A/N: Yo, minna! It's been such a long time! I'm so very sorry about my lack in usual updates, but I've been more into reading than writing these past few weeks. I apologize to you all. I'm trying my best to get back on track… Please, enjoy this chapter and leave a quick review, if you deem fit.
A quick note, everyone- the flashback between Kag and Kik is out of order, I know, and they are that way for a reason. Please, don't complain about that- I know it's odd, but it has to be that way for this part to work.
Also, we have some new WNB members! I bolded all the new members/branches, so if you asked to be in WNB and your name is not up, please contact me and tell me of my error. After the WNB listing, promoters and dedications are posted. Please, check them out!
Main Branch:
President: Me
Vice President: Snowfire the Kitsune
Public Service Director: Mitsuko Maxwell
Treasurer: Yume no Tame ni
Informant: The Weird One
Accountant: Whoobonhooaglo
Executive: The Turmoil Twins
Intern: Kourinoyami
Chief Consultant: Nankinmai
Customer Service Representative: Obsidiansoul
Product Representative: Ominous
Spokesmen: Ame Kurayami
Creative Director: D.g.
Manager: Erica
Assistant Manager: Brat
Advisor: FLaMEChick
Supervisor: Kagome-chan5
Director of Hard Liquor: Hon-doroboo Xanthros
Mascot: superbakagirl
Village Idiot: Ama (Shades of Oblivion
Eccentric Wanna-be: Ice Dagger
International, Bi-polar, Klutzy Editor: Tireth Minet
Greeter: Hawk
Coat Taker: Shadow
Valet: Kinshinanie
Sexy Hammer-Weilding Security Guard: Leah Black
Jester: Inuchick13
Interior Duct-Tape Decorator: Inu-luva
Master Trainer and President: Silver Dragon
Supervisor of MCD trainees: QuirkyCellist
Griffin's General: Museless Author
Executive: soulfire2
Chief Consultant: Cryxxy-chan
Army of Insane Gerbal's General: Merayna
Army of Secret Spy Monkey's General: Diana
Spy/Secret Agent Division:
President: Kaze no Kagura
Executive: FreedomFighta06
Spy in Training: Meow the chibi neko
Secret Operative: Rei-chan
Master Spy: NekoYami
Master Sniper: Fokkusu Inuyasha
Consultant: Ebony-chan
Hyper Active Little Hacker Girl: StarLightKagome
Firearms Specialist: Mocha-Expresso
Department of Sarcasm and Murder Schemes:
President: Three-Legged Dog
Informant: SakuraMona
Executive: moon neko princess
Schemester: Ipwnzj00
Weapons Master: Rumi ai no Pocky
Department of Sexy Bishie Worshippers:
President: Shini no Tenshi
Executive: Hiarashi (if you want a position change, email me. I tried emailing you, but you didn't reply…)
o8oo8oo8oPROMOTER! PLEASE, CHECK THESE OUT!o8oo8oo8o
StarLightKagome: Cupids Arrow Inc, Dirty Laundry, and Wrong One are three stories you won't want to miss. Cupids Arrow Inc. is an awesome story not many have given a chance, or have not left feedback on- it's one of the better stories I've seen. Humor is one sure thing in that story. Dirty Laundry and Wrong One are also going wonderfully. Check them out!
Ama (Shades of Oblivion- Kinetics, My Funny Valentine, and Foolish Dreamers are excellent stories. Though Kinetics is complete, there is a companion story done from the eyes of Miroku called Lost Prophet (love it!) and a planned sequel. Check it out, you won't regret it. My Funny Valentine is also one of those "ah! I want more" kind of fics--- Inu (yes, with glasses!) and jazz : ). It's off to a great start and is sure to only improve. Foolish Dreamers, albeit being a song-fic/one-shot, is a wondrous fluffy piece. Any one-shot by this author is sure to leave you going "awww! So kawaii!" I highly recommend these stories.
Han-doroboo Xanthros- Nearly Famous is a story with a unique flavor of writing and I have yet to see any other that caught me with it's style as much as this one did. Though it has not been updated in some time, I believe a bit of encouragement will bring this story back from its silence in brilliant colors and outrageous humor. Give it a try! (-: You won't regret it, I promise.
WiNtEr-sToRm-oF-iCe- Now is Forever, a story about Kagome as a circus worker
and Inuyasha has the newest addition, is a great story- very fun to read, even with it's seriousness. (-: Can't say much about it, or I'll give a lot of the plot away…
Sugarsprite- The Sound of Her Voice is absolutely fabulous. Inuyasha is deaf, Kagome is mute- what a perfect mix, ne? It's actually quite humorous, even with its serious plot. I wish I new American Sign Language…. This is one story sure to leave you begging for more.
