The It Couple

Chapter Fifty-Four

"Are we good?"

"Yeah," Kagome said, her clearly shaking hands tying off the braid and letting his hair go, "We're good. Let's go." She pulled a baseball cap over her own face, handing an almost identical one to Inuyasha. Where does she even keep those? In her backpack? He couldn't discount the idea. Kagome was always prepared.

They got out of the car and rushed toward the emergency room entrance. Inuyasha already felt out of breath. Following the ambulance through the busy, crowded streets of LA had been a chore, but Inuyasha had taken one look at Kagome's stricken, worried face and realized that a few violations of traffic laws were worth getting them to the hospital as quickly as possible. If a cop pulled them over, Inuyasha knew he could always just say it was an emergency, and they'd take one look at his famous face and agree with him, if not provide him with an escort. But then again, that was publicity they didn't want. If they could avoid it, they would. But all in all, it didn't matter. Not when Miroku was being whisked off to intensive care.

His hand closed around Kagome's, and she looked up at him, surprised at the no doubt public gesture, but seemingly grateful all the same. They walked through the automatic doors hand in hand, the first time they'd ever done that without caring too much who was looking.

"Miroku Houshi," Kagome said to the desk clerk, "He's just been admitted with a stab wound - "

"Are you family?" The desk clerk said sharply, not even looking up from her stack of paperwork.

"We're just as good as family," Kagome said, her voice taking on a pleading tone.

"If you're not blood relatives, I can't admit you into the area." The woman gave Kagome a harsh look and took a sip of black coffee from a mug emblazoned with Looney Tunes characters.

Inuyasha sighed, gave Kagome a brief look, as if to say oh, what the hell, and took off his hat. The desk clerk immediately straightened up and got that all-too-familiar look in her eyes. The "oh-shit-that's-Inuyasha-Takahashi" look.

"He's my brother," Inuyasha said, leaning onto the counter, working that magic, "Not my blood brother, of course, but he's the closest thing in the world I have to family."

The woman swallowed audibly, and he felt her gaze travel up and down him as if he were some sort of prize cow. "He's in surgery right now," she said softly, "Feel free to wait in the room." And then she gave him the room number.

"Thanks," he said with an easygoing smile, checking the name on the badge around her neck, "Martha. I really appreciate it."

He put his hand in Kagome's and pulled her down the stark white hallway, where doctors and nurses stood conversing and only barely nudged out of their way as they continued forward.

They reached the room and entered to see Sango, covered in bloodstains, and what could only be Sango's mother, sitting there mutely.

"What are you doing here?" Sango sprang to her feet and immediately started toward both of them. "You can't be seen here! Too much craziness. The paps will figure out you're here and start sucking blood. Get out of here."

"If you think I'm leaving when I don't know if my friend will live or die," Kagome said quietly, but shakily, "then you've got another thing coming."

Sango stared at Kagome for a moment, and then the two girls threw themselves into each other's arms, both seemingly growing limp at the knees.

Inuyasha sprang to catch both of them, pulling them up by the elbows, and the result was a sort of awkward three-way hug where everyone leaned their head into the circle and let themselves breathe in and out for a few moments.

"He'll be okay," Sango said softly, shakily, after a long period of silence, "The doctors said we did the right thing, leaving the knife in him. He'll be okay. He'll be okay. He'll be okay." She repeated it like a Buddhist mantra, trying to will it into truthful existence.

"So we'll wait here," Inuyasha said, already starting to guide Kagome toward the stark, uncomfortable plastic chairs in the corner of the room.

"No," Sango shook her head, "You'll go off and enjoy a night out together. Have lobster. Have steak. But get yourselves photographed. You two don't want to be anywhere near this incident, trust me."

Kagome furrowed her brow. "I should at least let the cops ask me some questions, right?"

"No," Sango said, a soft smile on her face, "I'll take care of everything. I promise I'm not folding on this. Not anymore. Not ever again. We're pressing charges, and we're pressing charges hard, right, Mom?" She glanced at her mother, who hesitated, as if years of practice were telling her not to agree, but then eventually nodded.

"Kikyou's gonna be mad as hell when she sees those photos go to print," Inuyasha felt it was his duty to report, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Yes, she is, isn't she?" Sango said, her eyes a little glazed over, "But right now, I don't give a shit. What is she gonna do, run to the press and play the victim?"

