Disclaimer: I don't own, just wish I did. :P
Author's Note: Had a bit of trouble with this chapter actually. But before I move into that, may I clarify a few things. This is important, so please read. :P You don't have to worry about Kurenai Sohma, who I'm entering in this chapter. She's from my other story, Mistaken Identity, and in there she's actually Shigure's daughter. Here, however, I'm making her another one of the many Sohma cousins, and she'll fall into the Akito/Sango subplot more than the main one. There won't be anything between her and Inuyasha that you'll want to kill me for, so when you read their encounter later on, resist the attempt to flame, hehe. :P If you want to learn more about Kurenai's weird character, just browse through Mistaken Identity. Contrary to what you may think, that is not a shameless plug...not completely, at least. :P
I'm actually a bit worried...I think I've lost quite a few readers since my last gap between updates, no matter how long I make the chapters in order to atone for it...sigh ...c'mon, guys, let me know you're still out there.
Chapter 11
Drama, Drama, Drama!
Kurenai Sohma resisted the urge to do a 180 and head for the nearest Starbucks. The cafeteria was another option, as well as the University's Health Center, where the pharmacy had a good supply of Enerva or Extra Joss, and all manner of energy drinks. What was important was getting enough caffeine or some form of energy support into her system before her head hit the steering wheel and she went to sleep permanently.
She was running late on a promise, however, and if she was going to miss it then her best excuse would be crashing her car. Not that she planned on doing so, but not doing so obligated her to do her damnedest to make it in time. Koga had been calling her cell phone frantically for the past ten minutes, and she wasn't about to pick it up and read the dozen or so (judging by the number of "Mistress, you have a message" recordings that had popped out of the speakers) messages he'd left her.
Why she'd ever made the promise she wasn't entirely sure anymore. Koga had seemed desperate at the time, though she'd felt no obligation to help him at first. They were only vague acquaintances, after all, having met during one of the numerous soccer games she'd attended when a friend had been the team's manager. Perhaps it was because Koga was getting involved with the theater guild and she'd seen it as something she could do alongside her main purpose.
Rounding the bend that brought the theater into clear view, she inwardly cursed Akito and his sudden bouts of paranoia. For head of the household he had very little faith in his family members, irregardless of the fact that they were constantly bowing to his will, no matter how erroneous in nature. Her petty little "important task" was more spying on her two favorite cousins than anything else, and she deeply resented the possibility of discrediting herself in Shigure and Ayame's books for it. Why Akito would ever dream that Ayame or Shigure would be plotting to upset his authority over the other Sohma holdings, Kurenai could only speculate. So they didn't visit as much as they used to. Maybe if he stopped bombarding them with accusations and out-of-this-world interrogations they'd feel more welcome.
But duty was duty, and her parents had maintained that she had to soothe Akito's fears instead of giving him reasons to have them. When she'd shown the slightest flicker of disagreement with him he'd rounded on her and subjected her to a full hour's worth of furious indictments about her rallying alongside Shigure and Ayame. The stark look of betrayed hurt and fear in his eyes had made her want to scream and beat some sense into him—which she'd attempted when they were younger and something similar had come to pass. It had been her who'd made him believe that no one was trying to unseat him and that everyone still cared for him then, and thus she was naturally nominated to accomplish the feat a second time.
Everyone still cared for him, one way or another. Kurenai had to admit that she did, even after all the trials he'd put her through for the most ridiculous reasons. He was possessive and paranoid and impossible to please, and he clung to her and other members of the family in a manner very much unlike a head of a household, but he was being honest when he said he loved them.
In a sick, twisted way.
It wasn't something that could be helped, and she'd come to terms with it after her parents had hauled her off a bleeding Akito and explained to her exactly why she had to be kind and gentle with him. Being the head of the Sohma household was a coveted position, but it didn't come without a price...and Akito would pay for it in full, whether he wanted the position or not to begin with. He had never been given a choice to become what he was, and in that she saw the root of all his pain and darkness.
It was her duty—in the name of the love that lived between them despite everything—to cast what light she could into his life.
Hence, she was embarking on yet another mission to ease Akito's misplaced fears. She was going to prove to him yet again that nothing was wrong, and she was going to do so as smoothly as possible. Shigure and Ayame would be more than displeased if they knew the real reason for her sudden presence at the guild, and so Koga was a necessary element of her plan.
Her phone rang again as she cruised into the parking lot and she swore violently, venting her pent up frustration by smacking it off the headboard onto the floor of the passenger's seat. She saw the upper part of the casing detach and the bright blue light went abruptly off. Taking a deep breath of satisfaction, she turned back to the road to ease into the parking slot—
And almost screamed.
Her foot slammed onto the break on reflex, sending pain shooting up her sandal-clad foot, and the seatbelt jerked painfully into her chest, robbing her of breath. Within the next millisecond the airbag was inflating and stemming any hope of inhalation, and she groped blindly for the lock of her seatbelt and the lock of the car door. She pressed frantically at the seatbelt's unlock button and had barely managed to hear the satisfying click before she slammed her shoulder into the car door and tumbled out.
It took her a full five seconds to breathe and another ten before her vision ceased to darken. She didn't care that she was wearing a crisp white blouse and camel slacks, or that her makeup had probably smeared on the airbag. As she pulled herself to her feet and winced as she put weight on the bruised foot, her livid gaze sought out the cause of all her troubles.
"You!" she hissed, injured foot forgotten as she stomped over to the young woman who was staring dazedly at the car, sitting smack in the middle of the parking slot. "What the bloody hell is wrong with you!"
"I...I..." she stuttered, pretty brown eyes fluttering torpidly as she looked from Kurenai to the car. "I..."
"You walked right in front of my car, you suicidal dolt!" Kurenai screeched, stamping her foot and then hopping about angrily, almost howling with agony as renewed pain spread through it.
"I...I did?" the girl said dumbly, a slender hand raising to her forehead.
Still holding her abused foot, Kurenai stopped and glared down at her, the logical, fair part of her mind that remained unaffected by the pain reasoning that it was just as much her fault than the girl's. If she had been looking at the road and not eyeing her swatted cell phone with such smugness, things might not have turned out so drastically. Conceding that, she crouched down slowly, her hand reaching out to tip the girl's face up.
"Do you even remember anything?" she asked seriously, worry about the girl's safety and anger at her own stupidity washing her consciousness of the pain away.
"N-No...not really," the girl responded, lowering her eyes ashamedly. "I...I was too busy thinking."
