Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter thirty-three: We Can Work it Out
It was nearing four in the afternoon, and all was relatively quiet in the impressive Taisho manor. The head of household would not be home until 7 at the earliest, and his wife was away at the grocery store with Blanca, Izayoi's trusted assistant. That left the house to the children for a few hours, though only one was home and he was kept away in his room with a very familiar guest. Inuyasha and Kikyou lay on his messy, unkempt bed in a very provocative embrace. There was music playing in the background, and their school work was scattered across the floor after being pushed from the bed in a heated moment of passion. The teenagers' lips were locked in a never-ending kiss that brought their sexual tension to an all time high as they moved closer and closer to actually going through with the act. Contrary to popular belief, they had never done much past kissing and touching each other. Something always ended up getting in the way; just like now.
"Inuyasha, that was not funny!" A familiarly loud voice echoed in the hallway just before his door swung open to reveal a very irritated Kagome; though her expression quickly shifted to one of embarrassment when she saw the position Inuyasha and Kikyou were in. Kagome's shocked face was painted red as Inuyasha and Kikyou made a quick attempt to separate from each other.
"Fuck you! Mind your own business Kagome!" He shouted awkwardly while attempting to hide the indiscreet tent in his lap. Nothing could have prepared Kagome for such a sight and she couldn't help but stand there gawking as the pair on the bed readjusted their clothes. Kikyou, who was not as mortified as the other two, was quick to recover and sent Kagome an icy glance.
"You can shut the door now, or do you want to watch me blow him?" Her blunt words jarred Kagome back to reality, and she quickly heeded Kikyou's words so not to witness something like that. Everyone knew that Kagome was very sensitive when it came to things of a sexual nature; she even went as far as to cover her eyes during the most exposing parts of a movie. Inuyasha let out a frustrated sigh and stood up to go to his bathroom, which was exclusively his now that Sesshoumaru was gone, to take care of himself and sort out his conflicting feelings. Though he was upset with her, Inuyasha didn't like anyone talking that way in front of Kagome. "Oh come on Inuyasha," Kikyou started as she tried to follow after him, but Inuyasha just shut the bathroom door in her face as he calmed down in solitude. "Don't be like that. She's not a kid anymore and neither are we…let me make it up to you baby. I can fit make you feel really good~," Kikyou was feeling rather confident in that moment, but when Inuyasha opened the door and she saw his stern face, it all went away.
"Where'd you hear that; a fucking made-for-TV-movie?" He snapped sarcastically and went over to pick up his school work that had been thrown onto the floor. Kikyou watched with folded arms and a put-off expression, but said nothing as she followed his lead and began collecting her work as well. Her silence didn't last long though, as something in the back of her mind kept bugging her until she voiced it.
"Why are you so protective of Kagome? Every time I say something mean about her, you make me feel bad. Do you like her?" Her tone was one of suspicion, and her black eyes watched Inuyasha's reactions like a hawk. But the teenager just kept his eyes on his work and gave short replies.
"I'm not protective. Sesshoumaru is protective. And the only reason I tell you to stop is because she will go to my mother and I get punished for your big mouth. There, happy?" His voice was deadpan, and his words were as blunt as possible, but there was still something Kikyou needed an answer for.
"You didn't tell me if you like her or not; do you?" She pressed, leaning in close to the young man. Inuyasha's top lip twitched slightly as he thought for a moment; but that was all she needed to see. "So you do like her. How much? As much as me?" That was enough to push Inuyasha far enough for a real reaction.
"Fuck Kikyou, you do this all the time! No, I don't like Kagome as much as I like you but I can stand to be around her more than I used to. I don't hate her, but I don't like her either. That should answer your fucking questions and now I'm going to drive you home." It seemed that all her questions had achieved was irritating him enough that he wanted her out. Kikyou pouted and gave Inuyasha a dirty look.
"Why do I have to leave now? I thought you were going to quiz me on my French vocabulary." A sarcastic laugh passed Inuyasha's lips while he gathered his keys and wallet, shoving them both into the pocket of his uniform pants.
"Get your brother to do it. Besides, I'm busy tonight." His tight-lipped responses ruffled Kikyou's feathers, and she sent him a dirty look while she put all her books and folders into her backpack. There was an awkward silence between the two as they moved to leave the room, but as Inuyasha stepped into the hallway he nearly ran into another person.
"Oh! Sorry, Inuyasha," Ayame stood there with a bag of chips in hand and a wide-eyed expression on her face. Still in her uniform, the jacket was undone and her feet were bare; giving the appearance of relaxed comfort in the household. Inuyasha merely nodded his head at her as he and Kikyou brushed past, the cold expression on the older girl's face giving Ayame a chill down her spine. Shuddering momentarily, she turned towards Kagome's door and went inside to continue their half-hearted homework session. In the fifteen-year old's room, Kagome and Sango sat on the bed with their reading homework open in their laps. There was an empty space where Ayame had been seated, and was filled once she returned to her spot.
"I think Inuyasha and Kikyou had a fight," She commented bluntly as her hands pulled open the noisy chip bag. Kagome's head was the first to look up and her brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Why do you say that?" She asked before reaching into the bag. Sango quietly listened as she pulled out a handful of chips, eating them one by one. Ayame crossed her legs in front of her and popped a chip into her mouth.
