If You Love Something...
Chapter 1:
A Good Hang-Over Gone Bad
Inuyasha stood in the second floor hallway of an apartment building glaring at his watch. Every few minutes he'd look nervously at the closed door directly in front of him. Fuck, this was going to be harder than he thought. And where the hell were Souta and Miroku?! Those bastards were supposed to be here by now. If they stood him up... No, he wasn't going to think about that. He couldn't. If he needed those two morons ever in life, it was right now. They knew what was at stake and would not fail him. More accurately, they would not fail her.
I'm going to kill those assholes! He narrowed his golden eyes at the timepiece as if it were the Rolex's fault this whole stupid incident came about.
The headache he'd had since his father told him the 'good news' at breakfast was still pounding full force and with each passing second it intensified. You know, his dad had an ass backwards take on what a joyous occasion was. His brother was coming back to town. Inuyasha himself would die happy if he never saw that arrogant shit-head again in life. It didn't bother the hanyo one way or the other where his older sibling was in the world. He could live at the manor, or relocate to the fucking moon for all he cared.
Glancing at the door once more he sighed then leaned his head against the wall behind him allowing his eyelids to slide shut. He should've stayed in bed. Yup, well protected from all the bullshit that was the outside world. Everything was going so great. He should've known something would screw up his perfect little existence. Growling, his thoughts drifted back to the events of this morning.
*7:17 AM*
Extremely hung-over from the previous night's excursion to the club to celebrate, he groaned into consciousness when he smelled the alluring scent of bacon drifting up from the kitchen. It was almost silly how the aroma seemed to pick him up out of bed like he was in some Tom and Jerry cartoon and lead him out his bedroom door, down the hall, it even floated him down the winding staircase and into the dining room toward the source.
"Well good morning gorgeous." His mother grinned setting her coffee mug down; taking notice of his wrinkled red pajama pants and tousled silver hair. "You look simply ravishing, my dear."
His father peeked from behind the newspaper which he was reading briefly. "Is it not the rule of this house to wear a shirt to the table?"
Inuyasha grunted, then yawned and stretched while scratching his bare stomach. "Whatever dad. Morning mother." After kissing her on the cheek he took a seat.
"I trust you and your friends had a good time last night." Izayoi beamed at her grown up baby.
"It was cool I guess." Inuyasha reached for the cinnamon roll tray sitting at the center of the table. "Everyone was there. Even Kagome."
"Oh?" Izayoi's eyes widened slightly.
That little bit of information had even captured the interest of his father. Inu Taisho folded the sports section placing it next to his plate.
"Of course Sango and Ayame had to threaten her life to get her to come out." He continued to load his plate unaware that he commanded the full attention of both his parents. "I tell ya mom, I'll be so glad when she gets over that loser. I mean," stuffing a sausage link with a fork full of pancake into his mouth he went on, "she was way too good for him anyway. But heaven forbid anyone listen to me, his fucking brother. I've only known him my whole life. You'd think that'd count for something."
"Inuyasha," Inu growled, casting his wife a nervous glance only to find her giving him the same look, "do not use that language in front of your mother."
"What?" The hanyo ripped apart a biscuit and proceeded to load it with scrambled eggs, bacon, and shredded cheese before wadding the whole thing into his mouth. "Well... it's true... and... you... know it." He managed to get out between chews.
"Your table manners need some work." His mother scowled at him.
Inuyasha decided to ignore her. What did they want? Him to be all stuck up and snotty like his piss-ant brother? Ha! Like that'll ever happen.
"But at least she's smiling again." He said to no-one in particular, knowing his parents loved Kagome and were concerned about her. No harm in filling them in since she never came by the house anymore. "We're all really excited about the meeting tomorrow. Kagome nagged me into thanking you, dad, again for giving all my friends jobs and to let you know 'what a wonderful opportunity it is for us to sit in on a meeting with the shareholders." Inuyasha did his best high-pitched Kagome voice while bobbing his head from side to side in a feminine way earning a giggle from his mother.
"She is most welcome." The taiyoukai grinned, "How else was I going to keep an eye on you? Might as well put you and your hooligan buddies to work. The girls were an added bonus to keep you guys in line while I'm not around. Now if I can just keep Miroku from landing the company in 'sexual harassment' court I'd have it made."
