The It Couple
Chapter Fifty-Seven
"Hello, you two! So good to see you again!" Yura motioned Inuyasha and Kagome to the marks she wanted them to stand on.
"Hello, Yura. Enjoying the night?" Inuyasha asked politely.
"Tremendously!" Yura said, her long red fingernails looking like talons as she tapped her microphone once and then said her standard intro into the camera.
"So, Kagome, tell us, what are you wearing tonight?"
"It's Prada," Kagome said, putting her hands into the pockets as the camera did its old familiar up-and-down motion to show off her dress. The things people are interested in, I swear.
"It's lovely is what it is!" Yura turned to Inuyasha. "Doesn't your sister-in-law look lovely tonight, Inuyasha?"
Inuyasha blinked, then replied. His voice was calm, deathly calm, even, but Kagome could hear the hint of steel in his tone.
"She's not my sister-in-law, Yura. We all know this, right?"
Yura laughed. Inuyasha allowed a small chuckle. Kagome just smiled blankly like an idiot.
"Then what should we call her?" Yura giggled, laying a hand on Kagome's arm, "Besides the belle of the ball, of course! What do you think, Inuyasha?"
Kagome dared not look up at Inuyasha's face, because she knew she'd see him starting to really get angry and hiding it behind an even wider grin.
"Kagome is my best friend in the entire world," she heard him grind out through his teeth, "How's that?"
"Hmmm," Yura said, raising a pencil-thin eyebrow and seeming to think it over, "I suppose that works for now, right?"
Kagome was feeling a little confused. Okay, a lot confused. Best to just keep smiling and get through it.
"How's your sister doing, Kagome? I know how close the two of you are. What was her red-carpet ritual like today, and how does it compare to yours?"
Um, I haven't seen her in weeks. Why don't you ask her, you crazy poison pen narcissist?
"I think she's doing okay," Kagome said diplomatically, "She always loves red carpet events. Getting to meet her fans. She cares about looking and feeling her best on nights like this!"
She allowed herself a glance up at Inuyasha and the corners of his smiling mouth were twitching a little. I think I'm winning the bet for worst answer to a question, Jerkface. Better pay up that ten bucks.
Yura's smile widened as well, and then her face took on a confused, concerned look. "You mean you don't know?"
"Come on, kids," Sango said brightly, taking both Mayu and Kanna by the hands and half-marching, half-dragging them along as she closed the distance between herself and Yura's interview setup, "We should all get inside so we can get you guys a good seat in the front, near the stage!"
"I would have thought we'd have reserved seats," Mayu pouted, looking up at Sango questioningly.
"Oh, we do," Sango said, only partially listening, "But still! Think of it like an airplane. The first class guests always go sit down first, right?"
She wasn't sure if Mayu accepted her bullshit story, but she knew Kanna probably knew better. Thankfully, the pale-haired girl was walking along and staying silent, aside from a very quiet whispered comment that sounded something like, "Rotten in Denmark."
"Sango! Come back for a moment."
Damn you, Warner. Damn you to hell.
"I'll be right back!" she called over her shoulder, "Just gotta reunite these two with their red carpet buddies for the night, right guys?"
Mayu nodded. Kanna just looked up at her blankly. Come on, goth kid, back me up here!
"Hold off on that," Warner said, "I need a word." His tone said right now and don't make me wait.
Sango gave a frantic glance back at Inuyasha and Kagome, who were looking at something on Yura's phone…
"Sango?"
"Coming!" She turned on her heel and walked back, fighting the urge to scream like a banshee with frustration.
"Know what?" Kagome asked, looking legitimately concerned for a hot second, "Did something happen?"
"Oh, something happened, all right," Yura replied to Kagome, but her entire attention seemed to be on Inuyasha. She was staring at him with a stern, solemn expression, and it was, frankly, making him feel more uneasy with each passing second. "Suffice it to say she'll be a little late arriving tonight."
