Note: heheheehheheehe. I'm so happy about the reviews! God, I got online and saw them and squealed---this is how you can tell I haven't written a fic in awhile. **sighs happily** mwahahha. Uh, this WOULD have been up last night but my dad wanted to go to bed early and the computers in his room, so no story. Anyways, here's the second part.
Our House
Chapter 2: Vacate the Premises
It was a frightening drive home, and she was stunned she had made it into her driveway. She'd zoomed though all the red lights, and screamed at drivers who went too slow or cut her off. Consumed with an awesome road-rage, she'd ridden over the sidewalk with the hope that Kouga would be there so she could run him over, reverse, and run him over again. She'd outraced three cops, narrowly avoided hitting an unsuspecting Grandma crossing the street (which wasn't her fault, Kagome told herself. The old lady SHOULD have looked where she was going!), and managed to get home without killing anyone or hurting her poor car too much. All things considered, she should have been pretty damn proud of herself...but she was still too pissed off to care. Someone needed to die, and she was just itching to strangle the smirk off of 'darling' Kouga's face!
She stormed from her car (barely remembering the groceries and her adorable stuffed monkey) and into the house. She dropped the groceries on the kitchen table, not caring that they tumbled over the edge and onto the floor, and scooped up the monkey in one hand as she stomped her way into the sitting room. She needed paper right now. She needed to tear something up into a million bits and then burn them.
Kagome jerked the door to the sitting room open, causing the whole wall to rattle, and was stopped dead in her fury at the sight of her mother and cousin, Miroku, sitting there in a nest of papers. They looked up at her, startled from whatever it was they had been doing (which looked suspiciously like opening mail). Miroku reacted first. He got up, a vague, sympathetic smile on his face. "Kagome, you're home." He said warmly, and hugged her. Her eyes narrowed into suspicious slits and anger curled in her gut, almost uncontrolled. She peered over Miroku's shoulder at her mother as he pressed himself against her and held her tighter, digging his fingers into the flesh of her back and sides. Her temper seethed dangerously.
"Mama." Kagome said tersely." What is my cousin doing here, and why is he still hugging me in a fashion that cousins JUST DON'T DO????" Her voice rose until it broke and her hands hooked into claws, tearing at the air. She realized distantly that she had developed a tick beneath her left eye. This was just not the time to test her self-control, and she REALLY needed to rip something. She dropped her monkey for fear of strangling it.
"Miroku, le her go." Mrs. Higurashi scolded. "This isn't the time for your little urges." Kagome snorted at her mother's delicate terminology. She WOULD put it that way.
Miroku lifted his head from Kagome's hair with a dreamy expression on his face. "I was just trying to give moral support, Auntie." He whined half-heartedly. "She's just so damn cute!" He slapped Kagome on the ass for emphasis as he released her; smiling to himself and glancing at Mrs. Higurashi as he did so, not noticing Kagome draw back one arm with a mad glint in her eyes.
Kagome's fist suddenly connected with his nose with the force of a hammer. Stars exploded in front his eyes and his head reeled. Dimly, he heard Kagome say something about 'the wrong kind of support' before he collapsed on the carpet, blood spraying in a graceful arch from his now busted nose as he fell. Kagome towered over him, glowering pleasantly, her hand still clenched into that fist. He cringed slightly as little lightning bolts of pain launched an attack on his senses.
A soft giggle escaped from Mrs. Higurashi before she whipped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Miroku glared at her, his hand weakly fumbling for a tissue box that was just out of reach. Kagome sauntered into the sitting room and picked it up for him, handing him a monstrous wad of tissue as she squatted down beside him, grinning. "I had a bad day." She explained. "But I feel better now. "She added happily.
Miroku eyed her as she stuffed a clump of tissues up and into his bloody nose. "So glad I could be of service." He wheezed dryly, and Kagome and her mother giggled.
"Good horsy!" Kagome patted his head. He batted her hand away and mumbled at her to shut up. She plopped down cross-legged beside him, reaching for her monkey and cuddling the toy affectionately. (author :: Hey! It's a cute monkey! **I** want a stuffed monkey!)
With her temper slightly soothed, Kagome began notice just how many letters there were piled up on the floor.
"So why are you here, anyway?" she asked her cousin, still looking at the papers. "And what's with all the mail?"
