Kagome
had her head lowered in shame. Naturally, Inuyasha
would cause a scene at the airport. Honestly, who tries to take a sword as part
of their luggage? Did he really believe it would get past security?
Of
course he insisted that she would thank him later when his luxury item saved
them on the island. Why couldn't he bring a tooth brush as his luxury item,
like a normal person?
"Look,
I'm taking the sword. I'm even allowing you to keep it below deck. How the heck
am I supposed to have access to it if its in the
luggage compartment?" Inuyasha continued to argue
with the security inspector.
"I
am sorry sir, but a sword is a dangerous weapon." The inspector continued to
argue. He was a young man in his early twenties.
"Tell
me what your name is." Inuyasha demanded growing
greatly annoyed with the punk trying to separate him from his beloved Tetsusaiga.
"Officer
Hojo, sir."
"Look
here boy," Inuyasha began his intimidating speech
that Kagome was all too familiar with. A gentle hand was placed upon his arm to
deflate his rapidly rising annoyance.
"Inuyasha, perhaps we could talk to Officer Hojo's supervisor." Kagome suggested calmly.
Inuyasha glared at the young man who was smiling thankfully at his girlfriend. "Don't
look at her punk." Inuyasha threatened and the man
immediately retreated to deal with more sane travelers.
Kagome
rolled her chocolate eyes and grabbed hold of Inuyasha's
arm to lead him towards some chairs to wait for their flight. Quickly, she
scanned the airport in search of familiar faces.
Inuyasha was slouched in his seat beside her, but suddenly sat up straighter.
His golden eyes were narrowed in the direction of an approaching couple. Kagome
turned to follow his gaze. A bright smile lit up her face.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
What
are the odds? Could he not ever be rid of that woman? Was it her mission in
life to purposely make his life miserable? He had to get away. Perhaps she hadn't
seen him yet.
Maybe
if he could make it to that crowd of people near the baggage check-in she would
not see him. It was his only hope at the moment.
What
did he do in his past life to receive such bad karma? He just wanted to make
some money by playing on Survivor. Money that he needed
thanks to her.
Aoshi Shinomori was afraid of nothing. He was
however, not wanting to associate with the woman that he had the restraining
order against. Shouldn't the producers of the show have researched the
contestants to avoid something like this?
For
two weeks, he had known that he was selected to participate in that season's
Survivor. Also in that two weeks, he had to change his
telephone number eight times. He didn't even know his own number! It was all
her fault!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kouga!" Kagome shouted gleefully as she spotted one
of her best friends, whom she hadn't seen for years. She started to rise to her
feet, but Inuyasha tugged her back down to her seat.
"That's
the loser from your European vacation isn't it?" Inuyasha
practically growled at her, jealousy evident in his tone.
"Kagome! Bless my stars! I never hoped to see you again!" Kouga
roughly yanked off the hindering hands of Ayame from
his shoulders. No one would prevent him from seeing the most wonderful woman he
had the pleasure of knowing.
"Let
me up Inuyasha." Kagome warned quietly. Reluctantly, Inuyasha released his death grip from Kagome and allowed
her to stand. She ran to meet Kouga half-way.
He
opened his arms and she ran into them. Kouga lifted
his Kagome high into the air and crushed her to him. "I've missed you so much!"
He murmured with his lips in her raven tresses.
Finally,
Kouga released her to stand in front of him. They
were both grinning stupidly at one another. "How long has it been since Europe?" Kagome asked.
Kouga shook his head, blue eyes twinkling. "It's seemed like an eternity
since we saw each other."
"That's
not nearly long enough wimp," Inuyasha interrupted
the happy reunion. Kagome and Kouga both turned their
attention to him, offering a pair of angry glares.
"Now
look Inuyasha, Kouga is my
friend. I would appreciate it if you could at least be civil." Kagome scolded,
with her chocolate fires flashing.
Kouga and Inuyasha locked eyes, malice dripping. "Look,
dog-turd, Kagome and I have been friends long before
the two of you met." Kouga barked.
"Did
you just call me a dog-turd?" Inuyasha
asked carefully.
Kouga flashed a cocky grin, still ignoring the highly frustrated and jealous
red-head who was attaching herself to his bicep. "Are you deaf too?"
