June 11

I stayed with Sesshoumaru for the rest of the weekend, studying time and other such concepts I would need to know if I were to survive. Luckily, I'm a quick learner, so things went pretty smoothly.

That is, until I got to the apartment complex.

I was on the fourth floor, heading for room 418, when who should come out of room 416, coughing up a storm, but—

"YOU!" Inuyasha spluttered, and Kagome looked at him, glaring weakly.

"What are you, following me or something?" She mumbled.

"I was just about to ask the same damn thing." Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?!"

"I live here, stupid. Whereas you are nothing but a weird-ass stalker." The still-sick girl shuffled into the elevator. Inuyasha scoffed, opening the door to his apartment. Sesshoumaru had it decorated even fancier than Nanako's, with plush red carpet, a plasma screen television on the wall, a well-stocked kitchen—complete with cookbook on the Italian marble counter—, and several other self-indulgent household accesories.

"Awesome." Inuyasha smiled calmly, going into the kitchen and stuffing the rest of his flasks in the overloaded refrigerator. "Damn, that guy pulled out all the stops, didn't he?" Going into his bedroom, he saw a safe right beside his king-sized bed, the combination written on a small piece of paper on top of it. "Obviously for the money." He reasoned, opening the safe and gaping upon seeing at least five thousand dollars already inside. "Where does he get this stuff?!" Shaking his head, he packed his measly five hundred in there as well, and plopped on the bed, taking out his journal.

Really, it's strange as hell that he would have it look so rich in this apartment, when he knows I was used to staying in a cabin where the only furniture was a hard bed. Ah, well; I'm not complaining. After staying for that time in Nanako's house, I'm becoming more and more accustomed to this kind of life.

Of course, there is the not-so-minor setback of the wench living right next door to me! It's absolutely unbelievable! How the hell can I stomach that shit?!

Oh, well. All I have to do is not leave the apartment. Shouldn't be that difficult.

He smiled at this thought, nodding his head. "Yeah. I won't have to see that ugly bitch as long as I stay cooped in here." Inuyasha put down the journal and went around exploring some more, even happier when he discovered the extra bedroom stacked with a bunch of books.

I never thought I'd say this, but I love my brother. I really do. No way I'm gonna be some uncivilized troglodyte with all these books in here!

He picked up one of the books, titled Encyclopedia: A, Volume One. "Wonder what this is." Skipping into the living room, he sat down on the couch and began to read. Inuyasha read and read and read, until about seven hours later, when he was halfway through the fourth volume, there came a knock at his door. He yawned and went over to answer it.

"Yeah?"

"DUDE!" Miroku cackled.

"Oh, hey, Miroku."

"You look trashed as hell! I didn't know this would be where you were staying!" He gaped as he looked inside the house. "Damn! It looks awesome in here!"

"Yeah, I know." Inuyasha chuckled.

"Where's your brother? And may I come in?"

"Sure, and I don't know."

"Awesome." Miroku grinned eagerly, as Inuyasha let him in the apartment. "Dude, this place is freaking crazy cool. What are you doing in here?"

"Just reading." Miroku stared incredulously at him.

"Reading? You have a 32-inch plasma screen sitting in your wall and you're reading?!"

"What are you, a broken record?" Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "I'm just reading this encyclopedia and—"

"YOU'RE WHAT?! Dude, it's summer! We don't have to learn anything for three more months!"

"Uh..."

"Okay, look. Kagome, who, by the way, is still sick, snuck out to her hot friend's house, so I had to go over there and collect her before she died. She went to sleep and woke up just five minutes ago, ranting and stuff about "that retarded albino living in my damn complex", so who else could it have been but you?! And right next door, no less! So, this is the perfect opportunity to get you better adjusted to normal people life."

"You seriously think I can be normal living on my own in this place?"

"You live—aw, man! Some guys get all the luck..." Miroku grumbled. "Me and Kagome live with her father, my uncle, and his girlfriend. We're not extremely fond of her, but I guess that's always the case with stepparents. ANYWAY! Grab a pair of trunks and let's goo."

"Um...where are we going?" Inuyasha blinked.

"To a pool party at a very good friend of mine's house."