A heavy silence followed her question, and a sinking feeling welled up in her stomach. Kagome spoke wearily, dreading the answer. "What's going on?" She didn't like the way her mother wasn't looking at her or how Miroku had suddenly found the wall fascinating. Kagome stared at her mother. "Mama...?"
Mrs. Higurashi flushed, and then reached over to touch Kagome's arm with a cool hand. "Honey......well, there's some really awful rumors spreading about you. Of course they're not true!" She rushed on at Kagome's expression. "They're too physically impossible to be true! But honey, people are BELIEVING them!"
The temper that had been briefly cooled from Miroku was building again, and Kagome clenched her teeth to control it. "Well, so what? They can believe what they want. All I have to do is kill Kouga an they'll stop." Kagome smiled evilly, her grip on her poor monkey tightening until it squeaked again. Miroku wrestled her for the monkey, getting blood all over the both of them until he had saved the toy. Kagome pouted. "Give me back my monkey, Miroku!"
"No, you were hurting it!"
"It's a toy! It doesn't care! Gimme my monkey!" her temper boiled over and she lunged at him. Miroku, who had regained his limber grace quicker than she liked, scooted away, laughing.
((( author's note:: okay, I know this is a pointless part in the story. I'm quibbling, but I'm having fun! So there! Mwahahahahah! I just love exercising my power as author.)))
Kagome, who hadn't really judged the distance or her stance when she lunged, ended up tripping over her feet and falling face first into the nest of papers. Sheets exploded into the air chaotically as she hit the floor. Mrs. Higurashi gave a small shriek of dismay and scrambled to catch them as they fluttered above the group in a dancing cloud. She caught a good six sheets before giving up with a huff of exasperated resignation. Miroku was laughing uproariously in the background.
Snarling, Kagome carefully picked herself off from the mess with a sheet of paper stuck to her cheek. She peeled it off, her left eye twitching again, and gazed murderously at her cousin until he flinched. "Give. ME. Back. My. MONKEY!"
"KAGOME!" Mrs. Higurashi's voice cut through her daughter's blind rage, and both she and her cousin froze, turning.
Mrs. Higurashi glared murderously at both of them, filled with an all-consuming Mama-wrath. They had disrupted her organized papers in HER house, and by GOD she would have order! Faced with this, both teenagers flushed with embarrassment and settled down, mumbling their apologies. Satisfied, Mrs. Higurashi held out one elegant hand to Miroku, who was practically hiding behind the couch to escape her gaze. "Now give me that monkey, Miroku." Miroku's face crumbled.
"Aw, Auntie, c'mon..." he whined. Kagome frowned at him and folded her arms across her chest as he handed the monkey over. The need to insult him right now was so strong that she actually bit her tongue to stop it. It was just a toy monkey that she would most likely regain possession of very soon. Nothing to get worked up over. Her rage settled down with these thoughts, leaving Kagome feeling ill and empty. The rumors had angered her, yes, but they'd also really hurt her feelings. Her heart ached at the thought that Kouga, **her** Kouga, would say such things after what they'd shared. That he could be so vindictive and vengeful just because she wasn't going out with him anymore. That he would want to hurt her so badly made her sick....and a little frightened. Frightened for him (as this was definitely destructive behavior) and frightened for herself. To think that she had trusted him enough, CARED for him enough to share herself with him....God, she must have bad taste in men. Sadness laced through her and she sighed, wishing that things were different.
Mrs. Higurashi noticed the change in her daughter and ordered Miroku to go into the kitchen so that she could have some privacy with her daughter. It pained her to see her child this way, so moody and alone. She had heard her daughter at night, the disappointment in her voice as one by one her so-called friends politely took their leave from her life. The girl had held herself so well, it was a shame that her hometown treated her this way. Mrs. Higurashi had searched herself for an answer to her daughter's woes, and had come up with only one thing. Hopefully it would solve their problems and allow Kagome a better high school experience so that she could be a happy adult. Hopefully she would agree to her mother's idea...
"Mama, you never answered my questions." Kagome's quiet voice brought Mrs. Higurashi out of her thoughts. She looked up at her daughter, not wanting to answer, but knowing that this was the only way.
"Well, " she began carefully," Miroku is here for two reasons. One; to help me open this mail...." She trailed off...