"Cuz they were leaving his room when I came up and he was really angry looking. She was as mean as normal though," This got a small laugh from Sango, but Kagome still had a vaguely curious expression on her face. Her eyes returned to the page she'd been reading, but in her mind she couldn't help but wonder what the two had fought about; she also couldn't help but think about why she cared so much? Thankfully though, a distraction arose later when Ayame decided that enough homework had been done and that they needed to prepare for the talent show. She jumped up from the mattress with her ipod in hand and already had the song queued up before she plugged it into Kagome's stereo. "Alright, this is the song I want to use for our routine." With the click of a button, Kagome's room was flooded with the annoyingly addictive melody of a Black Eyed Peas song, Ayame's current favorite artist. Both Sango and Kagome groaned and seemed to collapse in displeasure for the song selection. "What? What's wrong with it?" She asked sadly, looking genuinely disappointed.
"Ayame-chan, that song was fun during the summer, but I don't really like it anymore." Sango did little to spare Ayame's feelings, and Kagome couldn't help but side with the former. She made a nervous expression as she looked back at Ayame over her shoulder.
"Ayame-chan, not everyone still likes that song anymore. Lets pick a song from someone not everyone knows about. That way, they'll focus more on your singing and the dancing than the music." Both Kagome and Sango got up from the bed and stood next to Ayame, trying to lift their friend's spirit about the music. The redhead merely sighed dejectedly and looked down at her toes momentarily.
"Then what song do you guys want?" At least she was willing to negotiate.
"Well, I have someone in mind that I think you'll like." Kagome smiled and went over to the computer sitting on her desk, Sango and Ayame following behind. It didn't take long to pull up the song she thought would be suitable and soon all three girls were listening intently. It was a song by Christina Milian, Dip it Low, which six years ago had been a very popular song on the radio. As the song began to play, Ayame quickly decided that she liked it and Sango reluctantly agreed. She was still hesitant about the whole thing, but willing.
"I like it! Kagome-chan, good job! I completely forgot about this song!" Ayame gave Kagome's shoulders a playful shove and they smiled at each other.
"I'll email the song to both of you and we'll all listen to it a lot so we can know all the words and changes. But we shouldn't plan any choreography until we have a concept for the routine." They all agreed and soon began brainstorming different ideas, and kept at it until it came time for Sango and Ayame to go home. Kagome watched from the front door as one of the family drivers took off with her two friends in the backseat. She wasn't happy to see them leave, but was looking forward to what the night would bring in a few hours. This was the one night every two weeks that the whole family gathered to video chat with Sesshoumaru, who was still abroad in Japan for school. It was the one of the things during the week that Kagome looked most forward to and she couldn't wait to see his face on the big television screen in the living room. Smiling to herself, she shut the front door and went towards the kitchen for a drink, but as she passed through the foyer someone else was coming down the stairs.
She and Inuyasha couldn't even bear to look each other in the eye, not after such an awkward encounter, and quickly went about their separate ways until Izayoi came home. They would all be seated at the dinner table and non-interaction would be impossible for the two who weren't quite sure how to behave around each other anymore.
"How do you like the couscous? Blanca and I experimented with some new spices and I think we did pretty well," Izayoi smiled at the two other seated at the same square dinner table they'd been eating from for years. Kagome and Inuyasha, no longer having to share the same side of the table, wordlessly acknowledged the older woman while shoveling food into their mouths. The fourth member of the family was not home yet, but was expected any moment. Inu-Taisho was normally kept at work late, not usually coming home until six or seven, yet he always managed to be home before dinner was over. "Kagome, madam Chachka called me earlier; she wants you to bring your newest leotard to lessons tomorrow." The young dancer picked her eyes up from her place to look at Izayoi with a quizzical expression. "There will be some representatives from a few dance schools and conservatories visiting and she wants you to look your best." Just as Kagome nodded in understanding, they all heard the front door opening. Knowing instantly knew who it was, Kagome dropped her fork and got up from the table with renewed excitement.
"Dad!" Her bare feet slapped against the tile and hardwood flooring as she ran towards the front door, still as much of a child as she was years ago. Inuyasha remained at the table however, and only vaguely listened to Kagome and his father down the hall. His metal fork pushed the vegetables around his plate and there was an absentminded expression on his face, which his mother took to mean there was something upsetting on his mind. His golden eyes lifted and focused on her concerned face when he felt a gentle touch to his arm. Izayoi knew that her son was just as deep thinking and capable of darker emotions as anyone else was, and while Inuyasha battled with his issues quite often, at this moment he was just simply zoned out. Offering his mother a dismissive smile, they continued to go on with their dinner as Inu-Taisho and Kagome came back into the kitchen.
Still in the foyer, Inu-Taisho was just putting his jacket on the hook when Kagome came into view. He smiled warmly at her, the lines in his face beginning to grow deeper with age.
"Hey princess," Inu-Taisho's voice was deeper than it had been before, but was as familiar as it had always been. He took Kagome into his arms as she barreled into him, burying her face in his stomach (which was beginning to soften due to lack of exercise). "How was your day?" He asked as she took his briefcase for him. The two began walking down the hallway towards the kitchen, his hands loosening the tie around his neck as they moved.
"Good. Did you have a good day?" She asked as they entered the kitchen. Izayoi rose up from her seat with a lovely smile on her face. The smile was one that had drawn Inu-Taisho to his wife, and now it was highlighted by laugh-lines that had become more pronounced. Izayoi was not as young as she once was, but she was as gorgeous as ever. She and her husband shared a brief kiss before he moved to take a seat at the table across from Inuyasha. Kagome joined them once she set her father's briefcase down, and then resumed her eating as well. Izayoi prepared her husband's plate quickly and set it in front of him.
