Chapter 04
IMPORTANT: Omg I'm so stupid! I totally forgot to mention that Kagome and Hiten and all those people live in Iowan! And Bankotsu, Jakotsu, and Enju are all moving there! If Iowan is a real place, excuse me, I thought I made it up. If it is real, just pretend its not. My bad.
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"Hiten! Will you just tell me where going already?" The raven haired girl asked for the third time, pulling her head and whipping tresses out from the unwound window. Her cheeks were now a rosy pink from the cold wind.
Hiten turned his gaze from the road and grinned at Kagome. "Why don't you look for yourself?" He gestured out the front window with a jerk of his head. Skillfully, he made a sharp turn and parked his car in a very busy parking lot.
Kagome did as she was told. Looking around confusedly after reading the huge buildings sign 'Iowan Center', she asked: "The mall?"
Hiten winked seductively. "Yeah; I just figured I would do something nice for you. Plus, it counts as bonding time, right?"
Kagome blinked in surprise, trying to process the information. Hiten. Hiten Raigekijin. Doing something nice. For me? She thought mentally.
When Kagome didn't answer him, Hiten's outgoing attitude turned to something along the lines of hurt. He reached out and grabbed Kagome's hands and held them in his, while looking her in the eye, "You'll let me do this for you, won't you?" He asked.
Kagome felt as if her feelings had taken a ride in a washing machine, getting all tossed and tumbled. She knew what she was seeing right now was the very rare side of Hiten;
The one she fell in love with.
Sometimes she swore he was one of those people with a duel personality. She loathed the one who killed Houjo and blackmailed her with her parent's lives, making her own life a living hell on the streets. But this side was so…dare she say, nice?
Kagome, you'll never be able to forgive yourself later if you say yes! Her mind screamed at her. But…when will be the next time I get to spend time with the kind, considerate Hiten?
Back in reality, Kagome nodded. At first sheepishly, but then she grew more sure of her decision, and smiled warmly. "Ok, Hiten. Let's go."
The two got out of the yellow Ferrari and, hand in hand, walked to the mall entrance. When they entered, the sound of the blaring music from each shop flooded their ears, and they were immediately fighting their way down the crowded isles.
"So, Hiten," Kagome mused thoughtfully, "You still haven't told me what we are doing here."
They braided haired man stuffed the hand that wasn't in Kagome's in his pocket and shrugged. "I want to buy you some stuff." He said coolly.
"Buy me stuff?" Kagome echoed in shock. "Like what?"
Hiten looked over his shoulder at his girl friend innocently. "Clothes, I guess. What ever you want. I'll even let you pick them out."
He'll even let me pick them out myself like a big girl? Wow, it must be Christmas all over again! Kagome retorted mentally, though only in a playful manner. Truth be told, she couldn't be happier. Was Hiten changing for her? Maybe he could put an end to threatening her parents, and they could put everything in the past.
Ka – go - me! Her mind scolded her once again. How could you so easily forget what that monster did to poor Houjo? Does his life mean anything to you?
Of course it does Kagome drawled in reply. She had forgotten about Hiten being a murderer. We'll see, She carried on defiantly, maybe he really is about to change.
Ignoring the little voice inside her head, she decided to drop her great defensive brick wall and be open to the man beside her. Maybe Hiten would amaze her, if she trusted him just this once.
"So where to first, Kagome?" Hiten asked while staring ahead.
Kagome could feel her face get hot. She knew she was flushing. "Oh – umm, just where ever our feet lead us, I guess?" She responded. She looked up and Hiten smiled at her.
Coming into sight of the first clothing store, Hiten lead Kagome in gently by the hand. Kagome recognized it right away as the store that sold the most expensive name brands. She had never been able to shop in there before.
Releasing her hand, Hiten broke off and wandered in the store, leaving Kagome to browse down the isles, looking for anything that caught her eye. Having her boyfriend literally taking her on a shopping spree made her feel slightly embarrassed. She wasn't sure why – most girls would totally flip at the idea.
Hiten popped up from around a corner, a long, beaded pearl necklace in his hand. "Do you like it?" He asked, holding up his find so she could see.