"And?" Kagome prompted, not liking the hesitance in her mother. "What's the other reason?"
"The other reason has to do with all this mail. I needed some outside advice on a decision I've been toying with, and I knew that Miroku could help me."
Kagome's eyebrows twitched at this, and she sat still, trying not to laugh. "Must be a big deal if you need MIROKU'S help." She said seriously as she could under the circumstances (which is to say she smirked).
Mrs. Higurashi frowned at her daughter. "It all has to do with those awful rumors, sweetheart, and its no laughing matter. These letters are from outraged people from all over the town, Kagome! There are death threats in here!"
Kagome froze, and this time the disbelief was plain on her face. "Over some sex-scandal rumors? C'mon, mom, it'll blow over. People gossip all the time! That doesn't mean they KILL each other over it."
Mrs. Higurashi shook her head. "I don't think you understand, Kagome. There are threats in here, ones that promise action, and quickly. Today someone drove by and threw a rock into your room with a letter attached to it saying that they'd be back! Souta heard it this afternoon and hasn't come out of his room since! He's scared stiff for you, Kagome! I called Miroku over because I didn't know what to do! I need you safe from this thing until it DOES die down, and I need Souta safe, too."
Kagome stared at her mother, her mouth fallen open as a sliver of fear cut through her. "They haven't done anything to you yet, have they?" The question came out slowly, painfully, and Kagome didn't really want the answer.
Mrs. Higurashi looked down. "Not yet, but my boss has been talking to me about you a lot in the past few days, hinting at my job and about not wanting a---a taint in his office. "
Kagome felt her eyes harden and her mouth set into a thin line. She'd gone very still, and very calm as she froze her wrath, tucking it away for later. They could threaten her and badger her and bruise her. She would take it; she'd done it before. But nobody, not ANYONE, threatened her family and got away with it! She'd felt sympathy for Kouga before. She'd even been willing to talk to him to work this.........issue...out. But not anymore. Now it was war, and she knew who'd win this one.
"So what did you some up with?" She asked coolly, an eerie smile touching her lips. Mrs. Higurashi blanched, and resisted the urge to back away from that deadly smile.
"Miroku owns a house out in the country that's been vacant for awhile. I think it would be best if you stayed there for the remainder of the summer while I sort things out and clear the air here. It's too dangerous for you to remain here, sweetie, and I can't sleep at night knowing your life is on the line! If you left for a little while...people might forget and go on with their lives. You know how fickle a mob is; one day they hate you, another day they love you.." She stopped, waiting for Kagome to protest, for a fight.
All Mrs. Higurashi received was a quiet," I'll go." She looked up, stunned, and saw a game smirk on Kagome's face. "And when I get back," she pronounced every word carefully. "I'm going to cut off Kouga's balls and make him eat them." Kagome beamed at her mother. "Don't worry! They are just rumors, after all! Kill the source, and you stop it from spreading. "
Mrs. Higurashi's smile almost fell at that comment, but she managed to hold it together as Miroku stepped into the doorway, a cucumber in hand and a bewildered expression on his face. Afternoon sunlight filtered from the window behind him, silhouetting his lithe form.
"Kagome, this cucumber is fucking huge."
She nearly face vaulted onto the rug.
He continued to look bewildered as he handled the thing. "I mean, jeeze, this has to be over a foot long! What were you planning to DO with this thing, anyway??!"
Kagome started twitching again, and she was nearly on her feet, her fingers hooked into claws. "Miroku...."
He smirked at her, giggling. "I mean, "snort giggle" its no wonder they say those things about you! Just LOOK at it! It's HUGE!"
She pounced on him, yanking it from his grasp. "Pervert!" she howled, and jabbed him with the gi-normous cucumber.
"Ack! Don't touch me with that thing! I could loose my precious virginity that way! Ack! Stop! Kagome! Don't poke me there! Noooooo! Hey! STOP!"
************
Authors note:: **coughs** ahem...well, its done! Don't you just love comic relief? I got a little too serious at the end part...at least, as serious as I could get under the circumstances. I do admit that its outrageous that such awesome fury and shock was developed by mere rumors, but hey, they're horrible things that inspire fear and disgust in the hearts of innocent townsfolk! It's scary stuff! Anyway, review review! Hehehehehe. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have no idea when the next one will be up. Soon, I think. Oh, and sorry for any grammatical errors. I was too impatient to make it perfect. So bear with me.