"Thank you. I had a good day, Kagome. But I'm glad to be home; I've been looking forward to tonight all day." There was a hint of anticipation in his voice, and everyone knew what he was referring to. Inuyasha was less enthused about it though. Video chatting with Sesshoumaru wasn't something he particularly looked forward to.
"I know me too!" Kagome chimed in with a smile, and the family commenced into comfortable conversation. But there was something that Kagome needed to bring up with her parents, though she was slightly worried how they'd react. "Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you." Her words were somewhat ominous, uncharacteristic for Kagome, and all three other family members looked at her with concerned expressions. "Um, today Houjo asked me to go with him to this ballet conference this summer in Houston. Its six weeks long and there's all this awesome stuff that I'll get to do. His mom is getting me in for free, and there are some other kids from the academy she's also helping, and I really, really, really want to go. I have the pamphlet for you to look at." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out the same pamphlet that Houjo had given her, and then handed it to a shocked Inu-Taisho. He seemed almost dazed in how surprised he was.
"Houston? six weeks? Kagome, that's much too far and long for you to be gone. You've never been away like that before. No, absolutely not happening. I'm sorry,"
Izayoi cut in, her voice somewhat apologetic but mostly unflinchingly final. Kagome's smile turned into a pout as her shoulders fell dejectedly. Of course it was silly to think that Izayoi would be one-hundred percent willing right from the get-go, but it was still disappointing that she said no so quickly! Looking to her father, Kagome blinked her big, blue eyes and clasped her hands together; the absolute clichéd image of innocence and begging. The older gentleman got an uncomfortable expression on his face as he looked between his adoptive daughter and wife, who was looking back at him with a face that wordlessly, but effectively, told him not to give in. Of course he didn't really want Kagome to be gone for that long either, but he didn't want to stifle her passion in order to keep her close. Inuyasha was amused at his parent's silent battle and wondered what the outcome would be. He didn't really pay attention to the fact that Kagome would be gone for six weeks if she gained permission; the poor boy didn't understand what an influence the girl had on his life.
"We'll discuss it and tell you what we decide on in a few days. Your mother and I need to know more about it before we sign off." Playing the mediator, Inu-Taisho appeased both girls with his diplomatic answer. Kagome sighed, but nodded at her father's decision and took one final bite of food before pushing herself away from the table.
"I'm gonna go set up the TV and laptop." She said calmly while taking her plate to the sink. Inuyasha watched Kagome from the corner of his eye, then eventually decided that he'd rather go with her than stick around and spend alone time with his parents.
"I'm going too," He stated before moving to stand up from the table. But before he could even straighten his back, Inu-Taisho cut in and stopped his son. He was still chewing a mouthful of food, and hid it behind the hand that held his fork, when he spoke up.
"Wait, how was your day son?" He asked, taking Inuyasha by surprise a bit. While it wasn't unheard of, it was uncommon for Inu-Taisho to show interest in his second-born son's life. Every time he heard Inuyasha get excited about a new guitar or plans to become a musician, the businessman all but shut down and could barely hide his disappointment. It had caused a lot of friction between the two in the past, it still does, but with Izayoi's insistence for her husband's acceptance of their son, Inuyasha and his father were finding common ground that they could talk about without raising their voices.
"Good," The teenager replied casually, then continued to get up from the table and take his plate to the sink. He heard Inu-Taisho heave a sigh, but didn't say anything further.
"Did anything exciting happen?" The father asked, tried to rouse a little more information from his stubborn son. Izayoi looked back at Inuyasha, wishing he'd turn around to see the expression on her face. If he would, he'd see the urging look on her face for him to be a little more generous with Inu-Taisho. As it was, Inuyasha had his eyes locked onto his phone as he passed through the kitchen and into the hallway.
"Nope," Was his simple reply before he disappeared around the corner. It left Inu-Taisho with slight frustration, and Izayoi noticed it in his demeanor as he chewed with a certain sense of…aggression. She forked a bit of meat and ate it quietly, knowing it was best to just let her husband calm down before they went on to discuss Kagome's proposal.
In the family room, which was different from the sitting room (that was where the mister and missus entertained guests), Kagome was sitting on the couch in front of the generously sized television. There was an HDMI cable connecting Izayoi's laptop to the screen, and on it was the laptop's desktop. Inuyasha watched as Kagome logged into the video chat program and saw that Sesshoumaru had not logged in yet; he hoped he wouldn't log on at all. While the distance between the two brothers had helped lessen the animosity they had towards each other, it was possible for them to still get on each other's nerves. Inuyasha still didn't like how smug the older sibling was, and Sesshoumaru couldn't stand how directionless his younger brother was. He was of the same opinion as their father; music was not a smart career goal. They knew how difficult it was to become successful as a musician, because they knew some of the most well-known of them, and they did not want the negative side-effects of that life to cause Inuyasha spiral out of control.
"How long is this one going to take?" Inuyasha asked as he sat down next to Kagome on the leather couch. She was seated comfortably in the furniture, foot propped up on the coffee table in front of them as she waited for the icon next to Sesshoumaru's name to turn green, signaling that he had gotten online. Her blue eyes left the TV screen just long enough to send Inuyasha a rather deadpan look. She felt no need to be cordial or sweet with him, not unless he deserved it. As much as she didn't acknowledge it, Kagome felt completely comfortable being herself around Inuyasha. Of course there were times when she felt some insecurities, but that was from her going through puberty and being awkward around most, if not all, people of the opposite sex.
