A.N.: Same disclaimer.
Chapter 3: Inuyasha?s Reason
Miroku had been blasted out of range. He cursed wildly as he forced himself to a sitting position and took a look around. Well, he was a good few miles from the fight now?Inuyasha could probably take care of the Shichinintai on his own. He wasn?t planning of killing them just yet anyway??Besides?? Miroku thought to himself. ?I see a pretty girl who needs attention over there!-And I have to stop by that place and get that artifact before the night?s out?? With this itinerary in mind he stood up, brushed himself off and headed for the girl and the pawn shop he?d seen the precious artifact.
~*~
Bankotsu was of no use to him really and it soured him as he quickly cleared the leap that would land him on the buildings roof. Grinding his skates along the roofs edge.
Inuyasha propelled himself swiftly along, the fang held behind his form casually in a reverse grip while the other clawed hand made sure that his hat remained put on his head. The hulking mess of ...err...what was that big guy reduced too now after the jell-o attack? Was the first dead give away that his prey was near. Idly convincing himself to disregard the threat of drawing in tajiya attention and just obliterating the bratty group off the damned roof top if he didn?t get the info he sought! Age may have mellowed the boy but his patience was still notoriously limited, so was his knack for making violent entrances as his airborne form came crashing down in the midst of the remaining goon-troop, unleashing a cloud of dust and debris in his wake!
Rankotsu, meanwhile, had managed to flame all the bats about his head by this time and was dragging back his wires of flame as the charred bat bodies fell to the roof-top, he spied the arrival of the hanyou. So he'd become bored of battling Bankotsu-oo-aniki ne? Well-he'd have a tougher time tangoing with 5 instead of one-or more four- since Jakotsu was getting the girl. ?Heh?? He lifted his arm up and sent the flaming wires down descending on the boy's form-wrapping about his wrists as he spat more flames down the way:: Mm?charred hanyou. Sounds like a treat.
Ginkotsu-rolled up on his huge tank wheels to help out his favorite brother Rankotsu, and aimed his double twin barrel cannons at the boy's head. ?Gishi shi shi shi.?
Jakotsu-hooked his arm around Kagome with a disgusted look and slid down to the parking lot with her to await further instruction-all the while playing with the hanyou's cell phone. Small prizes came in big packages.
A treasure trove of a few girls numbers, his work number and the number of about every take-out restaurant in Tokyo was the biggest prize.
Meanwhile the hanyou was flashing Rankotsu a rather annoyed look, not even flinching as he drew the fang out before him in a swift hand-over-hand pinwheel maneuver that quickly entwined those lines of flame around the fangs shimmering blade, his form turning in the same smooth momentum to send him into a swift glide that carried him right into blades reach of the poor fool, the flame ensnared sword coming in fast for a gutting cut as the hanyou hissed. ?Stop playing these fucking games and tell me where the hell Naraku is!?
?Like we'd tell you fool.? Mukotsu answered him and shot a poisoned dart for his neck from some hidden away space on the roof.
?Huh!? Rankotsu yanked the lines up and over, taking the hanyou with them to slam him and his Tetsusaiga on the other side of the roof.
Bankotsu grumbled about idiots not even finishing fights they'd started and worked his way down to a safe middle ground. Coming up to Jakotsu he placed a hand on his shoulder. ?Good work. Just keep her till the shit face is unconscious. I'm sure Naraku would love to have him as a pet too.? And he leapt up to the roof as well, landing on the edge with his halberd over one shoulder and stood for a moment watching his brothers fight the hanyou.
?Hai, hai?? Jakotsu half-whined. He wanted to play with Inuyasha. He never got the chance. He pouted. He held the girl tight about the waist and continued to plod with the cell phone.
Inuyasha only rolled his eyes to the yank as he hit the roof but on his feet, his form sinking into a crouch before he shot once more for Rankotsu. His sword did swing but its intent was not to cleave, but instead wildly snap the fools line out wide to leave the fool busy the split second the hanyou needed to close in. The boy had bounced around jobs for years but one of his favorites was as the Catwalks best bouncer...he'd dealt with juvenile gangs, gunmen, a pack of roaring drunks and a few black-head hunters in his short time there...Needless to say the boy knew how to level an opponent. With Rankotsu busy for the moment with his whip-lashing lines would he have the chance to even think of fleeing as the boys clenched fist flew in right for the fools chin in an uppercut he won't soon forget!
