Broken Paradise

Chapter 5: Too Close for Comfort

"That's the last of it!" Sango announced as they looked around the dimly lit cabin. There was a single lamp in the living room. It was a three-bedroom cabin. "We'll try to keep it down." Miroku promised as he laced an arm around Sango's waist. She was now beet red. Inuyasha and Kagome rolled their eyes. "I'm going to need some of this sake." The single female stated as she picked up a bottle of mountain brew. She got four cups and poured. "Don't drink too much." Sango advised more toward Miroku than anyone; she suggestively leaned on his shoulder, her lips brushed his ear. "Okay, let's play Cards Against Humanity." Miroku stated as he pulled out the raunchy-humorous game. They sat around the kitchen island on bar stools.

They were rolling in laughter at the obnoxiousness of the cards. Kagome wiped away tears and tried to catch her breath. They each had a different kind of sense of humor. Still, they were able to find each situation funny, albeit crude. The younger lady poured Inuyasha some more wine. "You trying to get me drunk?" He called out. "I think you are!" They all said. "I'm not seeing double yet." He assured and took another swig.

-Three hours later-

Sango held Kagome's hair back as she retched into the toilet. "It's all fun and games until someone throws up." Miroku stated. "Just give her some water, she'll be fine." Inuyasha recommended. Kagome leaned back on the cool tile and slurred, "I'm fine." "I got her, you guys can go to bed." Sango reassured. "Nah, I'll take care of her. You two love birds can go on." He sat Kagome up and gave her a cup of water. "Can we trust you not to take advantage of her?" Miroku's voice was suggestive. Sango smacked him for that. "Let's go." She said, pulling him out of the bathroom by the ear. They bickered a bit on the way to their bedroom.

"Sorry." Kagome muttered as she leaned against his shoulder. She moaned in pain and rubbed her forehead into his sleeve. "It's okay. I'm seeing two of you, so." He gestured for her to keep drinking water. "Are you going to throw up more?" He asked as he tried to look her in the face. Her cheeks were flushed and she was humming to herself. "No, I won't." She promised and he attempted to stand her up. She almost fell over, but he hadn't let go of her. She leaned forward into him, practically hugging him. "I donwanna ot go ot bed." She hiccupped.

"I'll stay up with you, stupid." He chuckled. "Don't laugh at me." She whined. He walked her to her room. She clung to his tan t-shirt. She lay down, but sat right back up. "No, things are spinning." She groaned. He gave her more water. "Here, we'll get your mind off it. What movie do you want to watch?" He asked as he pulled a few options off the shelf. "Samurais." She said without looking. He laughed and popped in the VHS. Yeah, this place was clearly owned by an old guy.

"We are going to watch all four hours of this." She pointed to the TV. "If you say so." He complied, drinking some water himself. He wasn't seeing double anymore and at least the movie drowned out the sounds of passion from across the hall. He shut the door. She didn't seem to notice.

She was still hanging on him. "I think you should eat something." He recommended. He got up to fix her some ramen.

She was half awake when he brought it. But, she slurped it down. He had one of his own, too, of course. "Even boiled an egg and everything." She noticed. "It's a complete, balanced meal." He said with his mouth full.

"This movie is long. What's happening?" She asked. "You've been commentating this whole movie!" He barked. She opened and closed her hand at him, "you've been going yap yap yap, too. It smells like food in here." He opened the window above the bed. Cold air rushed in. She tugged at the blanket under them. "You can't sit on it and get under it." He laughed and got up to help her. She draped the scratchy brown blanket around herself and rested her head on her knees.

"Feeling better?"

"Getting there."

"'Kay, I'm going to bed." He said as he put his bare feet on the floor to stand up. She tugged on the cuff of his sleeve. "Wait, the movie isn't over." She said, her voice low. He looked down at her pleading eyes, which were a little red. He pressed his lips together, weighing the idea of staying in his head and sat back down with a sigh. He couldn't deny those chocolate depths when they looked at him like that.

"If I keep drinking water I'm going to have to pee all night." She complained. "Lovely. Go break your seal now. Then drink more water. It's the only thing to do or you're going to feel worse in the morning." He waited for her to come back from the restroom. When she did, he pushed her to drink more water. "I'm full," she whimpered. "I can't sleep." "Don't then. The movie is still going." His tone was slightly irritated. He was sober and getting tired now. She pouted. "What?" He asked, exasperated. "What? I didn't say anything. You hearing voices?" She remarked as she pointed to her head.

"You look like a hurt bird, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I can see you're not happy."

"I drank too much!"

"Don't get so defensive, just seemed like something else you wanted to say."

"What? You were thinking something perverted, weren't you?"

