The It Couple

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"Oh, honey," Kikyou said, snuggling a bit into Inuyasha's shoulder as she waved to the applauding crowd of partygoers, "We're back."

Inuyasha, busy doing the aw-shucks-gee-thanks bit with the crowd, didn't reply. His brain felt like oatmeal right now. Just five minutes ago Kikyou had been in the middle of telling him how much she missed him, and then Kagome had walked in and all of that conversation had been washed away. Especially in that dress. If there were a more Kagome dress than something made of black leather fringe, he didn't know what it could be. And she looked like a fucking model in it. Granted, no model was ever five foot three, but still. It was perfect, even better than the green gown she'd been wearing earlier. Would there ever be a time when she couldn't surprise him? He hoped not.

"Inuyasha," Kikyou was saying insistently.

"Huh?"

"Let's go sit down," Kikyou said, inclining her head to a table near the center of the room, "I want another drink."

Inuyasha let himself be led to the table, his eyes on Kagome making a beeline for the bar. Miroku greeted her with a quick pat on the shoulder and beckoned her to sit down on his left.

Wait, was that Kouga sitting there on the other side?

"Scoot over," Kagome said, sitting down.

"You look positively delicious, Kagome. That's quite a dress. Was the last one not showing enough cleavage, or what?"

"You think you're being cute but you're being patronizing. Where's Sango?"

Miroku waved the bartender over and ordered her a beer. "Over there," he finally said, taking a generous drink, "with the fucking Warners."

"Ah," Kagome said, needing no other explanation. She wanted to offer him sympathy, but she knew Miroku wasn't the type for sentiment.

Her beer arrived and she took the bottle in her hand, wondering what to say. Then, from her left, someone tapped her on the elbow.

"Hey there, angel face."

She knew who it was before even turning around. "Oh, hi, Kouga," she said dryly, turning to face him. She felt Miroku get up and leave behind her. Thanks a lot, Satan.

"I've been wanting to talk to you," Kouga said, "and I tried to at Nobu the other night but you didn't want anyone watching. So now's the perfect time, what with your sister and her boyfriend occupied elsewhere."

Kagome felt a small stab of anger and protest rise in her chest, but merely said, "What do you want?"

"That's what I like about you," Kouga said, a suave grin crossing his face, "No bullshit. It's refreshing in a city where everyone seems to want your blood or your money."

"Maybe if you stopped trying to fuck every new starlet that arrives in town?" Kagome said, raising an eyebrow. She was still quite irritated with him for abandoning her at the HFA's, and not a little pissed off about the whole body shot thing, but she couldn't be mad for what the whole situation had led to. Her and Inuyasha. That was still a thing. It was. Wasn't it?

Kagome cast a glance over to Kikyou and Inuyasha taking a seat at a center table and ordering drinks. Inuyasha was bent down as Kikyou whispered into his ear.

Wasn't it?

Feeling a little dizzy and inwardly berating herself for overthinking things again, Kagome returned her attention to Kouga, who was apparently commenting on her dress from the way his eyes ran up and down her body. Well, her dress or something else, but she imagined it was the dress.

She took another sip of her beer.

"So?" Kouga said, "Aren't you going to thank me?"

"For what?"

"I mean, you don't have to thank me. Just seeing you in it is enough. But I did go to a lot of trouble calling your friends and getting your dress size and finding just the right thing on Gucci's ready-to-wear website." Kouga actually looked a little sheepish.

"Wait a second," Kagome said, putting a hand on his chest maybe a little too forcefully, "You bought this dress? But I thought-" Her eyes trailed again to Inuyasha and Kikyou's table. They were both surrounded by an adoring crowd and were in full public relations mode.

"Do you like it?"

"...yeah," Kagome said, her attention snapping back to Kouga.

"So are we good, then?" Kouga threw back the last of his glass, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You bought this as an apology," Kagome said, looking down at the dress, a smile breaking out over her face.

"Yeah. Did it work?" Kouga leaned in toward her expectantly.

"Whoa there," Kagome said, shoving him back with a laugh, "My forgiveness can't be bought for the price of a dress. You broke a promise. You promised to be a gentleman. And you weren't."

"You're right. But I meant what I told you that night."