"Pool party, huh?"

"Just come on. You can swim, right?"

"Of course. But I don't know if I have any trunks."

"I got you some!" Miroku dangled a pair of swimming trunks in his face with a grin.

"Where are yours?"

"'Neath these." He pulled on the elastic of his short pants, letting them snap against his waistline. "You've got shorts and a t-shirt, don't you?"

"Hold on." Inuyasha dashed into his room and returned dressed in a polyester tee, a pair of red athletic shorts, and some Nike sneakers. "How's this look?"

"Perfect." Miroku grinned. "The ladies will love you."

"Ladies?" Inuyasha licked his lips excitedly. "There will be girls there?"

"What kind of party has no females, dude? That's why I invited you along, 'cause you're just like me—a ladies' man. Hell, this should be funner than reading some old book, right?"

"Guess so."

I wonder if I should bring the journal along, too. Nah, I'll write later.

"Your ugly cousin isn't coming, is she?"

"Dude! Kagome's not ugly. She's just really sick, that's all. And no, she's not coming. This flu thing is gonna have her out for at least another few days."

"Excellent. Let's go!"

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June 12

...

...

I am such a glutton.

I thought my brother was just being an asshole when he always told me this, but now I see it for the truth it is.

I stumbled in here about an hour ago, drunken out of my mind, not from straight alcohol, but from alcohol-laced blood. I had to have fed from every single woman out there!

Strangely enough, blood with high alcoholic content seems to have no damning effect on my writing skills, because I'm writing and thinking just as perfectly as if I were sober. It's just that I'm having a slight battle with balance, that's all.

And my sight's just a teensy bit blurred.

And I'm just a little bit—

The journal and pencil fell to the floor with a hollow thud and a tap. The hard thump of Inuyasha's body crashing down followed very soon after, his cold body having completely shut down as if he were a robot.

Some hours later, about at the crack of dawn, Inuyasha's eyes snapped open, and the first thing he saw were boots. He blinked in confusion, grunting when he was picked up by the back of his shirt and made to face the unamused and unsmiling face of his older brother.

"Is there some kind of problem?" He cleared his throat, crossing his arms in annoyance at being handled like a disobedient puppy.

"What did I tell you not to do?"

"..." Inuyasha thought for a moment, then winced as the realization was stricken into him by Sesshoumaru's powerful hand. "Oh, yeah..."

"You reek of alcohol and blood. You stupid bastard, you just refuse to listen, don't you?"

"Hey, I honestly don't see the problem here." Inuyasha growled. "It's not like I killed them or nothin'! Besides, they were so drunk, they thought I was giving them hickeys!"

"Then not only did you disobey me, but take advantage of drunken women as well. That settles it."

"Settles what?" Inuyasha asked suspiciously.

"From here on in, you are not to feed from a single human woman for the rest of your summer."

"WHAT?! That's bullshit!" Now he began to squirm in Sesshoumaru's grasp, not wanting to hear any more.

"It's probation and I dare you to violate it." The threat in his eyes made Inuyasha stop struggling, albeit sullenly. Sesshoumaru let his words sink in a few more seconds, before relinquishing his grip completely. Inuyasha dropped back onto the floor like a brick and shook his head to clear away any signs of oncoming dizziness.

"Is that all you came to tell me?" He grumbled.

"No. I just had a meeting with the elders, who informed me that, as your superordinate, I am to ensure you find yourself a proper nyoubou." Even as he said these words, Inuyasha practically tuned him out with a loud, complaintive groan.

"No, no, damn, crap, noooo!" He yelled, getting up from the floor and glaring at Sesshoumaru, who remained, as per usual, impassive. "Why?!"

"Don't be stupid. You're coming up on your twenty-first summer and you need a partner."

"No, I fucking don't." Inuyasha protested evenly. "I'm perfectly fine with the wanton life of promiscuity I live now, thanks. So you can just escort yourself on out, mister."

"I'm only going to tell you this once, Inuyasha, so use those godforsaken satellite antennae of yours and listen well." To emphasize his point, Sesshoumaru yanked on Inuyasha's sensitive ears and hissed, "You've got until December sixteenth to find a nyoubou or so help me, you're going to be a eunuch by this time next year." Inuyasha stiffened, his body temperature dropping a few degrees at these chilling words.