"As long as Sesshoumaru wants it to." She replied, remaining unresponsive as Inuyasha let out a groan and his head fell back against the couch. Though he always complained about the video calls, he never did miss one. Kagome looked over at him and something came up in her mind. "Are you going to enter the talent show? Me and Ayame and Sango are going to do a song and dance." She informed casually, trying to fill the time with conversation until Sesshoumaru logged on. Inuyasha just shrugged at her, not having given the talent show a thought until now.
"I dunno; I might." He said nonchalantly. It was then that a familiar beeping sound interrupted them and Kagome shot up like a rocket, giving Inuyasha a surprise. Sesshoumaru had logged on and was requesting a chat and Kagome didn't waste any time before accepting.
"Mom! Dad! Sesshoumaru's online!" She shouted loudly, her voice echoing around the house. Inuyasha remained seated on the couch, his ankle crossed over the knee of his other leg and his body sunk into the furniture in a complete state of comfort. He watched as a window opened up on the television, and in it was Sesshoumaru's slightly pixilated face. The older brother, still donning his fashionable short hair-cut, was situated in his private dorm; which, in Inuyasha's opinion, was just as boring as Sesshoumaru was. There were no posters, no memorabilia, and nothing exciting that would allude to a 20-something living in it. He stared at his brother's face and offered a small wave as the parents came into the room, Inu-Taisho barely able to contain himself. He looked like a kid at Christmas and sat on the other side of Kagome, smiling brightly at his long-distant son. "Hi Sesshoumaru! How are you?" Kagome asked eagerly, beaming up at the image of her beloved older brother. He smiled, it was more of a smirk actually, back at her and the family.
"I'm doing fine. I have to go soon though," This news disappointed Inu-Taisho and Kagome, but Inuyasha and his mother were somewhat appreciative of this; more so Inuyasha than Izayoi. She enjoyed these video chats because it made her husband and daughter happy; it was rare that she ever said anything to Sesshoumaru. "How is everything at home?" Sesshoumaru questioned, showing some genuine interest in his family's life. He still wasn't a very demonstrative person, but the distance had brought out the sentimental side of the once completely stoic young man. Kagome grinned wildly and spoke up before anyone else had a chance.
"I'm great! I'm going to be in a talent show and I might get to go to Houston this summer with Houjo!" She shared eagerly. Izayoi made a face from where she stood behind the couch, hesitant to remind Kagome that she might not go, but decided against it. Sesshoumaru didn't hesitate though and voiced his opinion.
"You already spend way too much time with him, and a trip to Houston seems a little fast." He said in a half-way serious, half-way teasing tone. It made Inu-Taisho a little uncomfortable, and he sent Kagome a glance as a deep blush took over her face. Inuyasha also glanced at her, wondering what her reaction would be. Everyone knew that Kagome and Houjo were 'together' in a very basic sense. They spent countless hours together, called and texted each other constantly, and shared their lives with one another openly; but it wasn't a secret that they didn't do anything more than hold hands and cuddle. For some reason, Kagome had grown up to be quite the reserved person when it came to displays of affection with people. Though they were the only two who knew it, Kagome and Houjo had never even shared a kiss on the lips. Everyone, even her family, assumed Kagome had at least kissed Houjo; but they were all too awkward around the subject to ask. Izayoi had attempted it once, when she and Kagome had been enjoying a mother/daughter's day out, but the young girl just got flustered and shot the question down. The only reason Sesshoumaru knew anything was because he and Kagome had no secrets; and that's the way he demanded things stay. So to have him tease her in front of others about the intimacy between her and Houjo only made Kagome get all the more nervous and defensive.
"N-no! It's for a ballet conference! His mom is sponsoring a few other dancers from New York and it's not like some vacation or anything. It's a great opportunity!" Huffing with an embarrassed frown, Kagome folded her arms and fall back onto the couch between Inuyasha and Inu-Taisho. Sesshoumaru chuckled softly and leaned back in his desk chair as the usual chit-chat commenced between him and his far-off family. For nearly twenty minutes they shared and enjoyed talking to each other, though by the end if it Inuyasha and Izayoi had bailed. That was how it usually ended, with Inu-Taisho and Kagome staying until Sesshoumaru logged off. Things were starting to wind down and Inu-Taisho said goodbye to his son before going back to the kitchen to get a drink; leaving Kagome and Sesshoumaru to discuss something very important to them.
"So, how is she?" He asked casually, but with a hint of sadness. Kagome looked up at her brother's pixelized face and offered a side-ways smile with a shrug.
"She's okay; misses you a lot. I think she knows that you haven't visited in a long time, but she doesn't make a big deal about it." Kagome tried to leave out some of the darker parts of her visits with Kimi, but Sesshoumaru knew that she was withholding and did not let it slide. "Well, they aren't letting her have anything she can use to hurt herself. I haven't been back in over a week though so maybe she got her things back. I'm going this weekend and I promise that I'll do everything to get her stuff back." Kagome frowned when she saw the disappointment written all over Sesshoumaru's face. He looked down at his desk and she could see the muscles in his arm tense up as if he were making a fist. It was hard for Sesshoumaru to be so far away from his mother, but he knew that he could rely on Kagome to keep her enough company during his absence. Inu-Taisho never visited, though he still footed the bill for the institutionalization; something Izayoi was only vaguely aware of. Inuyasha had no clue whatsoever; though he did know Kagome often took one of the drivers every other weekend.