Looking
for a diversion, any diversion, Kagome quickly scoured the airport. She caught
a sight that could prove her salvation. That poor Hojo
boy was having to deal with another sword-toting
traveler.
"Say,
Inuyasha, look over there. There seems to be another
fellow trying to convince Hojo to allow him to bring
a sword along. Perhaps the two of you can talk to his supervisor and convince
him to let you bring your sword." Kagome suggested.
Inuyasha immediately forgot about Kouga. When one had
to decide between his precious Tetsusaiga and dealing
with Kouga, the sword would prove the victor. Inuyasha began to dash over towards his fellow sword
fighter, pulling Kagome along behind him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kenshin, maybe you should have left your sword at home."
Kaoru tried to placate as the luggage inspector seemed adamant about not
allowing the sword on the flight.
"No,
Kaoru-dono, I'm telling you that they will allow me
to bring the sword. I did buy it in Japan a few years ago. I had to
carry it on a plane then. I don't see why I can't do so now, that I don't." Kenshin argued, his violet eyes picking up a few flecks of
amber in his growing aggravation.
"Sir,
I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to tell you the same thing I told the other
man. I can not allow you to carry a deadly weapon onto the airplane." Hojo tried to explain.
"Deadly weapon? But his blade is backwards. And look at my blade, it's all rusted. Do
you really think either of these could be considered deadly?" Inuyasha interrupted, joining the argument.
Hojo sighed and directed his attention back to the white haired man. "You again? I already told you that you can't bring your
sword."
"I
wish to speak to your supervisor." Kenshin rejoined
the dispute.
"Um,
Inuyasha, if you don't mind I think I'll let you
handle this on your own." Kagome whispered in his ear while standing on her
tip-toes to reach.
Inuyasha turned angry golden eyes to her, that
softened upon meeting her innocent chocolate ones. "Fine, but stay away from Kouga."
Kagome
crossed her arms. "Fine." She began to walk away,
noticing another familiar face in the crowd and making her way towards him. She
couldn't prevent a brief look of puzzlement from crossing her features as she
wondered what he was doing there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru
was becoming bored. Kenshin and this Inuyasha character were still demanding to see Hojo's supervisor. It seemed as if the young man was about
to relent, finally.
"Very well. Wait here and I'll get my supervisor." Hojo
finally agreed. Inuyasha and Kenshin
exchanged victorious grins with one another. The fellows-in-arms had won the
battle. Would they win the war?
Kaoru
tapped Kenshin on the shoulder, gaining his
attention. "Yes, Kaoru?" Kenshin
asked with his trademark smile returned along with his cheerful attitude.
"I'm
going to buy something to drink, okay?" Kaoru told him with a smile, asking
permission, even though she knew it was unnecessary.
"Of
course, Kaoru-dono, you don't even have to ask." Kenshin's smile reached his violet eyes,
that no longer held any traces of amber.
"Do
you want anything?" Kaoru asked as she was about to take her leave. Kenshin shook his head. "Alright, I'll see you soon. Good
luck with the sword thing."
Kaoru
left the two wanna-be samurai in search of a vending
machine. All she wanted was a Sprite and she didn't care to wait in line for a
fountain drink. However, now that she had gotten a little lost she was starting
to regret that decision.
Who
would think that it would be so easy to get lost in an airport? She heard the
footsteps of someone in boots behind her. At first she thought nothing of it.
But, the boots seemed to be following her every move.
Finally!
The vending machine appeared before her eyes. She ran the last stretch to her
goal and fished out the necessary quarters. She unscrewed the bottle cap of her
prized Sprite.
"Yes!
This must be my lucky day!" Kaoru exclaimed. She read the inside of the bottle
cap and smiled because she had just won a big screen television. Kenshin would be so happy! Well, maybe not. He didn't seem
to care much for material possessions.
"Why
the facial fall?" A smooth, deep voice disturbed her inner thoughts.
Dreading
the worst, Kaoru turned to regard the voice. Oh she must have had some serious
bad karma. She did not deserve to have to deal with this man, again.
"Why
Kaoru, you don't look pleased to see me. Where is that worthless loser that you
soil yourself with by your continuous association with him?" Enishi Yukishiro teased as he
pushed his blue designer glasses up his nose to peer at her better from his
towering height.
