A/N: Wow! Thaaaaannnnkkss to everybody for the countless reviews! I'm so happy that everyone liked the last chapter. However, I apologize to Kouga fans out there. Hehehe...
Hmm, I'm really hoping that this fic will be under 30 chapters. Eek! After reading this story over again, I should've combined the first 3-4 chapters. Bleh. :crosses fingers for a 30-chaptered fic:
Chapter 21 - Kick It UpA Notch
"Inuyasha..." he heard the voice whisper. He closed his eyes shut, hoping the voice would go away.
"Inuyasha.." it continued. Figures. Ignoring it never worked.
Lifting up his head, Inuyasha's eyes shifted around the room. His eyes stopped at a distant figure that slowly walked toward him.
"What will become of us?" She whispered. Inuyasha scratched his head.
"Kikyo?" he asked. However, the figure continued to slowly walk forward. Her long black hair was shown flowing beside her. The elegant cloth of her clothes were blown softly to the side.
"What will become of us, Inuyasha?" she repeated. "You cannot blame me for the past."
Inuyasha just smirked sadly to himself. "Can't blame you, eh? You were the one that left me, Kikyo."
"...cannot blame me for the past." the figure whispered once again.
"Damnit, you were the one that left me!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he stood up. He felt faint tears slip through the cracks of his eyes. "I gave nothing but the best to you!"
The figure continued to walk towards Inuyasha. He fell to his knees as he covered his face with clawed hands.
"I gave nothing but the best to you." he murmured from behind his palms. Suddenly, he felt the light fabric of her clothing brush against his hands. Inuyasha removed his palms from his face and looked up at the figure.
His eyes widened to see Kagome standing above him. She smiled down at him, but her eyes gazed down sadly.
"K-Kagome?" Inuyasha stuttered. Kagome nodded her head with a grin. She bent her knees to face him on the ground.
"Inuyasha, why are you crying?" she asked gently as she brought her soft hand to his face. She brushed off a tear and caressed his cheek lovingly.
Inuyasha felt a warmth upon his cheeks. He continued to stare at the girl in front of him.
"B-but...Kikyo was here..." Inuyasha stammered. Kagome shook her head.
"It was me, Inuyasha." she answered simply. "I was here all along."
"It was you?" he asked. Kagome nodded her head. "But why?"
"Don't blame me for the past, Inuyasha." she repeated the statement. Somehow, when he heard it from Kagome, the words seemed to have a whole different meaning. He felt his dog ears twitch at her voice.
"When she left me, a part of myself left as well." he looked down at his knees. Kagome lifted his chin to face her.
"Inuyasha," Kagome giggled slightly. "A piece of a person may be broken, but no one can take a part of someone away."
Inuyasha looked at Kagome with sad eyes.
"It's time for you to heal." she whispered in his dog ears. His heart jumped as the sultry voice echoed in his mind.
"But I'm alone. I was left alone." Inuyasha shook her hands away from his face.
"Have you already forgotten, Inuyasha?" she looked at him serenely. "I was here all along."
There was silence between the two. Inuyasha looked up at Kagome with compassionate eyes. For so long he felt like a solitary man with no where to go. His heart had been ripped and stolen.
And yet, here was a woman that he had least likely thought he would find in his dreams. She was bringing him back to reality. She was healing his soul. She was mending his heart.
She was with him all along.
"So what will become of us?" Inuyasha asked her as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. Kagome smiled at him her prized smile. He felt his insides turn and his breath lost.
"That's my question." she replied innocently as she moved forward and brought her lips to his. Inuyasha felt her kiss and his heart began to race. Though it was a simple and brief brush of their lips, he still felt the melting of his insides.
Getting up slowly, Inuyasha's eyes followed her as he sat on his knees. Holding out her hand, Kagome's brown eyes locked into his golden amber orbs. His eyes shifted from her hand to her face.
"You cannot fear outcomes without giving moments their chances." she said judiciously, her hand still out in the open. Inuyasha sniffed as he nodded his head. "So what will become of us?"