Inuyasha choked at that moment and almost drowned as orange juice shot out his nose. "Holy shit dad!" he fell into fits of laughter not caring that he'd sprayed juice onto his favorite pajama pants or his mother's lace table cloth, "You should've seen him at the club last night!"
The old dog demon groaned as his son struggled to breathe in order to get the details out. He could only imagine what that lecherous young man had done this time.
"Myoga!" Lord Taisho bellowed for his servant to come clean up the mess caused by the hysterical hanyo.
"Okay," Inuyasha panted still giggling, "The first chick he propositioned was down for whatever... but here's the thing... she was mad at her boyfriend and had gone out just to make him jealous, right? Well it just so happened that right at the moment Miroku grabbed her boob the boyfriend decided to show up!" he fell into another fit of giggles and wiped tears from his face, "All I'll say is if we weren't all there, and as deep as we were, we'd be visiting that dude in the ICU right now."
"Deep?" his mother was confused by his use of the word.
"Umm..." he tried to think of an explanation that his mom would understand, "Like there were a lot of us in a group. Say if I load the guys into my truck, then I'd be riding 'seven deep.' But since there was so many of us in different cars last night 'deep' is the total number of our party."
"Oh, I see." She really didn't though. The slang these kids used nowadays... it was a wonder they understood each other!
Inuyasha gleefully leaned back in his chair and continued with what he called 'Tales of the Hentai.' "Then there were these twins... of course he offered to umm..." he blushed in his mother's direction.
"Go ahead. Living with you, I've heard it all." She assured him.
Feeling secure with permission to be vulgar, Inuyasha let loose. "He offered to uh... pleasure... them both. But wouldn't ya know they weren't into the whole threesome thing. So this idiot says he doesn't have to do them at the same time, they could take turns."
Izayoi was shocked. Miroku seemed like a very nice, mannerly young man. The person her son was describing didn't sound like the charming individual who frequented their home and most of all their refrigerator. She looked at her husband to see his hand covering his eyes as he shook his head.
"So when Sango shows up with the rest of the girls it gets crazy in that joint!"
Inuyasha's story got interrupted when a squealing teenager came pounding down the stairs at top speed immediately followed by feet hammering on the hardwood floor heading for the dining room.
"Nine hours!" Rin shrieked as she barreled through the double doors with such force they crashed against the wall. Inu winced at the octave of her voice as well as the commotion of his poor French doors being abused. "He'll be here in nine hours!"
"Good morning, sweetheart." Izayoi greeted the girl she and Inu adopted sixteen years earlier, shortly after her birth. She had said Rin completed their family with her stepson being full youkai and her own son being hanyo. And since after having Inuyasha the doctors told her she wouldn't be able to have other children, she figure the human child was absolutely perfect.
"Isn't it great, mother?" she gushed hugging the woman's shoulders awkwardly around the chair. Her excitement was barely contained. "Hey Inu Papa!" Kissing her father was the next thing on her agenda.
Lord Taisho groaned at the nickname he prayed every night for her to outgrow as he lovingly offered his cheek. "Hello my most beautiful and spectacular daughter."
Inuyasha snorted, "She's your only daughter. And thank the Good Dude for that."
Rin stuck her tongue out at her brother. Not even his snide comments could ruin this day for her. He was finally coming home!
"Where are you off to this fine day?" Ignoring his son, he smiled at the glowing girl.
"Well, I told Mayu that I'd come by this morning and we'd hit the beach. But I won't be gone long. I want to make sure I'm home when he gets here." She explained.
Something hit Inuyasha right then. Rin was about to bounce off the walls because someone was coming to visit? What the hell? Who could possibly have her this geeked? His dad had said nothing about having company. Surely none of his stuffy business associates would be staying at the house. That never happened. They usually stayed at one of the luxury hotels that did business with Taisho Enterprises. Either way, no boring old douche-bag would have his baby sister ready to pop a blood vessel. He groaned as his stomach went sour. Something about this was not right. Not right at all. Stealing a peek at his mother it was clear that she was giving his father warning glances. But he was so engrossed with Rin's chatter that he didn't seem to notice Izayoi trying desperately to silence him. Oh yeah, something was definitely up and they were trying to keep it from him.
The hanyo was snapped from his thoughts when Rin addressed him.
"Hey Inuyasha, can I borrow your truck today?"
"Keh, like that's ever gonna happen."
"Please? I don't want my car to get stuck." She pleaded sure her lip poking and puppy dog eyes would work.