"Thinki..." Kurenai's incredulous statement trailed off as she registered the moisture on the girl's cheeks. More of it was pooling in her beautiful eyes, and her teeth were digging cruelly into her bottom lip as she fought the evident need to cry.
Acting on impulse born of years of experience with Akito, Kurenai forgot about the state of her shirt and hugged the girl close, making shushing sounds as the girl buried her face into her shoulder and sobbed not a little loudly. Her hands fisted into the material of Kurenai's blouse and her small shoulders heaved with sobs.
"I-I-I'm...s-sorry..." she mewled. "I...d-d-didn't m-mean to g-get in your w-way..."
Kurenai flinched guiltily and hugged the girl closer, deciding to use her last resort whenever Akito was at the point of hysteria that could no longer be reasoned with. It was a power she had gained from her mother, and it was risky in the context that she had many years to go before she perfected it. But the girl had obviously gone through tremendous emotional strain before the little near-accident, and the stress of what had just transpired had only doubled it. Being the empath that she was, she could feel the fragmented parts of the girl's self-control as surely as if they were her own, and reaching out she closed her fingers around the girl's mind.
Immediately the girl stilled, and Kurenai paused, wondering if she had brushed a level of consciousness that she shouldn't have. Even now, with the limited contact she'd made, a foray of images were parading before her mind and a flurry of the girl's emotions were seeping into her chest. Tension and a strange jumpy sensation in her stomach...the scream of applause...Ayame smiling up at her with approval? A deep-seated fear, and anger because it was provoked...a familiar-looking boy's face, his golden eyes filled with a confidence that made her knees weak...
"Get out of my head," the girl said with a sudden calmness.
Kurenai blinked and realized she was now staring straight into the girl's face. She had pushed away sometime in between the transmission of her thoughts and feelings, and was now regarding Kurenai with both curiosity and apprehension.
"Excuse me?" Kurenai inquired politely, not retracting her consciousness from the girl's. It was an extremely off possibility that the girl was psychic in a degree similar to her own, and perhaps she had meant the statement in a different sense.
"Your mind..." the girl said tentatively, her face clouding with confusion even as she said it. "I...I know you're using it to do something. When you pulled me close I felt as though something was pushing everything down...and it's worked. I don't feel insane anymore...but I can also feel you're in here...somewhere..."
She considered the girl quietly for a few moments. There still weren't any signs of her being something anywhere near psychic, but she had to be some kind of different if she sensed Kurenai's influence over her state of mind.
Removing her hold on the girl's mind, she gave her an apologetic smile and stood—wincing only a little this time. Her hand reached down to help the girl up, and she accepted the help with a soft, small smile.
"I—"
"Well—"
"You first," the girl said earnestly, dusting herself off and looking at Kurenai with still-bright eyes, though she was grinning at her in a valiant attempt to be cheerful.
"I'm sorry I screamed at you like that—and almost mowed you over," Kurenai said sincerely, reaching out to take the girl's hands. She eyed the tear tracks on the girl's face with a mixture of sympathy and anger at whatever—or whoever—had caused it. "You look like you've had a hell of a day."
"More or less," the girl answered with a shaky laugh. "And I'm sorry I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings. It's my fault, too. I would've yelled, if I were you."
"You want to sit down for a bit?" Kurenai offered, the girl's fervent nod making her forget whatever it was she was supposed to be doing.
"Er..." the girl gave her car an uncertain glance.
"Trust me, it'll be fine on its own for now," Kurenai reassured her, steering her towards the sidewalk.
There was a little park off the side of the theater dedicated to the theater guild's founding member. Ayame had often taken her there when she was in the area, if only to make her listen to him rant about how much more inspiring it would be if he were the one up on the pedestal in the midst of the small fountain. A gazebo was off to the side, but the girl obviously preferred the fountain, and they settled on the cool white stone. The medium-sized trees and the well-kempt bushes hid the parking lot from view, though a great deal of the theater was still visible.
"Thank you," the girl said suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence that took only a second to sink in. At Kurenai's gentle lift of her brows she flushed embarrassedly and looked down at her hands, fidgeting uncomfortably. "For whatever it is you did to me. I—I feel better now."
"Good," Kurenai approved, smiling only a little self-mockingly. "I was about to say it's all right for you to slug me. Most people don't appreciate me 'tampering' with their minds, though I assure you it's hardly tampering. More like lending you a part of my own steadiness until you can calm your erratic thoughts and feelings by yourself." She shot the girl a dubious glance. "Then again, most people don't sense that I'm in their heads to begin with."
"Yes," the girl admitted, her blush leaving a pretty stain on her cheeks as her brows contracted and she seemed to consider the idea seriously. "I'm not entirely sure how I knew. I don't think I'm psychic or anything like you, but I could feel that you were there somewhere." She looked up with mild assessment. "Please don't take offense...but what are you, exactly? You're not...you're not a demon, are you?"
Kurenai stifled a groan as a part of her she'd been certain had been asleep up to this point stirred.
"Er...no, I'm not," she answered, laughing nervously.
Not in the conventional sense, I guess...
"Huh..." Kagome replied with a doubtful look that told her she was still worried and not entirely buying Kurenai's reply.
"I'm an empath," Kurenai explained, deciding it was better she knew the lighter part of the truth. Her abilities weren't exactly what one would call "light", but the other part of her reality was several hundred tons heavier and harder to digest than simply being psychic. "I can pick up mostly on whatever's going on around me, whatever thoughts and emotions other people have."
The girl's eyes bugged out. "Omigod, that's so cool."
Kurenai smiled. "Not all the time. Especially not when you're in a crowded place or an area where there's been a lot of people. Imagine what it's like with dozens of thoughts and feelings swarming your body and your mind." She shuddered in memory of earlier days, when her powers had been young. "It's...not really pleasant. I had to learn to put up shields...filters around my mind that blocked out other people unless their feelings or thoughts were particularly strong, or directed towards me."
Now if only I could block out one in particular...
"That must have been hard for you," the girl said with sympathy, reaching out and squeezing her hand gently. "I take back what I said."
"Don't—it is cool, on occasion. It's a very useful thing, once you've got in control. That was even harder to do than protecting my mind. When I was younger, I'd reach out and do things to other people without knowing it. Like if I was feeling particularly angry with someone, or annoyed about something...well, it was a good thing my mother was on hand during most of those times. I got the ability from her, you see, and she's helped me a lot. She knew from the minute I was born that I had it, so she took care to raise me to not let myself get carried away with my emotions. She drilled it into me to always think things through, especially when it counted." She stuck her tongue out sheepishly. "I guess today counts as one of the days where I lost control."
