"I'm Goin' To Miami"
Chapter 12
"I Wish It Would Rain Down On Me"
Sango stood in the Victoria's Secret dressing room in the mall trying on numerous summer dresses. Since Kagome had gone out with Inuyasha several hours ago, she decided to hit the mall and do some window shopping. She paused inbetween dresses; Miroku had crossed her mind and nearly made her swoon. The day she had spent with him touring downtown Miami and strolling on the beach hand and hand seemed like a dream. Sango smiled as she knew it was real. She leaned on the wall beside her door, gazing up at the ceiling and sighing quietly to herself in bliss.
I'd been dreaming of this for so long. I'm so happy, I can't function. Sango giggled at that. I don't care about what happened, it's all behind me. Miroku is mine now.
"My dream has come true." Sango whispered dreamily under her breath.
"My, you were quite handsome on television, but I must say, you are most gorgeous in person, Houshi-sama."
Sango was immediately ejected from her blissful musing upon hearing that name. A woman near the women's dressing rooms spoke and giggled flirtatiously to someone with that same last name.
"You're most too kind to such a humble actor. If I may say, you are also most delectable, Miss Ruri."
Sango froze against the dressing room wall in shock. The voice that responded to the woman's advance was Miroku, spoken with his deep, seductive, playboy tone. She listened closely as the two further conversed, exchanging flirty advances.
She couldn't believe her ears as she listened to them. Miroku was in the Victoria's Secret department store picking up women! She stood stiff against the wall, staring before her in complete shock as the woman offered to take him home with her for dinner and "dessert". Miroku gladly accepted, giving a few more sultry comments.
Sango heard their footsteps fade, indicating they were leaving to go on their escapade. Her hair covered her saddened eyes.
How could he...? Sango thought, heartbroken.
Inside a Starbucks cafe, a calming song played to accompany gently falling rain outside.
Miroku was barely aware of it as he stared outside the window into the late night sky. He had gone for a short walk through the area around the hotel and came across the cafe when the rain poured down again. He was completely lost to the world as he daydreamed about Sango.
Miroku had been reflecting on his vacation, going back to the day when he arrived and met her to the previous night when he held his hand in hers while strolling down the shore of the beach. He then thought about what he had been doing with his life before he met Sango. Miroku's mind wandered as he thought about her more. A happy smile spread across his lips as he thought about having a future with her.
I just can't get Sango out of my mind. No matter what I do, she just stays with me all the time.
Miroku's thoughts paused as his face went blank.
What is it with this deja vu feeling I keep getting? I've been having it for the past week almost. Oh well, it doesn't matter anymore. I feel so great. I'm peace as long as she's with me.
As long as she's with me...
As long as she's with me...
Miroku stared curiously. That sentence echoed mysteriously in his head as if he had heard it somewhere before. Seeing something move slowly across his eyes, Miroku blinked and looked before him. One of the waitresses was leaning on the chair in front of him waving her hand across his face, wondering if he was okay. Slightly embarrassed, Miroku smiled back. The waitress gave him a friendly and sort of flirty smile, noticing her customer was very handsome.
"Are you okay? You've been staring out the window for about an hour now." She pointed out. "You must be awfully happy with that big smile and all."
Miroku chuckled, coming back to his senses. "I must be, huh? I hadn't even noticed it stopped raining."
"Also an hour ago." The waitress giggled, finding it rather funny. "If you were enjoying yourself, I apologize for disturbing you, but I don't think you'd want to stay here the rest of the night daydreaming."
Miroku stared then looked around the cafe. The staff was cleaning up and preparing to call it a night. Seeing as they were closing, he thanked his waitress for the latte and got up to leave.
"Say, if you don't have any other plans, maybe you could come by tomorrow and we could have some coffee together?" She inquired with a kind and hopeful smile.
Miroku looked back at her as he approached the door. She was a Hispanic woman with LOVELY features, just the exotic type of beauty he had wanted to see in the beginning.
He gave her an apologetic smile, mentally chuckling at the irony here. "My apologies, miss. Thank you, but I'm already spoken for."