"She'll try it," Kagome said, and there was a self-assured tone to her voice that Inuyasha was surprised to hear. Why was she so nonchalant and accepting about the whole idea of Kikyou going rogue? It was terrifying for him to think of.

"She will," Sango said quietly, "And it will probably be hell. But I promise you, I'll help. Please trust me. I know I haven't given you reason to, but for god's sake, trust me. I'll let you know whatever's happening, as it happens. Please."

Kagome looked like she didn't like the idea of going out and having a romantic evening out right now, and Inuyasha couldn't blame her. But almost in real time, he watched her realize that by doing just that, she'd be able to avoid a scandal. A big one. One that if Kikyou knew about, she just wouldn't be able to pass up.

Kagome put her hand back into Inuyasha's, linked her own fingers with his. "Come on," she said, "You get to take me to dinner like I always wanted."

Inuyasha furrowed his brow, but nodded, and let Kagome lead him outside.

"By the way," Kagome said on the way out, inclining her head in Sango's direction, "The desk nurse probably needs paying off. Do you want me to take care of it?"

Sango just nodded mutely as they rounded the corner and she disappeared from Inuyasha's view.

"And for entrees, we have a dry-aged steak," the waiter was saying.

Inuyasha was sitting in his comfortable dining chair, staring at the white linen tabletop without any indication that he was listening.

Kagome, in her jeans and black netted top sitting in the middle of a five-star Italian eatery, was doing her best to pay attention. "That'll be fine," she said quickly, hating to interrupt but preferring to be left alone, "For both of us."

The waiter blinked in surprise, his eyes cutting to Inuyasha's mute form across the table. Obviously he wasn't used to the 'date' taking control when he was dealing with an A-list Hollywood star.

Inuyasha seemed to sense his hesitation and sent a glare to the waiter that would have frozen a hot cup of tea. The waiter got the hint and scurried off.

Kagome put her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands, letting herself breathe in, breathe out. It would be okay. It would all be okay. Everyone would be fine.

She felt a hand close around one of hers and pull it downward to the surface of the table. Inuyasha just kept staring downward, his fingers running gently over her palm. He was so obviously unsure what to say. And what could anyone say, at this moment? Here they were, having dinner in a swanky LA restaurant, while Miroku was still in surgery. What kind of bullshit industry was this?

Kagome closed her fingers around Inuyasha's and realized she had to be the strong one right now. She was the one who had weathered the storms before. The reason Inuyasha wasn't used to this whole thing was because it had been her job to make sure he never noticed the crazy shit whirling around him and Kikyou in the past.

"Hey," she said softly, and he looked up, his amber eyes meeting her blue ones. She gave a reassuring smile, as reassuring as she could make it right now. "It's gonna be okay. No matter what. Miroku's a tough bastard. We know that. Right?"

He nodded silently, though her pep talk seemed to make him feel at least a little better, as he wasn't glaring laser-beam holes through the tabletop anymore.

She squeezed his hand a little tighter, and he pressed his lips to her knuckles, his eyes full of adoration that he couldn't disguise, no matter the situation. No matter what was going on around them.

The two of them could sense the other patrons trying to be subtle about taking pictures of them. It wasn't working. They both knew what was happening.

Their drinks arrived, then their food.

The food looked amazing.

They drank the drinks.

They left the food.

"Sango?"

"He's okay," Sango said quickly, knowing she sounded just elated. "He's okay. He pulled through just fine. He's laying here sleeping right in front of me. We never should have doubted him."

There was an audible sigh on the other end as Kagome whispered the same to Inuyasha. "I knew it," Kagome said, clearly ready to laugh with relief, "That bastard wouldn't let anything lay him low, let alone some wimpy stab wound. Do you need me to bring you anything? Or at least relieve you, let you get a little sleep?"

"No," Sango said quickly, glancing at the bed where Miroku lay sleeping more deeply than she'd ever seen (no doubt aided by the numerous painkilling drugs he'd been given), "I'll stay here. I want to be here when he wakes back up."

There was a short silence on the other end, and then when Kagome's voice returned it was with an annoyingly knowing tone. "Alright, fine," she said, "I guess we'll see you in the morning. Just so you know, we got papped, just like you wanted. Alibi in place."

"Good," Sango said softly, cutting her eyes toward her mom, who was sleeping soundly in one of the uncomfortable chairs in the room, "And no, you're not coming in the morning. You're staying far away until he's better. Houshi would agree with me if he could."