Then Yura spoke again.
"So tonight, on the red carpet, we're having everyone play a little game! We've got Instagram stories of a few attendees tonight getting ready for the Globes, and your job is to guess who it is before we reveal their face!"
Great. Fluff pieces. Inuyasha ground his teeth together and tried to look interested.
"Is my sister -" Kagome started to ask, but then seemed to think better of it and shook it off as Yura pulled up the first video on her phone and held it up for them to watch.
Someone doing a morning workout. Fists flying in and out of frame to punch a huge sandbag, followed intermittently by some very, very long legs offering up powerful kicks.
"Oh, that's Ayame!" Kagome said with a fond smile, looking up at Yura, "Did I guess right?"
"Correct!" Yura said, motioning toward her crew to no doubt put a little splash page on the televised image. Probably some sort of ding-ding-ding and a check mark. Inuyasha fought the urge to scoff. "Okay, next one!"
Inuyasha correctly guessed Kouga from the ashtray in the corner stuffed to the brim with cigarette butts. Kagome was able to identify a few of them, but was laughingly out of her element. The atmosphere was starting to chill out again, even though this game was inherently ridiculous.
"Okay, last video. You two should definitely know this one!"
Oh, shit.
Inuyasha felt Kagome unconsciously inch a little closer to him as her eyes met his. He saw, for the first time in a long while, fear.
Yura pulled up the video and hit the play button, her eyes darting back and forth between him and Kagome the entire time.
It was the back of a head of long, straight black hair, getting brushed and styled.
"That's Kikyou," Kagome said quickly, but Yura didn't motion for the graphic again, just held the phone stock still.
The camera slowly panned around to reveal Kikyou's face in the mirror's reflection.
She was quietly sobbing into a kleenex, her face completely devoid of makeup for the first time Inuyasha could remember in a long, long time.
Inuyasha felt Kagome realize what was happening all at once, and she instinctively tried to step back and turn away, stopped only by his hand at her back. You can't turn away and look like you've got something to be ashamed of, Kiddo. We've got to stand here and face this fucking bitch of a woman and keep...fucking...calm. The thought was easy enough. Pulling it off would be another matter; Inuyasha could already feel his blood beginning to boil.
The Kikyou in the video seemed to see the camera filming and jump in surprise, then gave a small, weak smile and try to wave it away. The tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she was doing the perfect job at looking like the heartbroken little angel trying to put on a brave face and keep going.
Kagome took a deep, shaky breath, and then said, even though she clearly knew the answer, "Is she okay? Why is she crying?"
Yura put her phone away and feigned confusion as she stared Kagome straight in the eyes. "She said we should ask you, sweetie."
"Okay," Inuyasha said, grabbing Kagome by her shoulder and turning her away from the camera, "That's enough of that. Are you satisfied, Yura? Did you get what you needed?"
"I certainly did!" Yura said brightly, "Good luck to you tonight! We're all rooting for you, I'm sure."
Sango finally broke free of Warner (and of course, all he'd wanted was to ensure that he and Sango were seated next to each other at dinner, the creep) and set off back down the red carpet, but it was obvious she was too late. Inuyasha had a protective hand on Kagome's shoulder as they basically rushed down the center of the walkway, plainly ignoring all the other interviewers' shouted requests. Kagome looked shellshocked, her eyes wide and staring down at the floor. Inuyasha, though? He was furious.
"Okay, kids," Sango quickly turned to the two girls who were still attached to her hands, "Why don't you go on ahead into the ballroom? The usher will show you to your seats, and you can order a really fancy Italian soda with cream!"
"What about Inuyasha?" Mayu was gazing at Inuyasha's approaching form with what could only be that age-old preteen longing.
"They'll be along in a sec," Sango said reassuringly, "Just need to give them some hair and makeup touch-ups. Super important before they start airing the awards live, right?"
"I want a makeup touch-up, too," Mayu pouted.