"So you want my truck to get stuck instead?" he retorted, "No thanks. Just don't put the Maxima in the sand, duh stupid."
"Daddy!" she shouted making both males cringe.
"Inuyasha, don't call your sister stupid." Just one day, one day was all Inu Taisho asked for without his children fighting like... well... children. And by the end of the day he was absolutely certain his home would be turned into a bloody battle ground for reasons that had nothing to do with his daughter. The taiyoukai groaned as his temples began to throb.
"You always take her side!" Inuyasha accused.
"That's because I'm prettier." Rin smirked.
"I can fix that, you little brat." Flexing his claws, Inuyasha sprang from his seat and began chasing her around the table.
After about three or four laps around the once peaceful breakfast area, the lady of the house had had enough. Slowly Izayoi rose from her chair, planted both fists on the table, and closed her eyes as her normally beautiful face set into a terrifying scowl.
"Rin. Inuyasha." Her body shook with parental rage, "SIT!"
Immediately both children slid to a complete halt and plopped on the floor where they stopped. Inuyasha glared at the wide eyed girl, then looked up at his mother completely pissed that she still held the power to strike fear in his heart and subdue him with a three letter word. This was bullshit. He was a grown hanyo for God's sake! But he knew better than to test his mother when she was like this, her head might start spinning around. He took some satisfaction in the knowledge that if their mother scared the day lights out of him, then Rin probably needed a change of underwear. As if on cue, Inuyasha's ears twitched as they picked up his sister's small whimper.
"I will not have my morning ruined by you two acting like monkeys. Rin, there is nothing wrong with your car. As much begging as your father and I had to deal with for you to get it, you would be lucky if we don't make you drive it until the wheels fall off. None of your friends have a vehicle as nice as yours and if I didn't know better, I'd think you were being ungrateful."
Rin opened her mouth to protest but it snapped shut when Izayoi fixed her with the look before continuing.
"Let's say for the sake of argument that Inuyasha did give you his truck for the day," she turned her flaming gaze upon her son when she heard him snort and grumble under his breath. The twin triangles on top of his head that were his ears flattened and he gulped. "What would you do when you got it stuck? That is surely what would happen and you are not experienced enough to get it out on your own. You have been to the beach a thousand times in your own car. If it is a problem now then perhaps you should call Mayu and tell her you are staying home."
Get her mom! Inuyasha mentally cheered. His victory was short lived as their mother set her sights on him once again.
"And you, Inuyasha, will not call Rin names. You of all people know the hurtful effects that teasing and name calling can have. Being her big brother it is your job to protect her, not hurt her."
Keh, like my big brother did for me? What a crock of shit. He looked away disgusted. Well if that was his job, he should've been fired years ago.
"Now I do believe apologies are in order here." Concluded Izayoi with a huff.
Rin saw this as her opportunity to escape what she referred to as her mother's "psycho mode" with her head intact. Jumping up she dusted off the seat of her light pink velour shorts and then bowed to her parents. A little over kill never hurt. She smirked before raising her head and speaking, "I apologize to you both for my behavior this morning. It was very immature and I am sorry. I'm very grateful for my car, Mother. I did not mean to come off like I wasn't."
Once her father nodded in acceptance she smiled brilliantly before turning to leave. Only a few feet from the doorway she was stopped when Izayoi cleared her throat. Damn, I was almost free! Rin cursed. Sighing, she looked over her shoulder to see her mother still glaring at her.
"What?" Rin wondered aloud.
Izayoi was well aware of her daughter's ploy to get out of there as fast as humanly possible and run for the hills. However, she was not done making amends to all those present. Arching a perfectly manicured eyebrow at girl, she darted her eyes over to Inuyasha, who was still in his spot on the floor.
"Aww Mooooom!" Rin whined once she knew what was expected, "Do I have to?"
The frown that graced her mother's lips told her it would be in her best interest, if she wanted to stay physically healthy and socially active, to get this over with.
"Sorry Inuyasha." She grumbled.
"Feh!" was her response.
"Inuyasha!" He cringed when his mother snapped at him.
"Keh, sorry kid." He trained Rin with a golden glare. "Sorry mom, sorry dad. Happy now?"
"That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Inu sighed.
{Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don't cha wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?}
Rin about jumped out of her skin when the cell phone attached to her hip came alive blaring the Pussycat Dolls latest hit as its ring tone. Unclipping the noisy devise she peered at the caller ID. It was Mayu. I'm saved! Thank the Lord! Flipping it open she chirped, "Hey girl, I'm on my way."
With that said the teenager turned on her heel and disappeared from the room.
"Rin." Called Lord Taisho.
Just let her go already! I want to know what the fuck's going on around here. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at his father.
The girl peeked warily around the corner from the hallway so only her eyes and top of her nose could be seen. Now what?
"You may take the Navigator so long as you return it with a full tank." Inu watched as his baby girl's eyes widened to an impossible size. He could almost see the Cheshire cat size grin hiding on the other side of the wall. "And don't even think about putting my truck on that sand. If I find out..."
He never got to finish whatever it was he was going to say. Rin was gone like a rocket squealing at her girlfriend on the other end of the phone about how her dad was the most awesome thing since Sprint to Sprint calling.
"Don't worry Daddy, I'll even have it washed!" She screamed through the house right before they all heard the kitchen door leading to the massive garage slam shut.
"You spoil her, you know that right?" Izayoi scolded her husband.
Lord Taisho lifted his broad shoulders in a shrug, "She'll only be sixteen once, my love."
"Thank heavens for that! The last teenager in the house... once all the kids are gone we'll be able to retire in the south of France. For goodness sake Inuyasha, get off the floor!"
"Like you'd ever move out of the country leaving your children to their own devises." The taiyoukai laughed.
"Hmmm... true." His wife agreed, "I could never leave my babies."
"Cut the crap you two." Inuyasha stood and fixed his father with an interrogating gaze. "What's going on?"
"Going on?" Izayoi blinked owlishly at her son.
"What was Rin talking about?" he demanded, "Who is coming today?"
Inu visibly paled. Had Rin really mentioned that? Thinking back on the girl-child's noisy entrance, he groaned. He'd been trying to find a way for weeks to tell Inuyasha the news peacefully. Really knowing full well that there was no such thing. Waiting until the last minute was going to cost him. Particularly because everyone in the house seemed to know except the one who'd have the biggest problem with it. Oh boy, he should've listened to his wife. This was not going to be pretty.
With a sweaty palm, the youkai lord reached for his water glass and brought it to his lips. It was then he noticed his heart was pounding. Inuyasha was staring at him through narrowed eyes. He obviously could detect the instant change in his father's blood pressure.
"Well, sweetheart..." nervously wringing her hands, Izayoi stuttered. Inuyasha never took his eyes off his sire, though he knew her mind was working overtime to come up with something quick. She was never good at lying, especially under pressure.
"Dad..." He growled dangerously low.
Blast it all. Here sat one of the richest and most powerful taiyoukai in the world, and he was actually afraid of what was to come next. He knew how Inuyasha would feel about the situation, and he knew why. There was no way to get around it. He was going to find out nine hours from now anyway. Perhaps telling him now would give him the remaining time to cool off? Not likely. His biracial son had the temper of a pure blood youkai, but absolutely none of their self control.
He sighed and blinked slowly. Might as well get this over with. After all, I am the head of this family and what I say goes. End of story. In his heart of hearts, InuTaisho didn't believe one word that his mind had just supplied in an attempt to soothe his nerves. Biting the bullet, he spoke:
"I have good news, my son." He could feel his lips stretching into a fake smile.
Inuyasha didn't like this one bit. Clearly his father was nervous about telling him something. But what that something could be, he had no idea. Now he was looking at the stupidest grin on his father's face he ever had the horror of witnessing. He reminded the hanyo of the Joker. All he needed was a purple suit and some laughing gas. How disturbing.
"Your brother is returning home today."
Furry ears twitched as the words filled his head. Fuzz gathered at the edges of his brain causing the half-demon's vision to slightly blur. Surely his father did not say those words. It was impossible! Silly. Stupid. There was no way he'd heard him right. Inuyasha felt the air leave his lungs; he could feel his heart slowing to a stop. Time was standing still, he was paralyzed. How could they do this? How could his parents do this to him? How could they keep this from him?
Izayoi watched as her son seemed to stop breathing, freezing in place like a marble statue. The only movement was the blinking of his amber eyes, and that was a one time deal. She was angry. She'd told Inu over a month ago to tell Inuyasha that their oldest boy would be returning. She'd told him every night since then. But noooo... I'm looking for the right time. He'd said. I'll tell him tomorrow. He'd said. Well, tomorrow was right now and this was definitely the wrong time. Especially since Inuyasha had been out with Kagome the night before. All she could do is sit back and listen as the 'F' word parade marched through her sunny breakfast room.
