Yin Yang Souls
By: Zephyr Minamino
Chapter 9: Cancer
The following morning was a little hectic for Kagome. The slayer had gotten home around two o'clock in the morning and was immediately attacked by her mother with questions about the patrol. After having the little slices covering her skin treated, the tired girl trudged up the stairs and into her room. Needless to say she was asleep before her head touched the pillows.
Kagome slept through her alarm clock the next morning. She barely registered the entrance of Sango and Miroku. Her eyes cracked open to adjust to the light. Two blurry figures were seated next to her bed trying to whisper between the two.
"I swear, Miroku if you touch her I will personally remove your arm," Sango threatened.
"I'm hurt by you misjudgment in me, Sango my dear."
Kagome groaned into her pillows tiredly. Though he heard the sound of her two friends bickering, that didn't mean that her brain was translating it.
"Nmmmmmph…" she muttered.
"You finally awake?" Sango asked, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her friends eyes.
"Sango?" Kagome turned her head to face the two.
"Girl, you look like shit…" Sango joked.
"Funny, Sango, real funny," Kagome replied, "Why're you here again?"
"We planned to invite you out to eat on a big group date but I guess if you're too busy we could always ask Kagura to accompany us…" Sango smiled.
"Food? You wouldn't dare…" Kagome growled.
"Try me…" Sango grinned.
Kagome rubbed her eyes once more before climbing out of the nest of blankets and stumbling over to her closet and finally the bathroom. Placing the clean clothes on the toilet, she proceeded to shower.
"Thought you'd see it my way. We wouldn't invite Kagura anyway, so don't sweat over it," Sango reassured, "Miroku, no peeking!"
When Kagome emerged from the bathroom, Miroku was unconscious on the carpet and Sango was leaned up against the wall slightly pissed.
"I don't know how you put up with him…" Kagome snorted while drying her obsydian locks.
"At the moment, neither do I," Sango agreed.
Kagome tossed the wet towel into her laundry hamper, grabbed her toothbrush and brushed her teeth.
"But anyway, we're going to an Australian restaurant called, 'Outback's.' It's supposed be a fairly good restaurant," Sango explained and handed Kagome a broschure she picked up at the place beforehand. She read through the description and some of the dishes they served. Nodding her approval she finished up her grooming and rejoined Sango and the now conscious Miroku.
"You should bring someone along with us. I'm going with Miroku and Kikyo has InuYasha…"
"Woah… back up there! Since when does Kikyo, the spoil-all-our-fun, smartass friend have a boyfriend?" Kagome exclaimed.
"Nothing is set, but she's got it pretty bad for him… even if she doesn't show it. We're gonna eventually get those two together. Might as wall consider inviting His Lord Fluffyness along," Sango suggested.
"His Lord… Fluffyness?" Miroku questioned.
"His hair looks almost as soft as fur," Sango explained.
"That's for sure. You'd be amazed at all the time he spends preening himself. But he'd probably maim you if you called him that," Miroku laughed.
"Probably."
"Kouga's not coming is he?" Kagome asked suddenly.
"Nah, Kouga doesn't do 'formal' get togethers as he put it," Miroku reassured the two slayers.
"Good, not that I dislike him… it's just that…"
"He's uncivilized," Sango inserted.
"Yeah," Kagome agreed.
Miroku sighed from his spot on the carpet. The girls had become absorbed in their own world now, talking about girl things. It was a hopeless cause to try and pry them apart. He just followed behind them like a good little puppy. The slowly went down the stairs and into the kitchen. Kagome explained to her mother what was happening while Sango helped herself to the freshly baked cookies sitting on the counter.
"Okay girls, touring Kagome's lovely home was wonderful and all, but we've got places to go and people to pick up. Say goodbye," Miroku said in a sing song voice.
"Okay, see you in a couple hours or so. Love you, mama!" Kagome hugged her mother tightly and followed Sango out the door.
They followed Miroku out of the shrine. First Sango, then Kagome. They walked down the shrine stairs and down to Miroku's car parked against the side of the road. It was a sleek red 2005 Mustang GT. Miroku reached into his coat pocket and removed a ring of keys and unlocked the doors.
"Wow Miroku, never knew you had a Mustang," Kagome said in awe.
"I'm just full of surprises, aren't I?" Miroku replied playfully.
"Yeah, how'd you buy it? Did you have to auction something off?" Sango joked.
"Actually, it was a birthday present from my parents," Miroku corrected and slid into the drivers seat.