Sango knew it was wrong to want to literally kick a sick and dying child in the pants, but so help her god…
"Come on, Mayu," Kanna said, grabbing hold of the other young girl's wrist and dragging her along, "You can use this time to reflect on the inherent pointlessness of arbitrary awards for something based entirely on deception and self-worship."
"I don't even know what you just said!" Mayu protested, but allowed Kanna to lead her away, inside the large double doors and then through the ornate doors of the ballroom.
Sango sighed and turned back to Inuyasha and Kagome, who were just reaching her.
"Come on," she said, before either of them could speak, "Just come inside and we'll sort it out."
Sango found them an empty green room and bolted the door shut, then paused for a moment before dragging a heavy chair from the corner over to the door and jamming it beneath the handle.
She then turned to the two of them, hands on her hips. "So what the fuck just happened, exactly?" Her expression was irritated, freaked-out, frantic, and then it softened. "Oh, no, Kagome…"
Inuyasha's gaze snapped to Kagome, who was standing behind him. Her hands were clapped over her mouth, almost frozen in place, and her beautiful blue eyes were wide as saucers. There were no tears yet, but he knew it was just a matter of seconds.
"Kagome," Inuyasha started toward her, but she just held out both her hands, as if to tell them both to keep away.
"No. Please, just don't. Give me a minute." She looked almost apologetic. He'd gotten her into the mess of a lifetime and she was apologizing to him for not wanting him to touch her right now? Inuyasha felt a little dizzy, and just nodded and turned away to throw himself bodily into the remaining chair, his head in his hands, his elbows on his knees.
Sango, meanwhile, was frantically scrolling through her phone. "That fucking evil, manipulative bitch," she said finally, her eyes blazing with fury, "She did it. She fucking did it." She held out her phone for Inuyasha to take, and he gazed down at the screen through bleary eyes.
It was Kikyou's twitter account.
Posted one hour ago: "If you see me at the Globes tonight, please say hello. Could use a little positive human interaction tonight. Not quite myself today." A single heart emoji.
Followed by comments all asking what was wrong, and some very well-placed replies suggesting that she just lean on Inuyasha for support because he clearly loved her so much.
Posted in reply to one such comment: "I can't. And I don't blame Inuyasha at all. I knew this happened, that people fell out of love, but I never thought it would happen to US." Broken heart emoji.
A flurry of further comments ranging from shocked outbursts to sympathetic questions as to what happened.
Posted in reply to that: "We're not going to the Globes together, obv. That's all I really want to say. This happened very suddenly and I have to ask for privacy right now. Thanks."
Kikyou Higurashi asking for privacy. There were likely pigs flying in a frozen hell right now.
More comments and replies, including one asking what Inuyasha could possibly be thinking, dumping her, the Kikyou Higurashi.
Inuyasha felt his hands shaking as he wordlessly handed the phone back to Sango. He stared straight at them in an attempt to force them to stop, but there was no combatting this rush of fury and adrenaline coursing through his body.
"There's one more thing," Sango said softly, as if she knew how thick the tension in the room was and thought that if she spoke above a whisper it would snap like piano wire, "Houshi just sent me the screenshot. She tweeted one more reply and then deleted it, as if she thought better of it. But it was up long enough for everyone to grab screenshots, and Yura's people are already announcing the exclusive on her website."
Inuyasha snatched the phone out of her hands again and glared at the screen.
One of the comments asking what the hell was wrong with Inuyasha, dumping Kikyou out of the blue and so suddenly.
Kikyou's reply: "I don't know. Ask my sister."
"GOD DAMMIT!" Inuyasha roared, rearing back to throw the phone at the wall. Sango sprang forward and wrenched it from his grip before he could, but just barely.
"Let me see," Kagome's voice sounded from behind him, and he stopped short.
