Well now, well now. I'm actually getting things done a little quicker, seeing as how people actually are interested. My lackluster updates will be no more, if these amounts of reviews come in. But...a little blackmail is in order. I'll post the next chapter...when I get at least 20 reviews. Muhaha! Anyhoo. On to the story!
Chapter 7: A Very Long Night
Tybalt held the smoking gun for a second longer before putting it away and turning to a shocked Inuyasha and a terrified Kagome.
"My job is done here...so long." He ran into the shadows. Inuyasha tried to follow him; but somehow, even with his enhanced senses, tracking him was impossible. He appeared to have just vanished. He didn't even seem to have a scent. Inuyasha came back to Kagome, who was hunched over Tobias and crying. Blood was oozing from a small, circular hole in his forehead. His eyes showed no signs of life.
"He's dead," she sobbed. "Tybalt killed him."
Inuyasha came up to her. "Why do you care so much? We knew him for all of three days."
Kagome turned on him with a glare. "He was our friend!" she shrieked at Inuyasha. "He gave us money and took us to parties and was such a good guy..." She burst into fresh tears, almost howling with misery. "He just wanted to have fun," she whimpered.
Both of them were interrupted all of a sudden by a slight noise from Tobias. His eyes fluttered and he groaned.
"I'm not dead yet..." he said slowly, in a ragged voice. "I'm...hard to kill." He blinked a few times, then raised a shaking hand to wipe the blood off his forehead. "Do you...have a bandage...or something...?" Kagome grabbed her pack and began fumbling through it, looking for the medical supplies.
Tobias tried to sit up, but couldn't. Inuyasha pulled him up next to a wall and sat him up against it. Tobias reached into his pockets, pulled out a cigarette and a lighter, and held it up to his lips with a trembling hand as he attempted to light it. His arms went limp, the cigarette fell, the lighter clattered on the ground. His eyes glazed over. Kagome came back with a bandage and some disinfectant.
"Is he...dead?" she asked unsteadily.
"No, just unconscious. Kagome, how do we get him home?" Inuyasha asked. Kagome didn't know. Tobias always got them a limousine or a cab or something, but with him like this there was no clear way to get him anywhere.
"I..." she began, then she caught sight of a pay phone nearby. "A phone! Inuyasha, keep him steady." She ran over, deposited a few coins, and hastily dialed her mother's number. It rung a few times before someone answered.
"Hello?" Mama said, sounding like she just dragged herself out of bed.
"Mama, you have to come pick us up. We were in a fight and this guy came and Tobias got really hurt. We need you. When can you be here?"
There was a pregnant pause. "Soon. Where are you?"
Kagome gave the address and hung up. She rushed back to Inuyasha and Tobias. Tobias had established a grip on his consciousness, tenuous though it was. His eyes blinked open as Kagome came near.
"Kagome..." he said weakly. "You two...should get home...I'll be okay..."
"The hell you will," snapped Inuyasha. "You've been injured. You're coming with us."
"Yeah. I called my mom and she's coming to pick us up. Should I call an ambulance?" Kagome asked worriedly.
"No!" choked Tobias. "No...I'll be fine...I heal fast...shouldn't have even gotten hurt this much...it's weird..." After a lot more of halted conversation that didn't really go anywhere, Mama pulled up in her car. Inuyasha slung Tobias over his shoulder – "Damn, how much does that armor weigh?" – and placed him into the front seat. Inuyasha and Kagome got in the back.
"I hope he's okay..." said Kagome worriedly. Tobias craned his head back and gave a weak smile.
"Don't worry about me, Kagome. I'll be okay," he said slowly. (A/N: I really got sick of putting all the little '...'s into his lines, just mentally insert them yourself.) "Like I said, I heal fast. I'll be up and running by tomorrow." He glanced at Inuyasha, who was trying not to breathe through his nose to avoid Kagome's heated scent. Tobias gave him a long look, with Inuyasha glaring back at him. Tobias started to laugh. He sat back up and laughed some more.
"What is it?" Mama asked.
"No, nothing. It's just...well, it's funny. Sort of like an inside joke."
They arrived home. Inuyasha carried Tobias upstairs and sat him on a chair while they tried to decide where everyone would sleep tonight.
"Well," Mama said, "I want Tobias to be close to my room in case he needs some medical help during the night. After all, he did get shot in the head."
"I'll be fine."
"So then he should sleep in Sota's room. Sota?" The little boy perked up. "You sleep on the folding sofa."
