The It Couple
Chapter Nine
"Hello, party people!" Kouga opened the limo door and shoved his way in, he and Ayame scooting onto a plush bench seat right by the door.
Kagome had never actually met Kouga (or Ayame, who she had last seen on TV in a million-dollar diamond-encrusted bra and giant angel wings, standing next to Bruno Mars), but she smiled warmly in greeting.
Kikyou, seated with Naraku at the back of the limo, raised a hand in a small wave and leaned back and crossed her legs. Naraku seemed a little excited to see Kouga; no wonder, since Kouga was getting exactly the roles Naraku dreamed of getting. Kagome hoped she wouldn't have to restrain him from trying to go sit by Kouga and talk to him about workout and diet tips.
Sango was making Kagome struggle not to laugh. As tough as she talked, Sango was at her core a good old-fashioned movie fangirl, and the sight of Kouga had sent her cheeks into a lovely flush. "It's lovely to finally meet you," Sango said, and Kagome could hear her struggling to keep her voice steady, "I'm Sango Ryoshi, the new Sunrise Studios publicist."
Miroku threw an arm around Sango's shoulders, clearly emboldened by the champagne he was drinking. "Hey Kouga. Hello Ayame, pleasure to meet you. I'm Miroku Houshi, the old Sunrise Studios publicist."
Kouga raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Ayame, poor dear, looked genuinely confused.
"Where's Inuyasha?" Miroku asked as Sango glared at him and gently shrugged out of his grip.
"He's coming," Kouga said, nodding his head out the open limo door.
Kagome turned to look over her shoulder out the window.
Damn, boy.
He was wearing a navy blue pinstriped tux lined with lighter blue velvet piping down the front of the suit jacket. He looked like a goddamn marble statue, a golden god.
Couldn't find yourself a nice, normal guy, could you Kagome. Had to go and crush on the most unattainable man in the history of the modern world. Way to go.
Kagome swallowed as he stepped inside. Her throat was suddenly quite dry.
Inuyasha glanced around the spacious interior of the car, letting his eyes rest on Kikyou for a brief moment. She looked back at him, expressionless.
"Hello, all," he muttered, averting his gaze and turning to Kagome, "Kagome, look at you! You look like a girl for once."
Kagome smiled, her cheeks pink. "Thanks a lot," she said as Inuyasha sat next to her.
"He's right, Kagome," Miroku said, sipping his champagne, "You're beautiful. You're glowing."
From the corner of his eye, Inuyasha saw Sango elbow Miroku hard in the ribs. Kagome, for her part, just laughed.
"Miroku," she said, batting her long lashes playfully, "You do know how to turn a phrase."
"Alright, alright," Inuyasha said with an eyeroll and a smirk, "Pipe down, you two."
"Wait, come here," Kagome said, reaching onto the front of his jacket suddenly and picking off a piece of lint. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on getting him all spic and span. "What did you do," she said softly, "Roll in a pile of dirt?"
"You know me," he said, "Filthy bastard I am."
She picked off the last piece and said, "There, good to go," then looked up at him, her smile easy and warm like it always was.
"You really do look fantastic," Inuyasha said, surprised at himself and his low tone of voice as he leaned down towards her ear, "The dress is great."
Kagome's blue eyes widened and she opened her mouth to reply when Kikyou spoke up from the rear of the vehicle.
"It was mine last season."
The second Kikyou spoke, one could almost hear a snapping sound as Inuyasha turned towards her. Immediately, Kagome felt like she'd been stuck into a colorless, soundproof box.
"Was it?" Inuyasha stared at Kikyou evenly, his eyes narrowed, "It doesn't seem your type at all."
"That's why Kagome is wearing it, silly," Kikyou said, rearranging her pearl-encrusted clutch on her lap, "I always found cocktail gowns a little childish-looking on me, don't you agree?"
"Cut it out, Kikyou," Inuyasha said, not looking at Kagome, "Leave the kid alone."
The air left Kagome's lungs so quickly she was surprised she didn't cough.