"Well, not everybody can be in control all of the time," the girl said comfortingly. "I think you handled things very well, actually."
It wasn't exactly true, and even the girl knew it, but the words were meant kindly, and she grinned and gave the girl a friendly hug.
"Thanks," she said genuinely. "I'm glad I was able to help you—although my help had to come after almost killing you."
The girl laughed, clearly now. Careful not to brush her consciousness again, Kurenai drew in from the vibes the girl was sending out that she was really feeling much better now.
"Don't worry about it. Something had to snap me out of that daze."
"Speaking of which," Kurenai said, suddenly remembering what she had seen from the girl's mind, "I saw my cousin's face in your head. He wouldn't happen to be the reason you're crying, would he? Because if he is, I'll beat him to a pulp. That guy takes his influence on the ladies far too lightly."
The girl's brow crinkled up in confusion once again. "Er...your cousin?"
Idiot.
"Ayame Sohma," she clarified.
"You're Ayame-sempai's cousin?"
You idiot.
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself," Kurenai said with an embarrassed blush. "Kurenai Sohma."
"Nice to meet you!" the girl said excitedly. "My name's Kagome Higurashi!"
Kagome...
"...Higurashi?"
Suddenly the second silver-haired, golden-eyed figure in the girl's mind clicked into Kurenai's recognition, and she stared at the girl with now comprehending eyes.
"You're Kagome!" she exclaimed, unable to believe that she'd nearly run over the girl who'd sent the rumor mill into overdrive over the past week.
Obviously, her reaction was a wrong move, for Kagome flushed hotly and lowered her head.
"I don't think I want to know what you've heard about me..." she muttered self-consciously.
Point.
"You're right," Kurenai agreed bluntly. "You don't. But you should know that from my cousin's end it's been nothing but excited speculation, and from some others praise. You really shouldn't worry, because either way it doesn't color my opinion of you. I was just thinking how awful it would have been if I'd actually hit you with my car and dragged us both into an even juicier bite for all those wagging tongues."
Kagome laughed again, and Kurenai—as well as the part of her she deeply disliked—found that she liked the sound of it.
"It would have been really awful," Kagome agreed. "I'm glad, though, about what you said when it comes to listening to stories about me. There are more than a lot going around now that make me want to scream."
She was unhappy again, and while Kurenai didn't want to further that unhappiness, she also believed in the miracles of communication and having things out in the open.
"It's all to do with Inuyasha, huh?" she ventured impulsively.
Kagome's face fell, but she nodded. Her hands came up to smooth over her face wearily.
"He confuses me," she began before shooting Kurenai an arch look. "But you already know that, don't you?"
"I do my best not to pry," Kurenai said primly, her eyes laughing.
"Well then, now you know." Kagome splashed the fountain's water none too gently. "He's such a jerk, and there are scores of sobbing girls in his past to prove it, but there are times when he acts really nice. He makes it look like he cares, then like he only cares about that, then—"
"Clarify what you mean by 'that'."
The girl turned positively vermillion.
"You know," she whispered, swatting Kurenai's arm impatiently.
"Sex," Kurenai provided helpfully.
Huffing, Kagome shook her head to clear her mind of graphic images that she inadvertently tossed in Kurenai's direction. Blocking some stimulating scenes from her own mind—though the ever-annoying part of her wanted to pounce—she focused on Kagome, and what the girl was saying now.
"He shows up at my audition today, going for the character that ends up with mine in the play," Kagome finished unhappily, lifting her wet hand to smooth her bangs back. "I don't know what he's trying to say, but I don't trust him. He just wants me to believe his interest isn't skin-deep."
"Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn't," Kurenai said lightly, offering Kagome a supportive smile. "You're not exactly helping yourself by thinking it through the way you're doing. You can take it or push it aside, but my advice is that you stop trying to understand his motives and just focus on what's outwardly important until you're ready to face all those supposedly underlying messages. For example, if he's auditioned and you both get into the play, don't stress over what it means so much. Just concentrate on working with him as a fellow actor."
"Treat him professionally, you mean," Kagome was nodding thoughtfully.
"Exactly. In other words, don't jump the gun every time he acts in a way that confuses you. Just take the action or the statement for its superficial meaning and you'll save yourself a lot of pain. When you're ready to deal with all of it, or when he brings it out in the open, then trouble yourself with handling it."
Kagome grimaced. "Knowing Inuyasha, he's bound to bring it out in the open sooner than I'd like. But you're right. I shouldn't take him too seriously. If I play things lightly, he's bound to keep things light as well."
"That's the spirit," Kurenai chuckled, throwing her arm over Kagome's shoulders companionably. "Besides, there's a chance he might not make it into the play, you know. I was just being hypothetical when I spoke of it."
Kagome shook her head. "He's in for sure. I saw his audition, and the applause was even louder than mine."
"Oh...well then..."
Suddenly the dreaded voice in her head piped up, proving her suspicion right when she'd assumed he'd merely kept silent because he'd been too busy listening.
Looks like you've forgotten an important detail in all that gossip you've heard about Kagome Higurashi and Inuyasha Takahashi. The brawl that took place in the cafeteria the other day was over Kagome, one of the combatants being Inuyasha, and the other—
Koga.
She'd completely forgotten about Koga.
"Looks like you're feeling better now," Kurenai stated, pulling away from her new friend.
"Yes, I am," Kagome affirmed, smiling. "Thanks. You were a big help, and I owe so much to you for listening to a stranger."
"Well, we're not strangers to each other now," Kurenai pointed out. She cast a look in the direction of the theater and parking lot. "Will you be all right? I've got something to do in the theater, you see, and I'd like to stay with you but I doubt you'd want to come in."
"I'm fine here, thanks," Kagome assured her, though her head tipped to the side. "What are you going to do in the theater?" Her eyes gleamed excitedly. "You're not auditioning, are you?"
"Far from it!" Kurenai stuck her tongue out playfully, though she was sober within the second. "I'm reading for someone who's about to audition."
"Oh?"
Please don't ask, please don't ask...
"Who?"
A dark chuckle reverberated through her mind.
"Er..."
Liar, liar, pants on fire...or at least smudged with asphalt...
"Um..."
Kagome gave her a puzzled look, her eyes clouding with worry in a way that made Kurenai slump her shoulders wearily.
"Koga."
Kagome's expression froze somewhat and Kurenai resisted the urge to peek into her mind and see if the word "bitch" or "traitor" was blinking there in bright red letters.
"I...see."
"Believe me, I am sincerely regretting agreeing to help him," she said somberly. Bracing herself, she went on to ask the dreaded question. "You're not angry with me, are you?"