Placing his hand into hers, Inuyasha stood up and looked at her intently. Her brown eyes locked into his with severe hope and faith. Before he even realized his actions, Inuyasha found himself wrapping his arms around her in a tight, loving embrace. His face and tears buried into her raven black hair.
"A chance to live a moment."
---
Inuyasha shifted his face on the pillow as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked straight at the sleeping face of Kagome. A small smile crept upon his lips as he watched her.
She's...beautiful. He thought to himself, unknowing of his own thoughts. A chance to live a moment...
Fluttering her eyes open, Kagome woke up to find Inuyasha staring at her intently. She felt the burning of her cheeks rise as he continued to gaze upon her.
"Good morning, Inuyasha." she greeted uneasily. His eyes widened, as if noticing only now that she was awake.
Kagome gave a small smile as she hesitantly brought her hand to his face to push back a strand of his hair. "You're a demon again." she informed.
"No kidding?" Inuyasha finally responded as he held up his hand. He and Kagome observed the claws. Inuyasha waited for Kagome to become frightened at his hands. He waited for the fear in her eyes to arise. He waited for her to back away from him, with thoughts of a surprise attack. He waited for her to walk away, with sincere disbelief of his demonic state.
But she just smiled as if it were a human hand before her.
Kagome brought her hand and held his in the air, bringing it down in between them. She fiddled with his claws innocently. "Sorry for being a burden." she finally said. Inuyasha's dog ears twitched at her sudden apology. "And not just because of last night's encounter with Kouga."
Inuyasha opened his mouth to speak, but Kagome cut him off.
"And before you even ask, nothing happened." she finished, knowing of what he was going to say. Inuyasha stared up at the ceiling with guilt. Kagome smiled faintly as she continued. "I'm sorry for putting you in the marriage situation – resulting in taking you away from being 'the life of the party'. And I apologize for, well, judging you so quickly."
Inuyasha was silent.
"I mean, throughout the two movies we've been in together, it's only in the making of the third one that I really got to get to know you." Kagome continued, nervously picking at Inuyasha's claws. "And I almost regret the time I wasted in the two movies."
Inuyasha's silence made her even more nervous. She directed her eyes away from him, staring at nothing but their hands on top of the bed.
"You're not so bad after all." she found herself muttering. "You're funny and, though a bit arrogant, mildly kind. And you're caring..." Kagome stopped herself at once when she realized her rambling. Her cheeks began to grow hotter as they turned red. "And now I'm talking too much. Sorry." she finished nervously, stopping her fiddling with Inuyasha's claws and bringing her hand under her head.
His silence made her feel idiotic. Kagome couldn't find it in her to bring her eyes to face him.
"Well, you're right about one thing." Inuyasha finally said. "You do talk too much." he said teasingly. Kagome shifted her eyes to face him and gave a small smile.
"But you don't have to be sorry." he added. "Because if you didn't talk, I'd probably kill myself mentally from all of the silence that goes around in this hotel."
Kagome chuckled slightly. "Miroku's never silent."
"True, but I'd also mentally kill myself if I had to listen to all his talks about women for the rest of my life." Inuyasha smiled, Kagome looked at the fangs on the side of his grin.
"You're not so bad either." Inuyasha stated nonchalantly. "I haven't found anything seriously wrong with you yet. You do have 10 ten toes, right? 5 on each foot?"
Kagome eyed him oddly as she nodded slowly. Inuyasha gave her a mischievous grin as he brought his hand to her ankle. Kagome's eyes widened at the sudden grasp on her leg. She tried to shake his hand away, but he continued attempts to grab her ankle.
"Inuyasha!" she yelled out, laughing at his attempts to prove she had 10 toes. "Stop it!" she laughed. "I have ten toes! I have ten toes!"
"I'm not so sure anymore." Inuyasha replied teasingly. "Noting that you're so fickle on proving it."
He continued to try to grab her leg, and Kagome continued to laugh. Inuyasha sat up and held onto Kagome's wrists.
"Inuyasha," she smiled broadly. "I have ten toes. Trust me, I've counted. Five on the left and five on the right. I'm human." Kagome laughed.
"I wouldn't know these things about humans. I'm only half." Inuyasha joked. Kagome rolled her eyes.