The waitress was indeed disappointed, but bid him a good night with a smile anyway, envying the lucky woman. Miroku opened the door slowly, checking for any light drizzle. The rain had stopped completely. He walked out and headed back to the hotel.
Sango hurriedly walked from the mall back to the hotel, anguish ridden on her face.
He hasn't changed. Miroku hasn't changed. How could he...how could he do that? I don't understand how he could play me like that, or why he would play me like that.
Sango forced back her tears, trying to pay attention to the street. She had been walking around the area for a long while but the hotel was nowhere in sight. She had also taken the usual route to the mall and back with Kagome several times and nothing looked familiar. Sango looked at her watch; it was a little past eleven. She cursed herself for staying out so late and spending an hour moping in the dressing room over Miroku.
She started to become saddened again by the thought of his lecherous actions when she froze in her tracks. Sango's eyes darted around her cautiously as she heard a faint sound in the deathly quiet street.
Footsteps.
Her eyes widened in fright at the possibility of reliving her horrid memory.
"That must've been quite a sale for you to stay out so late, Sango."
The deep, ominous voice immediately registered in Sango's ears and caused her to spin around behind her.
Leaning nonchalantly on a brick wall with his arms folded was Naraku.
Sango's body instantly tensed up the second she saw him. Naraku's visage was calm and expressionless, completely unphazed by her. She noticed his strange behavior as he just stood there, but she didn't let her guard down.
"Don't take me for a fool, Naraku! You won't make it out of here alive if you try that again!" Sango threatened as she recalled the last time he had stalked her at night, taking a fighting stance.
Naraku held his position against the wall, not moving an inch. Sango observed his expression and he just continued to stare at her, appearing to be bored.
"If you're through with the Bruce Lee act, Sango, you'll notice I haven't even made a move." Naraku answered with an equally bored and sassy tone.
He saw Sango didn't relax. She obviously didn't trust him. "Don't be foolish, woman." Naraku spoke, the irritation evident in his flat tone. "By now, I would have you on the ground in my grasp. Seeing as I have yet to move from this spot, I have no intention of doing anything of the sort."
Sango seemed to ease up a little. Naraku was right. He always made some kind of move whenever he saw her and by now he would've tried something.
Naraku's blood red eyes fixed on Sango's fierce brown eyes, reading her mind through her expression.
"You're lost." He stated after a long silence.
Sango denied it. "I am not. I left the mall and wanted to go for a walk."
A small teardrop formed behind Naraku's head. Sango was such a terrible liar. "You, of all people, would take a walk at eleven o'clock at night on a dark night alone?" He rose an eyebrow, mockingly.
Sango hid the large teardrop forming in the back of her head. She never broke eye contact with Naraku; he saw the embarrassment on her face.
"So what if I am?" She finally answered, defensively.
Naraku got up from the wall and slowly walked toward Sango, who instantly braced to defend herself.
Her eyes followed him as he walked past her.
Sango looked behind her at him in confusion. She carefully turned toward Naraku in case he pulled anything. He stopped two feet in front of her and stood, silently.
His actions were completely foreign to Sango. She couldn't figure out what he was doing.
What the hell is he up to? She narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
Naraku calmly looked back at her, seeing her suspicious glare.
"You wish to remain here, Sango?" He inquired. "Remember you are lost."
"I don't need your help, Naraku!" She protested. "I can find my own way back!"
Naraku scoffed. "Your sense of direction is about as accurate as Hibiki Ryoga's. Left alone, you'd wind up in Los Angeles."
Sango snarled at the insult. She may get lost easily if she took one wrong turn, but she wasn't that bad.
"I am not escorting you to the hotel, Sango. I am only directing you to the main street leading to it. Nothing more." Naraku stated.
Sango eyed Naraku with utmost distrust. However, she was at a disposition; she was lost and had forgotten where the road she was most familiar with was. Left with no favorable option, Sango followed Naraku, but kept her distance from him. Regardless of him helping her, he was not to be trusted.