Our House
Chapter 2: Vacate the Premises
It was a frightening drive home, and she was stunned she had made it into her driveway. She'd zoomed though all the red lights, and screamed at drivers who went too slow or cut her off. Consumed with an awesome road-rage, she'd ridden over the sidewalk with the hope that Kouga would be there so she could run him over, reverse, and run him over again. She'd outraced three cops, narrowly avoided hitting an unsuspecting Grandma crossing the street (which wasn't her fault, Kagome told herself. The old lady SHOULD have looked where she was going!), and managed to get home without killing anyone or hurting her poor car too much. All things considered, she should have been pretty damn proud of herself...but she was still too pissed off to care. Someone needed to die, and she was just itching to strangle the smirk off of 'darling' Kouga's face!
She stormed from her car (barely remembering the groceries and her adorable stuffed monkey) and into the house. She dropped the groceries on the kitchen table, not caring that they tumbled over the edge and onto the floor, and scooped up the monkey in one hand as she stomped her way into the sitting room. She needed paper right now. She needed to tear something up into a million bits and then burn them.
Kagome jerked the door to the sitting room open, causing the whole wall to rattle, and was stopped dead in her fury at the sight of her mother and cousin, Miroku, sitting there in a nest of papers. They looked up at her, startled from whatever it was they had been doing (which looked suspiciously like opening mail). Miroku reacted first. He got up, a vague, sympathetic smile on his face. "Kagome, you're home." He said warmly, and hugged her. Her eyes narrowed into suspicious slits and anger curled in her gut, almost uncontrolled. She peered over Miroku's shoulder at her mother as he pressed himself against her and held her tighter, digging his fingers into the flesh of her back and sides. Her temper seethed dangerously.
"Mama." Kagome said tersely." What is my cousin doing here, and why is he still hugging me in a fashion that cousins JUST DON'T DO????" Her voice rose until it broke and her hands hooked into claws, tearing at the air. She realized distantly that she had developed a tick beneath her left eye. This was just not the time to test her self-control, and she REALLY needed to rip something. She dropped her monkey for fear of strangling it.
"Miroku, le her go." Mrs. Higurashi scolded. "This isn't the time for your little urges." Kagome snorted at her mother's delicate terminology. She WOULD put it that way.
Miroku lifted his head from Kagome's hair with a dreamy expression on his face. "I was just trying to give moral support, Auntie." He whined half-heartedly. "She's just so damn cute!" He slapped Kagome on the ass for emphasis as he released her; smiling to himself and glancing at Mrs. Higurashi as he did so, not noticing Kagome draw back one arm with a mad glint in her eyes.
Kagome's fist suddenly connected with his nose with the force of a hammer. Stars exploded in front his eyes and his head reeled. Dimly, he heard Kagome say something about 'the wrong kind of support' before he collapsed on the carpet, blood spraying in a graceful arch from his now busted nose as he fell. Kagome towered over him, glowering pleasantly, her hand still clenched into that fist. He cringed slightly as little lightning bolts of pain launched an attack on his senses.
A soft giggle escaped from Mrs. Higurashi before she whipped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. Miroku glared at her, his hand weakly fumbling for a tissue box that was just out of reach. Kagome sauntered into the sitting room and picked it up for him, handing him a monstrous wad of tissue as she squatted down beside him, grinning. "I had a bad day." She explained. "But I feel better now. "She added happily.
Miroku eyed her as she stuffed a clump of tissues up and into his bloody nose. "So glad I could be of service." He wheezed dryly, and Kagome and her mother giggled.
"Good horsy!" Kagome patted his head. He batted her hand away and mumbled at her to shut up. She plopped down cross-legged beside him, reaching for her monkey and cuddling the toy affectionately. (author :: Hey! It's a cute monkey! **I** want a stuffed monkey!)
With her temper slightly soothed, Kagome began notice just how many letters there were piled up on the floor.
"So why are you here, anyway?" she asked her cousin, still looking at the papers. "And what's with all the mail?"
