Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.
I just want to thank all my reviews for their comments and reviews! It really inspires me to continue writing...I love you guys! This is the end, but if you have any more ideas or suggestions, or just want me to either continue or do a sequel, I'll do my best.
Another note: I don't believe Tori is a MS. Kagome and Sango aren't dropping their lives to revolve around her - they're kind-hearted people who want to help her when she's in pain. (You'll see why I'm saying this later.) I just don't think this makes her a MS, for anyone who wants to argue it.
reki-sama: You asked me in the first chapter whether or not Tori is a real anime character. I did a search, and the only Tori I came up with was in Card Captors, and he's a guy! So no, I don't believe so. Tori is an OC - original character, and one of my own making.
Please review if you read. Ideas, suggestions, comments, and opinion on whether to end or not are welcome.
Once the police had arrived at the scene, Inuyasha and Sesshomaru stayed to meet their father and clean up the mess that Juromaru had caused, while a certified pilot took Bankotsu, Renkotsu, Hiten and Tori back home.
Throughout the entire ride, Tori refused to talk to any of them, or look them in the eye. She didn't look at Bankotsu or Hiten at all, except for one agonized glance before she buried her head back in Renkotsu's shoulder, where it remained.
The three men, for their part, were mentally beating themselves for not getting there in time, but couldn't find anyone in particular to blame other than themselves.
"Tori!" Kagome cried, she and the others rushing to meet them at the flat.Kanu and Lila had returned to their flat, not wanting to be intruding at such a personal episode in the others' lives.
"Come on, we'll get you cleaned up," Sango said soothingly, and she and Kagome led Tori away, with Kirara following them happily.
"Damn it," Hiten swore softly, and this time managed to put a hole in the wall.
"You didn't get there in time, did you?" Miroku asked, saying it as a fact. Renkotsu shook his head, and then blinked.
"Wait…there's power?"
"Yeah, I got a hold of Taisho before he left for New Zealand and explained the situation," Koga explained, "Once I told him, he put a couple of guys to work on it."
Bankotsu sank in a chair, and buried his tanned face in his hands. Jakotsu flopped next to him, and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, bro," he said quietly, sympathy apparent. "I wish…we could have done something. I'm sorry, Bankotsu. It's not fair."
"No, it's not," Renkotsu said grimly, "But being fair or not is not going to change what happened. Koga, can you and Miroku please go pick up something to eat? I'm sure we'll feel slightly better with something in our stomachs."
"Sure," Miroku nodded, and glanced down the hall. "Want us to bring the girls?"
"No," Renkotsu shook his head, "Tori needs women with her at this point – she's terrified of any man touching her, myself included now that we're home. Let's leave them alone until they say so."
"Tori…" Kagome's eyes filled with tears as she and Sango cleaned the blood from Tori, and allowed them to fall into the tub.
"Do you want anything?" Sango asked, her chocolate-brown eyes filled with sympathetic pain and horror. Tori shook her head silently, and the two girls exchanged worried glances.
"Do you think she's in shock?" Kagome whispered, and Sango paused.
"If she is, it means her body's shutting down, as a form of denial and defense," she told her friend, "Going into shock, or having split-personalities, or anything like that – it's all similar. They're all an extreme way – a last resort for your body – to deny something too traumatizing to comprehend has happened. Forgetting, and burying it deep inside, is the best way at that point, in their eyes."
Kagome remained silent, and cast a worried glance at Tori. Her eyes were dull, and seemed to stare into the distance. She was responsive, but had remained mute and fairly limp during the time they had bathed her.
"All right, you should probably get into bed, if you're not hungry," Kagome decided, helping Tori to stand. Tori winced as she dried herself off, and then again as she slid into her underwear.
"This'll be more comfortable," Sango realized, and helped her into a pale fitted nightgown. Luckily, the bathroom was connected to her bedroom, so they didn't have to go into the hall. Kagome had made the bed quickly, and Kirara was purring on the futon happily.
"Do you want me to brush your hair out?" Kagome asked quietly. To both of their surprises, Tori not only nodded, but spoke.
"I'd like that. Please, Kagome," she whispered, stroking Kirara. Sango snuck out, wanting to eat something and leaving Tori to her privacy, and Kagome sat on the bed. Positioning Tori so that her back rested on Kagome's torso, Kagome began to slide the brush through Tori's thick rust-red hair.
Humming softly, Kagome began to sing a song she had learned as a child to Tori, and looked down when the hand she had resting on Tori's arm was suddenly wet. To her surprise, Tori's eyes had filled with tears.
"Tori, I'm sorry," Kagome said in dismay, but she shook her head.
"No, it's not that. It's just…" Tori trailed off for a moment before continuing. "My mother used to sing that to me when I was a girl."