Kagome shook her head instantly, though her troubled expression didn't lift as much as Kurenai would have liked.
"I'm not," she insisted, catching Kurenai's expression, reaching out to give her a hug. "I'm sure you have reasons, and we didn't know each other when you made that promise. I think you wouldn't have if you knew how I feel about my situation with Koga."
"I could have guessed," Kurenai said darkly, resenting herself and the situation that had prompted this situation. "The rumor mill's very clear about your situation with Koga, though there are some who are betting you'll give in to him in the end."
"I hope they didn't bet too much," Kagome quipped mirthlessly.
Kurenai gave her shoulder a final squeeze. "I'll check up on you later, all right?"
Kagome smiled. "All right."
---
Koga.
Despite his staunch determination to keep his cool, Inuyasha barely suppressed a growl as the wolf took his turn on the stage. There were catcalls and, to Inuyasha's extreme disappointment, the annoying lack of boos, making him somewhat dislike the masses that had cheered him on earlier. How could they be so appreciative of someone who was the enemy of someone they adored?
Bloody traitors...
"Who is Ookami playing?" Kurama was asking Suikotsu, who was tapping his clipboard impatiently.
"He's winging it, too," Suikotsu replied with a grin in Inuyasha's direction. It was gone in an instant, however, and irritation flashed in his eyes as he glared down at his list. "Now if only his reader would show up, we'd officially have the most interesting audition day in the guild's recent history."
"Maybe he decided to go with a different character than they'd rehearsed, so the reader's adjusting," Kurama offered with a pacifying smile. "I had to, when Inuyasha suddenly decided to go Toby."
Inuyasha flexed his claws, wondering if it would count as the wolf's audition if he were to jump Koga and do one of the fight scenes. Only they wouldn't have swords, and they would actually be spilling blood, and they would be snarling more than speaking...
"Sorry I'm late," came a low, female voice from behind them, cutting into his thoughts with its resonance so that even Inuyasha felt compelled to turn and view its source.
"Finally," Suikotsu quipped, rolling his eyes but smiling good-naturedly at the tall young woman who'd materialized at his side. Her ebony hair was pulled back in a severe high tail, bringing her pale golden face into sharp focus. Her eyes were a study of dark blue, and she smelled...
Strange.
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd show up," Suikotsu continued, peeping at the audience again and signaling to the ushers to shut them up. "Miss...what was it again?"
"Kurenai," she provided with a flashing smile that gave Inuyasha pause. There had been something about that expression that looked like it didn't belong on her face. Her eyes were too dark, too serious for a smile so exuberant, and he made a mental note to check up on her when he had the time. If Suikotsu didn't know her it meant that she wasn't a member of the guild, or if she was then she wasn't someone of importance for the tech to take note of. He turned to Kurama and felt his trepidation increase at the sight of his friend's face.
He looked honestly angry. And not a little bit afraid.
Inuyasha wanted to ask him what he knew that would twist the usually unreadable kitsune's face with such stark emotion, but a part of him held back. Kurenai hadn't acknowledged him in the slightest since she'd arrived, but instinct—ego, some would accuse him—told him that she knew he was there.
And she was watching him.
Another reason that made her sink deeper into his D list was the fact that she was smiling encouragingly at Koga, who then proceeded to flick his brow at Inuyasha in a smug gesture before his straight, confident stance changed slightly and he moved towards the couch that served as stage props, weaving dangerously.
Wait a minute...
There were tickled whispers from the crowd that spoke of tickled glee than disapproval, causing the crawling suspicion in Inuyasha's gut to intensify and the urge to rip Koga into pieces to triple.
The wolf crashed inches from where soft cushions, swearing in a deep, guttural voice that spoke of too much liquor and one too many cigarettes. The sense of triumph that had filled Inuyasha minutes before was leaking away into fury, prompted more than anything by the mounting sense of dread. It didn't take a genius to realize who Koga was playing, and by the delighted roar from the crowd and the shattering applause as the wolf tried feebly to crawl onto the couch he had more than a little going for him.
"Damn," Kurama swore, and it was evident that he was annoyed simply because he was impressed. "This could be trouble for you, Inuyasha," he continued frankly, his green eyes hard. "I still think your performance was great, and you're definitely in the play by my book, but looking at this..."
"I get it," Inuyasha bit out, nodding grimly in acknowledgment of his friends words. There was a very good chance that both he and Koga would be in the play, but as to who got to play Toby, the odds had definitely tipped in the wolf's favor.
Kurenai was walking onto the stage, hands on hips and her honey-smooth voice lowering to a threatening pitch and hardening into something akin to steel as she expressed her outrage. Inuyasha vaguely registered that she was playing Maria, Olivia's cunning lady's maid, and as she hauled Toby—Koga, damn it, not Toby!—to lie properly on the couch Inuyasha stifled a groan.
He seriously wanted to destroy something. If it he hadn't auditioned for the same goddamn part, even he'd be laughing at the wordplay between Koga and Kurenai. There were lines that he knew weren't originally part of the script, but they only helped to amplify the humor of the conversation. The fact that Koga could adlib successfully...
Suikotsu burst out laughing at a particularly witty quip from Maria, and Inuyasha's anger was diverted from his nemesis almost entirely as something else occurred to him.
If he was completely honest and fair (well, almost completely honest and fair), he could accede that Koga was an excellent athlete, particularly on the soccer field, where his talents with the ball made up for his pointed lack of good looks. He was passably smart—Inuyasha wasn't about to believe that someone stupid could claim to be his nemesis—and probably had a few redeeming qualities Inuyasha couldn't see that made him enough competition for Kagome.
Acting, however, could not possibly be amongst them. Koga was a dirty fake and liar, but Inuyasha could see through him any time, he was sure of that. The fact that he could barely distinguish between Koga and Toby now was a testament to a skill that Koga must have acquired from someone else completely. And who else could that someone be?
"Kurenai," he growled, just as the girl delivered a punishing blow to Koga's head and stamped her foot in exasperation, her calculating demeanor dropping in the face of Toby—no, KOGA!—'s drunken incomprehension. She swore at him darkly before turning on her heel and flouncing off stage, leaving Toby to speak to himself amidst the giggle-filled applause of the audience.
Inuyasha had eyes only for the dangerous unknown. The fact that Koga could very well have upstaged his performance didn't bother him as much as the person responsible for it. She was walking towards him now, amused eyes trained straight on his as Maria dropped off the face of the earth and Kurenai resurfaced.
"You called?" she asked mildly, flipping her hair back in a casual gesture that infuriated Inuyasha even more. She seemed to be glad he was angry...