"...Are you fucking kidding me?"

"No," Sango said, her eyes screwing shut as she sank into her chair and braced herself up with a head to her forehead.

"He's my friend, Sango. Fuck all this Hollywood bullshit. I want to visit my friend in the hospital. Are you going to try and stop me? After all this?"

Sango had no clue what to say. Part of her just wanted to throw caution to the wind and let them visit. Publicity and all. But there was that small part of her, that ambitious part of her that she couldn't quiet no matter what happened, that wanted to salvage all that she and Miroku had worked for the past months. Otherwise, what was the point of it all?

Otherwise, why did he have to get hurt?

"Give the phone to me," a groggy voice whispered.

Sango turned with a start, ignoring the immediate pounding in her heart at the sound of his voice. "How the hell are you awake already?" She rushed forward to his side, balancing the phone on her shoulder and brushing his bangs out of his face, almost as a reassurance to herself that he was, in fact, awake, and talking to her.

Miroku, still reclined on his numerous pillows, just gave her a sleepy grin as he leaned into her touch. "I'll leave that answer for when I tell you about all the shit I did in college. Maybe even after college. Probably well after college. When did I even finish college? How old am I? No, don't answer that. Details aren't important. Give me the phone, sweet cheeks."

Sweet cheeks?

Sango felt her cheeks burn even as she bristled at the rude nickname. "I don't think you're in the state of mind to - "

"Give me the phone. It's Kagome, right? I'll reassure her. I know what you're doing, Sango. I'll back your play."

Dammit, and then you go and say shit like that and I'm putty in your hands. Damn you, Houshi. Damn you to hell. You beautiful, perfect, dream man.

Sango handed him the phone.

"Kagome, you beautiful unicorn."

"M-Miroku? You're awake?" She knew her voice was trembling. Across the table, Inuyasha's eyes were locked with hers, and the relief on his face was palpable as he broke into a small smile and continued to hold her hand in his.

"I guess I'm awake. I feel great right now. There's a really cool hole in my shoulder but someone covered it up with toilet paper, that's weird...What? Oh, Sango says it's gauze. Oh, how about that. Guess what they gave me."

Kagome couldn't help the tears brimming in her eyes as she broke into a grin. "I'm guessing a ton of really strong painkillers, the way you're talking."

"No! Silly! Well, maybe. I dunno. But they gave me flowers! And a teddy bear! A cute little teddy bear. I'm going to call him Ralph and he's going to be my friend. I think he might be a Russian spy, though."

"He's wasted," Kagome whispered to Inuyasha, fighting back quiet laughter. Inuyasha smiled wider and released her hand, sitting back in his chair and helping himself to a sip of his drink.

"Do you want us to come and see you?" she continued, hopeful that Miroku's inebriated state would bypass Sango's original orders, because good grief, she wanted to hug him. Gently, of course, and avoiding the wound, but a big hug nonetheless.

"Nah," Miroku said, "Ralph and Sango will be here. And you two getting papped walking into a hospital? Bad for business."

Leave it to Miroku to be thinking about business even when out of his mind on a strong cocktail of drugs. Kagome blew a lock of hair out of her face.

"What are you two crazy kids up to?" Miroku was sounding sleepier by the minute.

"We're at dinner. Italian place called Bestia. Lots of photos being snapped. People think we don't notice."

"Ooooh, Bestia. Did you try the dry-aged steak? Steak is good. I want a steak right now. Did you know steaks are made from cows? That's weird, isn't it. What if you ate a steak and it mooed? Do you think we'd still eat meat if it yelled at us?"

Kagome couldn't quite think of a reply and put her free hand over her mouth to muffle a giggle as she looked down at her untouched meal.

"So now you two are officially news. This might make you guys look a little bad to the tabloids. Inuyasha's supposed to be bonking your sister, remember?"

"Yes."

"Supposed to be madly in love with the Hollywood goddess, making sweet sweet love to her, defrosting the ice queen, you know, with his magical-"

"Yes, Miroku, I get it, thank you."