"So who exactly is the one we should be checking for 5 toes on each foot?" she asked teasingly.
"Kagome?" Sango's head suddenly popped into the bedroom door. "Oh dear God!" she exclaimed as she closed her eyes shut.
"Sango!" Kagome exclaimed. She observed her and Inuyasha's positions and rolled to the side of the bed. "No, no! It's not what you think!"
"I apologize, Kagome. Miroku had a key and you weren't answering your phone so–" Sango stammered as she kept her eyes closed and held the door open slightly. Suddenly, it widened as Miroku pushed it open.
"Any indecencies?" Miroku piped in with a perverted grin on his face. He held the door knob of the bedroom as he paused at the sight. Sango sheepishly opened her eyes. "Inuyasha?.."
"Gah! Don't go on thinking things, Miroku!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he shook his head feverishly.
"I expected catching Kagome in a towel or something, but this is much better." Miroku thought aloud to himself. A vein popped on Sango's forehead as her hand wrapped into a fist.
BONK!
"I've missed doing that." Sango said triumphantly as a swirly eyed Miroku stood next to her. "Pervert." she added with a hiss.
"Give me a chance to explain!" Kagome pleaded towards Sango.
"It's okay, Kagome. Sorry to have walked in on both of your – err, personal affairs." Sango said nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"OUR WHAT!" both Inuyasha and Kagome exclaimed.
"What she means is: sorry to have walked in on you two getting biz-zay." Sango rolled her eyes at Miroku's personalized version of the word 'busy'. All three of them sweat-dropped as they watched Miroku dance the cabbage-patch.
"Shut-up, Miroku!" Inuyasha growled as he threw a pillow towards Miroku's face. Dodging it, the director stuck out his tongue at the pissed-off actor.
Rolling her eyes, Sango smacked the back of his head painfully.
"Hey! Was that necessary?" Miroku whined as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You have no idea." Sango hissed.
"We weren't doing anything though, honest." Kagome pleaded for her point. Sango sighed as she looked at the married couple. "Besides, what good of a reason would there be to sleep in a bed with Inuyasha?"
"Intimacy?" Sango asked as she shrugged her shoulder to the obvious. Kagome began to laugh severely. Inuyasha looked at her dully.
"It's not that funny." he muttered under his breath as he folded his arms across his chest. "You were the one that practically begged me to sleep next to you in the first place."
Kagome's laughter ceased at his last comment. Sango looked at Kagome with an arched brow while Miroku watched both of them with pure interest.
"Now this is a good morning." he muttered to himself as his shoulders shook from hidden laughter. Sango elbowed him in the stomach.
"Hey! I was tired!" Kagome fought back as Inuyasha sat with a smug smile.
"Feh. I'm sure you were." he said sarcastically. A vein popped on Kagome's forehead. "I bet that's what you've been planning all along – to get into bed with me."
"Oh don't hold your breath!" Kagome exclaimed. "As if you're worth a plan of seduction!"
Miroku and Sango watched from the doorframe as the two continued to throw insults.
"You think they'll ever learn?" Sango asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
"I'm hoping not. Their arguments are entertaining." Miroku grinned jokingly. Sango gave him a death glare. He chuckled and smiled. "However, in their own demented ways, yes I suppose they will." Miroku shrugged.
The arguing continued to last for several minutes until Sango cleared her throat in an obvious manner for attention. The two paused in their arguments and turned to look at the manager and director.
"Finished?" Sango asked simply as she held up her clipboard and flipped through papers. Kagome and Inuyasha shot each other eye daggers.
"Not quite." Kagome said tightly as she threatened to hit Inuyasha in the head with the back of her hand.
"Please make haste, Lady Kagome. Sango and I have a few updates to go over with you and Inuyasha." Miroku said serenely as he turned his back towards the room.
"Meat-headed-obnoxious-jerk." Kagome muttered towards Inuyasha as she hopped off of the bed. He shot her a glare as he followed suit.
"So what're you two here for?" Inuyasha asked in an irritated tone as he stretched his arms. "Besides trying to catch Kagome half-naked." he directed a glare towards Miroku, who laughed sheepishly as Sango shot him eye daggers.
