; she just looked up and sighed.
"And you, whoever you are," the librarian said turning to Inuyasha, "I expect you to sit your little hiney down and do your work!"
"But--" Inuyasha said.
"No buts! Sit down and do your work or I'll make you shelf the old dirty smelly nasty books!" she said in a huff, turned, and returned to her post behind the circulation desk.
Inuyasha reluctantly sat down and without looking up and said, "Okay, let's get this over with."
Time passed by slowly. The two worked on their report diligently and Inuyasha even offered to read one of the books. But it wasn't long before Sango couldn't resist but ask:
"Inuyasha, do you, you know, still like Kagome?"
"I don't think that's any of your business," he scowled. Sango frowned and continued reading.
"Fine, don't tell me."
"Okay, I won't."
"Oh, you're not fun! Are you going to ask her to the dance?"
"Is there something wrong with your brain? Can you hear? Did I not tell you its any of your business?" he said, throwing the book on the table. The librarian looked up, stared at them in curiosity, and then lowered her eyes.
Inuyasha looked around and then cleared his throat. He leaned over slightly and beckoned Sango forward.
"So, how is Kagome?" he asked nonchalantly.
"Oh you do LIKE HER!!" Sango screamed. Inuyasha pulled her hair and Sango's head bobbed down.
"Hey! Not so loud, idiot!"
"Sorry, sorry! You do like her," she repeated in a whisper.
"I don't—I just want to know how she is doing, that's all. I did leave her kind of upset."
"No, she's okay," Sango lied. She knew very well that Kagome was not alright—she was the opposite of alright.
"She is?" Inuyasha asked bewildered. Secretly, he wished she was moping around. Not because he was cruel but because it meant she just might like him back.
"Yeah. Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm just fine. I just wanted to know if she was alright."
"Yeah you said that already," Sango said with a smile.
"Okay fine. I'm miserable!" he said.
'What the hell did I just say?' Inuyasha thought, 'he had admitted he was actually miserable!'
Sango, taken back, smiled and reached over and hugged Inuyasha.
"Oh Inuyasha, I am so happy you feel this way! You have to tell her how you feel!"
"I can't do that. I'm not so good with feelings. Besides, she probably hates me now," he said letting go of Sango's hug, which came unexpectedly.
"She doesn't Inuyasha. Ask her out—better yet, ask her to the Spring Dance!"
"No TALKING IN THE LIBRARY! One more yell and I'll throw you out!"
Sango stuck out her tongue and turned to Inuyasha.
"So are you going to?" she asked excited.
"I guess, but how?"
"Don't worry about it, leave everything to me!"
--
Miroku watched his girlfriend slowly disappear into the distance before deciding he was still a little hungry. Jumping off the bench he noticed she had forgotten her bio book. He smiled, 'Sango was always forgetting things.'
He picked it up and headed for the library, happy he found it before he left. On his way, he began devising the perfect plan for the Spring Dance. They had never done anything really romantic since they got together. So, this had to be important because she would have to remember it later when they're old and gray. Miroku chuckled at the thought I Sango with white hair.
He knew that Sango had always loved carnations. He would have to somehow put it into the plan. His mind began jamming random romantic tidbits, but he wanted something original something different. After all, Sango was special and a little different from any girl he had ever seen before. Of course, she was always the only girl he ever wanted, that leaves little variety.
The book in his left hand, he opened the double doors to the library and peered it, wondering where she was.
"Miroku, where's your other half?" Naru asked upon their encounter just in front of the entrance.
"She's somewhere around here," he said scanning the room.
"Okay well when you find her, can you please tell her I hate her."
"What for?" Miroku asked confused.
"Because she stole my partner. I wanted to go with Inuyasha and she knew it but no, she practically dashed across the room and flew through the air to pair up with him."
Miroku gripped the book in his hand tighter. He felt as though his heart were going to explode.
"She did?" he asked, controlling his anger.
"Yeah. Okay, well I better go. I have to run away from my partner. I swear he's obsessed with me!" Just then a red haired boy came soaring through the room.
"Naru, Naru my love! Please don't go! I'll dry clean your clothes, I'll do your homework!" he screamed.
Naru darted off, swinging the door and hitting his face. He fell to the ground, but that didn't stop him from crawling to her.
Miroku didn't quite pay attention to any of that. His mind was fixed on what Naru had said and even now the words of Kagura were circling his mind.
He quickly walked through the room and spotted a hint of jet black hair. He hoped it was her and when he realized it was, his mouth opened and the book fell onto the floor. He watched as his girlfriend reached over and hugged Inuyasha.
A/N: Hey guys! Ah sorry it took sooooo long! But at least I'm finally done, happy??? I know I am! So please just REVIEW! It means a lot! AND TO ALL THOSE WHO DID REVIEW THANK YOU SO MUCH, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!
What to expect: sorry guys but there's some sadness coming your way so I am warning you!! Love is on the rocks for Sango and Miroku but there's something blossoming for I and K! Also, be excited because the Spring Dance is coming! Will Miroku go with Sango? Or KAGURA?!??!!
--co Tsukino