"Who the hell are you?" he snapped, barely keeping his voice in control. In the darkness of his wrath suspicion was wreaking even greater havoc on his composure. How had she heard him grind out her name from where she had stood? The center of the stage was a good twenty-five feet away.
She blinked at him innocently, her brows raising. "I beg your pardon?"
"What's your part in all this?" he went on, his tone rising dangerously as he ignored the apprehensive looks Suikotsu and the other guild members were giving him. He didn't give much of a damn anymore—not when the audience was too busy cheering Koga on. They wouldn't even notice.
"In all what, exactly?" Kurenai replied, her hands on her hips in a stance that told him he was crossing a line and she wasn't backing down now.
"Getting Koga into the play!" It was an outburst that made Koga pause amidst his bows. Inuyasha was oblivious to this as he tried to keep in mind that 1) Kurenai was a girl, 2) Ripping into her could destroy all his chances, and 3) Something about her was more dangerous than she let on—and it wouldn't be wise to tangle with her until he could sniff it out.
"It's none of your business what I choose to do," Kurenai answered coolly. "And I'm still not entirely sure what you mean by me 'getting him into the play.' He's relying on his own talent and it'll be up to the panel to decide. All I did was read lines."
"Like hell! You coached him and we both know it! Do you even know what you're doing, giving him that kind of proximity to Kagome! She's the only reason he's auditioning and I doubt she'd be happy if she found out he was in it!"
"And you think she's happy because you auditioned?" Kurenai said with a smirk that made Inuyasha freeze. Her eyes had lost all humor and her gaze shot sharply into his own, making him feel like she was prying forcefully into his mind. Mild pain was beginning to slither about his temples and he resisted the urge to place his hands over his head to make the crawling sensation stop. But Kurenai wasn't finished, and he stared at her unflinchingly as the expression in her eyes changed—still somewhat brittle, but softer nonetheless. Her jaw was also less tense, and when she continued her tone was more quiet than anything else.
"You don't know, do you?" she asked, folding her arms over her chest and looking away. The feeling of invasion dissipated almost at the same moment. "It's one of the questions that you should always consider before you decide to do something, Inuyasha."
"Don't lecture me," he warned as she neared a nerve. "It's not like Koga considered Kagome's feelings when he decided to audition for this, either."
"Well at least he's certain about his feelings for her," she responded in a pointed manner that made him bristle in affront. His mind refused to consider the implication of her words even as it sank in, though he staunchly determined that he didn't have the time nor patience to analyze the damn girl's cryptic words. Who the hell did she think she was anyway, criticizing him like that?
Kurenai turned away from him, tilting her face towards Koga, who was no longer bowing and was looking in their direction with a mix of aggression and concern. She waved cheerily at him before she turned back to Inuyasha, heading off his furious outburst before it could leave his lips.
"I think it's only fair that I give you an opportunity to ascertain yours," she said pensively. A small smile flitted briefly over her lips. "Consider it an olive branch for my 'part in all this.'"
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes suspiciously. She had three things against her at this point: she was definitely more than she let on, ergo she was shady and untrustworthy, she helped Koga further his plans, and most importantly, she dropped too many dangerous lines and implications for his liking. He wasn't about to say that she saw too much, because if she saw anything in Inuyasha's actions or demeanor, she was seriously misinterpreting it. If she thought he was confused about Kagome, she was off by a mile. He knew exactly what he felt for her and what she would be to him. To insinuate any different pissed him off just because, though a part of him insisted that if it had been any other girl but Kagome he wouldn't have cared. Let goddamn Kurenai misinterpret his feelings all she liked because it wouldn't change a thing.
Kagome's a prize to me, he repeated firmly. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Well?" he shot at her when she remained silent, making her smirk.
" 'Well' what?"
That is it.
For the second time that day, Kurama's hand prevented him from lunging forward. His gaze swung up accusingly at the kitsune before it registered that Kurama didn't seem too pleased with Koga's odd accomplice either. If anything, he looked more like the dangerous youkai Inuyasha knew as Makai's Greatest Thief. Kurama's eyes were a gold similar to his own, and his red hair didn't seem too red at the moment...
"As amusing as this game may be to you, Miss Kurenai," Kurama said in a voice octaves lower than his usual melodic one, "it's become tiresome for me. I suggest you tell Inuyasha what you have to say before I decide it isn't worth all this nonsense to hear."
Kurenai's eyes darkened almost into black, though simultaneously something seemed to spark in their depths. Her head snapped towards the stage just as Koga was walking off it and towards them, and she sighed irritably before turning to Inuyasha.
"She's in the little park past the parking lot," she informed him in a brisk undertone. "If you're both going to be in the play than you'd best deal with this now." Her eyes flamed with warning. "Don't make me regret telling you."
Inuyasha was gone before she'd finished, and she heaved another irritated sigh before she turned to stall Koga.
It was such an effort that she missed the green-gold eyes still narrowed on her figure with deep consideration.
---
"I do believe that I should come to auditions more often," Akito was concluding softly, looking at his hands in astonishment. Sango noted the slight redness on his smooth white palms—a telltale sign that he had been clapping much harder than he probably would have admitted.
"I don't think they're as successively explosive as this," Sango remarked with a smile. "Your cousins are very good showmen. If the auditions were this good, I can't imagine how great the play will be. I'm pretty sure that after those three acts things will start winding down a bit. I almost feel sorry for the people that have to come after them."
"All's fair." Akito's shrug was delicate, his expression indifferent to the girl walking up the stage to audition.
Sango considered his profile for a moment before nodding, settling back in her seat to watch. Apart from her earlier prediction, it was getting more and more difficult to focus and sit still because a good ten minutes after her turn Kagome wasn't back yet. She surmised from the fact that Inuyasha and Koga hadn't emerged either that the three stars of the day were probably receiving briefings for their roles at the very moment. Which was still probably unlikely because Koga and Inuyasha had tried for the same part. Giving rise to a different conclusion, one that made her tighten her grip on her seat. It was a no-brainer to assume that Kagome plus Koga plus Inuyasha made the formula for the A-Bomb, and with the two males going for the same role the tension would be past high.
Think, Sango, she rationalized, casting a covert look at Akito. No need to ruin a perfectly good time and react aggressively over nothing. If they were slaughtering each other you'd probably know. Sure, the backstage is pretty big, but how far would the guild members have allowed them to go? Just take it easy...