Ithilwen K-Bane- This Can't be Good--- all I have to say… "Aaayyyyiiiiiaaaaa!!!" Another update means my day is 100% better. Hojo in the Feudal Era… (-: She does an awesome job with it. And her author's notes are an Author/Kurama interaction that has nothing to do with the story- which is really fun to read in itself. Need I say more?
o8oo8oo8oWHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!o8oo8oo8o
Dedications:
First dedication goes to Ama (Shades of Oblivion, a wonderful fanfiction writer and friend. And after a long wait, I can finally say I dedicate this chapter to you! : ) Hope you enjoy it with all its angst glory… Happy- slightly early- 16th birthday, Ama! Everyone, if you're looking for a story or two to read, check his out- they're well worth the time and the one-shots are guaranteed to make you go 'awwww!' Looks up Ah, I guess I already said that, huh?
Second dedication goes to Three-Legged Dog for answering correctly- What, or who, is the snake?- and being a wonderful reviewer. To you, I dedicate the divider song "Tear for Tear".
Third dedication is to VTlarry- sorry I forgot to mention it in the last chapter- HAPPY LATE 16th BIRTHDAY… Dedicated to you is "I Stand Corrected" (the third song to appear.)
Last, but not least, my friend Caladriel for her return to I missed you! (-: To you, since the title reminds me so much of your story Deception, I dedicate "Imprisoned".
Have a good day everyone, and enjoy the newest chapter of Me?
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Title: Me?
By: Sakura-chan88 An Eye For an Eye, A Tear For a Tear, A Heart For a Hearto-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
You walked in a daze, walking to the hotel, up a flight of stairs, down a deserted corridor, and into your room. It felt as if nothing would ever matter again. Not your life, not your love, not your tears- none of them would matter, because he couldn't care... No... He couldn't care... Not if he'd do that to you- not if he'd lie to you- not if he'd... It wasn't fair- none of it! None of it at all! And he blamed it all on you- the things that were going wrong. Well, 'Dogboy' was in for a thorough thrashing once you got a hold of him! That is, after you let everything sink into your brain and register. Sure, you'd played it off as 'wow, really!?' while inside you were feeling... 'wow... really...' and it just didn't matter to you. You know what? Forget him! Move on with your life! Leave the band, the name, change your identity! ... Oh, but how dare he!
I was so empty inside that everything I did was mechanical- everything. I walked to the hotel as if I were a robot. I went to my room as if I were programmed just to do that, opened the door, threw my coat, keys to the room, and script into the nearest chair, and let my hair down as I walked to the television and turned it off- the noise was offending to my senses that were currently deprived in every other way. I didn't even register the yelp of protest or the concerned words coming from the man I stalked towards.
I'd had enough.
I didn't care.
I needed the comfort.
I needed him...
The kiss was just as mechanical as everything else. No passion, just desperation... despair. How could it be anything else? There was nothing inside me but a throbbing ache left from the hurtful truth Kikyou had thrown into my face. Not that she could know, since everything about Inuyasha and I was hidden from the public.
I guess it startled him enough to push me away.
"Kagome, what the fuck is wrong with you?" Inuyasha barked, gripping my shoulders. When I failed to reply other than looking him in his eyes filled with confusion and panic, his hold faltered. I was glad, somewhere deep inside, that I didn't find a sunset in those golden orbs of light...
'No sunset, Inuyasha... Not again... Not yet...'
--------------------------------------------------
"See our time before your eyes
Pulled apart and criticized
Ridiculed and vandalized
Crumble away in the wind,"
--------------------------------------------------
"Kagome?" Kikyou suddenly called to me after a brief silence. "When you first met Inuyasha... what did you see in his eyes?"
I blinked a few times, startled by the question, then lowered my head to look at my hands. I always hated what I had seen, and this woman in front of me was the reason I had ever witnessed such... despair, hurt... desolation. "I saw a sunset."
"... Sunset?" Kikyou whispered. "I'm sorry, I don't really understand what you mean..."
"I saw the last rays of light in his eyes," I stated, lifting my gaze to look at her, smiling softly as, inside, I grimaced at the returning image of those golden orbs drown in pain from the past. "I saw... the anguish... the world collapsing under the crushing weight of a fallen sun, blinding with it's one brilliant ray of hope, love, and happiness that was slowly being corrupted by anger and the blood of an invisible wound..."
Kikyou was quiet, her mouth slightly open. "Sugoi... a sunset..." She paused, then grinned. "You sound like a genuine helplessly romantic poet, ne, Kagome-chan?"