"Like what?"

"Jerk."

"Ungrateful."

"Shut up."

"You shut up!"

"Oh my god, you're so LOUD."

"Shut up then."

"You have to have the last word don't you?"

"No."

"Liar."

"I'm not."

"Don't lie."

"You're ridiculous."

"So what?"

"So you're ridiculous." He crossed his arms triumphantly, a smug look on his face. Her cheeks puffed up a bit in defiance and her brows knitted together. She swung her pillow at him, but he dodged it. "Oh, you want a pillow fight?" He said, arming himself. They started to hit each other. She was throwing her whole upper body into it, kneeling on the mattress. "You're holding back!" She accused. "Yes, I am." He admitted, tapping her a few times with the corner of the pillow. She reached all the way back, holding the pillow high over her head and swung it back down. He let her hit his back. "Not fair." She mewled. She gave up and threw herself back onto the mattress. She sighed, glad that things had stopped spinning. She turned over and hugged the pillow. She blinked, trying to fight sleep. She didn't want Inuyasha to go, but what reason did he have to stay with her?

He smacked her on the butt with the pillow. "You let your guard down!" He shouted and playfully kicked her leg a little bit. She sat straight up, a marvelous blush coloring her cheeks as she covered her bum with her hands. "You're picking up bad habits from Miroku." She reproached, smoothing the back of her skirt. "Don't go there." He reprimanded, shaking a finger at her. She stuck her tongue out at him, then sat down with her arms and legs crossed. He tossed his pillow at her face. She angrily huffed and grabbed it. "Cranky." He teased.

"How do you see me?" She suddenly asked. His eyes widened and he took a step back. He didn't know what to say. What did she mean? What did she want to know? "Forget it." She said as she rolled back over, holding both pillows now. Blame it on the alcohol. She thought bitterly. "Get out. I want to sleep." She ordered. "Are you okay? You sound mad." He leaned over her, but still kept his distance. "Just tired and the alcohol." Was her excuse. "See you." He said as he reluctantly went out.

Kagome woke up with a pounding headache. She had no idea what time it was, but the sun was shining brightly outside. It was hot in the room. She had been sweating. She reached for water, but her cup was empty. She smelled bacon and her stomach made a whirring sound. She forced herself to get up. There was only one bathroom at the end of the hall. She moved languidly, holding onto the wall or whatever furniture for support.

She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and tried to avoid her reflection. When she went out, her three friends were at the dining table. "Morning, sunshine." Inuyasha said sarcastically. "Ugh, shut UP." She groaned and sat across from him. Sango placed a dish in front of her. "Greasy hangover food." She presented. There was a slice of ham, scrambled eggs, sausage, toast, and hash browns. "This is amazing, thank you." She obliged before digging in.

"I want to check out some of the folklore in the area." Miroku stated as they went into the nature preserve's information center. The slogan of the park was "where history and rivers meet." "There's a beautiful waterfall if you're up for the hike." Sango proposed. "Definitely!" She enthusiastically replied. Inuyasha perused the gift shop, which was mostly filled with indigenous trinkets. Newspaper clippings of the publicity of the area were all on one wall. "Eye witness" accounts of ghost stories and other folklore were mixed in. "There are some bunkers from the feudal era on the way to the waterfall. I recommend coming back by sundown." The ranger advised. They all nodded.

"This place is creepy." Kagome said as they approached the bunkers. "I think I hear a beehive." Sango warned. "It's living history!" Miroku excitedly said as he outstretched his arms as if to say "behold!" "Let's just get to the waterfall." Sango encouraged. "I had enough of bunkers from our time in the service." Inuyasha commented as he looked around the dark place. The birds were awfully noisy in this area. His ears flicked. "You guys go on ahead, then. I'll catch up." The engaged man suggested. "You better follow soon." His fiancée implored. They reluctantly left him behind.

They could hear the roaring of the waterfall before they saw it. When they approached, there was a single bridge that crossed it. It was damp and majestic. The water rushed and cascaded into a river far below. The leaves on the trees had already begun to change orange, brown, gold, and red. Some had even fallen.

Kagome set foot on the bridge and nearly slipped. She started to fall forward, but Inuyasha looped his arm around her waist and caught her. She pulled the front of his shirt to steady herself. "Would you watch it!" He scolded. Sango gawked at the both of them. He still held tightly onto her, pulling her toward him even.

"He's so protective of you." She told Kagome once they were alone. Inuyasha had hiked up the side of the waterfall while the two girls set up a picnic, waiting for Miroku. "He was a soldier. It's PTSD." Kagome dismissed. "He just gravitates around you." Kagome blushed at her friend's observation. "Do you have feelings for him?" She pressed. Do I have feelings for Inuyasha? She asked herself. "I don't know." She answered honestly. She pursed her lips together. "I think it's pretty obvious for both of you." Sango gave her opinion. Kagome tried not to think about it.