"Well," Sango began as she organized several papers on top of the glass coffee table. "We have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
"The good." Inuyasha shrugged. However, at the same time it was said, Kagome had suggested they discuss 'The Bad' first. The two looked at each other with aggravation.
"Perhaps we should begin with the bad, Sango." Miroku cut in. Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest as Kagome stuck out her tongue at him.
Sighing, Sango straightened her glasses and turned to dig into her briefcase. "Kagome's publicists have been calling my phone non-stop is hopes of receiving an interview."
"They want more?" Inuyasha interrupted. He smirked. "You'd think they would've gotten over the marriage by now." he muttered. Sango pulled out a newspaper and a magazine from her briefcase and laid both of them on her lap.
"It's not about the marriage." Sango stated boldly. Kagome gave her an enquiring look. "It's about the Double-K." she finished while taking the newspaper and magazine from her lap and tossing it in front of the married couple.
Kagome's eyes widened as she looked at both of the front covers. There were photos of her breakfast date with Kouga along with the concert. The magazine had a headline titled: Unsteady Marriage? And the newspaper's headline read: Kagome Cheats Husband.
Inuyasha's eye twitched as he picked up the magazine and flipped through it's pages. There were several photos of Kouga and Kagome showing signs of affections. There were even some pictures from their old photo shoots as a couple.
"You said nothing happened.." Inuyasha said as he held up a picture in the magazine. It was of her and Kouga close together with his hand on her lower back. Miroku looked at the actor, realizing the minor hurt in his question.
Kagome shook her head with disbelief as she looked through the newspaper. Paparazzi had taken photos from their whole date together. She had no idea they were around. How could she have missed them?
"Is this what you consider 'nothing happening'?" Inuyasha asked more forcefully as he shoved the magazine closer to her face. Kagome looked up at the picture and her eyes widened.
"A-at the concert," Kagome stammered as she was still regaining from the shock. "That was taken at the concert."
"Oh really? I hadn't known that." Inuyasha said in a voice dipped with sarcasm as he took back the magazine and read its caption. "After his performance, Kouga was spotted with, what was assumed to be ex-girlfriend, Kagome Higurashi in an embrace at the Sachi Auditorium."
"I was trying to compliment him on his performance. The music was too loud!" Kagome defended as she scanned the pictures in the newspaper. Inuyasha just smirked with such disbelief.
"Here's another one," he continued reading another picture's caption. "The Double-K was spotted in the morning dining at a restaurant together. It is shown here as Kouga caresses the top of Kagome's hand in a sign of affection."
"I pulled my hand away!" Kagome exclaimed. Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he tossed the magazine onto the glass table. He turned towards the kitchen as he rubbed his clawed hands to his face. Miroku followed him while patting his back as a sign of consolation. "Sango! This is ridiculous. These people have it all wrong. I had no romantic events with Kouga whatsoever yesterday. Even if he thinks so, I felt nothing. Even when he insulted Inuyasha–"
"That bastard insulted me?" Inuyasha called from the kitchen angrily. "He deserved much more than a punch in the face."
"You did what!" Kagome exclaimed. A vein popped on Sango's forehead as she stood up.
"Enough!" she yelled, causing everyone in the room to halt and turn their attention to her. Her face fumed with irritation. "I've delayed most press conferences and have only scheduled one for today and a short one tomorrow after filming. However, filming today has been canceled due to several magazine photo shoots."
"Canceled?" Miroku shot in, a bit disappointed. Sango gave an exasperated sigh as she nodded her head. Frowning, Miroku nodded in agreement and continued on.
"So what do I tell the press?" Kagome asked as she lightly placed the newspaper on top of the magazine.
"I really don't know." Sango groaned as she sat down on the couch and massaged her temples. "I don't know much of anything right now."
Kagome pouted as she walked over and sat next to Sango. She placed a hand on her back and pat it comfortingly.
"Inuyasha and I will figure out what to say." Kagome said gently. "Don't you worry, Sango."
"I've messed things up badly, Kagome. My duty as your manager has become anything but successful." Sango took her glasses off and placed them on top of her head. She cupped her hands into her face. "This is so unprofessional." she murmured behind her hands. Kagome gave a small smile. Even in the depths of distress, Sango still put her profession over everything.