Instead of blood, he now had solid ice in his veins. He was still asleep! That had to be it. He'd gotten way too drunk last night and was having a nightmare. What the hell was that shit anyway? He'd have to remember to never drink it again. He'd rather dream of naked chicks, or his father telling him that he'd disowned that asshole brother of his and left him penniless in the streets. Yeah, that would be a much better dream.
Some smart-ass part of his mind replayed the sentence spoken by his father. It was then he remembered the burning sensation in his nose when he sprayed the citrus drink through it. It hurt like hell. No one could dream something like that and not be jolted awake. He was awake... wide awake...and standing in the dining room bare foot with no shirt on... looking at his father. Heat exploded instantly in every molecule of his body with such force he was sure smoke was seeping through his pores. And then he knew... he knew that by the end of the day he'd be in jail for murder.
"WHAT?" he roared.
Here it comes. Looking at the red faced hanyo, InuTaisho spoke again with more confidence than he actually felt. "I said your brother is coming home today."
"Whose brother?!
"Your brother. Really, Inuyasha, I don't see why this has to be difficult. It should be a joyous occasion for all of us."
"I don't have no fucking brother!"
That's one 'F' word out of the way. Move along; make way for the thousand others. Izayoi rolled her eyes. Oh, and his grammar is slipping too. That's always a good sign. She decided that Inu and she would need to have a long chat after this. That is, if he survived.
"Yes you do and he's coming home." Sighed InuTaisho. Inuyasha was beyond livid and the taiyoukai knew he could count on no help from his mate. Truthfully he didn't want her to get involved. Besides, he knew he was in trouble with her. Utter disgust rolled to him from where she sat at the opposite end of the table.
"NO I don't! You think that coming from the same sac of nuts makes us brothers?!" The hanyo shouted, "FUCK NO! Are you fucking kidding me?! Are you fucking crazy?!"
The Great Dog Demon rubbed his temples while Inuyasha continued to rant. Now he was stomping around the room waving his arms.
"I can't believe this shit! I mean how can you even allow this, dad?!"
"He's my son as much as you are."
"He's a fucking prick! A Goddamned, fucking, shit-headed prick!"
"Even if that were true, he is still my son. You should learn to be more loyal to your family, in the end, they are all one has."
Inuyasha stopped his tirade, cocked his head to the side, and looked at the older male as if he'd lost his mind. Did his father really just say that to him? Making long strides, Inuyasha came to where his father sat and placed his hands on the smooth wood surface. "Loyal? You're shittin' me right?"
"You and he share the same blood. This rivalry needs to end."
"Fuck blood! You mean the blood he spilled when I was little? Or the blood that kept him making my life a living hell up until the day he ran off like a coward?"
"Inuyasha..." the taiyoukai could see where this was headed.
"Oh, and while we're at it, let's talk about the day he left... my life at home was great but outside, all our lives have been fucked up ever since!"
"I know what..."
"No Dad!" Inuyasha screamed. "You don't know dick shit! You don't know what it was like to see her cry. You don't know what it was like to watch her starve herself... to be so afraid that she'd die..." he could feel his eyes filling with moisture but he didn't care. He promised to protect her and the last thing she needed was for him to come back and fuck up what little progress they'd made with Kagome. "To sit up over her house every night because we were afraid to leave her alone. To listen as she tried to rationalize what he'd done and try to figure out what it was about her that made him leave. You know? You don't know a fucking thing! She thought, and still thinks she's worthless and I'll be Goddamned if I let him near her!"
"I'll admit," his father spoke, "that he could've handled it better. But they are both adults and it is their business."
"Bullshit!" He balled his fists and roared, "Handled it better? How? He made her his fucking whore and skipped town! He left the goddamned country! He didn't have the fucking balls to say shit to any of us! I had to hear about it from Rin! That was kinda fucked up because she was going to school in New York at the time."
"I highly doubt he thought of Kagome as a whore, son." Finally Izayoi spoke.
Inuyasha whirled on his mother. He'd forgotten she was in on this too. "Oh yeah? Well what do you call taking her virginity, then dumping her without a word?"