"Nice interior…" Sango trailed her fingers along the leather seats. Black leather seats, a tricked out stereo system, and fuzzy red dice hanging from the rearview mirror was Miroku's fashion taste.
"Sango, quit drooling all over the leather, you'll ruin it," Kagome mocked and crawled in behind the front passenger seat. Sango flipped the finger at her friend and grinned.
"Buckle up ladies, it's gonna be a bumpy ride," Miroku sang and shifted the car into drive.
Ten minutes later, Miroku's Mustang pulled up to the old building otherwise known as the 'Vampire's Nest.' Miroku put the vehicle in park and set the parking brake before hopping out of his car and up to the front door. He knocked cheerfully on the door and waited for an answer. The round crest on the door opened from inside and a blue eye peered out.
"Hey Zeph! Is his royal pain-in-the-ass home?" Miroku asked.
The spyhole shut and the door opened, revealing Zephyr dressed in a leather clubbing suit. "He's here, just back in his room preening himself again," the kitten grinned.
"Well, we're here to invite him out. Fetch him for us, will you?" Miroku asked.
"A party, and you didn't invite ze neko! You scandelous man, you! But sure…" Zephyr pressed on the intercom button located on the inside frame of the door. "Onii-sama? You're needed at the front."
The intercom was quiet for a brief moment before the static cleared and a gruff voice replied, "Who is it and what do they want?"
"A scandelous man and his posse," she replied.
"Chase them off…"
"Aww, but I don't wanna hurt Kagome."
"Kagome?" the voice sounded confused.
"Yeah. Kagome, Sango and Miroku."
"You and your labeling. I'll be right down…" The intercom went dead and Zephyr turned and smiled at the three.
"He'll be right down."
Sesshomaru stepped up behind Zephyr within two seconds of leaving the intercom.
"Onii-sama! Done preening?" Zephyr asked cutely.
"We groom. Birds preen." Sesshomaru corrected.
"Right… we'll you've been invited to a group date with Kagome's posse," Zephyr informed.
"……"
"Are you going?"
"Yes, join us, Sesshomaru. It'll be fun!" Kagome begged.
Sesshomaru stood emotionlessly for a few brief moments contemplating whether the whole thing was worth his time or not. Sighing, he allowed himself to be ushered to the backseat of the car. Zephyr walked up beside the window and smiled.
"Have fun! Don't do anything I would do."
Sesshomaru glanced up and gave his younger half sister a death glare. She flipped him off and backed away from the car.
"Well, see you Zephyr!" Sango called as Miroku peeled out from his parking spot and into the flow of traffic.
"I hope he blows a tire," the teen snorted as she watched the retreating car swerve back and forth on the street, "Well poo… now I have no one to talk to…"
The red Mustang swerved into a parking space in front of the restaurant. Kagome and Sango were thrown against the door while Sesshomaru somehow kept his balance and didn't budge. Miroku was beaming, due to his adrenaline rush.
"Miroku… who was stupid enough to give you a license? Cause I want to kill them!" Sango growled.
"You'll have to beat me, I wanna kill him first!" Kagome replied.
"Such negativity… I'm not that bad…"
Three pairs of eyes burned holes into Miroku's turned back. "Well, we're not getting anywhere standing here. Look, there's InuYasha and Kikyo. Shall we?" Miroku offered his arm to Sango, who reluctantly took it. Kagome slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to stand up.
"When the earth stops moving, I'll join you guys," Kagome moaned.
"Lean on my shoulder," Sesshomaru offered monotonously.
"Thanks, 'ppreciate it…" the dizzy slayer slurred.
When the two of them joined up with their group, Miroku's cheek already sported a throbbing red mark from Sango. The said slayer was standing angrily to the side. Kagome smiled sympathetically at her dear friend, who sighed in return. Sesshomaru led Kagome through the doors and into the lobby where a greeter stood waiting to guide them to their seats.
"G'day Shielas and Mates. How may in you're party today?" the greeter, Matt, asked with a genuine Australian accent.
"There's six of us tonight, my good sir," Miroku charmingly replied.
"Alright then, if you would just step this way, mates," Matt led them to a large table with six comfortable seats. They seated themselves and received the menus from Matt, who in turn gave a quick bow and left back to his post with a quick, "Someone will be by to take your orders in a few, mates."