"... Yeah, a hopelessly romantic poet..." I stared at her for a moment, then lowered my gaze again, sighing. 'Is she really that blind? Does she not understand- still? Or does she and she doesn't care that he was so... injured...'
"Oi, Kagome-chan..."
"Nani?"
"Nani o kangaete iru no? (What are you thinking about?)"
"... You said... you were going to change it- and you had the perfect way..." I muttered. "What are you planning?"
"... I was thinking... ashita (tomorrow)... could you get Demonic to come for lunch?"
'Inuyasha... How could you not tell me... About her… about you…?' I smiled brightly, with such a false tone I was surprised she didn't catch it, and nodded. "Of course I can."
'I don't want to lose you, still after all of this... I don't want to lose you...
But, if you… want to leave…
Am I selfish enough to hold you back?'
------------------------------
"The sky's darkened to navy blue
The sun casting out its last ray
Such a brilliant golden hue
So deceitfully false of you,"
-----------------------------
"What is with you?" he hissed, pressing his fingers into my shoulder blades, causing me to flinch ever so slightly. "You don't even acknowledge me when you come in, you blatantly disregarded the fact that Shippo is right next to me, you don't respond when I ask you what's wrong, and now you're zoning off into your own little private universe sitting in front of me. What the hell is up with you!?" he nearly shouted. Then a spark ignited behind his eyes, blazing with alarm and recognition. "You look like..."
"Like what, Inuyasha?" I pressed, my expression drained of care. Yet, my mind kicked in, a panicked voice shouting, 'don't say it! Don't call me her! You've hurt me enough tonight...'
"Like... like..." his eyes just widened as he continued to stare. "... Sesshomaru..."
"Hm. Then he must feel extremely empty in his soul..." And I found myself thanking him inside. He hadn't said her name. "Pity for such a young man, wouldn't you say?"
"What happened to you? I've been gone a month and you're... completely different," he finished with a worried expression. "Tell me what's wrong."
"Is anything right?" No response. I gave him a once-over and nodded, standing and retrieving my coat and keys. "Take a walk with me, Inuyasha."
Jack yipped by my feet, begging for attention and I couldn't help but smile warmly at the carefree sight. Oh, yes, the bliss of ignorance... and I had known it an hour ago...
The words of a past experience, both joyful and pain-filled entered my mind, an image of calm ocean waters sloshed about, two friendly bodies beside me, voices jumbling together before righting themselves.
"Ignorance truly is bliss, isn't it?" I had once asked, Sango sighing beside me.
"That's both true and false," Miroku said in response to my absent-minded mutter while looking over the railing of a cruiser. Then he explained, "without knowing something, one can be hurt or hurt another. It, however, is the best way to live‑ not knowing the torment of other people's lives. Knowing another's problems weaves you into their life, usually unnoticed by either person. Life is never simple."
I could only think of how much I wished I didn't know the truth... Then, taking his words in, I thought of all the deceit I would have lived through not knowing of... 'And he's so upset that I don't trust him fully... And my reason for not trusting him has just colored itself in brilliantly, ne?'
I shook myself of my thoughts. "I need something to drink."
"There's Pepsi in the mini-fridge."
"Iie- I need some alcohol."
"Anta (You)-"
"I had Kagura make me a fake Id, so just shut up and follow me or stay here."
The fake Id was meant for the movie, actually, because I was force to give my license to a police officer during the investigation to make sure I was who I said I was, but I didn't feel inclined to be truthful about anything to the silver haired man trailing behind me.
As I stepped out into the brisk night air that comforted me with its cold hands, I inhaled deeply, the freshness of the cold seeping into me and warming my heart. I began talking.
"I've decided something for myself, Inuyasha. I've decided that I want you, the boys, and Sango to stop at the filming tomorrow for lunch," I said, hugging myself tightly to keep the chill from getting to my bones. The small breeze made all the difference in temperature, to me. "How about you order a few dozen pizzas for us?"
"Sure. When-?"
"Around 2 we have a lunch break. Be there a little early."
"Uh... Alright."
We were silent the rest of the way. Inuyasha was probably thinking things over, but my mind was completely still once again. I'm sure it was just that numbing process I'd experienced when Sango had joked about Kohaku (which was not funny in the least!), but it was much stronger this time...
"Kagome... why do you want us to stop by?" Inuyasha asked.
I forced on a smile, trying to change the mood a bit, trying to rid myself of the numb settled inside me. "I want you to meet the rest of the cast. Ne, I think you'll just love my sister..." It hurt so much to say that... And it hurt even more to know Inuyasha would feel the effects of tomorrow harder than most. I wanted him to hurt. I wanted him to see. I wanted him to stay.
Sugoi, sadistically hypocritical, ne...?