Kagome nodded. "I love it, Hiten."
Hiten moved behind Kagome and moved her long hair over to one side and did the necklace up around her neck. Then he took her hair and carefully parted it in the back and draped it over both her shoulders like a professional hair dresser, completing his masterpiece. Placing his hands on her shoulders, Hiten shunted Kagome in front of a nearby mirror hanging on the wall and let her admire the jewelry around her neck.
Kagome beamed approvingly, and glanced up and made eye contact with Hiten, who was still behind her, through the mirror. Slowly he began bringing his right hand up towards Kagome's face. Kagome watched the hand get closer, until it finally made contact and softly brushed Kagome's cheek affectionately.
Reaching to the side where a rack stood bearing all sorts of earrings and necklaces, Hiten snatched up a few different length pearl necklaces and applied them on Kagome. Now she wore a long one, a short one, and one that hung in the middle.
"That looks good." Hiten said in his usual husky voice. "Wait here."
Kagome watched as her boyfriend retreated behind another isle, and could hardly suppress a giggle. He was having a lot of fun playing dress up with her.
Within minutes, Hiten returned with something draped over his arm. He held up what was a dark plum velvet coat. With Kagome's look of awe, he helped her put it on.
"Hiten, oh, my gosh, it's beautiful." Kagome said, running her hands down the side of the coat, loving the feel of the soft material.
"What about some new jeans?" Hiten asked. "Know of any that are really in right now?"
After a little hesitation and some convincing, Kagome named off a few brand name jeans that cost between eighty and one hundred dollars. Seeing how many girls wore these jeans, Kagome was boggled at how they could afford all the different styles.
Quickly finding the jeans because they were so popular, Hiten helped Kagome find the sizes in all the styles she liked, and then waited patiently as she tried them on.
"How do these one's look?" Kagome asked, modeling a pair.
"Hot." Hiten chuckled.
When Kagome had picked out three pairs of jeans she liked, Hiten took them, the jacket and the three pearl necklaces up to the till while Kagome changed back into her usual attire. Once they were finished, Hiten handed Kagome the bags with their purchases and left the store hand in hand and moved on to the next one.
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Bankotsu glanced out the window of the speeding train. Resting his chin in his palm, he blew his coal black hair out of his face loudly. Growing uncomfortable, he sank back into the cushioned passenger chair and folded his legs, glaring daggers at Enju and Jakotsu who sat opposite him.
"Bankotsu, you're so bloody impatient!" Enju scolded exasperatedly.
"I'm not impatient; the train is taking too long!" The braided haired man complained.
Jakotsu massaged his temples, looking terribly annoyed. "Stop bickering, you too."
Bankotsu and Enju immediately directed their rage at the feminine man, knowing full well he was the one who was always complaining about something.
The rest of the train ride was quiet except for the tweaking noise Bankotsu was making with his fingers and the occasional flip of a page as Enju tackled a novel. Jakotsu was cowering away from the other two after they had forcefully shut him up.
The red headed girl could feel her eye twitch. Another crack sounded through out their room as Bankotsu cracked his knuckles for the umpteenth time. Unable to concentrate on the print in front of her, Enju leered at Bankotsu over the top of her book.
He was snarling at his own fist after discovering it wouldn't crack anymore. Soon enough, he found something equally as annoying to do. Tapping his nails on the wooden armrests on either side of him seemed to be the next best thing.
Despite Enju's desperate prayers for silence, Bankotsu had began to make a continuous beat and soon his feet had joined in too, tapping the floor mercilessly.
Jakotsu pursed his lips. Enju unconsciously dropped her book as her hands formed into fists. She swiftly stood up in outrage: she made to back hand her friend up the side of the head, seething "Bankotsu, that's-" But before she could punish him, the train skidded to a halt and she lost her balance and fell back into her chair.
"Finally!" Bankotsu breathed, standing up, acting as though he never knew Enju was there. "Let's go, slow pokes."
Enju kicked Bankotsu playfully in the behind as she followed him out of their room, Jakotsu taking up the rear. Bankotsu looked back and winked, as if the whole train incident never really happened.