The girl auditioning wasn't bad, and she managed to keep herself from being overshadowed by the preceding three acts, if anything else. Nonetheless, she didn't hold Sango's attention as well as she might have, for no matter how hard she rationalized her instincts urged her even harder. All was not right, and she knew she had to be somewhere else, but...
Something held her there. Admittedly, it had much to do with the long white fingers currently twined with her own and the dark-eyed angel next to her who was observing the performance. Sango had to acknowledge, despite the galling amount of guilt that came with it, that Akito made her hesitate. There was darkness in his glamour, but despite it she let him have a hold on her, let a simple look from him or a small smile make her think that Kagome could handle herself and it was perfectly all right to stay right where she was.
"Akito," Sango whispered, telling herself she had to get herself out of it. If she didn't she would probably regret it the moment Akito left, and in view of the fact that Akito wouldn't be around her much (Or would he?), she was going to have to square with her instincts and her conscience on a long-term basis.
"Hmmm?" he turned to face her and she was almost lost.
"I...um...think I need to go check on Kagome," she said breathlessly, barely managing not to squirm when his thumb began tracing circles over her skin and his gaze became half-lidded.
"Now?" he asked, without any indication as to what he felt about it.
"Well...i-it's b-been quite a while since she finished," she mumbled, her head ducking to hide her flush as his thumb began circling the calluses around her palm.
"Mmmm," he assented, lifting her hand to his lips and giving it a soft kiss. "Just don't be long. I was thinking of leaving soon. If you find Miss Higurashi, she's welcome to join us for lunch."
"I...yes." She nodded and gave him a shy smile before sidling out of her seat, pausing thoughtfully in the middle of aisle as to where she should enter. The easier entrance to the backstage was up through the stage itself, but that couldn't be done without calling attention to herself. There were other entrances, but those could be accessed only by guild members or cleaning staff, and she'd have to go all the way to the main lobby...
No hope for it then, she concluded grimly, walking over to the end row so that she could go around the crowd and approach the stage as inconspicuously as possible.
Which proved to be extremely unnecessary, for in a second that seemed to flip things in her favor, the entrance only a few feet away from her was slapped open, and a face she was appallingly happy to see came into view.
"Just what are you trying to do, Kurenai?" Koga demanded furiously, causing more than a few heads to swivel in their direction.
The tall young woman next to him leveled him with an icy glare, and her low voice was sharp enough to carry into Sango's hearing.
"Koga, the only reason I agreed to accompany you back here was because you said you would behave. If you call any more attention to yourself, I promise I'll give everyone here a performance they'll never forget. And believe me, you won't like it." Her dark blue eyes seemed to flash silver in what Sango hoped was merely a trick of the light.
"Fine," Koga crossed his arms, in a move that Sango viewed as surprisingly wise, though his eyes retained their charged aggression. "Forget what I said about watching the rest of the auditions. I'm just going to go and sniff that fucking hanyou out, since you won't tell me where Kagome is."
"Koga," the girl sighed wearily, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Where is she?" Koga persisted forcefully. "You can't possibly believe that sending Inuyasha off to be alone with her is good for anybody."
"Koga, your relationship with Kagome is an issue completely separate from Inuyasha. Their problems remain unresolved. I think Kagome settled her issues with you a long time ago. Isn't that why you left?"
"Bitch!" Koga snarled, and Sango's hand jumped instinctively to reach for a weapon that wasn't there. She moved closer, but as the darkness in the strange girl's eyes seemed to swirl, she became uncertain as to whom she was supposed to protect. "What the hell do you know about any of that? If you're not going to tell me where the dog went, stay the fuck out of my business!"
"I have absolutely no concern for you, you impudent fool," the girl replied coldly, undaunted by the fact that Koga seemed very near to ripping into her. "Kagome is the only person I'm thinking about in this mess."
"Then we're on the same side," Sango ventured as boldly as she could, mustering up her courage as the girl's gaze swung to her, eyes suddenly clear and filled with stark surprise. The clouds of danger seemed to have lifted somewhat, and she approached the pair a little more easily. "I'm Kagome's best friend, Sango, and I was just about to go looking for her. She isn't in trouble, is she?"
"Now that this genius sent Inuyasha to her, she's in neck-deep," Koga snorted derisively.
"If ever that turns out to be a mistake," the girl answered hotly, "at least I won't add to it by sending another imbecile to her."
"How could you honestly think—"
"Guys!" Sango cut in desperately, feeling as though half the audience had diverted their attention to them now, her eyes roaming over the swiveling heads. "Could you please cut it out or take it outside?" Her eyes fell on the girl, whose face seemed to have suddenly turned into stone, Sango's expression earnest. "Look, I'm sure you have a good reason for telling Inuyasha where Kagome is right now. But if Kagome's in some sort of trouble that she wouldn't be back here almost a quarter of an hour after she's supposed to, I'm going to have to insist you tell me."
"And if she insists, I'm going to have to as well," came a silky voice from behind Sango.
She didn't need to glance to see that Akito had come up to her side. His fingers ghosted over the line of her shoulders before they settled on her left one, and she looked up to see him smile amiably at Koga before turning an outwardly pleasant gaze on Kurenai. Something about it made Sango shiver unpleasantly inside, but he was siding with her, wasn't he? She had absolutely no reason to be disturbed.
"My, my, Kurenai," he rhymed teasingly, "still causing so much trouble, aren't we? You're stealing so much attention from the auditions that Ayame and Shigure won't be very happy with you. Don't you have better things to do?"
"Of course, Akito," the girl named Kurenai nodded stiffly, her cheeks flushed with apparent embarrassment—or was it anger? Sango belatedly remembered that Akito was head of the Sohma household, and if her demeanor was anything to go by, the girl was obligated to do as he willed. It was obvious that she didn't want do so when she turned to Sango and briskly said, "She's in the park by the parking lot, just thinking a few things through."
The door slapped against the wall again as Koga rushed out.
"Thank you," Sango said with sincere gratitude, hesitating over whether or not to thank Akito. It seemed right, as his influence had given her the answer she needed, but actually appreciating the somewhat unjust hold he had over somebody else seemed equally wrong.
"Just keep an eye on Koga and it'll be thanks enough," Kurenai said shortly, turning away from her and blowing out a frustrated breath as she held the still-swinging door open. She had the barest glimpse of his deep blue shirt before he'd rounded the corner and she gave Sango an aggravated look. "And please, do hurry."
Sango smiled apologetically before dashing out the door in turn, leaving the two cousins in each other's company.
Akito admired the curve of his cousin's profile as she watched Sango go, reveling in the resentment in her eyes as she looked back at him and let the door swing shut. He gave her a sweet smile, his anger at the disruption of his plans with Sango ebbing away when he considered the fun he was about to have with his favorite cousin.