"Plus, you'd be proud of Shippo's performance on stage and I'm sure he'd love to have you watch him."
"He'd love if I disappeared."
"Inuyasha," I snapped in irritation. "How long is it going to take before you two realize-"
"I was joking," he chuckled.
We were inside the nearest bar at this point... Funny thing was, I never needed my Id. I guess celebrities really do live above the law... I felt sick at the corrupted, warped society America housed. Someone was always better than someone else and worse than another. No one ever lived on the same level. No one.
--------------------------------------------------
"Hold on to me, my love
Hold me close, hold me near
Don't let us grow apart
Love me, love, tear for tear,"
--------------------------------------------------
"So we had this little unspoken agreement to never speak about each other outside of our friends- Miroku, Kouga, Yura, and Tsubaki. But... at graduation... a fight broke out between Inuyasha and Miroku. I learned why a few minutes later- but it was an all out fistfight and Miroku was losing. Kouga stepped in. Soon, the authorities were beside them, trying to take them out of the graduation ceremony... But Inuyasha...
"Something happened, I can't remember what it was, but it sent Inuyasha into another rage and Kouga shouted, out loud for the entire ceremony's attendants, 'you can't! Inuyasha, Kikyou would never accept! She-'
"'Baka!' Miroku had yelled, and tackled Kouga. He'd just said our names... and everyone can make calculations... He was going to propose... I wanted to accept- I wish I did, now!- but everyone knew, at least guessed, about us and the media would have been all over it. I didn't want that, so I disappeared, taking everything I could to show him he hurt me. I wanted to make sure we both hurt together... And I regret it... I even used to go to his concerts to act like a tease just to see the pain in his eyes.
"He hurt me. I was going to hurt him back... I was the fool, not Kouga, not Miroku, not Inuyasha... I want him to know that. I want him to forgive me... to love me again..."
---------------------------------------------------
"The storm is starting
And lighting the sky with a flash
As a blast from the past
Or a view of the future in store for us?"
---------------------------------------------------
Her words ran through my head. Inuyasha and Kikyou...
It had such a nice, pleasant ring to it- a fitting roll off the tongue... Kikyou and Inuyasha.
I got myself a beer, I wasn't feeling up to something strong, while Inuyasha sputtered and did the same, uncertainly glancing between me and the bar tender. I found us a nice little corner table and plopped down, kicking my feet onto the table as he slid into his chair, staring at me. A television near the bar caught my attention.
It was playing Inuyasha's first concert in America that I didn't attend. He had his same energy, his same smirk, his same voice and act and guitar and grace. Yet, he looked so... wrong by himself.
No one else seemed to notice.
"So, how was the tour, anyway?"
"Lousy. Sesshomaru made sure they were all at least five states away from each other and only three days," he grumbled. "Plus, Kouga was carrying on and on about…"
"About?" I pressed, leaning backwards a bit more.
"Ryu Itoshi."
"He's still going on about him?" I blinked. "Jeez… I thought he understood the deal between Itoshi and Aya-chan."
"Oh, iie, iie," Inuyasha muttered, shaking his head. "It wasn't about that- it was about Ryu's… part… in the movie."
"… You read the script?" Inuyasha nodded. "… Inuyasha-"
He cut me off with a wave of his hand. "Iie, don't start it- I've heard enough about fucking Ryu Eats-toe-shit…"
I giggled, smiling the first genuinely happy smile since my 'talk' with Kikyou. "Nice name. It fits him too. He's a really ass on stage- thinks he runs the show or something."
Inuyasha shrugged. "How is the movie going?"
"Alright. Most of the crew knows what they're doing, but the rest…" My mind traveled back to earlier in the day. "Example- the camera man ran out of film and went to get another, grabbed a reel from the wrong shelf, and recorded over three of our completed scenes… We have to go over them again… and, most likely, again and again and again, because someone is bound to mess up their part."
"Sounds fun."
"Actually, it would be, if it wasn't for good ol' Marry."
"What's up with your sis?" Inuyasha implored, setting his drink down on the table and leaning forward. "Is that's what has you so wound up?"
"… I don't want to talk about it."
"Kagome," Inuyasha growled, warning in his voice.
"Iie, Inuyasha- fucking drop it already!" His eyes widened as I snorted in disgust and turned my eyes back to the television screen. "I'll tell you when I'm ready."
"And when the fuck will that be? A month from now? A year from now?! Kuso, Kagome, you're driving me nuts! You on your period or something- you aren't usually this moody."
I frowned. "Inuyasha- I thought you trusted me enough to wait."
"How can I trust you if you don't trust me!?"
"DEAL WITH IT!"
