ONCE AND AGAIN…
By Jodie-chan
Chapter 2 Crowded Places, Clouded Hearts…
Souta's operation was basically a success since there weren't any problems in the procedure, the only thing that worries them is Souta's possible rejection to the new transplanted kidney to his system; but with proper medication and maintenance he would 95 sure to survive the danger.
Kagome and her mother are fully aware of Souta's situation. They are in the hospital lobby just outside the recovery room where Souta is. They will only be allowed to visit him again after he's out of the recovery room.
"Kagome, dear, wake up," her mother pat her shoulder lightly and whispered to her. She has been sleeping since her brother entered the recovery room. She sleepily rubs her eyes and yawn. Her mother is smiling to her, happiness evident on her face.
"Kagome you should go back home and prepare, you have a shift on this afternoon right?" asked her mom. She only nods. "Besides Kagome your brother is doing fine now, the doctor said that we can take him home a few weeks from now. He's going to have his check ups every now and then to ensure his full recovery," she said calmly.
"That's a great news mom!" she said happily and hugs her mother.
She hugs her back and said, "Yes dear, so better get going, Sango must be waiting for you." She kissed her mother's cheek and took off.
Inuyasha is impatiently waiting for Miroku in the bus terminal. He called his friend to give him a ride because he doesn't have his car with him. He's sitting in one of the benches in the terminal's lobby reading a newspaper when he spotted Miroku coming.
Miroku waves to him wearing his usual perverted grin glancing sideways every now and then if he spot some pretty and sexy women.
"Where is your car?" Miroku asked Inuyasha curiously.
"I stayed over night to Kikyou's condo, I left my car in the house and she dropped me here. She has an appointment with some bastard I don't know who, it's out of her way if she going drop me at the office" he said irritated.
"Oh…I see," he said gaping like a fish. "So… did you break the bed Inuyasha?" Miroku asked teasingly while they walk towards his car.
"Ouch!" Inuyasha slapped his friend's head upside down. "Get your mind off the gutter Miroku! We didn't do anything, asshole!" said Inuyasha angrily.
"Hey! Don't get too violent, I'm just curious," Miroku said while rubbing his sore head from his friend's outburst.
The place is too crowded, lots of people are going in every direction, and they're like ants that are trying desperately to keep their tracks. They pass through others pushing and making their way to Miroku's car.
On the other side of the terminal, Sango is waiting patiently to Kagome when she saw her friend coming her way. She's still a bit farther from Sango when she saw her. She shouts while running and waving to her, "Sango, I'm sorry I'm late!"
She's still panting heavily when she reached her. "It's ok, but we better hurry now or else Mr. Takashima's going to kill us both," Sango said smiling to her. She nods and they ride the next bus that stops beside them.
Before Inuyasha and Miroku reach the car, Inuyasha heard a girl shouts in his back. He recognized the voice. It was the girl from the night of the bachelor's party. He abruptly turns around to follow where the voice is coming from, but the place is too crowded.
"Damn, too fucking crowded place," he muttered to his self while looking around for the source of the voice he can't get out of his mind lately. Miroku looks curiously to him while following his gaze.
"What's the matter Inuyasha? What are you looking at?" asked Miroku.
He turns his gaze to his friend and said, "Nothing…I must be hearing things," he said while rubbing his temples. "This whole wedding thing gives me too much headache," he grumbled most to himself.
Miroku shrugs his shoulder and said, "Chill out my friend, it's your big day tomorrow!"
"Yeah", he agreed.
Sango and Kagome are chatting happily at the bus on their way to their workplace. "So, how's Souta now? Sango asked her friend.
"He's doing well Sango, the operation was successful and his on his way to recovering," she said smiling.
"I told you, everything will be ok, you just have to hope and pray hard. Nothing is impossible as long as you believe that you can overcome trials, right?" Sango said while giving her friend a reassuring smile.
"Yeah," she said and smiled back. 'Everything's going to be alright, all I have to do is to make sure Souta's health will recover quickly, take care of my family, work and study hard, get into college, find a good job and forget…forget everything that happened that night…' she thought.
She's lost in deep thought when she notices that Sango's waving her hand in her face. "Hey Kag, what's wrong?"
Sango asked her curiously. She blinks a couple times before answering. "Uhhm…nothing."
They arrived at the restaurant a few more minutes before their shift. Yura already resigned from her work, she wondered why but prefers to not bother herself anyway; at least now no one knows what she did. They get their share from the 'job' she did, they didn't tell her but she knew. Yura and Jakotsu, are suckers and she's not stupid.
Inuyasha Takagi and Kikyou Yokoshima's wedding has been a success since it was attended by people from high society, in business, politics and celebrity world. Although it didn't seem to be as solemn as any other weddings because there were bunch of press people invited by Kikyou's family. They love fame and limelight.