"Enishi, what are you doing here?" Kaoru asked carefully, as
she tried to side step him, only to be blocked by his heavily muscled arm.
"Is
that any way to treat your old flame? Besides, I thought you realized we were
both selected to be on Survivor." Enishi answered
while dropping his lips close to her ear. Kaoru shuddered at his closeness. Why
wasn't Kenshin ever there when she needed him to
protect her from creepy men?
Trying
to remain calm, Kaoru peered beyond Enishi into the
airport lobby, hoping to see a place she could run to and hide. Viola! A tall,
bushy plant stood regal not too far away. If she could just distract him,
perhaps she could make a run for that relative shelter.
"You're
absolutely right. That was so very rude of me. I'm glad that you are well, Enishi. Do you think you could do me a favor?" Kaoru asked
in her most sugary sweet voice.
Enishi smiled down at her, thinking he had caused her to cave into his charms
already. "Yes, dear what would you have me do?"
Kaoru
reached into her pocket and pulled out the key to the airport locker she had
acquired earlier. The only things she had stored in the locker were a few water
bottles that she didn't want to carry around. She could sacrifice a little
water to the greater good of freedom.
"Do
you think you could get my stuff for me out of my locker? I really need to use
the little girl's room. You would do that for me, right?" Kaoru asked, blue eyes bright.
Enishi smirked and moved his hand to clasp her upper arm. He squeezed it
slightly. "You can pay me back later, on the island perhaps. I'm sure once you
spend more time with a real man you'll forget all about that runt." Enishi turned to leave, grinning to himself after hearing
Kaoru's angry snort at his comment.
Oh
yeah, it was only a matter of time before she fell for his charms.
Kaoru
tried to glare a hole into his retreating form, before realizing that if she
didn't leave soon he'd find her all that much quicker. Off to the plant of
salvation she ran.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Aoshi had found a little peace. Soon he would need to board the airplane,
but for now he was safe from her. His stalker may have been persistent, but she
was not very clever.
As
long as he stayed behind this plant no one would bother him. Who in their right
mind would think to search here?
His
cobalt blue eyes were hidden behind their heavy lids. He was growing tired from
the stress of dealing with all the turmoil in his life. How he wished he could
just be playing his bass guitar and earning a living doing what he loved most.
He just wanted to allow himself to get lost in his music.
Curse
his good looks that caused him all his troubles!
The
sound of rustling leaves soon jarred him from his slumber. His eyes narrowed in
an icy glare. However, the intruder seemed to have not noticed him yet.
How
could she not notice Aoshi Shinomori?
"Excuse me." Aoshi's tenor voice broke into the
interloper's thoughts.
"Oh
I'm so sorry!" The woman with cerulean eyes greeted him. She kneeled beside him
on the floor. "Please, don't make me go out there. I really don't want him to
find me."
Aoshi's eyes widened noticeably at her declaration. It would appear he was not
the only one in hiding. "Someone is after you?" He asked calmly, although he
could feel a swell of anger rising within, for he could sympathize with this
woman before him.
Kaoru
blushed slightly. "Well, he seems to think that we were once an item, which we
never were. I was just nice to him back in high school. I haven't seen him in
years and now it would seem that he and I are both on the same reality
television show and I'm going to have to deal with him."
Aoshi merely stared at her a moment, trying to process the barrage of words
that tumbled out of her mouth. "Perhaps things would be easier for the both of
us if you calmed down."
Kaoru
took a deep breath then extended her hand out to him. "Kaoru Kamiya."
Aoshi reluctantly extended his hand towards hers. "Aoshi
Shinomori."
Kaoru
gasped at the familiar name, her hand immediately releasing his as she clasped
it over her mouth. "Oh my god, I am so sorry."
Confused
cobalt eyes stared at her blankly.
Shaking
herself, Kaoru removed her hand and gave him a sympathetic look. "You must be Misao's Aoshi-sama."
"I
am nothing of hers. Do you know her?" Aoshi demanded,
regretting having allowed this woman to trespass.
"I
apologize; she has an unhealthy fixation with you."
"You
don't say? I would think after the restraining orders against her that she
would have left me alone, but no. She continues to invade my privacy and ruin
my life." Aoshi complained, drawing his knees up to
his chin and for all the world resembling a little boy
pouting.
