Number One Priority: Chapter 14
The airport seemed excessively crowded by the time Kagome arrived with her ensemble. She remained unnaturally quiet and reserved as she allowed Kouga to keep his arm securely around her shoulders and guide her inside.
The icy blue eyed young man was acting a little possessive of her, but Kagome knew that at least he would never take advantage of her. She needed that sort of reassurance.
"Would you like me to purchase the ticket while you wait here?" Sesshoumaru asked from her side. He glanced around the airport but couldn't really recognize any in the crowd. He had a suspicion that Hotohori was present, call it intuition. He also knew that his friend was doing a favor for Naraku so he was confident that something was amiss at the busy airport.
"I think that would be a good idea." Chichiri answered for Kagome who looked lost in thought. "I will go with you, no da."
Sesshoumaru nodded in acceptance of the request and the two set off for the long lines. They stood in stoic silence for a while, both thinking over the recent events.
"I don't like this, no da." Chichiri admitted. Sesshoumaru turned a cold eye on him. "Not that I don't think Kagome would enjoy spending time with Hotohori, but I feel she is leaving for the wrong reasons." He quickly added.
"Her reasons are not my concern," Sesshoumaru replied sharply. "What does concern me is that my friend and this woman find some companionship."
Chichiri clucked his tongue against the back of his teeth at the reply. "You know better than I that you can not force a relationship between the two. They are friends."
Sesshoumaru tossed his long silvery hair over his shoulder haughtily at the remark. "This Sesshoumaru can see when two people belong together." He turned to regard his companion with a cold golden glare. "Unless you are saying that I am mistaken in my observation," he challenged.
The two walked closer to the counter as the line shortened naturally before them. Chichiri shook his head. "No, I'm not saying that Hotohori and Kagome wouldn't make a nice looking couple, and given time I'm sure something could develop between them." He paused while the proverbial 'but' was waiting to slip off his tongue.
"But?" Sesshoumaru supplied, holding in an exasperated sigh that wanted to be released. The blue haired young man was often times had a certain insight about people that couldn't be ignored.
"But," Chichiri continued, "I think that it would be best for her to speak with Miroku. They must have a heart to heart before she just runs away with Hotohori. If she goes off with him then both she and Hotohori would most likely be hurt in the end."
Sesshoumaru looked longingly towards the front of the line that he was quickly approaching. He didn't like what Chichiri was saying. Although he was confident that Kagome would be good for Hotohori, he was now having doubts about whether the situation was mutual. "Why would she need to speak with her brother?" He finally asked.
Chichiri ran his fingers through his blue hair anxiously, trying to decide if he should break Miroku's confidence with Sesshoumaru. "You know very well that they are not blood related." Chichiri began, seeing as he had Sesshoumaru's complete attention he finished. "I believe that they may have mistaken a brother-sister relationship for one more profound. They are more akin to childhood sweethearts separated before they could identify the truth of the extent of their love for one another."
Sesshoumaru blinked twice, trying to process the words that just spilled from Chichiri's lips. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose as he collected his next thoughts. Keeping his eyes closed, he asked, "Are you saying Miroku is in love with Kagome?"
Silence was all that met the question, forcing a pair of golden eyes to open to await a suitable answer.
"I think she may be in love with him as well. Why else would she choose to run away like this?" Chichiri contemplated as much to himself as to Sesshoumaru.
"She could be running because of my idiotic brother trying to rape her in the elevator." Sesshoumaru replied coldly as he stepped out of line, knowing that perhaps he should wait for a little bit of time to pass before purchasing Kagome's escape pass.
"We don't know what happened," Chichiri argued softly.
Scoffing at that argument, Sesshoumaru began to walk back towards Kagome and Kouga, intend on having her speak with Miroku before he wasted his money to send her off with Hotohori. Something his roommate didn't need was a woman using him to take her mind off her real problems. The model had dealt with that before. The woman, Miaka in fact, had come to him seeking solace every time her Tamahome did something to break her heart.
Without fail, Hotohori offered his heart and spirit to the woman, but in the end it didn't matter. He never had a chance with her as long as her heart was bonded to Tamahome's regardless of how many times he might have trampled it.