"Thank you," He spoke softly, and with much pain in his voice. It tore at Kagome's heartstrings knowing how badly Sesshoumaru missed his mother, and she wished it were possible to give him a hug whenever this topic was brought up. He was still her idol, and no one likes to see their idol in pain. "I have to go to class now but I will text you when I am finished. Goodnight, Kagome." Sesshoumaru returned to his normal, casual self and offered her a hint of a smile. Kagome returned it wholeheartedly and waved goodbye to Sesshoumaru before he promptly logged off and the video feed was cut. Sighing softly, Kagome sat in silence for a few moments, her blue eyes staring off into the empty space before her as she mulled over everything that had just been discussed. She was not yet sixteen and she already had so much more on her plate than most others her age; it was exhausting, but it was the only life Kagome knew. As she went through the mechanical steps of disconnecting HDMI cords and turning off screens, the young woman recalled memories from a long time ago.
What little she did remember from her earliest years was like looking at something through a broken window; fragmented and unclear. With every year she spent in the Taisho family, more memories of her past disappeared and left fewer traces in her mind. Now she was consumed with school, friends, dance, and actually living instead of foraging for food and sleeping in damp, cold conditions. But something that did always come back to mind was the image of her father's dirt-crusted boots that he wore for the later years of his and Kagome's time together. Whenever she woke, it was to the sight of his boots standing in her face and his gruff voice telling her to get up. For some reason, she could not rid herself of the smell of the leather and rubber of his nasty old boots, and of the filth he'd walked through that day. Just thinking about it gave Kagome a nauseas feeling, but she was jolted back to reality when she heard the familiar screech of Inuyasha's guitar coming from his room.
"Sorry!" Came his young voice from behind his closed door, and then the music began again at a much softer decibel. It pulled a quiet laugh from Kagome, and she blinked her eyes a few times as she realized what was going on. She was back in her room, sitting on the edge of the bed with her mother's picture in hand. It was uncertain when she had come up the stairs or for how long she'd been sitting there, but hearing Inuyasha's familiar guitar practice brought Kagome back to the present and pushed her dark past back where it belonged. As she placed the framed picture back in its proper place on her nightstand, Kagome smiled to herself and looked around her room. This was her life and it always would be. She would always have a deep appreciation and love for her birth mother, but nothing could replace the happiness and gratitude she had for Izayoi and Inu-Taisho; They were her parents and they loved her as much as Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru, and Rin as well. She might not carry the same last name, but family extended far beyond names and blood.
Just then, there was a sharp pain at the back of her foot that gave Kagome such a fright that she let out a shrill cry. Quickly snatching her feet away from the floor, Kagome looked down to see three parallel cuts and a few small beads of blood collecting on them. Her brow pulled in tight and she gave a heavy bounce on the mattress of her bed, causing the wood of the frame to squeak in an attempt to scare the cat underneath it.
"Darn it Buyo! That hurt!" She said angrily and hopped over to her bathroom, having to keep the injured foot off of the carpet to reduce blood droplets. And from underneath her bed, a grumpy fat cat meowed in self-satisfaction as it watched.
Out on the sports field behind the academy, a match was going on that was in its final moments. The home team was tied with the visiting rivals and the next goal would determine the winners. Bleachers on either side of the field were full of cheering fans and friends of the players, all rooting for their team. The day couldn't have been any better for the event either; it was a beautiful November day, a few days before Kagome's birthday, and the weather, while a little nippy, was warmed by a clear sky and bright sun. The trees were all turning and there was a crispness to the air that refreshed everyone in New York after a rather hot summer. Kagome sat beside her friends on the first row, and her hands were cupped around her mouth as she shouted supportively as Sango took the ball in the net of her lacrosse stick and headed down the length of the field with it. The young player had an intense look on her face as she tackled and dodged her way through the other team's members, but it didn't do much to slow her down. If she made this last goal, the game was theirs and the team would proceed onward to becoming the best in the division.
"Go Sango! Run! Run! Run!" Miroku hollered loudly, standing up in excitement as his girlfriend sprinted past them. As everyone else began to realize how likely it would be that Sango made the finishing goal, they stood as well and cheered even harder. Just as the clock was winding down and the referee would call the game, Sango got cut off by two opposing players and quickly tossed the ball to her nearest teammate, who easily caught it and continued on to make the final goal. The air was broken by the blaring of a shrill whistle and Sango let out a victorious scream as she and her team rushed to the center of the field to meet in a rather brutal dog pile. The losing team just watched, or kicked the manicured grass in defeat, while the home team and its cheering section rejoiced in another win. It had been a good game, but having Sango as a captain gave her team a rather nice advantage.
It didn't take long for the excitement to die down and the spectators all began to go off on their own, but a certain group of students remained on the side of the field to wait for their favorite player to come over. Standing there were Kagome, Ayame, Miroku, Kouga, and Inuyasha. Kikyou had stepped away to go to the bathroom, missing the winning goal, but it wasn't a secret that she didn't particularly care. They watched in eager anticipation as Sango said a few final words to her teammates before coming over to her friends. There was a proud smile on her face, and two certain people couldn't wait for their friend to walk over before the raced onto the field and took the dirty, sweaty girl under their arms.