"Okay, Mom. Lemme get my stuff." He raced into his room and started rummaging through things.
"Now, Inuyasha. Grandpa's in his room, and Tobias is in Sota's, I'm in mine, so...you'll have to sleep in Kagome's room."
Inuyasha reeled. Spend all night that close to her, breathing in that scent? Oh Kami, no... "I..." he began.
"Don't worry about it, Inuyasha," Mama replied. "You've been running around with Kagome for years now, and never once tried to force her into anything she didn't want to do. She would have told me if you did. I trust you."
Tobias cast a wavering glance at Inuyasha, whose face lingered somewhere between desire and horror. He started to laugh again. He obviously thought this was a stone riot. He howled with laughter and tears streamed down his eyes as everyone else watched, sweatdropping. Tobias clapped a hand over Inuyasha's shoulder and moved closer to him.
"Man, I pity you, Inuyasha," he whispered in Inuyasha's ear. "I have a bullet in my skull and I pity you." He pulled away and laughed some more. To ease the tension, Kagome spoke up.
"Okay, Mama. We'll be fine." No! Inuyasha thought desperately. Not now! NOT TONIGHT!! But it was too late. Kagome was already leading him into her room. "I'll get a sleeping bag for you. I'll clear a spot on my floor...it's sort of messy." Inuyasha hung out in the doorway. Kagome paused. "Inuyasha? What's wrong?"
"Kagome, maybe I should just sleep in Goshinboku tonight. I usually sleep in a tree, so..."
Kagome was annoyed by his bull-headedness. Why couldn't he just accept that someone might do something nice for him? "Inuyasha, just sleep here. Mama will be upset if you come in tomorrow morning smelling like tree bark."
"I'll take a bath. Kagome..." Dammit, wench. Just let me go already! This is driving me to the brink!
"Inuyasha..." Kagome lowered her eyes. Inuyasha could see she was upset. "Why...why won't you stay..."
"Kagome, what's wrong? What did I say?" Oh, great. Now I'm in for it.
"Inuyasha..." She glanced up at him. She was not crying, but her voice was a little shaky. "I'm worried about Tobias. I can't just lie here in my room and hope that he turns out okay. I need someone to stay with me." She looked down again. "I'm lonely..."
"I'LL BE FINE!" Came a roar from the other side of the wall. This dissolved the tension and sent Kagome into peals of laughter. Eventually, she looked into Inuyasha's golden eyes with a pleading expression. "Please...just stay with me...for one night..."
"Okay," Inuyasha said.
This is gonna be a loooooooong night.
A few hours later, Kagome was sprawled out on the bed, slumbering. Inuyasha, however, was far from asleep.
Dammit, dammit, dammit. Why did I let myself get into this? I'm going to either kill myself or get killed by Kagome if I do anything. Great job, Tobias. You just HAD to get wounded and sleep in the squirt's room so I had to sleep here. What did I ever do to you? Yeah, you think this is all just a biiig joke. Real funny. I'd laugh, except if I breathe in too hard I'll have to run for it. Kagome doesn't even know what she's doing to me. One of these days, I'll have to tell her. That is, if Tobias doesn't let it slip first. Damn him and his laughter. And Kagome isn't helping either, with all that 'I'm scared' and all that. Can't she deal with it for one night? Stupid wench. This heat better go away soon, or I'm gonna bolt. (A/N: Yeah, he's rambling. But Kagome's scent is messing with his head.)
On the other side of the wall, Tobias lay on "Pokémon" sheets, not sleeping at all. He had a bandage over his wound, and a damp washcloth besides, but he felt mostly okay. Well, except for a pounding headache. He, too, was deep in thought.
I don't understand. How was it Tybalt was able to hurt me so much with just one shot from a gun? Normally, I get shot; I bleed for a bit, I'm okay. But this...this knocked me out. I haven't been knocked unconscious in a LONG time. This is weird. Nothing hurts me that badly except...no, that isn't even possible. Two of the Three are held already, and the third was destroyed.
On a lighter note, why won't everyone stop fawning over me and thinking I'm going to die? Kagome, Mrs. Higurashi...at least Inuyasha trusts my abilities. Better check the wound. Tobias reached under the bandage and the washcloth to feel his bullet hole. There was a scab over the wound, and the skull had already formed. What luck. By tomorrow morning, I'll be good as new. Even Tybalt can't keep me down for long.