Hotohori did not need to have another woman take advantage of his kind nature. No matter how much Sesshoumaru liked Kagome and thought she would be a good match for his roommate, he wouldn't risk the man getting his heart ripped out again.
"Very well, let us go back to Kagome and explain our decision." Sesshoumaru replied over his shoulder as he began to walk back towards Kagome and Kouga. Chichiri followed behind, not feeling too optimistic to be the one that would inform Kagome that she had to face Miroku before she could even think of leaving the island.
Sesshoumaru paused in his steps. A disturbance on at a near corner of the airport terminal drew his attention. Golden eyes narrowed at the scene. "What the hell is going on?" He spoke aloud to himself seeing his roommate in the presence of Naraku, Bankotsu, and some American male.
The dark haired American and Hotohori were standing toe-to-toe, at the same six-foot plus height. Neither looked happy to see one another.
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Bankotsu grinned as Hojo made his way towards him. He raised his hand for a high-five that his American family readily slapped.
"Long time, Bank," Hojo greeted, focused on his cousin whom he hadn't seen in years. He seemed to notice Bankotsu's company and was about to introduce himself, but Bankotsu beat him to it.
"Guys, this is my cousin Hojo. These are the guys, Naraku and Hotohoti." Bankotsu introduced, silently he approved his cousin's new look. Last he remembered the American had been a bit nerdy, having just started his growth spurt as a gangly adolescent. He was now the same staggering height as Hotohori. His dark eyes reflected a deep intelligence and his previously boring hair was highlighted and spiky.
Hojo shook hands with the men. He had a bad feeling about Naraku, who seemed bursting at the seems to share something. He had a terrible poker face. "What do you think Hotohori?" Naraku asked.
Hotohori had been casually looking out into the airport, hoping to spot Kagome or at least Sesshoumaru. Banktosu's cousin seemed cool enough, but he didn't real care about meeting him. He had other priorities after all.
"Think about what?" Hotohori asked as he spotted Sesshoumaru and inclined his chin slightly to signify that he noticed him.
"What do you think about Kagome's fiancé?" Naraku asked, his cinnamon shaded eyes soaking in the show that was to ensue.
Hotohori turned to look at Naraku, then glared at Hojo, then shifted the glare to Naraku. "What the fuck are you talking about?" He demanded.
A smirk rose on Naraku's lips and Bankotsu leaned against the wall behind him, playing the part of casual observer. He always enjoyed a good fight. "Such terrible language for such a highly educated young man," Naraku scolded softly.
"Is there a problem, Hotohori, was it?" Hojo asked, not liking the possessive, angry quality that came into the other man's voice at the mention of Kagome.
The two squared off. "Is it true?" Hotohori demanded. "Is Kagome your fiancé?"
Hojo's cheeks took on a slightly reddish hue. "I don't know who you got your information from but Kagome is my longtime girlfriend. I have grown concerned about her well-being and came to seek her." Hojo's chocolate orbs eyed Hotohori suspiciously. "How do YOU know Kagome?"
Looking rather smug, Hotohori flipped his hair over his shoulder arrogantly before smirking at the American. "She just agreed to accompany me to Europe for a week," he answered snidely.
Hojo's eyes hardened. "I don't think so," he replied dangerously.
Hotohori grew livid at the tone the boy spoke to him with. Through gritted teeth he replied, "She doesn't want you. Why else would she have come to the other side of the world?" He asked in a voice of arctic ice.
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Across the terminal, Kouga and Kagome sat drinking their cappuccinos from Star Bucks in the little café area. They were drinking their caffeine packed beverages in companionable silence.
A commotion was heard not far away. Kagome's mug fell from her hands and crashed to floor at the sight. Never in all her days did she ever expect to see Hojo and Hotohori confronting one another.
"What is he doing here?" Kagome asked as Kouga followed her gaze with a frown upon his face.
"They both look so angry," she whispered as her eyes filled with tears. She stood and looked pleadingly at Kouga. "Tell them I'm sorry," she requested before turning on her heels and running out of the café.