Inuyasha's nostrils flared, his eyebrows lowering dangerously. "I'll deal with it, alright…" He stood up, pushing his chair back and stalked over to the bar to order something stronger.
My eyes landed on the television once more, my ears straining to hear. The words and beat suddenly grasped my interest. It was a new one I had never heard, and the beat oddly reminded me of a faster paced Mudvayne tune. Something was both enticing and disturbing about it.
(A/N: Okay, before I start this double-whammy of Inu's concert, I have to tell you everything inside of the (parenthesis) are Miroku and Kouga and everything between the -hyphens- are a more chanted/angered/shouted "Mudvayne drawl", as I call it, where the words are paced out and the end is kind of a held back scream (any Mudvayne fans should understand what I mean). I bet you can see where my inspiration came from...)
I crawl with arms behind my back
To cross this distance between us
-Shackled and beaten and broken
Chains creepin' and holdin' me back!-
(Imprisoned!)
I feel the blood on my face
I hear the words building my rage
I know the sight waiting for me
Behind this cloudy red haze
-Hatred burning from my murderous gaze-
(Imprisoned!)
My eyes focused back on my husband as I realized his voice sounded closer, the noise in the bar went silent. Inuyasha had started singing out loud, stretched lazily in his chair again as he looked me in the eyes. I could see something there, just waiting to jump out at me and latch its jagged teeth to my heart in a silent accusation.
"Stand up, fight me, don't back down now
You've got me in the ring
-Shackled and beaten and broken
Chains creepin' and holdin' me back!-
(Imprisoned!)
Fists up---
Keep on attacking me
With those weak blows
To my battered body
-Shackled and beaten and broken-
Come on, shout and sell those lies
Build the rage boiling inside
Open old wounds, bleed out new
Scar this person in front of you
Show the hatred, hide the fear
-Chains creepin' and holdin' me back!-
I'm not going to let you win
I won't let you see the pain
-Shackled and beaten and broken-
These chains won't hold me back forever
Insults are now or never!
Come on- fight this war's battle!
Do you really think you're winning at all?
(Imprisoned!)
I feel the blood on my face
I hear the words building my rage
I know the sight waiting for me
Behind this cloudy red haze
-Hatred burning from my murderous gaze-
(Imprisoned!)
I'm crawling with arms behind my back
To cross this distance between us
Nothing standing in my way, but I'm
-Shackled and beaten and broken-
Pinned out of range
And you've built my rage
-Chains creepin' and holdin' me back!-
These chains ain't gonna hold me back
Forever!
(Imprisoned!)
-Shackled and beaten and broken
Chains snappin' and lettin' me go!-
(Freedom reign!)"
I was speechless. I couldn't breath. My world was springing to life and wilting in a matter of seconds. Those words-
And then the next song blared through the shocked silence; a dark, gloomy, speedy kind of tempo played. Inuyasha didn't miss a beat.
"You've angered me with this hurtful stuff
You've enraged me into being rough
You've engaged me in a battle much too tough
By saying that I'm not to be trusted enough
Listen here, you insolent fool
This is my world that I rule
Don't burst my bubble further (it's suicide)
It's all that separates me from you
It starts as a dull pain
But it all ends up the same
With my heart splintered, lame
And you can't pretend you're not to blame
Listen up, and listen well
I've got something you need to hear to tell
I'm hurtin' inside like Hell
Like you've thrown away the key to this jail cell
Yet I trust you (I love you) still
You've angered me with this hurtful stuff
You've enraged me into being rough
You've engaged me in a battle much too tough
By saying that I'm not to be trusted enough
I can feel myself slowly fade back
To what I used to be, in fact
Nothing more than a lifeless bone sack
When a heart (love) was what I lacked
Before you had come along-
Intent to right some wished-forgotten wrong
But, as I have already said in this song,
Your trust just isn't all that strong-
I had been the untrusting one
(And you've reminded me why)
I turned my back on the world that rejected
All that I'd come to be - dejected
When I had been attacked and not protected
I thought it would change with you - I stand corrected
Listen up, and listen well
I've got something you need to hear to tell
I'm hurtin' inside - hurtin' like Hell
Like you've thrown away the key to this jail cell
Yet I trust you (I love you) still
You've angered me with this hurtful stuff
You've enraged me into being rough
You've engaged me in a battle much too tough (for you)
By saying that I'm not trusted enough (for your love)"
Inuyasha's eyes never left mine, even as the tears broke lose at the end of the very first verse. Nor did they leave mine when my tears dried abruptly in a surprised acceptance that what he said was so completely true, not even I could ignore it.
I stood calmly, and moved to buy a stronger drink.