"I'm so glad you decided to drop by," he crooned, walking up to her and taking her hand. "Things were beginning to be so boring."
"I'm sure," Kurenai said sarcastically, though she didn't object to his touch. Instead her fingers curled around his own and she allowed him to guide her out of the theater and into the hall.
"Since you don't seem to mind slacking on your duty," Akito said mischievously, leading her down at a relaxed pace, "let's forget about Ayame and Shigure for now. There are a few paintings in this school's museum that I'd like to show you...among other things."
---
Kagome knew she was still partially brain-dead when she concluded that it was a good thing she'd almost been hit by a car. Rationally, it had been a dangerous situation that could have been fatal, but it had born delicious fruits in form of her new friend Kurenai and the clinging sense of clarity things had now. True, the latter could probably still be attributed to Kurenai's power and her advice, but Kagome felt the need to distinguish between the wonder of the woman and what she had left in her wake.
She was so right.
Why did she stress so much over Inuyasha anyway? If he was someone who wouldn't bring much good to Kagome's life, why did he have to be so important? Why did she keep giving him the power to influence her, to affect her?
A part of her was rising to answer, but the part that championed being strong for herself—the part that Kurenai had rejuvenated—resolutely shoved it down. What was important that she wasn't going to do those things anymore. She wasn't going to give Inuyasha the opportunity to affect her, because that could very well open up into an opportunity to hurt her. Once he had a way in, no matter how small, he had a venue to channel his will and wreak havoc upon her. If she presented to him a smooth, flawless shield, with nary a crack of aggression or defensiveness to show she was affected, she'd be effectively cutting him off from her.
But what about showing appreciation and sincerity? Would she have to nix those, too? Was she supposed to be a marionette around him, not responding in any way to his advances? Surely Kurenai had meant only for her to parry Inuyasha's moves instead of hitting back, not be completely unresponsive to him.
"There you are!"
Perfect timing, she groaned inwardly, despite her resolutions. Couldn't they have been given even a little time to solidify? She felt raw and vulnerable even if she was certain everything was in order in her mind, and having to deal with Inuyasha so soon was like salt on a fresh wound, though it could also be considered a test.
"Hey," she said with a tentative smile, rationalizing what Kurenai had meant by "treat the action superficially." If Inuyasha was nice, she'd be nice. If he was a jerk, she'd be a jerk. No need to analyze the why's and the so what's of things.
"What the hell are you doing out here?" he asked crossly, walking over to her from where he'd emerged through the bushes. She waited for him to reach her and plop himself next to her unceremoniously before she replied.
"Just thinking about a few things," she answered honestly, noticing with amusement the leaves that had tangled themselves in his fine hair. Her spirits were soaring with the realization that her heart wasn't aching if she didn't think about things too deeply, as Kurenai had advised, and she bit back the need to ask why what he was doing there. Instead, she gave in to the impulse to pluck the offending greenery out—a move that she would've normally thought as too encouraging of intimacy between them. It was now all right as long as she took things lightly, let him know that she didn't feel awkward around him because she had no reason to.
We're nothing special. He's not special enough to be an enemy or anything else, so treat him as nicely and politely as you would a mere acquaintance. If he plays things right, you could even modify that to "friend"...
"Couldn't you have done it in the theater?" he wanted to know, though his voice was less harsh than usual. He was looking at her carefully, and she wished she'd thought to wash her face so that he wouldn't see the tear tracks. Though it wouldn't mean anything if he asked...
"It was too noisy with applause," she explained lightly, and deciding to take the first step in shielding herself from his barbs, she gave him a playfully accusing smile. "I think I have you to blame for that."
His brows lifted and his eyes rounded in a comical expression of surprise, but a second later he was smirking smugly at her and waving his hand dismissively.
"Yeah, well," he brushed off. "You can't exactly blame them for loving how I act."
She burst out laughing at that, and inside she wondered how easy it was to handle things this way. To simply disregard all implications and deal with what was there. Sure, she didn't appreciate his bigheadedness, but it was much more enjoyable to laugh at it than to rile at him for it. And it wasn't exactly as if he were bringing anyone else down in his quest to praise himself.
"What?" he demanded indignantly.
She shook her head, still smiling. "I just think that you'll make a great drunken knight."
"Let's hope so," he grumbled, suddenly moody. He glared down into the fountain, as though its bubbling waters offended him. "Your bloody wolf auditioned for the same part and what can I say? He's way more unrefined than me, and the role isn't acting at all for him. He could get the part and just be himself. Bet that makes you happy, eh, Valentine?" he spat murderously at her.
Breathe, she reminded herself when her vision swam red. Remember, don't let him get to you. Just treat him lightly. If you open up and let everything out, he'll have a way in.
"It really doesn't make a difference," she said half-truthfully. Whoever she got as a partner she would still have to deal with someone who was showing interest in her, though dealing with Koga meant dealing with someone she understood. Inuyasha was a whole other matter, but it would never do to admit it.
"Really?" he snorted. "How so?"
"Well, firstly, the roles haven't been cast yet, so there's no point in thinking about it until they are," she smiled. "Koga could very well get Sir Toby, but I might not be Valentine. I'm sure you two were really great, and I doubt they'd take me on after comparing my audition to yours. It might've been good, but there could be others in the guild who are better and who have more experience."
He was silent as he considered that possibility, then he shrugged sharply and looked away.
"Don't be so negative," he snapped gruffly. "Fake modesty turns me off. We both know you were spectacular."
There was a deep silence after that, punctuated only by Inuyasha's irritated sigh when he caught Kagome's wide-eyed expression, followed by the swishing of his hair as he turned away huffily. Kagome could practically hear the wheels in her head scraping against each other as they struggled to begin turning, begin actually digesting what had just happened.
Inuyasha just gave me a compliment.
The delivery was way off, and there was an insult in his statement as well, but his point boiled down to a compliment.
A.
Compliment.
"Thank you," she said a little awkwardly, pulling herself together to give him a sincere smile. Pushing away her reluctance (because reluctance made things awkward), she put her hand on his shoulder, keeping it there despite the way he tensed and his head snapped in her direction. "Thank you," she repeated evenly.
His eyes narrowed, and in true Inuyasha fashion he blurted out something that threatened to upset her smooth-sailing boat.
"Something's different about you," he said suspiciously, twisting towards her so that her hand fell away and he leaned in closer. "Are you sure you're all right?"
