A/N: Thank you all for reviewing!! So what will happen now that Naima and Naraku have decided to be just friends? Can they even be 'just friends'?
Over the next couple of days, things seemed to be getting back to normal between Naraku and I. I pushed the emotions that I felt from the kiss with him to the back burner of my mind and I guess that he took my advice about moving on, for he was now dating Tsubaki. Things were also going well with me and Sesshoumaru, so it seemed as if everybody was happy.
I woke up very early on the morning of October 31st. It was Naraku's twentieth birthday and me, Bankotsu and his brothers were planning on taking him out to IHOP before we all had to go to the field for the Homecoming game later on. His party would be later on that night. After taking a shower and dressing for the weather, I went outside to my green motorcycle. I hopped on it and rode off to Naraku and the boy's apartment.
"I'm suprised to see that you got here so early," Bankotsu said to me with a smirk when he opened the door for me, letting me in out of the cold. I smirked back.
"Oh you know I'm always on time for food." He chuckled a bit. "So where is the birthday boy?"
"Still asleep in his room," Jakotsu told me, while reading a magazine. I shook my head as I took off my scarf, boots, and jacket.
"Oh no. We won't be having any of that today," I said as I began to walk down the hall on my way to his bedroom.
"Wait, Naima I wouldn't..." But before Bankotsu could finish his statement, I opened the door and barged into Naraku's room. Sure enough he was sound asleep in a very messy bed. His black and dark purple covers shielding his pale body. I smirked guessing that he had had a bad night. I ran over to him and pounced on his bed.
"Wake up sleepy head," I said as I bounced on the bed, trying to get him to open his eyes. After a few seconds, he slowly opened them.
"Uggh...Naima?" he groggily asked as he sat up in bed
"Happy Birthday old man!" I cried as I gave him a big hug, startling him a bit. He eventually hugged me back.
"Naima what are you doing here so early?"
"What are you doing getting up so late?"
"It's seven am."
"Yeah, but it's your birthday." He chuckled softly as he remembered how I used to always go to his house and wake him up early on his birthday so we would have a lot of time to spend together.
"You haven't changed a bit. Thank you my dear," he smiled as he kissed my forehead.
"Bankotsu and the boys and I are taking you out for breakfast. I told 'B' to tell you."
"He told me. I guess it just kind of slipped my mind."
"Naraku? You dare have some other woman in your bed?" I heard a voice all of a sudden say. I looked up to see that Tsubaki had come out of Naraku's bathroom wearing nothing but a sheer lavender nighty. I widened my eyes a bit, not expecting for Tsubaki to be here with him this morning. Ohhh so that's why he was so tired and his bed so messy.
"Oh. Hey Tsubaki," I said as I climbed off of Naraku's bed.
"Good morning Naima," she said, narrowing her eyes a bit. She then turned her gaze on Naraku. "And good morning to you too my sexy birthday boy," she warmly said before kissing him. I turned my eyes to the ground as they passionately kissed each other. It was awkward to say the least.
"Well, I guess that I'll be going now," I declared as I opened Naraku's door.
"We'll be out there in a few minutes," Naraku told me. I nodded my head without turning around to look at either one of them.
As I walked back out to the livingroom, I saw both Bankotsu and Jakotsu staring at me with amuzed looks. "I tried to tell you not to go in there," Bankotsu grinned at me.
"They've only been together for three weeks. I didn't think that they were that close yet," I said, shrugging my shoulders. I walked over and sat down between the two brothers.
"You don't have to be close to mess around," Jakotsu said, still reading the magazine.
"So I take it that Tsubaki is coming along too?"
"Yeah," Bankotsu unenthusiastically said, "I mean just having one girl tag along is bad enough." I playfully smacked him on his arm while he laughed. "I was just joking Naima, you know I love you."
"I love you too, man."
"But yeah, Tsubaki is coming."
"Again," Jakotsu added. I cocked an eyebrow at the feminine brother.
"Again? What do you mean by that?"
"Tsubaki won't get off that boy's jock for a second," Bankotsu chuckled, "everywhere he goes, she goes. Without fail. She's so damn clingy."