A heavy silence followed her question, and a sinking feeling welled up in her stomach. Kagome spoke wearily, dreading the answer. "What's going on?" She didn't like the way her mother wasn't looking at her or how Miroku had suddenly found the wall fascinating. Kagome stared at her mother. "Mama...?"
Mrs. Higurashi flushed, and then reached over to touch Kagome's arm with a cool hand. "Honey......well, there's some really awful rumors spreading about you. Of course they're not true!" She rushed on at Kagome's expression. "They're too physically impossible to be true! But honey, people are BELIEVING them!"
The temper that had been briefly cooled from Miroku was building again, and Kagome clenched her teeth to control it. "Well, so what? They can believe what they want. All I have to do is kill Kouga an they'll stop." Kagome smiled evilly, her grip on her poor monkey tightening until it squeaked again. Miroku wrestled her for the monkey, getting blood all over the both of them until he had saved the toy. Kagome pouted. "Give me back my monkey, Miroku!"
"No, you were hurting it!"
"It's a toy! It doesn't care! Gimme my monkey!" her temper boiled over and she lunged at him. Miroku, who had regained his limber grace quicker than she liked, scooted away, laughing.
((( author's note:: okay, I know this is a pointless part in the story. I'm quibbling, but I'm having fun! So there! Mwahahahahah! I just love exercising my power as author.)))
Kagome, who hadn't really judged the distance or her stance when she lunged, ended up tripping over her feet and falling face first into the nest of papers. Sheets exploded into the air chaotically as she hit the floor. Mrs. Higurashi gave a small shriek of dismay and scrambled to catch them as they fluttered above the group in a dancing cloud. She caught a good six sheets before giving up with a huff of exasperated resignation. Miroku was laughing uproariously in the background.
Snarling, Kagome carefully picked herself off from the mess with a sheet of paper stuck to her cheek. She peeled it off, her left eye twitching again, and gazed murderously at her cousin until he flinched. "Give. ME. Back. My. MONKEY!"
"KAGOME!" Mrs. Higurashi's voice cut through her daughter's blind rage, and both she and her cousin froze, turning.
Mrs. Higurashi glared murderously at both of them, filled with an all-consuming Mama-wrath. They had disrupted her organized papers in HER house, and by GOD she would have order! Faced with this, both teenagers flushed with embarrassment and settled down, mumbling their apologies. Satisfied, Mrs. Higurashi held out one elegant hand to Miroku, who was practically hiding behind the couch to escape her gaze. "Now give me that monkey, Miroku." Miroku's face crumbled.
"Aw, Auntie, c'mon..." he whined. Kagome frowned at him and folded her arms across her chest as he handed the monkey over. The need to insult him right now was so strong that she actually bit her tongue to stop it. It was just a toy monkey that she would most likely regain possession of very soon. Nothing to get worked up over. Her rage settled down with these thoughts, leaving Kagome feeling ill and empty. The rumors had angered her, yes, but they'd also really hurt her feelings. Her heart ached at the thought that Kouga, **her** Kouga, would say such things after what they'd shared. That he could be so vindictive and vengeful just because she wasn't going out with him anymore. That he would want to hurt her so badly made her sick....and a little frightened. Frightened for him (as this was definitely destructive behavior) and frightened for herself. To think that she had trusted him enough, CARED for him enough to share herself with him....God, she must have bad taste in men. Sadness laced through her and she sighed, wishing that things were different.
Mrs. Higurashi noticed the change in her daughter and ordered Miroku to go into the kitchen so that she could have some privacy with her daughter. It pained her to see her child this way, so moody and alone. She had heard her daughter at night, the disappointment in her voice as one by one her so-called friends politely took their leave from her life. The girl had held herself so well, it was a shame that her hometown treated her this way. Mrs. Higurashi had searched herself for an answer to her daughter's woes, and had come up with only one thing. Hopefully it would solve their problems and allow Kagome a better high school experience so that she could be a happy adult. Hopefully she would agree to her mother's idea...
"Mama, you never answered my questions." Kagome's quiet voice brought Mrs. Higurashi out of her thoughts. She looked up at her daughter, not wanting to answer, but knowing that this was the only way.
"Well, " she began carefully," Miroku is here for two reasons. One; to help me open this mail...." She trailed off...
"And?" Kagome prompted, not liking the hesitance in her mother. "What's the other reason?"