Rankotsu didn't have time to move from the strike of the boy's punch-and his face flew off sideways-beginning to leak blood and show the looks of a broken nose, but he had taken one step back to brace himself and had not flown half way across the roof. Instead he used his wires again and trapped the boy's punching hand in a web of flaming string. He looked back with one eye shut- the wind from the fire causing his bandanna to whip behind him
Bankotsu watched this with a lifted brow and took a step down from the edge of the wall, the Banrayu still hooked on his shoulder as he approached the two locked in this pose. ?Tsk, tsk Inuyasha. You should know we never play very fair.-? he grinned and lifting the halberd he went to bring it down onto the boys skull with a resounding CRACK-but didn't make it all the way.
Kagome all the while had been trying to figure out how to break free of Jakotsu. He was, right now absorbed in the cell phone-sniffing it of all things-but it gave her an ample idea and chance. She bit the arm that was holding onto her and then grabbing the cell tossed it into the water-filled parking lot. As Jakotsu yelped and ran after it- forcefully shoving her to the ground in the process- she stood up and scrambled up to the roof-reaching it just as Bankotsu lifted his halberd. ?No!? She yelped and took a running charge to hit Bankotsu with all her strength in his mid-section.-righteously confusing the other shichinintai.
Bankotsu *Ulfed* as he was tackled by the girl-he backed up on impulse and looked down to glower at her-and lifted her up by the hair. ?Keh...Such a damn shame we can't kill you wretch-at least not yet.? He tossed her over to Suikotsu.
Suikotsu caught the girl and held her at claw point, she cheeped a little, but it didn't deter him- what did was someone coming across the parking lot below. Someone who could call their shots, his face crunched up, and he watched the figure speak to Jakotsu.
The hanyou merely smiled, seemingly speaking to the jaw-tender Rankotsu as he shook that sizzling flame engulfed hand. ?Playing fair isn?t your problem...your games older than Chinese checkers and just about as predictable.? A loud CLANG resounded as the fang met the halberd before it could even make its attack, the hanyou hissing sourly. ?If your idiot there captured the right hand you wouldn?t have this problem ....-hm?? He blinked seeing the girl try for a running tackle that only left the fool distracted....a scowl marring that boyish face as he took the chance to send that flaming clawed hand right across the wretched corpses face. ?Aw hell....forget it and JUST FRIGGEN DIE!? The hanyou carrying the turning momentum to whirl himself around and slam the butt of the fang right into the fools temple!
?Ham sauce...and your not predictable ay?? Rankotsu Grinned-a bloody grin as he whirled to strike him down with a flaming claw. ?Your methods never change. It's no wonder your brother died of embarrassment!? Now Rankotsu cheated-and pulled out a gun-aiming it for the hanyou's forehead. ?Bye-bye!? He cocked it to fire.
Bankotsu looked up to see Rankotsu ready to fire. ?No you fool! He can't die yet either!? His halberd came down to bash the hanyou on the skull- this time connecting- but it was the flat part of the weapon. No where near the sharp edge. It was to knock him down from Rank's shot as he fired-and the bullet went right through Bankotsu. He blinked flat eyed, looking at his chest and then at Rankotsu. ?Lovely. Now will you get a grip?!?
Inuyasha twitched. ?That hurt you goddamned cheap knock-off from night of the living dead!? The poor boy was clutching his abused skull with one clawed hand as he rose to a knee and lashed out a skate! Intent on sweeping the feet right out from under Bankotsu, granting him the time to kick back to his feet and bound right off the wretches skull. His skates grinding into the roof top as he came to a swift turn, pausing just long enough to draw the fang out before him and catch this newest scent.
Down below a woman with jet black hair and in a maroon business suit stood-speaking with the freeze-dried-homosexual-sadist-freak. She looked up at the roof top and spotted the hanyou's backside. Her brow lifted-but she made no further show of emotion and said something more to Jakotsu, and crossed her arms standing with all her weight on one foot, her eyes watching the bourei.
Jakotsu was talking back-making wide arm gestures and apparently trying to fight what the woman was saying, but in the end he gave up with a huff and handed her the fried cell phone, turning and moving to the building-climbing up to the roof fairly quickly to come to a rest on the edge of the roof. He looked pouty and put out. ?Bankotsu-oo-aniki! Narcotic-san wants us to leave the girl for now and head back to base!? He said, and gestured to the woman.