Kaoru
reached over to give him an awkward pat on the shoulder. Cobalt eyes glared at
her suspiciously. She smiled nervously. "I won't give away your hiding spot if
you let me share it."
Aoshi nodded his head curtly. "Very well."
The
silent minutes seemed an eternity. The solemn man did not appear to be bothered
by the silence. Kaoru was however. "So are you going to be on Survivor?"
"Yes."
Aoshi replied with his eyes closed, relaxing with his
back against the wall.
"You
want to form some sort of alliance?" Kaoru asked.
A
single cobalt eye opened to regard her. "Isn't it a little early to be making
pacts? We may not even be in the same tribe."
Kaoru
waved her hands in front of her face to dismiss that idea. "No, no, I mean an
alliance where I keep Misao away from you if you
protect me from Enishi."
The
cobalt eye closed. "I suppose that would be acceptable."
Kaoru
sighed when he closed his eyes again, ending the conversation so easily. Why
did Kenshin have to be so obsessed with his sword? He
shouldn't have let her leave by herself earlier.
Who
was she kidding? It wasn't Kenshin's fault she was
hiding from Enishi behind a big plant with the
iceman. Kaoru groaned softly, allowing her head to fall heavily on the wall
behind her. Why couldn't things ever be simple?
Aoshi had an eye cracked open imperceptibly to observe the woman sharing his
plant hide-away. She was an interesting specimen. How could someone as 'normal'
as she be friends with that psycho that stalked him?
He
almost cracked a smile, when he realized he was not the only who suffered from
the unwanted affections of others. He may not have found an ally in Kaoru Kamiya, but at least he found one he could sympathize with.
That is, if he sympathized.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Sesshoumaru was leaning against the window, watching the airplanes launch and
land. He noticed his brother and Kagome earlier. It looked like they were
chosen for the show as well. He always enjoyed defeating his brother, but he
was unsure of how he felt about competing with Kagome.
He
was a winner first and foremost; feelings had nothing to do with success. Not
that he felt anything for that wench anyway. She was obviously an idiot for
putting up with his idiotic brother for so long.
"Hey."
A familiar voice called from behind him.
Sesshoumaru turned around to address the subject of his rumination. "I see you are
here as well."
"Looks that way. So, um, Inuyasha is busy arguing with
security about his sword." Kagome explained.
Sesshoumaru almost smirked, but his face remained an expressionless mask. "He
brought his sword?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.
Kagome
nodded, embarrassment apparent. "He said I'll
appreciate it when we're on the Island."
"Most
people bring a tooth brush for their luxury item."
Kagome
smiled. "That's exactly what I said!"
Sesshoumaru turned back around to face the coming and goings of the planes. He
felt Kagome's presence settle to his side, also gazing out the window. "Have
you been to the souvenir shop yet?"
"No,
I have not Sesshoumaru." Kagome replied. He made no
effort to respond and the silence began to nag at her. "You know, I love to
collect water domes."
"I
know." Sesshoumaru answered, surprising his
companion.
"You
know?"
Sesshoumaru turned to look at her. "Of course. I've known
you for several years now. How could I not know that you love snow globes?"
Kagome
looked thoughtful. "Funny, you've noticed and yet, even after I remind him
countless times, Inuyasha still believes its shot
glasses I collect."
Sesshoumaru surprised Kagome once again by giving a soft laugh. He grabbed hold of
her arm. "The shot glasses are more for him. He thinks that once you agree to
marry him that he will then gain possession of all those glasses he's purchased
for you."
Kagome's
brows furrowed at that comment. "I sure hope you are kidding."
"This
Sesshoumaru does not kid. Come,
let us look at those water globes. Perhaps after the trip I will buy you one as
a consolation gift." Sesshoumaru pulled her along
beside him.
Kagome
glared at him after that last remark. "Maybe it will be I who buys you the
water globe as a consolation gift."
"Oh
please, do you really think you could beat me?" Sesshoumaru
asked, truly amazed that she could even think of such a blasphemous thought.
"Remember,
its not always the strongest who wins on this show. It's
the one who forms the strongest alliances." Kagome retorted knowledgably.
Sesshoumaru nodded his head at her declaration. Perhaps she was correct. She was after all somewhat of an expert regarding the reality show. "I shall keep that in mind."
The good natured argument ended as the two entered the giftshop.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