------------------------------------------------
"Is there such a thing anymore
As a world of simple things
Where people worry about naught
But the Angel's voice when it sings?"
-------------------------------------------------
"It's pointless and a lie to say that I'm sorry, Inuyasha," I whispered as we walked back to the hotel. Well, it was more like Inuyasha carried my stumbling form. "Because... I'm not sorry that this is happening."
Inuyasha nodded. "Because we'll pull through and be stronger for it... I know."
"..." I smiled, my vision swirling about me. "You know... I love you more than life itself... Yet I still want to hurt you sometimes, really hurt you, and I feel so awful for it... and this time... it'll hurt me, too…"
"This time?" he repeated, looking down at me as he stepped into the doors of the hotel. "Kagome?"
"Don't hate me Inuyasha..." Tears leapt to my eyes with a cheerless kind of brilliance, making them shine in the light. "I hurt enough... I hurt too much... But, I have to… to see, to show you… let you know… Please, Inuyasha, don't hate me."
His eyes dropped sadly. "As long as you're still with me in the end, Kagome, I don't care. Just don't ever leave me. Never, love. Swear to it."
"... As long as I still have a place in your heart," I replied, feeling myself slip away in his arms, "I will swear by the very fibers of existence itself. I will swear on the stars and the moon... and... the sunset..."
------------------------------------------------
"Is there such a thing anymore
As a helping hand stretching
And not asking for payment
In a place where money talks?
Hold on to me, my love
Hold me close, hold me near
Don't let us grow apart
Love me, love, tear for tear,"
-------------------------------------------------
I woke up the next morning with a splitting headache and a churning stomach, regretting drinking more than a beer. I knew I needed a shower and I had to rush down to the trailers for make-up and everything else that seemed to take forever before work, but with my stomach stirring as it was I didn't feel like going anywhere any time soon. I just wanted to crawl beneath my covers and die from the pain. Work could wait.
"Kagome, get up. You've got to get ready for work, love." Ah, life is so cruel.
"Iie," I croaked, rolling onto my side and clutching my abdomen. "Itte (go)... gan-gan... chiku-chiku..." (-See end of chapter for explanation on gan-gan and chiku-chiku-)
"You did that to yourself," Inuyasha pointed out, lifting me into a sitting position. "You're going to live through it."
I glared over my shoulder at him, catching the repentant glimmer in his features when I hissed in pain. Nausea hit hard.
A few minutes later, with my stomach completely emptied, I left the bathroom to crawl back into bed.
"Oh no you don't," Inuyasha growled, picking me back up. "You aren't sleeping this off. It's your fault you're like this-"
"Iie- it's yours for those songs, you lousy bastard," I grumbled half-heartedly even as he shoved clothes into my hands and marched us both back into the bathroom. "I wouldn't have drank anything more than that one bottle if you hadn't gone of and pulled that little stunt of yours."
He turned the shower on and stripped us both. "Guilt trips are a bitch, aren't they? Now, in you go."
"I can't stand straight as it is- I'm going to fall!" I squealed, slipping on the shower's wet flooring.
"I've got you." Arms wrapped around my waist and held me still, pulling me back to his chest. "You balanced yet?"
"... Ah..." I breathed, seeing the room pulse in beat with my headache's throbbing. My feet were steady, and my vision didn't sway... much. "Un."
An arm left my torso as Inuyasha moved to grab the Shampoo and hand it to me.
"Oi... About those new songs of yours..."
"… Yeah?"
"I really do think they're great, actually," I admitted, lathering my hair as he held me steady. "Even though... I caused the pain that inspired them... I like the sound of it all- it's passionate and powerful..."
"And meaningful," he added, running a hand through my bubbly hair.
"Gomen ne..."
"Iie. It's best we deal with it, not run from it... Whatever it is," the man grumbled, moving enough to let me rinse yet not so far as to take my support from me. "Like I said, this can only make us stronger."
"... Hai." I frowned. Was that true, though? I had a feeling things would only get worse... "Conditioner."
"There isn't any."
I sighed. "Of course there isn't... Soap."
"Uh... It's on the counter."
"Then go get it!" I snapped, throwing my arms in the air.
"Of course, your Highness, but unless you're going to get it with me, I'm going to have to let go..."
"I'll ignore that name for now... Well!? Let go already."
"Are you still balanced?"
"Hai."
"You going to be okay?"
"I'll be fine."
"You sure?"
"Kami-sama - I'm not a child, Inuyasha!" I huffed, slapping at his hands. "I'll be fine- whoa- Inuyasha!" I shrieked, sliding once more on the slick ground without his support. I landed roughly on my backside, glowering up at the man smirking above me as I tried to regain my lost breath. "Asshole."
