The It Couple
Chapter Thirty-One
"Dammit," Kagome hissed under her breath. Her contact number for Inuyasha still wasn't working and she'd completely forgotten all about it. She made a mental note to ask Miroku about it later. She couldn't right now, not with Hojo sitting in the passenger seat next to her. Besides, texting and driving was illegal and dangerous, and she was still a good little girl at heart.
"Holy smokes," he said, looking at the size of the mansions whizzing by at a sizeable speed.
"You think that's impressive," Kagome said, turning onto their street, "You ain't seen nothing yet."
And sure enough, Hojo's eyes grew to the size of saucers when he saw the almost criminal size of the Higurashi mansion. "How many people live in there?" he asked.
"Right now? Three," Kagome said with a smirk, "Like I said, welcome to Hollywood."
They drove through the wrought-iron security fence and began the slow crawl up the driveway.
"M-Miss Higurashi," Hojo said, "I just wanted to say thank you for lunch today. And for being so patient with me thus far. I'm excited to learn from you all about what this job entails."
"Please call me Kagome. We're practically the same age, Hojo. And please don't thank me." Like, really. Don't.
When they walked through the front door, the place was empty. Kagome had a feeling Kikyou would be back any minute, though, so she told Hojo to have a seat in the living room and briskly walked to her room.
She was tossing more clothes into a ratty backpack when she heard the front door open again, and half-walked, half-ran down the hallway to see her older sister standing there, her luggage being carted in by the driver.
Kikyou, dressed in a lavender pantsuit and her gold Louboutins, immediately removed her sunglasses at the sight of Kagome.
"Kagome," Kikyou said softly, looking a little bewildered at the sight of her.
Kagome wasn't about to let her get a word in edgewise. "I'm getting some of my stuff. I'll be back for the rest later. Also, Kikyou, I want you to meet Hojo. Your new assistant."
Kikyou whirled around to see Hojo standing there, looking terrified and exhilarated and unsure of what to do with his hands. Her demeanor immediately flipped, of course.
"Hojo," Kikyou said sweetly, taking his hand, "It's lovely to meet you. I hope my sister's taken good care of you thus far?"
"Oh," Hojo said, still obviously starstruck and unable to transfer coherent thoughts into words, "Yes. Yes, of course!"
Kikyou gave him one of her trademark red carpet smiles, and Kagome could swear she watched him just melt.
"Do you want some coffee? Or some tea, maybe?" Kikyou was playing host now.
"S-sure," he said.
"It's in the kitchen," Kikyou said, "Do you mind giving me a minute with my sister?"
So much for playing host, I guess.
Hojo simply nodded and wandered off in the general direction of the kitchen. He'd find it soon enough, Kagome figured. It wasn't hidden down a long, dark hallway like the game room or the indoor gym or the swimming pool.
The second Hojo was out of earshot, Kikyou turned back to Kagome, twirling her thousand-dollar sunglasses in her hands like they were from the bargain bin at a Wal-Mart.
"So," Kikyou said finally, "Inuyasha told me."
"Inuyasha told you what, exactly?" Kagome snapped, folding her arms tightly, not in the mood for more bullshit.
"That the two of you have been seeing each other." Kikyou stared straight at her, looking a little forlorn but remarkably calm and open.
Well, shit. She hadn't been expecting that. Kagome fought not to look a little winded as she kept her composure and offered no response.
"You don't have to worry," Kikyou said gently as she stepped closer, "Inuyasha told me everything. He was very forthcoming when I asked him about it."
"What do you mean, he told you 'everything?'" Kagome held her posture as upright as possible as she felt Kikyou approach.
"I mean," Kikyou said, seemingly weighing her words carefully before responding, "He told me it just sort of happened. In fact, I'm pretty sure those were his exact words."
Kagome spun on her heel and turned back to walk to her room again. Kikyou followed her, moving slower.
"Kagome, wait. I said some things last night that I didn't mean. Can you just please stop for a second and talk to me?"
Kagome stopped at her doorframe, leaning on it slightly and looking at her feet. "In vino veritas," she said, "Isn't that the expression? 'In wine, there is truth?'" She let herself give out a small chuckle entirely devoid of humor.
"No!" Kikyou said, "I told you, I got carried away. I had too much champagne. I never meant to hurt you. You're my baby sister."
Kagome screwed her eyes shut as if in pain and glanced over her shoulder at Kikyou, very much confounded by this outpouring of emotion.
"And," Kikyou's eyes were welling with tears and her smile was wide and welcoming, "I'm so happy for you and Inuyasha. Coming together like that after all this time? I think it's just adorable."
"If you're making fun of me," Kagome said bitterly, "You can stop right now."
"I promise, I'm not," Kikyou said, and then her arms were around Kagome's shoulders.
Kagome just stood there and took the hug, unsure of what to do. "I'm still leaving," she said softly, "I need to get on my own and think."
Kikyou just nodded against the top of Kagome's head. "Of course you do," she said, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Can you...leave me alone for a little while?" Kagome said, still refusing to return the hug. She felt a little dizzy and guilty and heartsick and she needed to get the hell out of this place.
"Of course," Kikyou said kindly, "I'll take charge of Hoho for the day. Don't worry, I'll ease him into things."
"Hojo."
"Isn't that what I said? See you later. Don't forget your interview with Yura is tomorrow morning, okay?"
She turned to leave, and then leaned back in for just a second.
"If you need to talk," she looked at Kagome meaningfully, "just let me know, okay? I'm here for you."
