Chapter 3: Want to Go Out?

Izaoi sighed, her bag was heavy on her back with books she checked out from the library. Everyone had left without her today, she told them to leave, she knew she'd take a long time in the library searching through the books to find the ones she wanted. She didn't even remember looking at the clock to check the time once, since she had entered the library.

It was almost 6 o'clock in the evening, she had to be getting home or else her dad would be mad at her. Sighing once more before she pulled on the strap of her bag to lighten her load for a few seconds Izaoi hung her head in defeat. "I should stop checking out so many books at one time." she said to herself, she was walking down the side walk passing by the high school to her house.

"Hey there." A soft deep voice called from beside the wall. Izaoi froze for a moment before turning to look at the person that called to her. It was Bankotsu, he was by himself, that struck Izaoi as odd.

"Bankotsu, what are you doing here?" Izaoi asked shifting her weight from one foot to the other every so often. Bankotsu stared at her before he stepped forward, more into the light of the dipping sun. Izaoi backed up slightly as he came closer to her.

"I could ask you the same." he said carelessly as he circled around her. Izaoi stayed still, her eyes set in annoyance at Bankotsu.

"What the hell are you doing?" Izaoi asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her eyes glaring as Bankotsu came to a halt in front of her. He was smiling at her.

"Just wondering around, waiting for you." Bankotsu said as he rested his back against the wall again.

"Wow, I'm so honored." Izaoi said dryly, her eyes drifting away to prove her point. "Listen, as flattering as this is, I've got to get home." Izaoi said as she shifted her bag again before she started to walked away from Bankotsu.

"Izaoi, I know my sister was with you and your family at lunch today. What did she tell you?" Bankotsu asked, the sky was getting darker.

"She was just trying to make friends, she's really a sweet girl." Izaoi said as she continued to walk. Izaoi didn't care that Bankotsu and his brothers were fighting for Kyoko and her own attention, she didn't care that most of them were indeed cute, but she did care that Bankotsu was keeping her from going home.

"Izaoi, wait," Bankotsu grabbed Izaoi's hand. Izaoi stopped and looked back at Bankotsu, her face set in annoyance.

"What now? I really need to get home." Izaoi said looking at the sky. "It's nearly night, my dad's gonna kill me!" Izaoi looked back to Bankotsu and sighed. "Come on Bankotsu, I need to get home."

"Izaoi, will you go on a date with me?" Bankotsu asked bluntly letting her hand go. He didn't look scared to ask, nor happy, or anything else. Izaoi looked at the sky then to Bankotsu, if this meant it would stop the 'game' for the Band of Seven she was willing to say yes and find away to decline later.

"Fine, but I have to go, I'll see you at school tomorrow." Izaoi said quickly as she turned and high tailed it down the street to her house. Bankotsu smiled as he watched Izaoi dash down the street.

"So, then, that means I win. Too bad she doesn't like me." Bankotsu said as he shoved his hands in his pocket. "I'll change that." He added as he turned and walked the opposite way of Izaoi.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" Izaoi shouted as she took her shoes off and closing the front door. "Kyoko? Mom? Dad? Hello?" Izaoi called as she took her bag with her as she walked down the hall way of her house. Looking from room to room Izaoi found her parents sleeping on the couch in the living room, their arms wrapped around each other. "Gross." Izaoi whispered with a smile as she headed upstairs to her room. "Hey Kyoko you home?" Izaoi asked as she knocked on Kyoko's room door.

"Yeah, I was just napping, come in sis." Kyoko called from the shut door. Izaoi opened the door and walked into the room, closing the door behind her. "You're home late."

"You're sleeping, why?" Izaoi asked.

"I was tired, plus today was so odd, even though Jakotsu warned me I still wasn't ready for the assault of kind deeds from the Band of Seven boys. My god, do they ever leave you alone? Couldn't believe it! Everything I did they were there, watching me. And don't even get me started about P.E.!" Kyoko shouted as she felt back into her bed. Izaoi smirked as she sat down on Kyoko's desk.

Kyoko glanced at her sister before a smirk came over her face. "The only good thing out of today was Yosuke got so jealous over me. It was so funny! I think he would of murdered Renkotsu if he got any closer to my face!" Kyoko laughed as she spread her arms out on her king size bed. Izaoi rolled her eyes before looking at her sister.

"You really like Yosuke don't you?" Izaoi asked as she rested her elbow on her knee to prop up her chin. Kyoko didn't move from her spot, she stared up at the ceiling.

"Yeah, but dad told me long ago that I wasn't allowed to go out with him, said that he wasn't good enough for me." Kyoko said turning her head to the side and stared out her window. Izaoi could see the hurt and loneliness in her eyes. "Izaoi, did Dad tell you that about him?" Kyoko asked.

"No, he didn't. I guess he thought that Yosuke would be too young for me to like. Rin and I are three years older than you guys." Izaoi said as she continued to watch her sister. "Kyoko, if you really like Yosuke, why not just tell Dad? He can't resist you." Izaoi said as Kyoko turned fully onto her side and continued to look out the window. Izaoi left her heart weigh heavily in her chest as she watched her sister sulk. "Kyoko...?" Izaoi asked.

"Izaoi, I know that I love him. He's always been there for me when you couldn't be." Kyoko paused, unsure if she could speak without losing her voice. "Please, I just want to be alone right now." Kyoko said, her voice soft and low. Izaoi looked down to the floor, she hated when her sister was hurting. Izaoi hoped down from the desk and walked to the door silently.

"Kyoko," Izaoi stared at she stared at the door. "I'll stand by you no matter what. If you and Yosuke want to date, I'll back you two up against Dad if he gets mad." Izaoi said as she heard a sniffle. Izaoi wanted to turn and run to her sisters bed, hug her sister tight, and tell her everything was okay, but it wasn't, she knew their father didn't like Yosuke or Koga.

Opening the door, Izaoi walked out and closed the door behind her. Behind the door Izaoi heard her sister start to cry. Hanging her head Izaoi walked to her room and rested on her bed. She felt like crying for her sister, Izaoi always was one to care for others, just like her mother.

Kyoko held her wolf shaped stuffed animal, her eyes were closed, tears still squeezing out of her eyes. Kyoko had gotten the stuffed animal from Koga and Kikyo when she turned 5, in return Kyoko had her mom and dad give Yosuke a stuffed cat for his 5th birthday a few days later. Kyoko loved the wolf like she loved Yosuke. Kyoko curled into a ball around the wolf.

"Yosuke, I only wish that we could be together." Kyoko whispered as she kissed the wolf's nose. Kyoko smiled as she snuggled the wolf as she fell asleep.

Izaoi laid her head on her bed and covered it with a pillow. She wished that she could change her father's mind, but she knew not even God could change his mind, the stubborn jackass. Izaoi looked to her window and then to her bed. "Kyoko, somehow I'll help you be happy." Izaoi promised as she closed her eyes and pulled her blankets up to her shoulder, she was falling asleep with thoughts of Bankotsu, their future date, and her sister. 'Kyoko...'