The It Couple
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"More shots?" Kouga clinked the shotglass down on the table and wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand.
The entire rest of the table groaned except for Kikyou, who had declined to participate and was instead sticking to champagne as per usual. She remained stuck to her phone, trying to illustrate to all involved that she was bored out of her mind.
"Absolutely not," Kagome said, feeling herself inch closer to Inuyasha in her drunken haze and lay her head slightly on his shoulder. She felt him move to wrap a hand around her waist, but then felt him lower it as a photographer came by to take another photo.
Kikyou, in turn, seemed attached to Inuyasha with velcro and kept trying to shoot Kagome very scolding looks, which she was all too happy to ignore at this point. Hell, she was three shots in.
"What do you even call those things?" she muttered, grimacing at the cloying sweetness.
Kouga leaned into her right ear. "Starfuckers," he whispered, and Kagome shrank away from him. Inuyasha growled, but Miroku cut in.
"I'll have another," he said, nudging Kouga's elbow to divert his attention.
Kouga turned to him and grinned. "Anyone else?" he said, "Or all you all a bunch of pussy lightweights?"
Kikyou sniffed, obviously uncomfortable in such gauche and rowdy company.
"I'll have one," Inuyasha said, "but not one of those shit ones you keep ordering. I'll get my own stuff, thanks."
"What is this, Takahashi?" Kouga smirked. "I thought we were friends. And here you go insulting my tastes." He ran a finger pointedly down Kagome's forearm.
Okay I'm going to punch him. I don't give a shit if we're in public or if photographers can see. I'll deal with that later. Kagome's hand curled into a fist on the table, and she raised it-
"Waiter!" Miroku called, and Kagome lowered her fist down slowly, letting her open palm rest on the table.
"Ugh, Inuyasha," Kikyou said, leaning her own head onto his other shoulder, "Do we have to stay here much longer?"
"What's wrong, Kikyou?" Kagome said, a little nastily, surprising even herself at her free way of speaking, "Not enough cameras for you?"
"Hey," Inuyasha said sternly, pulling away from both of them and fixing Kagome with a very pointed look, "None of that here."
Ugh, I hate when he talks to me like I'm a kid. Kagome sighed, begrudgingly admitting to herself that he was probably right. This wasn't the time nor the place. Especially with Kouga sitting right next to her, hanging on every word she said.
"Kagome," Miroku said, "You switching to beer?"
"Yeah," she said, casting a glare in Kikyou's direction.
Kikyou, of course, looked utterly shocked at her sister's outburst. "Wh-what did I do?" she stammered, her voice high and childlike, her head still poised just above Inuyasha's shoulder.
Kagome buried her hands in her hair, elbows on the table, and fought back a snort of derisive laughter. What did you do. Do you have a giant ream of paper where I can list grievances?
She felt Inuyasha's knee collide with hers gentle. A warning. Ugh. She'd imagined how this whole thing would go, but actually having to act through it was something else. And of course, Inuyasha was trying to be the peacekeeper.
Has anything actually changed at all? He likes me well enough on my own, but when Kikyou comes back in the picture, he's asking her how high he should jump. Kagome's brain was a mess and she felt the urge to just once again slide under the table and hope no one noticed.
"Kagome, please talk to me," Kikyou said pleadingly, reaching over Inuyasha for Kagome's hand and gripping it tightly.
Kagome wrenched it free. "Let's not do this," she said quietly, letting it be known that for now, she considered the subject fucking closed. Kikyou looked distraught. Inuyasha looked disappointed. And fuck both of them for trying to make her feel bad.
Miroku ordered the drinks, and the waiter walked away.
"Where's Sango?" Kagome said, eager for some sort of extra distraction.
It was Miroku's turn to have his expression darken. "She's off with Warner," he said shortly, gesturing over his shoulder, "Over there."
"She should have a shot," Kouga said in a very friendly manner.
"No, she shouldn't," Miroku said, his eyes fixed over his shoulder, "She's where she wants to be right now. Leave her alone."
Kikyou clearly followed his eyeline and turned to Inuyasha. "Should we go say hello?"
Inuyasha had apparently not been following any sort of conversation. "What?"