"Perhaps he didn't know..." she offered completely stunned. She had no clue that had happened. Things had gotten more complicated, but at least Inuyasha strange behavior in the months after his brother's departure was starting to make since. It took almost nothing to set him off. Every time the phone rang he'd scream saying he hoped it was that sick bastard. That is, on the few days he was actually at the manor. Ninety-eight percent of his time was spent at Kagome's, but no-one really knew why.
Inu Taisho pursed his lips into a thin line. His oldest and heir had done a very, very reprehensible thing. The elder youkai had known Kagome was untouched. He also knew his son was aware of her innocence as well. So this is what had caused the chasm in his house? How was it that he didn't pick up on the change in her aura? Most likely because she hasn't been close enough to him for him to notice, and when she was her sorrow overshadowed anything else. It would seem Inuyasha was simply being true to his protective nature. He had witnessed a great injustice done to one he thought of as a member of his pack and was out for blood. Right now though, Inuyasha continued to vent his frustration with tears streaming down his face. This shocked the youkai lord for never in the entire life of his youngest pup, had he seen him cry.
"Didn't know?" Inuyasha whispered venomously, "Trust me mother, he knew. If my 'worthless, half-breed, useless, inferior' senses could pick it up, I know his almighty, perfectness knew it."
InuTaisho saw his wife wince as Inuyasha recited most of the things his brother commonly called him.
Inuyasha wiped his cheeks with the back of his hand. "You want loyalty, father? I'll give you loyalty. But not to some asshole whose favorite pastime was to play 'kick the hanyo' with his pack of youkai pussies. Funny how ever since he left Menomaru, Hoshiyomi, Hakudoshi and all those other losers haven't been brave enough to come near me. Keh. I'm loyal to those who stood by me while your precious son did everything in his power to destroy me. I'm loyal to her most of all... you should not have to ask why. He went through great pains to fool us all. He lured me into a false sense of security, and like a stupid fuck I let down my guard. He made her think he cared for her. For two years, he played on her emotions. He played us all. He waited like the fucked up sicko he is until the night she gave him all of herself then left like a fucking punk. He went out of his way to try and ruin my life. But with her by my side he found it impossible. So he decided to break her instead. My strength, my encouragement, the person who showed me I'm fine just the way I am, and the most loyal and true friend I've ever had. He tried to kill her, dad. And that I can never forgive."
"Inuyasha, you are being overly dramatic." As soon as the words were out, Inu regretted them. Even to his own ears it sounded as though he was making light of the young woman's pain. His wife stared at him open mouthed with an incredulous expression. It looked like the couch would be where he laid his head tonight.
Instantly, gold bled to red as Inuyasha raised his fist and snarled with saliva dripping from his lengthening fangs, "DRAMATIC?!" Slamming it downward, the solid oak table groaned before splintering and collapsing throwing food and china dishes everywhere causing his mother to scream in fear. Demonic blood broke free, gleefully coursing through his body.
"My lord!" Myoga ran into room certain a bomb had gone off. "Master Inuyasha!" It would appear that the young lord had found out what he, along with the rest of the staff, had been keeping under wraps. Shooting the messenger was an understatement in this circumstance.
"Inuyasha stop this at once!" Commanded the taiyoukai. He didn't want to have to physically engage his son. But he would if the boy became a threat.
"Dramatic huh? I'll say this and I'm done:" Inuyasha's body shook as he struggled for control, the pale lavender stripes adorning his cheeks slowly faded, "I swear by everything that is holy, if you bring him into this house, I'll kill him."
Lady Izayoi stared after her child when he dashed from the room. "Darling, I think we have a serious problem."
However, her husband never heard her. His mind was on the information disclosed by the hanyo when he was semi-rational. The honor of his family had suffered a severe blow by the one who would take his place some day. Such an act would not go unpunished. He needed an explanation and knowing the younger taiyoukai as he did, it would be like pulling teeth from an angry dragon.
*8:55 AM*
If his bedroom door hadn't already been opened he would've knocked it off the hinges as he entered his sanctuary. Immediately snatching up the cell phone on the dresser, knocking his keys and wallet on the floor in the process, he stormed into his bathroom. Calling Kagome was out of the question. No, he needed to tell her this bullshit in person and he needed help. After ripping off his night pants he turned on the shower then walked to the sink. Flipping the phone open, he waited for the voice command prompt and gave the order of who to call. Once the confirmation was received, Inuyasha grabbed both his toothbrush and hairbrush. He was about to set a record in how long it took to get dressed.