Kouga didn't waste any time and took off after her. He ran into Chichiri who was also running after Kagome. Apparently he and Sesshoumaru had seen the commotion and made the connection.
"She's running away again, no da," Chichiri commented as he tried to keep pace with the incredibly fast young man.
"She can't keep running," Kouga replied with determination evident in his crystal blue eyes. He picked up the pace and soon caught up with Kagome. He wrapped her his arms to stop her frantic flight. "You can't keep running Kagome. The world isn't big enough. You'll have to face them." Kouga told her gently as he held her against him.
Kagome shook her head, before letting it fall to her chest in defeat as she let Kouga hold her limp body. Chichiri caught up with them moments later, panting with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
"You have to talk to Miroku before you do anything, no da." Chichiri gasped out.
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I'm full of regret
For all the things that I have done and said
And I don't know if it'll ever be okay to show
My face around here
Sometimes I wonder if I disappear
Miroku drove as if hell's hounds were nipping at his heels. He had taken Inuyasha's Porsche and made a mad dash for the airport.
He only hoped that he would get there in time. He didn't care anymore if he only had a short time to live. That little bit of life wouldn't be worth living if Kagome hated him.
Would you ever turn your head and look
See if I'm gone
Cause I fear
There is nothing left to say to you
That you wanna hear
That you wanna know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful
He was caught by another red light. It was as if God was against him. He knew he wasn't worthy of Kagome. Maybe when he was younger, before he had been corrupted by society and the lack of a decent parental figure? But no, he had no right to blame his short comings on his loser father.
You're just an innocent
A helpless victim of a spider's web
And I'm an insect
Going after anything that I can get
So you'd better turn your head and run
And don't look back cause I fear
He gripped the steering wheel so hard that the blood rushed out of his hands. If he ever saw his father again he would have to be held back by an army or else he'd take that bastard's life himself. He couldn't believe that his precious Kagome, his world, his everything had been taken away because of his father's sins.
There is nothing left to say
To you
That you wanna hear
That you wanna know
I think I should go
The things I've done are way too shameful
The light turned green and Miroku hit the gas once more. The airport was in sight and he rushed through the traffic and zipped in and out of the lanes. He could care less that horns were honking and he was giving the finger by several drivers. He was a man on a mission.
He found a spot easily enough. The problem would come in finding Kagome among the crowd. But, he knew she was here along with most of his friends. He walked into the terminal and spotted a head of silver hair. He only knew two young men with hair of that shade.
However, the sight of Sesshoumaru holding back Hotohori from a fight was definitely a new sight. It was almost comical seeing the peaceful Hotohori doing an impression of a raging bull while Sesshoumaru held him back with a bored expression upon his face.
Miroku heard the name, "Hojo," and immediately forgot about the fact that Kagome had currently ran from him. This was the American that had broken her heart and caused her to come to Japan and ruin her perfect image of him. He didn't care that Hojo had done nothing wrong; all he did was ask for Kagome's hand in marriage.
None of that mattered. Hojo was so wrapped up in his verbal spar with Hotohori that he surely wouldn't see the fist flying at his face.
Surprisingly, Hojo caught Miroku's fist with an angry expression crossing his features. A pair of angry chocolate orbs greeted Miroku's fiery amethyst. "What the fuck is everyone's problem in this country?" Hojo demands.
Sesshoumaru ignored all the tension and turned to Miroku. "She's outside with Kouga and Chichiri." He looked between Hotohori and Hojo briefly before continuing. "I'll give you until the morning to resolve your issues." Sesshoumaru decided. If Kagome still wanted to go with his roommate to Europe in the morning then he would pay for her ticket. He still owed her after what his idiotic little brother did.
Miroku yanked his hand out of Hojo's fist and the two locked gazes of utter loathing. Hojo was completely aware of exactly who had tried to punch him. He'd known Kagome since she was an adolescent, shortly after her mother and step-father divorced.
Hojo always had been a little jealous of the other male who had such a strong piece of his Kagome's heart.
Miroku left in search of Kagome. He spotted her outside. Kouga was hugging her a little too familiarly for Miroku's tastes and Chichiri stood beside him. He noticed Miroku first and waved him over.