She looked across the aisle at Miroku and Sango, who were stopped short and staring at Kikyou with mouths slightly agape. She knew they were outraged on her behalf, but that didn't make it much better.
"Hey, bro," Naraku said, glaring at Inuyasha and grabbing Kikyou's hand, "Don't talk to my girl like that."
Kagome winced.
Inuyasha let out a sound that sounded almost like a growl and opened his mouth to retort, but Kouga stood up and grabbed Kagome by the hand.
Kagome was too stunned to react and was pulled along down the bench seat until she was between Kouga and Ayame. Ayame smiled at her in a blank yet friendly manner, then went back to her glass of champagne.
"Kagome, was it?" Kouga asked. Kagome nodded, a little too surprised still to answer. She supposed she would never get used to it, seeing these sorts of people in movies and magazines for years and then coming face-to-face with them in real life.
"Lovely to meet you," Kouga said, giving her a wink, "Champagne?"
Kagome couldn't remember when she had been more grateful. She took the glass and glanced back at Inuyasha, who was staring at her and Kouga, still looking annoyed but sufficiently distracted from Kikyou.
Her sister, on the other hand, was giving her 'the look,' the withering glance of the goddess. Kagome cleared her throat and picked at the lace on her skirt with one hand.
This was going to be a long night.
The limo rolled to a stop.
"Here we are," said Miroku, clearing his throat, setting down his glass, and straightening his suit jacket. "Okay, folks, Sango and I will obviously get out first, since we're peons and not talent." There was a small chuckle amongst the group.
"And then," Miroku continued, looking around, "I suppose we'll do Kouga and Ayame, then Naraku and Kikyou with Kagome, and then Inuyasha. Mind bringing up the rear?"
Inuyasha shook his head. "No problem."
"Excuse me," Kikyou said, not looking up from her compact where she was checking her lipstick, "I didn't realize you were still calling the shots, Miroku. It was my impression you don't represent the studio anymore, but Inuyasha alone. Of course you'd put your own client last. Sango, dear, I'm not anyone's opening act. I'm sure you understand." She raised her eyes to look pointedly at the girl seated next to Miroku.
Miroku gave a weak chuckle and wished murder were legal in extenuating circumstances. I could claim temporary insanity and I'd have at least six witnesses to back up my story-stop. Wait. Oscar. Oscar. Oscar. You are an oak. You are unmovable. You are in control.
Sango, for her part, blinked in surprise at Kikyou's statement, then glanced up at him, her eyes searching him for annoyance or anger. He decided to reassure her, squeezing her hand once where no one could see. It almost made him laugh how a gesture that simple could make her flush, and she immediately snapped back into publicist mode.
"Inuyasha?" Sango asked, looking across the aisle.
Inuyasha was glaring at Kikyou. "It's fine," he ground out, "Let her go last."
God, this was uncomfortable. Great idea, Sango, put the feuding ex-lovers and the new paramours all in one car together. I wish I were dead. Oscar. Oscar. Oscar.
Kikyou smirked at the rest of the vehicle's inhabitants, releasing her left hand from where Naraku held it on his lap. "I didn't mean that," she said sweetly, "Inuyasha, I think we should go out together."
Naraku spluttered. "Wh-what?"
Kikyou placed a hand on Naraku's cheek. "Oh, honey, don't. This is an important night; the press wants to see that we all are still friends and we all get along famously. You understand that, don't you? It will be good for all of us."
Naraku put his hand over hers and they immediately looked like they were about to start sucking face. Inuyasha, for his part, looked like he was about to jump Naraku and rip him in half.
"Kikyou," Kagome said quickly, "Your lipstick. Don't want to smear it." Kikyou immediately pulled away from Naraku after patting his cheek once.
God bless you, you sweet angel of mercy, Miroku thought, thinking he might have to give Kagome a gift after this whole thing was over. "Alright, so new order. Me and Sango, then Kouga and Ayame, and then all four of you at once."
The limo door opened to a flash of camera bulbs and thousands of people screaming.