"We've got some work to do to keep you from looking like the evil boyfriend-stealing sister, don't we? And to keep Inuyasha from looking like a cheating bastard. That is, if Kikyou goes bananas. And Kikyou will probably go bananas when she sees you two being the cute couple in public. Speaking of bananas, they're delicious. And a great source of potassium. Why is potassium a 'K' on the periodic table? I always thought that was weird. Maybe it's 'K for Kikyou.' Because she goes bananas. And bananas have potassium."

Kagome squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, drumming her fingers on the white linen tablecloth. Inuyasha leaned forward and clasped her fingers in his, running his thumb over the back of her hand. She felt the staring eyes around them even more strongly now, but the look in Inuyasha's eyes told her he had stopped giving a damn.

"I'm gonna go back to sleep now," Miroku said, his words slurring together even more, "Ralph says it's sleepytime. Good luck on your photoshoots tomorrow."

Oh god, the photoshoots. Kagome had completely forgotten until now. How awkward this was going to be once she and Inuyasha were blasted all over the front pages of every ridiculous bloodsucking magazine from here to Timbuktu tomorrow morning.

There was a rustling sound and Sango was back on the other end of the phone.

"You're shooting Ayame at 10 am at her place in the Hills. I'll text you the address. Just act natural."

"Okay," Kagome said, feeling like her stomach was tied up in knots all over again. And just as she'd been feeling better. Lovely.

"One more thing," Sango said, "Do me a favor. Go home with Inuyasha and let yourself relax and be happy. We've got a storm coming, and we're going to figure it out. But...just don't google yourself right now. Do yourself that favor."

"Ha!" Kagome heard Miroku mutter in the background. "You said 'google yourself.'"

"Shut up and go to sleep," Sango said, clearly muffling the receiver with her hand for a moment, then she was back on the phone. "Sorry. He's a hot fucking mess."

"I know," Kagome said, allowing herself a humorless smile, "So the gossip sites are already all over this, huh? And we haven't even left the restaurant. I take it they're not being kind."

"Like I said," Sango said, her voice sounding insistent, "Don't fucking worry about it right now. Go home, have some drinks, play some video games, whatever makes you happy. We'll take care of it all. One way or another. I'm calling Kikyou right now to tell her in no uncertain terms to keep her comments to herself. I'll just tell her it will hurt her Oscar chances."

"That'll do it," Kagome said glumly. Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in confusion, and she just shrugged at him.

She hung up the phone and sighed. "Let's get out of here," she said, locking eyes with him.

"Where?"

"Home."

He blinked. "Which home?"

"Yours."

Inuyasha looked a little surprised, but pleasantly so, and he raised his hand for the check.

There was just one photographer outside snapping photos of them. Kagome raised a hand to shield herself from the repeated flashes. Inuyasha put a hand on the small of her back protectively and sent the guy a few choice words before they got into their waiting car.

So it begins, Kagome thought, feeling not a little terrified, but almost as if on cue, Inuyasha took her left hand in his right one and squeezed it reassuringly.

"It's gonna be okay," he said.

Kagome wanted with all of her heart to believe him. Sure, they had each other, but his entire career, the career he'd spent almost a decade building, the career he'd dreamed about since boyhood, was at stake. And it was her fault, wasn't it?

They made a quick stop at Miroku's apartment for Kagome to throw a suitcase together, and about twenty minutes later they were pulling up to Inuyasha's front gate.

A few more paps were waiting there, not a ton, but still. The attention was growing.

Oh come on, you guys knew he was gonna be okay. He's only my favorite character to write, ever. Also I can't lie, I was laughing like an idiot even as I was writing all of Miroku's numbed-out-on-painkillers dialogue. What a goof.

Ayame's in the next chapter. This should be awkward as hell. I love awkward. Awkward is fun.

Also OMG this story! OVER THREE HUNDRED REVIEWS! Thank you all so very very much! This is officially my most popular fic ever if you include my since-scrubbed-from-the-Internet attempts at writing romantic fanfic back in the day. They are my old shame. Hahahaha.

SONGS!

Kagome - "Pompeii" by Bastille (the walls are starting to crumble around her and she knows it, poor sweet baby angel)

Inuyasha - "Hey Brother" by Avicii (RIP Avicii, btw. Gone so young.)

Sango - "Shine" by Collective Soul (somebody up there likes her, huh? :P)

Miroku - "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles (because let's be real, he's probably hearing this in his head on repeat PFFFFFFFFFFFFT XD)

Thanks again for reading, and reviewing, and all your kind words! Love you guys! - meggz0rz