Inuyasha chuckled and helped me to my feet. "And we're back to the name calling."
"I'd say it's an improvement from the silence between you two."
"KYAAAAAA!" I hit the ground, quite willingly this time, wishing it would swallow me whole as my headache increase ten notches, my ears ringing, and a wave of nausea broke over me.
"MIROKU!"
"... Oops..."
"What's going on?" Sango's voice called out. "Oh! Gomen ne, Kagome-chan, Inuyasha! Miroku, you miserable pervert- OUT! Gomen, gomen, gomen!"
"Ite- Sango! Iie, don't- that could be valuable! Not the lamp!"
{CRASH}
"Oi! You're replacing that!" Inuyasha bellowed, grabbing the nearest towel and throwing it to me and wrapped himself in another before running out into the mayhem. "Sango- iie! Don't-"
{SHATTER}
"That was my- Ah- that's Kagome's, Sango!"
"Oh- oops… This'll work fine, then!"
"Not the phone book! Iie- ite- yameru (stop)!- itai! Onegai, Sango! It was an- ite- accident!"
{THUD}
"That was my favorite shoe!" Shippo squeaked. "Now there's blood all over it... Ew… I'm never touching that shoe again."
"Sango-!"
All I could do was sit at the bottom of the bathtub, covered in a towel as I was pelted with the still-running shower water, and blink.
'... Okay... that's an odd start for the day...'
------------------------------------
"The storm is starting
And lighting the sky with a flash
As a blast from the past
Or a view of the future in store for us?"
------------------------------------
"What is this?"
"Pictures…"
I raised my eyes to the man in front of me, eyebrows furrowed in confused surprise. "Pictures?"
The man nodded, running a hand through his short-cropped brown hair. "I hired a man by the name of Thomas Smith, like Jenna said I should… I think you should see them."
I dropped my gaze to the envelope waiting for me on the diner's booth table. A hesitant hand reached slowly out, before retracting in uncertainty. Would this break my heart? Did I really need to see them?
Inside, I nodded. Yes, I did- I needed to know…
The pictures were pulled from their paper casing with a sure, well manicured hand. A gasp rang through the air. 'No… no, no, no!'
"Marry- she did this?! I thought it was… I didn't think it was this bad… Lilly, Ray… Oh, I can't look at these- the poor children…"
"May?"
"Henry- why didn't you do something about this if you knew?"
"I didn't know about anything until you called me about the court hearing," he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. "We have to do something about it."
"CUT!" the director yelled. "Suikotsu, Henry should look more distressed, more depressed, more determined! Get your act together! Kagome, great job- but you need just a little more passion in your words. Get angry at the world! Hate it, despise it! Loathe it, dear, and channel that energy to your words! Words are your power!"
'Damn hangover headache…' I took a deep breath and sighed, nodding. "Yes, I know. I am trying…"
"Perhaps we should pause for lunch, Daniel," Kikyou suggested airily from her off-stage seat. "Some food may help his performance. Plus, I'd rather have something in my stomach before going into this scene and it wouldn't hurt for the little ones to be more focused, either."
Rin and Shippo nodded, Rin pleading with clasped hands and Shippo with big eyes. Daniel, the poor guy, fell for the looks and let us go with a clear command to be back in an hour, promptly. Rin and Shippo bounced off ahead of us, knowing already that our group would be out in the grassy area to the left of the building. Most cast members followed them, and some went their own way.
Kikyou, Suikotsu, Ryu, and Sandra (May's best friend, Jenna) fell in line with me, all chatting about different things. Suikotsu and Ryu were busy discussing the "passion of words" and how it was wrong- "it should be more about the 'passion of expression'," Ryu stated. "'Passion of words' should be a back-up." Sandra was busy rambling about her newest Hollywood catch. Kikyou threw her occasional two-cents worth into either conversation before turning to me.
"Did you talk to them? I couldn't get a chance to ask earlier."
"Un. Demo (but)… Inuyasha wa…"
Kikyou stopped walking, pushing for answers with a mere raise of an eyebrow. I sighed and told the others where to go- I had made an announcement early on that lunch was on me and no one complained (the studio-provided lunch was a gruesome reminder of days back in high school… ick.).
"He doesn't know you're here, so he might be a bit shocked, ne? Miroku and Kouga are here, too- along with our managers and- oddly- our hair-stylist…" Her eyebrow rose further. "She does just about everything else, too, nowadays… Oh- and our puppy, Jack. Shippo didn't want him left at the hotel."
"Your hotel let a dog in?"
"Celebrity perks."
"… Ne, I'm allergic to dog fur…"
"Eh?" I breathed dumbly, my own eyebrow arching high. 'You don't say…'
"Along with cat fur and bird feathers… I suppose it's just animals in general."