"The other reason has to do with all this mail. I needed some outside advice on a decision I've been toying with, and I knew that Miroku could help me."
Kagome's eyebrows twitched at this, and she sat still, trying not to laugh. "Must be a big deal if you need MIROKU'S help." She said seriously as she could under the circumstances (which is to say she smirked).
Mrs. Higurashi frowned at her daughter. "It all has to do with those awful rumors, sweetheart, and its no laughing matter. These letters are from outraged people from all over the town, Kagome! There are death threats in here!"
Kagome froze, and this time the disbelief was plain on her face. "Over some sex-scandal rumors? C'mon, mom, it'll blow over. People gossip all the time! That doesn't mean they KILL each other over it."
Mrs. Higurashi shook her head. "I don't think you understand, Kagome. There are threats in here, ones that promise action, and quickly. Today someone drove by and threw a rock into your room with a letter attached to it saying that they'd be back! Souta heard it this afternoon and hasn't come out of his room since! He's scared stiff for you, Kagome! I called Miroku over because I didn't know what to do! I need you safe from this thing until it DOES die down, and I need Souta safe, too."
Kagome stared at her mother, her mouth fallen open as a sliver of fear cut through her. "They haven't done anything to you yet, have they?" The question came out slowly, painfully, and Kagome didn't really want the answer.
Mrs. Higurashi looked down. "Not yet, but my boss has been talking to me about you a lot in the past few days, hinting at my job and about not wanting a---a taint in his office. "
Kagome felt her eyes harden and her mouth set into a thin line. She'd gone very still, and very calm as she froze her wrath, tucking it away for later. They could threaten her and badger her and bruise her. She would take it; she'd done it before. But nobody, not ANYONE, threatened her family and got away with it! She'd felt sympathy for Kouga before. She'd even been willing to talk to him to work this.........issue...out. But not anymore. Now it was war, and she knew who'd win this one.
"So what did you some up with?" She asked coolly, an eerie smile touching her lips. Mrs. Higurashi blanched, and resisted the urge to back away from that deadly smile.
"Miroku owns a house out in the country that's been vacant for awhile. I think it would be best if you stayed there for the remainder of the summer while I sort things out and clear the air here. It's too dangerous for you to remain here, sweetie, and I can't sleep at night knowing your life is on the line! If you left for a little while...people might forget and go on with their lives. You know how fickle a mob is; one day they hate you, another day they love you.." She stopped, waiting for Kagome to protest, for a fight.
All Mrs. Higurashi received was a quiet," I'll go." She looked up, stunned, and saw a game smirk on Kagome's face. "And when I get back," she pronounced every word carefully. "I'm going to cut off Kouga's balls and make him eat them." Kagome beamed at her mother. "Don't worry! They are just rumors, after all! Kill the source, and you stop it from spreading. "
Mrs. Higurashi's smile almost fell at that comment, but she managed to hold it together as Miroku stepped into the doorway, a cucumber in hand and a bewildered expression on his face. Afternoon sunlight filtered from the window behind him, silhouetting his lithe form.
"Kagome, this cucumber is fucking huge."
She nearly face vaulted onto the rug.
He continued to look bewildered as he handled the thing. "I mean, jeeze, this has to be over a foot long! What were you planning to DO with this thing, anyway??!"
Kagome started twitching again, and she was nearly on her feet, her fingers hooked into claws. "Miroku...."
He smirked at her, giggling. "I mean, "snort giggle" its no wonder they say those things about you! Just LOOK at it! It's HUGE!"
She pounced on him, yanking it from his grasp. "Pervert!" she howled, and jabbed him with the gi-normous cucumber.
"Ack! Don't touch me with that thing! I could loose my precious virginity that way! Ack! Stop! Kagome! Don't poke me there! Noooooo! Hey! STOP!"
************
Authors note:: **coughs** ahem...well, its done! Don't you just love comic relief? I got a little too serious at the end part...at least, as serious as I could get under the circumstances. I do admit that its outrageous that such awesome fury and shock was developed by mere rumors, but hey, they're horrible things that inspire fear and disgust in the hearts of innocent townsfolk! It's scary stuff! Anyway, review review! Hehehehehe. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I have no idea when the next one will be up. Soon, I think. Oh, and sorry for any grammatical errors. I was too impatient to make it perfect. So bear with me.