"I'm all done," Kagome said, having finished brushing and braiding her hair. "You should probably get some sleep now, okay? Sango or I'll bring you something to eat later, when you're up for it."
"Thank you, Kagome," Tori said quietly, "I don't deserve this…"
"Of course you do!" Kagome exclaimed softly, and patted her hand. "Just rest, Tori. Everything's fine now."
"I made a doctor's appointment for her tomorrow," Renkotsu told Kagome, as she joined the others for dinner, "Would you or Sango – or both – be willing to come with her?"
"Of course, but are you sure it's wise to do it so soon?" Kagome asked, "She's still in shock, I think."
"The sooner, the better," Renkotsu sighed, "Who knows what Juuroumaru might have. I won't risk harming Tori anymore than necessary. Mr. Taisho is providing the city with an army of snowplows and trucks with treads until this damned snow melts."
"It can't go soon enough," Jakotsu muttered, and looked at Bankotsu, "Are you coming home with me and Hiten tonight, bro?"
"You can stay," Renkotsu interrupted quietly, "Maybe she'll need you. I think you should."
"All right, then," he nodded, "If you want me to."
"I'll take some of the leftovers home with me," Kagome announced, "There's so much food, the rest of us can eat it later tonight for another dinner if we want."
"That's fine," Renkotsu nodded, and then looked sharply at Jakotsu. "Did you call Naraku?"
"Yeah, I let him know," Jakotsu nodded, "He lives in a one-story house, so he's completely stuck until further notice."
"At least the fucking power's back on again," Hiten said sourly, standing up. "Come on, Jak – we should get going."
"We should as well," Miroku agreed, grabbing his bag, "It was our pleasure to assist you, Mr. Baird."
"Call me if she needs anything," Kagome ordered, "Dya want me to just stay?"
"No, you've done enough, Kagome," Renkotsu shook his head, "You and Sango both. Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow, then."
"Sure," Sango nodded, and the two girls followed Koga and Miroku out of the flat. Hiten stalked to the door, and Jakotsu followed him after whispering something to Bankotsu.
"Catch ya later," Hiten said, before stomping out. Jakotsu shrugged helplessly, and chased after him.
"I'll sleep on the couch," Bankotsu said, when he and Renkotsu were getting ready for sleep, "I'll check up on her every so often, Renkotsu."
Tori's brother eyed him, but merely nodded. Bankotsu winced at the thought of sleeping in the same bed that just hours before he had made love to Tori in.
"Good night then, Bankotsu," Renkotsu nodded. "Don't blame yourself," he added, before disappearing into his bedroom.
"How the fuck can I not blame myself?" Bankotsu wondered, flopping onto his back on the couch.
Not long after he had fallen asleep, Bankotsu was woken up by Kirara kneading his face.
"Ow! Damn it, Kirara, get off!" he demanded softly, but the cat refused to budge. "Is something wrong with Tori?" he guessed, trying to figure out why the loyal pet would leave her mistress.
Tiptoeing to her room, Bankotsu glanced inside. Tori lay sprawled on the bed, tossing every few seconds. Placing Kirara on the floor, he perched on the side of the bed.
Feeling the sudden weight, Tori sprang awake. At first glance, the only thing her mind registered was the fact that there was a man on her bed, and she began to cry out.
"Calm down!" Bankotsu hissed, cupping his hand over her mouth. Swallowing her yells, Tori averted her gaze from him.
Guessing the reason for her looks – or lack thereof – he winced.
"Tori, you've got nothing to be ashamed of," he whispered, "You didn't do anything – I know that. I love you, Tori, and nothing can change that. Please…look at me!"
She looked him straight in the eye, her eyes filled with pain and agony. She suddenly collapsed, and Bankotsu clutched her to his chest as she cried out her heart out, pouring all her sorrow and misery into it.
He remained silent, his hand forming a circular motion on her back. Resting his chin on her head, he balled his other hand at hearing the agony in her voice, and knowing he was powerless to do anything about it.
Tori stopped crying after a while, and rested her cheek on his collarbone. She suddenly looked up at him, and smiled slightly.
"Bankotsu…it's not your fault either," she whispered, "I know that too. Were you serious, Bankotsu…do you love me?"
"Tori…" His voice sounded strangled, and he merely held her tighter. That was enough of an answer for her, and she gladly curled into his chest.
"I love you too, Bankotsu," she murmured into his shirt, glad to feel his heat and love near her again.
Fluff! I love fluff...in moderation, of course! So, lemme know what you think, and what should happen to everyone. I'm so glad I finished this story, and for my reviewers who made it possible! (That sounds like a PBS commercial...)