Author's Notes: Okay, since I know where I want the story to go from here, I'm getting a good start on it. My work schedule still sucks so I have no idea how quickly I can get this finished.
I'd like to apologize to anyone out there who was irked by me bringing my personal politics into this story. I do not like war, I despise the concept, but I understand it as an inevitability of human nature. I still wish the troops overseas my best, because they possess a courage and conviction that I do not, and I wish them all safety until this ugly business is cleared up.
Moving on, some bastard sniped me on eBay, but I was able to get the same item for less on Half.com the next day. So either way, I win. Nyah!
On a lighter note, I'm getting some interesting ideas how to put mroe good music into this. My original plans for chapter 18 were going to show Jethro Tull as another of Miroku's favorite bands. You have to give those guys credit, they had the balls to form a rock band with a flutist and they succeeded.
Still, I want to use fewer songs in the next chapter or two. Focus more on the conflict. That said...
Let the Music Be Your Master
Chapter 19- If I Go There Will Be Trouble, and if I Stay it Will Be Double
Kagome kept a vigil on Inuyasha. His hips were badly bruised, his collarbone had a hairline fracture, and his right shoulder had been dislocated. He was stil unconscious, an ugly, swollen bruise half-sticking out from his hair and onto his forehead.
The doctors said he would be back to normal in a few days. He had seen worse and recovered faster than any human they had ever seen. But that didn't mean Kagome wasn't worried.
Sesshoumaru seemed to have more confidence in Inuyasha's ability to heal, however. Probably because he had known him his whole life, and because he was a med student. Sessh had told everyone to go home and get som rest, though Kagome was determined not to leave until Inuyasha regained consciousness.
She waited for what seemed like an eternity, her fingers gently brushing his face as if she were trying to memorize every detail of it. Love could be a wonderful thing, and it was a good thing it was strong enough to make grief like this worth it.
Inuyasha slowly stirred and Kagome felt the corners of her mouth tilt up into a smile. "Inuyasha?"
His eyes fluttered open and focused on Kagome. He smiled weakly, obviously still trying to shake the haze of sleep from his mind. "Hey, beautiful," he mumbled.
Kagome affectionately pushed the hair from his eyes and rubbed at his ears. "How are you feeling?"
"Was I really plowed over by an SUV? 'Cause it sure feels like it."
She smiled slightly and kissed his cheek. "You're pretty banged up, but the doctors said you should be fine in a couple days. I'll be there for you ever day to help you get better."
Kagome added the last line as a joke, but it seemed to make Inuyasha suddenly uncomfortable.
"You really don't have to. I'll be fine on my own," he mumbled. Did he just bite his tongue?
Kagome felt slightly annoyed. Even if she wasn't serious, she still wanted to help him. "What's with you? I thought you wouldn't mind."
Inuyasha started scrambling for an answer. "I don't! I just... just..."
"Just what?" Kagome asked, getting a little more irritated. "Afraid of being treated like a baby, tough guy?" That might have been a mistake.
"Yes!" Inuyasha snapped back. "I mean, no! I mean... Shit! You got me confused!"
"I got you confused? Well excuse me! I was just worried about you!"
"Well don't be! I don't need it, 'cause I've had worse and I'm still breathing!"
Now Kagome was just plain pissed. She knew in a few seconds they both would say things they would regret, but she couldn't stop herself. "Oh, so you don't need anybody's help, do you? You're only interested in me taking care of you if I offer to 'play doctor.'"
"I never said that!" Inuyasha shot back defensively.
"Sure you did!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did, now stop being such a child!"
"I'm not being a child! You are!"
"Me?! Why you insufferable mutt!" Now that was a mistake if she ever heard one.
"Mutt am I?!" Inuyasha exploded. "You're the last person I thought I'd hear that from! God you must have gotten this side from your father! Your mother actually seems pretty stable. Thank god I never had to meet the other half that spawned you!"
Kagome may have regretted insulting Inuyasha, but he just took it a step too far. She gave him a full-armed slap across the face and stormed out of the room, wanting to be alone for a minute to cool off.
She was already beginning to regret the fight as the elevator took her down to the ground floor. Hopefully Inuyasha would swallow his pride and apologize so she could too. She wasn't about to say she was sorry first after he had gotten the last word like that.