"Truer words have never been spoken," Jakotsu said, "I would have never thought that Naraku would choose a girl like that to be his girlfriend. It's so unlike him to do that. She's always up under him. Both literally and figureitvely."
"Yeah, I've never known Naraku to be the type who let's his hormones over power his head," Bankotsu agreed, "his father and brother, yes, but not him. What is he thinking? You can't build a relationship on top of lust no matter how good the sex is." I had to admit that I did think that Tsubaki was a shady woman, but I was pretty sure that she wouldn't ever do anything to try to hurt my best friend.
"Aww come on now," I said smiling, "they are a new couple, so they are going to want to spend a lot of time together. That's not such a bad thing. Plus, Naraku seems to be happy and isn't that what we all want? To see our boy happy?"
"He'd be happier with you. You do know that right?" Bankotsu said.
"Ahhh let's not start that again. It's Naraku's day and we are going to behave ourselves, alright? We're just going to have to give Tsubaki a chance. Who knows, she just might be the one for him." Bankotsu sighed deeply.
"If you say so Naima."
"Alright you guys we're ready," Naraku said as he and Tsubaki walked down the hall hand in hand, "so I'm guessing that Suikotsu and Renkotsu are meeting us at the restaurant?"
"Yeah," Bankotsu said.
"Okay. Naima are you riding with us?" Naraku asked me. Before I could answer, Tsubaki answered for me.
"Honey, I think that the boys would like to spend some time with Naima too," she said with the most fakest innocent smile. She then turned to me with the same smile. "Don't you think so, Naima?" I laughed internally at this chick. She was playing 'keep-away' already. But I remembered that she was my best friend's girlfriend, so I had to be nice.
"Sure. I can ride with Bankotsu and Jakotsu," I replied with an amused smile.
"Alright then. Let's go," Naraku said as he and Tsubaki led the rest of us out of the apartment.
As all seven of us ate breakfast at IHOP, I couldn't help but notice that what Bankotsu and Jakotsu had said about Tsubaki was somewhat true. She was all over Naraku, barely giving the poor man any room to breathe. Even after two years with Sesshoumaru, I still didn't cling to him quite that much. I also noticed that she kept trying to play 'keep-away' with me. Anytime Naraku would make a suggestion about an activity that would have us either alone, or in close contact, she would always suggest that we do something else instead. It didn't really make me as mad as it did amuse me. I mean, didn't she already know that I was in a happy, stable relationship? She could have Naraku for all I cared. I just wanted to see my best friend happy. That's all that mattered to me.
After breakfast, I spent the rest of that Saturday with Sesshoumaru just hanging out at his place until it was time for the big Homecoming game against the Tama College Defenders. Tama College was one of Yokai University's greatest rivals, along with Shikon University. Unlike our team, Tama College was weak in both the offense and defense this year, so this Homecoming game should have been an easy and quick victory. At least, I hoped so because I was anxious to go to Naraku's red and black party later on that night.
"Bankotsu I swear. If you do that endzone dance, if you intercept a ball for a touchdown, I promise that I'll type your written paper in English Class for you," I said making a deal with my good friend on the sidelines, right before kickoff.
"Alright, I'll do it, even though it's the stupidest dance in the world."
"If you intercept for a touchdown, that is."
"Oh I'll intercept. Defense wins football games baby."
"Yeah right Bankotsu, if you say so."
"So what did you get for Naraku's birthday?"
"Something that he is going to like a whole lot."
"What? You in some Vicky Secret's?" I widened my eyes sincerely hoping that Sesshoumaru's ears didn't catch that. He was standing only a few feet away.
"No! And shut up," I hissed. Bankotsu laughed out loud.
"Alright, I'll stop. And I'll do this damn endzone dance. I'll see you later on baby girl."
"Okay. Good luck." He put on his helmet and ran out to the middle of the field. I turned around and went to my seat.
As expected, the game was a quick and easy one to win. Sesshoumaru threw three touchdown passes, two which were caught by Naraku and Inuyasha ran in a touchdown. Bankotsu also kept his deal and performed the Carlton dance after intercepting for another touchdown. The final score was 38-14 with Naraku being the MVP for his two touchdowns, 11 catches and 212 yards. After the crowning of two seniors as king and queen, we all left the field with excitement, many of us going to Naraku's big birthday bash later on that night.