Naraku silently led the way, saying nothing more than an occasional "this way" as he turned corners. He lead Sango out of an alley to a brightly lighted street. She stepped from behind him and saw the hotel's lights in the far distance.
Naraku really wasn't plotting anything. Why is he acting like this? Sango's conclusion was still filled with distrust and confusion.
Sango glanced to her side and found Naraku standing there before her, catching her off guard. She debated as to whether or not she should thank him. His past atrocities still fresh in her mind, Sango decided against it. She turned to start walking when Naraku took hold of her shoulders. She couldn't move, frozen with fright, but then noticed that he hadn't grabbed her; he had only gently taken hold of her. She looked up at his face and his visage threw her for a loop.
Naraku was actually gazing into Sango's eyes and his expression was kindly.
Loving.
She stared up at him in shock as that was absolutely foreign to her, then the next thing Sango knew, Naraku placed his lips on hers in a gentle kiss. Her eyes widened as her body tensed, not knowing what else to do. In the second her body relaxed, Naraku broke the kiss and stared down at Sango.
"You're welcome." Naraku purred as he stepped away, giving Sango the sly and ominous smile she was familiar with.
Naraku coolly walked ahead in the direction of the hotel and made a right turn down a street corner to another road. Sango stood in place by the brick wall, staring down at the ground, her mind blank. Her fingertips touched her lips as she reminisced.
"That's how he kissed me before." Sango whispered under her breath.
She stared for a second longer, then gnashed her teeth in anger. That was what he was up to; Naraku was doing the same thing trying to reclaim her but went about it in another approach. He tried to deceive her with kindness.
Sango glared in the direction Naraku left, his fist clenched and shaking in rage. That son of a bitch! Why does he keep thinking I'm so damn easy?
She glared down in the opposite direction, regretting that she thought differently of him for even a second, when something familiar entered her eyesight. Sango lifted her eyes and stared.
Miroku stood before her.
Instantly, Sango was happy to see him, but she held back her smile as she observed his visage.
Miroku's expression was calm but had a strange look to it. His face showed calmness but also showed sadness and confusion, and the slightest tinge of anger.
Sango stared helplessly at Miroku, her mind running rampant trying to think of something to say.
"How long were you there?" She practically whispered, unable to think of anything else to say.
Miroku's expression remained. "I had just turned the corner when I saw you kiss him."
His tone was strong, keeping his emotions from getting in the way of his words. Sango's eyes trembled, thinking he had jumped to a conclusion.
"Miroku, it's not what you think." Sango protested.
She was trying to set things straight but she couldn't go any further than what she had just said. Sango questioned herself as to what truly happened. She didn't kiss Naraku back, but it seemed that in that second she relaxed, she had accepted his kiss.
Sango immediately denied it and opened her mouth when Miroku cut her off.
"Don't, Sango." His voice quiet but firm and filled with hurt. "I already know."
She looked confused. "Know what?"
Miroku's eyes narrowed in slight annoyance. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't play games with me. I already know you've been seeing him."
Sango's face almost went white that he would think that!
"You got it wrong, Miroku! I haven't been going behind your back, that was the only time that happened!"
Sango bit her tongue. She had tried to correct Miroku in her defense but ended up putting her foot in her mouth.
"And that proves me wrong, I suppose?" Miroku replied in bitter sarcasm, convinced in his opinion.
"Miroku, listen-"
Sango tried to explain but Miroku wouldn't hear her. He thought she was trying to cover up what he had seen and make excuses for it but he wouldn't be taken for a fool. Plus, it seemed to him like Sango had enjoyed herself.
"I don't understand how you could do something like this. If you weren't interested in me, you should've just told me in the beginning, Sango." Miroku's resentful tone was lined with heartbreak.
"Miroku, listen to me, that's not true!" Sango stated, frustration and tears building up inside her.
Once again she opened her mouth to explain, but silenced. She was shocked by the icy look Miroku gave her as he hardened his heart.
"Really?" Miroku replied coldly. "You played me for a fool, made me think you couldn't stand that guy so I wouldn't be suspicious, I caught you kissing him just now and you still lie to me saying it's not true?"