"I've never seen you run that fast!" Ayame said with a rather astonished tone, but ended it with a good-natured laugh and shook her head as the three girls awkwardly made their way back to the boys standing in a group. "I would have quit halfway into the game. I just don't know how you do it," She added, getting a nod of agreement from Kagome. Sango, who was still slightly out of breath, just shook her head and laughed softly. She wanted to say something in return, but was stopped when Miroku stepped in front of them with his camera pointed and a grin on his face.
"Say 'winning'!" He pulled the camera up in front of his face and, as the three girls pulled in tight with big smiles on their faces, pressed on the shutter-button a few times. "Now say 'Oh baby, keep buttering my biscuits'," Miroku could barely get all the words out before he let out a rather ugly snort. Both Sango and Ayame gave him a playful chastising look, but Kagome naively didn't catch onto the underlying meaning of those words.
"Oh baby, keep butter-" Her words cut short when she didn't hear the other two saying them, then looked around at the faces of the boys who were on the verge of bursting out into uncontrollable laughter. All three of their faces were red as silent laughter wracked their bodies, but it was unclear to Kagome as to what was so funny. She made a curious face and looked at them questioning eyes. "What's so funny about biscuits?" That was all it took to send Inuyasha and his friends into hysteria, just in time for Kikyou to walk up with a confused look on her face. She looked at the six others and came to stand next to Inuyasha, who was having to prop himself up with his hands on his knees as laughter caused his entire body to shake.
"What are you laughing at?" She questioned, but not with much enthusiasm. Kouga was the first to be able to speak clearly, though short bursts of laughter came up after every other word.
"Kagome doesn't understand a dirty joke," He explained, giving Kagome cause to shoot him an embarrassed pout; but that was turned into a rueful glare at Kikyou's response.
"What's new?" She asked sarcastically and crossed her arms, looking utterly bored with the situation. Inuyasha and Miroku eventually pulled themselves together and things calmed down. "So, games over. Good job Sango, yadda, yadda, yadda. What are we gonna do now?" She stated bluntly, dampening the high-spirits of some of those present. Inuyasha cleared his throat awkwardly and flashed a grin, trying to appease his girl and his friends at the same time.
"Let's go catch a movie in the city; I heard that new scary one is pretty good." He offered in hopes that everyone would be on board. Kouga gently nodded and looked over at Miroku, who had Sango under his arm affectionately.
"Sound good to you guys?" He asked him coolly. The two nodded in unison, but Sango spoke up quickly.
"Let me shower and change first. It won't take long." She informed and went off on her own towards the gymnasium, where the locker rooms were located.
"We'll be at the gym parking lot!" Miroku shouted to her, to which he just got a wave over her shoulder as she entered the building not far off. The rest of the group began walking over to the parking lot where their cars were parked and continued planning. Kagome was probably the least excited to go see a scary movie, but she wasn't going to buck the idea when it was obvious that everyone else was on board with it. She walked beside Kouga and Ayame, her arms crossed in front as everyone continued planning the rest of the day. It was a Sunday and not even noon yet, and since no one was complaining of a test or project, it was assumed it would be alright with everyone to stay out til later in the evening.
"A movie sounds like fun. And then we'll go eat somewhere nice." Kikyou decided unilaterally, though no one felt the need to speak up. Inuyasha put his arm over her shoulders, drawing her body into his as they walked side-by-side. The pretty girl smiled sweetly and planted a kiss on his cheek, never losing her stride. As they killed time standing around Inuyasha and Miroku's cars, which were parked beside each other, Kikyou decided to mention what was currently on her mind. She cut her eyes across to look at Kagome, who was leaning against Miroku's car next to him, and grinned. "Are you gonna be able to handle a scary movie without Houjo around? Where is he? Aren't you two always together?" There was a tone in her voice that gave Kagome pause, but she pushed past her annoyed feelings and answered.
"He and his family are away for the weekend. I'll be just fine without him today." She replied curtly, not giving into Kikyou's attempts to get a reaction. Inuyasha looked between the two girls and hoped he wouldn't have to step in between them to put an end to something. It always made him feel like shit to have to pick sides, though he always stood beside Kikyou rather than Kagome; still it wasn't something he enjoyed! While no one else really knew the depths that his and Kagome's friendship went, both he and she knew that they had to keep up pretenses to prevent those around them from catching onto the fact that they were actually quite close. Sure, they fought more than they got along, but living across the hall from one another had basically forced them to learn to be friends. They enjoyed each other's company when there was no one else around, since it meant there was no one to convince or trick, and that was enough for them.
"Thanks for waiting guys," Sango's familiar voice interrupting the idle chitchat from a few yards away. She was out of her uniform and in a nice outfit that looked good on her fit body. A pair of dark jeans, a white camisole, and a sheer black blouse was all Sango needed to look proper and ready for a trip to the city. Her long, brown hair was left down so it would dry some more and Kagome couldn't help but feel a little humbled standing next to someone who emitted such natural allure. Sango didn't flaunt it, but anyone could see that she was very beautiful. Out of the three friends, she was the one who had matured most in a physical sense. Her chest had filled out nicely over the summer and all the hours of field practice had made her body toned and shapely. Ayame was a close second in proportions and looks, in Kagome's opinion anyway. Her strange mix of genetics set her apart from most people, what with the green eyes and auburn hair, but she also had a very nice body that went hand-in-hand with her talent and outgoing personality. Since she was probably the least physically active out of the three, she had more curves, but they added to her beauty and helped in filling out clothes that looked best when worn by someone with round hips and an ample chest. Her hourglass figure always looked nice in the sort of clothes that Kagome wished she could pull off.
