Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
nikka; Sakura; HahaI'mBetterThanYou; lilxangelxsweetz: Thanks for the reviews! As it stands, Sesshomaru has one (uncertain) vote from nikka; Bankotsu has two (for sure) from Sakura and HahaI'mBetterThanYou; and lilxangelxsweetz just wants a triangle.
No one made any guesses about Sesshomaru's plan, so no one gets a brownie...and no one made a guess for the stalker, so same thing there. There's more clues in here as well, so look! And just make wild guesses - I'll leave a review in one of your stories to let you know if you're right. Brownie and cameo for whoever gets it right!
Keep reviewing, and telling me your couple! SesshomaruXOC, BankXOC, or...HitenXOC! Now there's another guy to choose from! I'm still deciding, but reviewers get it...
Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and votes for couple are GREATLY appreciated.
"I just got your message, Sessho – what the hell?" Naraku demanded, bursting into the flat. To his chagrin, Sesshomaru woke up, and realized that Tori had moved onto his lap during the night.
"It's not what it looks like," he protested, as Tori woke up sleepily. She jumped a foot backward when she realized where she was, and that Naraku was there.
"Naraku – look at this," she said quickly, and shot a glare at Sesshomaru. He responded by smirking at her, having found it the easiest way to cause her to blush.
"This is crazy," Naraku said faintly, inspecting the pictures, "And the box?"
"Gone. And Sesshomaru said that all the windows were locked, and the door was too," Tori told him, "We turned the place upside down, but no one else was here. My room was ransacked, though. I haven't checked to see if anything's missing."
"I'll call the police. Maybe they can lift some fingerprints off the frames or pictures," Naraku hoped, striding over to the phone.
When he was done, he eyed Sesshomaru. "I guess I have to thank you for staying with Tori, Sesshomaru."
"I tried to get him to leave, but he wouldn't," Tori added, "I'm kinda glad he didn't – it'd have been too creepy being here alone."
"Did you call Renkotsu?"
"No," she shook her head, "There's not really any point. He wouldn't be able to do anything anyway."
"I'll be going now," Sesshomaru decided, and walked to the door. Tori followed him, and Naraku prudently went into his room.
"Thanks, Sesshomaru," she said shyly, suddenly embarrassed, "You really didn't have to do this…"
"If you need anything else, don't worry about letting me know," he interrupted her, opening the door. "I suppose I'll see you again. Oh, next time we talk, I want to suggest something."
"Oh, all right," Tori blinked, and locked the door behind him.
"So, what happened?" Naraku demanded, finished changing.
"Nothing!" she exclaimed. "Geez, give me a break, Naraku! You were the one that ditched the party, and then turned your cell off," she reminded him, "Of course I wouldn't want to be alone here! Sesshomaru offered to stay – and once he made up his mind, he didn't change it."
"Obviously," Naraku muttered, but dropped the subject. "Does anyone else know?"
"No," she shook her head, "Naraku – I'd rather not tell them."
"Not even Hiten?" he asked in surprise, and she shook her head again.
"No. If I do, they'll never give me any peace," she reminded him, "I don't want all these people worrying about me. It'll drive me crazy before the stalker does."
"If that's what you want," he said reluctantly, and checked his watch. "I've got a class, When's yours?"
"In an hour," she told him, "I'll hang out on campus and get some work done for the day."
"All right," he nodded, "The police are going to come by in a while, when I'm going to be here, so change and we'll leave."
"Feed Kirara," she ordered, running into her room to change.
"Stay on campus," he ordered, before leaving for his class. Tori mock-saluted his back, and found a seat on a bench in the quad. She bent over her books, and remained that way for another forty minutes before she realized something.
"My watch is gone!" she exclaimed, upset. Her watch that she constantly wore, the one that Hiten had given her the previous year as a graduation present, had gone missing. Frowning, she tried to remember the last time she had it.
"I had it when I was with Kagome and the others…" she thought, "And then I took it off when to change…he took it when he got in!" she realized, drawing strange looks from passing students. Standing up, and fully pissed off, she shoved her books into her bag and stalked to her next class.
"It's gone," she explained over her cell phone to Naraku, who was back at the house, "I couldn't find it when I changed this morning. Go look for yourself – it's gone."
"So, that means that he defiantly doesn't want you to be associated with any other guys," he mused, and she rolled her eyes.
"I think the pictures kinda gave that away," she hissed.