"Okay, babe," Miroku said quietly to Sango, who was looking a bit like a deer in the headlights, "Your first red carpet. Let's go be fancy."
"Here they are, folks," a reporter cried into her microphone, struggling for space in the pushing and shoving crowd, "Your It Couple, Inuyasha Takahashi and Kikyou Higurashi, together again for the first time in six months! And with Kikyou's new love, Naraku, by her side! Looks like there's been a hatchet buried recently! How are the two of you? You look happy to be reunited!"
"Oh, we are," said Kikyou as they walked by, making sure to tilt her chin to give her best angle to the cameras, "It's been amazing!"
Kagome followed along behind, holding Kikyou's clutch and her own small purse, a full foot shorter than all three of them (with Kikyou in her heels anyway).
She stared at the back of Inuyasha's head. He was doing his best not to look in Kikyou's direction, and whenever Kikyou turned to look at him he would find someone new in the crowd to wave at and focus his attention onto.
Kikyou, her arm linked with Naraku's, had the charm turned on full-force. It always left Kagome in awe, watching her sister relate with the public. Her fans had always adored her, and she had returned the favor by making herself into the princess, the idol, the one they all wanted to be. It was always hard to reconcile the public Kikyou with the private one for Kagome.
A reporter waved them down for an interview. There wouldn't be too many of these tonight, since Inuyasha and Kikyou weren't actually in this movie that was premiering, but Kagome had known that it would be hard for the press to resist getting what they could. It was their first time on the red carpet together since the breakup to end all breakups.
After the reporter, a young woman with a short black bob of hair, respectfully declined to have Naraku in frame for the interview (because of course she did, who would want Naraku crowding the It Couple), Kagome pulled her sister's boyfriend off to the side, where they stood watching.
"Hello, I'm Yura Kaminoke, Entertainment News Tonight, coming to you live from Grauman's Chinese Theater for the red carpet premiere of 'Blades of Blood and Glory!' And look who I have with me! Kikyasha fans, rejoice!"
Kikyou and Inuyasha demurred with quiet chuckles. Inuyasha shot Kagome a look only she noticed, and she fought the urge to laugh.
"So it certainly looks to me like you two have reconciled. Any confirmation on that front?"
"We're just good friends," Inuyasha said, flashing that winning smile like only he could.
"That's right," Kikyou said, laying her hand on Inuyasha's shoulder, "We've always been there for each other and we always will be, even outside of a relationship."
Yura Kaminoke smiled eagerly. "Your new film together, 'The Red Robe,' was filmed during your, some would say, tumultuous breakup earlier this year. How does it feel now to reunite? Are you eager to work with each other together in the future?"
"I would say, never say never!" Kikyou said animatedly, her hand still on Inuyasha's shoulder, "Like I said, we're still very close, and I wholeheartedly respect Inuyasha as an artist and as an actor. We'll see!"
Inuyasha gave a nod and a small shrug. Kagome wanted to rush forward and hug him.
"Celebtattle-dot-com just posted a series of photos of the two of you having a secret rendezvous just last night in MacArthur Park," Yura pounced, "Do you have a comment on that? Were there discussions of getting back together as a couple?"
There was a beat of silence. "Excuse me?" Inuyasha said, his smile still pasted on his face. Kagome knew that look in his eyes, and she placed an awkward hand over her mouth.
"If such photos exist," Kikyou intervened smoothly, "we would like the public to know that it was just a meeting between friends, nothing more."
Kagome glanced at Naraku. He was glaring at Inuyasha, looking outraged. When he opened his mouth to speak, Kagome watched Miroku quickly dart forward to grab him and lead him off, muttering something about a fitness magazine wanting to talk to him.
"Inuyasha, there are also some photos of you at that same park with an as-yet-unidentified woman with braided hair and pajamas. A new flame, perhaps?"
Kagome felt faint.
Kikyou glanced toward her for a moment, then returned her attention to the reporter. Inuyasha, for his part, seemed to be careful to not look Kagome's way.
"I'd rather not comment, thank you," he said, keeping his voice civil and friendly.