Bankotsu meanwhile was rubbing his face and fixing his suddenly bent out of shape nose caused by the hanyou's skates smacking him in the face while Jakotsu relayed this news. With a loud crack and a wiggle to his now bloody face he looked at Jakotsu and then glared down at the woman. He snarled in her direction, she didn't even blink, so he flicked her off. She smirked-he looked back at Inuyasha. ?Keh... looks like we'll have to finish his later shit-face. Duty calls. Suikotsu-drop the Angel and lets go.?
?Hmph....just when things were getting fun?? If Inuyasha was annoyed or sour he didn?t show it, instead he slid the fang back into its scabbard and flashed Bankotsu a mocking little smirk. His bloodied face was a delight to see in truth, made the weeping wound on his back and the burned flesh of his hand worth the pain.
?My thoughts exactly.? He muttered at him and wiped the black blood off his face completely. He was dead, didn't bleed much. He went to the edge of the building and leapt off it and out of sight.
The rest of them grumbled and followed suit, Suikotsu giving Kagome a quick warning slice across Kagome's neck-but not actually cutting her and dropping her as he followed off too.
The woman waited down below with an infinite amount of patience-and once they were all there- she led them off around another corner and they all vanished from view.
?...Well...That was just fucked up and peachy.? Kagome muttered, and cursed as she picked herself up and brushed herself off as much as possible, shooting the hanyou a glare. ?I knew something was wrong with you.? She said, rubbing her wrists. ?And I don't mean the fact your half-youkai either.?
?What are you so annoyed about? Did you expect anything less from me or them?? Inuyasha idly nudged himself over to the roofs edge, a clawed hand reaching behind him to gingerly touch the wound just below his torn shirt while he gazed at the corner the zombie-squad and there brainless leader has disappeared behind.
?Them no, you on the other hand...here I was hoping I'd found someone in this insane world had more sense then most...Not that it matters either way. You certainly don't give a rats tail.? She sighed and pressed her hand against her head, flattening her bangs out with it, she continued to look at him, but sideways. ?Don't bother following them...That secretary of his, has ways of making them just disappear?? As she said this there was a whoosh of wind and it pushed her hair all about her face. Then the air was dead and seemingly immobile.
?Kagura is still using those damned feathers when she knows her youkai can be detected...?? Inuyasha muttered amused as he rubbed his chin a little, tajiya still existed and there means of dealing with youkai were quite advanced, not that many still roamed the cities and suburbia?s of Japan. He took a breath and spun on a skate...flashing her an indifferent hard to read look. ?Not give a rats ass eh? Fine... since they are after you I'll use that as an excuse to bring you along ....how?s that??
?Oh. So you know her too.? She muttered half-bemused and half irate as she took a little white tie and pulls her hair back into a low ponytail. She shot him a look then, both brows shooting up as he suggested this however. "?Use me as an excuse to bring me along??" She repeated with a skeptical look. ?That doesn't sound right at all. You sure that's what you meant to say, Inuyasha-wasn't it?? She asked licking her lips, and letting her hands fall from her hair.
?Known her for a few hundred years now?? He mused, letting her chew on that piece of information as he pushed off towards her , gliding a tight circle around the girl a moment as he explained further. ?Putting it blunt yes since I "don?t give a rats tail", I'll just bring you along as bait instead of having to just merely protect you from them. Take it as you wish.? And with that the girl was scooped up and draped over a shoulder, pushing off to glide along down the slope of the roof.
?Huh. have your cake and eat it too.? She muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and looking off to one side. ?And you don't give a rats tail about me, do you?? She asked in a statement question, sighing a bit and tapping her fingers on her arm until she was shouldered. ?KYAA! What-?! You bakaaa!? She cried and covered her eyes with her hands-and a sharp gasp as they slid down the roof. She wasn't used to this.
?Stop screaming or we'll just have to take the bus! The idea here is not to be noticed.? The boy scolded as he leapt off the roofs edge, hitting the next rooftop before picking up speed and leaping off the roofs crest. ?Your a street rat, tell me where the nearest cafe is?? He hit the rooftop lightly on his wheels and practically flew down its next slope only this time he decided the best rout may be on street level. The boy nonchalantly skating right off the roof and taking the two story free-fall.
?I'll keep screaming thank you! KYA! KYA! KYAKYAKYA!!!? She took in deep breaths and kept her hands over her eyes, keeping her legs tight together in an attempt to keep her balance on his shoulder. She trusted him at this point about as far as she could throw him. And needless to say, that wasn't far. ?And I'm not a rat! I don't live ON the streets! And I have no clue where the hell your headed, so no I don't know where the nearest caf? is- and I don't trust myself to look!?