Kagome nodded mutely and shut her bedroom door, then began packing at furious speeds, throwing all her shirts and jeans into a haphazard pile in yet another scruffy duffel bag.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, she picked up her phone and dialed it.
"Morning," Miroku said, sweeping in to Inuyasha's kitchen like a fucking hurricane. He had two gourmet coffees in his hands, one of which he handed to Inuyasha and the other he took the lid off of and proceeded to add a shitload of cream and sugar to, but not before sending Nazuna a flirtatious wink. She blushed and immediately left the room.
Inuyasha, freshly showered and dressed in a simple tee shirt and jeans, just grunted in reply, taking the coffee like he was on autopilot and staring at his phone with a glum look.
"Everything okay?" Miroku asked. Satisfied that his coffee was close enough to a milkshake to be drinkable now, he took a sip and plopped himself down next to Inuyasha.
"She's not answering me," Inuyasha said forlornly. Miroku nearly choked on his coffee. Shit, I forgot I blocked her number on his phone. Oh god, when he finds out he's going to-
His own phone buzzed in his pocket. He checked it.
Kagome? Oh god, she knows, she knows it was me who blocked her number. I'm dead. Dead and gone. If Inuyasha doesn't make my head into a crater, she sure will. Goodbye, Sango, I very nearly loved you, and you can have my vinyl collection and all my unsmoked cigarettes-
"Hello?" he said, his voice smooth like honey.
"Miroku," Kagome said, "I'm on my way to your place in a few minutes. I need somewhere to crash for the next few days."
"Wait a second."
"I'm sure you already know because you know everything, but Kikyou and I had a huge fight last night and I'm getting out of this house for a while."
"Uh-" He turned to see Inuyasha staring at him with an eyebrow raised. "Are you sure that's such a good idea? My place?"
"Where else am I gonna go?"
"A hotel?"
"Yeah, like I won't be immediately recognized and have the paps waiting outside my room door to ask what went wrong between me and Kikyou."
She has a point.
"But why me?" Miroku lamented, turning away and speaking in a hushed tone.
"Because you're the only one I even half trust in this town," Kagome said, "And because you owe me one for that whole business with Sango."
"I had nothing to do with that!" A lie. He was as responsible for Sango turning power-mad as if he'd signed the deal himself. He groaned and ran a hand over his face.
Silence on the other end.
He sighed. "Okay, you win."
"Sweet," she said, "I'll see you at your place in fifteen minutes, okay?"
"Well, the thing is," he said, "I'm not exactly there right now. I'm with Inuyasha at his place."
She didn't skip a beat, this girl. "Oh, okay. I'll head there instead. See you soon."
"Uh, Kagome," Miroku said, avoiding Inuyasha's piercing, suspicious gaze, "Don't you think it would be better if I just met you at my place?"
"Wait a second, that's Kagome you're talking to?" Inuyasha barked over his shoulder, "What's this shit about meeting at your place? Let me talk to her." He dove for the phone, but Miroku gracefully ducked out of the way.
"Am I or am I not doing a completely trashy, invasive interview with Yura Kaminoke tomorrow morning?" Kagome snapped on the other end of the line, "I can come to Inuyasha's if I want to. Don't worry, I'll tip the driver super well and show up incognito. See you soon."
"Give me the phone, Miroku!" Inuyasha snatched for it again.
Miroku was getting tired of feeling like an overworked single mom. "She's gone already, Inuyasha," he said, sidestepping once more and shoving his phone into his jacket pocket, "but if it makes you feel any better, she's on her way here."
"What?"
"Okay, you can stop here, thanks," Kagome said, making sure to look busy with her notebook. Every inch the bedraggled, pigtailed, easily ignored assistant. The driver wasn't even looking up. Perfect.
She handed him a crisp hundred dollar bill and an extra twenty for good measure, then got out, her three large bags making her stumble a little. Shrugging her sunglasses onto her face, she waited for the Uber to drive back through the gate and dragged her luggage to the front door.
She had barely touched the doorbell when Nazuna flung the door open, looking unbelievably excited.
"Miss Kagome! So good to see you again, that explains why Mr. Takahashi ran to his room like a crazy person a second ago, he was yelling about having to change his clothes, oh here, let me help you with those!" Nazuna grunted at the weight of an errant duffel bag and helped to drag Kagome's stuff through the entryway.
"Thanks," Kagome said warmly, "You can just leave them here, I'm not staying."
Nazuna's face crumpled into a look of utter disappointment and she exhaled loudly.
Kagome couldn't help the small laugh as she patted Nazuna's shoulder. "So where are my boys?"
Nazuna just pointed her in the direction of the billiard room.
"Hello?" Kagome poked her head inside.
"Well, hello, gorgeous." Miroku's greeting could always be counted upon. He was leaning on the edge of the pool table, cue in one hand, whiskey on the rocks in the other.
"Miroku, it's barely two in the afternoon," Kagome said, reaching up to undo the girlish pigtails from her hair and running her fingers through it.
"I know, I know, late start for me, but don't worry, I'll catch up." He smirked and downed the rest of his glass.
Kagome sighed and shook her head. "Where's-"
She got the answer to her unasked question as a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders. With a sigh of happiness, she grinned and closed her hands over his.
"Hey there," he said, arcing his neck around hers.
"Hey yourself," she said, giving his hands an affectionate squeeze.
Miroku immediately got up to refill his drink.
Dawwww these two I swear. Also poor beleaguered Miroku. At least he gets paid a lot, I guess. - meggz0rz