"Just one last question and then I'll let you go; I know how busy you two are. There's a ton of buzz on the internet about this being a possibly huge awards season for both of you. Can you share with our viewers your thoughts on the upcoming film?"
"It's really the project of a lifetime," Kikyou said, "In fact, I said that to Inuyasha when we signed on for it, didn't I? Being able to play that part was such a thrill for me as an actress."
"And Inuyasha? Any thoughts?"
Still smiling, Inuyasha leaned into the microphone. "I agree."
There was an awkward silence, and Yura turned back to the camera. "Well...there you have it! I'm Yura Kaminoke for Entertainment News Tonight. We'll see you at the movies!"
As soon as the cameraman said, "We're clear," the group moved on, Inuyasha obviously working to keep himself from losing it.
Kagome followed along, torn between trying to hide and having to do her job.
Three more reporters asked about the photos. Miroku stood there for every one of the interviews, watching Inuyasha's friendly expression stay the same but his answers to questions get shorter and terser every time.
He was going to have to talk to Sango about the pap publishing the photos of Kagome. He couldn't imagine they showed her face, from the angle they had all been sitting at, but this was still an egregious overlook on their part. They should have insisted the guy delete all the photos of Kagome right then and there.
Sango was off on her own right now, of course; since she repped the studio and it was the studio's movie, she was off wrangling a whole different set of stars right now and probably enjoying her panic high. That girl loved nothing more than to have shit down to the wire. She was the Hollywood equivalent of an adrenaline junkie, and he would be lying if he said it wasn't charming as hell.
Kagome sidled up to him casually, keeping her demeanor calm for all the watching eyes. Her voice was a different story. "Miroku," she said, grinding the words out through her teeth, "Why are there photos of the MacArthur Park meeting?"
"Oh, you know, Kagome, the paps are vultures. They probably followed you guys from your house, they'll do anything to get a shot."
"Miroku, I'm not an idiot. I know you called them. Why?"
"You really do look beautiful tonight, Kagome. Even when you're angry."
"So help me, I will grab you by the ear and drag you out of here if I have to."
"Alright, alright," he said with a sigh, "Come on, Kagome, you know the biz. No publicity is bad publicity. We need this film to do well. All of our careers depend on it."
"Whatever happened to letting the film speak for itself? What happened to art for art's sake?"
"That's kind of the problem," he whispered, putting a friendly arm around her to create the excuse to speak quieter, "The film is shit. At least it was when Sango previewed it. It's in heavy re-editing. If we're going to salvage any awards cred we have to divert attention from the actual film and toward the fact that Inuyasha and Kikyou are due for their Oscar wins this time around."
"You want them to win the Oscars as consolation prizes for not winning in past years," Kagome said softly, looking over at the subjects of conversation.
"Exactly. It's been done before. You really think Pacino deserved the Oscar for 'Scent of a Woman' and not 'The Godfather?' Hell no. The performances in the film are the one solid. If we can get double wins this year it will get us all back on top, your sister included."
"That would explain why you're trying to push this reunion angle," Kagome said, still staring at her sister across the aisle, "Keep them talking about Inuyasha and Kikyou."
"Yep."
"I see." She gave a smile that almost looked sad.
"It's just for the next few months, Kagome," Miroku said quickly, "Just long enough to get the Academy's attention. Everyone loves a good redemption story."
"Understood," she said, "Just, promise me, next time, you'll keep me in the loop?"
"Of course."
She patted his arm briefly and walked back over to Kikyou, who was through with the interview and calling for her bottle of water.
Miroku hated having to lie to her. Poor girl.
"What the hell are you doing here?" A voice sounded behind him. He turned to find none other than Randall Warner, head of Sunrise Studios and the person Miroku could have gone his entire life without seeing again.
"Now, now, Mr. Warner," Miroku said, smiling calmly, reaching out to shake his hand, "Wouldn't want to make a scene with a hundred-plus members of the international press standing all around us."
"You are no longer affiliated with this studio or this production. Do I need to call security or will you leave on your own?"