She left the hospital as if in a trance. So this is what it was like to have your first fight with someone you love. She hoped the storybooks were true about the apologies being tender enough to make up for it and set everything back the way it was.
"Evening."
Kagome was pulled out of her thoughts by a voice beside her as she stepped outside. Turning to her right, it was Koga. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, naturally," he said coolly, slipping off his shades. "It's a shame what happened to dog boy. Run down by an SUV, that's gotta smart."
Kagome felt a little nervous. What was he getting at? What did he want? Wait a second... "How did you know about all that?"
"Simple," Koga replied. "I arranged it." He delivered that declaration with a level tone of seriousness and mirth mixed with, much to Kagom's horror, pride.
She felt her blood run cold. She could tell by Koga's tone that he was telling the truth. Inuyasha was hurt because of him. Fear and rage warred for dominance inside of her, and she found herself taking a step back.
"You'll thank me for it someday," Koga continued as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He advanced toward Kagome who began backing up until Koga shot an arm out and grabbed hers. He quickly dragged her around the corner of the building and let her go again before she could cry out.
"Now listen up, Kagome," he said, his voice suddenly becoming cold and dangerous, "this is for your own good. You're going to call that freak and tell him it's over between you two. You're mine from now on."
Kagome shivered as if her blood had been turned to ice. Her heart was pounding with fear. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, unable to think of anything else.
Koga simply scowled. "Because I'm the only one in this damn world close enough to being good enough for you. I'll make you mine one way or another."
Kagome backed up again, panic starting to set in. "I'll... I'll call the police."
Koga threw his head back and laughed. "The police? Slide them a few hundreds and they won't do a thing. My family's been doing it for years. Haven't you figured it out by now? We beat the system a long time ago. I can do whatever I want."
Now Kagome knew what true fear was. She was helpless. If Koga was telling the truth, she was beginning to think that he might have had mob connections or something. "W-what'll you do if I refuse?"
Koga frowned icily. He held up his hand and all five fingers. "If you refuse me now, your little brother may have an accident." He lowered his small finger. "Refuse a second time, and Sango's good health may come to an end." He then lowered his ring finger. "Three times and we move on to Inuyasha's friends." Koga lowered his middle finger. "Four and your mother joins them." He lowered his index finger. "And if you refuse a fifth time, then I have no choice but ot tkae down Inuyasha himself, and you with him if you still aren't convinced." he folded his thumb over into what was now a clenched fist. "Get the picture?"
All Kagome could do was nod mutely.
**************************
Inuyasha was already beginning to regret the fight. Why did he have to go and shoot his mouth off like that? He'd have to apologize soon. Swallow his pride and say he was sorry before he did some real damage to his relationship with Kagome.
The problem was, he wasn't very good at expressing himself with anything other than music. Maybe he could write a song for her? No, it would take too long to perfect it. He'd have to rely on one that was already made. Led Zeppelin or the Scorpions might have something good.
Sitting up in bed and wracking his brain for a solution, he heard Stairway to Heaven playing in phone rings. He looked over at the end table ot see his cellphone lying there ringing. Sessh must have brought it over.
Wondering who it could be, Inuyasha picked it up. "Hello?"
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice asked. She seemed timid, nervous. Was she regretting thier argument as much as he was?
"Kagome? Listen, those things I said earlier..."
Kagome cut him off though. "Inuyasha, maybe... maybe it's better if we don't see each other anymore."
Inuyasha sat mute with shock for a second. Did she really just say they should break up. "What?! Kagome wait!"
"Please Inuyasha," she said, her voice cracking as if she were about to cry. "I'm sorry. But it's for the best."
"Kagome, wait! Please! I didn't mean those things I said! I'm sorry! Please, I don't want to lose you! I love you!" He cried out desperately into the phone, trying to make her listen, but it was too late. When he stopped for breath, he heard nothing but a dial tone.
Grief, rage, guilt and sorrow engulfed him. Inuyasha pitched the phone against the far wall, breaking it upon impact as if that would do any good. He snarled, ground his teeth, anything to keep the tears from flowing. He grabbed his pillow and started punching it, pulling and ripping at it, trying desperately to rend it to satisfy the intense rush of emotions that threatened to completely overtake him.
He'd lost her with one fight. It was all his fault. And there was nothing he could do.
**************************
Author's Notes: Well that sucks. I'm hoping to get more writing done soon, so wish me luck. Not much to say besides that this time around.