"Yeah, but there are still things from Jakotsu and Bankotsu – not to mention myself and Renkotsu," Naraku argued, "It seems that Hiten's the one he's jealous of in particular. I'll let the police."
"Do you think Hiten's in danger?" she asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but I'll let him know what's going on," he told her, "You have the same lunch period, right? Well, explain it better then. I'll call you up after the police leave, all right? If you think of anything else, let me know."
"Sure thing," she agreed, hanging up.
"So, what the hell's going on?" Hiten demanded, as they began to eat. Tori expanded on what Naraku had already told him, and he swore again.
"So, maybe you should stay at someone's house until this is over," she finished lamely, and he stared at her.
"You think he'll come after me?" he asked, and she nodded miserably.
"Well, Naraku does, at least," she said, "He's going to ask the cops about it, and let me know."
"This crazy," he muttered, and she flinched at seeing how angry he was.
"I'm sorry, Hiten," she began, but he cut her off.
"What the fuck are you apologizing for?" he demanded, "It's this guy that I want to beat the living shit out of! I'm not mad at you, Tori – it's not your fault, so don't worry about it."
"I can't help it!" she protested, and he slung his arm around her.
"Hey, I can take care of myself," he reminded her, "And besides, I'd rather he come after me than you, all right? How 'bout I stay with you guys for a while? Sound good?"
"Sure," she nodded happily, and gave him a tight hug. At her touch, Hiten was aware of a tingling inside him, but he brushed it aside.
"Hey!" Rin waved to Souta, Shippo, and Kohaku in-between classes. Shippo, at fourteen was two years younger than the others.
"So, what's up?" Souta asked, his looks eerily similar to his other two siblings. Shippo had been adopted when he was five, and had orange hair and green eyes.
"Kagome mentioned something happening with Sesshomaru last night, but we didn't really catch it," Kohaku added, having slept over Souta's the night before.
"You'll never guess," Rin said excitedly.
"Yeah, so tell us!" Shippo said, the three boys becoming slightly annoyed at her.
"Sesshomaru spent the night with a girl!" she told them, "He drove her home, and called back up to tell Inuyasha that he was spending the night until her cousin came home."
"How'd you find out?" Souta asked.
"Inuyasha told me this morning, when he picked me up," Rin said, "Sesshomaru didn't come home until after we had left, 'cause he called Inu's cell and complained about the lack of breakfast foods."
"This is Sesshomaru we're talking about, right?" Shippo checked, hitting his head. "You mean Sesshomaru, that mighty, arrogant bastard, actually spent the night at some girl's house? Oh, sorry," he added, when Kohaku elbowed him.
"No problem," Rin waved her hand, ignoring the fact that they were discussing her older, usually revered, brother, "I hear worse from Inuyasha. And yeah, we are."
JigsawPuzzle: Hey.
LordYoukai: Hello. How're you doing?
JigsawPuzzle: Hiten's taking a shower. He's staying with us for a while, because of the "incident". Hey, I have a question.
LordYoukai: Yes?
JigsawPuzzle: You and Inuyasha both have yellow-ish eyes and silver hair, but Rin has dark-brown hair and eyes. How come?
LordYoukai: Apparently, you've never seen our parents. Rin takes after our mother, while Inuyasha and myself resemble our father.
JigsawPuzzle: Oh. Just wondering. Oh, Hiten wants to get on for a sec.
LordYoukai: All right…
WeatherGod: Hey, LY. Just wanted to thank you for what you did for JP.
"Oh, Kami…" Sesshomaru winced as he thought of how many ways – mostly perverted ways – that phrase could be taken as.
LordYoukai: Care to expand on that? You do realize how that sounds, correct?
JigsawPuzzle: WG, that's gross!
LordYoukai: How are you still on?
WeatherGod: I'm on her brother's computer. Sorry – thanks for locking down the house for her last night. There, better?
LordYoukai: Immensely. Thank you.
JigsawPuzzle: Yeah, really. Hey, where's BoS and NoCanDo, anyway?
WeatherGod: Prob'ly still at GD's, or school, most likely.
JigsawPuzzle: Oh, yeah. Forgot.
WeatherGod: Lazy.
JigsawPuzzle: Am not! LY…!
LordYoukai: What do you expect me to do?
JigsawPuzzle: Nothing, apparently.
LordYoukai: If you count ripping his throat out "nothing".
WeatherGod: Hey! Cut it out! Hey, I'm starving…bye.
JigsawPuzzle: See ya, WG. Hey, LY, are you doing anything later?