What else is weird is the connection I seem to have with the two swordsmen. Inuyasha...Tybalt...I feel like I know them from somewhere. Maybe...maybe I'm right. Maybe they both possess one. But that would mean...maybe the legends are true. Could it be...? Tobias turned. I think too much. I should just rest. Morning will come soon enough, and a job will take my mind off of these things.
Inuyasha knew none of this, of course. He was still lying there, half-crazed about Kagome's scent. He tossed and turned, trying to sleep, but it just wasn't going to happen. He sighed. Why does it have to be this way? Maybe I can sneak out...yeah, that's it. I'll sleep in Goshinboku, and before she wakes up I'll come back inside. He got up.
Inuyasha was approaching the door, stealthily, very stealthily. He was about to reach for the doorknob when he heard Kagome gasp. Shit! I've been found out. He whirled to confront her, but found her still fast asleep. That's odd... He began to turn away when he heard her make another noise. She sounded frightened about something. He approached, gritting his teeth as he did so.
Kagome was tossing and turning in the bed, with a vaguely panicked look on her face. Her eyes were closed, however. Inuyasha came just a little closer to get a better look at her face. She's probably having a nightmare, he thought. He was about to ponder this further, when he heard her begin to speak.
"No," she whispered frantically. "No, don't do it. Don't do it! He'll be okay. He won't hurt you. No. No! NO!" She shrieked. Inuyasha grabbed her and roughly shook her awake.
"Kagome! What's wrong? Did you have a-" Inuyasha was abruptly cut off as Kagome buried herself in his arms. She was quite upset, and was taking huge calming breaths as she clung to Inuyasha like a life preserver. Inuyasha, with his mind clouded with her scent, did the only thing he could think of. He hugged her tightly, whispering in her ear.
"It's okay, Kagome. Shh...shh...I'm right here, Kagome. There's nothing to be afraid of. Everything's okay. It was just a dream." This last sentence seemed to penetrate her consciousness more, and she let Inuyasha go, much to his combined relief and frustration.
Kagome looked at him, her visage shaky. "I had a dream...Tybalt was there...and you, and Tobias...and Tybalt...he...he..." She gave a small sob.
"It's all right, Kagome," Inuyasha crooned. "Tobias is fine. He's probably just asleep now." I wish I could be. "Did Tybalt...did he shoot Tobias?" Kagome nodded slightly. "Well, that's over now, Kagome. Tobias is going to be okay. You heard him shouting a while ago." She giggled a little, in spite of herself.
"Inuyasha...I know Tobias is okay, but...could you...sleep with me in my bed?" She blushed a brilliant red. Inuyasha gave a small, strangled gulp. Kagome looked up quickly. "I don't mean like that, Inuyasha!" she hissed. "I mean...just...for a little while...could you stay with me?"
Oh, crap. What do I say? I can't refuse her, when she's like this...but if I stay that close to her, I might... "I..." Inuyasha started. "I'll..."
"Please?"
"All right." I can't say no to her when she gets all like that. What the hell am I getting myself into? Inuyasha awkwardly climbed into the opposite side of the bed. Kagome got in after him. They lay there for a while, until Inuyasha broke the ice.
"I won't touch..." he said uncertainly.
"Inuyasha...it's okay," said Kagome. She pulled the blanket over her and the dog demon. Inuyasha swallowed. Slowly, very slowly, he snaked his arm over the sheets until it touched her arm. He expected her to recoil, but she did nothing. They stayed like that for a minute; until Kagome, close to sleep, rolled over. Right into Inuyasha.
"Eep!" she squeaked. Inuyasha couldn't sort out the thoughts flying through his head right now. One of the strangest was...her scent. Her heat was still there, and still irritating him beyond all reason, but this close to her he could smell her usual scent as well. It calmed him. For once tonight, Inuyasha felt himself relax.
Feeling Inuyasha sink into sleep, Kagome relaxed as well. He didn't seem to mind, and he wasn't doing anything, so she just let herself drift off in that position as well. The two of them slept.
In the morning, Mama came in to wake them up. Opening the door, she was shocked to see Kagome in Inuyasha's slumbering embrace. Oh my...oh dear. This is...wait...they both have all their clothes on. So unless...no, that's not possible. She relaxed. It's about time those two got a little friendly. He's been standoffish for so long, it's nice seeing them enjoy each other's company. She slowly closed the door.
Aww...how sweet. Next chapter in a jiffy! REVIEW, why won't you REVIEW, you can anonymously REVIEW, but please sign when you REVIEW...it goes on like that. Thanks in advance! Ja ne!