Hundreds of passengers flooded out of the train as a female voice rang through the station, "You have arrived at Iowan. I repeat, Iowan. Next stop, Kobe…"
Bankotsu, Jakotsu and Enju hurried over to a man in a blue and red staff suit who was taking people's tickets and allowing people small group by small group to get their things out of the storage car. With a deadly warning sneer from Bankotsu, the man eagerly let him and his two friends pass.
"What's gotten you into such a wonderful mood?" Enju asked skeptically, opening her car door.
Bankotsu grinned innocently. "And what mood would that be?"
Enju snorted and hopped into her car, Bankotsu and Jakotsu following her example. They drove cautiously down the ramp and out of the station, until they were finally out in the open and on a road.
Inside the metallic blue Viper Bankotsu tossed his cell phone over to his brother carelessly. "Dial up Enju for me, will you?" He said more than asked without his gaze faltering from the road.
Jakotsu snorted in disappointment at his duty, and grumbled something about Bankotsu being a street safe freak under his breath. Pushing the buttons alittle too hard, he moodily dialed the number he was forced to memorize.
As Enju answered her phone, Bankotsu could see out of the corner of his eye a malicious grin curling the tips of his brother's lips. With a sickening sweet voice full of hate, Jakotsu began:
"Hello, darling."
"Jakotsu put your brother on the phone." Enju answered just as heatedly.
"Well I have to say you don't seem very happy to hear from me."
"Should I be?"
"Yes, if you are still planning to go ahead with our…shall I say, plans tonight."
Bankotsu glanced worriedly over at his brother. "You're playing with fire, Ja."
Jakotsu inched away from Bankotsu's stare as far as his seatbelt would allow him. "Shh," He hissed. "I'm talking on the phone!"
"Go to hell!" Bankotsu heard Enju scream into the phone.
"Oh yeah?" Jakotsu countered slyly. "What if I don't?"
"Then I'll punch you in the face and make sure you never have babies."
"You wouldn't dare!" Jakotsu cried in mock hurt.
"Jakotsu!" Bankotsu seethed. "Give me the phone!"
But Jakotsu just continued talking animatedly to Enju on the other line. "Sorry love, we'll have to continue this delightful conversation later. Bankotsu here is going to have a freak attack if you drive and talk at the same time for too much longer. He is really overly protective, isn't he?"
"I hope you die." Enju stated plainly.
Jakotsu's grin widened. "I love you, too." He said as he passed the phone into Bankotsu's awaiting hand and listened as his brother greeted the now grumpy female companion.
"Ok, here's the plan: we head to the apartment, unpack our belongings and get settled in, then we head off for-"
But he was interrupted as soon as Jakotsu let out an ear piercing scream, causing Bankotsu to hit the brakes hard and swerve to the side of the road.
"STOP!"
The cell phone went flying out of Bankotsu's hand and landed on the dash board as Bankotsu and Jakotsu slammed back into their seats. In the rear view mirror, Enju's racer could be seen pulling off behind them.
Jakotsu ripped off his seat belt and jumped out of the car hurriedly as if there was a fire in the car.
"What!" Bankotsu cried while trying to catch his breath.
Jakotsu gave Bankotsu a look that stated the reason was plainly obvious, then, sighing at his brother's inattentiveness, he pointed to a large building with a parking lot full of cars.
"It's a mall, silly."
Bankotsu stared at his brother in disbelief. "You almost caused us to get in an accident because you saw a mall?"
Jakotsu shrugged like it was no big deal. "I need some more clothes. Well," He stole a look at his watch, "You can pick me up here in around two hours. See yea."
Unable to speak because of his shock, we watched Jakotsu leave. Yet, as soon as the feminine man took three steps, he came rushing back to Bankotsu.
"Hey, Bankotsu…"
"What?"
With a goofy smile, Jakotsu asked, "Could you lend me some money?"
"Kiss my ass!"
A/N: I'm so sorry about the long wait for the chapter. I am still alive, and I will be trying to update more often now. I know the chapter was boring, but it leads up to a more exciting next chapter. Talk to you later. Please review and keep faith in me!
Blueeyedchibi xox