When the number he called began to ring he grabbed the toothpaste and squeezed the fluoride filled substance out. His heart was hammering in his chest so hard that if he were human it probably would've exploded by now.
"If this isn't a beautiful woman with tits the size of watermelons, I'm hanging up." A groggy voice answered on the other end of the line. It was instantly followed by a loud smack, "OW! Baby, I was just kidding!"
"Cut the shit Miroku, this ain't no social call." Inuyasha wedged the phone between his ear and shoulder at almost a painful angle while roughly pulling the brush through his tangled silver tresses.
"Inuyasha? Dude, I thought you'd still be under the bed with all the alcohol you consumed last night." Miroku yawned, "Anyway, to what do I owe this butt-crack of dawn phone call?"
"You're not gonna fucking believe this!" the hanyo snatched up his power toothbrush, shoved it in his mouth and turned it on, "Dat mou facker z combin zak! Yew deelez dat shit?!"
Now that he was awake, Miroku was confused. The only word he'd gotten out of that was 'shit,' and that was nothing new. "What? Man what is that noise? A vibrator?" *SLAP* "Ouch! I was just asking, Sango, jeez!"
Something wasn't right but Inuyasha couldn't put his finger on it. His mouth felt funny. Actually paying attention to the feeling of the battery powered dental devise; he noticed his teeth felt funny. Pulling the brush from his mouth he noticed something strange... it was completely dry. What the fuck happened to the goddamned toothpaste? Smearing his hand across the steamed up mirror, he stared at his reflection.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!" He'd found the toothpaste. Streaks of the blue goo were blotted throughout his hair. Glancing at the counter, he saw the bristles of his hairbrush caked with the minty concoction. "Fuck!" He didn't have time to wash his hair. He needed to get the fuck out of there as fast as possible.
"Inuyasha?" the man on the phone inquired, "Again I ask: what's going on? What's wrong?"
"Listen Miroku," he moved to make sure his shampoo was in the shower caddy, "call Souta. I need you guys meet me at Kagome's right now. Something's come up."
"And that would be?" Miroku pressed. It'd better be something pretty damn good to get him away from the sexy naked thing lying next to him. He wasn't finished having his way with her.
"That bastard's coming back today." The hanyo ground his teeth. "In less than nine hours to be exact."
Well that sure qualified as a good enough reason to get out of bed. Miroku hit the floor with a loud *THUD*.
"Boo! Are you okay?" Inuyasha heard Sango's worried voice.
"I'm fine, babe." He grunted, "Just landed on one of your stilettos, it only punctured my lung. Now Inuyasha, could you please repeat what you just said? My sleep deprived, vodka laced mind thought you said something insane."
With an irritated roll of his amber eyes, "You heard me right. He's coming back. Today."
Miroku scurried to his bathroom, once inside he slammed the door. "Inuyasha, this can't happen!" he whispered tersely.
"Keh. Apparently my traitorous parents decided that it would be better for me to find out at the last fucking minute. And that was by accident! My sister let it slip. I really don't think she knew I didn't know."
"Ah Lady Rin, the fountain of information."
"Do not tell Sango." Inuyasha warned.
"Are you kidding me? Do you know how long it took me to get a piece of ass after your brother took off? It was like it was my fault! I had to hear 'Ro-Ro, do you really love me? Ro-Ro, are you with me only for sex?' Gah! I don't want to think about what she'll do now. Wait, so your dad is cool with this?"
"Keh, the old bastard called it a 'joyous occasion.' Told me I need to be more loyal to my family. Can you believe that shit?"
"No way!" running a hand through his short dark hair, Miroku squatted next to his bathtub in hopes that his girlfriend wouldn't over hear anything in the next room. "Does he know that your brother caused every chick in our crew to dump their boyfriend? That they were all afraid we'd run off like he did? Did you tell him of our twenty-four hour watches over Kagome? How she wouldn't eat and lost all that weight? Does he know that's why you and Kikyo broke up?"
"Fuck Kikyo." The hanyo growled. "She tried to make me choose between her and Kagome when it really was never anything like that between us. Kagome is my friend. She needed me and there was no way in hell I was going to abandon her like that fucker did. So I made my choice and Kikyo had to live with it. No female will come between me and you guys. Ever."