"Congratulations my friend," Miroku said while shaking Inuyasha's hand. "Break a leg including the bed!" he said teasingly while chuckling.
Inuyasha's reply, "Keh! Pervert!"
Inuyasha's mother walks over the two men smiling sweetly. "What are you two doing, it's cold here outside," she said concerned. The wedding's reception was held in a five star hotel with around a thousand guests. "The guests already left, the only ones remaining are the press," said her mother.
"Awww Aunt Ummei, you don't need some stupid press people to impress. Your charm and beauty is enough to bring a smile to everyone's face," Miroku said teasingly to Inuyasha's mom while kissing the back of her palm.
"Oh why Miroku, you really do know how to recognize genuine charm and beauty, don't you" she said smiling while glaring at his own son.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and said, "That's why my mother loves you Miroku, and you never cease on flattering her."
"Don't be jealous Inuyasha, not because you don't have a thing for real beauty doesn't mean you have to be conceited," Miroku said while making a face to his friend.
"I'm not, stupid!" Inuyasha said irritated and glares daggers at his friend.
"Yes you are! Miroku shouts while pointing a finger at Inuyasha's direction.
"No I'm not!" Inuyasha shouts back while trying to catch Miroku's pointing finger to him.
Inuyasha's mom watches the two in awe. They would never outgrow their childish ways. "You two stop the bickering," she interrupted. "I'm going back inside, Sess will be going home and I want to kiss my step-grandson before they go and say goodbye to Rin also. Rin is a very nice daughter-in-law," his mother said emphasizing each word in a mocking voice.
Miroku gave a low chuckle and Inuyasha rolled his eyes. Before turning away to go inside, his mother added, "And Inuyasha, go get your wife away from the press, I don't want to read from the magazines about her favorite 'positions' in the bed." Miroku bursts into fits of laughter while Inuyasha turns seven shades of red. Her mother walks away from them chuckling while waving her hands in the air.
"Mothers…" Inuyasha muttered to his self.
Two Months Later
(A/N: Gomen if I'm going to be a little faster here, I just don't want you guys left hanging, anyways, let's continue with the story.
Inuyasha decided to move in New York, USA because Kikyou insisted. His mother did not approve but his father did. Kikyou doesn't want to give up her modeling career that easily. She accepted lots of offers in the States so she convinced his husband to come with her, in other word she threatened him with her award winning acts.
He's going to handle their insurance business in New York that's why he made sure Miroku comes with them. Miroku agreed; he's so easy to convince especially if it involves meeting a lot of pretty and sexy blonds. He's already making a list. ( -)
In the airport, Inuyasha's mom is giving him 30 minutes preach. "Inuyasha, call me everyday, visit every month and don't forget to brush your hair every morning, ok?" she said while shaking a finger to his face. Miroku is just looking and grinning like an idiot to his friend while Kikyou is waiting impatiently, her shades covering her narrowed and annoyed expression. She couldn't get a long properly with her mother-in-law.
"Mom…" he said and rolled his eyes. "Hhmp! Don't make that face on me Inuyasha, I know you still needs your mother!" she said crossing her arms over her chest. (A/N: That's an Inu pose, maybe he got that from his mom?)
"Ok Mom, I know, I know," he said. He kissed and hugged his mother for the last time, so did Miroku and Kikyou, it wasn't just too sincere in her way.
It's Saturday, Kagome has no classes today and her shift in the restaurant is in the afternoon. Souta's doing better everyday, he's been home one month ago after recovering from the operation.
She feels so tired and doesn't feel like getting out of the bed. "I feel horrible today, what is wrong with me..." she said sleepily to herself still lying on her bed. Her fat cat Buyo is still peacefully sleeping at her side. She scratched the back of her ears and she started purring. Kagome giggled lightly and muttered, "Lazy cat."
"Must get up", she said while trying to stand up but when she's on her feet, she felt a blinding dizziness over her and almost lost her balance if she hadn't grab the table near her bed. She blinks a couple of times to clear her vision but then she felt a throbbing pain in her belly. Without thinking she rushed to the bathroom and throws up everything she ate last night.
After all the choking and throwing up, she washed her face and stood in front of the mirror looking at her own reflection. She looked so pale, she can still feel her heart beating faster, the veins at the side of her head are pulsating and then it dawns on her…
"No…no…it can't be," she said to herself shaking her head sideways, her lips quivering and her body trembling uncontrollably. Then she bursts out, crying silently. She doesn't want her mother and Souta to hear her. She locked the bathroom and cried, cried harder and harder. Her tears didn't stop…it will never stop. Never…