The wild rush of wind and the unsettling "rising" feeling your stomach takes during free fall came to a swift but soft end. The boys skates lightly tapping on the pavement as he recovered from the
landing and peered over to the street where a small knot of girls he recognized from the catwalk stopped there bantering, stared and pointed at the pair. Giggling softly and cooing his name....The poor boy giving a soft sigh as he removed his free hand from his hat and kindly pulled the girls tight mini skirt down so that she?s not giving a show to the rest of the world....or...rather what few haven?t seen her show!
Only clients had seen anything-course why he cared was beyond her all together. He seemed cold and hard hearted...and if she had had the time to sit and wonder about it, she would have wondered why-but she didn't. The moment he stopped, she peeked out from under her hand to spot what street they were on:: stay here so I can figure this out!
He was about to set the girl down but,...well...he stayed put and just chilled there, his good hand roving his numerous pockets while the other injured limb was absently rubbing the girls rear. Think Kagome ...rub, rub...think! Err not like he meant it anyway.
She rolled her eyes as she felt his clawed hand roam her backside, but held her tongue. That she
was used to. He should be glad she wasn't going to ask him for a 100 yen for doing it. She let her hands fall to his back and she scanned the street below. One thing about Tokyo- it lacked street names and any kind of make sense order. The hospital could be found next to a porn-movie rent-a-center. It made that much sense, so you were very lucky if you knew your way around one fourth of it. She sighed-and dropped her head against him to hide her eyes again. ?...Head north-three blocks down, take a left and then another left...The MoonShadow Caf? should be down that way?? She muttered muffled into his shirt ?-But why head to a caf???
?Because you can't get any service hiding in an abandoned building?? He mused while he pushed off and casually bladed down the street, hanging the first left with a casual , graceful sweep. ?Besides you'd be surprised what strange folk go into them and talk of?we won't be so out of place.? He chuckled softly, granted he didn?t have to carry the miko, but maybe a cold ass will keep him a little less motivated to be stubborn. A few moments later he ground to a halt before the little Cafe, carefully easing the girl up off his shoulder and setting her back to the ground.
she took a biig deep breath as he set her down- and stumbled back to grip the brick wall of the MoonShadow, her other hand gripping her chest. ?Do you do that to every girl you meet?? She gasped out
exasperatedly-meaning the way he'd carried her. She took in a few more steadying breaths-and stood up straighter. ?...What-kind of service are you looking for here anyway??
He eyed the girl for a moment, casting her one of those little flat, cold "the hell do you take me for!?" kind of looks. Before casually reaching out and pet-petting the girls head in a rather fond manner, huffing a little mushroom sigh. ?How about a Latt? and a piece of carrot cake? Your treat since I can smell my wallet on you?? He flashed her a little smirk as he gave a last pet. ?And no...your the only girl I've ever hauled around town like that, does that make you feel better?? With a soft chuckle he drew the door open for her and motioned her in.
?A sack of potatoes more like?" she thought to herself-not knowing how the hell to take the pats on the head. Now that she thought about it-he did appear to be two years older than her-tossing the fact that he was actually hundreds of years her senior-and she'd been calling him "kid" in her mind all this time. She snuffed derisively, and followed him in. ?Funny you should say that.? She said, pulling his wallet out of the space between her breasts and handing it back to him. ?You were dead broke. I'm
guessing that gum you were chewing was your last dime for the week. So-it will end up being my treat?? She let out a small inaudible but exasperated sigh.
Idly catching the item he gave a sheepish little grin and stuffed it into a pocket. ?Not really...Rick pays me daily depending on how many heads I knock in?? He rolled up to a table and casually took a seat, barely spareing the waiter at the time to give his order. ?Hmm...pleasant place...pity it may be destroyed.? His gaze wandered around the relatively empty room.
She gave him a rather dry look at this comment, but pulled herself out of it and spilled her order off to the waiter, before looking back at him and rearranging her still ripped top. ?Damn Kouga?? She muttered under her breath as she flicked a shred of cloth into a more appropriate place, and cleared her throat a bit. ?Destroyed-how? I can tell you one thing- the Shichinintai, Kagura and anyone important to Narcotic's syndicate aren't around here. I can feel it.?
?Hmm...so you can eh?? He lounged back and folded his hands behind his head, tipping his hat a little over that boyish face. ?Doesn?t matter, now that Naraku knows I'm alive and looking for him he'll not waste any time forming the next assault and sending it my way.? Smokey violet orbs flicked up in time to eye the waiter who set down his said latt? and piece of cake before moving to the girl.