I'd like to apologize to anyone out there who was irked by me bringing my personal politics into this story. I do not like war, I despise the concept, but I understand it as an inevitability of human nature. I still wish the troops overseas my best, because they possess a courage and conviction that I do not, and I wish them all safety until this ugly business is cleared up.
Moving on, some bastard sniped me on eBay, but I was able to get the same item for less on Half.com the next day. So either way, I win. Nyah!
On a lighter note, I'm getting some interesting ideas how to put mroe good music into this. My original plans for chapter 18 were going to show Jethro Tull as another of Miroku's favorite bands. You have to give those guys credit, they had the balls to form a rock band with a flutist and they succeeded.
Still, I want to use fewer songs in the next chapter or two. Focus more on the conflict. That said...
Let the Music Be Your Master
Chapter 19- If I Go There Will Be Trouble, and if I Stay it Will Be Double
Kagome kept a vigil on Inuyasha. His hips were badly bruised, his collarbone had a hairline fracture, and his right shoulder had been dislocated. He was stil unconscious, an ugly, swollen bruise half-sticking out from his hair and onto his forehead.
The doctors said he would be back to normal in a few days. He had seen worse and recovered faster than any human they had ever seen. But that didn't mean Kagome wasn't worried.
Sesshoumaru seemed to have more confidence in Inuyasha's ability to heal, however. Probably because he had known him his whole life, and because he was a med student. Sessh had told everyone to go home and get som rest, though Kagome was determined not to leave until Inuyasha regained consciousness.
She waited for what seemed like an eternity, her fingers gently brushing his face as if she were trying to memorize every detail of it. Love could be a wonderful thing, and it was a good thing it was strong enough to make grief like this worth it.
Inuyasha slowly stirred and Kagome felt the corners of her mouth tilt up into a smile. "Inuyasha?"
His eyes fluttered open and focused on Kagome. He smiled weakly, obviously still trying to shake the haze of sleep from his mind. "Hey, beautiful," he mumbled.
Kagome affectionately pushed the hair from his eyes and rubbed at his ears. "How are you feeling?"
"Was I really plowed over by an SUV? 'Cause it sure feels like it."
She smiled slightly and kissed his cheek. "You're pretty banged up, but the doctors said you should be fine in a couple days. I'll be there for you ever day to help you get better."
Kagome added the last line as a joke, but it seemed to make Inuyasha suddenly uncomfortable.
"You really don't have to. I'll be fine on my own," he mumbled. Did he just bite his tongue?
Kagome felt slightly annoyed. Even if she wasn't serious, she still wanted to help him. "What's with you? I thought you wouldn't mind."
Inuyasha started scrambling for an answer. "I don't! I just... just..."
"Just what?" Kagome asked, getting a little more irritated. "Afraid of being treated like a baby, tough guy?" That might have been a mistake.
"Yes!" Inuyasha snapped back. "I mean, no! I mean... Shit! You got me confused!"
"I got you confused? Well excuse me! I was just worried about you!"
"Well don't be! I don't need it, 'cause I've had worse and I'm still breathing!"
Now Kagome was just plain pissed. She knew in a few seconds they both would say things they would regret, but she couldn't stop herself. "Oh, so you don't need anybody's help, do you? You're only interested in me taking care of you if I offer to 'play doctor.'"
"I never said that!" Inuyasha shot back defensively.
"Sure you did!"
"No I didn't!"
"Yes you did, now stop being such a child!"
"I'm not being a child! You are!"
"Me?! Why you insufferable mutt!" Now that was a mistake if she ever heard one.
"Mutt am I?!" Inuyasha exploded. "You're the last person I thought I'd hear that from! God you must have gotten this side from your father! Your mother actually seems pretty stable. Thank god I never had to meet the other half that spawned you!"
Kagome may have regretted insulting Inuyasha, but he just took it a step too far. She gave him a full-armed slap across the face and stormed out of the room, wanting to be alone for a minute to cool off.
She was already beginning to regret the fight as the elevator took her down to the ground floor. Hopefully Inuyasha would swallow his pride and apologize so she could too. She wasn't about to say she was sorry first after he had gotten the last word like that.
She left the hospital as if in a trance. So this is what it was like to have your first fight with someone you love. She hoped the storybooks were true about the apologies being tender enough to make up for it and set everything back the way it was.