"Okay, okay..." He mumbled under his breath, and Sesshoumaru let go of his ears. "Any specific preferences, Dad?"

"Yes, in fact, there are, and I don't think I can stress this one enough. You better not take a woman just because of the way she looks. Look for someone with a respectable lineage, and maybe more than three brain cells to her name."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it..."

"And I have to meet and approve of her before you even think about having your idiotic way with her."

"Is that all?"

"Yes, you impatient cur, that's all." There came a knock at the door.

"Planning on leaving or what?" Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow, going over to answer it. Sesshoumaru merely harrumphed under his breath, strolling past Miroku at the door without so much as a hello. Miroku blinked.

"Uh...that your brother?"

"Sure, why not." Inuyasha yawned. "So whatcha here for?"

"Oh, I can't stay. Kagome has to go to the hospital and I've got an extremely important test to take."

"Huh. Well, I wish you luck on your test." Inuyasha grinned widely, and was about to close the door, but Miroku held it ajar with his foot, giving his friend a pleading look.

"Oh, come on, Inuyasha, it's not that far away!"

"Hell no." He refused simply. "I will not help that wench recover. In fact, I honestly hope she shrivels up and dies." Miroku stared in awe at Inuyasha.

"DUDE! It's my freaking cousin, man!"

"You need to understand, Miroku, that I'm devoid of normal human emotion."

"Please, please, please, Inuyasha? I swear, if you do this, you'll never have to see Kagome again."

"I don't believe you."

"Believe it; after she comes from the hospital, her father is supposed to be taking her to stay with her mother." Inuyasha thought for a moment.

Hmm. What to do, what to do? I could take the wench to the hospital and gain favor with her delicious mother...and on the plus side, I'll never have to see her again...but I don't know if I can endure her presence for so long.

"I'll forever be in your debt if you do this one thing for me, Inuyasha!"

"Hmm. Why can't her father take her?"

"He's working!" Miroku wailed. "And the longer we delay, the longer Kagome's life slips away!"

Hmm. I don't think Nanako would like me much if I let her bitch daughter die... He sighed mentally. Damn me and my stupid compassion.

"Fine, fine...where is the stupid invalid, anyway?" Inuyasha said boredly, and just as he said this, an even paler, sicker Kagome was thrust into his arms, making him want to vomit.

Fucking—I didn't think it was possible, but she's more undesirable now than she ever was!

An unrelenting grimace on his face, he tentatively straightened her and tried to push her away from him as gently as he could, but she ended up wavering and nearly hitting the floor—that is, before Inuyasha pinched the scruff of her shirt with his claws, not wanting to touch her at all.

"Thanks, dude, you're a lifesaver!" And just like that, Miroku was gone. Inuyasha glared at Kagome.

"You're an ugly sick wench, you know that?" She didn't reply, so ridden with illness was she. "Ugh..." Inuyasha shuddered in squeamish repugnance as he picked her up bridal-style and left the apartment, knowing he would have to douse himself in scalding hot water and lye soap for hours on end.

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Black Ice: Wow. Inuyasha's hate of Kagome is just plain-ass boundless.

Blood Rain: I honestly can't wait until they get to school.

Black Ice: Which shall be next chapter, peoples!

Blood Rain: For real?! Awesomeness!

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Today's Rant: That stupid McDonald's commercial about the dollar Quarter Pounder!

Black Ice: Remember that stupid McDonald's commercial about...well, I don't want to repeat it. And these two guys were at work, all, "These shoes cost twenty dollars" and "This tie cost twelve dollars". Okay. That's not what annoyed the shit out of me. What did, however, is that bitch's abrupt interruption, talking about "Quarter Pounder, only one dollar."

...

Uh, could somebody let me know just who the hell was talking to her nosy ass? Like, bitch, shut the hell up! Nobody was even talking to you! It was a total "A and B conversation" moment, and she definitely needed to C her way out. (Shakes head) That has annoyed me for the longest. And now, I take my leave. (Bows humbly)