She leaned back too, crossing her legs under the small table and resting her hands on her abdomen giving him an under handed look. ?Mm.. I can.? She agreed, though she knew not how she could. She didn't bother going into it though. ?And I have a feeling...Narcotic already knew you
were alive?the way the shichinintai and Kagura acted when they spotted you...just leads me to believe that.?
Straightening himself he cast the girl a look while He poked at the icing a little with his fork. ?Probably avoiding me, or unable to pin point my whereabouts. Doesn't matter, I have a rough idea of where he is now, all I need is a scent trail to fallow. Bastards been running from me far too long?? He muttered sourly before taking a bite.
?Do you? And how do you know he's not just leading you on by the nose in a big scheme to kill you off for good?? She asked near loftily, and picked up her mixed drink and took a sip from it, and set it down again. ?Of course- now that you mention it- What are you after him for- really?? She lifted a brow at him, her face showing intrigue more then curiosity as she inquired on this.
He peered up at her through those black bangs of his and blinked. ?I already told you...a bad false ID.? He'd not divulge that info too easily!
?Uh huh sure.? She leaned forward then, resting her elbows on the table and leaning right up face to face with him. ?Pull the other one kiddo. Your a hanyou-you openly admit you've been after him for centuries. And you expect me to believe its all over a fake ID from when? The Sengoku Jidai? Please....Now what is the real reason??
He sniffed a bit and gave into temptation....hell he never even bothered to resist as he scooped up a little icing from the cake and dabbed it on the end of her nose. Before leaning back in his chair and giving a sigh. ?It is due to a false ID...or at least Identity. Naraku is capable of assuming other forms, shape-shift almost, I'm not sure of the technicalities. But he took my appearance and lured someone very dear to me to her death.?
?Now that sounds much more believable.? She conceded, and licked the frosting from her nose, also leaning back again. ?So who was she? One of your two wives? Or someone else? Sister maybe? Mother? Possibly your mistress?? She smirked at him and rubbed her thumb across her nose and licked it, getting the rest of the frosting off.
?How'd you know?? He flashed her the most horridly faked look of surprise he could muster, before picking up his steaming cup...taking a moment to sip at its milky contents. ?I guess you could call what we were going through as "dating"...but back then feelings weren?t taken for granted.?
?Mmm, interesting that I failed to mention "girlfriend" in that list?? She commented, pointing out subtly that she knew feelings weren't taken for granted. ?And don't get fresh with me. The last thing I need tonight is a smart ass, as you can imagine.? She sipped at her mixed drink and eyed him again. ?Though in all basics-we seem to be after him for the same reasons-But as I see it- I'm kind of screwed at getting at him now. His cronies know your with me and are going to tell him, and it'll be much harder for
me to actually find him now.?
?He'll find us believe me?? He finished about half of his cake before nudging it aside, focusing a little more on his drink. ?He knows why I took you, he'll be counting on you as a means of getting to me, I just made things more convenient since he can always find you no matter where you are in this city. Perhaps I should taunt him a little by dropping my disguise?? He muttered as he gazed at the ceiling, tapping a claw lightly on his cup.
She sighed and rolled her eyes "you are so full of it..." she thought, before letting her orbs fall back on him. ?I think he's more after you than he is me at this point. All I'm doing is paying off a debt and
trying to save my brother...I'm expendable in his eyes, ya know? You on the other hand-have obviously been his enemy for longer then I care to count-and I'm sure he knows where you are now. What in the blazes would he want me for?? She picked up her glass and studied it a moment or two.
?He would have killed you sooner if he had only money in mind, slutting your self around the streets without a license will pay off your debt in how many more years?? The stated firmly, never peering up from his cup as he took a long pull of his drink. ?In any case, we need to find a place to stay till he does work up the courage and man-power to send his minions our way.?
She lifted her nose up a bit. She didn't like this. Being used like this. She felt like an old shampoo bottle. She drummed her fingers on the sides of her glass and peered into the liquid. ?I don't know. Never learned the true price of the debt.? She muttered acidly, keeping her eyes on the glass. ?But it doesn't matter. I don't want to be used as a pawn in some dispute that should have been dropped ages ago?? She licked her lips. ?Tsk...men and their endless grudges?? She took another swig.