'Oh, I pity you,' I thought, my mind chuckling. I smirked to myself. 'Be your hyper little self today, Jack…'
"I'll try and keep him away from you."
'Oh, Kami-sama, I've become a monster…'"Okaasan- hurry up! Inuyasha is being a pig again!" Shippo called, bounding into the studio we had yet to leave. "Hear that, you big baka of a jerk!"
"Ah- no name-calling, Shippo-chan! You want him to hit you again?" The boy pouted, his bottom lip sticking out further and further each second I didn't relent my scolding expression. I sighed, "we better hurry and get some food or Inuyasha and Kouga will have ate it all."
"Or San-san," Rin added, entering the building with wide-eyes. "She's stuffing piece after piece down her throat and Miroku-san is trying to get her to stop, but she just takes bigger bites…"
"Sugoi, this day just gets better and better. Now I've got to help Miroku… Excuse me for a moment, Kikyou," I muttered, racing off to stop Sango from hurting herself by being stubborn.
Outside was bright and sunny, and rather warm compared to the early morning when I had first stepped into the world, leaving the hotel for a day at work. I spotted Inuyasha first thing, choking down a piece of pizza now that the cast was out for lunch. So inconsiderate… I smiled warmly, yet sadly as I caught his eye and waved to him, making my way towards the woman sitting comfortably on the grass as she shoved part of her newest slice of pizza down her throat along with two of Miroku's fingers when he tried to pry it away.
"Sango- really, that isn't healthy for you! You should be eating a balanced meal with vegetables, fruits-"
"It has pineapple on it! And what do you think olives are, huh?" Sango asked when he successfully wrested it from her mouth. She switched over to our native tongue, trying not to offend Sandra or Suikotsu. "Plus, I'm not going to get anything better than this in America! It's all burgers and pizza!"
"They have salads and-"
"Miroku, yameru," I called out, crouching down beside Sango. "Think about it. He's right. The baby should be getting more nutritional things like salads- and no more pop either, okay? Try going for juice or milk."
"But-"
"We aren't saying no snacks, or sweets, just not as much," Miroku interrupted, taking my lead with the gentle persuasion. "It's better for the both of you."
"I'm sure he won't mind pizza."
Miroku frowned. "She won't mind pizza, you mean."
"I want a boy."
"I want a girl!"
"Boy!"
"Girl!"
"Boy!"
"Girl!"
"Inu… yasha…"
The argument died so suddenly at the softly spoken name that Sango choked, literally, on her words and doubled over trying to calm herself. Miroku, oddly, couldn't so much as spare her a concerned glance, his bulging eyes glued to the woman standing at the edge of the grass. Kouga, laying comfortably on the ground with three empty boxes beside him, bolted upright in disbelief, mouth hanging open. Inuyasha dropped the box he'd been carrying over to Rin and Shippo, his hands fumbling to catch it and failing. Shippo and Rin blinked in confusion.
I watched this all with a calm, waiting expression. 'Come on, Inuyasha… Prove my mind wrong. Show us all you don't need her heart! Show me you weren't lying when we took our vows… Please… please… please… Don't let me go. Don't let us fall apart anymore!'
From the sidelines, Kagura sent me a small smile, telling me with her eyes, everything would be all right. Until…
"Inuyasha!" Kikyou yelled, tears forming in her eyes. "I… I'm-" She bit her lip, kicked off her sandals, and ran for him, arms folding up around his neck and a head crowned in glossy black tresses burrowed into his shoulder.
She sobbed.
Kikyou Mikono… The woman heartless enough to leave him, as Inuyasha himself said he saw it, cried.
To him…
For him…
…
… Because of him…
-------------------------------------------------
Does a torn spirit cry,
If no heart can speak?
Does a lost soul sob,
When no heart weeps?
Can the ice really melt
Where no heat can reach
For the cold gathered close
To muffle the soul's screech?
Where is that place now
Where true Angels are
Watching from overhead
Beyond the clouds so far?
Hold on to me, my love
Hold me close; hold me near
Don't let us grow apart
Love me, love, tear for tear,"
-------------------------------------------------
A/N: Sorry again that it took so long. The next chapter should be out in about another... say... two weeks? Or, at least, that's what I'm hoping for.
---Note: Gan-gan and Chiku-chiku are actually image-sound words, meaning they are words used to describe a feeling, but they aren't actually words… Are you confused yet, 'cause I am… Chiku-chiku = Sharp, needle-like pain, like you might have with stomach complaints. Gan-gan = Hammering or banging pain, as with a pounding headache.---
Hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Ja ne, minna!