Kagome looked up over Kouga's shoulders. Their gazes met. Images of how often he had disappointed her in the past few days came flying back to Miroku's memory.
And I have done you so wrong
Treated you bad
Strung you along
Oh shame on myself
I don't know how I got so tangled up
"Kagome," Miroku ran to her and stopped behind Kouga. His friend pushed Kagome out of his safe embrace so that she would have to face Miroku.
Kagome chewed her bottom lip as she looked up at Miroku. Her shield was now gone as Chichiri and Kouga both abandoned her to give the two privacy. For a few long moments they simply stared at each other.
Then in a blur of motion, Miroku had her in his arms. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. Miroku and she both fell to the pavement on their knees as he held her against him. "Why didn't you tell me?" He whispered.
"I was ashamed," came the muffled reply against his chest. "How did you find out?" She asked as she looked up into his sorrowful face.
"It doesn't matter." Miroku assured her as he kissed her forehead softly.
Kagome looked away. "Tasuki told you," she surmised.
"I told you it didn't matter. What did Yasha do?" Miroku asked, unable to keep the anger out of his voice.
"It doesn't matter," Kagome answered, stealing his phrase from earlier.
This caused Miroku to frown as he looked around the busy parking lot. There were many people staring at them and Chichiri and Kouga were attempting to usher the gawking pedestrians away. "What are you doing here?"
"I was going to go with Hotohori to Europe. Sesshoumaru was going to buy my ticket." Kagome replied.
"Was is correct, you aren't going anywhere without me." Miroku told her resolutely as his arms tightened possessively around her. The thought of her being in the presence of another man in any sort of intimate fashion stirred an intense wave of jealousy deep within him. "Kagome, I have to tell you something."
She nodded against his chest, encouragement to continue.
"I went to the doctor the other day. The reason I'm acting so horribly is because I'm scared I guess. I was told that I have a terminal illness." He was quiet, collecting his thoughts as he felt Kagome stare at him in shock. "I don't know exactly how long I have left to live," he finished.
"Are you sure?" Kagome demanded, pulling out of his arms to look at him closely. It was as if all the recent events were erased from her memory as she examined every inch visible to her, looking for evidence of his illness. "Did you get a second opinion?"
Why hadn't he thought of that? "No," Miroku drawled. Suddenly he felt the signs of hope beginning to grow. He squashed down that hope and shook his head. He wasn't going to fool himself. "With as horrible as I've been feeling, I must be dying," he concluded.
Kagome rose to her feet. Miroku promptly followed her lead and stood as well. "Very well, I'm tired of this. I finally know what I want," she reached up her hand and touched his cheek tenderly with a feather-light stroke. "I don't want to lose the limited time that we do have together then."
"What?" Miroku asked shocked. He didn't even have to beg and plead his case. He didn't even make any excuses for his father being an asshole. She didn't ask about the incident with Sango on her bed. Though he would have been quick to inform her that wasn't his fault. And the night before he was drunk and thought it was her, so that didn't count either.
"I love you so much. My father was lost to my mother but I know that she doesn't regret giving him her heart. She got me out of the deal." Kagome smiled sweetly at her beloved.
Miroku swallowed thickly. "Are you sure you want me?"
The sweet smile slipped off her face at his words. She had hoped he'd reply with an 'I love you too,' not him doubting her words.
"I believe you, thank you for giving me this chance. You won't regret it." Miroku held her face within his hands and leaned down to kiss her firmly on the mouth.
It was the first time he had kissed the person whom meant the world to him.
Miroku had kissed plenty of women, but never before had he felt a thrill like this. As he traced his tongue over her lush lips he forgot about his audience. When she allowed him entrance into her mouth he forgot his name.
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The apartment was empty. Apparently Inuyasha had gone out. However, there was a note on the refrigerator. Strangely enough it was a note from Inuyasha. Miroku read it as he held Kagome. A smile formed on both of their faces.
The silver haired brute had apologized to Kagome, saying something about he hadn't taken his medication. He had been kicked out of the house so early during break because of his bastard brother that he had left his pills. Without them he had a tendency to act like a total dog-turd. He promised to make it up to her if the opportunity ever presented itself.