Looking down at her own body, Kagome couldn't help but notice the serious lack in bulk she had. While it was true that some people wished they could be as thin as she was and chastised her for complaining about it, Kagome couldn't help the fact that she had such a fast metabolism and a naturally smaller frame. She had peeked in height at five-foot-nine-inches, and she consistently remained a size 6. People commented that she appeared 'model-esque', but Kikyou once made the comment that she looked anorexic (that comment had always stuck with Kagome). It was a combination of both genetics and environment; being malnourished for most of her formative years had made putting on weight, and keeping it as well, somewhat difficult. And then there was her passion for ballet that automatically demanded for her to be as small as possible. While it honed her body muscularly, made her legs and buttocks firm and rounded, Kagome's upper-body and arms were wispy and underdeveloped. Her chest, as humble as it could be, was her biggest insecurity. There was no cleavage whatsoever and it made clothes shopping all the more embarrassing when in a group. Her hips, which did flare out a little, were made less impressive by the complete lack of curves she had on the rest of her body.
Right now, she was clad in a white cami and baggy flannel shirt, as well as a pair of tight blue jeans. Her hair, which was now grown out and cascaded easily past her humble cest, was her only saving grace. It was soft and luxurious, thick and healthy in appearance as it billowed and curled naturally. Her bangs were cut to sweep across her forehead, and the midnight tresses were layered beautifully to frame her diamond shaped face. Compared to her friends, Kagome appeared severely under-dressed though. Kikyou, for instance, was dressed like she was prepared for a photo shoot. While it was true that the paparazzi took their pictures sometimes, as they came from very influential families, most of the time they wouldn't notice them if Kikyou weren't so over dressed and seeking their attention. Ayame was wearing a black skirt and black booties, and a silver long sleeve top that showed off her natural cleavage. The boys were wearing similar looking clothing, set apart by small differences in name brand. Kouga had his dark hair collected in a messy bun atop his head, as did Inuyasha; they often got into competition over who had a nicer head of hair. Miroku was happy with his short style, and opted to hide it under a dark blue beenie today.
"Okay, I got Ayame and Kouga in my car. Miroku, you take Kagome." Inuyasha decided and unlocked his expensive, red car. It had been his present when he turned 16 and was possibly the only thing in this world that he took absolute care of; as well as his guitars. Kagome thought it was rather flashy, but then her taste always seemed to run perpendicular to Inuyasha's. Miroku's vehicle, an old jeep handed down to him from his father, was durable and comfortable; albeit a little old. He loved it as well, but not to the degree that Inuyasha loved his car. Kagome complied and climbed into the backseat of Miroku's vehicle, taking the only spot that wasn't occupied by trash. Her mind slowly began to shut everything out as Miroku and Sango spoke of things unrelated, and instead opted to just muse over things as New York's cityscape passed by on the other side of the window. This trip to the city was becoming less enticing as they got closer to it, and Kagome now just wanted to go watch some of her foreign dramas in bed with a fat cat curled up beside her; going in for extra dance practice was even seeming more interesting. At this point, just about anything else was more exciting than being the only single in a group of couples at a movie she wasn't particularly eager to see.
Naraku was sitting on the white leather couch, dark eyes fixed on the screen of a television, when the tale-tell sound of a door rapidly opening and slamming shut told him exactly as to who was home. With each of her stomping footsteps, Kikyou's designer shoes clacked against the tile floor as she made her way from the front door to her room, slamming that door as well. Sounds of grumbling and whining could be heard even in the living room of their spacious apartment, and a knowing smirk curled on the man's thin face. He was accustomed to Kikyou coming home in such a state and knew exactly how to quell these fits of anger, of course it was still more fun to watch her get all worked up. It didn't take long for the girl in question to appear before her brother, standing in his line of sight to the TV so he had no other option but to look at her fuming person.
"Is something upsetting you?" Naraku's deep, slimy voice was laced with sarcasm and he remained calmly seated on the couch, staring up at Kikyou's tall frame as she made a face of absolute resentment; but not towards him.
"That fucking bitch!" Was her opening argument, and right away Naraku knew who she was referring to. Only one person was so capable of getting under Kikyou's skin, and that was Kagome Higurashi. Naraku prepared himself for the bombardment of the impressive levels of cursing and complaining his sister could produce. It was always the same, just with minor variations every time. 'Kagome did such-and-such while Inuyasha just sat there and let it happen' or 'Everyone loves Kagome but they don't even know anything about her'. Kikyou's insecurities not only made her paranoid and highly defensive, but her absolute disdain for Kagome and her relationship to Inuyasha intensified her self-conscious emotions. As Kikyou began retelling what had gone down that put her in such a stitch, Naraku simply glanced down at the fine watch on his wrist. He was expecting someone to arrive at any moment, but their presence wasn't one that served as a burden.
"Kikyou, not that this isn't fascinating, but I've got bigger things to worry about than your problems with Kagome." Naraku chuckled under his breath when his sister's jaw nearly hit the floor. He gracefully rose up from the couch just as a knocking happened upon their door. "Fix us a drink, will you?" Easily dismissing her, Naraku brushed past his agitated sister to answer the door. He was very good at that, dismissing people and what they had to say if it didn't benefit him in some way. And while Kikyou had picked up that skill after years of being subject to it, she still didn't like it when he did it to her. Huffing angrily, she went to the bar to prepare two hard drinks, knowing how to mix them to each man's ideal drink. She vaguely listened as two sets of footsteps left the foyer, moved through the living room, and approached the bar. Already knowing who it was, Kikyou didn't look up from her task as both men came into view. Charlie, formerly known as Nobu, grinned smugly at Kikyou as he arrogantly took the drink she had just finished pouring.