Sango drew back at Miroku's sharp tone.
Miroku called her a liar.
Miroku could feel the heartbreak surfacing on his face, but tried to hide it through his cold and hard visage. "I thought you were above that, but it was only part of your act. I could see you being easy, but I didn't think you'd resort to being his whore."
SLAP!
The sharp sound echoed loudly in the air.
Sango became utterly enraged upon being called Naraku's whore and silenced Miroku with a vicious slap to the face, striking him the hardest she could. His head was forced to his right side slightly farther than his neck would allow, his ebony hair covering his eyes and a blood red crimson handprint covering his left cheek. Sango's breathing was heavy from the exerted force, her gnashed teeth bared.
"Who the hell are you to call ME easy! Here you try to put me down when you're a pushover for every female that crosses your path, you damn hypocrite!
"I never deceived you, Miroku! Naraku was the one who kissed me! But that didn't mean anything because he was trying take me for a fool, thinking I'd fall for him just because he lead me back here to the hotel! But you, you go and stab me in the back flirting with another woman like I didn't mean a damn thing to you! I suppose it works to your advantage being an actor; it's so easy to deceive women just so you can get laid! If anyone is an 'easy whore', it's you, you son of a bitch!"
Sango's breath was heavy from screaming her mind in practically one breath. She looked at Miroku's face where she had slapped him. There was a thin stream of blood trickling down from the corner of his mouth. Her anger became tinged with regret.
Miroku didn't move from his position. The agonizing stinging of his cheek, along with everything else in his body, numbed with Sango's words.
Thunder rumbled faintly in the distance. Miroku finally brought his head forward, his eyes downcast and emotionless as his fingertips touched the thin trail of blood on his chin. The smell of rainwater entered his nostrils as he heard another rumble of thunder.
"I'm guessing it'll rain again soon." Miroku's tone was very quiet. "The least I can do is take you back to the hotel, Sango."
Sango hardened her heart and cast a disdainful glare upon him, speaking in the coldest tone possible, "You can cut that gentleman crap, Houshi, and screw you for thinking I'm so damn easy! I don't need anything from you. I don't care if I catch pneumonia, I'll walk back myself! Drop dead for all I care!"
With her final words to him, Miroku watched as Sango stormed off toward the hotel, vanishing from his sight within a short while.
He just watched her leave. His body felt completely lifeless as Sango spoke truthfully and upon hearing her curse him, he felt his very spirit die, being replaced with great misery.
Miroku's sad eyes narrowed, wincing.
This feeling, this pain adding to his tremendous sorrow...
His body felt heavy, but his heart was extremely weighty.
It was broken, overwhelmed with unbearable heartache.
Sango had long left, but he continued staring at the empty street before him. Miroku blinked slowly. The distant rumble of thunder grew louder and the smell of approaching rain grew stronger. His eyes downcast, Miroku turned behind him and walked down the street from the hotel, aimlessly.
Atop the building rooftops, Naraku smiled sadistically in satisfaction. He had been watching Sango and Miroku's fight the entire time, greatly pleased with the outcome. He restrained from snickering lest he make himself known.
Hahaha! Such a highly entertaining performance! I must thank you, Houshi, you've done my work for me. You will no longer be a nuisance to me. Be consumed by your grief and seek solace in death, lecherous fool.
Sango belongs to me.
No other shall have her.
Miroku walked further down the street with no destination, his head hanging and his face emotionless. He moved lifelessly, as if a zombie. He came across a bar at the corner of the street and looked up at the neon sign, "Rollin' Times" it said. Miroku walked inside, taking a seat at the counter.
You know I never meant to see you again
But I only pass by as a friend
Yeah
All this time I stayed outta sight
I started wondering why
The radio played, but Miroku didn't hear it. He leaned over on the counter, staring down in sorrow as the memories of his scenario replayed.
I called her a liar. Sango was trying to tell me what had happened and I wouldn't listen to her. I went and called Sango a liar. How could I? How could I be such a damn fool? Why didn't I think about it more? That guy could've surprised her before she could even react for all I know.