Kikyou just smiled like a private joke had been told, leaning further into him. "To Warner, silly. We should thank him for all the effort he's been putting forth for us, don't you think?"
"Don't bother," Miroku said quickly, and Kagome wanted to jump over Kouga and hug him. "He knows exactly what he's doing, and what everyone here owes him. Your gratitude means next to nothing."
Kagome tried to send Miroku a quizzical look to ask if he was okay, but was interrupted by Kouga jumping into her line of sight, holding her beer aloft in his hand.
"Give it to me, Kouga," she said, swiping for it but being rebuffed.
"What'll you give me?" he whispered huskily, pressing his forehead against hers.
Inuyasha's hand shot out and caught Kouga around the wrist. With his other hand, he wrenched the beer out of the other man's grasp and handed it to Kagome. "Cut the bullshit. Now."
Kouga just smirked at Inuyasha, and Kagome had the wonderful reminder of how short she was when a conversation could be held over her head as if she weren't there.
"Kouga," Inuyasha snapped, "You're clearly not wanted here. Why don't you get the fuck outta dodge?"
"What, and leave you with the two most beautiful ladies in the place?" Kouga said, just as nastily, "Wouldn't dream of it."
Kagome elbowed Kouga in the side hard enough to make him grunt in pain, then reared back and drained her beer in about thirty seconds.
"Shots," Miroku announced joylessly as the waiter brought the tray around.
"Come on, Kagome, one kiss. I swear I'll make it worth your while."
Miroku looked up in a daze at Kagome, seemingly the only one besides Kikyou even halfway upright. Kikyou, by the way, was just on her phone, texting away, seemingly unaware that the endless rounds of shots had sent the rest of her table into oblivion.
Kagome just folded her arms and leaned back into Inuyasha. His hand seemed to automatically clench around her waist protectively, but he was drunk enough to be actually stirring an empty glass and just watching the straw clink the ice back and forth. He then sighed and sat back unceremoniously. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes a little wild as he seemed to struggle to focus.
"So is this an actual thing that happened?" Kouga said to Kagome quietly, nodding at the arm around her waist. "Or is he just playing big brother again?"
"Why don't you fuck right off," Kagome said testily, "It's none of your business, Kouga." She put her hand over Inuyasha's and turned back to her beer.
Jesus, these Hollywood parties are the fucking worst.
"Cute," Kouga said, leaning heavily on the table as he inched closer to Kagome, "but look where his other arm is now."
Miroku followed Kagome's gaze to Inuyasha's left arm, which was currently tucked in Kikyou's lap quite comfortably. Inuyasha was clearly not registering the topic of conversation. He was off in la-la land.
"That's not fair," Kagome said softly, not that anyone but Miroku was listening, "He has to act friendly with her in front of everyone."
"In front of who, exactly?" Kouga said, looking around at the club ballroom, which was growing more deserted by the minute.
Kagome glared at Kouga and tried again. "Also, he's shitfaced."
"Oh, yes he is," Kouga whispered with a smirk, "but believe me, angel face, he's been worse off than this before, and still coherent. He knows what he's doing right now. He's being a star. He's winning that Oscar."
"He deserves the Oscar," Kagome said angrily, then turned to Miroku, who quickly had to pretend that he wasn't paying any attention. "Miroku, are you ready to go home?"
"Are you kidding?" Miroku forced an even greater slur into his voice than was natural, "I'm shitfaced. Let's get outta here."
"Kagome, wait," Kikyou said, her eyes shining, "Can we talk? Please? Somewhere private?"
Kagome's gaze turned to her sister. Kikyou was still leaning on Inuyasha's arm and from the dazed look on his face he wasn't protesting it at all. Kouga was smirking at them, then at Kagome, then back at them. Miroku was already standing up, looking dog tired and shoving his pack of cigarettes into his pocket.
"Not. Fucking. Now." Kagome dug her fists into her eyes as she stood up, gathering up the long folds of her skirt.
Kagome looked around the crowded ballroom, as if checking for spying eyes, finding none, and turned to Inuyasha, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "See you soon?" she whispered. Miroku was sure only he had caught it. Curse that long-perfected lip reading ability.