Miroku finally came slumping up the trail, leaves crunching under his feet. They waved to him. He plopped right down as he made it to the blanket. They ate sandwiches and drank juice. "I want to propose a toast," Kagome said as she stood up, swinging her arms, practically dancing. "To Miroku and Sango, may your love be like this waterfall and run as deep." "Are you still drunk?" Inuyasha remarked. "RUDE!" She shouted at him. "Sit the hell down before you fall again." He demanded. "I'm just standing in one place, on the sheet!" She protested. "Anyway, thank you, Kagome." Sango interrupted. "To friendship." Miroku added and they all clinked their glasses.

"This really is marvelous." Kagome admired. "C'mon, I'll take you across the bridge." Inuyasha offered. "Really?" Her face lit up and she climbed onto his back, clinging to his shoulders. They were off in a flash. He'd taken off his shoes to get better traction. They stood on the other side of the bridge, but she didn't let go of him as he hiked up the other side of it. She admired him from the corner of her eye. He was unbelievable. One moment he was so nice to her and she thought maybe there was something between them, but then other times he picked on her like a kid sister. She didn't know quite where she stood with him. Maybe she didn't want to know. She didn't want to ruin what they had. Was he even over his ex? Why am I even thinking about things like this? And at a time like this?

She used his hair to hide her blush. "You can get off now." His soft voice brought her out of her musings. "Sorry, I was just nervous to fall again." She apologized. "I got you." He assured as he kept an arm around her waist.

Her heart started to thud against her chest. He was causing it, she realized, which made it skip and beat faster to try to get back in rhythm. The water fell incessantly around them; the same silver color as his full locks. His honey eyes shimmered in the faint light of the setting sun. She noticed his tan now, too. He was gorgeous. She knew she was blushing and there was nothing she could do except try to breathe normally. She was glad the waterfall drowned out the sound of her pulse beating double time. The whole scene was breathtaking and with him holding her. She clasped her hands in front of her, practically wringing them together.

"You cold?" He asked, noticing her body language. She simply nodded, allowing her bangs to shield her eyes, her hair falling forward to hide her blush. He pulled her in closer to his body; she could feel his warmth and defined muscles pressing against her soft body. She was wearing a dark green collared button top, no undershirt even, and khaki shorts. He had on a white t-shirt you could practically see through. An ache pooled in her stomach. She wanted him. There was no denying it now. But, she couldn't do anything about it, so the ache found its way into her chest. Like acid, it burned her chest cavity and she felt tears begin to form at the edges.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking down at the crown of her head. She suddenly elbowed him lightly in his side, then used both palms to push him away, "let me go. I'm not as clumsy as you think." He snapped, "It's not safe!" She took a couple steps back. She questioned his motivation, "Is that all?" "What else would it be?" He asked defensively. She felt really stupid and crazy now. She was too prideful to apologize. "I'm going back." Was all she said and started to march down the hillside. She kept both arms out at her sides trying to balance herself.

"Get back here! Talk to me, Kagome!" He commanded as he grabbed her by the arm. "You're gonna slip and break your head open. I mean it." She tried to pull her arm back, but he had a firm hold on her. "You're so stubborn!" She shouted, throwing her arms down at her sides, making fists, and stomped her foot for emphasis. "So are you," He retorted. "Just let me carry you back, STUPID!" He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder before heading back down the mountainside. She kicked and complained the whole way, but he ignored her.

Sango and Miroku were surprised at what they saw. "What's going on?" He wondered aloud. "Who knows with those two." Sango remarked. "I don't know, she freaked out up there." Inuyasha said as he set her down. He heard our question? They thought as they eyed his dog ears. One twitched. "Just don't touch me!" Kagome cried. "Fine! Who'd want to touch you? I'm tired of always rescuing you." He fought back. The couple sighed heavily and started to pack up while their friends bickered.

"Don't bother with me then."

"Fine, I won't."

"Good. Stop following me!"

"We have to walk back together! There's only one trail!"

"Then walk ahead!"

"Will you two please knock it off, you're worse than kids." Sango pleaded. "You're like an old married couple." Miroku remarked. Inuyasha and Kagome turned red. That did it, now they both turned on Miroku. In a second, all four of them were yelling at each other, their volume rivaling that of the waterfall.

-0-0-TO BE CONTINUED-0-0-

Aw, InuKag always fighting. Classic. LOL. The next chapter will be up in a month. See you soon! Thanks again for reading.