?Hnh...youkai live for a long time, if they didn?t hold grudges then what more can they do in their lives?? He flashed her a chilling little fang peeking smile as he muttered. ?Besides...if he killed your brother would you drop it in a few years?? He peered down into his cup and finished off the rest in one gulp.
She smiled dryly then, and set her glass down. ?...If he killed Souta?...I wouldn't be here to care. I'd be dead too.? She said with a smile that held no humor, did not reach her eyes, and showed a little tinge of insanity in the dimming light of her eyes.
?You'd be lucky then?? Leaning back again he relaxed and gazed out the cafes window, for the moment growing silent as he pondered their next move. ?Hell...the rent on the place was too high to boot...we can probably stay in Miroku?s apartment, unless you rather stay at a hotel?? A dark brow arched a little as he gazed to the girl.
?Yea...lucky?? She murmured, leaning on the table with one elbow and spinning her mixer straw around in the cup absently, not really listening to him any more-just catching bare hints of what he was saying as she stared at the spinning fluid and sighed. ?...Whatever?? Cogs were slowly spinning in her head. Why hadn't Naraku told the shichinintai to just kill her straight off? Was there a bigger picture she was missing here that involved her in some way? One thing she knew for sure-she had to find out...and soon.
He snuffed as he noticed her lack of attention, deciding to play that to his amusement. ?I?m sure Miroku won't mind you staying over with your chunky thighs, the land lady doesn?t mind scrub girls with bad hair either. Plus there is a spare futon, wide enough to fit your manly physique, our apartments kind of good since it has its own shower. You'll have that Ode De Toilet-bowl off you in no time, and the neighbors won't mind since you sound weird enough to be confused with a cat, or maybe a goat.? He pondered?and shook his head as he chuckled, oooh that grin that played over his face.
Isn't it funny how girls always caught the insults no matter how off in outer space they were? She didn't even look up as she took her glass and dumped the rest of it's contents on his head, dropped a few yen on the table, stood up and headed for the door. ?Go hang.? She said once and left the shop, pulling her low pony tail a little tighter, crossing her arms over her chest and beginning to walk off down the lamp lit beat up old road.
She didn?t get to far till the sounds of small wheels grinding on the street foretold her that the boy was practically instep behind her. Silently fussing with his now wet hair as he tried to keep the mess all behind him, trickles of raven black weaving intricate patterns over the pale skin of his forearms as he went along.
She kept walking, not looking back at him as he followed, a frown set deep into her face. His running insults only partially why it was there. ?You're not funny you know.? She stated, watching the road for pot holes to keep her spiked boots out of-and wishing to god she was near where she'd left all her things. Ripped clothes were getting to her-and it was getting colder.
?When your the butt of the joke of course you wouldn?t find it funny.? He glided along up along side her and peered over with a soft chuckle. ?But that?s what you get for zoning out on me.? For the time being he let the girl stalk along on her own, after all she was conveniently headed in the same direction as his apartment, so really who was he to bug?
?It wouldn't be funny even if I wasn't.? She all but snarled-back-and tried her best to compose herself better after saying that-and sighed heavily. ?And I didn't exactly zone out on you. I heard what
you said, and I don't particularly care where you want to stay. If you end up dragging me along-I might be gone come morning...I have big questions now-and I have to find someone to answer them for me.?
?So then If I carry you instead you won't be so bitter right? Since dragging you will make you want to leave come morning...alright then.? Without another word the hanyou had encircled the girls waist with an arm and was about to pluck her up off the ground again!
?Kya! You know what I mean!? She yelped as he ran his arm around her waist again. ?Don't be dense! I still don't see why you need me!? She grumbled-realizing after a moment that he hadn't lifted her up yet-and inwardly sighing in a very slight relief. It hurt to be carried over a shoulder like that.
?Heh?? He released the girl as he circled her once and idly glided off around the corner and into the apartment buildings little garden. Slowing down as he was forced to carefully negotiate treading through gravel. ?Then come on hopefully we beat Miroku home and pray that he won?t be trying to peek up your skirt every chance he gets.? He paused only long enough to peer over his shoulder to the girl before lightly bounding up the steps.
She took a step to follow, and then stopped-her nose twitched. Why in the seven hells was she following this boy? What could she gain from it but a dead brother and her own life cut out from under her? Deceptively sweet is what he was...and she'd fallen for the facade..-was her own fault she knew that, but it didn't make the situation any better. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair looking up into the pre-dawning skies. Dawn would be breaking in an hour or so...and she was exhausted...with a defeated and drawn look she dropped her head and followed sulkily.
~End chap. 2~