His hand filed through his hair and gripped his bangs in anguish. His grip tightened and his face grimaced as his cruel words to Sango echoed relentlessly. Miroku tried to silence his thoughts but they insisted on tormenting him. He regretted every ill word, wishing he had listened to his heart as Inuyasha had and not spoken what his eyes had seen.
Now I
Ooh, now I wish it would rain down
Down on me
Ooh yes I wish it would rain
Rain down on me now
Ooh yes I wish it would rain down
Down on me
Ooh yes I wish it would rain on me
Miroku opened his eyes and found a glass of brandy in front of him. He looked up at the bartender on his left who was filling a mug of beer for his other customers
"It's on the house, buddy." He replied after meeting Miroku's eyes. "You look like you could use a drink."
Miroku looked away to the side, not saying a word. He returned back to the glass and stared at it for a long while. The pain and heaviness in his heart returned. The heartache was unbearable. The more Miroku thought about Sango, the worse it became.
He took the glass and drank the liquor, releasing a breath as it warmed his throat. American liquor seemed much stronger to him than sake. Miroku sat still as the warm feeling faded shortly afterward. His heartache seemed to have eased a little, but then it returned. He ordered another glass of brandy and quickly drank it. His heartache eased more for a while longer, but then returned again and greater than before.
You said you didn't need me in your life
Oh, I guess you were right
Yeah
Ooh, I never meant to cause you no pain
But it looks like I did it again
Desperate to rid himself completely of his pain, Miroku ordered another, something stronger than the brandy. The bartender told him only those two glasses would be on the house. Miroku presented him with a thick wad of cash to cover every drink he would have. The bartender looked amazed at the money but made no inquiry and took it, telling him to just name whatever drink he wanted.
Outside, there was a light drizzle as Shippo walked down the streets. He thought Miami looked rather nice at night and took Satsuki on sort of a tour through the phone, readying his fox magic in case someone tried to jump him.
"Wow, Shippo, I wish I didn't have this road trip with my folks this week, then I coulda went with ya!" Satsuki complained over the phone, thinking Shippo's vacation was cooler than hers.
Shippo gave her a comforting smile. "It's okay, Satsuki. This makes things kinda interesting. It's like we're still together in a way."
She laughed. "Yeah, long distance relationship."
Shippo paused to admire the palm trees in the area, moving the cell phone around for Satsuki to see the surrounding scenery. He held the phone in one spot as he got lost in a daydream. Across the street from them, Satsuki spotted a bar, something caught her eyes when she looked inside the building as a man held the door open for a woman.
"Shippo?"
He snapped out of his daydream and brought his attention to the phone.
"Yeah, Satsuki?"
"Houshi-sama doesn't drink, does he?" She asked curiously, seeming a bit disturbed.
Shippo cocked a curious eyebrow. "Nah, he'll drink sake every now and then, but he's not a regular drinker. Why?"
Satsuki replied that she caught a glimpse of Miroku in the bar across the street. She was certain it was him, she had posters of him all over her walls so she's recognize him from any angle. After Shippo teardropped jealously, he walked to the bar and peeked inside the door.
Sure enough, the kitsune found Miroku sitting at the counter inside. Shippo caught a whiff of his scent and drew back, shielding his nose. Miroku reeked of alcohol! It took all of the kit's strength to not become sick by the nauseating smell.
Shippo closed the door, leaning on the wall outside the bar, taking in as much fresh air as his lungs would allow.
Satsuki became worried, "Shippo-chan? Shippo-chan, daijoubu ka? Doushiteno?"
Worried about Miroku, Shippo excused himself and hurriedly dialed a number.
Inuyasha lay sprawled out on the living room couch, asleep. A euphoric grin was on his face as his dream replayed his wonderful dream with Kagome. The hotel phone ejected him sharply from his blissful dream as he jumped onto the couch in a fighting stance, looking back and forth in confusion. Inuyasha's senses focused and he heard the phone ringing.
"Yeah?" He answered, thinking it was Kagome.