However, it was the second part of the note that really made the day brighter. It read, 'Check the messages on the answering machine.'
Sure enough, Suikotsu had called. He was concerned because Miroku never called to yell at him about giving him the wrong test results.
"I knew it would work out," Kagome replied as the message had concluded.
"Mmmmm," Miroku agreed as he began to nuzzle against her neck and place random kisses along her silky skin. Now that he knew he wasn't about to kick the bucket he could take his time with this woman.
"What should we do to celebrate?" Kagome asked, voice passion laden with Miroku's activities.
Miroku paused in his kisses and smiled against the sensitive skin under her jaw. "We have all the time in the world and an empty apartment."
Kagome turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him to meet her lips with his. As soon as she was confident that he had lost his wits completely she answered while pulling back. "Play videogames right?"
Her blue-grey eyes twinkled mischievously as the amethyst ones aligned with hers drew dark at the suggestion. Miroku pulled her possessively in his arms again. "I had something a little more action based in mind."
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Midmorning came and the two new lovers were rudely awakened by a pounding on the door.
"Make them go away," Kagome muttered into Miroku's chest.
"Mmmmm," Miroku replied as he ran his fingers up and down her bare spine. The feel of her soft body flush with his hard one made his heart race and mind swim. She was the reason he knew he was not a waste of space on this green earth. His arms tightened protectively as the pounding on his door continued.
"Persistent aren't they?" Kagome gasped as Miroku began to kiss down her chest.
The pounding got louder. Angrily, Miroku rose from the bed. "It's just Inuyasha. Lazy bastard probably forgot his key again." He walked out of the room, not bothering to cover his naked body as he went to the front door. He pulled open the front door, not bothering to look at who was on the other side.
The only thought running through his mind was that Kagome was waiting in his bed. Waiting and hopefully still up for some more 'celebrating.'
Standing on the other side of the door was a man with lavender eyes and a cross between amused and shocked look upon his face. "Have you no tack?" The regimental voice of his father demanded.
Miroku's posture went rigid as he slowly turned and noticed that the one he foolishly allowed into his home was the one man he would murder in cold blood should the opportunity arise.
Here was an opportunity.
"Miroku? Is it Inuyasha?" Kagome called from the bedroom.
Lavender eyes looked past his naked son to the grown up version of the child he had an affection for like none other. "Kagome……"
Kagome's hand flew to her mouth as she stood in the doorway, the sheet wrapped loosely around her body fell. She didn't notice as her body paled in color at the sight of the man that haunted her nightmares. "Mitsurugi," she whispered brokenly.
Miroku began to growl low in his throat at the fear he could sense in his beloved's voice.
"I don't care what the fuck you want, but I suggest you get out of here now or else I may just murder you." Miroku warned as he stepped to block his father's view of Kagome. "You fucking child molester," he added for good effect.
His father visibly stiffened at the barb. He met his son's gaze straight-on and smirked. "Says the boy who just committed incest."
"Whatever, she's not my sister." Miroku replied angrily but keeping his tone down. He didn't want to frighten Kagome any more than she was already.
Mitsurugi laughed darkly at his son. "Are you sure about that? You know what a man whore I am." He spoke venomously.
Amethyst narrowed. "While I wouldn't put it past you, I would never for a moment believe someone as perfect as her could have anything to do with you. Now, leave or else I will kill you."
"Put some pants on. I want you to meet your new mother."
"Get out." Miroku replied.
Mitsurugi's face hardened. "That wasn't a request."
Miroku opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of a 'click' stole his words. He turned around to see Kagome standing in his doorway, wearing his shirt from the night before, a gun in her hand.
"Kagome, no." Miroku yelled as he ran to her and held her in his arms. She held the gun aimed at his father, but allowed him to hold her. "He's not worth it," he whispered.
"What is he doing here? Why now? Why here?" Tears were making her eyes liquid sapphire.
"It doesn't matter, he's leaving." Miroku told her, the look he directed towards his father was enough to melt even the hardest of resolves.
A/N: The song is Tangled by Maroon 5
I may do a lemon on mediaminer, it depends on how lazy I am.