It was about 10:15 pm when Sesshoumaru and I pulled up to Club Caliente where Naraku was going to have his red and black themed birthday party at. Pretty much everyone on the football team, their girlfriends, and some more people were going to be there. After parking the car, Sesshoumaru got out and opened the door for me as I got out with a big, wrapped box with Naraku's gift in it. "Thank you baby," I said as I kissed Sesshoumaru on his cheek.
"No problem," he responded. I set the box down on the hood of his car as I gave myself one last look over in his window. Then I turned to look at the oh so sexy man standing right next to me.
"Damn we look good," I said in the window, smiling as I stood next to him. My black, lacy party dress with red polka dots complimenting his black suit and red shirt with black tie. His long, silvery hair making him stand out even more. My curly black hair straightened and now as long as his.
"I guess we do look decent," Sesshoumaru said, more modestly.
"Aww c'mon you know we look hot. So let's go show off how good we look," I said as I picked up the gift again. Sesshoumaru smiled slightly as he put an arm around my waist and followed me inside.
Even though the party was to begin at 10:00, I soon realized that the person who the party was in honor of wasn't even there yet. Suikotsu, Renkotsu, and Jakotsu were already there, but there were no signs of Naraku or Bankotsu. Sesshoumaru and I walked over to Kagura who was sitting at a table with some senior demon, drinking some alcohol that he had obviously bought for her. "Hey girl," I said as we sat down at the table with her.
"Hello dear. My don't you two look lovely," she said. I turned to Sesshoumaru and smiled.
"See," I said. He just rolled his two goldens. "Thank you Kagura. You look beautiful as well. So who is this?" I asked, pointing to the guy beside her.
"Oh. His name is Troy. I met him through Koga. Troy, this is Naima and Sesshoumaru."
"Hi," I said, shaking his hand. "So Kagura, where is your cousin? He's about 20 minutes late to his own party."
"I don't know. Bankotsu called about five minutes ago saying that they were on their way. He said something about that they needed to make an entrance, because they looked too damn good to arrive on time." I laughed out loud, figuring that Bankotsu and Naraku let their egos get the best of them. A few second's later, I heard Bankotsu's voice filter through the crowd of people. I turned to see that Bankotsu, Tsubaki, and Naraku had finally arrived.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Bankotsu, who was in a nice black suit, with a red vest and tie and a black shirt, began, "I am proud to present to you, the honoree of this occasion. A man with swagger both on the football field and off. A man with class, confidence, and a little cocky. The one and only Homecoming MVP. You know him as 'A Beast', 'The Black Widower', or just simply as 'That-guy-with-the-red-eyes'. But we all know him as, Naraku. Everybody, please help me on this Halloween night in wishing Naraku a happy twentieth birthday." Everybody in the VIP section complied and wished him Happy Birthday. Naraku had a slight blush on his face. I could tell that he didn't expect Bankotsu to make his proclamation. I couldn't take my eyes off of Naraku as he walked over to the head table with his new girlfriend. I guess Bankotsu wasn't joking about Naraku having to make an entrance. He had on a black suit with red pinstripes, black vest, red shirt and black tie. He even had shoes to match. He was looking mighty good in his suit, I had to give him that. As I sat there watching him sitting at the table with Tsubaki hanging all over him (as usual), I started to feel something in the pit of my stomach. The way he would look at her with affectionate red eyes, touch her with elegant fingers, smile at her with that gorgeous smile of his. I felt something with in me that was foreign to my being. Did I feel...could I be...was it...jealousy? No, it couldn't be. The way she threw herself at him, clinging to the man like a second skin. But still, he seemed to care for her as much as she did for him. The way he would look at her and treat her. It was like he had really taken my advice and gotten over me. So now I was...jealous? No, hell no! Ugh why was I thinking these things?! I had Sesshoumaru right there beside me and I was jealous of i her /i ? No, no, no. I had to get this nonsense out of my head.
"Let's dance," I suddenly said to Sesshoumaru, hoping that dancing with him would relieve me of my temporary insanity. He got up without a word and led me out onto the dance floor.