"I'm sorry, Randy. You're stuck with me. I represent your top-dollar star this season."
Randall Warner was a thick, heavyset man with weird stubble that appeared to be his attempt to cultivate a beard. He was always red in the face, but redder now that he was spluttering and angry.
"Are you telling me," Warner hissed, "that you're representing Inuyasha Takahashi now?"
"Indeed I am," Miroku said, "And aren't you lucky for it. I smell Oscars this year."
Warner looked ready to explode, but he just moved on. "This isn't over, Houshi. Not by a long shot," he said as he pushed past.
"You should be nicer to me. I'll have my client's best interests in mind all season, and that means you'll be able to benefit too, Randy."
Should have told him to say hi to his wife. Best not to, though. Getting punched in public was all well and good if it got your client more attention, but this wouldn't benefit Inuyasha at all.
Miroku put a hand in his pocket and scanned the crowd. Where was Sango? Now that the confrontation with Warner was out of the way, he felt like kicking back and enjoying the company of a beautiful woman.
Finally, the doors were closed and the film premiere began. Inuyasha unbuttoned his pinstripe jacket and took his seat in the private opera-style viewing box. Kikyou and Naraku were sitting in the next box over, thank god.
"Hey, buddy," Miroku said in greeting, appearing over his shoulder and clapping him on the back once before taking the seat next to him.
"Miroku, what the hell was that?" Inuyasha fought to keep his voice down, his hands clenched into fists.
"What was what?"
"You know goddamn well what I'm talking about. Who called the paps last night?"
Miroku gave a gasp of mock outrage. "You can't think it was me, do you?"
"I think you would sell my kidneys on the black market if you thought it would get you good reviews."
"Inuyasha, we've been friends since we were twenty years old. I would never do something like that!"
"Spare me," Inuyasha snapped.
"Okay, okay, I can't cover for her any longer. You know who it was?"
"Sango?"
"No, Kikyou."
Inuyasha blinked. "What?"
"I swore not to tell. She's trying to get photos of you two circulating. She even lied to Naraku about where she was going last night. What does that tell you?"
"Then why was she so awful to everyone in the limo?"
"Oh come on, Inuyasha, you lived with her for eight years. Is it so hard to believe she's putting up a front for everyone because she knows how people talk?"
Inuyasha's heart thumped a little in spite of himself. "I guess not," he allowed, running a hand through his long silver hair.
The curtain behind them opened and Kagome popped her head in. "Do you guys need anything?" she asked, "Kikyou's sending me to the bar for a tonic water."
"Yeah," Miroku said, "Forget Kikyou. Get over here and sit with us."
Inuyasha really did love that grin of hers; it made her whole face light up. She stepped inside the curtain. A spiral-shaped lock of hair had fallen out of her simple updo, and she looked a little out of breath. Kikyou always ran her ragged at these events.
"Just for a few minutes," she said conspiratorially, and sank herself into the plush chair next to Inuyasha with a delighted sigh, closing her eyes.
She turned her head towards him, still leaning back. "Hey," she said softly. Had she always had that small dimple on her right cheek? Of course she has, you just never noticed, idiot.
"Hey, you," Inuyasha said back, "Tired?"
"Just a little," she said, cracking her neck loudly, "She's been a bit on edge all day, with everyone. It's always like this on red carpet days. I guess you remember."
"Have a drink," Miroku said, handing her a cocktail, "They're expensive, but I got them comped. Perks of being a bigshot."
"What's in it?"
"Alcohol," Miroku offered.
"Fuck yeah," she said, tossing the whole martini glass back and then handing it to Miroku, "It's not bad. Give me a beer any day though."
"Beer coming up," Miroku said, standing up, "I need to find Sango anyway. I just know she's off in the lobby somewhere, still trying to straighten poster corners or something. Girl doesn't know when to quit. I'll get that tonic water for your sister, too. Inuyasha, anything?"
"I'm good," Inuyasha said. He couldn't take his eyes off that escaped lock of hair. It was hanging in front of Kagome's face, and she kept absentmindedly batting it out of the way only to have it return to right where it was.