"Kikyou," His simple greeting for her on every occasion. She just cut her eyes at the older, rounder man before handing Naraku his drink.
"Charlie," She spat back, taking a swig from the Jack Daniel's bottle without a single care. Feigning hurt feelings, Charlie put a hand to his chest and laughed.
"What's with the hostility?" He asked with mock-sincerity. Naraku wanted to tell him not to ask, but it was too late. Kikyou placed the bottle down onto the bar with more than enough force and turned her face into a sour expression.
"Your crappy kid is getting on my last nerve. If I weren't with Inuyasha, I'd have told the entire school her stupid secret already." Since everyone in the room knew what she was referring to, Charlie didn't ask for an explanation. He simply smiled lazily and took a sip from his drink. He was dressed from head to toe in fine apparel, though draping thousands of dollars in nice clothes over a pile of shit didn't make that pile of shit anymore appealing. His skin was course and riddled with pot marks, and there was just something off-putting about his entire look that made most women's stomachs turn when they were with him; though it was hardly ever their choice in the matter. Though it had been years since his elevation from living in squalor and more than enough time had passed for his over-indulgence to subside, the man formerly known as Nobu remained as greedy, cruel, and twisted as he had ever been. Money had done little to improve him; it actually had the opposite effect. Nobu had walked a fine line of temptation that proved to be too thin and disappeared all together once he entered business with Naraku.
"You keep bringing her up every time I'm around. Is there something you want me to do?" He asked with amusement and annoyance in his gruff voice, which would have given most people pause to think if they should tread lightly with him. But Kikyou, knowing Nobu pretty well, just crossed her arms and stared defiantly at him. It gave Naraku reason to chuckle into his glass as he took a sip of bitter liquor.
"You should have done something when you two were still eating out of garbage cans," was her cryptic response before she stormed off to her bedroom. Both men just shrugged it off and went about their business. Charlie and Naraku often had meetings together, being so closely tied in business, and enjoyed discussing new ventures they could take. Nobu wanted to move onto the trade of illegal paraphernalia, while still maintaining his club of course. He knew that there was a market that he and Naraku could easily monopolize, but they did not see eye to eye on it. The mastermind, Naraku, thought expanding his drug empire was of more importance. Every day his people were finding new ways to refine his special drug while making its impact even more intense. That was the most lucrative and dependable venture he saw available, and did not want to risk it in order to sell guns or other things of the sort.
"Look, Naraku, if it's the police you're worried about I can easily get some fall guys in case things go to shit. I've got access to all this shit that I know people want and we can move it without the feds noticing. I'm telling you, it's a sure thing!" Nobu tried to assure his partner, but Naraku just stared hard at the man from behind his desk. The glass of liquor was delicately held between the thumb and middle finger of his left hand, and every so often he rotated it as he mulled over the idea.
"The police are in my pocket; I've got the chief heavily addicted and proof of his purchase as well. If he wants to keep that cushy job, he knows to steer his people away from me. I want this city in the palm of my hand and to do that I can't stop focusing on refining my drug until it's absolutely perfect. Until I have a finished product and I get out to people, I don't want to focus on anything else. How fucking hard is that for you to understand?" Though his tone was still smooth and nonchalant, the words were anything but. Naraku stared hard at Nobu, unyielding until the subservient man let his angry gaze fall to his lap momentarily. He said nothing back; there was nothing he could say. With a snap of his fingers, Naraku could have the other dead and Nobu knew there was nothing he could do that would put him on equal ground. After a moment of silence, Naraku grinned as if nothing had happened and leaned in towards a still slightly nervous Nobu. "There is one other thing that keeps bothering me though."
"Yeah?" Nobu replied with a short tone, not all that interested in what Naraku had to say. "What's that?"
"Your daughter has been a thorn in my sister's side ever since she was taken into the Taisho home. I hate seeing my sister so upset, it doesn't suit her. If things don't change and Kagome continues to cause problems for Kikyou, I will be forced to resort to drastic measures to put an end to it. Do you particularly care if something should happen to Kagome?" Naraku just grinned mischievously as he watched his partner's reaction. He was expecting some protective instinct to come out, but surprisingly there was none.
"Not really. She's not my kid anymore. I don't even know what she looks like." It was a fact that Nobu had little interest in the life of his one and only daughter, but his last words piqued Naraku's interest. Without words, he began searching through his computer, but gave no indication to Nobu as to what he was looking for until he turned the monitor around to show the man a current image of Kagome. It was a rather candid picture, taken on the street without her knowledge. She was on Houjo's arm, both dressed in dance attire, and a smile stretched across her face. Nobu's dark brow lifted for a moment before he let out a short laugh. "She sure is scrawny. Like her mom was when I first met her." Naraku just turned his monitor back around and shrugged.
"She doesn't have Kikyou's body, but her face is starting to get pretty. I can't wait to see how she looks in a year or two." Naraku stared at the picture for a second or two longer before exiting the window.
"Why do you have a folder on Kagome though?" Nobu questioned, but not with much hint of concern. Naraku just smirked and glanced at the man with his beady, dark eyes.
"I have my reasons."