After a couple of dances with my boyfriend, I began to feel a little better, but everytime I would look and see Naraku and Tsubaki dancing, hugging, or kissing, that same faint feeling of jealousy returned. It was faint and barely noticeable, but I knew it was there. But why it was there I had no idea. I was over Naraku. I didn't want him back, so why did I have the right to be jealous? Ugh! I had to get out of that room. "I'm going to go outside for a moment," I turned and said to Sesshoumaru with a smile.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No, I just need to get some air," I replied, "I'll be back shortly. Why don't you dance with Kagura in the meantime." I pointed to my friend sitting all alone at a table. Troy had since left. Sesshoumaru nodded his head and walked over to her table. I manuevered my way through the crowd of people and walked through the glass doors of the VIP room to stand outside on the balcony. The chilly, fresh air helped me to clear my mind a little, but not enough. 'So you're a little jealous,' I thought to myself, 'you and Naraku have a lot of history together. That doesn't mean that you still are in love with him, so get a grip.' I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the various Brooklyn scents. I felt a little ashamed for letting myself get all worked up over nothing.
"Hmm...to Naraku...from Naima," I heard a low, male's voice suddenly say. I turned around to see that Naraku was now outside on the balcony with me, holding the gift I had bought him. "Hmm I wonder what this could be?" he asked as he held it to his ear and shook it. I smiled at his childish antics.
"It's something special, but I don't want you to open it until tomorrow."
"It's already tomorrow."
"I mean tomorrow during the Giants vs 'Skins game."
"Really now? Is this a bomb or something?" I chuckled at him a bit.
"No. You'll see, but don't open it until I call you." He sighed.
"...I guess I can wait then. Why haven't you come to say hey to me all night long?"
"You seemed like you were busy with Tsubaki. I didn't want to impose."
"Oh you know that I'll always make time for you. So tell me, why are you standing out here in the cold all alone?"
"I had some things on my mind and I needed to come out here to think about them."
"Are you alright, dear?"
"Yeah. Now I am."
"Well you haven't danced once with me all night long and I'm very sad that you neglected me on my twentieth birthday. Pfft, you teenagers are something else." I smiled at him and he did too.
"I'm sorry."
"Well it's not too late to make it up to me."
"But it's technically not your birthday anymore."
"But it's still my party, so come on." I turned to look through the glass doors to see that both of our respective dates were inside all alone. Then I remembered what happened the last time Naraku and I slow danced together. I thought that it was best if we didn't travel that road this time.
"My gift will make it up to you," I said with a smile as I turned and began to walk back inside.
"Naima," he said making me turn around.
"Yes?"
"You look really gorgeous tonight." I smiled at him.
"Thanks, you do too."
The Next Day
"Okay Naima, the game is on so can I open my gift yet?" Naraku asked me, noticiably impatient as he watched the Giants vs Redskins game.
"Nooo, not yet. I'm waiting for the right moment," I said as I watched the same game, amused by his impatience. We waited for a few more minutes as I watched intensely waiting for the right moment to open his gift. I was waiting for a certain receiever to make a touchdown so the gift would make more impact. Finally, Plaxico Burress caught a pass from Eli Manning and made the touchdown. "Okay you can open it now!" I squealed, knowing that he would be pleased with my gift. I could hear the sounds of ripping paper in the background as Naraku tore into his last birthday gift. There was dead silence on his end. "Naraku?"
"NO WAY!" he cried out as I knew that he now saw the autographed jersey and football that I had managed to get Plaxico Burress, Naraku's favorite Giant's receiever, to sign himself. I had saw him at the mall one day and I threatened him with my demonic powers until he signed his name on both the ball and jersey I had bought . I giggled loudly over the phone.
"You like it?"
"Oh man," was his only reply.
"See. The best things come for those who wait."
"Oh man."
"Naraku, can you say something other than 'oh man'?"
"Oh ma...I mean...thank you so much Naima. This...this is awesome. Oh man!" I giggled again.
"Glad you like it. You deserve it."
"Oh man, wait until I show the guys. I gotta call you back." I smiled big, feeling very satisfied that I had made my best friend happy.
"Alright. Talk to you later."
"I love you Naima."
"I love you too Naraku."
A/N: Awww. It's cute how a guy can become all happy when you get him an autograph of his favorite player, lol.