"I'm sorry about the photos," Kagome said, turning again to face him when Miroku had left, "I didn't know."
"Not your fault," Inuyasha said, holding up a hand, "Paparazzi are the scum of the earth. We all knew this beforehand."
She pulled out her phone and pulled up the web page. "I checked earlier. You can't see my face in any of them."
"That's good," Inuyasha said, "Otherwise the press might drag you into this whole thing. Try to say there's something between you and me. It would be hell."
Kagome nodded, brushing the lock of hair away again. "Kikyou sure wouldn't have liked it."
"Is she…" he trailed off, then started again, "Is she actually happy with Naraku?"
Kagome sighed. "I don't know. I don't know her at all anymore. Not since-well, you know."
Inuyasha gently reached out and grabbed the lock of hair and tucked it behind her ear. "Yeah," he said, his eyes downcast, "I miss the old days, when it was the three of us. Before all this fame and money, before it all went to shit."
"Do you remember," she said suddenly, "when we were doing 'The Kitsune and the Hound,' and we stayed up all night watching old Marx brothers movies and playing video games in that tiny little Hollywood apartment?"
"And you and I fought over how to properly do fatalities in Mortal Kombat, which resulted in a giant popcorn-throwing battle." He grinned.
"And then you tried to throw a bottle of water on me, but I ducked and it hit Kikyou when she was sleeping on the couch?" Kagome erupted into peals of laughter, "She was so mad."
"She locked me out of our bedroom!" Inuyasha said, "I had to bunk on the living room floor with just a sheet!"
Kagome laughed again. "I forgot about that."
"We were all so young then. You were still a teenager, and your mom was still…"
"Yeah." There was something unreadable in her eyes now.
"You wanted to be a writer then."
"I also remember wanting to run away and go on tour with Iron Maiden, but my mom put her foot down for some reason." She smiled. "I guess life takes you in different directions. Who'd have known my sister and her boyfriend would become the biggest actors in Hollywood, almost simultaneously and overnight."
They were both silent for a few moments. Kagome just looked at him with those huge blue eyes of hers, smile betraying the dimple on her cheek which he now could never ignore again.
"Here you go," Miroku said, flying back through the curtain and jarring them both into sitting straight up, "A lovely Lux Mundi patersbier for you, Kagome. It's Belgian, you'll like it."
Kagome took the tall glass from him and took a sip, coming up with a foam mustache. "Delicious!" she exclaimed, then thrust the draft at Inuyasha. "You should try this."
Inuyasha chuckled and took a drink. "It is good," he said, then reached with the back of his hand to wipe the foam off of her mouth gently. They both grinned.
"And I have a tonic water for her highness," Miroku said, holding it up.
Kagome sighed. "Duty calls," she said, standing and carrying both of her drinks to the door, "You guys enjoy the movie, I'm sure they're starting any minute now."
And with that she was gone.
Once through the curtain, Kagome backed up until she was flush with the wall, willing her heart to slow down. Her stomach was in knots and it was hard to breathe.
Get a grip, girl, she said to herself as she straightened up, Kikyou needs her tonic water.
THE FEELS. OH THE FEELS. All outfits are based on real designer outfits, btw. I'm sure I freaked my boyfriend out when he saw me looking at dresses online that cost several grand each. Don't worry, dear, none of this is for me! Also, Lux Mundi is a real beer made by Save The World Brewing Company and it is delicious! Randall Warner is one hundred percent based on Harvey Weinstein's gross face (but I will not have any stories about sexual misconduct surrounding him, because I feel that may hit a little too close to home). Harvey Weinstein was actually known even before all this came out as a super power player when it came to awards season. A lot of the tactics Miroku and Sango use may seem extreme but that is NOTHING to what Weinstein's people have pulled in the past. If you guys have any questions, please PM me! I love answering any and all questions about Hollywood, this story, fashion, or whatever else you want to talk about (unless you're a Scientologist and want to convert me, not happening). Love you all! Hope this nice long chapter made up for the shorter one yesterday. - meggz0rz