The heady scent of him reached her nostrils and she felt instantly weak. She clung desperately to the image of Kurenai, whom she had come to regard as an idol and a mentor within a matter of minutes after they'd met, and suddenly felt ill all over again—sick at the way just a few inches nearer to him could destroy her sense of security and control. Why did he have to make her feel so damned weak?
"Kagome?" he asked softly, and she stopped herself from shying away when his hand reached up suddenly to cup her cheek. If she did that, she showed she was affected, and if she was affected...
"I'm all right," she laughed, albeit shakily, tugging at her ear in an attempt to relieve herself of the need to fidget awkwardly. "The audition just rocked me a little more than I thought it would. I can't remember a time I ever felt so insecure and scared."
"You're a lousy liar," he said quietly, and her eyes widened when his other hand suddenly reached for the hand tugging her ear. Her heart slammed against the cavity of her chest with agonizing force before racing on painfully as he leaned forward, pulling her arm over his shoulder and splaying his fingers so that he held not just her cheek but her jaw as well. Her free hand came up automatically to his chest to stop him, ending up crushed between them as a result of being unable to do so. His hot breath skimmed over her ear and she shrieked and jerked violently in his hold when his fangs abruptly connected with her soft earlobe.
"Inuyasha!" she gasped, all pretense of pretending indifference lost as her mind gave way to panic and the electricity that shot through her nerves at what he had done.
"Do you know," he whispered into her ear, his voice rich with amusement as he released her cheek and cupped her head, "that a telltale body sign of someone in the middle of lying is insistent ear-tugging?" He inhaled deeply, and when he continued speaking his voice was hoarser than before, paralyzing her even more. "Not that I needed to see that to know. I know your scent, Kagome, and I can tell when it changes. I can smell it on you, Kagome. Something's wrong that you're not telling me."
"D-Don't be ridiculous!" she insisted fervently, squirming futilely against him. "Jeez, can't a girl be shaken up over something now and then?"
He laughed at that, his chest rumbling against her own so she shivered as warmth spread through her chest.
"Fine," he acceded gently, releasing her so abruptly without warning that she very nearly collapsed into the water. The smile he gave her was predatory in the extreme, and no amount of "Don't take him too seriously" remarks in her head could make her shrug it off as nothing. "You'll tell me eventually, anyway. We're going to be spending a lot of time together once rehearsals start, Kagome."
"Don't set yourself up for disappointment," she warned darkly, glaring at him as she straightened up. "I told you that there's nothing to tell."
He gave the tracks on her cheek another speculative look before he raised his smoldering eyes to hers, all amusement suddenly vanished.
"I'll be the judge of that," he said with a finality that more than irked her, but a sudden commotion from the area of the parking lot saved her from ruining her resolve and yelling at him.
"Kagome, are you all right?"
"Koga, take it easy! You're ruining the plants!"
"Kagome!"
"Wonderful, that damn Kurenai let the bastard loose," Inuyasha cursed, his expression becoming fouler than was usual.
Kagome blinked at the name and the adjective, however before she could question him as to how he'd met Kurenai and why his opinion of her seemed quite less than favorable, Koga was racing into the clear, Sango not far behind.
"Get away from her, you bastard!" Koga yelled, and Kagome felt her heart clench in dread of a cafeteria incident replay.
"You idiot!" Sango shouted, and Kagome bolted forward as she saw her best friend launch herself at the wolf.
The result was Kagome racing to a stop before she could trip over the scrambling mass of limbs that was Koga trying to reach her and Sango trying to pin him down.
"Koga, stop it!" Kagome cried as dirt flew up to make a cloud alongside bits of grass and flowers.
"Kagome!" Koga froze, his eyes showing deep relief, and in a move that made Kagome nearly scream he twisted Sango's arm and threw her off, jumping to his feet and reaching for her.
Before she could stop herself, Kagome's palm was connecting with Koga's cheek. Pain shot up to her elbow but its effect was lost to her as fresh tears spilled down her cheek, her wrath and frustration, as well as the effect of Inuyasha's deliberate flustering, caught up with her.
"You idiot! What do you think you're doing?"
"But Kagome..." Koga reasoned, his expression stunned and not a little bit hurt. His eyes clouded with pain and anger, and he glared at Inuyasha, who seemed to be the only person happy with the situation. "What have you said to her?"
Kagome bit back a scream and clenched her fists so tightly she felt her skin break beneath her nails.
"Not him, you idiot! Sango!"
"Huh? Sa...oh." He stared at the girl who was lying in a heap several feet away. Realization struck him and his face lost its angry color as his eyes widened in concern and fright. He rushed over to her, only to be stopped by a sizeable rock crashing into his head moments before he reached her.
Kagome screamed as she saw blood, and her knees gave way. Strong arms were wrapping around her in a second and she felt her feet leave the ground a second before she lost sight of what was happening, her face pressed against a solid heat. The familiar scent invaded her senses and she clung to it, closing her eyes and burrowing into his warmth as a chill voice rang into the air.
"Don't touch her, you careless fool."
Kagome's heart stopped and her eyes snapped open.
Is that...?
"Show up after your precious girlfriend's been hurt," Inuyasha sneered, cradling his Kagome carefully against his chest, his arm supporting her back even as his hand massaged her neck soothingly. "Some hero you are, Miroku."
His best friend's eyes turned positively glacial. Inuyasha had been too pleased at the hurt Kagome had inflicted on Koga to bother picking up much else in his surroundings, so he had to admit to a little surprise at Miroku's sudden appearance. His reaction Inuyasha was not surprised about, however, and if he wasn't certain Miroku would kill him for it, he'd clap his hands with glee at what had just occurred. Not that he was happy that Sango had been hurt, but he was indefinably pleased something had finally pushed Miroku into showing the affection he kept under impossibly tight guard. After all, it was clear the girl liked him. It was just too bad that she had to get hurt to push him into showing he liked her back.
"That's not funny, Inuyasha," he stated in a flat voice, though his expression was as turbulent as a stormy sea. He turned away without further word and walked over to where Sango still had not stirred.
Inside the theater, blessedly unaware of what had just taken place, Shigure and Ayame came to a decision.
Further Notes: To my non-member reviewers, my word of thanks:
Charlotte Smith: THANK YOU! ;P That's about the nicest compliment anyone's ever given me about my writing, and it came at just the right time! ;P I hope this chapter came soon enough for you, even if it's still later than I promised, and I really hope to be hearing from you soon! ;P THANK YOU! ;P
aya-kun: Hehe, thanks! ;P I'm always worrying about my being detailed sometimes getting too detailed that it's boring, so I'm glad to know you appreciate it. :P Hope to hear from you soon! ;P