"What? That you were going to give me a 'full Hollywood party initiation?'" Kagome took a sip of her beer, then folded her arms, raising an eyebrow.

"No," Kouga said, "Not that part. I meant where I said I'd like to see you again."

Kagome swallowed.

"I mean it," Kouga ran a hand through his hair, actually looking uncomfortable for once. So much for the Hollywood lothario act. Or maybe this part was an act. Maybe everyone everywhere in this town was always acting. Kagome shot a glance briefly back to Inuyasha and Kikyou's table, but they were blocked by the crowd still.

"So? How about the LA Film Critics Awards with me?"

"Excuse me?" Kagome was not amused.

"The LA Film Critics Awards."

"I heard you, I'm just wondering what planet you think you're on."

Kouga shrugged, adjusting his collar and looking a little flustered. "Why shouldn't we? We've been seen together once before already. I'm not saying we have to make anything official or whatever-"

"I'm going with my sister."

"What, to be third wheel to her and Inuyasha and make mopey faces all around him in front of the press? That's real cute stuff. They're getting back together. Everyone knows it. It's inevitable at this point. Why not go with someone who will appreciate you and not drop you for your sister as soon as the cameras are on?"

Kagome felt her heart thump in pain a little. He's playing you, she told herself, It's what he does. He's a game-player. He senses your weakness and he's exploiting it.

"I really do like you a lot," Kouga continued, "You're different. You're smart and interesting."

"You don't know a thing about me. I could be a serial killer for all you know."

"I mean it. Come with me. We'll try this again. None of my boys there, no Catherine."

"I thought her name was Caitlynn."

"Oh. I think it was. Whatever. But c'mon, Kagome. As an apology. To show you that I really meant it."

"I think I'd rather drink bleach." Kagome drained her beer, dropped it to the bar counter with a loud clink, and stood up. "Thanks anyway, but I'm not to be bought for the price of a dress. Bye."

Sango watched Kagome leave in a huff, and her eyes narrowed in frustration. She fought back a scowl.

"Miss Ryoshi?" Warner had been talking to her and was waiting for a reply. Good one, girl.

"I'm sorry," Sango said, forcing her sweetest smile on her face, "I guess I zoned out for a second." Oh, good one again. Let him see you're a distracted mess on a very important night. Is it too late for him to take back that raise he gave me? Well, yeah, because I'd kick his ass and tell the papers I know exactly where this bastard spends his nights lately. Ugh, focus, Sango.

"Quite understandable," Warner said, "You've been doing a wonderful job."

Yeah, you said that already. God, she was in a mood.

Across the room, Miroku was leaning against the wall, nursing a drink and ignoring the crowd. He seemed to gast a bemused glance at Kouga sitting there at the bar alone, then he suddenly glanced right at her and their eyes met. He didn't give her a nod and a wink like he'd used to, just smiled sort of sadly and returned his attention to his drink after a moment or two.

Sango felt her heart thump in her chest.

"Darling," Lana Warner said, "I want another drink."

"Of course," Warner said, seemingly suddenly remembering his wife's presence. Scumbag. "What about you, Sango dear - oh, may I call you Sango?"

"You may," Sango ground out through her teeth.

"Here's to us," Kikyou said, "And I do mean it. You were fabulous tonight, honey."

The champagne glasses clinked. Inuyasha said nothing, just downed the whole damn thing without taking a breath.

Kikyou, her eyes sparkling with excitement at once again, always being the center of attention in the room, took the liberty of linking her hand with his under the tabletop. Inuyasha immediately moved to pull away, but she held fast.

"Don't worry," Kikyou said, "There's no cameras allowed in here. No one needs to know yet but us."

"Know what, exactly?" Inuyasha snapped. He watched Kagome shove away from Kouga and stalk off toward the bathroom. That's my girl, he thought, then realized what a fucking hypocrite he sounded like, sitting here surrounded by sycophants holding another woman's hand under a table.

Kikyou just laughed. "You're so cute. I really did miss you all these months."

"Did you? Seemed like you were doing just fine without me."

She pouted. "I can't ever seem to get through to you how really sorry I am. You have no idea what I've been through, how it's been tormenting me, thinking what a mistake I've made. Will you ever forgive me for it?"