"Inuyasha?" Shippo answered.
The hanyou's happy tone evaporated and was replaced with a gruff and worried voice. "Shippo! Kid, where the hell are you? You know it's going on midnight?"
When Inuyasha had gotten back to the hotel, he found Sango, Miroku and Shippo were gone. He looked all around the hotel to see if they were in there someplace, but they weren't. He went back to the suite, thinking maybe they all went to catch a late movie or something. If Shippo had gone with them, Inuyasha would've heard Miroku and Sango's voices in the background.
"Uh..." The kitsune said hesitantly as he looked at the street signs, feeling a conniption approaching. "I'm on the corner of Milton Street and Estrella Road."
Inuyasha's face went blank, knowing that was a thirty minute walk from the hotel.
"WHAT! YOU IDIOT FOX! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRICKIN' NIGHT! ARE YOU OUTTA YOUR MIND!"
Shippo had to hold the phone at arm's length to preserve his hearing. Bearing the hanyou's anger, Shippo grabbed his attention, "Inuyasha look, you can beat the crap outta me all you want later! You gotta come get Miroku! He's gonna get alcohol poisoning at the rate he's going!"
Inuyasha quieted down after hearing Shippo and his worried tone. "Miroku? What're you talkin' about, Shippo?"
Shippo quickly peeked back inside the bar to check on Miroku. "He's inside this bar on Estrella and he reeks of alcohol! He's already wasted, but he's still drinking! You gotta come get him, Inuyasha!"
Miroku leaned back in his chair, finishing off another glass of liquor and making sure he got every last drop of it.. He leaned back onto the counter, staring down at it, wasted. The anguish on his face was obvious now. Miroku had gotten himself drunk to rid himself of his unbearable heartache, but with every drink he had, the pain eased for a short period and return even greater than before when he finished.
The radio continued to play, as if speaking his feelings.
I know, I know
I never meant to cause you no pain
And I realize I've let you down
Miroku stared at his glass as the bartender refilled it. His face turned emotionless though the pain in his heart escalated more.And I know in my heart it hurts
I know I'm never gonna hurt you again
No, I won't. Miroku thought, drunkenly in regret. I'll never hurt you again, Sango. I won't feel my pain any longer...I'll drink until I can't feel anything.
He rose the glass and drank the liquor at one time. Miroku released a breath when he finished the last drop and summoned the bartender for another drink.
The front door to the bar opened suddenly and Inuyasha stepped inside, his nose wrinkling at the strong smell of alcohol. Startled by the hanyou's abrupt entrance, a drunken man staggered out of his seat and stood before him, looking upset.
" 'Ey 'ook here, bud. This 'ersch's a peac'bul dwe'in. Ya don' wan' trouble...do ya?" He slurred, trying to keep his balance as he stood in one place.
"You want trouble, you old drunk?" Inuyasha growled, pissed off. His golden eyes narrowed threateningly as he was in no mood to deal with any drunks.
The man was fortunately not that drunk to respond indignantly, seeing the frightening look in Inuyasha's eyes. He stumbled backwards, trying to get out of Inuyasha's way. "Nah, nah, I'm sch say' n', you's 'ookhilie you 'na raise s'm hell 'er som'. Ah'll leave, get me a drin' 'er som'in."
"Yeah, do that." Inuyasha snarled as the man staggered to the men's bathroom.
He found Miroku on the other side of the bar and stormed over to him. Shippo stood near the door. Seeing Miroku drinking to get drunk made him very uneasy and the fact that Inuyasha was pissed off about it wasn't helping.
Inuyasha shoved at Miroku's left shoulder to get his attention. "Oi, Miroku!"
The actor turned around and glanced at the hanyou looming over him. Miroku was so drunk, he barely recognized him. He said nothing and turned back to the counter. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and growled; he wasn't going to put up with being ignored.
He grabbed Miroku's should and spoke louder. "Yo! Houshi! Miroku! Get up, we're outta here!"
"Lemme 'lone, Iuasha." Miroku slurred defensively, shaking his shoulder free of Inuyasha's grip.