"Would you quit crying, Taijiya?" Inuyasha snapped. "Like Kagome said, we'll figure out what to say. Gain some backbone!"
"I'm not crying." Sango looked away from everyone. "I don't know what to tell everyone. How am I supposed to answer their questions?" she asked herself. Inuyasha rolled his eyes as he stomped off to face her.
"That's for us to figure out and for you to not give a shit about." he said roughly. "Our relationship is none of your business anyways. They shouldn't count on you to know what goes on in our relationship."
Kagome turned towards Inuyasha and tried to hide a smile. Even though she knew he'd never admit to it, Inuyasha was actually trying his best to cheer Sango up.
"What time is today's interview?" Kagome asked calmly. Sango wistfully looked at her watch.
"Later on in the after noon. I scheduled last minute photo shoots throughout the whole morning." Sango replied. Inuyasha and Kagome nodded their heads in understanding. "You and Inuyasha are going to have to go more public with your relationship. We can't let mistakes like this happen again."
"Go more public?" Inuyasha questioned. "Like more interviews?"
"I believe Lady Sango is referring to being seen by the public eye together. As in shopping, dining, playing, overall just being together. We need to feed the paparazzi with proof that you two are in love and a happy married couple." Miroku said sagely. Sango nodded her head sharply and smiled.
"So basically I have to walk around the streets hugging and holding Higurashi?" Inuyasha tried to confirm. Kagome's eyes shifted to him. He was staring intently at Sango and Miroku with his eyebrows knit together. She couldn't help but release a small smile. Inuyasha was determined to follow through with the plan.
"Well, since we're hanging on a limb here, you two might have to make more drastic actions. As in, the whole nine yards. Kissing, hugging, holding; things that couples do." Miroku replied. Kagome paused after hearing the word 'kissing'.
She again looked over at Inuyasha, who's expression hadn't altered. His face looked serious and understanding to Miroku's instructions.
"Public affection? Got it." Inuyasha confirmed. "Did you catch that, Higurashi?" Kagome nodded her head.
"Okay, so I'm going to go back to my hotel and organize all these upcoming events." Sango finally said as she stood up. "Your first photo shoot is in about 2 hours. I'll send for a limo to pick you two up." she turned and began to walk to the door.
"Wait, Sango?" Kagome called out. "If Inuyasha and I have finished getting ready for the photo shoot before 2 hours pass, would that be a good time to feed the paparazzi?"
"Most definitely. You two will need to exploit yourselves as much as possible. Take any chances you guys can get." Sango nodded her head as she exited through the door. Miroku followed behind her and waved a quick goodbye.
"So, are you ready to be fed to the sharks?" Kagome asked jokingly as she turned over to Inuyasha. His silver bangs covered his eyes. A smirk appeared on his lips.
"If those bastards want something to place in the media, they'd better be ready for it." Inuyasha replied. "They have no idea what's coming to them."
And with that, Inuyasha swiftly walked passed Kagome and towards the bathroom. Kagome stood still in thought about Inuyasha's words. Suddenly, a small smile crept on the sides of her lips. If Inuyasha was willing to kick the affection up a notch, surely she could!
After all, this was for publicity, right? Just publicity...
Author's Note: I wasn't sure if now was a right time to post this chapter, but I felt really bad for all of the reviewers that continued to ask for another chapter. I'm sorry if this acted more like a cliffhanger rather than furthering the fanfiction's story.
A thousand sorries to everyone for the late late late late update. I haven't been updating this story lately because I just lost allmotivation for it. After reading some of the chapters I wrote in the beginning, I really had the urge to erase thisfic all together. However, everyone's reviews have been completely inspiring and supportive. Again, I am sorry for taking so long to update.
Agggghhh! There were so many plot holes that I created when I began writing this fic and I can't believe I've forgotten a majority of them. Idiotidiotidiotidiot...but ALAS! I will either:
A) Remember them
B) Uhhh... cry and then wing everything.
Blah, but enough blabbering. Sorry for the late update AND I hope this chapter pleasing...