Miroku chuckled quietly, "I remember that night she came by Kagome's banging on the door saying she knew you were in there screwing your slut. Man oh man, I thought Ayame was going to kill everyone in the house to get to her. Kouga had to lock that redhead in the coat closet and it took both he and Bankotsu leaning against the door to keep her from getting out. Even in our darkest hours, we have the best memories."
"Yeah, good thing Sango had gone out to pick up the food and missed the whole thing. She never did like Kikyo." Inuyasha realized they were getting sidetracked. "Enough of that shit. Memory lane is closed due to the fuck stain that is my brother."
"Gotcha. I'll snatch up Souta and meet you there." Miroku conspired, "I just gotta find a way to dodge Sango."
At that moment there was a knock on the young man's bathroom door, "Ro? Everything okay in there?"
"I'm fine, Butterfly. I just uh..."
"Miroku!" the hanyo hissed.
Much to his surprise, Miroku pulled off the deception without a hitch. "I just forgot today is the day I agreed to help Mrs. Taisho make the flyers for her social club's bake sale."
Bake sale? What the hell? Inuyasha's jaw dropped at the stupidity. My mom would just hire a printer, you dope. But he remained silent while listening to this outlandish dribble.
"That lady may be beautiful, but she is certainly not computer friendly."
Keh! I don't think she even knows how to turn a computer on. Much less do anything useful with it.
"Aww. That's so sweet of you." Neither male could believe she was actually buying it, "I told Eri and Ayumi I'd meet them at the salon to get our toes done. I have to go home and shower first so I'll call you later."
Once he was sure Sango was gone, Miroku spoke again, "Alright man, I'm jumping into some pants and we'll be right there." The conversation was ended.
After a brief shower and an extremely vigorous shampooing, Inuyasha traipsed out of the steamy bathroom. Crossing over to his dresser he tossed the towel hugging his waist onto the mountain of laundry in front of a perfectly empty hamper. Heaven forbid he put dirty clothes in the hamper. Perish the thought. While pulling the top drawer open the soft flesh on the bottom of his foot came in contact with something sharp. Ow, what the... Glancing down he saw his wallet and once he lifted his foot, he found his keys.
Well like any normal hanyo, he simply reached down to retrieve the items. After all he'd need them in order to leave, right? However whatever deity who decided to put him on its shit list wasn't quite finished yet. Oh no, finding out your cock sucking brother was coming home, your parents thought it would be cute to hide it from you, and you'd gotten toothpaste in your hair just wasn't bad enough.
As soon as he lifted his silver head, it collided with the drawer that had been left slightly ajar. That's it! Letting out a frustrated growl, Inuyasha snatched the drawer out of its rightful place and sent it hurling to the farthest wall leaving in its wake a shower of cotton and silk boxers. Snatching a pair out of the air he proceeded to get dressed as if nothing was wrong. He blamed his half-brother for all of this. Somewhere, Inuyasha was sure, that bastard was sitting with a hanyo voodoo doll laughing his ass off.
*9:20 AM*
"Inuyasha..." Inu tried to speak to his son as he sprinted down the stairs and out the front door.
Fuck off old man. The fuming hanyo jumped in the fire engine red Denali in his parking space, jammed the key into the ignition and left a trail of smoking black tire tracks in his wake as he sped through the wrought iron gates.
Now here he was hanging out in front of Kagome's door like some fucking stalker. It was too early for this shit. For all he knew she wasn't even up yet. Hell, he shouldn't even awake! He had plans to stay hung-over in bed, watching TV and just enjoying his Sunday.
I should've just called Kouga. Inuyasha huffed. He thought better of it and smirked. Nah, there was absolutely no way that mangy wolf was conscious. Pain would be what awaited Mr. Houshi and young Mr. Higarashi when this was all over. Yup. Lots and lots of pain. Maybe some blood too. Yeah, sounds good... Not a lot though. After all, they all had to be at work tomorrow... Feh... he should quit after that shit his dad pulled. Loyal? Paaleeze!
At the sudden thumping and rustling coming from inside his best friend's apartment, his ears perked. Run! Jump! Hide you fool! His brain screamed. But before a move could even begin to be made the door opened revealing a dark-haired young woman.
Inuyasha drew a sharp breath and looked completely terrified as he stared at his best friend. His Kagome. Oh shit...