Inuyasha stared confused at him. Several hours ago, Miroku was playing and joking around acting like his girlfriend, now for some reason he was totally depressed.
"What's wrong with you, Miroku?" Inuyasha's gruff tone lined with concern.
Miroku summoned the bartender again, blowing Inuyasha off. "Shu' up' n' lemme alone. I'm not goin' t' th' hotel wi' you."
"Like hell you're not!" Inuyasha argued, drawing Miroku up by his shoulder.
Miroku resisted, trying to break free of the hanyou's fierce grip. "I ain' goin', Inuasha! I'm na' dead yet!"
Inuyasha wouldn't let go. He wouldn't let Miroku take another drink in that place.
"You're going, Miroku! What would Sango think if she found you wasted in a dump like this?"
Miroku swung the back of his fist into Inuyasha's jaw, knocking him off of him. Inuyasha stumbled backward and stared at him in shock. Miroku glared at him, staggering to keep his balance.
"I said, I'm not dead yet! I can't leave!" He screamed in anguish.
Inuyasha stared a bit longer, catching the heartbroken look on the actor's face. He narrowed his eyes in regret and lunged at Miroku, sending his fist into Miroku's stomach! Miroku bent over, the wind getting knocked out of him. He gasped and gagged, falling to his knees and expelling all the liquor remaining in his stomach. Inuyasha drew him back up when Miroku swung at him again.
"Dammit, Houshi!" Inuyasha cursed, unwilling to fight his best friend.
Inuyasha subdued Miroku with a punch to his face, sending the actor spinning and crashing onto the floor. Without any further difficulty, he flung him over his shoulder and carried him out of the bar.
Shippo waited beside Inuyasha's car, waiting for him and Miroku to come out. The second he saw Miroku punch Inuyasha, he was out of there! He figured the car was the safest place to be. He saw Inuyasha walk out with the actor draped over his shoulder. Shippo was surprised he didn't beat him to bloody pulp! Carefully, Inuyasha threw Miroku onto the backseat and ordered the kitsune inside the car as he started it up. As the hanyou drove off, Shippo looked back at the drunken actor, noting he looked terrible. The bruise on Inuyasha's face where Miroku struck him throbbed painfully,. causing him to curse under his breath.
It was a great challenge for Inuyasha to haul Miroku upstairs to their suite as the sickening stench of alcohol assaulted his nose. Shippo stayed several feet behind him for the same reason. Inuyasha thanked the gods when he finally reached their door and the instant Miroku's bed came in sight, the actor was dropped onto it. Shippo put a trashcan beside the bed in case he had to puke.
Inuyasha stood by the doorway, breathing fresh air and griping. "Ugh! That's enough to make me stay away from sake! Damn Miroku! What the hell did you punch me for? You wanted me to leave you in that dump?"
Shippo gawked as he saw Inuyasha rub his injured jaw, it was swollen and bruised. It was a bit of shock to the kitsune that Miroku could actually hurt Inuyasha. He gave the same expression when he saw the same type of injury on Miroku's right cheek.
"Why did Miroku go in that bar anyway? It's not like him to drink just to get drunk." Shippo wondered quietly.
Inuyasha stared into the hallway, thinking, but unable to think of any reason.
"I don't know either. I don't see any reason for him to be so depressed. The whole vacation he was either asleep or with us having fun. And since he met Sango, he's been grinning like a happy idiot so that was proof he wasn't sick. Physically."
He and Shippo started to head out, still trying to figure out what was Miroku's ailment when they heard a noise. Inuyasha turned his ear in the direction of the sound and recognized it.
Crying.
He looked back at Miroku and found he was sobbing.
"What...?" Inuyasha uttered in pity, the heart-wrenching sound and the sight of his tears flowing down his face tore at Inuyasha and Shippo's hearts.
The alcohol began to take effect on Miroku, lulling him into a deep sleep, silencing him and the slowing the flow of his tears.
"Sango..."
Miroku's final whisper as he fell asleep, the misery still on his face.