Sesshomaru twitched at the Aussie's lingo. The thought of some guy calling him 'mate' was just creepy. He looked across the table, where InuYasha and Miroku were trying to decide what to eat. He gave a disgusted look at both of them. Gracefully, he picked up his own menu and scanned the dishes for a delectable meal. Almost everything on the menu consisted of meat, which didn't bother him at all. Finally he decided on a rack of ribs with a sweet potato side dish drizzled with heated marshmallow and butter. The waiter came by with a pad and pen to take their order of drinks and soon left again, but momentarily returned with a handful of glass mugs filled to the brim with the requested drinks.
"Here you are, mates. Are you ready to order now?" he asked.
"I'll take the rack of ribs, but hold back a bit on the sauce," Sesshomaru spoke up.
"Any sidedishes?"
"Sweet potato with marshmallow drizzle and butter."
"I'll take a steak, but could you make is small?" Kagome asked.
"A small steak for the shiela, any sideorders?"
"Salad, please."
Kyle, as the name tag read, finished jotting down the groups orders and hurried back to the kitchens. The six chatted a bit while waiting. Kagome couldn't help but feel that something was going to happen and it wasn't going to be good. The latest fight with Youki had put her on edge for any possible allies of the deceased demon. It was just too calm.
"Kagome?" Sango asked, sensing her friend's worries.
"It's nothing. Oh, the foods here," Kagome brushed off her friend's questioning eyes and put all her attention to her food.
They ate in peace for the most part of dinner. InuYasha and Miroku had a bit of a disagreement but quickly resolved it due to a couple threats from Kikyo and Sango. Kagome stretched back in her chair, her plate was empty and herself content and full. She glanced around the restaurant, admiring the sense of culture in the air. An object caught her attention. She couldn't tell very well what or who it was for it was shielded by the shadows. But she didn't like the feeling of it. The object moved away from her view. Kagome for a moment thought that it had left, but then the person, or more less a she, came crashing through the window and onto the booth's table, she knew it was nothing but trouble. She had left almost all of her gear at home. All she had on her was a plain knife tucked into the sides of her boots. The woman was about Sango's height, slightly tall and with a fighter's aura. For a choice in weapons, she wore two knuckle weapons shaped like claws. A strange symbol was etched into the sides of the weapons.
"Hmph… a party. And I wasn't invited. Shame," she said.
"Why do I think she is in aliance with Youki…" Sango muttered.
"It is too much of a coincidence. How are we going to fight her? I left all my gear at home but a measly knife," Kagome whispered.
"Lucky, I brought some throwing weapons, that's all," Sango replied.
"We'll have to make due with what we have."
The woman darted around on the tops of tables rushing towards the group. Sango's hand went to her waist while Kagome leaned down and reached inside her boot. When she drew close enough, Sango launched two kunai to her chest. The woman laughed. Her lithe body twisted around to avoid the incoming knives.
"Sorry, you'll have to do better than that," she huffed and smashed the table with her knuckles. Sesshomaru dashed with claws ready to shred something. He appeared behind her and disabled her by putting her in an arm lock. Kagome strutted up to her and looked her in the eye. "Well… look what we've caught in our little trap."
The woman sniffed angrily. Sango walked over to the weapons clutched in the lady's hands and inspected them. The word 'Cancer' was written right below the strange sign. "Cancer?" she wondered aloud.
"You really think that I'd let myself get caught so easily?" The woman laughed. She slipped through Sesshomaru's arms and jumped to a nearby table.
"No, that'd just be too easy for us. You'd bore us with such a wimpy challenge," Sango smirked.
"We'll see," the woman replied.
The two darted for each other. The woman clutching the Cancer claws and Sango armed with two more kunai. Not a good defensive weapon. The two weapons clanged together and the two got up close. Kagome was edging around behind the woman in an effort to stab her from behind.
'This isn't going anywhere…' Sesshomaru thought bitterly, 'The way this is going, they'll both just tire themselves out.'
As Kagome charged, the woman broke away and kicked Kagome towards Sango with the knife drawn. She was heading straight at her best friend and was going to fast to stop.
Zephyr Notes: Well, I finally got this chapter out. Yay, go me. Be proud of me. I finally have a good storyline for this story going. Yay! And I should get chapters out faster. I'm going to work with Our Eyes next though. It's going to be a short story so I hope to finish it fast and then get some more on this story done. Next chapter will be out in maybe a couple weeks, I have finals coming up and I'm going to be terribly busy this summer. Plus I'm turning 16! Gotta celebrate. Well, Ja matta ne!