Chapter 23: He Doesn't Love Me!
"Damn her! Damn that devil of a woman! Has it become her personal goal in life to screw me over?" Miroku yelled to himself in his mind as he slammed his locker closed. He had been thinking that same thought, or another thought along those lines since sixth period. While he respected the fact that Eri's intentions were good, whereas last time she was simply trying to mess up part of his life for personal gain that simply wasn't enough. "Kagome and me together? What an absurd thought! That would never work." His train of thought was interrupted by Sango yelling his name for the third time.
"Have you gone deaf?" Sango asked.
"Sorry, I was distracted. I have been placed in a deplorable position and it's been occupying my mind." Miroku said.
"Why don't you tell me what's up? Maybe I can help." Sango offered.
"I was talking to Eri…"
"Stupid whore." Sango interrupted.
"Anyway, I was talking to her and I kind of let slip that I knew something about Inuyasha that Kagome should know too. I don't want to tell Kagome because it will hurt her feelings, but Eri threatened to tell Kagome I had a secret if I don't tell Kagome myself by the end of the week." Miroku explained.
"I don't even understand why you associate yourself with that girl."
"Okay, this was before I knew her ultimate goal is to destroy my life. Where's your famous sage advice?"
"Well, for starters quit telling Eri things." Sango suggested.
"Can we put that aside for the moment? What about Kagome?" Miroku yelled back.
"Obviously, you have to tell her first chance you get." Sango suggested. "Putting it off will only make it more difficult. Luckily, Kagome is pretty rational, so if you just tell her why you didn't let her know sooner she'll forgive you."
"Yeah, I just hope she doesn't get the idea that I have feelings for her." Miroku replied.
"Why would she think that?"
"Let us count the ways. First I let her cry on my shoulder when she gets hurt by Inuyasha. Then, I let her use me to force Inuyasha to apologize. Followed by the kiss and topped of by disclosing this last piece of vital information, that makes four reasons." Miroku summarized.
"You never told me what this vital information of yours is. What is it?" Sango inquired.
"I think everyone will be better off not knowing. I'm only telling Kagome because it involves her. Otherwise I'm keeping it confidential." Miroku said.
"If you say so. Why don't we spend sometime over at my place, and I'll take all this business off your mind." Sango tempted him.
Miroku chuckled. "You know babe, I think I'm a bad influence on you."
"Who said I needed influence? Besides, it's been over a month. That's no way to live." Sango added.
"You don't need to give me more reasons. You had me sold from the start." Miroku replied with a wink.
Kagome's journey home was the earthly manifestation of hell. She had to endure fifteen minutes of Eri reciting her list of reasons why she should give up on Inuyasha and pursue 'another campaign', as Eri had so delicately put it. Obviously a euphemism for Miroku. Kagome had long since stopped listening, but figured Eri must be coming up on fifty some reasons. That was too much for Kagome. She exploded.
"God Eri SHUT. THE. HELL. UP! I don't know why you think I so desperately need to be with Miroku but I can tell you right now it's not going to happen! Sango is Miroku's girlfriend! Understand? Not me, Sango and it's going to stay that way so just leave me the fuck alone!"
"Touchy, touchy! It's not my fault you can't accept the truth." Eri said in her defense.
"Go away. I've known both of those guys 48 times longer than you have, and your reasoning is definitely flawed. They both have their good and bad sides, but Miroku and me? Hell, it even sounds wrong just saying it!"
"Okay, you do have a four year jump on me," Eri admitted. "but I'm an excellent judge of character."
"Whatever. If Inuyasha's so terrible, why don't you go torment him for a while?" Kagome sarcastically asked.
"I would, but I don't know what gets him ticked."
"Everything." Kagome informed her, rolling her eyes at the irony of this truth.
"Well next time I see him I will. He could use a piece of mind, that bastard." Eri commented.
"He's no worse than you." Kagome mumbled, just loud enough for Eri to hear.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Eri, you're trying to break up the same couple twice in one week. I'm beginning to think you have some kind of grudge against Sango, though I don't even want to guess why. You don't even know her."
"I know her well enough to tell she's not exactly the best girlfriend out there and that Miroku deserves better. Like you." Eri said with emphasis on 'like you'.
"Don't you ever talk about anything else? Sango and Miroku are perfect for each other. The only flaw is that Sango gets jealous easily, but that proves just how much she likes Miroku." Kagome explained.
"Quit thinking so logically! Besides, it also proves she doesn't trust him." Eri argued.
"If you knew his dating history, you wouldn't trust him either. He's been with more girls than I care to count, and he doesn't even like half of them."
"Then what makes you so sure he likes Sango?" Eri asked.
"He doesn't like her. He is fucking in love with her. He's made it fairly obvious even before they went out. You know that necklace Sango always wears? Miroku got it for her; it cost him ten months salary. I won't bore you with the details but he's always performed random acts of kindness that are pretty conclusive evidence he loves her." Kagome explained, determined to convince Eri her plot was futile.
"Random acts of kindness you say? Like the way he comforted you when Inuyasha hurt your feelings? Or the way he let you use him to teach Inuyasha a lesson?"
"Right. Exactly like that." It took Kagome a few moments to realize that she had just agreed with Eri's reasoning. "I hate it when you do that." she grumbled to a smirking Eri. "But he always does stuff like that for me. It makes sense considering we're best…" Kagome trailed off when she noticed Eri was looking even smugger than when Kagome agreed with her the first time.
"You just admitted it twice yourself Kagome. That's conclusive evidence he loves you just as much as he loves Sango, if not more so." she said mockingly.
"It sounded different in my head. Look, I know Miroku loves me, but he's not in love with me!" Kagome said in an attempt to save her side of the argument.
"Ah, tomato to-mah-toe." Eri replied nonchalantly.
"Didn't I tell you to go away!"
"Fine. Remember, if you deny it for much longer you'll lose your chance with him." Eri said as she walked off.
"I don't have a chance with him now! Nor do I want one!" Kagome yelled to Eri's retreating form. She snorted. Eri just didn't get it. She wasn't in love with Miroku…right?