Sango hesitated, then wordlessly handed the phone to Kagome, who took it and scrolled through. There was utter silence in the room, and then Kagome handed the phone to Inuyasha, who handed it back to Sango.
Kagome sank back to let her back rest against the wall, her hand closing around her throat as if something invisible was choking her. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be trying to will herself to remain calm. She looked to be on the verge of a full-blown panic attack.
"I knew she'd try to get back at me in the end," she finally said, her voice trembling, "I just underestimated how far she'd go."
"She's fucked us," Sango muttered, "And herself. I just don't get it."
"No," Kagome said softly, "Just us. She's had this plan formulated since Inuyasha told her to fuck off once and for all. And she knows her tabloids. She's got Yura in her pocket and everything ready to go. To paint herself as the victim and get all the sympathy in the world."
She looked up at Inuyasha, and finally, a tear spilled out of those brilliant blue eyes. "She's won."
Inuyasha had no coherent reply, so he just stood up and threw his arms around her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him so tight that she was probably wrinkling her dress, but that was obviously the last thing that should be on anyone's mind right now.
"The hell she has," Sango snapped as she frantically started typing into her phone, "I'm setting Houshi on her. Whatever dirt we can find, we'll get, and we'll make her look like the piece of fucking trash she is."
"You can't," Kagome said softly, her forehead pressed to the lapel of Inuyasha's jacket, "You do that and she'll just say it came from Inuyasha's people. That he's being vindictive. Or I am. And then I'm an evil smearing ungrateful sister as well as a homewrecker."
"This is…" Inuyasha growled in frustration, "What the hell do we do? Like seriously, what the fuck can we do? We're screwed."
"I mean," Sango said quickly, "You're probably most definitely still nominated, that's for sure, but -" She faltered when she saw Inuyasha's glare, aimed at her from across the room.
"When the fuck," Inuyasha ground out, trying to keep his voice down to avoid shouting with Kagome standing right there in his embrace, "did I say anything about the fucking Oscar? I'm talking about Kagome. Kikyou's completely destroyed her character in the press."
"Inuyasha," Kagome's hands were instantly at the sides of his face, forcing him to look at her, "It's okay. Really, it is." She had that weak, brave smile on, the one she put on when she was trying to convince herself of something. "As long as we have each other, it'll be okay, right?"
"The hell it will!" He was trying not to snap, but dammit, he was just so fucking angry. "That's your photography career gone! Not to mention you'll never be able to live in peace again!"
Kagome's smile faltered for a moment and she looked ready to cry again. And then that smile returned and she laced her arms around his neck, clearly willing him to calm down with her calm, easy breaths. "I'll have you, Jerkface. We'll get through it together. I guess that's the bright side of it all, you know? I happen to know that you're worth the trouble. So I'll be fine. We'll be fine."
He found himself unable to do anything in that moment but kiss her with all the fire in his soul.
When they parted again, he turned back to Sango. "So what do we do now?"
Sango thought for a moment, looking like she was dealing with a hell of a migraine. "The only thing we can do. We try to carry on as normal. We go upstairs into the ballroom and we sit through the fucking Golden Globes."
Yay! A two-for-one special today (because I still feel like I owe you guys so much for sticking with me in my absence). Maybe three-for-one, who knows? My muse is strong today! (Watch, now because I said that I'll just completely forget what the hell I was doing and break my brain or something.)
DIS BITCH, right? And poor Sango never saw it coming. She thought there was no way Kikyou would be willing to just burn the whole dang opera house down. Whoooooops.
SONGS!
Inuyasha - "Her Diamonds" by Rob Thomas ("Cause I can't help her now..." sniffle)
Kagome - "Flesh Without Blood" by Grimes (accurately reflects how she must be feeling right now about the sister that just royally destroyed her life)
Sango - "Carry On" by fun.
Okay, my Spanish galleons, I'm off to start the next chapter! Love you all muchly! Please review if you can. It really does spur me on to keep going. Thanks so much! - meggz0rz