LordYoukai: No. Why? I thought Spdzr and WG were going to keep you under lock and key.
JigsawPuzzle: Well, you're close. But you said you wanted to tell me something. How 'bout in fifteen minutes, at the fountain again?
LordYoukai: Agreed. I shall be there. Until then.
JigsawPuzzle: Bye!
"It's been a nice day lately, hasn't it?" Tori asked, as the pair strode around campus.
"I suppose," Sesshomaru replied.
"So, what'd you want to talk about?" she mentioned, and checked the watch Naraku had lent her, "I've got class in fifteen, so…"
"It won't take long," he said, and sat down. She followed his example, and he began. "We both have our problems, correct? You with Bankotsu, and I with my brother."
"Right…and?" she prodded hesitantly.
"Don't take this the wrong way," he cautioned, "What if you and I pretended to be dating? It could possibly make Bankotsu jealous, and it would keep my brother and those crazy girls away from me."
"What?" Tori gaped at him.
"You heard me," he replied calmly, but inwardly winced. "Pathetic, Sesshomaru. You're only asking her to date you to get Inuyasha off your back? What a ridiculous excuse. Worst I've ever heard. Shut up!" he mentally ordered himself.
"Sesshomaru – the hottest, most sought-after guy on campus – is only asking me out to deter his brother and fans?" Tori asked herself, mind racing, "How sad is that?" Looking at him, she blinked. "Sure, why not? It sounds like it'll help us both."
"I'm glad we can agree," he nodded, and stood up, "Well, I'll tell my brother, and it'll soon get around campus faster than if we had called everyone we knew."
"Well…how're we going to get people to believe us?" she asked, nervous about the sudden gleam in his eye.
"This way usually works best," he murmured, before kissing her full on the lips. Tori gasped, parting her lips, but Sesshomaru quickly backed off. Oblivious to the many stares cast their way, he simply strode off, leaving Tori standing there.
She jumped in surprise as the bell rang, and dashed off to her class.
"You're what?" Inuyasha demanded shrilly, "What do you mean, you've got a girlfriend? What happened to 'I don't want to be bothered'?"
"I thought you would shut up, if I finally got a girlfriend," Sesshomaru said, with traces of annoyance. Jakotsu and Hiten, arriving from class, watched with the scene with amusement.
"Well, yeah, but…" Inuyasha stammered, and then narrowed his eyes. "You're fucking with me, aren't ya? That's what it is!"
"I assure you, there's no joke," Sesshomaru said coldly, retreating to his room. "I shall come out when dinner's ready."
Jakotsu and Inuyasha promptly hive-fived each other again, and Hiten shook his head.
"I should be getting home," he said, "Tori'll be arriving, and Naraku's got a few night classes lined up for tonight, and he'll kill me if I leave her alone. Bankotsu's meeting us there."
"Oh, really?" Jakotsu grinned slyly, and turned to Inuyasha.
"You're more devious than me, Jak," he protested, "I mean, ask Kagome, or Sango…hell, Miroku knows more than I do! Stop giving me that look! If I go in there, he'll kill me!"
"How many times has he threatened to kill you?" Jakotsu reminded him, as Hiten quietly backed away. "Come on, Inuyasha! This is perfect!"
"Hey, Hiten," Tori grinned, as Hiten and Bankotsu entered the flat. "Oh, hey, Bank. I didn't know you were coming."
"Yeah, I decided to," he shrugged nonchalantly, but Hiten knew for a fact that Bankotsu had heard about Tori and Sesshomaru's lip-lock earlier that evening.
"Well, at least I made plenty of food," she said, standing on tip-toe to reach the plates.
"I'll get it," Bankotsu offered, and leaned over her. He felt her tense underneath him, and felt his own body respond to her.
Hiten retreated to the guest room, where he was staying. For some reason he couldn't fathom, he wasn't as happy about Bankotsu showing interest in Tori as he thought he would have been. Shrugging the feelings off, he strode back into the room.
"Can you find the tea?" Tori asked him, scooping lasagna onto the plates, "You can have it hot or iced. But you know your way around the refrigerator well enough, I'm sure."
"Damn straight," Hiten replied, grinning at Bankotsu, who was surveying Tori with an unreadable look.
I wanted to put Rin and the other kids in here - they haven't been showing for a long time, so I tried to slide 'em on in. Remember...brownies and cameos for guesses! Only now I'm gonna give the sweet of your choice just for a guess! (winks) Come on...you're all sugar bunnies, I'm sure...