I could forgive you if I thought you were sorry for doing it and not just sorry that you got caught. Inuyasha refused to let himself reply out loud and simply cut her a side-eyed glare.

"Honeyyyy," Kikyou said, "Don't look at me like that. Be nice to me. I liked it when you used to be nice to me." She took another sip of her champagne and winked seductively.

"Yeah, I'll bet you did," Inuyasha said shortly.

Kikyou evidently took this as enough of a response and smiled brightly at him. She was well into quite a few drinks at this point, and she never had been good at reading the mood in a situation like this.

"More to drink?" A cocktail waitress appeared with a tray of champagne glasses. Kikyou took one eagerly.

Inuyasha took one as well, fighting the urge to get up from the table and leave his ex-fiancee to her own devices.

Kagome was washing her hands in the posh bathroom, feeling annoyed, bewildered, and heartsick all at once, when suddenly the stall behind her opened.

"Oh, Kagome Higurashi! What a chance, running into you here!" Yura Kaminoke sidled up to the sink next to her.

"Hi there," Kagome mumbled.

"I can't wait to get better acquainted with you," Yura said, that winning TV smile plastered on her face, "Sango Ryoshi told me all about the interview, and I thought it was just the sweetest idea! It'll give my viewers a real look at your life. And your sister's, of course."

"Excuse me?" Kagome felt like her guts had just fallen out of her body.

"And it will run the same day as the LA Film Critics Awards too, just as we discussed. I'll see you next week!"

"Wait-" Kagome said, but Yura was already gone.

Miroku hated these kinds of parties. At least, now that he wasn't a studio agent schmoozing with the bigwigs. Now that he was just a lowly publicist (with admittedly the highest-value client in town), he had no reason to start any conversations with the hundreds of rich and famous people around him. If they had approached him, it would be a different story, but everyone seemed to be treating him like a fucking leper. On Warner's carefully worded hints, no doubt.

He would have certainly enjoyed it better sitting next to Sango at a table, but for one thing, she seemed to still want as little as possible to do with him (and he had apologized enough already, dammit, she was a big girl and could make her own decisions on when or if to forgive him), and for another, standing over here by the wall was at least a way to shrug off the meaningful looks of irritation Inuyasha kept shooting at him. Best to just pretend he wasn't watching at all. Best to just get a little shitfaced on Warner's company dime.

The thought of that made him feel a little better. Not a lot. But a little.

"Miroku."

He turned to see Kagome standing there, arms folded tightly.

"That pose makes your boobs look huge."

"Bite me," Kagome said with a fierce glare, "What's all this about an interview? With Yura Kaminoke?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you fucking play coy with me. The interview. Apparently I'm sitting down with her for a goddamn TV segment or something next week?" Kagome was practically panting in fury.

"Sweetheart, I have no fucking idea what you're talking about." Miroku held up his hands and took a small step back. Though she be but little, she is fierce.

"Do you mean to tell me," she said, "that you know nothing about this? I agreed to walk red carpets and do the stupid fashion segments for that. I never agreed to a one-on-one tell-all about all my dirty laundry."

"Kagome," Miroku said, as sincerely as he could, "I honestly would never have signed you up for that without talking to you first. I know you. It must be something arranged by the studio, or-"

He realized what he had done the second it left his mouth. Kagome immediately spun on her heel and marched across the crowded ballroom, fists clenched. She was making a beeline for Sango and the Warners.

"Kagome, wait!" he called, but to no avail. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Inuyasha shove Kikyou's hand away under the table as Kagome passed and move to stand up and speak to her, but she was able to ignore even Inuyasha at this moment.

Sango heard Miroku call out Kagome's name and looked up at him from her middling conversation about the early reviews of the movie that were being posted online. Her eyes snapped straight to his and she fought that all-too-familiar feeling that seemed to flare up whenever they looked at each other, like being on a rollercoaster about to drop.

Miroku's eyes were wide and flashing warning signs.

Before Sango could react, there was Kagome, standing right in front of her.

"Sango," Kagome seemed to bite down on every word, "Can I speak to you for a moment, please?"

Oh dear me. Kouga is an idiot, Inuyasha is annoyed, Miroku is all lonely and stuff, Sango is being stubborn as usual, Kikyou is clueless and drunk, and Kagome is ready to start some shit. All in a day's work. -meggz0rz