Inuyasha was so fucking drunk, Miroku was flabbergasted that he was still sitting up. He blinked in surprise at the kiss, then turned to answer Kagome, but she was already shoving past Kouga and worming her way out of the booth to join Miroku.
Kouga grabbed her hand. "No kiss for me, huh?"
Before she could respond, he'd pecked her on the cheek quick as a flash, and all she could do was jump backward and snap a panicked gaze in Inuyasha's direction. He just glared silently, his hand clearly still resting on Kikyou's knee.
"You...you…" Kagome couldn't find the words as she turned to Kouga, wiping at her cheek with the back of her hand.
Inuyasha made to stand up, stumbling and bracing his hands on the table. Kikyou immediately pulled him back into a seating position, her arms around his shoulders. He slumped backwards, still growling, but seemed to let his body relax.
She stumbled a little on those high heels she wasn't used to, and took Miroku's offered arm with clear gratitude as they turned to make a break for it. She cast a final look back at the booth. Kouga had already cleared out, and Inuyasha and Kikyou sat alone. She was whispering something sweetly into his ear, and she could see him calming down visibly.
"What happened with Sango?" Kagome said as they pushed through the ballroom doors. She shot a glance back over her shoulder to look at the Warner table, where Sango seemed to be talking with them quite easily, despite the clear rigidity in her posture.
"What happened?" Miroku said, and she was shocked at how quickly his tone had turned to one of bitterness and anger, "I'm fucking done."
Kagome blinked as he stepped onto the curb to hail a cab. "You're what? I thought you guys patched things up!"
"Yeah, so did I," he growled, "but more and more, I'm starting to realize I can't be with someone who's all about the job and nothing else."
"Miroku," Kagome said gently, her words slurring slightly, "A few months ago, that was you too. Granted, I always liked you, but you sort of grew a nice side to you overnight. Maybe just give her some time?"
"I have been," Miroku all but growled, "and every time I think it's getting better, she just shuts off and tells me in no uncertain terms that I mean nothing to her."
Kagome wobbled a little on her heels, and clutched at his shoulder to steady herself. "Sorry," she said quickly, then continued, "But surely that's not true, right?"
"Whether it is or not, I'm past the point of caring," he muttered as a cab slowed to a halt in front of them and he opened the door. "I'm Miroku fucking Houshi. I'm a sex god. I'm a big shot. I don't need to be crawling after a woman who does her best at every fucking turn to show me she's not interested."
"Kouga could take a few lessons from you," Kagome muttered as she slid into the back of the car.
"So straight home?" Miroku said, climbing in next to her and shutting the car door behind him.
"Please," she begged, feeling frustrated tears spring to her eyes.
Inuyasha's eyes refused to open. His head felt like someone had taken a fucking jackhammer to it. The only thing he could do was groan in pain and try to turn over in bed.
And then, the kiss of an angel to his left temple. He smiled, eyes still closed, and wrapped his arms around her. He felt her face snuggle into the curve of his neck, her hand tracing gentle patterns across his collarbone.
"And here I thought you wouldn't remember." The voice was soft and sweet, and there followed a contented sigh.
Inuyasha froze and his eyes snapped open. The hair fanned all around him was long, black, and pin-straight.
"Want some breakfast?" Kikyou said brightly, her face inches from his and her mouth curled into a smile.
In the immortal words of Nicolas Cage "OH NOT THE BEES! NOT THE BEES! OH THEY'RE IN MY EYES! MY EYYYYYEEEEEEES!"
Wait that wasn't the quote I wanted to use here. Hm. I'll think of it later, I'm sure.
Miroku - "Sober Up" by AJR
Sango - "Please Don't Leave Me" by Pink
Kagome - "You Move Me" by Susan Ashton
Inuyasha - "Steady As She Goes" by The Raconteurs
Kikyou - "Look What You Made Me Do" by Taylor Swift, aka Kikyou's biggest role model forever -_-
Love you guys! Sorry for the wait this chapter! Also sorry for the cliffhanger! (LUL I'm not sorry, you know you love it you dirty dirty readers). - meggz0rz