"Evening."
Kagome was pulled out of her thoughts by a voice beside her as she stepped outside. Turning to her right, it was Koga. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, naturally," he said coolly, slipping off his shades. "It's a shame what happened to dog boy. Run down by an SUV, that's gotta smart."
Kagome felt a little nervous. What was he getting at? What did he want? Wait a second... "How did you know about all that?"
"Simple," Koga replied. "I arranged it." He delivered that declaration with a level tone of seriousness and mirth mixed with, much to Kagom's horror, pride.
She felt her blood run cold. She could tell by Koga's tone that he was telling the truth. Inuyasha was hurt because of him. Fear and rage warred for dominance inside of her, and she found herself taking a step back.
"You'll thank me for it someday," Koga continued as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He advanced toward Kagome who began backing up until Koga shot an arm out and grabbed hers. He quickly dragged her around the corner of the building and let her go again before she could cry out.
"Now listen up, Kagome," he said, his voice suddenly becoming cold and dangerous, "this is for your own good. You're going to call that freak and tell him it's over between you two. You're mine from now on."
Kagome shivered as if her blood had been turned to ice. Her heart was pounding with fear. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, unable to think of anything else.
Koga simply scowled. "Because I'm the only one in this damn world close enough to being good enough for you. I'll make you mine one way or another."
Kagome backed up again, panic starting to set in. "I'll... I'll call the police."
Koga threw his head back and laughed. "The police? Slide them a few hundreds and they won't do a thing. My family's been doing it for years. Haven't you figured it out by now? We beat the system a long time ago. I can do whatever I want."
Now Kagome knew what true fear was. She was helpless. If Koga was telling the truth, she was beginning to think that he might have had mob connections or something. "W-what'll you do if I refuse?"
Koga frowned icily. He held up his hand and all five fingers. "If you refuse me now, your little brother may have an accident." He lowered his small finger. "Refuse a second time, and Sango's good health may come to an end." He then lowered his ring finger. "Three times and we move on to Inuyasha's friends." Koga lowered his middle finger. "Four and your mother joins them." He lowered his index finger. "And if you refuse a fifth time, then I have no choice but ot tkae down Inuyasha himself, and you with him if you still aren't convinced." he folded his thumb over into what was now a clenched fist. "Get the picture?"
All Kagome could do was nod mutely.
**************************
Inuyasha was already beginning to regret the fight. Why did he have to go and shoot his mouth off like that? He'd have to apologize soon. Swallow his pride and say he was sorry before he did some real damage to his relationship with Kagome.
The problem was, he wasn't very good at expressing himself with anything other than music. Maybe he could write a song for her? No, it would take too long to perfect it. He'd have to rely on one that was already made. Led Zeppelin or the Scorpions might have something good.
Sitting up in bed and wracking his brain for a solution, he heard Stairway to Heaven playing in phone rings. He looked over at the end table ot see his cellphone lying there ringing. Sessh must have brought it over.
Wondering who it could be, Inuyasha picked it up. "Hello?"
"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice asked. She seemed timid, nervous. Was she regretting thier argument as much as he was?
"Kagome? Listen, those things I said earlier..."
Kagome cut him off though. "Inuyasha, maybe... maybe it's better if we don't see each other anymore."
Inuyasha sat mute with shock for a second. Did she really just say they should break up. "What?! Kagome wait!"
"Please Inuyasha," she said, her voice cracking as if she were about to cry. "I'm sorry. But it's for the best."
"Kagome, wait! Please! I didn't mean those things I said! I'm sorry! Please, I don't want to lose you! I love you!" He cried out desperately into the phone, trying to make her listen, but it was too late. When he stopped for breath, he heard nothing but a dial tone.
Grief, rage, guilt and sorrow engulfed him. Inuyasha pitched the phone against the far wall, breaking it upon impact as if that would do any good. He snarled, ground his teeth, anything to keep the tears from flowing. He grabbed his pillow and started punching it, pulling and ripping at it, trying desperately to rend it to satisfy the intense rush of emotions that threatened to completely overtake him.
He'd lost her with one fight. It was all his fault. And there was nothing he could do.
**************************
Author's Notes: Well that sucks. I'm hoping to get more writing done soon, so wish me luck. Not much to say besides that this time around.